3.1 Safer Neighbourhood Team
- Fishergate continued
to be a low crime ward with figures showing a crime rate reducing
by 7.5% over the whole year (1st April 2012 to
31st March 2013).
- Figures showed a
reduction in crime so far this year (from 1st April
2013) of 30.8% from the previous time last year.
- The Safer
Neighbourhood Team noted that these percentages would change
through the year, but it was hoped that they would continue to
decline.
- No specific issues
were reported, though it was noted that cycle theft was on the rise
again across the city. Residents were encouraged to report any
suspicions to the police by phoning 101 (non-emergency
number).
- It was reported that
an individual had been evicted from a house on Melbourne Street
following a number of serious issues, and police noted that this
was a positive outcome.
- Wenlock Terrace
Children’s Home is currently closed, as it is changing from
council to private control. Police noted that there were likely to
be differences seen as a result, though the home would retain the
same management, who police had developed a good relationship with
already.
Questions were invited from residents, and the
following points were raised:
- A resident noted an
increase in activity around the Millennium Bridge and on the Ings
as a result of the lighter evenings, with some youths starting
bonfires. It was further noted that there was a lot of broken glass
left around also, which was impacting particularly on dog-walking.
The police advised that they would monitor the situation, noting
that it was a hotspot for potential anti-social behaviour which
they were already aware of. Residents were urged to report any
incidents which raised concern, and police advised they would
respond immediately and deal with any situation appropriately.
- Councillor
D’Agorne noted that there seemed to be an increase in
graffiti along some parts of New Walk when the river was in flood.
PCSOs agreed that this would be borne in mind during their
patrols.
The Chair thanked the Safer Neighbourhood Team
representatives for their report.
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3.2 Street Environment Officer
Jackie Armitage gave a verbal report to
residents, and the following points were noted:
- The budget for gulley
cleaning had been removed the previous year, and this had had a
particular effect on smaller terraced streets with onstreet
parking. Jackie advised that she was looking into the cost of
undertaking this work from within the ward enhancement budget, in
order to ensure all streets received the opportunity for a thorough
deep clean. She asked residents to report any specific issues
relating to this.
- The issue of refuse
bins/bags being left on streets continued to be a problem which was
being monitored. Jackie noted that as the student residents tended
to change year on year, there seemed to be uncertainty about
collection days which led to refuse bins being left out
continually.
- With reference to
graffiti along New Walk, it was reported that the Friends of New
Walk undertook to monitor the area and report incidents of graffiti
and vandalism. Residents were encouraged to contact Jackie if they
were interested in joining the Friends group and taking part in
this work.
- Jackie reported that
a new organisation, the Friends of Danesmead Wood, had recently
been set up. She advised that they had formed a committee to look
at developing the area at the bottom of Broadway West, and would be
sourcing funding for planting and maintaining the land there.
Residents were again encouraged to contact Jackie if they were
interested in joining this group.
- The second annual
Ground Force event will be run on 7th and 8th
June along Heslington Road, aimed at encouraging students to
improve and maintain their front gardens, in order to enhance the
appearance of the street. Jackie noted that an improvement had been
seen since the last event was held in 2012, with many students
keeping up the gardening on their rented properties.
- It was noted that
another action day had been agreed for the Cemetery Road area, and
that the date of this would be publicised on the council website
once confirmed.
Questions were invited from residents and the
following points were raised:
·
In response to a query about an updated refuse collection calendar
for 2013/14, Councillor Taylor advised that this had not been
produced, as there was an intention to change the way collections
were undertaken at some point during the year. He noted that the
current calendar would still be valid for this year, and that this
was available to download from the council website:
www.york.gov.uk/Doitonline/Pages/NeighbourhoodServices/RefusePostcodeLookup.aspx
- Residents asked if
there was any further information about the site of the former
garage on Fulford Road, as this had lain empty for some years and
had become a magnet for flytipping. Jackie advised that the dumping
of rubbish around that site was being continually monitored.
Councillors noted that this was private land, and the status of any
plans for development were not known. They further noted, however,
that it was likely the risk of pollutants on the site was likely to
have passed now.
- A resident noted that
their green bin had not been emptied, and queried if this was due
to the fact that the lorries were bigger and could not get down the
narrower terraced streets in the ward. Jackie agreed to chase this
issue up with Waste Management, and assured the resident that no
street should be missed off, regardless of the size of the
road.
- A resident noted that
street sweepers seemed to operate early in the morning around
Grange Street, when the majority of residents’ cars were
still there, meaning they could not access the kerbsides. He
suggested that with better planning, the sweepers should come later
in the day, when people had left for work. Jackie noted again that
there were plans in place to organise road closures for gulley
cleaning out of the ward’s own budget this year.
- Residents noted that
there was a continuing problem on Heslington Road with students not
having enough space in their black bins, and having to put out
additional bags of rubbish, which the refuse collectors will not
take (as they are not in the bins), and which are subsequently left
out on the street or in front gardens. One resident noted that
students generally got the right day, but were not being provided
with enough black bin capacity to dispose of their rubbish by their
landlords. Councillors noted that households with a higher number
of tenants were entitled to larger bins, but that it was the
responsibility of the landlord to arrange these. Jackie advised
that the council continued to work with the university to educate
and raise awareness amongst students of the bin collection
arrangements in the city. She further noted that she would attempt
to consult directly with tenants on Heslington Road, to ascertain
the total number of occupants per household.
The Chair thanked Jackie for her report.
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