KEARSLEY AREA FORUM MEETING Monday 23rd January 2012 Present - 31 members of the public attended the meeting Councillor Rothwell - Kearsley Ward Councillor Burrows - Kearsley Ward Councillor Irving - Kearsley Ward Also in attendance Andrew Donaldson - Forum Chief Officer Dawn Hampton - Area Co-ordinator, Chief Executive’s Department Angela Lunt - Environmental Services Denise Kehoe - Bolton at Home Geoff Kay - Environmental Services Shelly Williams - Neighbourhood Management Support Officer Janett Sheddon - Community Safety Officer Inspector Phil Spurgeon - Greater Manchester Police Sgt Raymond Jackson - Greater Manchester Police Apologies for absence were received from Yasmin Qureshi MP. Councillor Rothwell in the Chair 1. INTRODUCTION Councillor Rothwell welcomed everyone to the meeting and introduced himself, fellow Councillors, and Bolton Council officers and partners. Page 1 of 7 2. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST No declarations of interest from officers or Councillors were noted. 3. MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING The minutes of the meeting held on 14th November 2012 were submitted and approved as a correct record. Prior to the main presentations Dawn Hampton, Area Coordinator, advised that following feedback from members of the public, there was a need to reduce the amount of paperwork created by the Area Forum. Ms Hampton explained: Over time the Council would move to predominantly electronic communication via email and the Council website. Electronic communication would save money on printing, stationary, postage and officer time. Mail outs in future would be the exception rather than rule. The Council needed to gather as many email addresses as possible, and that these would not be shared and only used for Area Forum business Email addresses could be given to officers on the night or emailed to [email protected] 4. POLICE PRESENTATION Inspector Phil Spurgeon introduced himself to members and gave a presentation on local policing issues and seasonal security advice. The main points of the presentation were: Greater Manchester Police Update Total crime had fallen – 15,000 fewer victims in first six months of this year. Serious Acquisitive Crime fallen – 5,000 fewer victims Total crime detections remains steady Instances of restorative justice continued to rise Antisocial Behaviour (ASB) 8,000 fewer victims Page 2 of 7 Efficiency Savings Proposals to reduce enquiry counters from 52 to 22 Currently redeploying staff but need to lose another 290 posts to meet savings gap Kearsley Update 2011 compared to 2012: Crime increased from 610 to 944 Domestic burglary remained static Vehicle crime up from 58 to 90 ASB up from 646 to 896 incidents Reduction in some categories such as street drinking (down from 20 to 9) and fireworks (down from 23 to 8) Increase in others such as neighbours(more than doubled from 64 to 163), nuisance calls (up from 66 to 103) Neighbourhood Policing Update Re-organisation of shifts so no longer all on or all off Some staffing changes. Dedicated operations tackling burglary, outstanding wanted persons and ASB, with support from other units such as Neighbourhood Task Force. Working with partners such as Bolton at Home on tenancy management, and youth support services. Operation Mince Pie Update Inspector Spurgeon summarised that this operation ran between the 1st and 31st of December, and saw: A minimum of one Sergeant and eight other Police staff working mornings, afternoons and evenings and through to 2am on key nights on foot and pedal cycle. The focus of the operation was to: Promote responsible drinking Cover Farnworth town centre and the Longcauseway areas. The key results were: Page 3 of 7 1,000 purse and bag ‘catbells’ distributed to prevent theft from person 133 Stop/Account/Searches 18 Arrests 87 Intelligence entries 553 reassurance visits to businesses 93 calls to police on emergency and non-emergency number resourced A number of questions were raised and answered on the night. Resolved – That the updates and presentation be noted. 5. RECYCLING AND THE FOOD WASTE SCHEME Geoff Kay from Bolton Council’s Environmental Services Department gave a demonstration on the new food waste scheme and recycling in general. The main points were: Reduce, recycle and reuse Recycling was necessary for the environment in the long term Explanation of the new food waste recycling system Reminders of what waste went in the different colour bin and emphasis on what was inappropriate Other options in waste reduction A number of questions were raised and answered on the night. Resolved – That the presentation be noted 6. BUDGET UPDATE Area Co-ordinator, Dawn Hampton, gave an update on current balances for budgets devolved to the Area Forum for 2011-12 financial year as follows: Page 4 of 7 Area Forum Budget (AFB) £16,430 Highways Maintenance Budget (HMB) £ 7,074 Ms Hampton gave a brief overview of Area Forum projects in Kearsley, which included: St Stephen’s fencing – completed 5, December 2011 Market Street pelican crossing - relocated the Driver Feedback Sign on Stoneclough Road People parked on double yellow lines - Enforcement officers had increased patrols near to Tesco Express and Riverside Chippy Sand Hole Road - officers had liaised with developers to lay tactile paving adjacent to the drop kerbs, renew the tarmac across the end of the road and remark the white lining, and renew the kerbs on the existing line that had already been taken out. Speeding on Springfield Road - the Police would arrange for a day of action and liaise with the Industrial Estate. 20mph bin stickers would be issued over the next couple of months. Resolved – (i) That the report be noted. (ii) That it be noted that the following schemes have been awarded funds under the Council’s Scheme of Delegation Fund Scheme Award AFB Relocation of fencing £ 1,000 AFB Red Rock ‘no fly-tipping’ signage £ 100 AFB Stoneclough FC gate £ 595 7. OPEN FORUM Councillor Rothwell invited residents to ask any questions or put forward any comments they had regarding issues and concerns in the Kearsley Ward. The following questions and comments were put forward: Page 5 of 7 What was the progress of the sale Councillor Rothwell explained that of Kearsley Town Hall? the Council was still committed to the sale of Kearsley Town Hall and some progress had been made since feedback was given to the last Area Forum meeting. The sale was still in the hands of the Legal Department. What were the Council doing Councillor Irving advised that he regarding the pollution issues at was dealing with Holden Mill and Holden Mill? had liaised with the Pollution Control Team who had appointed a dedicated officer to deal directly with all complaints and carry out home visits to those residents affected. Was there an update on the Wilson Chris Peacock explained that Bridge situation and what was Yasmin Qureshi MP had been being done regarding the current informed of the environmental problems with the grid and the dangers and reassured members pollution risk to the river? that the investigation into these matters was advanced and that Yasmin Qureshi had written directly to United Utilities. Councillor Rothwell advised members that United Utilities would be invited to the next Area Forum meeting to give an update. There were issues with the road Ms Hampton advised that she surfaces breaking up in the would undertake a site visit to Prestolee Road and Seddon Lane establish the damage and what areas, would the Council consider would be done to resolve the the possibility of resurfacing? matter. Members would be advised at the next Area Forum meeting. There were issues with Councillor Rothwell advised that Page 6 of 7 construction vehicles accessing the the matter would be investigated Kearsley Academy building site, and fed back at the next Area driving on the pavements and Forum meeting damaging them on Springfield Road, would the Council look into this matter? Why had Kearsley not had a potted Ms Hampton explained that it is Christmas Tree at Christmas? Bolton-Wide policy in relation to environmental sustainability that only planted trees in a permanent location would be considered, however she would investigate if a permanent tree could be planted in Kearsley and inform members at the next Area Forum meeting. Highfield Street was very The issue would be passed to the dangerous at present with potholes Highways Department who would in the road, what would the Council investigate and advise at the next Area Forum meeting. do about resolving this matter? Resolved – That the questions and comments be noted and the questions which were not answered be forwarded to the appropriate department. 8. CLOSE OF MEETING Councillor Rothwell concluded the meeting and thanked everyone for their attendance. He announced that the date and venue for the next Kearsley Area Forum would on Monday 19th March 2012 at Prestolee School. (The meeting started at 7:00pm and finished at 8.20pm) Page 7 of 7.