Agenda item

1.

WELCOME

 Cllr Waller welcomed everyone to the Ward Committee Meeting. 

2.

POLICE UPDATE

Inspector Lee Pointon, introduced Superintendent Robson and Sergeant Danny Leach who was the newly appointed Sergeant for York South.  Following restructure, the team comprised Sergeant Leach, 3 PC’s (one still to be appointed) and 16 PCSOs for this area. 

With regard to crime in the ward, there had been a problem with anti-social behaviour (ASB) prevalent in certain areas with youths riding round on mopeds and causing problems.  As PCSO’s could not deal with the moped problems by bike, specialist resources had had to be deployed.   He asked that if residents heard or saw any mopeds causing problems to contact the team. 

Burglaries were down by 50% over last 2-4 months.  They had been particularly active with property marking and the team had changed how they carried out house to house enquiries and provided crime prevention advice which had produced benefits.

With regard to vehicle crime, there had been a ‘blip’ last month, largely down to one individual who had been released from prison for three weeks, after which he returned to prison. 

This year the team was looking to re-engage with the community.  Sergeant Leech said that he was local to this area as he had been born and bred in Acomb and he was genuinely pleased to be working here in the south of York.  He took a pride in his work and wanted to make a difference to the community he was serving.   He said he was happy to provide advice and attend events.

Q

A resident asked whether the youths on mopeds were usually insured.

A

Inspector Pointon said we check that they are MOT’d, taxed and insured.  Recently 4/5 mopeds had been taken off the streets in one night.   If they have been modified, i.e. the exhaust we check with DVLA and if they had not been notified then their insurance would be null and void.

Q

Cllr Waller reported that there had been an issue with off-road bikes, they had been causing a nuisance at the end of Foxwood Lane on Sunday riding round and round.

A

The issues around off-road bikes were about where and how they are ridden. If they are on private land it is ok.  The mopeds will have registration plates or distinguishing marks.  If a vehicle is seen not displaying a registration plate they are automatically spoken to.   There was a question about how  the off-road bikes got to the fields and whether they were driven on roads.   The team was soon to get ownership of their own off-road facility.  Incidents should be reported via 101.

Q

Cllr Waller asked when information would be available on the team restructure.

A

The restructure should be completed by 1^st April and on 2^nd April Sergeant Leach would be in a position to supply a copy.  The team should be contacted by email on SNAyorkcity@northyorkshire.pnn.police.uk this is preferable to contacting PCSO’s but ringing 101 was the best way of contacting the team.

Q

It would be helpful if this could be put on the North Yorkshire Police website.

A

The Communications Team is currently restructuring the website and as soon as the work is completed the details of the restructure would be put online.   Information was also available on their Facebook and Twitter feeds.

Cllr Waller said that improving links with the community was very important.

3

NEIGHBOURHOOD ENFORCEMENT TEAM

Jackie Armitage gave a presentation on the work of the Neighbourhood Enforcement Team.

What the Team Does:

The team worked reactively to deal with issues such as fly tipping, domestic rubbish and noise, Community Protection and Public Space Protection Orders, Graffiti, dog fouling, dog on dog attacks, pests on private land, drainage issues and other statutory nuisance.  They also dealt with unauthorised encampments and rough sleepers.

They carried out proactive work such as patrols with PCSOs, monitoring for ASB, Joint Operations with NYP, and City wide campaigns such as stop and search and fly posting, graffiti and littering.

From September 2017 to April 2018 they had dealt with the following issues:

•       Fly tipping – Acomb Court, Foxwood field, Kingsway West, Foxwood and Thoresby estates – custodial sentence, 31 warnings, community service 

•       Youth ASB – Chapelfields  - Notices served, court cases pending

•       4 x Commercial waste investigations

•       Domestic waste problems – Beaconsfield/Gladstone area

•       Fly posting – across the ward

•       Domestic noise – across the ward – incl. 2x Abatement Notice

•       Enviro ASB – Stuart Road, Kingsway West

•       Dog fouling - Thoresby Road  - 1x FPN

In November 2017 a prolific fly tipper who was also unlicensed to carry waste or scrap was given a 9 month prison sentence for 25 offences, including 13 fly tips around the Thoresby Road area.

In January 2018 an unlicensed scrap collector working in the Foxwood estate was given a 12 months community service.

A total of 32 warning letters were served in problem areas where insufficient evidence permitted penalties

Kingsway West Estate:  There had been three separate incidents of domestic bagged rubbish being taken from gardens on the estate, searched and then dumped.   

Community Protection Warnings have been served around the ward for unsightly gardens, cannabis odours in the home, dog fouling in private gardens, littering and dog fouling in communal gardens

The contact details for reporting problems to the Council were as follows:

Litter, dog fouling, fly tipping www.york.gov.uk/reportproblems

Missed bins/rubbish out early www.doitonline.york.gov.uk

The Team could be contacted directly on 01904 551555 or emailed at neo@york.gov.uk

4

CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE FOR DISABLED CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES IN YORK 

William Shaw, the Project Manager updated the meeting on the work to convert the old Windsor House Care Home into a centre of excellence to support disabled children and their families in York.    He said he was very excited to be involved in this project for Children’s Services.   Windsor House was next to Hob Moor School and it was planned that the project would incorporate a small part of their playing fields. 

The Feasibility Study had been carried out which the Council had agreed to progress and the project and was currently awaiting Planning Permission. 

The reasons why this project was being undertaken was because currently services and support were being provided in a number of different settings which incurred costs in the development of existing buildings.   Currently, care and support for disabled children and young people was often provided outside of York. 

This project was an opportunity to develop a city-wide resource that worked closely with Hob Moor Oaks Special School and delivery even better outcomes for disabled children and young people and their families

By developing this potential new building, it would provide a setting for a range of support services which would enable disabled children to remain in their families and in their community, delivered from a safe, accessible space.  It would also provide flexible short break provision to meet the needs of children and young people with autism, learning disabilities and/or additional health needs.

It would also be used for the Family Intervention Rapid Support Team and therapeutic short breaks, a specialist Clinical Psychology led intensive assessment and intervention service for families with children and young people who have autism and learning disability and challenging behaviour which affects their ability to live in the local community

It was proposed that the support and services within the building would be targeted at disabled children and young people (up to the age of 18yrs and longer where needed) and their families following an assessment.

Workers that provided additional support to disabled children and their families would use and be based from the building. These could include Community and Residential Short Break workers, Child In Need Workers, Social Workers and Managers. Other professionals could also use the building to meet and work with disabled children and their families. 

As part of the feasibility work a number of sites had been looked at for a potential new building. The recommended option was located on the site of Windsor House Older Person’s Accommodation using part of the Hob Moor School Playing fields

It was envisaged that the services and support within the potential new building would achieve the following:

•       ‘Make York Home’ for all disabled children and young people by reducing the need for out of area placements

•       Enable disabled children, young people and their families to be able to access the different support and services on one site

•       Ensure families had familiar, consistent professionals working with them throughout their child’s / young person’s journey into adulthood

•       Involve the development of community and early intervention support to ensure that residential and specialist services are only used when needed

•       Develop FIRST and a therapeutic short break service that can be offered to children and young people in York and neighbouring Local Authorities 

Q

A resident raised concerns about Lincoln Court during the conversion work at Windsor House.

A

The same project manager was working on the development of both Windsor House and Lincoln Court.

Q

We have been told that the work on Windsor Court would not start until September/October.  If you started the work earlier it could cause problems.

A

It was hoped the work on Windsor House would commence in the autumn.  We are very much aware of the need to manage the development of both buildings together so that the work is aligned.   It had been hoped to come and talk to the residents of Lincoln Court but had not been able to do so as we did not have all the details.

Q

People were concerned that the demolition work would take over a large part of the car park.

A

Cllr Waller said that this was being discussed at the Council Executive Meeting the following evening and that the meeting was able to be viewed in real time on podcast.

 He said the £1.4M development of the site needed planning permission but in terms of the windows at Lincoln Court, they did not require planning permission

William said he would pass on the Lincoln Court residents’ concerns.

Q

A resident asked to be shown on the map the location of the MUGA.

A

Cllr Waller said that the snickett that ran from Kingsway North got a lot of vandalism.  The local area team had tried to get a sports organisation to take over the running of the MUGA but had been unable to do so.   The question was whether better use could be made of this area to attract young people to exercise, play or sport provision for the area.

William said various options were currently being looked at. 

5         

UPDATE FROM TALK TALK ON THE ROLL OUT OF ULTRA FIBRE OPTIC BROADBAND IN THE AREA

Paul Crane, Head of Ultrafast Engagement and Rollout updated residents on the roll out of Ultra Fibre Optic in the area.   He explained that fibre was the new method of delivery broadband and telephony services which would be needed for increased household demand such as the new generations of TVs.    People were watching Catch Up TV and more and more band-width was needed which cannot be supported over existing copper infrastructure.  Britain was near the bottom of the league table of OECD countries for broadband.   There was a need for Britain to be in a more competitive position.  York had gone from 400^th in the league table to first place in the whole of the UK. 

Four years ago, we entered into partnership with York originally as a trial in Rawcliffe following which we then worked our way around the north side of the city with great success.  Over a third of people in the North of the city are now connected to the service.   They had had very good feedback on their customer service.  

They were now in the process of rolling it out in the south of the city and before work started it was their aim to make themselves as prominent as possible.   Two weeks before work starts there would be a note through doors with information about who to contact.  Then 48 hours before another reminder card would be posted through doors.     People were invited to try out the service at their shop in York station.   The customer care line number was 08005428073.

Q

A resident noted that a lot of work was required to make good the paving and pathways but that the grass verges were not left in good order.

A

Paul said that at this time of the year it was difficult to repair grass verges.   The aim was to return in the Spring to repair the verges.

Q

A resident noted that in some places trenches were being dug near to the kerb rather than the middle of the footpath.

A

Paul said they had tried different ways to repair pathways.   There were often lots of other services along footpaths and sometimes damage can be caused to these other services whilst digging trenches.  They had tried to do it nearer the kerb, but the Council were unhappy as it caused surface near kerbs to crumble.

Q

Cllr Jackson said that residents had mentioned to her that the streets had been swept following the snow, but they were messy and was the street sweeper returning?

A

Paul said that road sweeping was part of their plan and they had their own sweeper but some of the roads were not in good condition.  

6

HOMESTART YORK

Deborah Hilton the Organiser of Home Start York updated the meeting on their work.  She said the service had been running for thirty years and it recruited parents interested in helping other parents.   Volunteers were given 10 weeks training and were then linked with families who would benefit from weekly help with children.

The organisation had approached City of York Council because they recognised that their training and recruitment needed to be specific in the wards around York particularly Acomb and Heworth and asked for funding.   They were given £1,500 from each of the 2 wards to be used specifically to recruit volunteers in this ward.  

Flyers where put through letterboxes with successful results.    They received a lot of interest and had now recruited twelve parents who were participating in their training course every Thursday in order for them to work in homes supporting families.   The volunteers covered a wide range of age groups.  Currently they had 32 volunteers.

7

WARD BUDGET

Michal updated the residents on the recently funded projects and plans for the year ahead. 

• Improvement had been made to footpaths and kerbs on Front Street.
• New Ward Notice Boards
• New street sign at Harold Court.

There had been an anti-litter campaign with Westfield Primary School over five weeks in October/November 2017.  Pupils were involved in positive conversations with their friends, family members etc to encourage them to promise not to drop litter.   There was an element of competition with the class with the highest number of promises winning.  There was also a drawing/painting competition with the theme “what you think will discourage people from dropping litter. 

1390 promises were gathered throughout the campaign with the winning class Y3 gathering 190 promises.  The School Council decided to use cash prizes towards purchase of fun shape litter bins for the school grounds. Graphics from the winning drawings would be used to produce signs that would be put up in appropriate places across the west side of the ward.  Pupils were encouraged to continue to have positive conversations about the detrimental effect of litter on the environment.

Recently funded Projects:

York City Knights:    1 hour long sports coaching sessions for 7 - 11 year olds focused around Rugby League and other sports such as handball, football and cricket. Monday evenings at Westfield School for 11 weeks leading up to the end of March.

Q-York (formerly the Rock of York):   Bi-Weekly open access youth project for 11 – 17 year olds in the Westfield area of York.  Provision of fun activities in a safe environment and use of the Sanderson Court as a safe and local space for young people to call their own.    Location: Sanderson House, Chapelfields over the next 12 months.

The Island:  Provision of 1 to 1 mentoring for 5 young people from Westfield area over a 12 month period.    The Island supported children and young people with varying vulnerabilities aged 8 to 13, offering them “islands of space and time” with a volunteer mentor, engaging them in positive activities within the community. Young people would be identified through the youth provision at Q York and through Local Area Team.

York City Knights Foundation:  Provision of mobile skatepark and inflatable pitch sessions in spring/summer 2018. Venue: Foxwood Community Centre and Foxwood Park. Sessions can accommodate 15-20 people at a time but kids can dip in and out over the course of the session.

Trees on Public Land: 

• Funding dedicated to trees work in Osprey Close/Hawkshead Close woodland
• Funding dedicated to reducing trees back from houses and gardens and also crown clean and thin out on Little Green Lane

Purchase of litter pickers and bag holders to use during community clean up days

Number of grit bins refilled with the use of ward funds (Cost for one refill is £55)

Planned Improvements:

·         Two extra parking spaces on Spurr Court / Herman Walk junction – scheduled for implementation in August 2018

·         Parking bay on Danesfort Avenue o/s flats – scheduled for implementation in August 2018

·         Parking bay on Thorseby Road o/s 12-24 scheduled for implementation in September 2018

·         Parking bay on Bramham Ave o/s 49-55 – scheduled for implementation in October 2018

·         Parking bay on Askham Lane o/s 198-200 – scheduled for implementation in Sept/Oct 2018

·         Parking bay on Askham Lane o/s 206-208 – scheduled for implementation in Sept/Oct 2018

·         Parking bays on Windsor Garth / Woodford Place junction and Windsor Garth / Kempton Close junction – scheduled for implementation in November 2018

All of the above are pending the statutory undertakers’ equipment details check, so the position and depth of any services i.e. Yorkshire Water drains. Info expected before end  of May. This will ultimately determine whether parking bays can feasibly be delivered.

Ward Budget Timetable 2018/2019

·         The ward revenue budget allocation for 2018-19 is £29,210. Ward Committee had decided to open the window of opportunity for community groups and charitable organisations to apply for grants of up to £500.

·         The deadline for full applications to be submitted was Friday 19 January 2018.

·         All received applications that met the funding criteria were entered on a ward newsletter that was distributed across the ward in February 2018 giving residents an opportunity to have a say on grant applications and other planned projects.

·         Applicants will be notified of the outcome of their application in April 2018.

·         Ward highways/capital budget allocation: £17,181 (plus carry over of £12,712 from year 2017-18).

·         Total: £29,893

·         Some of that will be required to match fund and bring to completion projects identified via the Housing Environment Improvement Programme.

8

GRANT APPLICATONS UPDATES OF PROGRESS

Acomb and Westfield Neighbourhood Forum:   A representative from the Forum said that they had applied for funding to publicise their work.  They had held their AGM last week.  They were in the process of putting together a Neighbourhood Plan as part of the Neighbourhood structure in York.  They were helping young people to get involved.  It was not just about planning it was about the culture of the area.  This was very much a community initiative.  Part of the funding would be going towards getting their website up and running.

9.

FRONT STREET REGENERATION

Simon Brereton updated residents on the progress on regeneration.    He said he had been involved in the original project for some time and had been working in this role for the last 7 weeks at City of York Council to carry out this work.    This work was originally part of a bigger package including the city centre.  This had now changed and £50K of capital money had been allocated for the regeneration of Front Street.  He was working with traders and forums to identify work that people want to see carried out.   There was a need to think how some of the money could be used more generally to improve Front Street for example broken paving and parking on streets.  Acomb was the second busiest shopping area after the city centre.  Simon could be contacted on simon.brereton@york.gov.uk.

9.

There being no further business the meeting closed at 8.30.