Agenda and minutes

Venue: Clifton With Rawcliffe Junior School

Contact: Michael Hawtin 

Items
No. Item

1.

Surgery

Your chance to meet;

Your Ward Councillors

Neighbourhood Management Officer

The Safer Neighbourhoods Policing Team

Street Environment Officer

Minutes:

1.1. During the surgery residents had the opportunity to talk to ward councillors and the Safer Neighbourhoods Team. CYC officers were on hand to answer questions about the Local Development Framework (LDF), and there was also information available about York Link, the Playbuilder project and the Rawcliffe Boulder project. Andrew Williams, Street Environment Officer, and Michael Hawtin, Neighbourhood Management Officer, were available to answer questions.

2.

Introduction and Minutes

The minutes of the previous meeting will be signed, if approved.

Minutes:

2.1 Cllr Watt, chair, welcomed everyone to the meeting and passed on apologies from Cllr Moore who couldn’t attend.

2.2 The minutes of the previous meeting were signed.

3.

Street Environment Update

Minutes:

3.1 Andrew Williams, Street Environment Officer, informed the meeting that there has been a big increase in fly-tipping and reminded residents to be careful of who they use to remove waste. Residents are obliged to take reasonable steps to ensure that they use only authorised waste removal services. All York-based contractors will be registered with the Waste Strategy team and residents can ask to inspect their Waste Carriers Licence and waste transfer note.

4.

Safer Neighbourhoods Team

Inspector Alisdair Dey will tell you about the Police Pledge and the Safer Neighbourhoods Team will give you an update on their activities.

Minutes:

4.1 Insp. Alisdair Dey spoke about the police priorities and the process of consultation that informs them.

4.2 He informed the meeting that he would like to readjust the police priorities for the ward so that they reflect the policing issues in the ward and relate to issues that lie within the remit of the Safer Neighbourhoods Team. 

4.3 The police priorities are currently: anti-social behaviour; police response times; and speeding.

  • Anti-social behaviour is an issue in the ward and across the city and is a priority of the Safer Neighbourhoods Team.
  • Police response times, however, are a tactical issue and are therefore not within the control of the Safer Neighbourhoods Team. Under the Policing Pledge the officers of the Safer Neighbourhoods Team are committed to spending 80% of their time in the area.
  • Speeding is a recurring problem but North Yorkshire Police Traffic Management has a process in place to address it. They are committed to responding to every incident of speeding reported through the speeding report forms by installing equipment to ascertain the nature of the problem and identifying a solution, e.g. adjustments to road layout, signal timings, or enforcement. Officers in the Safer Neighbourhoods Team are now trained to use speeding enforcement equipment, so they will be involved if enforcement is identified as a solution.

4.4 Insp Dey informed the meeting that autocrime is an issue in the ward and a police priority, and therefore suggested that it become one of the ward policing priorities.

 

Questions

Among the issues raised in questions from residents were: speeding on Moorlands Road, motorists using mobile phones while driving, and the police perspective on police priorities in the ward.

 

In response Insp. Dey said that incidents of speeding on Moorlands Road should be reported through a speed report form; Traffic Management will investigate every incident reported. Motorists face penalties for using a mobile phone while driving. Regarding the police priorities, it was pointed out that, by most standards, the Safer Neighbourhoods Team performs very well in tackling crime in the ward; one of the greatest challenges they face is fear of crime and building community confidence in policing.

 

4.5 PC Ian Richardson of the Safer Neighbourhoods Team gave an update on crime in the ward.

4.6 He informed the meeting that crime is down by 12% overall, but that there have been increases in shop theft and cycle theft.

4.7 Regarding anti-social behaviour in the ward the Safer Neighbourhoods Team are focussing on three areas:

  • Clifton Without Library – there is a problem-solving plan in place to identify offenders, speak to parents and liaise with the library.
  • Eastholme Drive shops – PCSOs are currently working on a problem-solving plan.
  • Fairway Alley – the Safer Neighbourhoods Team is working with Andrew Williams, Street Environment Officer, to improve the appearance of the alleyway and deter anti-social behaviour.

4.8 The team is tackling the problem of autocrime on the Shipton Road corridor with the Display and Pay campaign.

 

Questions

Among the issues raised by  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

5.

York Central Library

Sarah Garbacz will tell you about the plans to refurbish the Central Library.

Minutes:

Alison Jones spoke about the planned developments at York Central Library.

5.1 She outlined the range of services offered by the library and drew attention to the Big City Read 2009.

5.2 The refurbishment plans are taking place in consultation with conservationists in order to protect the 1927 listed building. 

5.3 The library refurbishment aims to create a modern reading space in a traditional setting. This will involve the creation of a browsing area, café and children’s area. It will also involve a greater emphasis on self-service, freeing up library staff to deal with public enquiries.

5.4 The developments taking place over the winter will be the first phase of the three phase development.

 

Questions

 

Among the questions raised by residents were: the facilities that will be put in place while the library is closed for refurbishment; computer access in the library; and the fate of old books.

 

In response it was pointed out that library staff are putting together a plan for library users while the Central Library is closed; experience in other areas of the city suggests that library users will discover new library resources while their regular facility is closed. Consultation is ongoing about the eventual layout of the refurbished library, so suggestions about the location of computer resources should be put forward as part of the consultation. Books are constantly being refreshed in the library, so the new stock will be integrated into this process. Old books are donated to charity or put on sale to the public.

6.

York LINk

Annie Thompson will explain the benefits of getting involved in the ‘Local Involvement Network’. This network will help to shape local health services and influence how they are run.

Minutes:

Annie Thompson, Partnership Coordinator, York LINk, gave a presentation about the aims of York LINk.

6.1 Local Involvement Networks, or LINks, were established to allow users of health and social services to speak with one voice so that health and social services can be tailored to meet the needs of the people of York.

6.2 York LINk will be composed of a network of interested individuals as well as voluntary, community and faith groups who have a stake in the delivery of health and social services.

6.3 LINk will encourage people to share their experiences and needs in health and social services in order to influence providers to adapt and improve their services.

6.4 It is hoped to achieve this by finding out about people’s experiences of services and using the information to influence service providers. LINk also has legal powers to access and assess service providers, request information from service providers within a particular timescale, and report findings to the Council OSC or Healthcare Commission.

6.5 There are many opportunities to get involved in LINk:

  • As a member of the LINk steering group you will have the opportunity to influence the activities of LINk
  • community representatives or ward representatives will have the opportunity to hear about people’s experience of health and social services and give them information about the work of LINk
  • as a member of the LINk readers panel you can help to make the publications of service providers more accessible
  • as a member of a LINk working group you can have your say on an issue of particular interest to you

6.6 You can join York LINk by getting in touch with Annie Thompson at 621313 or by emailing participate@yorklink.org.uk.

7.

Playbuilder

Mary Bailey will tlak about the Playbuilder project and how it will provide additional play equipment, particularly at Brecksfield in Skelton.

Minutes:

Simon Haddock of the CYC Play Team spoke about the Playbuilder scheme.

7.1 City of York Council has received £1.12m from the government to develop 22  play areas at various locations across the city.

7.2 The scheme is intended to promote active, imaginative and adventurous play for young people from 8 to 13 years.   

7.3 The allocation of Playbuilder funding has been overseen by a multi-agency steering group and each play area is being developed in consultation with young people, families, communities and representatives as appropriate.

7.4 Skelton has been selected as a site for a Playbuilder scheme and the development of the area is being coordinated by the Parish Council.

 

Questions

 

Among the issues raised by residents were: the problem of anti-social behaviour in the evenings in open play areas, whether some of the budget could be spent on security and lighting, if it would be possible to include a BMX cycle track in the site, and the problem of dog-fouling.

 

On the issue of anti-social behaviour, the response was given that the risk of anti-social behaviour cannot prevent the provision of play facilities for young people in these age categories. It is not desirable to enclose young people in a gated play area but there would be no problem with a low level fence to prevent dogs gaining access. The Playbuilder budget can only be used to develop the play areas; funding for maintenance and security will have to come from other sources. Simon Haddock is to speak to Dave Meigh about the possibility of including a BMX track in the Skelton play area.

8.

Have Your Say

Your opportunity to discuss local issues and concerns with your Ward Councillors.

Minutes:

One resident questioned the claim that an Alcohol Exclusion Zone applies throughout the ward as an open area in a new development that has yet to be adopted by the council is private property and so not subject to the exclusion zone.

 

The response was given that the council are soon to adopt the area in question.

 

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