Agenda and minutes

You will have an opportunity to talk to :

• Cllr Madeleine Kirk
• Cllr Siân Wiseman    
• Angus Young, Street Environment Officer
• The Safer Neighbourhoods Policing Team
• A representative from the Neighbourhood Management Unit

PLUS: find out more about the NHS Foundation Trust and the York Young Peoples Plan.

1.1  Local residents had an opportunity to speak to Cllr Madeleine Kirk, Cllr Sian Wiseman, Angus Young (Street Environment Officer), The Safer Neighbourhoods Policing Team and Mora Scaife (Neighbourhood Management Officer)

1.2  Residents had an opportunity to find out more about the York Young Peoples Plan and becoming a member of the NHS Foundation Trust.

• NHS Foundation Trust

York Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust will complete their 1^st year as a Foundation Trust at the end of September.  Come along and learn about the trust and ask any questions.

• Police Priorities

Your chance to tell your Safer Neighbourhoods Team what the most important issues are in your ward.

• Local Improvement Schemes

Have your say on how the ward budget for your area should be spent and learn more about some of the scheme proposals.  

• Have Your Say

Your opportunity to discuss local issues and concerns.

Welcome and Minutes

2.1  Residents were welcomed to the meeting.

2.2  The minutes of the last meeting were approved.

Mike Proctor (Deputy Chief Executive of the NHS Foundation Trust) spoke about what the Trust has been doing, where it hopes to go in the future and encouraged residents of the ward to become members.

The following points were noted:

3.1  The NHS Foundation Trust has just completed it’s first 18 months and is now looking to the public to give more guidance as to what the organisation should focus on in the future.

3.2  One of the main objectives of the Trust is to focus on the patient, including their safety and general experience when in hospital.

3.3  The Trust hopes to bring the hospital up to modern standards.

3.4  One of the main priorities highlighted by the NHS Foundation Trust is to increase bed numbers, which they hope to achieve by December.

3.5  Other priorities include making the hospital environment safe, improve staffing and reduce waiting times.

3.6  The main aim of the Trust is to improve communication with the public and engage with the community.

3.7.  The trust is accountable to its members.  Becoming a member of the trust gives people the chance to have their say on the future and priorities of the trust.

3.8.  There are currently 11,000 members with different kinds of membership.

Residents made the following comments:

a) Volunteers shouldn’t have to pay car parking charges

Response was given that this can be looked into and sorted out. It will also be fed back that there are car parks charging 70p an hour located at Sainsbury’s / St George’s.

b) ‘Paying on exit’ could mean that people end up paying too much if there are long waiting times in the hospital.

c) There should be dispensations for long stays, e.g. for parents who spend whole days at hospital with their children. It is suggested that ward sisters could make the dispensations.

d) How will there be an increase in staff?

Response was given that on elderly wards there will be the equivalent of 60 new nurses.

In terms of staffing and staff training, an increase in staff means that more staff can be released for training opportunities.

e) Will the Primary Care Trust run out of money again, and what will this mean for the hospital?

Response was given that the Foundation Trust is protected by a legally binding contract with the Primary Care Trust.

f) Is the private sector still used to make the 18 week treatment target?

Response was given that this is mostly for surgical cases. Beds will be opened this year for flu cases, and if there is a flu pandemic then extra measures will be taken. There are no more ‘mothballed’ beds at the moment

g) If someone hasn’t been treated within 18 weeks, what can they do?

Response was given that they can contact PALS desk or the Chief Executives office by phoning the hospital.

A policing update was given by the Safer Neighbourhood Policing Team, with Sgt. Donna Musgrove, Insp. Mark Iveson and PC Alex Dobson.

The following points were noted:

4.1      Crime statistics for the year from September to September are down by 15.5%.

4.2      The neighbourhoods policing teams deal with crime reduction. The responsive police teams deal with crime deduction.

4.3  The national economic picture is expected to increase crime. It is the job of the Safer Neighbourhood Team to restrict any possible increase.

4.4  Lead theft and theft of other metals has become a large problem.

Residents made the following comments:

a) Is there a neighbourhood watch in Strensall?

Response was given that there are several but if a resident wants to set another one up they need to see PC Alex Dobson.

b) Crime figures may be skewed by Stockton Hall. Would it be possible to adjust crime figures to exclude Stockton Hall?

Response was given that in order to get these figures an officer would have to sit and work through all of the data to analyse the figures.

c) The officers would be happy to attend a parish council meeting to explain the importance of reporting crime in the building up of a picture for the area.

d) It is off putting to use a central number to call the police. It is especially difficult for the hard of hearing or elderly.

e) A comment was made on whether or not the new judicial system was supportive of the police.

f) There are vandalism and drinking problems in Stockton on Forest. There needs to be more of a police presence in alleyways, with patrols spread out for better coverage.

Response was given that residents need to phone in when a crime takes place as the crime figures are taken from the number of crimes reported.

g) There are speeding issues in Earswick on the road between the roundabout and bypass. Can measures be taken to stop this?

Response was given that radar guns require a minimum distance of 2 tenths of a mile to be effective.

h) A query was raised about the Neighbourhood Watch in the area.

Response was given that the police cannot speak for the Neighbourhood Watch, but there is one active in the area.

i) The willow tree by the 2 little benches at Northfields needs to be moved so that people can see at the junction.

This was an opportunity for discussion about the local improvement schemes on the 09-10 ballot list.

5.1     Representatives gave more information about the following schemes:

ST-09-10                   Street Sport York

ST-09-12                   Active York

ST-09-13                   York Credit Union Partnership

ST-09-14                   Global York

ST-09-15                   Stockton on the Forest Scout Group

ST-09-16 and 17            Hurst Hall Community Centre

ST-09-18                   Older Citizens Advocacy York

5.2.  Residents made the following comments:

ST-09-01 - A vehicle activated sign between the roundabout and Earswick village would be useful to remind drivers it is a 30mph limit going into Earswick. Could all Strensall and Earswick signs have a yellow background. They should also not be obscured by trees and need to be cleaned regularly.

ST-09-02 – The garden landscaping has been done in the Earswick Scented Garden Project, and further funding will continue the project.

ST-09-03 – 4 barrels of flower displays have been trialled, and funding is now required to expand this to 12 next year.

ST-09-05 – The war memorial should be maintained so that people can be proud of it.

ST-09-08 – There are facilities for children of other ages but something for children aged 6-12 is needed. The siting of the swings is to be decided.

ST-09-09 – There is nowhere for lads to go in Strensall so items are needed to go in the portakabin.

ST-09-12 – Supporting budding young athletes is very expensive for parents.

ST-09-13 – York Credit Union have created this scheme with the intention of targeting people suffering under the credit crunch.

ST-09-14 – Global York have previously held family activity days with free kids clubs and cafés. 300 people came along.

ST-09-16 & 17 – Would like to see some kids clubs run at Hurst Hall. The hall is run by volunteers, who are hoping to buy in some more activities to supplement their existing one.

a) The number 5 route (First Buses) is unreliable. At busy times it is full and I have waited half an hour for a full bus at times.

b) Councillors were aware of comments regarding speeding in the ward. The request for a vehicle activated sign scheme is progressing.