Agenda and minutes
PDF 161 KBContact: Toby Knight
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Drop-in surgery 7.00pm 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. Minutes: Residents had the opportunity to talk with Cllr Janet Looker; Cllr Brian Watson; PC Richard Gatecliffe; PCSO Joe Spooner; PCSO Sean Simpson; PCSO K. Milligan; PCSO Joanne Lane; Toby Knight, Neighbourhood Management Officer; Michal Czekajlo, Neighbourhood Management Support Officer; Ian Asher, Head of Commissioning, Design and Facilities Management; Amy Ashton, York St John Community Coordiantor; Suzanne Prance, Street Environment Officer; Iain Dunn, Street Environment Officer; Sam Watling, Environmental Enforcement Officer.
Representatives from Street Sport York, Sport and Active Leisure Team and York 800/YorStories were present during the surgery providing information on proposed schemes.
Residents had the opportunity to look at Local Development Framework display. |
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Welcome and Minutes Minutes: 2.0 Councillors Looker and Watson welcomed everyone to the meeting.
2.1 The minutes of the February meeting were ratified and signed.
2.2 Fire safety and basic housekeeping information was presented to the meeting.
2.3 Cllr Looker gave a brief description of ‘snow warden’ scheme and encouraged residents to participate.
2.4 The sign-in sheet was passed around for everyone to sign.
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Safer Neighbourhood Police Team Your local police team will give an update on issues in your ward and answer any questions you have. Minutes:
3.0 PC Richard Gatecliffe gave an update on the change to policing boundaries and the Police work in Walmgate area. New tighter policing areas with dedicated officers allow more efficient work. Questionnaires were recently issued in the community to survey residents’ perception of police work.
3.1 Street drinkers are the major problem in the area. Police are trying to tackle that problem by engaging with offenders, confiscating alcohol and displacing them to another area. Confiscation of closed alcohol containers is considered as an option for the next year. The highest number of interventions related to street drinking this year was recorded between June and July. There are three categories of street drinkers and each has to be approached differently. Joint work with Salvation Army is taking place to deal with alcohol dependant people.
The following questions were raised:
Q When you ask street drinkers to move out of the area, where do they actually go? A They will be either directed to the area they are not familiar with, or to their home address.
Q Public phone on Walmgate was vandalised recently. Are you aware of that? A We are aware of the issue.
Q Street drinkers are often congregating near the entrance to St Olave’s Church, under Walmgate Bar and on the grass area near Monk Bar. A Thank you for this information. Please call our nonemergency number to report all issues with people drinking alcohol on the street. Our officers are now equipped with personal cameras that allow to record up to 8 hours of audio and video. Records from those cameras can be then presented as a proof in front of the court.
Q Will the crime statistics be presented tonight? A You can find the information on crime figures on the leaflets presented in the surgery area. A more comprehensive report on crime statistics will be prepared for the next meeting.
3.2 PCSO Milligan gave an update on Police work in The Groves and Monkgate area. There are two designated public places in the area, however there is a gap between them and street drinkers are often being displaced there. Future strategy for restricted drinking zones is being looked at currently.
The following questions were raised.
Q Have you considered designating the areas where people are allowed to drink? A That is being looked at as part of the designated public places review.
Q There is an issue with drug users in Monkgate area, especially outside Monkagte Health Centre. Often people are consuming alcohol and taking drugs while waiting for their friends who have an appointment at the health centre. Police should cooperate with Monkgate Health Centre to tackle that issue. It is also difficult to prove and report people taking drugs as the act of taking the drug happens quickly and is not very visible. A That matter is currently being discussed with the PCT.
Q Leeds has a zero-tolerance policy towards street drinking in the city centre. There is a rumour that people are ... view the full minutes text for item 3. |
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Street Environment Update Officers from Street Environment Services will speak to the meeting on the work they’ve been doing in the ward and plans for the future. Minutes: 4.0 Suzanne Prance, Iain Dunn and Sam Watling gave an update on Street Environment work in the ward. The team is continually enhancing the area. This year the emphasis was put on approaching businesses and asking them not to leave rubbish bags on the pavements. The team is educating residents at events and by way of information leaflets. Officers can issue a £75 fine for littering. The number of litter penalty notices issued so far this year is around 80.
4.1 September 19th marked the launch of a three year national campaign called Love Where You Live. City of York Council Street Environment Service are inviting employers, organisations, voluntary groups and individuals across the city to help mark the launch and kick off what is hoped to be the biggest, longest environment campaign in York. Love Where You Live is run by the Keep Britain Tidy group. Recognising that it takes time to change the way people think and act, the campaign will run for three years allowing time to encourage as many people as possible to join them – and City of York Council - along the way. The Street Environment team of eight officers visited every ward in York to carry out litter picks and cleaning to help promote and share the event with local residents and find out why they love York.
4.2 Examples of Street Environment Team work were shown to the meeting with help of Power Point presentation.
4.3 If you wish to be a part of Love Where You Live campaign, please contact Iain Dunn or Suzanne Prance on 01904 55 1551. Email: iain.dunn@york.gov.uk or Suzanne.prance@york.gov.uk
The following questions were raised.
Q Have you considered installing paving slabs in the space where the hedge was on Stonebow? A We are liaising with Edible York, which is interested in starting vegetable plot there.
Q Are you in charge of mechanical street sweepers? They tend to leave mud on the roads after sweeping. A That will be taken up with our colleagues who are responsible for streets sweeping.
Q Guildhall should be recognised as the most important ward in York and emphasis should be put on litter picking and streets cleanliness. A We do highlight the areas that require cleaning during our walkabouts and try to keep the area as clean as possible.
A Are you working together with Community Payback? Q Yes, we do cooperate with them. If you have any suggestions for jobs that could be carried out by the Community Payback workforce please let us know.
A We used to have a gardener/handyman who was looking after the estate. Who is going to maintain the estate now? Q We can approach Community Payback and ask them to carry out gardening work on the estate, but have to liaise with Gary Garland, Estate Manager on that.
A There is an issue with litter bins in the city centre overflowing with litter even in the morning. Can something be done about that? |
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York St John University’s Community Co-ordinator Amy Ashton has taken on this role for the Guildhall area. Amy will introduce herself and the work she’ll be doing. Minutes: 5.0 Amy Ashton, York St John University Community Coordinator introduced herself to the meeting and gave a brief description of her role. The key task of the Community Coordinator is to build relationships between residents and students in the community and look for areas where student involvement could benefit the community.
Residents were given opportunity to raise questions.
Q As a student body, you should consider joining the winter wardens initiative. A That will be looked into.
Q Could you arrange for weekly litter pick sessions for students? It would improve street cleanliness and also improve the perception of students in the community held by local residents. A We do distribute a booklet to every student residence that explains about the environment and informs them how to be good a resident.
Q There are several student-rented properties on Neville Street. Front yards of most of those properties are neglected. It does affect the appearance of the street. Could that be addressed? A We do educate students on how to deal with rubbish. Work with York Landlords Association has also started recently.
Q Are you able to provide translation of your booklets for foreign students? A We will have to look at that. Our international office could be involved. We need to be aware of the fact that engaging in cleaning work could breach visa commitments of some students.
Q I do speak to students who live nearby and help them with maintaining their gardens. It seems to be working and other residents should try a similar approach. A That is great idea, personal contact between residents and students is very important.
Q There is an issue with drunken students shouting at night on their way home from the city centre. Could you address that? A Our Night Marshalls scheme is intended to resolve these issues.
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Planning Panel Elections The Guildhall Planning Panel will talk about the work they do and how you can get involved. Minutes: 6.0 Chris Edghill, Guildhall Planning Panel Clerk gave brief description of the purpose and membership of the panel. The Panel has 10 active members and there are no vacancies are at the moment. Residents who were interested in joining the panel were asked to give their details to Toby Knight, Neighbourhood Management Officer. Two residents expressed their interest in becoming planning panel members and their details were noted.
Comment was made that planning panel membership should last for a maximum of 3 years to allow new members to join.
6.1 The list of existing planning panel members was presented to the meeting by Toby Knight, Neighbourhood Management Officer. No objections were raised from the meeting and the existing planning panel members were re-elected formally.
6.2 Those elected to the planning panel were: Chris Edghill (Clerk) Tony Martin Ann Petherick Colin Hall Rob Stay Gill Pratt Louise Elliot Alan Filby Vivien Irish Dr Roger Pierce Dr David Medio
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Local Improvement Schemes An update will be given on the progress of this year’s schemes. Following that, the suggested schemes for 2012-13 will be discussed. If you made one of the suggestions on the ballot list, come along to tell people more about it. Minutes: 7.0 Toby Knight, Neighbourhood Management Officer gave an update on year 2011-2012 schemes.
GU-11-01 Additional seating at places identified by residents. One of the locations identified by local residents is near St George’s Burial Ground. Cllr Looker said that the ‘Reinvigorate York’ review of street furniture is currently taking place and the installation of new benches should be suspended for now. Police have raised their concern regarding the burial ground location for the new bench, as it would attract street drinkers. Several residents commented that benches are for the benefit of the community and their location cannot be dictated by street drinkers. It was decided that further consultation in regards to the bench location will be carried out after the review outcomes are known.
GU-11-03 York St John Student Union Night Marshals. The scheme is progressing and the cheque was raised to fund it.
GU-11-04 Grant to York St John Student Union for Freecycle Event. The scheme is progressing and the cheque was raised to fund it.
GU-11-07 Recycling for Peel Street Car Park. The scheme is on hold, as all properties on Peel Street now benefit from doorstep recycling. Money could be used either to clear suitable area for a charity recycling bank (hatched area by pay and display) or to pay for lease of 2 parking space it would occupy. We are waiting to see if the car park lease will be extended beyond 2013.
GU-11-10 York Rotters training on how to use compost to grow your own produce. The cheque was raised to fund the scheme.
GU-11-12 Street Sport York 10 sessions. The cheque was raised to fund the scheme.
GU-11-15 York Playspace chill out sessions. The cheque was raised to fund the scheme.
GU-11-17 Age Concern toe nail cutting service. The cheque was raised to fund the scheme.
GU-11-18 Active York for their fund for the gifted. The cheque was raised to fund the scheme.
GU-11-20 York Youth Council city centre café. The cheque was raised to fund the scheme.
GU-11-21 York St John Student Union Community Coordinators. The cheque was raised to fund the scheme.
GU-11-24Space 109 to support the local community. The cheque was raised to fund the scheme.
GU-11-25 York older peoples assembly. The cheque was raised to fund the scheme.
The following questions were raised.
Q Will you be able to replace the notice board on Speculation Street. A That notice board will be replaced and the cost will be covered from the Estate Improvement Grant.
Q There is an issue with bicycles being discarded on the streets. Who can I contact to arrange for removal? A You can ring York Customer Centre on 01904 551551.
Q Is there an under spend in year 2011-2012 ward budget? A No, but there is community chest to fund schemes at ward members’ discretion.
Q How many schemes should I be voting for on the 2012-2013 ballot? A The Guidhall Ward budget is around £21,000. Please vote for all the schemes you would like ... view the full minutes text for item 7. |
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Have your say Your chance to ask questions about local issues and concerns not covered by the agenda. Minutes: No questions were raised, as residents had the opportunity to ask questions earlier.
The meeting was closed at 21:45.
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