viewpoint news 24

NewsWinter 2009 • Issue 24

1Viewpoint News • Issue 24 • Winter 2009

Welcome to your latest edition of Viewpoint News.

Issue 24

This newsletter includes:

Welcome to the 24th edition of Viewpoint News. We would like to extend a warm welcome to

our new Viewpoint members and hope you find your time on the panel rewarding and enjoyable.

The ‘Frequently Asked Questions Page’ in this newsletter is all about ‘Splash Leisure Centre’

Christmas Competition

It’s that time of the year

again when one lucky

Viewpoint Member will win

£100 of High Street

Vouchers to spend after

Christmas. So get filling in

the questionnaire for your

chance to win the prize.

12 Viewpoint News • Issue 24 • Winter 2009

Please contact us if…

P Your details have changed, so we can update ourrecords.

P You now have an e-mail address and would be happyto be contacted via e-mail and/or receive your surveyselectronically.

P You know of anyone who would be interested in joiningthe panel or if you have ideas about improving the waywe consult with you.

P To get more information on anything in the ViewpointNewsletter or you have an idea for what you want usto put on the Frequently Asked Questions Page.

Contact: Viewpoint

Phone: 01642 526090

E-mail:

viewpoint@stockton.gov.uk

Post: Viewpoint, PPC

Stockton-on-Tees BC

FREEPOST NEA5980

Municipal Buildings

Church Road

STOCKTON-ON-TEES

TS18 1BR

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P What the latest survey is about

P Results of the Viewpoint 25 and Viewpoint

26 surveys

The latest questionnaire is about the following topics

P How We Spend Your Money

P Standards Committee

P Electoral Registration

P Customer Service Centres

P Democratic Services

P Scrutiny

P The ‘Frequently Asked Questions Page’

P What’s on in December 2009 and in January,

February and March 2010

In the Viewpoint 25 survey we asked you about the following

topics:

P Alcohol Services

P Free School Meals and Clothing Grants

P Disabled Facilities Grants

P Markets in the Borough

P Proposed Ferry Crossing from Ingleby Barwick to Preston

Park

In the Viewpoint 26 survey we asked you about the following

topics:

P New Executive Arrangements for Stockton-on-Tees Borough

P North East Ambulance Service

P Substance Misuse

P Public Events

P Advertising Board Policy

Sunday 7th March

The Black Bobby’s Painting

Workshop

9.30am - noon

Sunday 21st March

Signs of Spring

10.30am - noon

Sunday 28th March

Cowpen Bewley Medieval

Village

Sunday 28th March

Wildlife Card Making

1.00pm – 3.00pm

Opposite the Jolly

Farmers pub on

Thornaby Road,

Thornaby

Cowpen Bewley

Woodland Park

At the Activity Centre

of Cowpen Bewley

Woodland Park

Wynyard Woodland

Park

Senior lecturers including Andrea Goodwill

from Cleveland College of Art & Design will

be on hand to give you pointers and advice

on painting landscapes & wildlife on this

attractive nature reserve beside the Tees in

Thornaby.

(Bring your easel if you have one. Paints,

brushes & paper will be supplied)

Visit the Woodland Park on World Forestry

Day.

Examine the layout and buildings of one of

the best-preserved villages on Teesside

with archaeologist Robin Daniels.

Try your hand at making our Easter

Wildlife cards, containing wildflower seed.

2 Viewpoint News • Issue 24 • Winter 2009

Section 1 - Alcohol Services

11Viewpoint News • Issue 24 • Winter 2009

What’s on in December, January, February and March?

P 90% of respondents were aware that the dailyrecommended units of alcohol for males is 3 - 4 units and

for females 2 - 3 units.

P When asked if they thought it was safe to drink a few daysrecommended amount of alcohol in one day, 19% of

respondents thought it was safe.

P 68% of respondents had heard of the ‘Think B4U you drink’campaign, 55% of which had heard of the campaign via the

television.

P 95% of respondents thought alcohol was a contributingfactor to anti-social behaviour.

P 71% of respondents thought the law should be changed sothat it is illegal to consume any alcohol at all then drive.

P 71% of respondents said if they wanted more informationabout alcohol support services they would look in the G. P.

Surgery. A further 55% check the Internet. 38% of respondents were not aware of any alcohol

support services.

P When asked, what would encourage you to use an alcohol support service if you ever neededadvice or support, 44% of respondents said if it was close to where they lived. By contrast only

6% stated being close to where they worked would encourage them to use an alcohol support

service.

Sunday 13th Dec 09

Nature’s Christmas

11.00am – 3.30pm

Monday 21st Dec 09

Festive Health Walk

10.00am - noon

Friday 8th January

What’s Up?

7.30pm – 9.00pm

Friday 15th January

Park in the Dark

6.30pm – 8.00pm

Thursday 21st January

Historic Billingham

10.00am – 11.30pm

Sunday 31st January

Winter Tree Identification

10.30am - noon

Sunday 7th February

Yarm - Picton - Worsall

Loop

10.30am – 1.30pm

Wednesday 17th FebruaryBusy Birdies 10.30am - noon

Wynyard Woodland

Park, Outside the

railway carriage

Outside the entrance

to Boyes, Billingham

Town Centre

Wynyard Woodland

Park Planetarium

Preston Park - Meet

at the main gates

Outside St.

Cuthbert’s Church,

Billingham Green

Cowpen Bewley

Woodland Park

Visitor Centre

In the car park of

Yarm train station,

Green Lane

Cowpen BewleyWoodland ParkVisitor Centre

A drop-in session in the railway carriage.

Lots of fun Christmas crafts to make and

take away using recycled and natural

materials.

(There may be a small charge for some crafts)

A guided walk around Billingham Beck

Valley. Hot drinks and mince pies will be

served at the visitor centre before returning

to the town centre.

(Walking boots are recommended)

Find out what stars, planets and other

objects in space are visible in the sky for

the coming month, as well as keeping in

touch with any special events such as

comets, shooting stars and eclipses.

Come to Preston Park for a dark night out.

After meeting our barn owl you’ll be led on

a walk through the woodlands to explore

‘why we are scared of the dark’, ‘the effect

of the moon on how we feel’ and ‘wildlife

winter survival tactics’.

A chance to explore Anglo-Saxon and

medieval Billingham with archaeologist

Robin Daniels.

Come along and find out how to identify

trees in their winter leafless state.

Explore some of the countryside south of

Yarm on this 7-mile circular walk. Please

bring a packed lunch.

(For further info. Phone 01740 630011)

Create a home for our ‘winged friends’.Build your own bird box to either leave atthe Park to be put up by the rangers, or totake it home to encourage our featheredfriends to visit your garden. (£2 charge, Please book in advance)

P When asked about illegal drug use, 58.2% of respondents thought that illegal drug use hadincreased nationally, 42% thought it had increased in Stockton-on-Tees and 24.5% thought that

illegal drug use had increased within their local area over the past year.

P In the past year, 25.1% of respondents had seen drug related litter, 20.4% had seen what theybelieved to have been the sale of controlled substances taking place and only 2.3% had been

approached by anyone selling drugs. Overall 20.4% of those respondents, who had witnessed

the above, reported it.

P The majority (4.9%) of respondents, who reported the drug activity they had witnessed,reported it to the Neighbourhood Police. Only 0.4% of respondents reported it to the Drug

Action Team, Crimestoppers or the ASBO Team.

P 62.1% of respondents were aware of drugs enforcement activity across the Cleveland Policearea, 52.1% were aware of it in Stockton-on-Tees and 23.6% were aware of drug enforcement

activities occurring in their local area over the last 12 months.

P 80.6% of respondents who were asked if they had heard the term ‘legal highs’ said that theyhad not.

P When asked if they were aware of a service in Stockton dedicated to providing advice andsupport to carers and family members of people who misuse drugs, 53.6% of respondents said

yes they were aware of it.

Section 3 - Substance Misuse

Viewpoint 25 results

Viewpoint 26 results

3Viewpoint News • Issue 24 • Winter 200910 Viewpoint News • Issue 24 • Winter 2009

Section 3 - Disabled Facilities Grants

P Respondents were asked if they thought it would be a good idea if the council purchased apool of stair lifts and ramps, which could be lent to clients and recovered for re-use when

they were no longer needed. 91% either tended or strongly agreed it was a good idea.

P 79% of respondents thought it was acceptable that some clients get their adaptation morequickly than others, for example those clients we can help through the provision of a stairlift

or ramp from our store or equipment will get their adaptation more quickly than we can

currently provide, whilst others requiring a larger more expensive adaptation may have to

wait a little longer.

P 62% of respondents thought that where a client cannot afford to pay their ‘means testedcontribution’, the Local Authority should offer a loan to the client.

P Respondents were asked whether, in circumstances where a client’s home cannot beadapted, they think that the Local Authority should offer grant monies or a loan to a client to

help them move to a more suitable property. 56% of respondents thought they should

provide grant money and 55% thought they should offer the client a loan.

A BIG Splash for Stockton

The first phase of the 2.5 million extension to Splash is now

complete.

The ongoing transformation of the existing building has been very

successful with minimum disruption to the service. It is an exciting

time for the people of Stockton having a major leisure provision in

one central location, ideally located to combine leisure and

shopping together.

Visitors can now benefit from the newly enlarged Activ8 Health

and Fitness facility over two floors, doubling the capacity of the

previous gym. This state of the art, fully equipped Technogym

facility holds over seventy pieces of equipment in a modern and

contemporary environment. This spacious facility also boasts its

own designated cardio, resistance, free weight and abdominal/stretch areas.

The 70 plus station gym contains a staggering 22 treadmills and over 20 pieces of the most up to

date cardiovascular equipment including the brand new ‘Vario’.

Our other cardiovascular stations include steppers, cardio waves, cross trainers and bikes and

are all equipped with TV and iPod entertainment systems.

High quality, spacious changing facilities complete the new facility, with designated male and

female shower facilities.

The popular free weight area has been extended to include two areas, across two floors ideal for

both serious users and those who want to take a more relaxed approach to weight training. An

extensive selection of dumbbells and barbells are available for strength and tone work.

Phase one of the Splash redevelopment programme also saw the introduction of a

comprehensive fitness class programme which is delivered in the brand new multi-activity sports

hall. A packed fitness and activity programme is now available for the whole family and includes

Boxercise, Aerobics, Pump FX and Bums and Tums.

Children also have much more choice and flexibility when choosing ways to keep fit with the

introduction of fun activities such as Street Dance and Zig Zag Interactive Fitness Equipment.

Beccie Bennett, Health and Fitness Operations Manager “It is such an exciting time for new and

existing members to benefit from the introduction of fitness classes to this facility. Combining this

with the new two storey gym will result in varied and comprehensive fitness regimes for all”.

A number of Clubs have also started in the main hall and include Karate and Ju-jitsu, these clubs

are a great way for young people to learn self defence and a great way for them to make friends.

There is now also the option for families to take part in dedicated sessions together as Saturday

night is family night! The evening includes badminton, table tennis, swimming, ZigZag sports wall,

dance mats and Activ8 Health & Fitness.

New additions to Splash are transforming this facility into a complete Health and Fitness provision

under one roof and there is much more to come with the exciting introduction of two specialist

fitness studios, expanded café area and relocated reception desk.

For more information on the Splash redevelopment please visit our website on

www.teesactive.co.uk. If you are interested in becoming a member of Activ8 please contact a

Health & Fitness advisor on 01642 526251.

Frequently Asked Questions

P 73.4% of respondents were not aware that a specialist stimulant treatment service exists inStockton.

Section 3 - Substance Misuse continued

What we will do

P Stockton’s Drug and Alcohol Team (DAAT) and their local partners have taken your views intoaccount alongside other data or sources of information about drug and alcohol use and misuse in

the borough. We will use this information to adapt and shape our services as well as future

commissioning of services.

Section 2 - Free School Meals & Clothing Grants

P When asked if they had ever used the Free School Meals/Clothing Grant Service only 9% ofrespondents had used the service.

P Of those that had used the Service, 81% were satisfied with the response they received fromthe Service. 77% of respondents felt they were treated in a fair and sensitive manner by the

Free School Meals/Clothing Grant Service.

Viewpoint 25 results

What we will do

P Your answers help us to monitor and improve user satisfaction with the Free school Mealsand Clothing Grant Service

4 Viewpoint News • Issue 24 • Winter 2009 9Viewpoint News • Issue 24 • Winter 2009

Section 4 - Markets in the Borough

P When asked how frequently, if at all, they visit markets in the Borough;

• 9% of respondents said they visit Billingham Market at least once a week. 51% said they

had never used it.

• Only 5% of respondents visit Thornaby Market at least once a week and 65% said they

have never used it.

• 26% of respondents visit Stockton Market at least once a week as apposed to 8% who

have never used it.

• Only 2% of the respondents said they visit the Stockton Farmers’ Market at least once a

week. 50% said they have never used it.

P Of those respondents who visit their local town centre markets, 65% said they travel there ina car and 31% use public transport.

Section 6 - Allocation of Social Housing - continued

P When asked if they would be able to tell someone who asked where they would go to apply for a

Council or Housing Association house, 45.6% of respondents said they wouldn’t know who to tell

them to contact.

P 90.9% of respondents do not know how to find out which properties have been let.

P Only 7% of respondents would know where to find a copy of the Common Allocations Policy,

compared to 89.6% who would not know.

P When asked whether they thought the way that Council and Housing Association properties are

allocated is fair, the majority (58.4%) of respondents said they had no opinion on the matter. A

further 9% of respondents disagreed and only 5.3% of respondents agreed that it was fair.

The survey asked people who they thought would be most likely to be offered a Council or Housing

Association house and to rank a list from 1-10 (1 being most likely and 10 being the least likely).

From those situations that where marked most likely (1) the findings show that:

P The majority (30.5%) of respondents thought that people losing their home due to a recognised

regeneration scheme would be the most likely to be offered accommodation, followed by people

who are homeless (27.2%).

P 15.1% of respondents thought people who need to move on urgent medical or welfare grounds

would be most likely to be offered a house and 14.1% of respondents thought people living in

unsafe or unsanitary conditions would be.

P 9.6% of respondents thought that people at risk of domestic abuse would be most likely to be

offered a house.

P Only 1.7% of respondents thought that people who are under-occupying a house would be most

likely to be offered accommodation.

P 83.3% of respondents do not understand the banding system for prioritising applicants.

P The majority of respondents (52.2%) agreed that local needs should be taken into consideration

when prioritising allocations. Only 6.6% of respondents disagreed with this.

Section 3 - Disabled Facilities Grants

P 80% of respondents think that the Local Authority

should impose a charge (up to a maximum of

£10,000) on properties where it has spent

considerable money adapting them, so that if a

property was sold it could reclaim some monies

back to spend on other clients.

P In a situation where the cost of adaptations to a

property exceed the maximum grant of £30,000

and the clients cannot afford the excess cost, 79%

of respondents agreed that the Local Authority

should offer the client a loan on the condition that it

is paid back once the property is sold.

What we will do

Your answers will inform any new service we may introduce and as a result of the replies

received:-

P We have introduced an Equipment Loan Scheme and changed they way we manage ourwaiting list with the aim of reducing the time it takes us to provide stairlifts and access ramps

from 28 weeks to 8 weeks. This new process will also allow us to recycle equipment, so

reducing the overall cost of providing these adaptations

P A policy has been developed which will allow the Council to place a charge against aproperty which receives a major adaptation. This new policy will be introduced in April 2010

and allow the Council to recycle DFG funding by claiming back a percentage of the funding

provided if the property is sold within a 10 year period.

What we will do

P Together with a number of partner organisations (including other Tees Valley Local Authorities

and local Registered Social Landlords - also known as a Housing Association), Stockton Council

is responsible for allocating affordable social housing through the Choice Based Lettings (CBL)

scheme. The aim of the Tees Valley CBL scheme is to give people in the Tees Valley more

choice about where they live.

P While not all Viewpoint members were aware of / users of Council and Housing Association

housing, your responses will help us improve our methods of communicating key messages

about the service with users and the general public.

5Viewpoint News • Issue 24 • Winter 20098 Viewpoint News • Issue 24 • Winter 2009

P 26.9% rated the quality of refreshments available as fair.

P Overall, 47.4% of respondents rated the events that they have attended as good.

P Of those respondents who have not been to an event in the last twelve months, the majority(12.2%) said this was due to having no interest in the events on offer.

Section 4 - Public Events continued

P 56.5% of respondents think that advertising boards are a good idea.

P When asked whether they thought advertising boards make town centres more colourful,43.3% of respondents agreed that they do.

P The majority of respondents (44.2%) think that advertising boards make our town centreslook cluttered and 54.6% of respondents think that advertising boards cause a nuisance for

pedestrians using the footpath.

P 81.9% of respondents think that business’ use of advertising boards should be regulated.

Section 5 - Advertising Board Policy

What we will do

P We will continue to support the regular markets with the introduction of a series of events andspecialist markets throughout 2010. This programme will contribute to a series of

celebrations that will mark the 700 year anniversary of the granting of the Stockton Market

Charter.

Section 4 - Markets in the Borough

P When asked if it would interest them to attend any of the following, 54% of respondents saidit would interest them to attend a craft fair and 52% said a street market. By contrast only

25% said it would interest them to attend a private market.

P 41% of respondents either strongly or tended to agree that the market is an importantshopping facility for them

P When asked if they thought the quality of the produce at the markets is good, 53% stronglyor tended to agree that it is.

P 63% of respondents strongly or tended to agree that the market produce is value for money.

P 75% of respondents strongly or tended to agree that they would like to see a wider variety ofgoods on sale in markets.

P When asked about stall holders, 66% of respondents either strongly or tended to agree thatthey are polite and helpful.

P 39% of respondents either strongly or tended to agree that they would like to see car bootsales in the Borough.

P 26% of respondents either strongly or tended to agree that they would welcome anadditional market nearer to their home.

P There were 54% of respondents who either strongly or tended to agree that products inmarkets in the borough are displayed attractively.

P 51% of respondents either strongly or tended to agree that the market facilities are practical.

P Respondents were asked whether they think the market is kept clean and tidy and 54%either strongly or tended to agree that it is.

P 49% of respondents either strongly or tended to agree that access to markets for disabledpeople is good.

P When asked if they think markets in the Borough are well publicised, 30% of respondentseither strongly or tended to agree that they are.

P Only 16% of respondents either strongly or tended to agree that there are a wide range ofspecial markets in the borough.

P 45% of respondents either strongly or tended to agree that shopping in the market is anenjoyable experience.

P If a specialist market was in town, 39% of respondents either strongly or tended to agreethat they would make a special effort to visit it.

What we will do

P The Council have asked these questions of the public of Stockton to gauge and better

understand your current enjoyment and attendance at the events we provide. Your views

help us understand what we can do better, inform the type of venue used, the content of

programmes and to identify what else you would like to see.

What we will do

P Stockton Borough Council is exploring the introduction of a new Advertising Board Policy.Your comments and feedback will help shape the policy and its implementation.

Section 6 - Allocation of Social Housing - continued

P When asked if they understood how a Council House or Housing Association property isallocated in the Tees Valley 71.6% of respondents said they did not understand.

P 82.1% of respondents did not recognise the ‘Compass’ logo.

P Only 18.5% of respondents had heard of Compass compared to 79.6% who had not.

P 92.8% of respondents did not know which organisations are involved in Compass.

P The majority (75.7%) of respondents do not know how to find out what housing is available.

7Viewpoint News • Issue 24 • Winter 20096 Viewpoint News • Issue 24 • Winter 2009

P Before receiving the Viewpoint survey 81.2% of respondents were not aware of theproposed consultation about the Ambulance Service becoming a Foundation Trust.

P Only 34.8% of respondents were aware of what a ‘Foundation Trust’ was before receivingthe Viewpoint survey.

When asked whether they think aspects of the Ambulance Service will improve, stay the same

or get worse the majority of respondents think that:

P Patient care will stay the same (37.3%)

P Patient transport services will stay the same (31.5%)

P Community involvement will improve (33.2%)

P Ambulance response times will stay the same (41.1%)

P Treatment in the event of major incident will stay the same (41.8%)

P Additionally 36.7% of respondents think that Foundation Trust status will mean they havemore say over how the Ambulance Service will be run.

P The majority of respondents (36.2%) neither agree nor disagree that the AmbulanceService becoming a Foundation Trust Would save lots of money. 16.3% disagree that it

would save money and 16.2% agree.

Section 2 - North East Ambulance Service

P 46% of respondents agree that the Ambulance Service would become more accountable tolocal communities as a Foundation Trust compared to 11.7% who disagree that it would.

P 27.7% of respondents neither agree nor disagree that an Ambulance Foundation Trustwould divert resources for patient care. However, 20% of respondents agree that it would

and 15.1% disagree.

P When respondents were asked whether they agree or disagree that Foundation Trusts arethe first step towards privatisation of the NHS, 22.2% said that they agreed. By contrast,

18.9% of respondents disagreed with this.

Section 2 - North East Ambulance Service

P 70.2% of respondents have attended an event that was organised by Stockton-on-TeesBorough Council.

P Most respondents who have been to an event organised by Stockton Borough Council inthe last twelve months have attended either the fireworks display (34.4%) or the Stockton

International Riverside Festival (34.4%). By contrast, only 10.6% of respondents have

attended the Billingham Show in the last twelve months.

P Most recently, 44% of respondents travelled in a car when attending an event organised bythe Council. By contrast only 9% used public transport.

P 34.1% of respondents heard about the events through ‘Stockton News’ and 30.9% hadheard about them in their local newspaper.

When asked to rate the Stockton Borough Council events:

P 47.6% of respondents said they would rate the safety of events as good.

P 45.2% of respondents rated the organisation of the events as good.

P 31.7% of respondents thought the cleanliness of the event was good.

P 38.2% of respondents thought that the advertising of the events was good.

P 38.9% of respondents rated the content of events as good.

When asked to rate the refreshments at the events:

P 24.8% of respondents rated the variety of refreshments as fair.

P 26% of respondents thought the value for money of the refreshments was fair.

Section 4 - Public Events

P The results of this consultation are being considered. Further details on the outcome of theconsultation will follow in the next newsletter and in the January edition of Stockton News.

Section 1 - New Executive Arrangements

Viewpoint 26 results

Respondents were asked how frequently, if at all do they visit Preston Hall and Park. 4% said

they visit at least once a week.

P 81% of respondents who visit Preston Hall and Park travel by car. Only 8% walk.

P Those who said they would use the service mainly thought that they would use the serviceon a Saturday (15%) or Sunday (15%).

P 56% of respondents said that they would be prepared to pay for this service.

P When respondents were asked how much they would be prepared to pay for the service,51% said they would be prepared to pay £1 for adults and 50p for children.

Section 5 - Ferry Crossings

What we will do

P Feedback will follow in the next edition of Viewpoint News

What we will do

P Further details on the outcome of the consultation will follow in the next edition of ViewpointNews