ALSO PRESENT: PC Atkinson. Broad Street Area Beat Manager, Tim French, Kathryn Hawke
APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE: Vice-Chair Pam Freegard, Treasurer John Freegard, John Clark, Vi Clark, Kate Johnson, Rebecca McIntosh, Evelyn Mason, Councillor J Wright
CONFIRMATION OF THE MINUTES: 06 March 2013 meeting. These Minutes were confirmed as a true record. Proposed by Ros Timlin and seconded by Madge Sutton
The following issues and points were reported
- It was proposed by the Chair that we hold the 2013 AGM on the 05 June; members present agreed to this. The time and venue will be given out at the May meeting.
- When we arrived for the drop-in, we discovered that we had been booked into the Activity Room for the next year. This was despite having written confirmation that we had booked the Lounge. This will be followed up.
- Kay talked about time banking, which is a system that encourages people to share their skills by helping people in their community, in return for help with skills or services they require.
- Community garden. This has been discussed before but it was still an idea people wanted to pursue.
- Could the new Police and Crime Commissioner, Angus Macpherson be invited to a future meeting?
- The road surface is collapsing by one of the crossings in Manchester Rd.
- The owner of the old George White workshop in Corporation St. is going to repair the guttering and tidy the back of the building.
- A family that had been causing problems with rubbish and ASB in Rosebery St. have now moved out.
- One of our Committee members, Kate Johnson, recently had a fall in the street and unfortunately broke her hip. She is now at home recovering following a stay in hospital.
CORRESPONDENCE
RECEIVED – SBC - Community Infrastructure Levy 8 week consultation – 4th April to 30 May 2013 - The Community Infrastructure Levy (also known as the CIL or 'the Levy') is the Government’s chosen approach to set a tariff on development. CIL will allow the Council as Local Planning Authority (also known as CIL Charging Authority ‘CA’) to raise funds to from new development in its area. CIL receipts will contribute towards funding improvement to infrastructure (facilities and services) that are required to support the development and growth planned for Swindon.
Once adopted CIL will operate alongside the much restricted use of section 106 planning obligations. Use of S106 planning obligations will be scaled back to manage site specific mitigation only e.g. affordable housing, open space. Paper copies and details can be viewed at Wat Tyler House reception, all Swindon Libraries and at www.swindon.gov.uk/cil
PLANNING
S/13/0301 – Land At Former Paragon Laundry - Aylesbury Street – Temporary change of use of land to public car parking for a two-year period (Retrospective) - Application pending consideration - Case Officer - Mr Rob O’Carroll
S/13/0240 - 2 Aylesbury House Aylesbury Street SN1 1AE - Change of use of existing building from residential flats (C3) to 13 No. serviced rooms (Sui Generis) and Office, installation of PV solar panels on roof and canopy over main entrance. - Application granted - Case Officer - Mr Rob O’Carroll
A very similar application at this address was refused in December.
TREASURERS REPORT - to 03 April 2013: John Freegard
Proposed by Ros Timlin and seconded by Cluniford Mason
NEIGHBOURHOOD POLICE TEAM REPORT: PC Atkinson. Broad Street Area Beat Manager.
PC Atkinson reported on the following Broadgreen crime statistics between – 01 Mar and 31 Mar 2013. (2012 statistics in brackets)
Patrols – 89 separate parking related patrols – in addition to routine patrols.
Criminal damage – 5. (2012 – 6)
Violence – 4 - including 2 domestic incidents. (2012 –5)
Theft – 20 - 10 from commercial premises. (2012 – 27)
Drugs – 1 possession of cannabis. (2012 –1)
Dwelling Burglary – 4 - 3 x shed breaks and 1 insecure property. (2012 – 07)
Robbery – 0. (2012 – 0)
Intelligence reports – 34. (2012 – 29)
All crime is down in Broadgreen with the exception of two additional dwelling burglaries. However, three of the total burglaries were shed break-ins. There were no forced entry house burglaries in Broadgreen for the whole month of March 2013, compared to two in 2012.
Prostitution – Police patrols have indicated there is a marginal increase in the amount of sex workers (prostitutes) operating in the area in March. As a result of this, the Vice-Officer has increased targeted operational patrols along with partnership agencies (e.g. SWADS) and the probation service. These are aimed at not only targeting and enforcement on the sex workers (prostitutes), but specifically targeting the kerb crawlers to try and cut demand. Numerous sex workers (prostitutes) are still on Active Sex Worker (Loitering or Soliciting for Prostitution) Cautions, which are working well. None of the prostitutes currently on cautions are believed to be working on the streets and this tactic is ongoing for those prostitutes refusing to engage with the Police or partnership agencies.
Parking – Following a justified increase in parking complaints, PC Atkinson along with a number of other PC’s and SBC Highways Authorities carried out a number of parking operations in March. A large number of £30 - £70 tickets were issued to owners that had parked their vehicles in places that were dangerous or caused obstruction. These operations were well advertised and will continue. All Swindon PC’s are also aware of the issue. For more stringent results, changes to the road layout will need to be made to assist with enforcement by SBC Highways Authorities.
PC Atkinson reminded residents that local intelligence was very important, and any information should be reported to the Police on the non emergency phone number – 101.
HISTORY REPORT:
At the April drop-in there was a small display of images donated by former Broadgreen Neighbourhood Worker – Bob Johnson. These included views around the Broadgreen Area, the last days of the Central School and the County Ground area.
NEXT MEETING 2013 AGM Wednesday 05 June 2013 - 7.00pm to 7.15pm, followed by a drop-in -7.15pm to 8.00pm.
