Minutes for Crosby Area Committee meeting, Feb 24 2010, 6.30PM official page

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Barber and Parish Councillor Hounsell.

Apologies were also received from Inspector Neil Turner (Merseyside Police).

The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting, in particular, Miss Elena Mugarza and Miss Katy Russell, in their capacity as Sefton Young Advisors. Each provided a brief outline of their background and role as young advisor.

The Chair reminded the Committee of the recent sad loss of Mr. Bob Wright, who had been an Advisory Group Member on the Crosby Area Committee since its inception. Councillors, Officers and Members of the public stood in silence in memory of Bob.

Committee members paid tribute to Bob, stressing much he would be missed, not just by people of Little Crosby, but also by the whole Crosby community. The Committee was reminded of Bob’s huge contribution to the Crosby community, which included founding the Little Crosby Museum, his work at Crosby Hall Educational Trust, his role as Chairman of the Crosby Flower Show and as the driving force behind Little Crosby’s success in the Britain in Bloom Competition; how he was always extremely caring and keen to share his knowledge and love of the local area, his willingness to help other people and to undertake even the smallest job to help others. He was a great character – warm hearted, passionate about Crosby – the ‘life and soul’ of the community - always cheery, yet fierce in getting what he wanted for the good of the area. His passing had left a great void.

The Assistant Director of Neighbourhoods and Investment Programmes informed the Committee of a proposal to purchase a bench in memory of Bob, which had received the wholehearted approval of his family.

RESOLVED:

That a bench in Bob’s memory be purchased from the Crosby-wide budget allocation, the location and inscription for which to be chosen in consultation with members of his family.

Members and Officers are requested to give notice of any personal or prejudicial interest and the nature of that interest, relating to any item on the agenda in accordance with the relevant Code of Conduct.

Member

Minute No.

Interest

Action

Councillor Cummins

100 –NHS Sefton – Key Issues

Personal - Non-Executive Director of NHS Sefton

Participated in discussion about the item.

Minutes of the meeting held on 20 January 2010

Part “A”

These items are for general discussion.  Anybody attending the meeting is welcome to speak (subject to the Chair’s discretion).

RESOLVED:

That subject to the addition of Parish Councillor West to the list of those present at the meeting (and the deletion of his name from the apologies received as set out in Minute No. 94), the Minutes of the meeting held on 20 January 2010 be confirmed as a correct record.

Arising from the Minutes of the previous meeting, the Chair raised the following matters:

(i)         Minute No. 81 – Potential Cumulative Impact

the issue of potential cumulative impact of licensed premises on South Road, Waterloo had been considered by the Licensing and Regulatory Committee held on 22 February 2010 (Minute No. 79 refers) and it had been resolved that

‘……………..existing Area Committees were a series of well publicised Open-Meetings and the most appropriate forum to obtain the views of the public concerning the licensing policy’………. that  ‘…... the Council were looking to establish a number of Focus Groups through the Area Committees to obtain more specific views on the current licensing policy during its consultation as part of the review of Sefton’s Licensing Policy….‘

(ii)               Minute No. 84 – Proposed Car Park Charging Order – Crosby Civic Hall/Library, Hougoumont Avenue, Crosby Marina, Blucher Street and Burbo Bank Car parks

A number of meetings had been held and although no car parking charges were envisaged in the short term, under the present economic climate car park charges were expected to be implemented before the end of 2010.

Sergeant Wright presented and reported on Crosby’s crime statistics for January 2010, comparing them with the statistics for the same period in 2008 and 2009 (Hightown figures in brackets), as follows:

Jan 2008

Jan 2009

Jan 2010

All Crime

210

271

192

Violent Crime

32

33(4)

28

Robbery

2

5

2

Burglary Dwelling

23

35(1)

24(1)

Unauthorised theft / taking of a motor vehicle

11

4

3

Theft from a motor vehicle

19

12

8(1)

Criminal Damage

57

61

41

Sergeant Wright reported on a number of issues including:

• The continuation of Operation ABBA tackling anti-social behaviour across the 4 Crosby wards, which had resulted in the issue of 40 ASBOs and 4 parental control orders.  There had also been an interim ASBO issued to a man in respect of his anti-social behaviour in Thornton and Church ward.

• The issue of 132 Smartwater kits for the identification of stolen property, the water mark being invisible to the naked eye, but visible under ultra-violet light.

• Surveillance being undertaken at railway stations for the apprehension of persons carrying knives.  Also, an initiative whereby Police Officers were issued with ‘knife detection wands’ and positioned outside pubs and clubs for the apprehension of persons taking knives into licensed premises.

• In a bid to combat an increase in burglary of dwellings involving burglars trying door handles and burgling homes found to be unsecured, the police had set up ‘Operation Handle’ which involved the police themselves trying the door handles and advising residents of the potential risk where doors were found unlocked.  Homes with UPVC doors were found to be particularly vulnerable and often access was obtained without the occupiers knowing about it.  Warnings were also given about occupiers leaving handbags and keys near their front and back doors.

• Bids had been made for mounted police and the dog section to assist weekend policing.

• Thefts of and from motor vehicles had been problematic at night in the Crosby Civic Hall / Library car park.  The poor lighting in this area was considered to be a contributory factor and the matter had been taken up with the Council’s Highways Department and Sefton Security.

• Working closely with park rangers, diversionary activities with local youths were being organised to take place during the Easter period, including street games in local parks and a 5 a side championship in Potters Barn park – in which the Police themselves would be participating.

• A Public Priority Meeting was to be held at 6.30 p.m. on Thursday 25 February 2010 to consult with the community about future policing priorities.

• Preparations were in place for policing the Sefton coast and public parks in Crosby and Formby during the summer period and the utilisation of the 2 quad bikes.

Sergeant Wright also responded to the following points raised by Councillors and members of the public:

• Reports had been received about serious anti-social behaviour caused by men (in the 18-25 age group) leaving the Royal Oak in Warrenhouse Road, Blundellsands, following the screenings of recent football matches.  The men had left a trail of destruction smashing plant pots, bottles – and in one incident, hitting someone over the head with a hammer.  Sergeant Wright agreed to liaise with Ward Councillors and look into the matter.

• Thanks were extended for the increased police presence (foot patrols) in Hightown and Sergeant Wright agreed to instruct Officers to keep an eye on the children’s play area, where youths had been congregating.

• Congratulations were also extended for the reduction in crime rates and for the work of the Police in Seaforth – in particular the recent ‘closing’ of two known crack houses, bringing relative peace and quiet to the surrounding area.

• Criticism was made about the excessive numbers of police officers carrying out a recent speed check exercise, in contrast with the comparative small numbers of Officers patrolling the streets tackling ‘real crime’. Sergeant Wright explained that the speed reduction exercise had been a one-off targeted operation (Operation Talisman) following an instruction from Police Headquarters and the Police Officers assigned to the operation had worked over and above their normal duty rotas.

RESOLVED: That

(1)

Sergeant Wright be thanked for his informative presentation;

(2)

Sergeant Wright be requested to pass on the Committee’s congratulations to Inspector Turner and the Crosby Neighbourhood Police Team for their success in keeping crime rates down in Crosby and Hightown; and

(3)

Sergeant Wright be requested to liaise with Blundellsands Ward Councillors regarding the recent incidents of anti-social behaviour in Warrenhouse Road.

Members of the public are invited to ask questions, raise matters, or present petitions on issues which are relevant to Sefton Council.  The person asking a question will be allowed one supplementary question.

(If a response to a question is required which cannot be provided at the meeting or if the question is not reached within the 45 minute period, the Chair will either refer the matter to the appropriate Service Department for a written answer or to the appropriate Cabinet Member for further consideration).

Part “B”

These are formal decisions to be taken by Members of the Council.  Only in exceptional cases will the Chair allow contributions from the public (Advisory Group Members may speak but not vote).

The following matters were raised during the Open Forum:

(a)

Parish Councillor West submitted a request for a Pedestrian Refuge Crossing to be located at the junction of Kerslake Way (Railway Bridge) and the Roundabout at Lower Alt Road, Hightown.  He indicated that a previous request for a refuge had not come to fruition because it had not been considered to be of high enough priority compared with other areas, based on the number of pedestrians crossing the road and the volume of traffic.  However, he felt that a further site visit should be organised to take into account the speed of the traffic on the bridge approaching the roundabout at Lower Alt Road, which by virtue of a sharp turn of the bridge road prior to the roundabout, effectively created a restricted view of traffic for pedestrians, thereby creating a safety hazard and warranting further action.

A response had been sent by the Assistant Director – Transportation and Spatial Planning, highlighting the recent report which had been considered by Crosby Area Committee on 20 January 2010 and indicating that Kerslake Way continued to remain a low priority compared with other sites within the Crosby area.

It was agreed that the Ward Councillors would request the Assistant Director – Transportation and Spatial Planning, to arrange another site visit to Kerslake Way with a view to taking the speed of the traffic in the area into account as a contributory factor for the provision of a pedestrian refuge.

(b)

The Chair exceptionally allowed Parish Councillor West to submit a further question expressing concern that the Crosby Civic Hall / Library Clock still remained unrepaired. He explained that he was asking the question in his capacity as a member and past president of the Crosby Rotary Club and informed the Committee that the clock had been donated in 1988, by the then Rotary Club President, Mr. Robert Harrington, to Mr. Doug Turner the Chief Engineer of the Borough of Crosby; on the basis that the clock would be maintained by the Borough Council.

The Assistant Director – Neighbourhoods and Investment Programmes indicated that she had obtained an estimate of £1,564 for the cost of repairing the clock, but unfortunately, due to the combination of budget freezes and an overspent Civic Buildings budget, there were no resources available within the Council to fund the clock repair at the present time.  She had written to Parish Councillor West in this respect, enclosing a copy of the estimated bill from the clock repair company.

It was agreed that Ward Councillors would undertake informal discussions about finding a way to have the clock repaired.

(c)

Mr. Gardner had submitted a question requesting additional road signs around the junction between North End Lane and the A565 Formby by-pass, which he stated was extremely dangerous for traffic turning left on to the by-pass and for traffic turning right on to the by-pass towards Liverpool into North End Lane – as had been witnessed by the frequent occurrence of collisions.  The questioner suggested a number of warning signs on the by-pass to improve the traffic flow around the junction and reduce the number of accidents.

The Traffic Services Manager had written to Mr. Gardner, indicating that a review of the approach to the junction both southbound and northbound, was to be undertaken to see if any additional signage was required.  However, he stressed that the Council was constrained in the wording it could use for signs by the Department for Transport’s Traffic Signs Manual and General Directions 2004.  Further, the junction had been identified under the Local Transport Plan (LTP) Local Safety Schemes Programme 2009/10 to address accident levels; and this Scheme was to be progressed to the preliminary design stage during 2010/11, though any progress beyond this stage would depend on future funding levels available through the LTP.

RESOLVED:

That the Traffic Services Manager be requested to report back to a future meeting of the Area Committee on the outcome of the review of signing on the north and southbound approaches to the junction between North End Lane and the A565 Formby by-pass.

(d)

A question had been submitted by J. Cannon raising concern about the proliferation of dog fouling along Brownmoor Lane, Crosby, asking why there was insufficient cleaning of the area and whether signage and stencils could be implemented to try and prevent the problem.

The Assistant Director – Neighbourhoods and Investment Programmes indicated that the question had been forwarded to the Cleansing Services Manager for action in respect of a clearing the dog dirt.  She also proposed that she would contact the Community Payback Team who could take preventative measures such as distribution of leaflets and laying down stencils warning dog owners of the penalties for dog fouling.

RESOLVED:

That the Assistant Director Neighbourhoods be requested to liaise with both the Cleansing Services Manager and the Community Payback Team to try and find a solution to the problem of dog fouling along Brownmoor Lane, Crosby, and provide a written response to the questioner outlining action to be taken.

Mr. Paul Acres, Chairman of NHS Sefton to report

The Committee received a presentation from Mr. Paul Acres, Chair of NHS Sefton on the work of the Primary Care Trust (PCT) and on the key messages around health matters.

Mr. Acres:

·        indicated that the PCT had now been in operation for three years and in effect was the NHS for Sefton

·         indicated that £500m per year was spent on health care

·        referred to the document "Better Health: Better Life" and the consultations undertaken regarding health services

·         identified the following priorities for the PCT:

(i)            improving the health of all residents

(ii)           reducing health inequalities

(iii)          improvements to all health services

(iv)          spending of money wisely

(v)           engagement with our communities

·               indicated that patient waiting times had greatly reduced

·              indicated that all national targets had nearly been met

·              stated that there was now improved access to G.P.s at weekends and out of hours

·              indicated that MRSA, Clostridium Difficile and other hospital infections had been dramatically reduced, partly aided by a reduction in prescribing antibiotics to patients

·              detailed the provision of new dental services

·              indicated the launch of a Chlamydia website

·              stated that one of the major challenges of the PCT was to reduce health inequalities between electoral Wards

·              referred to the transformation of community services - looking at the best way of providing services at a local level

·              indicated that the PCT was under great financial pressures - £325 million savings had to be made over the next five years

·              indicated that changes in the demographics, particularly in North Sefton with an increasingly ageing population, held significant challenges for the PCT and its partners

·              informed of the successful submission of a joint application by Sefton Council and Sefton PCT for funding for the scrutiny of health inequalities in the Borough, with Sefton being one of only 9 successful applicants nationwide.

Discussion ensued and Mr. Acres, answered questions from Committee Members on the following topics:

·              continuity of care for Manor Ward residents – with patients not being able to see their regular GP’s at the Thornton Health Centre

·              X-ray provision at Litherland Health Centre – children under 16 were required to be X-rayed at Alder Hey Children’s Hospital, Liverpool – could an exception be made for older children aged between 12 – 16?

·              the case for more ‘walk-in’ centres in Crosby and upgrading of the Princes Street Clinic

·              the problems with Church Ward (Seaforth) and parts of Manor Ward missing out on funding opportunities because of their location in the Crosby area, compared with Linacre and Derby and other more deprived wards

·              the challenges of dealing with dementia – linked with the ageing population

RESOLVED:  

That Mr. Acres be thanked for his informative presentation.

Report of the Planning and Economic Regeneration Officer

The Committee considered the report of the Planning and Economic Development Director setting out proposed Gating Orders which would permit alleygates to be installed at the undermentioned locations to restrict access to various passageways and thereby reduce incidents of anti-social behaviour.

Plan No.

Location

DCO568

Passageway leading from Holden Road to Green Lane, Waterloo

DCO569

Passageway leading from Cambridge Drive adjoining the properties numbered 36–42 (evens) Cambridge Road and 1 Cambridge Road, Crosby

DCO570

Passageway leading from Shaftesbury Road adjoining the properties 1-31 (odds) Shaftesbury Road, Crosby

DCO571

Passageway leading from Brookfield Avenue adjoining 1 Brookfield Avenue, Crosby

DCO573

Passageway leading from and forming part of Hill Street to Musker Street, Crosby

RESOLVED:   That

(1)       the Planning and Economic Development Director, in conjunction with the Legal Director, be authorised to process Gating Order applications pursuant to section 129a of the Highways Act 1980 by advertising the Council's intention to install gates, the effect of which would be to restrict access to the passageways as highlighted in the report and shown on plans numbered, DC0568, DC0569, DC0570, DC0571 and DC0573;

(2)       subject to there being no objections during the statutory advertising period, the Legal Director be authorised to confirm the respective Orders; where there an objection is raised, a report will be prepared to the Area Committee unless the objection is raised by the Emergency Services, in which case the matter will be referred to a Public Inquiry; and

(3)       the Assistant Director (Neighbourhoods and Investment Programmes) and colleagues be thanked for their hard work in ensuring the comprehensive provision of alley gating schemes across the Crosby area.

Joint Report of the Planning and Economic Regeneration Director and the Director of Neighbourhoods and Investment Programmes

Further to Minute No. 80 (c) of 20 January 2010, the Committee considered the report of the Planning and Economic Development Director seeking approval for the progression of traffic calming measures on Chesterfield Road and Brownmoor Lane, Crosby, for the protection of properties from vehicular collision, as detailed in the report and shown on the plans in Appendices A, B and C.

The Chair welcomed four residents from Chesterfield Road, who described in detail the problems they had suffered through speeding traffic crashing into their homes, producing photographs graphically illustrating the damage caused and describing the effect which the incidents had had not only on their properties, but also on the health and well-being of themselves and their families.

The Committee sympathised wholeheartedly with the predicament of the residents and welcomed the traffic calming and other accident prevention measures outlined in the report.

RESOLVED: That

(1)

the measures to improve the conspicuity of the junction of Chesterfield Road and Brownmoor Lane detailed as Option (B) of the report with funding found from the Traffic Services Revenue Budget be approved;

(2)

the introduction of anti-ram bollards as detailed in Option (C) of the report at locations shown in Annex (C), subject to the outcome of exploratory trial pits to assess whether the bollards can be installed due to buried services; with funding for the trial pits and bollards being found from the Neighbourhoods and Investment Programmes Department, be approved;

(3)

the Planning and Economic Development Director be requested submit a further report to the meeting on 27 May 2010, outlining the outcomes of consultation with local residents regarding the proposed introduction of traffic calming measures along Brownmoor Lane, detailed as Option (A); and

(4)

subject to (3) above, it be noted that Option (A) will be funded by the Neighbourhoods and Investment Programmes Department.

Report of the Neighbourhood and Investment Programmes Director

Further to Minute No. 90 of 20 January 2010, the Committee considered the report of the Neighbourhoods and Investment Programmes Director indicating that the balance of the budget available for allocation during 2009/10, including sums set aside for the provision of litterbins and street signs was £9,061.66 and setting out details of the progress of schemes for which funding had previously been approved.

RESOLVED:

That the remaining balance of £9,061.66 of the budget available for further allocation for the rest of the year and the progress of schemes for which funding had previously been approved, be noted.

A copy of a response to an issue raised at a previous meeting of the Committee was submitted for information.

The Committee was informed that Mr. Wilson, had requested that his question regarding lowering the height of the sand dunes along the Crosby Promenade, (Minute No. 80 (a) of 20 January 2010 refers), be resubmitted to the Committee, as he had not yet received a response on the matter.

The Assistant Director – Neighbourhoods and Investment Programmes indicated that she had sent a written response to Mr. Wilson, but that she would arrange to have the letter re-sent to him.  A copy of the letter would also be included with the agenda for the next meeting.

RESOLVED:

That the Assistant Director – Neighbourhoods and Investment Programmes be requested to resend her letter of response to Mr Wilson’s Open Forum question raised at the meeting on 20 January 2010 on lowering the sand dunes along the Crosby Promenade.

The next meeting will be held at 6.30 p.m. on Wednesday 24 March 2010, at St Stephen’s Church Hall, St. Stephen’s Road, Hightown.

RESOLVED:

That the next meeting be held at 6.30 p.m. on Wednesday 24 March 2010, at St. Stephen’s Church Hall, St. Stephen’s Road, Hightown.