Agenda and minutes

Your chance to meet:

• Cllr Madeleine Kirk
• Virginia Shaw, Neighbourhood Management Officer

Representatives from:

• The Safer Neighbourhoods Policing Team
• Street Environment Services
• Young People’s Service
• Independent Complaints Advocacy Service

1.1       Local residents had the opportunity to speak with: Cllr Madeleine Kirk, Iain Dunn (Street Environment Officer), the Safer Neighbourhoods Policing Team, Virginia Shaw and Claire Taylor (Neighbourhood Management), Allen Marsh (Street Sport, York) and Lauren Webb (Independent Complaints Advocacy Service)

2.1             Residents were welcomed to the meeting

2.2             Apologies for absence were given for Cllr. S. Wiseman

2.3             The minutes of the last meeting held in July were approved and signed

Your opportunity to let your Safer Neighbourhoods Policing Team know what the most important issues are in your ward.

3.1             PC Alex Dobson gave a report on Safer Neighbourhood Policing Team activities.  Crime and anti-social behaviour (ASB) are both down in the ward.  He drew attention to the “Light up, lock up” initiative to provide home security advice to the public and encourage use of timers for lights to combat burglary in the home.

3.2             Various campaigns have been operating in the ward, such as Operation Caboose targeting general ASB in Strensall and running till December, Operation Deflection aimed at tackling ASB at Strensall allotments and Operation Igloo focussing on burglary prevention to address the slight increase in Strensall. 

3.3             He drew attention to the 95 Alive forms available for reporting speeding.  These forms activate a process.  A volume of forms is unnecessary and indeed will be unhelpful as they will all be responded to: one form will trigger the process.  Team cards are available with details of the Safer Neighbourhoods Policing Team; and cards to note priorities for policing in the ward (“Help influence policing priorities in your neighbourhood”).  This feedback helps inform the setting of policing priorities for the ward.  The team also have available copies of a booklet on home security (“A guide to home security”) and wheelie bin stickers to deter speeding vehicles.    

3.4             The following questions were asked and responses given:

Q: An incident at Strensall Post Office involving a piece of concrete being thrown through the shop window (the postmaster had the offender on the premises) took till noon the following day for police to arrive.

A: We will look into this and report back

Q: Following submission of 95 Alive forms for Hopgrove Lane, Stockton-on-the-Forest, nothing seems to have happened

A: We are about to look into speeding in this area.  Following the process triggered by the 95 Alive forms, incidents of injuries lead to prioritisation of use of equipment.

Q: Are patrols continuing in Earswick?

A: Yes.  There is some under-reporting of crime.

Comment: Thanks from Durlston Drive residents for good work done this summer.

Have your say on how the ward budget for 2010/11 should be spent and learn more about some of the scheme proposals.

4.1             Cllr. Kirk invited those present to speak to the list of scheme suggestions for 2010/11 short-listed in the October issue of Your Ward. She confirmed she had no personal interest to declare in any of the schemes.

4.2             Parish Councillor Peter Jesse spoke in favour of scheme suggestions 2 and 5: a grant application from Strensall with Towthorpe Parish Council to erect an additional street light; and to position new vehicle activated signs in suitable locations in the ward respectively, to improve safety in the ward. He also emphasised the safety aspect of scheme 8: to investigate the feasibility of improving provision for cyclists in the ward including the conversion of the existing footpath between Towthorpe Lane crossroads and the Six Bells roundabout (Strensall Road) into a dual purpose pedestrian and cycle path.

4.3             Scheme suggestion 13: a grant application from Stockton and Hopgrove History Group to purchase a laptop and USB sticks for storing archives and giving presentations.  Terry Briggs said the Group has 20 members who meet alternate months.  The settlements are documented in the Doomesday Book.  The group has no facilities to record and store information on the history of the village and its families and other groups have such facilities.

4.4             Scheme suggestion 10: a grant application from Strensall and Towthorpe Sports Association.  The Association Chair, Tracey Dixon, said that, thanks to a previous ward committee grant, the clubhouse is now watertight.  There is some interest in hiring the clubhouse and in order to achieve this, heating and other facilities are required.

4.5             Scheme suggestion 11: a grant application from Hurst Hall Community Association to operate a children and young people’s chest.  Lynette Nelson reported that funding from the ward committee and parish council had enabled Hurst Hall to buy in other activities, thus expanding what is on offer.  They would like to go further with the chest, which the children and young people would allocate themselves.  The project would run for 10 months, allowing £250 per month.  She mentioned that children who attend Robert Wilkinson Primary School are now feeding into the older age group and that generally the children and young people come from a wider area than Strensall.

4.6             Scheme suggestion 14: a grant application from York Young People’s Service for continued provision of the URBIE bus in the ward.  This will allow continued provision of a 2 hour session in the ward every week, including detached youth work.

4.7             Scheme Strensall 09-09.  Efforts had been made throughout the year to bring a portakabin in the grounds of Robert Wilkinson School up to current health and safety standards; and to obtain appropriate planning permission.  As an alternative and more feasible option, it was announced that the budget of £4,715.23 be spent on providing staffing, resources, furniture and activitiesat Durlston Drive.

4.8             Scheme suggestion 15: a grant application from York and District Mind.  Cllr Kirk declared an interest as she has recently applied for membership.  A volunteer was present to support the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

Your chance to ask questions about local issues and concerns.

5.1             The following questions were raised in Have your Say!

Q: A Youth Council is about to be launched in York as part of the Take Part York initiative.  Are there any plans to extend a similar approach to the ward committee?

A: Cllr Kirk will be attending the launch of the Youth Council on 13 October in the Guildhall

Q: Would it be possible to form some sort of young people’s group?

A: Will include on a future ward team agenda.

Q: Strensall is down for Playbuilder funding in 2010/11 financial year.  What is the location?

A: do not yet know.  Ward councillors will be looking at this and into possibility of various locations.

Q: What is Playbuilder?

A: Central Government funding to provide challenging play equipment for 8 to 13 year olds.  York has successfully applied for funding for various locations

Q: How have the areas of need been established?

A: The numbers of young people and the existing play facilities available to them.  An article in the next Your Ward was suggested.