Agenda and minutes

This was an opportunity for residents of the ward to talk to their local Councillors, Street Environment Officer, the Neighbourhood Policing Team, members of the Discus Bungalows Project Steering Group and Kristina Davey from the Neighbourhood Management Unit, and a chance to meet new Neighbourhood Management Officer Oliver Collins.

We will ask for approval of the minutes of the last meeting

The minutes of the last meeting were approved.

The Safer Neighbourhoods Team (North Yorkshire Police), Street Environment Officer and Young People’s Service Officer will give updates about what they’ve been doing in the ward.

Safer Neighbourhoods Team

Sgt Andy Haigh gave an update from the Safer Neighbourhoods Team:

• Since April of last year there was a 15% overall reduction in crime figures (100 fewer crimes).
• Figures on burglary reported in The Press are inaccurate. Reported figures included burglaries of sheds and garages. Burglaries of dwellings are actually down by 5% (2 burglaries).

Police priorities

• Speeding
  • Lack of evidence of a problem in Fishergate indicates that speeding is not a major priority.  Anyone feeling otherwise can obtain a form from the Safer Neighbourhoods Team.
  • Question: Does time of day have impact on number of speeding offences?
  • Answer: Yes, it has an impact.
• Cycling on footpaths
  • Exercise undertaken on Fulford Road. Tickets and warnings given for cycling on the pavement and dangerous cycling, education of public and foreign students on UK cycling laws.
• Anti-social behaviour
  • Hotspots have been targeted, particularly Millennium Bridge area and along the river. Improvement shown. In November 83 reports made, down to 23 in December.

Q: Is anything being done about car speeding?

o       Current plan to train local officers in the use of speed guns.

Burglaries and autocrime

o       Warning given about leaving valuables on display in cars. 

o       Operation Machine: Around 30 officers patrolling the Hull Road corridor, giving advice, education, checks on cars for insurance, mot, etc.

Q: Why was Hull Road chosen?

•  Hotspot for criminals. Part of a two part process – moving crime elsewhere.

Q. Has crime risen elsewhere?

• Too early to tell, but it has fallen in Fishergate.  Data from Operation Machine yet to be fully analysed.

Q. Cycling on footpaths. Parked Cars make cycling on roads dangerous, particularly at Heslington Lane – Fulford road junction.

• Plans for cycle lanes on Hospital Field Road and Fulford Road. Consultation has taken place with residents to be affected. Part of overall strategy.

Q. Are police aware of the planned areas that will be designated shared use cycle/pedestrian paths?

• Yes they are aware.

Immobilise website

• All valuables should be registered on the internet with serial numbers.
• Safe site. Home Office website. Data will be protected.
• Increases ability to return stolen items, even from other areas of the country.
• Sheffield example cited where return of goods was successful.
• More information available online and from Safer Neighbourhoods team

Q. Was there a blitz on motorists? A crackdown on use of mobile phones, not wearing seat belt, etc?

• Yes there was. Undertaken in conjunction with the crackdown on cyclists mentioned earlier.

Q. Will it continue?

• Yes. This scheme is included in the police priorities for the next three months.

Street Environment Officer

Clair Bailey Lane local street environment officer gave a situation update:

• New notice board at new walk, including map, historical and environmental information, space for notices and a vandal proof case is being designed in association with Friends of New walk and is set for completion in February or March.

Q. Who has the keys?

• There are six people with keys who live approximately two minuet walk away from the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3.

Russell Trewartha and Marie Lodge from the Discus Bungalows Regeneration Project to advise attendees of the meeting about what’s been happening and the next steps.

Russell Trewartha and Marie Lodge gave an outline of the current status of the Discus Regeneration Project.

o       CYC owns 100 bungalows presently housing around 50 older residents.  These bungalows currently fall below the Decent Homes Standard. Plans have been put in motion to redevelop the Regent Street and St Anne’s Court sites in this ward to create new homes.  Considerable resident consultation has taken place. Tees Valley Housing, York Housing Association and Southdale Homes were selected by City of York Council and the Discus Bungalows Residents’ Committee to deliver the project for the city.

o       Plan permission was given in November

o       St. Ann’s Court site will see the development of a 41 unit extra care facility. Features will include a Bistro, Hairdresser and other facilities. A further 12 new bungalows will also be built on this site and be offered to existing Discus residents.

o       Regent Street site will see the development of 58 affordable homes across the site inclusive of  24 new bungalows for existing Discus residents.

o        Richmond Street site in the Heworth ward will see the development of 85 homes including further bungalows and other affordable housing.

o       Work on the new bungalows at St Ann’s Court has been scheduled to begin in the third week of February, with a view to completion by the end of 2009. It is expected that the extra care development will take a further year to complete and the new homes across all the sites up to a further two years.

Call for comments and questions.

Q. Will bicycle bars be considered

o       Yes, that has been taken into consideration

Q. Are the properties eco-friendly?

o       They will meet level three of the national standard. Renewable energies of some kind will be included. Options being considered. Results pending.  Homes will be highly efficient to maintain and built to lifetime standards.

Q. What about electric buggy storage/charging?

o       Provide for all bungalows.

Q. Are the properties available to York residents?

The council will continue to manage allocation, working closely with Housing Association.

The Planning Panel will be elected for the coming year and we will ask for expressions of interest in becoming the independent facilitator.

Planning Panel

• Outline of Planning Panel duties and schedule given. 
• Call made for interested volunteers.
• Announcement made that only one volunteer stepped forward thus far, importance of the planning panel as a voice for the ward and the urgency of the need for volunteers stressed.
• Stated that planning applications are now available online.
• Contact NMO if interested. Tel: 01907551812

Independent Facilitator

• Role is to improve meetings act as a mediator and keep to time.
• Nominations invited, even as deputy.
• Contact NMO if Interested. Tel: 01907551812

We will discuss the proposed schemes for the coming year and ask for the final decision to be approved by the meeting. The councillors will explain their decision about which schemes they are supporting for the coming year.

• Outline of three ambitions as laid out in Your Ward given and process explained. Non-approved schemes handout also indicated.
• Councillors note that where possible, scheme selection was based on ballot results.  
• Notable exception in the case of donation to Cemetery Trust (£300) and Friends of New Walk (£400) which were missed off last issue of Your Ward, hence voting was not possible.
• Comments raised by audience regarding numbering of these schemes (FS-09-28, FS-09-29).  Existing references taken by rejected schemes. Agreed this would be amended.

Call for comments and questions.

Q. The funding for 6 schemes has been reduced. Are these still viable with the reduced funding? E.g. FS-09-25 where funding has been halved.

o       Costs based on estimates, also some funds may be added to this project from the youth fund.

Q. Re: FS-09-25. Why do we need to spend £1000 when a goalpost already exists?

o       Two goalposts are needed. The land on the area needs levelling for safety reasons.

Q. Does this area have a problem with flooding?

o       The area around is vulnerable, but not the pitch itself. Funding has been allocated, and the police are keen on the project.

Q. Is vandalism likely to be a problem?

o       Possibly, but we should not stop attempting things otherwise nothing would get done

Recycling

Q. Can an improvement be made to biodegradable bags? Their lifespan seems to be too long or too short.

o       Other bags are available from supermarkets and shops.

Q. How do we store these bags?

o       To avoid degrading too quickly, store them in a cool, dry and dark place.

Q. Can recycling be collected from flats/apartments?

o       A popular issue. Trials are happening in other wards. Yet to reach FG, but will inevitably take place due to central government policy.This was part of the last budget.

Q. FS-09-23. Net nil. Why was money spent on this?

o       The tree has been cut down, and the process already started. It was felt that it was worthwhile going ahead with the project and creating a piece of art for the ward.

Q. Where will it be located?

o       Approx. 20 yards from the Blue Bridge gates.

Q. Does it really require £2000?

o       Similar projects exist elsewhere.  Estimates have taken those into account. Special skills are required to create sculptures, which unfortunately cost money.

Road Safety

Q. What is the current situation with Broadway shops?

o       Currently not ideal.  The roadway is collapsing and the Council have done some repairs. Issues remain.  Discussions have taken place with the shops to urge action. The Council view this area as privately owned, but hopefully an agreement can be reached between shop owners and the council. Costs are prohibitive, meaning that only the Co-Op is likely to be able to afford it.  Short term action therefore seems unlikely. 

Shop Local Logo

Issue explained. Need to support local shops.  There is money in the budget to spend on promotional material. Two suggested designs displayed on projection. Call for  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

Your opportunity to discuss local issues and concerns with your ward councillors.

Call for any other business

Q. What is the situation with the crocodile? Why has it been moved?

• Originally it was located by the river, but was vandalised several times hence the decision to relocate to its current location at cemetery road play area.

Explanation of leaflet distributed regarding climate change event. Tickets available.

Q. what happened to the Help Shape Activity exercise?

• Suggestions were used to form ambitions for Neighbourhood Action Plan.

Explanation of kids’ allotment event. Handouts available.

Terry’s

Attention drawn to the Terry’s factory update handout. Including current situation and site plans. Public consultation on 14/02/2009

Q. Issue regarding railway station?

• Ticket barriers to be introduced.  Would reduce accessibility and detract from the appearance of the station.  The original scheme has been amended and is available online and at 9 St Leonard’s.

Q. Why are the barriers necessary?

• Government regulation and National Express hope that it will cut down on fraudulent behaviour.