©2003

National Organisation of Residents Associations

Chairman: Julian Foster        email address: julianf.foster@btopenworld.com

Vice-chairman: Pat Daniel

Community Plan – Norwich City Centre Residents' Forum 2003/2004 What is the Norwich City Centre Residents' Forum? The City Centre Residents Forum has been active within the city for the past 5 years. It was set up as part of Norwich City Council’s Community Power initiative to encourage greater involvement of residents and strengthen local democracy in Norwich. The Forum is a vehicle for the residents living within the city walls to voice their concerns, share their ideas and have a say in the development of the city centre in a sustainable and effective way. There is such a diversity of interests within the City Centre – shops, businesses, leisure facilities and tourist attractions – that it is easy to forget the people who also live here. The City Centre Residents Forums constitution formally sets out the area covered by the Forum, the election process and the rules for the conduct of the Forum’s meetings. The members of the Forum reflect the diversity of the people of Norwich City Centre and seek to represent their views to the City Council, the County Council as well as work with other agencies with and interest in the city centre. The current members of the City Centre Forum are: Mrs Pat Daniel – Acting Chair Mr Jim Durrant; Mr Julian Foster; Ms Sue Skipper; Ms Esther Harris; Ms Ann Rostron; Mr Christopher Wood; Mrs Beryl Bottomley; Mr John Armstrong-Wiggin; Councillor Maran McKay (Non Voting Appointed Member); Mr Clive Evans; Ms Susan Steward & Mr Harry Grainger; Ms Vanessa McGregor; Mr Abd Al Halim Orr City Councillor (Mancroft Ward) What is the Community Plan? The Community Plan sets out a list of priorities that the City Centre Forum will work towards in the coming year. Since the first publication in 1999 the City Centre Forum has worked with fellow residents, the City Council, the County Council and other local agencies to: 1) Develop a Community Environmental Project 2) Develop an effective charging policy for water with particular consideration for Council Tenants 3) Implement controlled parking zones 4) Support Car Sharing Schemes 5) Construct a footpath between Horns Lane and Rouen Road 6) Improve the environment outside the Eastern Daily Press building 7) Make provision for Skateboarding 8) Actively respond to planning applications including those at: i. Reads Flour Mill       ii. Anglia Square       iii. St Anne’s Wharf       iv. New Mills      v. Bus Station Site vi. 121 Magdalen Street       vii. Hadley and Ottaways       viii. St Saviours Car Park       ix. EEB Site x. Ber Street/Brooke Place       xi. Cinema City       xii. Busseys Quayside       xiii. St Michael at Pleas xiv. Fishergate       xv. St George’s Street       xvi. Warmingers Site       xvii. Hopkins King Street xviii. Magdalen Close       xix. ABC Princes Street       xx. Nestle Site       xxi.The Forum       xxii. 2 Millenium Plain 9) Plant trees in St Andrews, Pottergate, Horns Lane & Sherbourne Place 10) Start a ‘drop-in’ place for 13-16 year olds in Pottergate 11) Set up a Community Gardens projects – Brooke Place, Tudor Hall 12) Co-develop strategy to manage a 24 hour city 13) Open Green Spaces to the public – i.e Open up green space next to the old Friend’s Meeting House,    open up space between Art School Common Room and St George’ Street, bring space north of St Gregory’s into use 14) Install new railings and lighting at James Stuart Memorial Gardens 15) Put forward 79 recommendations to the City Council’s Local Plan 16) Facilitate a Community Planning weekend for the Southern Quarter of the city centre which has resulted in the development of a long term vision and strategy for the area 17) Ensured the provision and development of open spaces, play and recreational facilities in the City by influencing the spending of Section 106 monies 18) Initiate Neighbourhood Watch schemes in Pottergate and King Street 19) Advise on and support the provision of Police Community Safety Officers in the city centre to provide an improved Police presence and point of contact with the community 20) Initiated work to improve open spaces at St Gregory’s and to reduce anti-social behaviour 21) Identified more than forty open spaces in the City Centre, commented on each and instigated a review of the City Councils Open Space and Play provision 22) Review signing of Riverside Walk Important changes to the City Centre Residents Forum Changes to Constitution & Legal Status of City Centre Residents Forum The changes made in 2001 by Norwich City Council to its own constitution have affected that of all Community Power Forums. In order to carry out the same level of activities prior to the changes it has been necessary (in legal terms) for the Forum to become a “corporate body”. Additionally, in November 2002, the Council carried out budget and staffing cuts that have placed severe restrictions on us if we were to try to carry on with this important democratic initiative. This means that we have to raise funds other than from the Council. In discussion we reviewed the work carried out over the previous four years in order to clarify and set out our aims and objectives for the future. • It was agreed that the work of the Forum should continue in much the same way as before but with greater powers of independent action for community benefit. • Prime importance was attached to the continuation of elections to the Forum. • We set out the activities needed to achieve the aims and objectives; the type of legal structure which we then set out to achieve was to register as a corporate body:- a Company limited by guarantee and register as a Charity. • It was agreed that the objects of the Company should be for the benefit of the residents of Norwich City Centre, to identify and meet needs and to help all to participate more fully in society. It may take until the Autumn of 2003 before the new structure and status has been legally set up. When this has been done our name will have been changed to that of “Central Norwich Citizens Forum” - CNCF for short. Individuals over the age of 18 years registered on the electoral roll and resident in Norwich City Centre will continue to be eligible for election to the Forum as representatives of their area. In addition they will also be eligible to apply for membership and become shareholders in the new company. Community Plan 2003/2004 COMMUNITY SAFETY Aim: To work with other agencies to improve residents’ personal safety and perceptions of personal safety 1. Daytime Anti-Social Behaviour The CCRF will: • Continue to work with the City Centre Crime Reduction Action Group and the Community Safety Partnership • Support and promote area watch schemes • Support the improvement of services for those with alcohol, drug, mental health and housing problems 2. Night-time Anti-Social Behaviour The CCRF will: • Encourage Norwich Community Safety Partnership to audit the provision of lighting in the city centre in relation to incidents of violence • Improve lighting in identified hotspots as appropriate 3. Anti-Social Behaviour The CCRF will: • Promote the development of a strategy through the Norwich Community Safety Partnership to deal with prostitution • Endorse the development of a Norwich City Alcohol and Licensing strategy through the Norwich Community Safety Partnership 3. Police/Community Liaison The CCRF will: • Encourage the police to improve their dialogue with residents and response to reports of crime 4. Asylum Seekers/Refugees The CCRF will: • Encourage and support the local community to welcome and positively nurture an understanding of issues surrounding displaced people COMMUNITY REGENERATION Aim: To support and work on initiatives which enhance the health, cohesion and vitality of local communities 1. Southern Quarter Renaissance Project The CCRF will: • Work in partnership with the Southern Quarter Renaissance Team • Actively support the community in developing this vision • Nurture greater social cohesion within the Southern Quarter • Identify a lead officer within Norwich City Council for the project • Ensure the City Council incorporates the vision into the renaissance funding bid to the East of England Development Agency 2. Northern Gates Regeneration The CCRF will: • Support the City Council’s Northern Gates regeneration strategy • Actively support the regeneration team in developing the vision • Promote the regeneration project with local residents 3. Provisions for Youth The CCRF will: • Work with Norfolk Youth and Community Services to improve information about on the needs of young people in the city and develop provision of youth services in the city centre • Develop contact with the old Barclays Banking Hall youth project • Work with the City Council to make provision for Skateboarding • Promote the use of Section 106 funding to provide adequate youth provision 4. Community Facilities The CCRF will: • Endeavour to work with the City Council to develop a strategy for the provision of community facilities in the city centre • Ensure the City Council deliver on its commitment to improve the area under and adjacent to the flyover on Magdalen Street • Ensure the City Council delivers on its commitment to provide an outdoor skate park in the city 5. Health The CCRF will: • Support the reconsideration of the case to the Norwich Primary Care Trust for the provision of a city centre surgery 6. Culture The CCRF will: • Work with the City Council to promote the early evening economy within the city centre • Support the King Street Festival and any other such events within the City 7. Tenant Compact The CCRF will: • Support the TPAS (Tenants Particpation Advisory Service/Rouen Wedge study) ENVIRONMENT Aim: To take and promote action to improve the environment in the following: 1. Wooded Ridge The CCRF will: • Continue to actively contribute to improvements and enhancement of this significant bit of green space in the City Centre 2. Recycling The CCRF will: • Input to the Waste Management Strategy with the City & County Councils • Promote innovative facilities for recycling 3. Tree Planting The CCRF will: • Promote and identify areas for the planting of more trees • Encourage the City Council to establish a Tree Warden scheme 4. Open Spaces The CCRF will: • Continue to support and promote the provision of open spaces in the city centre • Work to protect open spaces for residents’ use from potential developments • Encourage residents to become involved in environmental improvements and take responsibility for their outdoor communal areas 5. Water Cities Project The CCRF will: • Support the Water Cities Project to develop the river Wensum as a recreational waterway and an alternative transport link • Continue support for canoeing facilities at New Mills 6. Play Provision The CCRF will: • Promote the relocation of Esdelle Street play area and improvements to Gildencroft • Seek to develop a new play facility in the Rouen Road area • Encourage the City Council to release the surface car park for teenage play at Westwick Street GETTING ABOUT Aim: To promote an integrated approach to traffic and transport issues in the city that addresses the need to reduce congestion and pollution levels in the city centre whilst providing adequate access for people 1. Cycling The CCRF will: • Encourage further clearly marked routes for cyclists within the city centre • Promote the need for a cycle centre with changing facilities within the city centre • Encourage the responsible use of footpaths by cyclists 2. Pedestrians The CCRF will: • Continue to identify areas for traffic calming measures • Work with the City Council to implement traffic calming measures on Rouen Road and Tombland 3. Public Transport The CCRF will: • Seek better provision of public transport for people late at night • Work with the City & County Councils to improve public transport in the city centre • Continue to support the need for a tram service from the UEA & Hospital to the Railway Station PLANNING Aim: To represent the views of the Forum on planning applications and developments that affect the everyday lives of the City Centre community The CCRF will continue to comment on plans, on behalf of the residents, and provide recommendations, support and/or objections to proposed developments that will change the quality of life for residents within the city centre. COMMUNICATION The CCRF will: • Continue to publicise news and developments on the Community Notice Boards at Music House Lane and Barnard’s Yard • Publicise the venue and time of all forthcoming meetings • Aim to produce a newsletter with information, news and developments 3 times a year (funds permitting) Members of the CCRF will: • Always endeavour to be available to inform residents on issues and developments concerning the city centre. Appendix: Key Statistics about the City Centre Key statistics have been taken from a number of available sources, including the 1991 Census and the 1997 Survey of Households in Norfolk and Waveney. Where possible, information is provided for the City Centre area. Some information is only available for Mancroft Ward, which at the time of the 1991 Census had a population of 7410 people, and included all 5257 from the City Centre. The mid-2000 estimate of population in Mancroft Ward was 7,965 (Source: Norfolk County Council). Employment and Unemployment A significant proportion of the jobs in the Norwich City Council area (37%) and the jobs in the Norwich Travel to Work area (21%) are in Mancroft Ward. Around 34,000 people work in the Mancroft Ward area, and most of these jobs will be in the City Centre area (Source: 2001 Annual Business Inquiry, ONS). This has obvious implications for the issues that affect the City Centre, for example, traffic and transport. About half of the population of the City Centre can be classed as “economically active” (i.e. either working or unemployed) (Source: 1991 Census). The level of unemployment is high in the City Centre, with only Earlham, Larkman and Marlpit Community Power Areas having a higher rate. The Claimant Count for January 2003 gave unemployment in Mancroft Ward at 9.6% of those who are “economically active” compared with 4.1% for the City as a whole. Even allowing for discrepancies between the areas of Mancroft Ward and the City Centre, the rate of unemployment is more than double the City average. Long-term unemployment (over 1 year) has fallen significantly over recent years. However, in January 2003, 17.4% of those unemployed in Mancroft Ward were long-term unemployed compared with 14.0% in the City as a whole. (Source: Claimant Count, ONS) A significant proportion of adults in the City Centre (30%) have a low level of income (less than £120 per week), which is reflected in the number of adults receiving at least one benefit (37%) (Source: 1997 Housing Survey). The 1997 Household Survey looked at barriers to employment. Education and Training Over a third of the people in Norwich have qualifications to “A” Level or higher (34%), with a half of those aged sixteen and above having “O” Levels or GCSEs (Grades A to C or equivalent). The 1997 Household Survey asked people what the reasons were preventing Norwich residents from developing their skills further (through further education or training) and the most frequent responses are shown below. Looking in more depth at how the cost of training is a barrier, people identified the following: • the actual cost of the course (86%); • the cost of course materials (25%); • the cost of paying for childcare (17%); and • the cost of transport to and from the course (17%). Poverty There is a large proportion of “poor” households in the City Centre (34.1% of the total) (School of Advanced Urban Studies’ poverty index). The Index of Multiple Deprivation 2000, which uses a Ward based ranking, makes Mancroft the 2nd most deprived ward in Norwich and within the 10% most deprived wards nationally (national rank = 638; rank = 1 is the most deprived and 8,414 the least deprived). (Source = IMD 2000) The level of single parent households in the City Centre (5.1%) is basically the same as that for both the City as a whole (5.5%) and nationally (5.6%) (Source: 1997 Household Survey). Types of Housing Council housing makes up the largest proportion of the housing in the City Centre. The area has the highest proportion of housing association property in the twelve Community Power areas (Source: 1991 Census). The City Centre has the highest percentage of pensioners living alone of the twelve Community Power areas and an average number of residents per household of 1.69, which is the lowest ratio in the twelve Community Power areas. The transitory nature of the City Centre population is emphasised by the fact that the members of 20% of households in the City Centre had moved house within the year before the survey. This is the highest ratio in the twelve Community Power areas. Traffic/Car Ownership The 1997 Household Survey established that car ownership in Norwich is increasing, with 14% of households having two or more cars, but in the City Centre 56% of households do not have a car (36% for City as a whole). Traffic on the Inner Ring Road has increased by 18% over the last 5 years (Source: Norfolk County Council). A significant number of people in Norwich travel to work by car, or as a passenger in a car (60%), increased from 54% in 1991. Only 19% walk, 9% use the bus, and 9% cycle. It is notable that a higher proportion of people walk to their leisure activities (42%). Three quarters of Norwich City residents use the car for the main weekly food shop. Shopping Norwich ranks 9th in the UK’s top 1100 centres of shopping (Experian Goad), and was recently ranked as the 8th most popular UK visitor destination. As of January 2003, 6.8% of shop units in the City Centre were vacant, and at September 2002 about 6.6% of the office space in the City Centre was vacant or to let. (Source: Norwich City Council, DSPEED) Crime The 1997 Household Survey found that, generally, fear of crime was less in the City Centre compared to the whole of Norwich. The greatest fears on the basis of the percentage of people interviewed who expressed serious concern, were: • having the home broken into (51%); • being mugged (27%); and • being insulted or pestered in a public place (21%). Norwich City Centre: Recorded Crime (April 2002 – March 2003)   Number of Recorded Offences Violence Against the Person 1263 Robbery 145 Sexual Offences 65 Theft of Motor Vehicles 135 Theft from Motor Vehicles 1083 Other Theft 3095 Dwelling Burglary 215 Non-dwelling Burglary 398 Criminal Damage 917 Drugs 285 Other Offences 560 (Source: Norfolk Constabulary Statistics 2002/03)