THE “CALL IN” PERIOD FOR THIS SET OF MINUTES ENDS AT 12 NOON ON WEDNESDAY 3 OCTOBER 2012. MINUTE NOS 24, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32 AND 33 ARE NOT SUBJECT TO “CALL-IN”. FORMBY AREA COMMITTEE MEETING HELD AT THE FORMBY PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT CENTRE, PARK ROAD, FORMBY ON THURSDAY 13 SEPTEMBER, 2012 PRESENT: Councillor Cuthbertson (in the Chair) Councillors Dutton, Killen, Maguire, McIvor, Page (Vice Chair) and Parish Councillor Gaskin. ALSO PRESENT: Inspector Jim Atherton, Merseyside Police and 16 members of the public. 20. HILLSBOROUGH The Chair indicated that Parish Councillor Gaskin had suggested that further to yesterday’s release of the findings of the Hillsborough Independent Panel, the Committee might wish to formally remember the 96 victims of the Hillsborough Disaster of 15 April 1989 prior to commencement of the meeting. It was therefore RESOLVED: That the Committee formally commemorate the 96 victims of the Hillsborough Disaster. Accordingly, everyone present at the meeting stood for one minute’s silence in remembrance of the 96 victims who had lost their lives at Hillsborough on 15 April 1989. 21. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE Apologies for absence were received from Parish Councillors Jenkins and Starkey and Mr P Thornton, Advisory Group Member. 22. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST No declarations of interest were received. 23. MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING RESOLVED: That the minutes of the meeting held on 21 June 2012, be confirmed as a correct record. 24. PUBLIC FORUM 13 FORMBY AREA COMMITTEE- THURSDAY 13TH SEPTEMBER, 2012 The following items had been submitted for consideration during the Public Forum: Item Subject / details Action / taken by submitted by 1. Alison James Request to help save the Committee Administrator Formby Cumfy Bus to write to (1) Cumfy Bus service. thanking them and their Cllr Maguire indiated that drivers for a first rate he and Ms James had service over past years; been to present a petition and (2) Mrs James, the of 350 signatures to questioner. Merseytravel to save the Cumfy Bus Service, but unfortunately the tender for the service had already been granted to another bus company. The Chair advised that 4 questions had also been submitted in relation to Agenda Item 8 – Receipt of Objections to proposed Traffic Regulation Orders – Birch Green, Squirrel Green, Gorse Way, Proctor Road and Larkhill Lane, Formby and it was therefore: RESOLVED: That Open Forum Questions (2), (3), (4) and (5) submitted by Mr Henderson, Ms Carroll, Professor Ridings and Mr Scott respectively, be considered under Agenda Item 8, relating to Squirrel Green and surrounding areas. 25. POLICE ISSUES Referring to the crime statistics indicated below, Inspector Atherton provided an update on crime and policing in the Formby area during July and August 2012, comparing current crime figures with the same period in 2010 and 2011. July July July Aug Aug Aug 2010 2011 2012 2010 2011 2012 All crime 64 91 49 54 87 46 Violent 13 8 6 7 13 5 crime Robbery 0 1 0 2 0 0 Burglary 6 10 6 2 8 3 dwelling 14 FORMBY AREA COMMITTEE- THURSDAY 13TH SEPTEMBER, 2012 Theft of 0 4 1 0 0 0 motor vehicle Theft 5 23 6 2 8 3 from motor vehicle Criminal 8 6 8 7 6 7 damage Inspector Atherton provided an update and answered questions on the following matters: 1. Staffing • There had been no changes in Neighbourhood staffing • The Olympics had not affected local staffing • The Patrol Section had now been backfilled • Constable Jason Keating was recovering from knee and arm surgery and carrying out recuperative duties 2. Good News • The dedicated team had just been informed that they had won Sefton’s Neighbourhood Policing Team of the Year and would now go forward to the Force Awards on 8 November 2012 – which unfortunately clashed with the date of the next Area Committee meeting. Notwithstanding this, the outcome of this Award would be notified to the Committee in due course. 3. Operation Beachsafe • The additional officers recruited for beachsafe had now resumed their core duties in Sefton • A lot of people still visited the area and the vast majority were law abiding and respectful of the community • There had been lower crime figures this year – possibly as the result of a mixture of beachsafe patrols and the poor summer weather – a final analysis of the statistics was being compiled. • 974 units of alcohol had been seized • Parking had presented the biggest problem this year • Planning for Beachsafe 2013 had already begun in partnership with local Councillors, Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service, the Royal National Lifeboard Institution, 15 FORMBY AREA COMMITTEE- THURSDAY 13TH SEPTEMBER, 2012 Sefton Council’s Coast and Countryside Department and the National Trust, etc. 4. Crime Statistics • There had been welcome reductions in all of the crime figures, nonetheless, most of the crimes committed would leave a victim and as such, victim support and crime prevention was an essential aspect to policing. • 19 of all of the crime figures for July 2011 and also for August 2011, respectively, had been for Possession of a Controlled Drug (POCD), whereas there had only been 9 POCDs in July and August 2012. 5. Policing Updates • The next Have your Say Meeting would take place from 7-8 pm on Thursday 27 September 2012, at Formby Pool. • A travelling criminals bulletin was circulated to all those who used the rail network. • Police patrols by the Neighbourhood Team and Special Constables had been focused around Duke Street Park to address reports of anti-social behaviour and youths gathering • Traffic Police were undertaking enforcement along Formby Bypass as part of routine duties. • The Neighbourhood Team had recently been undertaking speedwatch duties which had resulted in a number of motorists having received warnings for speeding. Inspector Atherton indicated that members of the public who wished to become a community volunteer to help with local policing and in particular, speedwatch, should check the Police website at http://www.do- it.org.uk/search/opportunities/1583250/Formby_Speedwatch _Operative • A planned rave at Warren House Farm had been cancelled following a recent multi agency meeting and advice given by Police to the organizers regarding the licensing of temporary events. • Plans were being made in conjunction with the Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service and local youth agencies for Halloween and Bonfire Nights – Operation Banger. This included an interesting event being planned for the woods involving a ghoul fun run and ‘Scarewood Forest Halloween’. Visits were being made to local schools to advertise these events and to warn about the dangers of bonfire night, etc. 6. Crime Prevention • Operation Dragonfly - Inspector Atherton thanked the Area Committee for supporting Operation Dragonfly indicating that 16 FORMBY AREA COMMITTEE- THURSDAY 13TH SEPTEMBER, 2012 there had been 974 registrations to date. He indicated that the signage had now been installed and Smartwater kits were being purchased for the knock down price of £10 each. Persons/households with special hardship and / or vulnerability were being given the kits for free. There had already been over 90 Smartwater deployments as part of the initiative. 7. Good Police Work • Inspector Atherton concluded his update by informing the Committee of recent arrests and ongoing criminal investigations including: Ø the arrest of a male in respect of a burglary in Moss Side, Formby Ø apprehension of a male who had stolen a push bike Ø burglary and theft of a BMW car Ø possession of 8 bags of cannabis by a male from Formby Ø theft of a motor vehicle by a male who had been disqualified from driving, had no insurance, had failed to stop for a police officer and was using a mobile phone whilst driving. The male had eventually been detained by a police dog. RESOLVED: That (1) Inspector Atherton be thanked for his informative and interesting update and that he and his Team be thanked for their continued professionalism and dedication in carrying out their policing duties in the Formby Area; and (2) a letter be sent to Chief Constable Jon Murphy, commending the Formby Neighbourhood Team on their achievement of the Neighbourhood Policing Team of the Year Award. 26. AREA MANAGEMENT UPDATE The Committee considered the report of the Director of Corporate Commissioning on the area management activities that had taken place in Formby since the last meeting. The report indicated that the Neighbourhoods Division provided a co- ordination role for dealing with area issues. Queries were forwarded to the Neighbourhoods Division in a number of ways, via a number of different sources; and in order for Members to be aware of progress made on these issues the area management report had been compiled. 17 FORMBY AREA COMMITTEE- THURSDAY 13TH SEPTEMBER, 2012 The role of partner agencies would also be included in this report in the future to update Members as to how other agencies were working on area issues. RESOLVED: That (1) the Area Management update report be noted; and (2) Members or residents be requested to contact the Neighbourhoods Division with any further area issues. 27. FORMBY WOODLAND MONITORING GROUP The Committee considered the report of the Director of Corporate Commissioning on the Woodland Monitoring Group, specifically to consider the quarterly report of the Monitoring Group and an application from a Formby resident wishing to join the Group. Mr David Adams, Chair of the Monitoring Group presented the report attached as Annex 1 and answered questions thereon. Mr Adams drew the Committee’s attention to the Group’s concern at the future wellbeing of the frontal woodlands as referred to in paragraphs 5-8 of the report, that there had been no maintenance of the frontal woodlands for some years, and that this, by implication left doubt as to the future plans for the frontal woodland.