Agenda and minutes

The drop-in surgery gives you the opportunity to talk to your councillors, Street Environment Officer, Safer Neighbourhood Team, Neighbourhood Management Officer or visiting speakers informally.

1.1            Residents had the opportunity to talk to Councillors Dave Merrett, Sandy Fraser and Julie Gunnell, Matthew Ward Neighbourhood Management Officer and their Safer Neighbourhood Team.

There was also the opportunity to talk to Pc Mick Wilkinson and Lesley Cooke about the Cumulative Impact Zone (CIZ) licensing changes, Chloe Schroeter for information on Hotpsots, Pauline Buchanan for information on the Clement’s Hall development.

7.30pm Main Meeting Agenda

Welcome and Minutes

            Cllrs will agree the minutes of the last meeting and welcome residents.

2.1            Councillor Julie Gunnell welcomed everyone to the meeting, advised on health and safety and asked the residents present if the minutes from the last meeting were a accurate record, the minutes were agreed.

PC Jackie Scott and the team will update you on police issues in the ward

3        Cllr Gunnell introduced Pc Jackie Scott to give an update for the Safer Neighbourhood Team

3.1Pc Scott gave apologies for Sgt Neil Wood and introduced the PCSO for the team.

3.2Crime figures for the ward were shown, it was explained that they were normal for the time of year. Historically there has been a rise in burglaries during summer months due to windows and doors been left open and sheds being targeted.

3.3The raised autocrime figure were due to one repeat victim.

3.4Anti-social behaviour remains high in the Rougier Street area, staff are been tasked to address the issue reducing the number available for community patrols in residential areas.

3.5Pcso Nigel Klavins gave advice to residents on home and shed burglaries again highlighting the fact that this time of year usually sees a rise in reports.

Pc Scott asked if residents had any questions, the follow was raised.

3.6Q - The community watch magazine hasn’t arrived and it was believed to be due.

A – Unfortunately the distribution relies on volunteers, it is something that the Neighbourhood Watch team is looking into and the magazine will be distributed soon.

Liz Hamilton from York CVS will tell you about the latest volunteering opportunities in Micklegate

4        Councillor Gunnell introduced Andy Chase, Chair of the Planning Panel. In a revision to the agenda the elections were brought forward to accommodate another commitment for Andy Chase.

4.1Andy chase introduced himself as chair and outlined the function of the planning panel. The planning panel are volunteers who live in the ward, who look at planning applications within the ward and give comment based on their knowledge of planning.

4.2Recent plans have included the Terry’s development, the planning panel raised concerns which have now been accommodated in the new proposals. One ongoing concern regarding the site is the likely traffic increase due to the development.

4.3Thanks were given to all the members of the panel and the good relationship with the Ward Councillors was highlighted.

4.4The current members of the planning panel were all proposed to continue. The members were agreed and re-elected to continue in the role for 2010.

4.5The Planning Panel members for 2010 were agreed as

Andy Chase

Bob Fletcher

Ernest Dickinson

John Gawthorpe

Keith Chapman

Marc Allinson

Margaret Bunce

Monica Nelson

Richard Troughear

Sarah Jane Wilson

Shelagh Edmonds

Steve Woods

Steve Young

4.6Andy explained that the panel would benefit from increased representation by the Holgate and South Bank areas of the ward. As currently decisions are been made without representation from residents in the areas.

4.7Thanks were given from Cllr Gunnell for the work done by the planning panel.

Find out about the work of the planning panel and elect members to represent your views locally.

5        Cllr Gunnell introduced Liz Hamilton from York Council for Voluntary Service (CVS) to talk about volunteering and how residents can get involved. Cllr Gunnell declared an interest in the item due to working at CVS

5.12010 is Yorks Year of Volunteering, there is money available to increase the involvement in volunteering.

5.2Methods of promotion include volunteer staff attending fairs including ward committees, housing associations and community groups.

5.3There are a wide range of opportunities covering Charity shops in the ward examples given were Bar Convent Museum, Parks, police, environmental groups.

5.4CVS have the role of matching people to the right opportunity for them.

5.5Current ongoing projects for CVS include York being chosen as a pilot to develop opportunities for young people, £1.3m funding available for 14-16yr olds. VinVolved allows project work for 16 – 25 yr olds, with youth action teams made up of young people. For over 25’s there are opportunities to give back to the community and services such as CV development.

5.6CVS help to access other funds such as £50,000 held by Joseph Rowntree available for voluntary organisations.

5.7If organisations require volunteers then CVS can find them.

5.8Details are available on their website www.yorkcvs.org.uk and further information can be found on the Do-it website www.do-it.org.uk

5.9Martin Taylor, from Vision of Life, was introduced. Vision of Life are an example of the organisation who contact CVS for help The service offered by vision of life help and advise adults with learning difficulties in York. Two or three social events are arranged a year and an independent support centre is provided. Currently the charity has three trustees, but without increased support the charity will cease to exist.

5.10   Thanks were given by Councillor Gunnell to Martin and Liz for highlighting the importance and opportunities available for volunteering in the ward.

Dave Meigh, Head of Parks and Open Spaces, will give an update on the goose management in Rowntree Park

6                    Cllr Gunnell passed on apologies for Dave Meigh, Head of Parks and Open Spaces for City of York Council. Mike Heyworth from Friends of Rowntree Park was able to update due to the groups involvement and previous meetings with Dave Meigh.

6.1Mike Heyworth stated that although he could update it wasn’t an endorsement of the councils Goose Management policy and it wasn’t reflecting his personal view or the view of the Friends of Rowntree.

6.2Pressure from Friends of Rowntree Park has helped bring about the independent study into Goose Management.

6.3The current policy is to stop the numbers of geese increasing in the park.

6.4Egg treatment is the method used, although problems come about when nests aren’t found, shown this year by the number of goslings in the park.

6.5The independent report carried out by an international expert will be available on the council website.

6.6There are four methods outlined by the report to be looked into, these are

6.6.1       Continue the present method but try to find nesting sites missed this breeding season.

6.6.2       Education of the public, to discourage feeding of the geese as it only encourages them and bread is an unnatural food source for them.

6.6.3       Habitat management, changes to the environment to make it less appealing to the geese. These could be changes to the grass growing in the park, spraying of chemicals to discourage the geese eating the grass or breaking lines of sight with fences and/or hedges.

6.6.4       Deterrents, various methods to make the geese nervous. These could be dogs to chase the geese scaring them off, use of lasers to make the geese uncomfortable. Repeat treatments would be needed to make these a success.

6.7Cllr Merrett pointed out that the time it has taken to get to this stage has been disappointing long but the ward committee support the fact that action has to be taken. New signage in the park has been funded by the ward committee to educate park users on the implications of feeding the geese bread, in order to reduce the practice.

6.8A consultation about Goose management was suggested, the summer ward committee was suggested as a suitable new date. This will give residents the chance to raise concerns or queries.

6.9The historic nature of Rowntree Park means that some methods of management are ruled out.

6.10   The use of different grasses in the park and scare techniques using dogs to chase the geese are potential methods being looked at.

Residents were given the chance to ask questions in relation to Goose Management. The following were raised

6.11                     Q- Will treating the geese have an affect on ducks?

A – This would depend on the methods used, some potentially could.

6.12                     Q- Could signage be made to outline the aggressiveness of the geese, many people can be intimidated by them in nesting season?

A – This would have to be fed to Dave Meigh, for future signage.

6.13  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

Mike Heyworth, Chair of the Friends, will update on the latest news from the group and invite you to get involved in their programme of events.

7                    Mike Heyworth introduced himself as the Chair for Friends of Rowntree Park,

7.1Mike outlined that the park remains a fantastic place, which provides a great facility for voluntary groups and lots of opportunities for residents city wide.

7.2The park is a premier park in York which has attracted Heritage lottery funding and a holds Green Flag Award given to the top parks in the country.

7.3The parks logo was created by a local artist.

7.4A quick history of the park was given. Back in 1921 the park was donated by the Rowntree Family and is a war memorial park commemorating the loss of lives in the Great War. All the names of local losses are noted in the ‘Dove Coup’.

7.5The Friends of Rowntree Park are currently putting together the history of the park to produce a leaflet and all contributions are welcome.

7.6Flooding remains a worry as the park acts as a flood plain. There are methods in place to sluice out the water. The last floods have had a dramatic impact on the pavilion leaving it damp and unpleasant so the park is without a communal space. The bowling greens are not used as there aren’t changing facilities available.

7.7Plans have been made to install a new pavilion in the park, the Arc in the Park. This would function as a normal building but rise in times of flood to allow access and remain a functioning education centre and community space.

7.8Planning permission has been granted, but funding is needed. The project will cost a total of £400,000.

7.9Current programmes running in the park are ‘Participation in the Park’ and ‘Park Active’ aimed to get people involved and active in the park. There are plans to develop bio-diversity, encourage more fauna and increase species in the lake. All in a bid to make environmental education more exciting and interesting.

7.10   There is a section of grass left uncut at the Butcher Terrace end of the park to encourage a wider diversity of wildlife.

7.11   Many clubs make use of the park. Including a model boat club and tennis club. Many activities take place, skate park, table tennis, basketball and the cycling festival.

7.12   The Friends of Rowntree host a photo competition, Annual birthday party and are largely reliant on local volunteers and are a very active group. To join costs £4 per year.

7.13   All the work in the park can only take place with support from City of York Council, especially Dave Meigh’s team.

Residents were given the opportunity to ask questions.

7.14   Q - Is the ‘Friends of..’ newsletter only available to members?

A – Dates are included on noticeboards and access to information is possible from the website.

Q – What happens to the photo competition entries?

A – All entries are scanned and digitally achieved, some will be displayed at this years birthday party to jog memories.

Your chance to ask questions about local issues and concerns.

8        Cllr Gunnell mentioned Green Streets on 5^th June to encourage environmental awareness and World Environment day,

Cllr Gunnell invited residents to raise queries regarding the Ward.

8.1       Q - Will there be more consultation regarding Blossom Street?

A – There have been mentions of it but unclear at present, comments can be passed through councillors.

Q – When will the results for the 20mph consultation be published?

A – It is believed they will be public towards the end of the month.

Pauline Buchanan stood to inform on the progress of Clements Hall and gave a guideline of six to eight weeks for opening.

Thanks were given from the ward committee for the work done.

Q – What are the revision to the licensing mentioned in the Your Ward?

A – The licensing zone is based on hotspot evidence and over the past three year a decrease has been shown on Micklegate meaning there is to be a shift in the zone to across the river, in particular St Helens Square and MacDonalds area.

Q – How can issues in Blossom Street be raised?

A – The best contact is John Lacy in Licensing.

Q – There’s no reason to remove Blossom Street from the licensing zone.

A – There is an obligation to review and if the statistics and evidence prove other areas have higher reported levels of incidents the zone will change.

Thanks were given to residents who attended.