Agenda item

Ward Team Updates

Updates from your local Safer Neighbourhood Team and Street Environment Service

Minutes:

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.

 

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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