Agenda and minutes

The drop-in surgery gives residents the opportunity to talk to councillors, council officers, the safer neighbourhood team and visiting speakers informally.

1.1       Residents had the opportunity to talk to Cllr. Brian Watson, Cindy Benton and Michal Czekajlo from Neighbourhood Management Unit, PC Ray Milligan, Anthony Payne from York St John University, Sir Ron Cooke Chair of York Civic Trust, Ian Dunn from Street Environment Team.

1.2    Residents were given opportunity to sign up to become a Snow Warden.

2.1    Cllr. Brian Watson welcomed everyone to the meeting and provided housekeeping and fire safety information.

2.2    Apologies from Cllr. Janet Looker were given to the meeting.

2.3    Explanation that due to Cllr. Janet Looker absence no decisions could be made was given to the meeting.

Sir Ron Cooke will share about the progress of Reinvigorate York. This initiative was set up to enhance and restore the city centre’s public spaces, improve traffic and pedestrian flow and increase its tourism, retail and cultural appeal.

3.1    Sir Ron Cooke, Chair of York Civic Trust spoke about Reinvigorate York initiative with help of PowerPoint presentation.

3.2    The initiative was launched to breathe new life in to the centre of York. City of York Council's Cabinet teamed up with Sir Ron Cooke - chair of York Civic Trust and York's Local Strategic Partnership ("Without Walls") to lead on an ambitious new initiative to improve and enhance the quality of the city's public spaces.

3.3    City Centre Design Group was set up in order to produce a protocol for new design in the city centre.  With reference to the design protocol, the Group will oversee all new design and maintenance decisions in the city centre in terms of strategy, specific detail, and coordination.

3.4    City of York could become world heritage site, as it meets all the criteria, however international competition is growing tougher and some degradation of York’s environment quality has occurred in recent years. The initiative will work to reverse that degradation. This year whole nation will focus on York during the Queen visit and York 800 celebrations. This opportunity should be used to get things right.

3.5    The initiative will also look at economic development of the city, not only tourism. Examples of where improvements could be made were presented to the meeting.

·        Existing street furniture, such as seats should be replaced by good quality ones and good maintenance should be ensured.

·        Removal of litter bins from the city centre in Brussels has proven successful in decreasing amount of litter. Similar scheme should be implemented in York.

·        Same style decorated street lamp posts.

·        Tiled pedestrian crossings.

·        King’s Square public realm enhancement.

·        St. Sampson’s Square and Parliament Street public realm enhancement.

·        Deteriorated pavements enhancement.

·        Fossgate New Foot Street.

·        Piccadilly junction improvements.

·        Duncombe Place public realm enhancement.

·        New CYC Offices

·        Improved on street parking regulations for the city centre.

·        Removal of unnecessary road signs.

·        Removal of unnecessary bollards.

·        Parking payment on exit from the city centre.

·        Introduction of Wi-Fi.

·        Make use of vacant space above shops. Those could be converted to flats.

3.6    Local Development Framework, Detail Study of Historic Core, Movement and Accessibility Framework, Foot Streets Review   documents were created and appropriate use has to be made of them. 

3.7    Reinvigorate York have formulated policy that consists of the following four themes:

·        Restoration, refurbishment and enhancement.

·        Changes to the traffic of the inner city.

·        Encourage development of cultural and retail businesses.

·        Major projects.

Residents were given opportunity to raise questions.

Q       Could something be done about double yellow lines? In some areas they are barely visible.

A       Double lines were put down and never repainted again. We envisage that in pedestrian’s only areas double yellow lines will be removed, as there will be no parking.

Q       In the current economic climate resources and manpower should be used more wisely.

A       That is a good point.

Q       Could you look at the alleyway leading from Coney Street towards the river? It is not accessible due  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3.

4.1    At this point Andrew Payne from York St John University offered to answer questions and take feedback from residents.

On of the residents presented his observation that less incidents where students are involved are taking place presently.

Stephanie Brodie, Chair of The Groves Residents’ Association expressed her disagreement with the above statement and stated that the number of issues related to noise and littering in the area has risen.

Cllr. Brian Watson commented that couple of years ago the situation was far worse than it is at the present.

Andrew Payne stated that University is committed to do what it can to address issues of noise; however there are limits of what can be done. University is open to any suggestions on how to tackle issues with littering, cigarettes bits especially.

Q       No one is from the University is giving any feedback to residents about the projects they are running. We are aware of the Night Marshalls scheme, but have no feedback on its progress. 

A       Our Night Marshalls scheme was piloted over the last year. It was funded from Ward Committee budget. Currently we are discussing the future of the scheme and how it will be funded.

          Issue with cigarettes bits was raised with Students Unions; as a result smoking ban was introduced across the entire campus.  We have replied to residents who brought that issue to our attention and made reports to Environmental Protection Unit.

          Over last two years students were involved in Freecyce Events.

          We have provided 500 community guide booklets for our students describing how to best coexist with their neighbours.

Additional Community Coordinator will be recruited to engage with residents of the Guildhall Ward.

We have submitted number of press releases to local newspaper, to promote our projects, but most of them were not published. We are looking at different avenues for promotion.

Andrew Payne stated that e-mail correspondence from Stephanie Brodie, Chair of The Groves Residents’ Association is now being processed and reply will be formulated shortly.

University is open for suggestions from residents regarding projects and will try to recruit volunteers, fund and help to facilitate them.

Officers from your local Safer Neighbourhood Team will give an update on the work they’ve been doing in the ward and take your questions.

5.1    PC Ray Milligan gave an update on SNT work in the area.

The Police support York St John University efforts to tackle noise nuisance and other types of antisocial behaviour.

Thanks to Night Marshalls general reduction in public disorder incidents was recorded.

The will always be a certain level of complaints in regards to noise nuisance. The important thing is how those issues will be handled.

5.2    Street drinking is one of the major issues in The Groves area. Public consultation is currently taking place regarding alcohol exclusion zone for the entire city. If the plan gets the go-ahead, the Police will have the power to seize alcoholic drinks in any public place in the City of York Council area from anyone deemed to be behaving antisocially as a result of drink.

5.3    Crime figures for The Groves area show 50% drop in general crime comparing to last year. In the past 12 months we have recorded 530 incidents, where in the previous period we have recorded 1040.

          Number of robberies went up over last 12 months. The total number of 7 robberies was reported, 2 of them were without the use of force, remaining 5 were genuine. Only one of those incidents was with the use of a weapon.

          General perception of safety in The Groves should improve, as in reality it is one of the safest areas in York.

Residents were given opportunity to raise questions.

Q       I have rung the Police to report an incident recently and was taken aback by the message saying that I will be prosecuted it I’m making a false call. Would my call have an impact on bad statistics?

A       We have had an increase in forced calls, but I was not aware of that message. Incoming calls were looked at recently and some issues were identified. There was a case of one person making 76 calls in one month time. 

          If you report legitimate problems, please do not be afraid to call us.

Q       New 101 non emergency number is a vast improvement. What would help even more would be a possibility to report crime via e-mail and text message.

A       You can e-mail me at

ray.milligan@ northyorkshire.pnn.police.uk

Q       I have seen two female PCSO’s who were engage in chatter with each other while patrolling the streets. That should be stopped, as they should be focused on the surroundings instead. 

A       I can ensure you that they were not The Groves PCSO’s, as we only have boys in the team. I will make note of that and feed back to my colleagues.

Q       Will I not be allowed to have a glass of wine while on a picnic in Rowntree Park?

A       This restriction is aimed at people who drink in antisocial manner.

At this point one of the residents congratulated to the policing team for their work on Operation Anaconda which was aimed at get rid of beggars and drinkers from the streets.

The Friends of York Walls will speak about the summer fair they are organising for 21 July and how you can get involved.

6.1    Maureen O’Hare, Chair of Nawigation and Walmgate Community Association introduced herself to the meeting and read out the letter from Friends of York Walls.

Maureen explained that she is not a member of Friends of York Walls, however was approached by them in relation to the event they are planning for the summer and was asked to address the meeting on their behalf.

The Friends of York Walls have plans to renovate The Red Tower and are arranging an event on 21^st July 2012.

The Friends of York Walls are looking to engage community groups in the area to participate in the event. They plan to have bouncy castle, ice cream van and hog roast amongst other attractions during the event.

Nawigation and Walmgate Community Association will host local history stall at the event.

The Friends of York Walls indicated that they are looking for additional £1500 to fund the event, therefore if anyone has any funding please consider supporting them.

Residents were given opportunity to ask questions.

Q       Where is the Red Tower?

A       It is located between Rosemary Place and Foss Islands Road.

The ward committee will provide an update on its budget for 2011-12.

7.1    Cindy Benton, Neighbourhood Manager stated that Neighbourhood Management Unit and ward budgets are going through the review currently and the update will be provided after the Full Council budget meeting on 23rd February 2012.

Your chance to raise any ward issues not covered in the agenda.

Residents were given opportunity to raise questions.

Q       There is an issue with cars speeding on Monkgate. Introduction of 20mph zone there would be a big advantage.

A       I will make enquiries about that.

Q       Is it possible to have the Guildhall Ward notice board?

A       I will make a note of that. It will have to be installed somewhere where it would benefit many residents.

Q       You have introduced online Your Ward. Would it be possible for residents to receive an e-mail informing that newsletter appeared on the website?

A       We will look into that.

Q       Could 20mph zone be introduced on Lord Mayor’s Walk, as many drivers are speeding there?

A       I will make enquiries about that.

Q       Where I live the letter box in the main entrance door was blocked and doormats removed to comply with new fire safety refutations. The issue is that the main entrance door is broken and it will not shut.

A       Give us your details and we will address that with relevant department for you.

Q       Would it be possible to introduce series of meetings on particular day, scheduled long in advance?

A       This is another thing that will be looked at during the review.

To address all residents of the ward Committee Meetings have to be taking place in different areas.

The meeting was closed at 21:20pm. The next meeting date was not announced; however it will probably be in June/July.