Agenda and minutes

 Drop-in surgery, 6.45pm

 The drop-in surgery gives you the opportunity to talk to your councillors, street environment officer, safer neighbourhood team, neighbourhood management officer and visiting speak­ers in an informal setting.

• You can discuss and find out about the scheme suggestions for 2012/13.  

PCSO Simon Cartwright, North Yorkshire Police

PCSO Marie Hampshire, North Yorkshire Police

PCSO Annie Simpson, North Yorkshire Police

PC Alex Dobson, North Yorkshire Police

Inspector Jo Brooksbank, North Yorkshire Police

Neil Gulliver, CYC Everybody Active Participation Officer

Dean Sharp, CYC Sports Coach

Catriona Sudlow, CYC Older People’s Physical Activity Officer

Angus Young, CYC Street Environment Officer

Martin Grainger, CYC Head of Integrated Strategy

Richard Wood, CYC Assistant Director for Strategic Planning and Transport

Ted Schofield, CYC Neighbourhood Management Support Officer

Mora Scaife, CYC Neighbourhood Manager

Trevor Pool, volunteer, York Wheels

Rachel Totton, volunteer, Older Citizen’s Advocacy Service

The above were all present at the Drop-In Surgery to discuss local issues.  There were displays concerning Local Improvement Schemes, York Wheels and the Local Development Framework Core Strategy.

 Main meeting, 7.15pm

Cllr Jenny Brooks welcomed everyone to the meeting and the minutes of the last meeting were approved.

 An update on the work and issues in the ward.

Inspector Jo Brooksbank spoke about the new system of policing in York, which has been in place for six months.  This divides York into four areas, Rural, the City, the East and the West.  This was introduced partly to make savings of £24m in North Yorkshire Police over the next four years.  All Rural teams are now based at Clifton Moor.

A promise had been made that frontline services would not be cut – so a new pattern of policing has been introduced which responds to demands in different areas, and administration staff have been reduced by 300 posts.

Inspector Jo Brooksbank asked if anyone had any questions.

The following question was asked - does the Rural Team include traffic police?

The response was given - no, traffic police are organised separately, based at Tadcaster.

PC Alex Dobson then gave a local update of police work

There had been a variety of crimes across the three wards, and we are most concerned about burglary  and metal thefts.  There has also been some vandalism of the rubberised surface on the Stray Road Play Area.

Now that the nights are drawing in, don’t forget to Light Up and Lock Up – police can supply time switches and bulbs.  There have been a number of bogus callers – be on your guard.

Police will supply shed bars for increasing security to garden sheds.

The following resident comments/questions were received.

The comment was made that a member of the public had allowed someone into his house who was offering to fit solar panels.  It occurred to him afterwards that the visitor could have a very good look around the house in this way with a view to burglary.

Cllr Jenny Brooks pointed out that a cold calling zone can be declared in an area if everyone in the street agrees to it.  Contact the police or Trading Standards at the council.

Comment was made that we used to have regular reports from the police to the parish council.  The  minutes then go on a parish noticeboard.  This would be a good way of communicating with the public if it could be reinstated.

Response was given that police reports are still sent out and are available to the public.

The question was asked - what can be done about the number of cars parking and waiting for children at schools?

Response was given that 0800 60 60 247 can be rung for a team to visit the area

Comment was made that residents have asked the police to visit the new play area.

The response was given that the police do include this in their patrols.  Please help them by reporting anything suspicious.

 Martin Grainger, Head of Integrated

Strategy, and Richard Wood, Assistant Director for Strategic Planning and Transport will explain how the development of housing may happen in the area.

Martin Grainger spoke about the Local Development Framework Core Strategy.

During the presentation the following questions were received.

Resident question – what population growth are you expecting?

The response was given -  we are aiming to build 800 new houses per year, and have based that on the calculated growth in population.  This includes the large number of students and tourists in the city.

Resident question – have these issues been decided before this consultation?

The response given was negative.

Resident question - is York’s “unique character” limited to the city centre, or are other centres in the outskirts considered important?

The response was given - all areas are important.  The ethos is to look for quality design throughout the city.  Neighbourhood Plans would be produced with the Strategic Plan.

Resident question – where will the funding for these Neighbourhood Plans come from?

The response was given that this is unclear at the moment.

Resident question – what defines a Neighbourhood?

The response was given that the government has used parishes as a definition.  People may be able to define them for themselves.

Resident question – the plan aims to create 1,000 jobs per year.  Who are the new jobs going to? Why are we creating a greater number of jobs than needed?

The response was given that about 20,000 people travel out of York to work, and about 25,000 travel in.  Any jobs created will become part of the same pattern.

Resident question – it seems that there is no guarantee that the brownfield sites will be developed first.

The response was given that if this plan is adopted, planners will be able to defend it.  Without the plan, development will be harder to control.

Resident question – is there long-term planning to attract specific industries?  Could this be related to education and training, so that young people would be able to take on the jobs concerned?

Richard Wood responded that this was a wider question, and that work is going on in this area.

Martin Grainger made the point that a Draft National Policy Framework had been created by the government. The document has been welcomed by housebuilders, but other bodies such as the National Trust have argued against it – it is perceived as a pro-development document, with an emphasis on economic success.  This document will set a default position, if Local Development Framework is not set in place.  He emphasised that the Areas of Search identified in the Framework (areas of search for development needs) would only be considered for development if the need arose.

Various concerns over planning were raised to which the following responses were given - recreational space would be protected if necessary.  Link roads to possible new developments would be considered as part of the overall planning, and the possibility of them becoming rat runs into the centre taken into account.  A question about a promise made by Cllr Rod Hills in 1995 that there would be no development to the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

 Amendments to current schemes.

It was planned that only updates on schemes were given.

 Your chance to ask questions about local issues and concerns not

covered by the agenda.

There were no contributions to Have Your Say.

Cllr Jenny Brooks closed the meeting.