Agenda and minutes

Your chance to meet:

• Cllr Ann Reid
• Cllr Tom Holvey
• Cllr Sue Sunderland
• Matthew Ward, Neighbourhood Management Officer
• Your Street Environment Officer
• Your Safer Neighbourhoods Policing Team

Representatives from:

• Group Response
• CYC Planning Department
• CYC Housing Department to provide information on the Anti-Social Behaviour Strategy

1.                  Ward Committee Surgery

1.1During the surgery residents had the opportunity to talk to councillors, council officers from Street Environment, Planning and Housing, members of the Safer Neighbourhoods Team, representatives from Group Response

Residents had the chance to complete Housing questionnaire to address anti social behaviour.

1.                  Welcome and Minutes

1.1Cllr Ann Reid welcomed residents to the meeting

1.2The minutes of the last meeting were agreed and signed.

Residents were asked what venue they preferred, and it was agreed to continue to alternate between the schools for future meetings.

An update from your Safer Neighbourhoods Policing Team on ward issues and your chance to ask questions and raise concerns.

1.                  Safer Neighbourhoods Policing Team

An update from your Safer Neighbourhoods Team on ward issues and your chance to ask questions and raise concerns.

Sgt Sarah Bestington gave an update on crime and community safety in the ward.

3.1 Residents were informed that reports of crime continue to drop in the ward

3.2 With ongoing operations and work by the team and other agencies crime should continue to fall

3.3 Sgt. Bestington and PC Antonelli are now trained in using radar guns to combat speeding in the ward. People were encouraged to report incidents of speeding so they can be logged and processed using 95 Alive forms, which are then passed to Traffic Management to act on with appropriate action.

3.4 Residents were encouraged to report Anti Social Behaviour so figures reflect what is happening.

Residents asked the following questions:

a)     The reduction of crime is encouraging, is it the same for York as a whole? As for ward by ward the answer wasn’t clear but crime in York is dropping year on year, and it remains a safe place to  live.

b)     In times of recession don’t burglaries usually rise? This has happened in the past but there hasn’t been a change do far, we live in the safest county but public perception is important so every problem needs reporting.

c)     How is traffic speed, flow etc acted on? The problems need to be identified first so reporting is key and then fitting in with protocol, passing traffic enquiries to traffic management.

d)     Tadcaster Road is a particular area of speeding in the ward? Operations do take place in this area and due to it being a major route into York it is a well known hotspot. If further areas are identified it is possible to carry out operations, with speed guns, to address the issue. Community speed watch can also be set up with the help of Safer York.

e)     At peak times buses are a problem which leads to cyclist using the pavements? Action days are planned for the ward in November to address such issues.

f)       Buses drive very fast, do they have Tacographs fitted? Cllr Holvey had already emailed the bus company about this issue. If people notice Park and Ride buses speeding there’s more council control so again report instances.

g)     Would Moorlane be targeted for speeding? This area has been identified as a potential site for utilising the radar guns.

h)     The pavement on Tadcaster Road is very wide, isn’t it better to ride on the pavement than breath in fumes on the road? Cllr Reid stated that cycle city have suggested the footpath is changed to dual use.

i)       Queens Street, Blossom Street is a problem, parking outside take aways and too many traffic lanes? Cllr Reid stated that this is also an area being address by the council.

j)        Riding to school, tiral run with children but the cycle lanes run out at The Mount? Again this is being address by  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3.

Richard Beal and Katherine Atkinson (Planning and Sustainable Development) will outline the planning process and discuss the latest proposals for the site.

1.                  Terry’s site proposal

Richard Beal and Katherine Atkinson will outline the planning process and discuss the latest proposals for the site.

1.1Richard Beal outlined that seven application have been received and they can all be viewed on line and at 9 St. Leonard’s.

1.2It is hoped that the plans will go to the planning committee in December.

1.3The main point being negotiated on is the raised deck to provide car parking, which is not in keeping with the Green Belt land.

Residents asked the following questions:

a)     What timescale is being looked at for the development? It looks as though it could be four or five years before anything significant is on site.

b)     Will Race Course Road access be affected? It is a public road so can be used for access so negotiations will have to take place regarding racedays.

c)     What is being done about the extra traffic being generated by the site? Improvements to the bypass has been deemed not cost effective so won’t happen. There are still great discussions to be had over the proposals for Bishopthorpe Road.

d)     Would a flyover for the A64 be proposed? No Highways say it is not cost effective and would mean two junctions to close together.

e)     Is there an outline for refusal of the first application? No

f)       What alterations are looking to be made to the new application? Ideally the decked carpark would go and the commercial and residential areas would swap around.

g)     Who will run the proposed medical centre? This is up to the developers and conditions can not be imposed to make the service available to everyone.

h)     Cllr Holvey asked – What if the medical centre isn’t filled and remains vacant? It would be addressed as any other building and an application for change of usage will have to be submitted.

i)       To encourage the use of cycles will lots of cycle routes be available? The transport document is still being produced. Indoor cycle storage will be sort. Integrated garages will also be in each dwelling.

j)        Why was underground parking refused on the initial application? Due to cost. Less outlay means less return will be looked for by the developers.

This is your opportunity to find out more information about the scheme suggestions included in this newsletter.  If you made a suggestion which is on the ballot list, this is your opportunity to give everyone the information they need to make an informed decision.

5.1 The total amount for all the potential local improvement schemes included in the Your Ward is far higher than the amount that will be available.  Residents were encouraged, if they had not already done so, to complete the form in the Your Ward newsletter so as many people as possible guide the decision making process.

5.2Those present were invited to comment on the schemes as detailed in the October Your Ward and did so as follows:

a)     Knavesmire Wood improvements – concern was raised as The Woodland Trust look after the site. All planting and changes will be done in conjunction with the trust.

b)     Tyburn Site – suggestion that the information board on site should be designed by local school children in conjunction with the history group. Replacement of the seat could be addressed.

c)      Path improvements Acomb Wood – resurfacing boggy areas by BTCV would cost £2500. Concern over high price for footpath. As the wood borders Foxwood would they also fund improvements.

d)     Chapmans Pond – some signs are 20yrs in and in need of replacement. Official signs may make police react more to issues. This is a well used area by the local community.

e)     Parking North Road – Highways would have to visit to address safety issues. Work involved is at high cost.

f)        Leeside Park – needed to keep out ‘the wrong type’ of people. Group response would operate the closing of the gates. Concern was raised that gates in other areas are open up to midnight some nights.

g)     Street sports – an outline of activities was supplied and Woodthorpe School would be used as the venue.

h)      Woodthorpe after school Club – an outline of function and purpose was supplied, manager has been appointed. 90% of people at the school want this club. Concern was raised if the funding wasn’t available what would happen – funding would be sort from else where. Why are education funding this? – the budget doesn’t allow support for this type of group. School numbers fallen meaning funding reduced. Needed even more so in times of recession to allow longer working hours to be possible.

i)        Active York – outlined that 4 young people from the ward benefited from this support in the last year alone.

j)        Dringhouses Dance – outlined that £360 goes to insurance costs for the group and the remainder goes towards events.

k)     St Edwards Playgroup – would allow the supply of free places.

This is your opportunity to raise any local issues or concerns for discussion with your ward councillors.    

6 Have your say

6.1 The following questions and comments were noted

a)     Views of younger people should be encouraged, use of schools councils to reflect their views on traffic matter etc? – A lot of work is done with young people to address matter input has been gathered from groups such as rising stars

b)     Littering is an issue? – Education by Street Environment at schools is hoped to increase awareness of young people. Although it’s not only young people.

c)     The worst day for litter in the ward was highlighted as the day recycling collection take place – this is to be looked at regarding containers used and the sorting process at the kerbside.

d)     Wheelie bins – majority of people still want to use black bags, 65/35 split.

e)     Why is recycling sorted at home but not commercial? – commercial collection is not always carried out by the council, work is being done on this.

f)       Could plastic recycling container be bigger? – Plastic left in plastic bags will be collected.

g)     Issue of cars parking on Chaloners Rd – Parked cars do slow down traffic flow, has been outlined for a potential police traffic operation.

h)     Eason View parking on verge possible? – No, yellow lines go right to the wall meaning non parking.

i)       Acomb wood and Parks department connection – if any work is to be done please can the Friends of be informed.