Agenda and draft minutes

The main meeting had been preceded by a drop-in surgery which had provided residents with the opportunity to meet and speak informally with ward councillors, the street environment officer, the safer neighbourhood policing team and the neighbourhood management officer.

To approve and sign the minutes of the last meeting of the Committee held on 7 February 2012.

RESOLVED:       That the minutes of the meeting of 7 February 2012 be approved and signed as a correct record.

An update was given on the following issues:

(i)           Monkgate

It was noted that the City of York Council was looking at the issue of 20mph zones but any roll-out was likely to be restricted to residential streets.

(ii)          Notice Board

Members reported that no progress had been made in respect of the suggestion that a Guildhall Ward notice board should be installed.  The key issues were that funding was not available for such an initiative and that there was no obvious place to site a board which would make it easily accessible for all residents.

A representative from the Policing Team will talk about and answer questions on their work in the ward.

PC Richard Gatecliffe gave a presentation on crime statistics for the ward.  For the period January to May 2012 there had been 1030 crimes reported in total.  The vast majority of these were for theft (often shoplifting).  There had been eleven incidents of domestic burglary, which was low in comparison to national figures.  Work was ongoing to establish Neighbourhood Watch Committees.

PC Gatecliffe went through the breakdown of incidents and drew attention to the work that was taking place to tackle organised cycle theft.  Statistics were also provided regarding crime rates at different hours of the day.

Residents asked if there were any identified trends in crime.  They were informed that there had been a slight increase in auto crime and a decrease in domestic burglary.  Offenders were increasingly selecting crimes which had less chance of being detected through forensics.

Details were given of an operation that was taking place to tackle street drinking in Walmgate.  The area was an alcohol control zone.  Police had originally targeted 18 street drinkers in the area but this had now risen to 100.  The type of action that was being taken included confiscating alcohol and working with agencies that supported people with dependencies.  This intervention work was having an impact but it was acknowledged that some of the problems may be relocating.

Details were given of the incidents within a 100m radius of the One Stop Shop.  It was noted that there were three licensed premises in the area.  They were aware that they were not permitted to supply alcohol to people who were drunk, and the Police would take action regarding this matter when necessary.

Residents asked if any similar strategies were planned for the Groves.  PC Gatecliffe stated that the Police were working with Arc Light.  The Council was considering extending the alcohol control zone to the whole area within the outer ring road.

A resident gave details of an incident that had taken place in Coney Street.  The Police who had responded had stated that they were based in Tang Hall rather than the city centre.  The resident queried whether there had been a recent reorganisation of policing in the area.  PC Gatecliffe confirmed that there had been a reorganisation and that the officers who had previously been based in Clifford Street had now moved to Fulford Road.  Residents expressed their concern at this change.

At this point in the meeting you can raise any issues or concerns you may have in respect of the ward.

An opportunity was given for residents to raise any issues or concerns they may have in respect of the ward.  The following issues were raised:

(i)           Bin Collection

The bins in Eldon Street had not been emptied this week. 

Members agreed to look into this matter.

(ii)          Monkbar Garage

Concerns were expressed that Monkbar Garage remained empty and could be put to good use.  Clarification was sought as to whether the building remained in the Council’s ownership or if it had been sold.  A resident suggested that, if the Council still owned the building, it should rent out the property and advertise it accordingly.  This would provide rental income and would also prevent further deterioration of the site.  Members stated that they had understood that the Council had sold the property but they would seek clarification regarding this matter.

(iii)        Site next to Spread Eagle in Walmgate

Concerns were expressed regarding the state of the site next to the Spread Eagle in Walmgate.  Members agreed to try to ascertain ownership of the site.

(iv)        Music Jam Factory in Eldon Street

A resident raised concerns regarding the Music Jam Factory, which had lodged a planning application to lift the roof, which it was believed would require the removal of asbestos.

(v)         Salt Bins

Residents sought clarification as to whether there would be any changes to the provision of salt bins.  Members stated that the situation was being reviewed but they would keep residents informed of developments.

(vi)        Notification of Ward Committee Meetings

Several residents, including those in Monkgate, stated that they had not received copies of Your Ward.  Members stated that they were aware that this was a widespread problem and had been assured that  the matter was being addressed.

(vii)       Thank You

Residents expressed their appreciation of the following:

·        Recycling boxes were now being stacked very neatly after having been emptied.

·        The work of the traffic wardens

The Neighbourhood Manager will outline the process for grant funding for 2013/14 onwards and the Ward Committee will be asked to adopt the priorities under the Community Contract for 2012/13.

The Neighbourhood Management Officer gave details of the Community Contract.  This was an agreement between ward committees, the community, council departments and other organisations that provided services.  The contracts detailed:

·        Information about the ward

·        Specific challenges within the ward

·        The basic service delivery that committees could expect

·        Volunteering opportunities

·        Information relating to how communities could engage and be involved

The contracts also addressed priorities for the ward.  The suggested priorities for Guildhall Ward had been identified as:

·        A user friendly city centre for residents and business

·        A cleaner, greener, safer city centre

·        More inclusive city centre communities

An action plan would be put in place and progress on addressing the priorities would be monitored.

Residents were asked to consider whether the suggested priorities reflected the views of the community or if there were others that should be included.  A suggestion was put forward that fear of crime should also be included as a priority to be addressed.

Concerns were expressed that residents had not had an opportunity to consider the draft contract in order to make an informed contribution to the contract.  They also requested that statistical information regarding the ward should be provided.  It was agreed that it was important that consultation took place with residents’ associations and with other residents.

It was agreed that further consideration of the draft community contract should take place at the next ward committee meeting.  In preparation for this the Neighbourhood Management Team would:

·        Ensure that the draft community contract was available on-line.

·        Circulate paper copies of the draft contract to residents’ associations.

·        Include an article in the next edition of Your Ward about the contract and inviting residents to contribute.

·        Make data about the ward available to residents.

·        Circulate the draft contract to those residents whose email addresses were known to the Neighbourhood Management Team.

It was agreed that feedback on the draft contract should be forwarded to Kristina Davey.

RESOLVED:       That wider consultation take place on the draft community contract prior to the contract being considered in more detail at the next ward committee meeting.

REASON:            To progress the establishing of a community contract for the ward.

To formally agree the schemes to be funded through the Ward Committee for 2012/13 (to view the schemes for the ward go to www.york.gov.uk/wards/)

Details were given of changes to ward funding.  The funding had now been divided into three components:

·        Ward budgets – to commission local voluntary and community organisations to meet identified needs.

·        Other voluntary sector support – funding to support those voluntary sector organisations that provide services to more than one ward committee.   Your Consortium had successfully tendered to administer the schemes according to the Council’s criteria and priorities.

·        Ward credits – to be allocated to identified wards to be used to commission new services, either from within the Council or from other partners.

Details were given of the criteria that would be used by Your Consortium in their decision-making.

It was noted that there had been only one valid application for funding from the ward budget for 2012/13 and hence it was proposed that £2,760 be allocated to Space 109 to support its community work, including expanding the Homework and Cooking Club to reach more young people.

RESOLVED:       That the allocation of ward funding to Space 109, as detailed above, be approved.

REASON:           To enable ward grant funding to be allocated to local ward schemes for the forthcoming year.

To receive further information in relation to the management and enforcement of the current 20mph zone in The Groves.

Ruth Stephenson, Head of Sustainable Transport Services, was in attendance to gather any concerns of residents in respect of the 20mph zone in the Groves.

Clarification was given that the Council did not have enforcement powers in respect of moving traffic and that this could only be dealt with by the Police.  It was acknowledged that the infrastructure in the Groves was looking tired but unfortunately there was no budget available to support traffic calming in the area.

Details were given of the speed review process that was in place and which involved the Council working in partnership with the Police and Fire Service.  Attention was drawn to the Speed Concern Report forms – copies of which were made available and could also be found on-line.  There had to be only one speed concern report completed about a location to instigate the review process.  The review included a site visit, the use of speed collection equipment and consideration of accident reporting.  Depending on the outcome of the review, measures could be put in place including enforcement activity or inclusion of a scheme in future budget priorities.

Residents raised concerns in respect of the following issues:

·        The speed of traffic in Lowther Street.  Some drivers accelerated when travelling between the speed humps.  It could be very dangerous for residents wishing to cross the road.  There were also problems regarding large vans parking in the bays.  The flow of traffic in the street was very heavy and it continued to be a rat run at peak times.  There were particular concerns in the vicinity of the primary school.

·        Residents asked if consideration could be given to reducing the speed limit on the stretch of road from Monkbar to Gillygate.

·        Attention was drawn to the problems faced by pedestrians in Goodramgate during wet weather.  The drainage was poor and hence water collected on the road.  Pedestrians on the pavement were unable to avoid the splash that was created when drivers went through the puddles.

Residents were informed that the concerns raised would be passed on to the relevant officers.  They were encouraged to use the speed concern reports as necessary.

RESOLVED:       (i)      That the update on the situation in respect

                                      of the 20mph zone in the Groves be noted.

                             (ii)      That the mechanism by which residents

could report concerns about speeding vehicles be noted.

REASON:            To ensure residents’ concerns about traffic issues could be considered.

To help identify issues to be the focus for the next informal meeting.

Residents were informed of the new arrangements in respect of ward committee meetings.  There would now be one formal meeting a year and two informal meetings.  Residents were asked to identify any issues that they would wish to be considered at future ward committee meetings.

RESOLVED:       That the next informal meeting focus on the community contract.

REASON:           To enable further consideration to be given to the community contract having enabled wider consultation to have taken place.