Minutes of Stepps & District Community Council Date & Time of Meeting: Stepps Public Hall, Monday 15th September 2003 Present: Malcolm Close, Neil Etherington, Carol Graham, Ken Maxwell, Frances McAveety, Rob Stuart. Ex Officio: Brian Wallace Community Policing: Sgt Ronnie Smith - Muirhead Police Office Members of the Public: 10 1.o Introductions Rob Stuart 2.0 Apologies Rob Stuart 3.0 Minute of Previous Meeting [accuracy] Rob Stuart 4.0 Community Policing 5.0 Minute of Previous Meeting Rob Stuart [matters arising not covered in agenda] 6.0 Planning Matters Rob Stuart 7.0 Treasurer's Report Ken Maxwell 8.0 Secretary's Report Neil Etherington 9.0 Les Marches / Stepps Friendship Group Malcolm Close 10.0 Stepps Communities Development Trust/ Stepps Community Plan - Progress Report Rob Stuart 11.0 Councillor verbal reports 12.0 Any Other Business 13.0 Date and Time of next Public Meeting Time & Date of next public meeting: 20th October 2003 Public Hall, Cardowan Drive, Stepps 1 If you have access to the lnternet you can find out more about what's going on in your area NOW by logging onto w.ukvillaaes.co.uk/stepgs 1 .o Introductions 1.01 The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting, and remarked that as this was the first meeting since June, due to the summer recess, this meeting may last a little longer than usual. Rob introduced Sgt Ronnie Smith, from Muirhead Police Office. Ronnie had recently been seconded to Muirhead Community Policing from Cumbernauld Police Office. Rob welcomed that fact that Stepps once again had a resident Police Sgt based at Muirhead. 2.0 Apologies 2.01 Eddie McGee, Alex Gibson 3 .O Minute of Previous Meeting - accuracy 3.01 The Minute was adopted as written. The acceptance proposed by Carol Graham and seconded by Frances McAveety. 4.0 Community Policing [During the presentation Brian Wallace entered the meeting] 4.01 Sgt Smith gave a verbal report in which he said that a total of 31 offences had been recorded since the last report. 15 of these were motoring related and mostly on the M80. The 16 other crimes that took place in the area included housebreaking at Mathieson Crescent, Crowwood Grange in which a new house ready for occupation had several kitchen equipment items stolen, attempted housebreaking into North Lanarkshire Council premises in the Buchanan Business Park, a car theft in West Avenue. The 'Alcostop' campaign is continuing to be a success. 88 person were stopped and searched for drinking or suspected of drinking in public places. This has a spin off, because a no. of housebreakings and other crimes were solved as a result of some of the searches. The anti housebreaking operation 'Network' is also proving successful. Overall, 'N' Division has had a decrease of 55% of reported crime year on year. 4.02 Prior to the meeting Eddie McGee, the Community Councillor who attends the Cumbernauld Crime Prevention Panel on behalf of the Stepps area, had briefed Neil on the last meeting held at the beginning of Sept. Neil gave a prkcis of the meeting and described the recent appointments concerning Community Policing in the North Corridor area. Insp. Derek Brown is Head the Community Safety [Involvement] based at Cumbernauld, and Insp. Alex Love oversees the Community Policing operation from his base at Kilsyth. Sup McKenzie had addressed the Crime Prevention Panel and was pleased to announce that 'N' Div had a 41 % detection rate for housebreaking, which is the highest in the Strathclyde force. The Crime Prevention Panel is also helping to raise funds for the supply of free house alarms for the elderly. This is in co-operation with Help the Aged and the Social Work Department. 4.03 In an open discussion following both reports it was suggest that Ch Insp. Murphy should be invited to a future meeting. 4.04 The Chair thanked Sgt Smith for his meaningful contribution to the meeting. [Sgt Smith left the meeting after completing his presentation] 5.0 Minute of Previous Meeting - items not to be covered in agenda 5.01 Enquiries made about the two missing flag poles that were been kept for erecting either side of the Beacon have not revealed where they have been moved to. Further enquiries are to be made. 2 If you have access to the lnternet you can find out more about what's going on in your area NOW by logging onto www. ukvillaqes.co. u Wstepps 5.02 There was nothing further to report on progress towards a village notice board. 5.03 As a result of a question from a member of the public at the previous meeting about the apparent change of use of a house from residential to business use, it can be confirmed that, in this case there is no need for a change of use. 5.04 There had been complaints about a stagnant water smell throughout the summer, around the area of the ramp to the Glasgow bound rail platform. The Secretary was requested to bring this to the attention of SEPA. 6.0 Planning Matters 6.01 Rob & Brian Wallace discussed the site visit by Councillors that preceded the Planning Committee meeting in which the relocation of the Primary School, Library and Culture Centre had been approved - subject to referral to the Scottish Executive. Tenders would now be invited for the design and position of the buildings within the Recreation Ground area. 6.02 Rob reported that there had been a total of 8 'non contentious' applications and 5 worthy of discussion. These 5 were: a proposed 'Touch Base' meeting centre, comprising of 8 various sized meeting rooms, within the car park area of the Travel Inn: 53 family and town houses [Geo Wimpey] behind Bannatyne's Health Club, and within Buchanan Business Park: 20 Flats on the corner of Cumbernauld Road and Cardowan Road, on the ex 'ESSO' garage site: 24 Flats in Edward Place: 92 Family house [Persimmon] to the south and south east of Jackson Drive, Crowwood Grange -these are in the Glasgow City Council area. 6.03 It was decided to object to the overall appearance and choice of materials of the 20 Flats at the corner of Cumbernauld Road and Cardowan Road. Also, a letter to be written to Glasgow City Council Planning Dept indicating an interest in the Persimmon application. 7.0 Treasurers Report 7.01 The pre 2003/04 current balance was f400.03 and the 2003104 NLC Grant of f837.00 had just been received - making a total of f1237.03 8.0 Secretary's Report 8.01 The Secretary had attended at Association of North Corridor Community Councils meeting on 17th June and an E-Democracy meeting on 24th June. 8.02 On going items: Flooding of footpath in Cumbernauld Road Broken or unreadable street signs - Alexandra Avenue / Fourth Ave Stepps Gateway Signage -what, where & when Road Surfaces - particularly Victoria Road and Mount Harriet Drive. White lining - road junctions etc Graffiti removal - various / on going - NLC Graffiti removal - various / on going - Utility Company's Sewer Work in Lenzie Road - railings not replaced Rubbish and litter on and around Crowwood Roundabout Damage to safety railings - Travel Inn/Brewsters Damage to traffic island bollard - Travel Inn/Brewsters Public Footpath [ROW] sign Garnkirk Lane Land damage by Scottish Water, to the Park Dog waste bins for The Park 3 If you have access to the internet you can find out more about what's going on in your area NOW by logging onto www.ukvillaaes.co.ukstepps , 10.00 Stepps Communities Development Trust I Stepps Community Plan 10.01 No real work had been carried out over the summer recess towards forming a Trust of Community Plan. This type of organisation IS needed if Stepps & District are to receive the benefit of the community grants that are available. This is an on-going project and a report with plans and objectives will be submitted for condderation at a later date. 11.OO Councillor Verbal Reports 11.01 Ken said that he, and many residents, are disappointed at the reduction in the NLC recycling plans. This was a backward step that could only lead to disposing of rubbish by incineration - which is unacceptable. Public participation is the key and he felt that the excuses given by the NLC that their 'about turn' was due to recycling material was being contaminated was not a sincere reason. 2006 is decision time to meet recycling targets. Positive action must be taken now by North Lanarkshire Council to get anywhere near achieving these targets - and reducing recycling to only collecting newspapers only scratching the surface. 11.02 Ken also brought to the attention of the meeting the Energy Conservation funding that is available - often free of charge, or at greatly reduced cost - for heating, lighting, and insulating homes. 11.03 Carol reported that in her opinion instances of fly tipping has increased and told of the instance in Lenzie Rd. The meeting agreed that response to requests to uplift dumped rubbish had been good in the past, but no one should hesitate to report instances. 11.04 Frances reported that the scrub, brambles and thistles on both sides of Cardowan Rd leading to the Primary School is sticking through the open fence and dangerous to parents and children as they pass by. Sec to write to appropriate department. 12.0 Any Other Business 12.01 A member of the public spoke of the shocking condition of the PortaCabins at Stepps Primary. Brian Wallace said he would raise this with the Education Dept. 12.02 A member of the public asked if a missing street sign for Loudon Rd / Cessnock Rd, in Station Road could be replaced.