Agenda and minutes

An opportunity for residents of the ward to talk to their local councillors, Street Environment Officer, Sgt. Andy Haigh, PC Jo Brooke and PC Anna Tyldesley from the Neighbourhood Policing Team, Elizabeth Bates from JorAir; Chris Newsome, Community Planning Officer involved in the Heslington East development, and Kristina Davey and Kay Hoare from the Neighbourhood Management Unit.

This was an opportunity for residents of the ward to talk to their local councillors, Street Environment Officer, Sgt. Andy Haigh, PC Jo Brooke and PC Anna Tyldesley from the Neighbourhood Policing Team, Elizabeth Bates from JorAir; Chris Newsome, Community Planning Officer involved in the Heslington East development, and Kristina Davey and Kay Hoare from the Neighbourhood Management Unit.

7:35pm: - Welcome and minutes:

The minutes from the previous meeting were signed and approved.

Sgt Andy Haigh from the Safer Neighbourhoods Team will give a short presentation updating the crime situation in Heslington and Fulford wards.

Sgt Andy Haigh from the Safer Neighbourhoods Team gave a short presentation updating the crime situation in Heslington and Fulford wards.

3 Police Priorities:

Speeding

• Forms are available to report speeding problems to the Traffic Management Unit
• Signs of strong feelings regarding speeding .  Priorities are currently major routes – trunk roads, A64, etc.  Any known problem areas can still be reported however.

Cycling on footpaths

• 3 Day exercise on Fulford Road. 1 Day in Heslington. Tickets and warnings given to problem cyclists.  In Heslington, parking is a problem.  Problem comes when parking is on double yellow lines this is an issue for the Council. 

Anti-Social behaviour

• Incidents in Heslington:

1.     October – 12

2.     November - 5

3.     December – 2

Aggregate for 2008: 8

• Incidents in Fulford:

1.     October – 14

2.     November – 19

3.     December – 10

Aggregate for 2008: 17

• Policing team are also looking at shoplifting, particularly at McArthur Glen.
• Also working on University of York campus
• In Heslington, crime is down 16% from last year
• Fulford up 6%. Much of this can be explained by shoplifting at Mcarthur Glen.

Chris Newsome, Community Planning Officer is to give a presentation updating the progress of the Heslington East development.

Chris Newsome, Community Planning Officer, gave a presentation updating the progress of the Heslington East development.

• June 2007 outline planning given. Establishes principle of development.
• Reserve matters planning application. Displayed on slide.

o       Cluster 1.

§         University will develop in ‘parcels,’ over a period of  around 20 years.

o       Community forum. Representatives from the University, local community, Parish Council, Ward Councillors. Available for public viewing before council decision.

o       Concerns raised regarding parking have resulted in altered proposals.

o       Landscaping forms an important part of the plan.

o       Dean’s Acre.  Approved as part of the outline plan. Designed to link the two campuses together.

§         Concerns have been expressed by the local community. The University says that realistic alternatives can still be considered.

o       Plan only approved based on traffic strategy.  Parking will be an issue.  Encouragement of ‘line of approach’ parking.  Regular traffic counts will be made.

Conservation Area Application.

• University is required to pay for this, now undertaken.
• Council is obliged to appraise and review the conservation area.
• Appraisal considers each aspect of village: evolution of area, views, buildings, etc.
• Village design statement.  Important statement designed to protect the village.

Call for questions.

Q. Field Lane. Relief road essential to divert traffic from village.  Does the University have any alternatives?

o       Not at present.  Dean’s Acre was intended to provide relief for the village area.  Expansion of University road as an alternative?

Q. Will be a single track, not a dual carriageway.  Surely inappropriate for need.

o       The full details are not yet finalised.  The University has permission to proceed, but is currently meeting protest. It would seem there are two possible alternatives:

1.      Not to develop Dean’s Acre at all and manage the traffic.

2.      Find another route as yet unconsidered

Q. The village proposed a different route, but it was turned down.

o       There was difficulty buying land from the science park. The option is being looked into again.

Q. Peter Evely claimed that Dean’s Acre was the ‘only route’

o       Its an open book. If Dean’s Acre is to be successful it needs to be effective so that people use it. Therefore it stands to reason that it  be a direct route.  That is one argument for Dean’s Acre.  A route encompassing Windmill Lane is too out of the way – a ‘dog leg’ rather than direct road.

Consideration of proposed budget schemes.

Consideration of proposed budget schemes.

• HF09-24 and HF09-25: Budget is tight. HF09-24 benefits a wider range of people, whereas HF-09-25 is aimed at the elderly. We thought that the schemes should be for all.

Cllr. Keith Aspden declared a non-prejudicial personal interest as a member of Fulford Parish Council and as a member of York Credit Union.

Call for questions

Q. What is the point of these schemes? Are they cost effective?

• Bids are from applicants. They received a large number of votes and we tend to go with that.

Q. Fulford and Heslington has limited funding. If we put in money, what guarantee is there that we will benefit proportionately from city-wide schemes and organisations? Do we get what we pay for?

• If a grant is given, it is on a ring fenced basis, to guarantee value for Fulford-Heslington. 

Q. Other sources of funding are possible surely?

• Yes, but not for this in Heslington and Fulford.  They won’t happen unless we fund them.

Q. Will they make sure that Heslington/Fulford residents are made aware of the existence of these schemes?

• Yes, this is part of the bid.

Q. We need more feedback on the voting process and the results. They are easily forgotten.

• That information is given at Ward Committee meetings.  It is public information, and we generally go along with voting unless a scheme is below the criteria for grant bids.

Action: We should look into alternatives and better ways of providing this information.  But there isn’t really room to include it in Your Ward.

Q. Re: HF-09-05: How many, and what kind of trees for this money?

• We will consult on where trees are to be planted and seek informed opinion on what kind of trees are appropriate.

• The budget is not yet approved.  Views will be consulted on further developments.

Q. Re HF09-01: again, how many benches does this money buy us?

• Well, its about £4-600 per bench.  Any input on this information is welcome.

Q. How are the compost bins distributed?

• On a first come - first served basis at Ward Committee meetings.  Any other suggestions will be considered.

Q. Well that’s not really fair on everyone.

• Recycling is a community issue. Everyone benefits and it has been voted upon.

• All planned schemes for next year were summarised and formally agreed. The schemes are detailed in the table below:

o       11 - Grant to Fulford Cub/Scout Group for increased cycle storage at Fulford Scout Hall

o       05 - Tree fund to plant trees in Heslington and Fulford

o       03 – Grant to Fulford Parish Council to improve the men’s toilets at Fulford Village Hall

o       04 – Fund for strimming around trees and street furniture instead of spraying on Main Street, Heslington

o       07 – Grant to York Rotters to encourage children to learn about  composting through ‘Compost – The Mini Musical.’

o       01 – Grant to install new benches in Heslington and Fulford

o       10 – Provision of a plastic recycling bank in  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

Call for questions/comments

Call for questions/comments

Q. Is there any hope of a significant improvement in the roads? Current standard is appalling.  Cycling is too difficult and dangerous. Sensible decisions need to be made. University Road is perilous.

• That road is in a terrible condition.  Requests have been made for an improvement.  It is on next year’s provisional capital funding list.  Not yet finalised and so could be cut.  University Road is surely desperately in need of work, and should remain on the list, so hopefully this will happen in the next financial year.

Q. Which roads are worse than University Road?

• Exactly. It is difficult to imagine there can be many which are more urgent. An important road and an important issue.

Q. Zebra crossings on Heslington Lane.  Nobody listens to complaints. It is dangerous and poorly lit. Someone will die there.

• Will look into this further

Q. Students think that it is ‘safe’

• People should be made aware that this is actually a zebra crossing and not a pedestrianised section of the road. This is a particular problem with foreign students.

Q. There seems to be so much traffic legislation, but it doesn’t seem that penalties are ever carried through. There are not enough traffic wardens patrolling the streets for example.

• There are only 8 for the city.  It probably doesn’t help Heslington Main Street. Lots of feedback comes about this.  There have been some attempts to rectify school parking with education and initiatives. There was some noticeable improvement, but it seems to have reverted back to the original level.  I agree with your point. 
• We will make a formal request for more Traffic Wardens for Heslington village.