Agenda and minutes

To receive any apologies from members unable to attend the meeting

Apologies were received from Councillors Goldspink and Ash.

Members to declare any personal/personal prejudicial interests in any items on this agenda

None were received.

Approve the minutes of the meeting held on 1^st June 2011.

The minutes of the meeting held on 1 June 2011 were agreed as an accurate record.

The Neighbourhood Manager raised issues of concern from the previous meeting and advised that Council officers were in attendance tonight to discuss them.

a)               Capital Budget Allocation 2011/12

The committee received a report on the Capital Budget Allocation for 2011/12 that requested the committee approved spending proposals for the budget of £25,000 as detailed in the report.

Dogsthorpe Ward – Cllr Saltmarsh introduced the spending suggestions within the Dogsthorpe Ward highlighting that recent changes to bus routes need improved bus stops and hard standings as many were grass only as.  Any remaining fund could also contribute towards shelters and litter bins.

East Ward – Cllr Todd introduced the spending suggestion for East Ward which was to install solar lighting columns in open space areas to improve safety and accessibility.

Park Ward – Cllr Kreling introduced spending suggestions for Park Ward which was for improvements to grass verges, landscaping improvements to Garton End Road and Sallows Road and also the purchasing of litter bins and multi language signage to tackle litter problems.

Comments from residents included:

·         David Glennock, Grimshaw Road – grass verges degraded over many years, limited success in alleviating this over the years.  No dropped kerbs could increase verge damage.   Need to ensure litter bins are secure;

·         Must stop verge parking before refurbishing verges.  Putting deterrence in place seems to just move the problem further along the road; and

·         Signs around Exeter Road, is not only non-English speaking who drop litter so multi-language signs might not improve the situation.  Cllr Shearman – did have issue raised of littering from residents around Exeter Road.  Could have a graphic rather than wording on signs.

The committee AGREED (6 for, 1 against, 2 abstentions) an allocation of the budget to the following proposals (costs estimated):

1.      Installation of hard standings at selected bus stops in the Old Dogsthorpe & Welland area - £8333.33;

2.      Introduction of solar lighting columns in open space areas (Bishops Road and Embankment areas) - £8333.33; and

3.      Improvements to verges, landscaping improvements to Garton End Road & Sallows Road and purchase of additional litter bins and signage - £8333.33.

a)               Youth Forum – 8-19 years Children’s Services

Matt Oliver from 8-19 Service, introduced members from the local Youth Forum and the work they were doing.  Young people were being encouraged to get involved in the Youth Forum for the area.

Questions and comments included:

·         It is necessary to improve facilities for young people in the area including some sort of meeting place.  Matt Oliver – a youth centre or meeting location has not been a ward priority in the past so no facility yet in Park Ward but one does exist in East Ward and Dogsthorpe also in Unity Hall. 

·         Does the youth forum area include North Ward too?  Matt Oliver – the forums will be linked to Neighbourhood Committee areas.

·         Cllr Saltmarsh – very good progress form the young people and a very good newsletter came out too.

b)                 Verge Parking Update

Cllr Peach read the recently agreed motion from full Council regarding verge parking, committing Council to further action in relation to the problem.

Peter Gell and Andy Tatt from Peterborough City Council updated the meeting on efforts and plans to tackle the issue of parking on grass verges including:

·                                     More enforcement officers;

·                                     In-car CCTV to identify offenders automatically;

·                                     Improvements to signs regarding parking areas and restrictions;

·                                     Entry and exits to council car parks to be improved;

·                                     More training for officers to identify and issue penalty notices for a variety of offences;

·                                     Closer working with Police to tackle issues such as obstructions;

·                                     Creation of a database and map of key areas to provide evidence for funding requests;

·                                     Will present a range of solutions for public consultation;

·                                     Central Dogsthorpe had a traffic regulation order already to address some issues - do need funding for this;

·                                     Already aware of many of the key areas which are to be included in action plans;

·                                     Need to consider flood issues among other things when considering removal of verges;

·                                     Trees cannot be placed everywhere due to underground plant works and visibility at junctions;

·                                     Would need to determine most solution for specific areas.

Comments and responses to questions included:

·                                           Peter Gell - If a vehicle was causing an obstruction, Police could intervene re parking on pavements or grass verges.  Parking Officer – half-on half–off verges, not an offence.  Some specific restrictions in Dogsthorpe which prevents any parking on verges;

·                                           Parking officer – there has to be a Parking Officer present to enforce an offence when reported by the public.  Can try to respond to concerns and calls but can only act if there in person;

·                                           Andy Tatt – difficult to enforce where private walls have been removed to provide parking with access over verges and pavements.  Shows a need for parking space and expensive to install a proper dropped kerb with to cross the pavement.  Garden walls are private property and not highways;

·                                           Rep of MANERP – did have agreement from Council that in Millfield, off Lincoln Road, would have a ’no loading’ restriction on side streets.  P Gell and A Tatt will look into the issue;

·                                           Many parking offences outside schools.  Also, levels of traffic around many central schools see pedestrian crossing points in roads restricted by parked vehicles;

·                                           Dangers emerge if emergency vehicles need to gain access around religious buildings at times of services;

·                                           Peter Gell – have reduced times of parking attendant patrols but seek to put officers on streets when most effective.  Will consider changing if need exists;

·                                           Andy Tatt – will be consultation issued for Century Square later this year;

·                                           Cllr Shearman – not sufficient budget here to meet all needs so need more capital budget from council needed to tackle all areas;

·                                           A Tatt – End of Garton Road is identified as a hot spot.  One solution could be low growth shrubs.  Resident – suggest tarmac to alleviate the problems;

·                                           Garton End Road resident – agree  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6b

c)                  Operation CAN-do

Paul Phillipson presented information on Operation CAN-do including:

·         Will have short, medium and long term goals;

·         Concerns areas of North, Park and Central Wards (Lincoln Road area);

·         Whole systems approach across the council and partner services;

·         To improve quality of life of people living and working in key areas of the city;

·         Improve skills and increase jobs;

·         Encourage healthier lives;

·         Results of many studies and surveys;

·         Based on ground floor of New Link building; and

·         Address concerns over number of licensed premises.

Comments and responses to questions included:

·         Paul Phillipson – already doing some aspects of the work in other areas of the city.  Lots of resources were being allocated to this scheme and could roll out further if successful;

·         Cate Harding – Residents can come to the scheme’s office to report local issues;

·         Paul Phillipson – private landlords have to pay to update property statuses;

·         Paul Phillipson – Council registers Houses in Multiple Occupation but does not investigate taxes.  Jo Hodges - Only HMOs need registering with the Council, not other landlords.  No requirement for a referral scheme.  Council is considering other licensing and registering schemes for landlords;

·         Cllr Todd – hope this will extend to other areas of the city as many issues are shared such as HMOs.  Pockets across the city with problems.  Paul Phillipson – new ways of working included too and maybe not all will work.  Successes will be spread across the city;

·         Resident - Overcrowding of schools important too.  Paul Phillipson – insufficient places in schools is being addressed by the Council.

An opportunity for any member of the public, elected and co-opted members of the Neighbourhood Committee to raise anything that affects your area and to suggest items for future meetings

The Chairman recommended moving this item to the beginning of the agenda for future meetings and the Ward forums would address local, ward specific issues.

Issue raised included:

20 mph limit

·         Princes Street residents association – it was requested to include the 20mph speed limit campaign for Park Ward as a future agenda item?

·         Andy Tatt – there has been lobbying about this.  Did introduce 20mph outside rural schools.  Around £20k of new signs needed just for Park Ward.  Many areas cannot drive above 30mph as road type does not allow it.  Police would have to enforce any new limits too so would need consultation with the Police.

·         Inspector Glazebrook – enforcement would be the same as other speed limits;

·         Signs would be limited as only a few access points so few signs needed.  Would be most effective on larger roads such as Park Road and Dogsthorpe Road;

·         Cllr Kreling – was asked by Queen’s Drive school governors to have 20mph in side streets around schools;

·         Richard Prentis – lots of support nationally for 20mph schemes;

Buses returning to Lincoln Road depot in evenings

·         Buses were to only queue on one side of road, now blocking both sides again;

·         Paul Phillipson – will raise issues further with relevant officers;

Litter across the area

·         Litter bins not being emptied regularly and are overflowing;

·         Lots of broken glass in roads;

·         Is street cleaning being conducted properly?  Paul Phillipson – will raise issue with Enterprise Peterborough.  Central Ward Councillors raised this issue too.  Meeting arranged in next few weeks;

·         Many litter bins no longer there.  Have they been removed from circulation?  Paul Phillipson – some lampposts replaced so will determine where bins have gone that were attached;

·         Can ask ward Councillors to have new bins installed;

·         Have been told there is a 3 day wait to clear litter when reported.

Public Toilet on Lincoln Road

·         Any plans to install public facility on Lincoln Road? Cate Harding – there has been interest from an organisation to reopen a closed toilet block.

Dogsthorpe Road Allotments

·         Can restrict fires on Dogsthorpe allotments?  Mark Bennet-Tighe – if report nuisance fires, public can call 999 and the Fire Service will come out to assess it.

ACTIONS:

1. Consider 20mph limit project for next agenda;
2. Investigate buses queuing on both sides of road when returning to depot;
3. Raise issue of street cleaning with Enterprise; and
4. Investigate where bins have gone from replaced lampposts.

The next meeting will be held on 23 January 2012.  Venue to be confirmed.

23 January 2012. Venue to be confirmed.