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Over half a million new companies created

vincenzo.jpg Tuesday, 23 August 11 - 01:43 PM (GMT)
By Vincenzo Capozzoli in Communities

New official figures from Companies House show that over half a million new companies have been created under the Coalition Government.

The figures also show that there has been an 11 per cent increase in the number of new companies created over the past year.

Companies House statistics show that 506,000 new companies were incorporated between 16 May 2010 and 31 July 2011. The figures also show that 416,000 new companies have been incorporated over the year to July 2011 - an 11 per cent increase on the year before.

Business minister Mark Prisk said:

"Helping the private sector create jobs and economic growth is the top priority of this Government - that's why we're cutting business taxes, supporting start-ups and tackling red tape.

"It's been a tough few months but it's positive news that over half a million new businesses have been created since the Coalition entered office. Up and down the country entrepreneurs are turning their great ideas into the next generation of successful, innovative British firms."

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Your views on powerstation

vincenzo.jpg Wednesday, 02 March 11 - 09:31 PM (GMT)
By Vincenzo Capozzoli in Communities


Energy firm Helius is now consulting on its proposals for a wood chip powered biomass power station in the Western Docks, ahead of submitting a formal planning application.

The deadline for responses has been extended to 21st April and details can be found at www.southamptonbiomasspower.com

There is another chance to view the plans on 21st and 22nd March between 2pm and 7.30pm at Thompson Memorial Hall, Millbrook Baptist Church, Testwood Road.


 

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St Denys connect 2 update

vincenzo.jpg Saturday, 05 December 09 - 05:45 PM (GMT)
By Vincenzo Capozzoli in Communities

The Connect2 project in Southampton is just one of 79 Connect2 schemes across the UK.  In December 2007 Sustrans’ Connect2 was announced as the winner of a vote on ITV, taking 42% of the votes and winning the £50 million prize.

The “Boardwalk”, from Horseshoe Bridge to Northam, is the centre of the overall Connect2 scheme within Southampton. The overall project will link Southampton Airport to The City Centre and the Ferry terminals along National Cycle Route 23; this passes through Riverside Park. National Cycle Route 2 runs along Weston Shore and into the City along the Itchen Bridge – the two routes extend to reading in the North and Cornwall and Kent along the coast. The Boardwalk can be viewed at the following web site www.sustransconnect2.org.uk/schemes

A contractor has been appointed and a trial section has already been fabricated on site. Start date has been postponed until April 2010 because some unregistered land is being investigated. A completion date for this section is proposed for Summer 2010. However other sections of the City’s network are still being planned; a local one is a route to link the St Mary’s Football Stadium to the City Centre. Cycle lanes have been installed in St Denys Road so that they will link to Portswood in the future when the Supermarket in developed in a couple of years time.

Project photograph


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Attending the Oakmont Triangle AGM

vincenzo.jpg Tuesday, 24 November 09 - 06:40 PM (GMT)
By Vincenzo Capozzoli in Communities

I was able to attend the OTRA AGM held on the 30th October in the Portswood Residents Gardens. OTRA has been very busy this year, they have held a plant sale, a quiz evening, a book sale and a hugely successful street party which had been supported by the City Council’s Active Communities Department and the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Community Foundation’s Grassroots Grants Scheme.. They have also been working on the Character Appraisal and Management Plan for the triangle which has the purpose is to offer guidance on change, development and conservation in the Triangle.

Overall it has been another productive and successful year for OTRA.

For more information please visit their website.

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Discussing policing priorities in St Denys

vincenzo.jpg Saturday, 01 August 09 - 11:52 AM (GMT)
By Vincenzo Capozzoli in Communities

Last week Cllr Jeremy Moulton and I attended the first St Denys Neighbourhood Panel Meeting at the St Denys Community Centre, with the local St Denys Neighbourhood team.

Along with local residents, it was a great opportunity to discuss policing priorities in the local area and what work the police are currently doing locally. The police were given feedback many different issues including problems in Empress Road, traffic on St Denys Road and the Itchen River.

The police are conducting similar meetings though out Southampton and is part of the new policing pledge. It’s a new set of promises from the police on the service they should provide and every force has committed to keeping those promises.

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Having a great time celebrating 100 years of the Oakmount Triangle

vincenzo.jpg Monday, 01 June 09 - 07:27 PM (GMT)
By Vincenzo Capozzoli in Communities

Last Saturday myself and my colleague Cllr Matthew Dean were invited to attend the celebratory events for the 100th anniversary of the Oakmount Triangle. The sizzling afternoon featured lots of children’s activities including children’s Irish dancing display, magician, Punch and Judy show, penalty shoot-out and barn dance. By the evening things had moved onto more formal entertainment, with live music, fireworks, food/drink and a bar.
The Oakmount Triangle area was built in the early part of the 20th Century on the site of the Highfield House and stretched all the way to the Westwood House forming a triangle shape. Work commenced around 1910 at the southerly end (Blenheim Avenue) and continued for at least another fifteen years with the main architect being John Smith.
Overall we thought the afternoon/evening was a great success with the event very well supported not only from residents from Leigh Road and the rest of the triangle but from the whole of Highfield.
Pictures from the afternoon can be found on the Portswood.info website.
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Attending the Saltmead Funday

vincenzo.jpg Tuesday, 14 April 09 - 09:29 PM (GMT)
By Vincenzo Capozzoli in Communities

Last week I was able to attend with my associate Cllr Jeremy Moulton, the Saltmead Residents Association funday. The estate was identified as a priority neighborhood in 2008, and a major concern was for the estate’s young residents, who had little to occupy their free time. A group of residents decided to take action against this anti-social behaviour in their neighbourhood have started a new residents association, SRA (Saltmead Residents Association). Since there formation they have held a number of fundays to promote the estate and raise money for a number of projects on the estate (For example the creation of a picnic area), this event aimed at to raise more money for other projects.
With the rain holding off for the day (luckily) the event was a success, with a huge amount of adults and children attending the event. There was face painting, a barbecue, police van, African drums, bouncy castle, tombola and much more! I think everyone had a really enjoyable day and I won a prize at the raffle!
A big well done/congratulations must go to the committee of SRA who organised yet another successful event. They have many more projects that they are pushing to complete on the estate, including improvements to the play park, a wildlife garden and improvements to the river walk.  
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Meeting the Friendship Dialogue Society Southampton

vincenzo.jpg Wednesday, 08 April 09 - 05:52 PM (GMT)
By Vincenzo Capozzoli in Communities

Last week I was able to visit the Fellowship Dialogue Society based in Augustine Road, St Mary's.

The Fellowship Dialogue Society is a non-profit organization that was founded in May 2006 by a group of volunteers  comprising of business people, academicians, and students. 

One of the goals of Fellowship Dialogue Society is to organize various religious, cultural and social acitivities, and conferences among all types of religious and ethnic groups to support and  advance the harmony and cooperation among religions and faith traditions. 

I was able to visit there new refurbished centre in Augustine Road. More information on the group can be found on their website here.


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Re-opening of the St Denys Youth Club!

vincenzo.jpg Thursday, 05 March 09 - 09:58 PM (GMT)
By Vincenzo Capozzoli in Communities

This afternoon I was able to attend the re-opening of the St Denys Youth Club, at the St Denys community centre. The youth club had taken a "break" to allow playworkers to complete there training. Over 40 children attended and were able to play on the Wii, paint pictures, eat food from the tuck shop, play table football and table tennis. The junior youth club runs from 5.30pm to 7.15pm on thursdays, more information can be found on the portswood.info website and on the St Denys Community Centre website.

At the same time weekly hip hop classes also take place at the centre for 8 to 16 year olds and even adults!

The class from 5.15 - 6.00pm is for 8-11 year olds, and the following class, from 6.00 to 6.45pm, is for 12 - 16 year olds. Classes will be run by Laura of Backbeat Dance. The first session is free, then it’s £2.50 per session.

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The Romance Academy

vincenzo.jpg Tuesday, 09 December 08 - 03:48 PM (GMT)
By Vincenzo Capozzoli in Communities

Last week I was able to attend a presentation by one of the Southampton city social workers concerning a new project that is starting to take off in Southampton. In September 2005 you may have seen ‘No sex please we’re on BBC2. It followed the lives and loves of the very first Romance Academy made up of 12 North London teenagers. They were asked to give up sex for 5 months...

During their time in the Romance Academy, the young people committed themselves to supporting and challenging each other (who they have never met before) to exploring the benefits and frustrations of a sex-free lifestyle. It proved to be an eventful journey. Currently there are 15 cities in the UK and Northern Island that have Romance Academy Groups running at the moment.

So what is the Romance Academy, A Romance Academy is a 12-15 week project supporting and mentoring up to twelve young people as they build their self-esteem enhanced by sexual delay. Each Academy is facilitated by a male and female youth worker, who work with the group to ensure each member is valued, challenged and supported on this journey.

Topics covered by the academy include-
-Definitions and difference between love and sex.
-How to communicate love.
-Differences between boys and girls.
-Peer pressure and role models.
-The effects of drugs and alcohol on your choices.
-Sexual health.
-Pregnancy and Parenting.
-Romance.
-Self confidence.
 
The first academy was launched in Southampton in January 2008, with 7 young people graduating from the course. They are already planning for the next year with a larger amount of young adults signing up.

I wish the academy all the best for the future and hopefully it can build on its initial success to go from strength to strength in the future. 

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