OUTPUTS OF OPEN MEETING 11 September 2006
Employment and Training
Introduction
What is message to employers about what they have to do?
Connexions – 13-19 year olds
- 65 young people looking for jobs in Petersfield
- ? number of young people in Bordon seeking jobs in Petersfield
Apprenticeships on line
Possible barriers
- small employers: finance and capacity
- minimum wage
- what can young people contribute?
Possible Link between employers and colleges
- College because of lack of employment?
- 2 week work experience in year 10
- Princes Youth Business Trust
- Day release training: NVQ2 / key skills
Parents have to accommodate 16-18 year olds
Actions
* Research
- mapping audit: who is doing what, where, when how
- company requirements and skills on offer
- perceptions: communication needs
* Work with Princes Trust and other organisations
* Develop a product
* Apprenticeships on line
- all children will receive info 18.9/06.
- PRESS
*Explain what an apprenticeship is
* Central vacancy unit
* Petersfield Tomorrow Questionnaire to employers
* Seminars: how to cut through paperwork
* EHDC
- lead by example; modern apprenticeship
- 3-year apprenticeship; 3 trainers over 3 years
* Encourage employers to offer work trial for at least one month (no pay? But travel expenses)
* Local Business HR plan
* Develop local evening classes: target South Downs and Alton
Personnel
Bob Chambers: getting message across to employers
Graham Smith: strategy development
Connexions – CVU
TPS - ?
Hilary Ayer – EHDC
Will Parsons – Petersfield Post
Local Products
Main priorities
- Awareness:
- informing public
- Schools
- Features in local press
- More frequent farmers’ markets: do they have to be in the Square? Expand
- Access
- more access to organic food
- encourage local shops to stock more local produce
- Target local shops to stock local produce
- Breweries and vineyards
- Crafts
- Day for local crafts (ironmongers, fencing etc) in the Square
- Young people
- Traditional skills
- Local produce / tasting / cooking with local producers
- Farm tours
Key steps
Engage with local producers: enthuse them to get involved; appeal to them as businesses
Need for venue, festival, regular events with space available for producers
Marketing to local people: access and awareness
Outlets for local produce: e.g. local produce ‘supermarket’
Audit/direct of what is available locally
Focus on new producers
Contact local chains requesting areas for local produce in their stores
Develop project plans for the main priorities
Partners
- Dedicated person (volunteer?) to work with local producers/products
- Councils: all levels at Town, EHDC, County
- SEEDA, regional development agency
- Project group
- Producers
- Residents
- SDNP – South Downs National Park
- Schools and LEA
- Hampshire Fare
- Sellers / distributors/ retailers
- Relevant organisations and agencies: NFU, CLA, Arts Council
- Local media
- Local tourism/ hospitality businesses (inc cafes and restaurants)
- Local health authorities, PCTs etc
- Various environment / land management agencies
Funding
From wherever
Covers number of areas, such as
- Rural regeneration
- Health eating
- Local business
- Education
- Managing local environment
Natural Environment
A priority concern for 97% of respondents to the Petersfield Tomorrow survey
Management plans
Group based around the Heath 2005-10
Project work taking place: working parties
What can be done in addition to the plans
Get farmers / landowners involved: open days; education
Advertising
Communication
Better education programme: how people should behave in the countryside
Challenges
Steep Common
Conflict among groups using Heath – more open space needed?
Concerns about people knowing locations, e.g. Borough Road
Achieving balance between protection and enjoyment
Over-promotion may add pressure
Avoiding over regulation: Don’t want ‘police state’
Key issues
Farming and land use
Funding
Choice of areas to visit: advertise all areas, not just Heath
Education:
People’s first experience of the environment is growing plants
Schoolchildren linked to allotments
Gardening clubs in schools
Broker for projects between schools and landowners
Education for specific groups, e.g. mothers and family groups
Schools as satellite environment centres
excellent hubs because of their locations
audit of schools’ environmental activities
Link countryside to health
Common project for all stakeholders to focus on
Identify specific species for focus, e.g. Lapwing, Skylarks
Encourage landowners/farmers to manage land for benefit of specific species
Link with national campaigns, cf Jamie Oliver
Summary
The more people get informed and involved in the countryside, the more they treasure and respect it
Species-led projects involving schools, farms and food
Guide/directory to access to the environment around Petersfield
Schools acting as local environment centres
Natural Environment Group has a wide remit
Retail and Business
Issues
Questionnaire loaded
Threat of pedestrianisation
No incentive for business to come to Petersfield
Difficult to find office space
Difficult to get staff: more involvement with schools
Cost of parking (for staff)
Deliveries and parking
No incentive for businesses to buy permit (e.g. £2.50 a day)
Traffic control
Health and Safety
Councils to do more, e.g. Petersfield in Bloom
No leadership from EHDC, e.g. contact with senior figures
Business in Petersfield – A Voice
Co-ordination: person to co-ordinate and support
Petersfield First: too many groups at present
Promotion of local business
Good balance of business
Marketing and branding of Petersfield (as market town)
Further research, e.g. survey of business to find out facts
Summary
*More research in business community (e.g. on pedestrianisation)
* Petersfield First could be vehicle
* Business expertise to contribute to all groups
* Communication
Find out facts and take action
Personnel
Sean Collins Housing
Roswells
Towners
Petersfield Marketing
Margaret Arnold
John Lewis
Macdonald Oates Solicitors
Lux
Town Character
“Developing” or “enhancing” the character of Petersfield (not ‘preserving’)
Town centre and setting: clogged High Street needs pedestrianisation
Local people, e.g. Steve Pibworth
Art, culture and local activities – make it easy for groups to prosper
Built environment
Location: green fields, e.g. between Bell Hill and bypass etc etc
Shape of the town and its environs
Sport
What would we hate to happen in the Town?
- Fields built on
- Increased housing density
- Development with no consideration of the impact
What don’t we like about the Town?
- Roads around Ramshill Estate
- Sewerage spilling over in Sussex Road front gardens after rain or snow
- Lack of signage/ bus shelters
- Lack of 6th form college
Summary
- Hard to describe Town character in short time.
- Needs more work and perhaps an expert consultant from outside to give guidance.
- Project group to develop town design statement
Local Transport
Public Transport
Priorities: Information
No bus timetables, e.g. hospital connections
Clearer timetables
Transport Forum based on Petersfield
Themed meeting for East Hants – HCC, EHDC, Transport Groups, Operators
Integration of Bus and Rail
Priorities: SW Trains and Stagecoach must work together (same company)
Cycle initiatives
Funded through Developer contributions
Push HCC to set bus tenders
Priorities: Low floor buses for older people and mothers with young children
Disability awareness training for taxis
Check with EHDC & Taxi Licensing Dept
Work with local forums:
Cycle, bus, rail
Transport wishes
Improve Public Transport information – clarity and availability
Integration of bus-rail timetables & better bus link to south of Butser
Cycling initiatives
Low floor buses
Disability awareness training
Reform transport working party within Petersfield Tomorrow
September 12, 2006