Peterborough

Introduction

Peterborough is a Unitary Authority, which was formerly part of Cambridgeshire. The historic town of Peterborough grew significantly after being granted New Town status in the 1960s. Peterborough City Council’s performance has improved steadily, resulting in an improved CPA rating to Good.  Partnership working between key bodies (the Council, the Greater Peterborough Partnership (the LSP) and Opportunity Peterborough (the local delivery vehicle for growth) is also improving. The Local Area Agreement has had a significant role in this.

The city has embraced the growth agenda and is seeking to deliver sustainable growth, tackling deprivation issues and also achieving its aspirations to be an environment capital nationally.

Recent Visits

None to note

Demographics for Peterborough

Mid-2006 Population Estimates

Figures updated annually. Last update August 2007. Source: Office for National Statistics.

Children and Learners

• The number of 15-year-old pupils in maintained schools in Peterborough achieving 5 or more GCSEs at grades A* to C (or equivalent) has risen from 41% to 57% since 1997/98.
• Nearly £46m has been allocated for school renovation projects between 1998/99 and 2004/05 with a further £8m during 2005/06. Projects include £2.3m for a replacement primary school at Newborough, £500,000 for a new school hall/kitchen and administration areas for Castor Primary School and £340,000 for access improvements to many schools including new disabled toilets ramps.

Health and Well Being

• A £300m PFI project to build three new health facilities for local trusts is being managed by the Peterborough and Stamford Hospitals NHS Trust. This will include a £135m scheme centralising acute services from Peterborough District Hospital to the Edith Cavell Hospital, creating a new ‘super hospital’ as well as expanding the services available. There will also be a new mental health unit and integrated care centre.
• South Peterborough PCT is developing an "Acute Hub" including a high-tech diagnostic and treatment centre. The scheme will increase bed numbers by 244 and is due to open in 2007.

Crime

• Over £830,000 was allocated to the Drug Interventions Programme (DIP) which aims to get the most prolific drug-misusing offenders out of crime and in to treatment. Peterborough is widely recognised as having one of the most effective, intensive programmes in the country and whose work will have a significant impact on drug related crime.
• The Basic Command Unit Fund (BCU) covering Peterborough received an allocation of over £234,000 in 2006/07. Projects supported include Police Community Support Officers and a Youth Inclusion Project to undertake outreach work in central ward in Peterborough.
• £15,000 has been allocated in 2006/07 to support the post of a Domestic Violence Co-ordinator.
• £150,000 awarded to the Drug Intervention Programme (DIP) to enhance the work being done with the most prolific offenders. An additional £75,000 has been made available to improve the housing support for drug misusing offenders on release from Prison or Residential Treatment.    
• The Peterborough Local Area Agreement 2005-08 includes a range of outcomes to create a safer and stronger community. Just under £387,000 for 2006/07 from the Building Safer Communities Fund, Anti Social Behaviour Coordinator Grant and the Drug Partnership Support Grant has been pooled to support these outcomes.
• The Peterborough Community Safety Partnership is working together to implement the 2005-08 Community Safety Strategy. The partnership includes Peterborough City Council, Cambridgeshire Police, Peterborough PCT, Probation Service, Fire & Rescue and the Peterborough Drug Action Team. The Peterborough Community Safety Strategy details five priorities including Anti Social Behaviour, Vandalism and Violent Crime.

Transport

• Almost £1.87m has been awarded for integrated transport and more than £2.2m for maintenance for 2006/07 Under the Local Transport Plan Fund allocated to Peterborough.
• £1.34m has been awarded for maintenance work on the A15 Town Bridge in 2005/06. The project is due to be completed in summer 2006
• The A1703 Spalding to Eye Improvement Scheme is being developed to replace the existing route and is being jointly developed between Lincolnshire County Council and Peterborough City Council. The project will cost just under £45m and is expected to be completed in late 2006.

Social Inclusion and Regeneration

• Over £3.4m from the General Sure Start Grant has been allocated to Peterborough Local Authority for 2004-06 for activities that will lead to better outcomes for children and families, including the creation of 877 childcare places and the development of children centres in disadvantaged areas.
• Almost £2.3m has been allocated to support the three Sure Start local programmes in Peterborough in 2005/06, with over £3m allocated for capital projects.
• Over £650,000 has been allocated to Peterborough Children’s Fund for 2005/06 identifying 5-13 year olds at risk of social exclusion and to develop services.  A further £1.1m has been allocated for 2006-08.

European Funding

• £6.7m has been awarded under the URBAN II initiative until 2006, to tackle deprivation in nine wards of the city by improving access to basic services such as child care, health and housing; reducing crime and improving the environment and providing support for new businesses. This includes Over £300,000 towards total costs of over £600,000 for the Greener Urban Ladder Project, developing a sustainable system of education, collection, reprocessing and end product recycling.
• Under the Objective 3 programme, £510,000 has been allocated to Global Grant Provision across the county, with a strong focus on Peterborough providing 100% grant funding packages of up to £10,000 to small organisations unable to access mainstream funding to deliver projects aimed at getting socially excluded groups into employment.
• £10m has been allocated to LSC Cambridgeshire, the main Co-financing Organisation within the area of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough.