To receive an update on the actions arising from the Purple Flag Award initiative.
Minutes:
Salisbury was awarded Purple Flag status in October 2012. It has been recognised nationally as a safe place to live and visit. As part of the Assessment, the Assessors picked up a number of key points worthy of note including:
· Excellent Pub watch and Street Pastor schemes in place are of great credit to all who participate and run these ventures.
· Salisbury is a fantastic City with so much history and old buildings that have been kept fresh and appropriate for its inhabitants and tourists, there is a good night time economy that needs a little more focus on the early evening offer and perhaps consideration should be given to include the leisure centre and bowling alley in the submission area.
· The Art and Youth offer at both the Playhouse Art centre and at the Skate park are exceptional and well worthy of note.
· Both Assessors felt that the coming together of the various councils to form the Purple Flag working group and to focus so determinedly on achieving status is of great credit to them all.
They also fed back some key recommendations that they would like to see developed and improved over the next 12 months in time for the follow up assessment.
· The NHS drop in clinic is excellent but the city would benefit even more if it were open longer at the weekend - working with Jo Broom to address this, main issue is funding.
· Concerns over the pedestrian versus traffic outside some bars along Fisherton Street near to Moloko Bar – working with Licensees to address this through the new late night economy group. Situation has greatly improved.
· Street cleaning along Fish Row needs to be looked at after 10pm as litter was very evident in some streets in the centre of the city – schedule has been reviewed and this will be re-assessed with the new Contractors Balfour and Beatty.
· The transport hub is very central, but extra services late at night could be reviewed – Wilts and Dorset are reviewing this.
· Some areas need better lighting as combined with a lack of visible police presence can certainly have an adverse effect on people's perceptions – the steering group plan their next overnight assessment for the 13th April 2013, lighting will be looked at as part of the assessment.
The Group have a robust action plan in place made up of short, medium and longer term action points, in compassing the above actions. Work is underway to address these issues.
Other points to note:
· The implementation of the safe places initiative – a night cafe will be piloted for a period of 6 months this will be managed by the Street Pastors and will offer a safe place for people to go late at night.
· Purple Flag Charter - where businesses from both Daytime and Nigh time economies are being asked to sign up to show their support for the Purple flag initiative. The Charter seeks to promote and build on the links that already exists between businesses and to further highlight Salisbury as a fantastic city.
· No Parking Milford Street – Vehicles are being asked not to park in the area in the evening from 7 – 7am Thursday, Friday, Saturday to ensure there are limited obstructions when driving through the area at night.
· Purple Flag Week – the group were working to put together a programme of events to link in with the national week in September.
· Budgets – the Group were looking at generating monies to fund some of the initiatives above. A funding subgroup will be set up to look at funding opportunities.