Agenda and minutes

Your chance to meet:

• Cllr Janet Looker
• Cllr Brian Watson
• Matthew Ward, Neighbourhood Management Officer
• The Safer Neighbourhoods Policing Team
• Mark Gasgoyne, York Arc Light
• Street Environment Officer

1.1       Local residents had the opportunity to speak to Cllr Brian Watson, Cllr Janet Looker, Liz Levett (Head of Environmental enforcement and parking), The Safer Neighbourhoods Policing Team, and Matthew Ward (Neighbourhood Management Officer).

1.2       Residents also had the opportunity to find out more information from Mark Gascoyne (York Arc Light) and Joanne Piddington (Opportunities co-ordinator, York St. John)

2.1 Cllrs Janet Looker and Brian Watson welcomed residents to the meeting.

2.2 The minutes of the last meeting were approved and signed by Cllr Janet Looker.

2.3 At this time Cllr gave residents the opportunity to raise issues on St John Street. The follow points were raised

a)     There are problems with students, noise and drunken behaviour

b)     St. Johns Street is used as access from the groves to town for many students.

c)      This year seems to have been worse than previous.

d)     There have been serious incidents requiring police attendance

e)     Excessive alcohol was identified as the root cause of problems.

f)        The point was raised the 200 students are now resident in Navigation Road and they have had minimal problems.

g)     It was mention the target patrols by the police should be at the correct times.

2.4 Michelle Verity, Head of Student Development, responded by informing residents that the university is aware of the issues and work is being done to tackle the issues. Meetings with police are regular and her role is to help resolve issues such as these.

An update with Sgt Asvadi on policing within the ward and an opportunity for residents to raise issues and ask questions. 

Sgt Jon Asvadi introduced himself to the meeting and explained that he is the sergeant for the Guildhall ward.  He gave an update on Crime and Community Safety issues in the ward.  The following points were noted:

3.1 The Groves is again in the Guildhall Ward, after been in Clifton ward for a short period.

3.2 Issues residents have raised are to do with people hanging around the Arc Light and noise nuisance related to students.

3.3 There is a crime reduction task group at the university. This initiative has been acknowledged as successful in reducing issues when tried before.

3.4 The team are looking at new initiatives to tackle the ongoing issues.

3.5 PC Ray Milligan is agin looking after the Groves and PCSO Martyn Russell has recently joined the team.

3.6 The ward has had 5 years continuous reduced crime, this year so far the reduction is 12% on all crimes.

3.7 The following crime figures were announced

·       Auto Crime down 47%

·       Criminal Damage down 21%

·       Theft down 6%

·       Other Crimes down 13%

3.8 Burglary Dwellings, sneak in burglaries were highlighted. Operation Joypad has been running successfully to reduce the number of dwellings being left insecure.

3.9 The Lock up, Light up campaign is now running.

3.10 It was raised that the Groves has the highest number of insecure properties when front doors are tried.

3.11 Police surgeries continue across the ward.

3.12 To tackle anti-social behaviour,  Operation Catch-a-lot has been run successfully.

3.13 Six graffiti tags found in the ward have been advertised (TAGGI) to catch the offenders. Leading to two offenders being identified and prosecuted.

Residents were invited to ask questions and raise ward issues. The following were asked.

a)     Drinking in Walmgate is still an issue, what is being done?

Regular patrols are carried out and any offenders are moved on, resources aren’t available to patrol 24hr a day. Cycling is also an issue which will soon be targeted.

b)     The refuse department have the power to fine £100 for incorrect presentation of rubbish, why don’t’ police have fines for anti-social behaviour?

Tickets can be issued for certain incidents and are regularly used for drunk and disorderly. Fines for penalty notice for disorder are £80.

c)      Why aren’t caught offensders made to pay for damages?

It is up to magistrates to set fines for people.

Mark Gasgoyne will tell us about the work of Arc Light.

Mark Gascoyne attended from the York Arc Light to give residents an update. The follow was noted.

4.1             The Arc Light centre has been running since 1999, it now has 35 beds for ‘local’ residents. At the facility there are allotments, IT provisions and TV.

4.2             The purpose of the centre is to promote change for people who didn’t think it was possible.

4.3             Referrals are dealt with for drug, alcohol problems and relationship breakdown.

4.4             Aims are being achieved by breaking down barriers with clients, referrals to doctors and physiologists, education, re-education and reinstalling forgotten skills.

4.5             Each client has ownership of their own process.

4.6             Teething Issues have been dealt with by working with partners.

4.7             Residents understand that they have a good deal in the new building and it is something they don’t want taking away from them.

Residents were given the opportunity to raise questions and concerns. The follow were raised.

a)                 What are the opening times, there are always people gathering before the gate has opened?

Access isn’t restricted for residents, the people who gather are largely friends and associates of the residents. Police are in negotiations and residents of Arc Light have been informed it is not acceptable. Reporting of incidents was encouraged.

b)                 What are the figures for success?

These can be brought to the next ward committee.

c)                  What is the selection process for residents of the Arc Light?

There is a waiting list. People sleeping rough and passing through are prioritised. The centre is primarily for people with a York connection. People are referred to the Salvation Army if no space is available or people are not from York.

d)                 Is York Night Stop connected?

This is for young people who require an emergency family environment. Work is being done to cooperate with them.

If you have made a suggestion that is on this years scheme ballot list, come along to the meeting to give people the information they need to make an informed decision.

Cllr. Watson outlined the voting procedure and encourage people to have their say about the proposed schemes.

The follow was raised about the schemes

a)                 Could salt bins be put on terraces of flats?

This would have to be investigated with the relevant department.

b)                 Representative from MIND outlined their grant application was for funding a co-ordinator role to find more funding and be open on Saturdays. The service provided has doubled in the last year.

c)                  Space 109 were represented in the absence of Joanne Puller. The service is still getting established and further funding is needed to keep the good work going.

This is your opportunity to raise any local issues or concerns for discussion with your ward councillors.    

Resident were given opportunity to raise issues and concerns about the ward. The following were raised.

a)                 The recycling bins in Navigation Road are in the wrong place and pose a health risk.

This has been raised with Cllr Anne Reid. Lids for recycling are being assessed.

b)                 ON bin day all the wheelie bins get mixed up, can anything be done?

This could be looked at for a scheme funded from the community chest, to supply bin numbers.

c)                  There is a lot of mess outside Weatherspoons, what can be done?

This could be raised as a licensing issue for the pub.

d)                 Will the proposed recycling roll out be detrimental to the area?

Bins will be supplied but will have to be timed with the change of students as it isn’t easy to inform students due to continuous change over.

e)                 Can we have relevant numbers for reporting problems?

They can be included in Your Ward or available at future ward committee meetings.