Agenda and draft minutes

7pm to 7:30pm – Drop In

•           Your ward councillors will be available for enquiries

•           Pick up local news and information

(No appointment is necessary. Please note that Cllr Carol Runciman is unable to attend this meeting).                                  

Residents had the opportunity to speak with Councillors Orrell and Cullwick in addition to Di Lambert and Joe Ashton.  PCSO Pitchford and PC Farrar were also on-hand to provide community safety advice and information on home security.

7:30pm to 9pm – Main Public Meeting

·         Community Safety Report

·         Ward Budget: have your say on how the funding is used and what the priorities for the ward should be

·         Youth Provision: Di Lambert (City of York Council) will give a talk on how to develop quality community activities and facilities

·         Community News and Open Floor: your opportunity to raise issues of local interest or concern

Welcome and Introductions

Councillor Keith Orrell welcomed everyone to the meeting and Councillor Chris Cullwick took the opportunity to introduce himself.  Apologies were received from Councillor Carol Runciman who unfortunately had a clash of official business.

Community Safety Report 

Report - PC Farrar provided an overview of crime, crime prevention and policing in the ward.

He reported that whilst there had been 66 reported incidents of anti-social behaviour (‘ASB’) in the Ward since 1^st August 2015, these included a wide variety of nuisance behaviour, including the playing of football in the streets.  There had been 20 reported burglaries during the same time period, many of which were believed to be opportunists preying on vulnerable premises.  There had been 12 reported instances of auto crime, which included theft from vehicles, vehicle interference and stolen vehicles.  Again, these crimes were believed to be opportunistic.

Anti-Social Behaviour - The Police stated that ASB remained one of their priorities and, in response to a query, outlined some of the ‘tools’ at their disposal for dealing with such incidents, including logging offenders’ personal details, working closely with schools and teachers and also with the Council.  The meeting was also made aware of Operation Liberate which has been set up as an initiative to tackle ASB hotspots.

Following a query relating to ASB at licensed premises, the police advised residents to report such behaviour.

PCSO Pitchford provided contact details should anyone wish to discuss ASB in further detail.

Highway Weight Restrictions - In response to a query, the Police explained that the enforcement of weight restrictions on the highways is a Council responsibility.  Cllr Orrell commented that although relevant signage is in place, weight restrictions can be difficult to enforce.  

Ward Budget

As part of the Council’s approach to community engagement and neighbourhood working, it was explained that all Wards would now have more control of the money that they currently spend in their community. 

The budget for Huntington and New Earswick for 2015/16 totals £46,750 and is allocated across four funds:

·        Community Grants Fund

·        Community Care Fund

·        Pride in York Fund

·        Highways Fund

Highways Fund - The Highways budget is designed to fund local projects which are additional to those already included in the Council’s Highways Programme.  This Ward budget can be carried forward into another year in order to fund a more substantial project if deemed appropriate.  This is currently the only Ward fund which can be rolled forward in this way.

Community groups with ideas and suggestions are welcome to complete and submit the Ward Grant Application Forms for consideration.  Further details and/or clarification on the application/proposal process are available from Joe Ashton, Community Involvement Officer.

Email joe.ashton@york.gov.uk      Tel: 01904 552949

Youth Provision

Cllr Cullwick introduced Di Lambert who gave a presentation on providing quality community-based activities and facilities for young people, including sources of funding and resources available to support these.

Ms Lambert explained that historically youth provision had been a Council responsibility but that now communities were being encouraged to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 2.