COATBRIDGE LOCAL AREA PARTNERSHIP - 6 October 2009
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COATBRIDGE LOCAL AREA PARTNERSHIP - 6 October 2009 Municipal Buildings, Kildonan Street, Coatbridge, 6 October 2009 at 2 pm. A Meeting of the COATBRIDGE LOCAL AREA PARTNERSHIP PRESENT Councillor Brooks, Convener; Councillors Ferrie, Higgins, Maginnis, Shields, Smith, Sullivan and Welsh, North Lanarkshire Council; Andrew McDonald and Susan Flannigan, Coatbridge Community Forum; Jim Wright, NHS Lanarkshire, and Lorna Yuill, Strathclyde Fire and Rescue. CHAIR Councillor Brooks (Convener) presided. IN AlTENDANCE Mark Hamill, Administrative Officer (Committee and Civic Governance Services), Eric Hislop, Group Manager and George McDonald, Solicitor, Corporate Services; Michele Battersby, Local Regeneration Manager and Eddie Cusick, Community Engagement Officer, Chief Executive's Office; Gordon Douglas, Area Manager South, Alex Ramsay, Traffic and Transportation Team Leader, David Sutton, Built Heritage and Design Team Leader, Mark Forrest, Senior Planning Officer, Denis O'Kane, Planning Officer and Patricia Beaton, Planning Assistant, Environmental Services; Raymond Taylor, Community Social Work Manager and David Dymock, Area Housing Manager, Housing and Social Work Services; Ron Dufour, Education Officer, Learning and Leisure Services; Chief Inspector Fitzpatrick and Inspector Bingham, Strathclyde Police; Commander Scott and Kevin Barclay, Strathclyde Fire and Rescue and Mike Hayes, Strathclyde Partnership for Transport. APOLOGIES Councillor McWilliams and Superintendent Henry Campbell. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST IN TERMS OF THE ETHICAL STANDARDS IN PUBLIC LIFE ETC. (SCOTLAND) ACT 2000 1. The meeting noted that there were no declarations of interest COATBRIDGE LOCAL AREA PARTNERSHIP AND COATBRIDGE AREA COMMITTEE - MINUTES 2. There were submitted the Minutes of the meetings of Coatbridge Local Area Partnership and Coatbridge Area Committee held on 11 August 2009. In respect of item 6, Alex Ramsay intimated that the site outside the former Woolworths store had been identified as being suitable for a taxi rank in Coatbridge town centre and the matter had been passed to the Head of Legal Services to progress. George McDonald, Legal Services intimated that a report would be submitted to the next meeting of Corporate Services Committee on 29 October 2009, thereafter a short consultation exercise would take place, after which the Corporate Services (Licensing) Sub-Committee would take a decision on whether to approve the taxi rank. Michele Battersby advised that the Community Forum was no longer pursuing new premises at this present time, and had requested that the Local Area Partnership note the general lack of suitable premises in Coatbridge Town Centre for their purposes. In respect of item (3) Councillor Sullivan intimated that Job Centre Plus did not specify at the meeting that attendance at the Outreach services within Coatbridge was by appointment only. He also added COATBRIDGE LOCAL AREA PARTNERSHIP - 6 October 2009 that there were no Outreach services in the Glenboig area, however there were a number of venues which could host this service. Decided: that it be recommended to the Area Committee:- (1) that it be noted that the Head of Legal Services was progressing proposals for the establishment of a taxi rank outside the former Woolworths store in Coatbridge Town Centre; (2) that it be noted that Coatbridge Community Forum was not pursuing new premises at the present time, and (3) that the Head of Regeneration Services write to Job Centre Plus, Lanarkshire and East Dunbartonshire requesting (a) that residents of the Coatbridge area be allowed to access the Job Centre Plus Outreach services within the Coatbridge area without a prior appointment, and (b) that outreach services be provided in the Glenboig area. BUS SERVICES IN COATBRIDGE - STRATHCLYDE PARTNERSHIP FOR TRANSPORT 3. Mike Hayes, Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT) provided an update on the provision of bus services within the Coatbridge area and set out the rationale for SPT’s decision not to take forward a bus service between Faraday Retail Park and Coatbridge town centre. Mike Hayes intimated that the role of SPT was to monitor and ensure that communities have adequate access to services and to balance social necessity between social convenience. He advised that none of the local bus operators had shown an interest in providing such a service and that, at the present time, the priority for SPT in the Coatbridge area was to reinstate the Saturday service from Carnbroe to Coatbridge Town Centre. During discussion, members of the Local Area Partnership expressed concern at the lack of services provided by SPT in the Coatbridge area against the background of the significant contribution made by the Council to the SPT. Thereon, it was proposed that SPT look at options for Coatbridge to become a Transportation Distribution Centre for buses and trains to other areas of North Lanarkshire. Decided: that it be recommended to the Area Committee that concerns regarding the poor provision of transport services in the Coatbridge area be referred to North Lanarkshire Partnership Board with a view to obtaining a better provision of bus and train services commensurate with the needs of the Coatbridge area. COATBRIDGE COMMUNITY FORUM UPDATE 4. There was submitted a report from Coatbridge Community Forum (1) intimating that the Forum was in a transition period at present and was in the process of re-establishing itself as the main representative body for Coatbridge in relation to community planning; (2) intimating that the Forum had previously sought assurances from Strathclyde Fire and Rescue that the reduction of staff and appliances at Coatbridge Fire Station would not have a detrimental effect on the safety of Coatbridge residents; (3) indicating that members of the Forum had worked tirelessly with various partners to ensure Coatbridge looked aesthetically appealing and that, following the award of “Best Small City”, community members had been invited to the awards ceremony; (4) intimating that the Forum had contacted the Traffic and Transportation Section of Environmental Services seeking the re-opening of COATBRIDGE LOCAL AREA PARTNERSHIP - 6 October 2009 Muiryhall Street, and (5) setting out a number of questions regarding bus services in the Coatbridge area which had been directed to Strathclyde Partnership for Transport. Andrew McDonald, on behalf of the Community Forum, requested that the Local Area Partnership discuss the threat of closure to Bargeddie Community Centre (Windsor Hall). In response, the Convener advised that the future of Bargeddie Community Centre was currently subject to public consultation and intimated that the Forum should respond to the consultation process. Decided: that the terms of the report be noted. NORTH LANARKSHIRE PARTNERSHIP - BOARD MINUTES 5. There was submitted the Minute of the meeting of North Lanarkshire Partnership Board held on 9 September 2009. Decided: that the terms of the Minutes be noted JOINT COMMUNITY SAFETY REPORT 6. There was submitted a joint report by Strathclyde Fire and Rescue, Strathclyde Police and Housing and Social Work Services advising of progress made, and developments with, current joint working between partners in the Coatbridge area. David Dymock, Housing and Social Work Services provided an update on the activity of the Anti- Social Inspectors and the pro-active work being undertaken in the Coatbridge area. Commander Scott, Strathclyde Fire and Rescue provided an update on the services provided at Coatbridge Fire Station and intimated that the hydraulic platform pump previously based at Coatbridge Fire Station was for use throughout North Lanarkshire. He advised that Coatbridge Fire Station now had a combined platform pump at its disposal and the total number of fire fighters attending each fire had risen from 10 to 11 providing an improvement in service delivery. Chief Inspector Fitzpatrick provided an analysis of Police incidents in their hot spot map and an update on a number of initiatives ongoing in the Coatbridge area and advised that an open day regarding "respect yourself respect your community" was being held in Coatbridge Police Station from 12 to 4 pm on 24 October 2009. Decided: that the terms of the report be noted. COATBRIDGE TOWN CENTRE ACTION PLAN 7. With reference to paragraph 6 of the Minute of the meeting of Coatbridge Local Area Partnership held on 11 August 2009, there was submitted a report (docketed as relative to the Minute of the meeting of Coatbridge Area Committee held on 6 October 2009) dated 15 September 2009 by the Head of Planning and Development providing an update on the progress of the projects contained within the Town Centre Action Plan. Thereon, Denis O'Kane was heard in further explanation of the report. During discussion Councillor Smith enquired whether pigeon netting had been installed beneath the bridges on the approach to the town centre and Councillor Sullivan requested that a copy of the COATBRIDGE LOCAL AREA PARTNERSHIP- 6 October 2009 maintenance programme for the Coatbridge area be submitted to the next meeting of the Local Area Partnership. Decided: that it be recommended to the Area Committee, that information on the installation of pigeon netting at the two bridges in Bank Street and a copy of the maintenance programme for Coatbridge be included within the next report submitted to the Local Area Partnership. LOCAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME 8. With reference to paragraph 7 of the Minute of the meeting of the Coatbridge Local Area Partnership held on 11 August