Agenda and minutes

To note the attendance at this meeting of any duly appointed Reserve Members.

RESOLVED:  To note that there were no Reserve Members in attendance at this meeting.

To receive declarations of interest (if any) from Members of the Committee arising from business to be transacted at this meeting.

RESOLVED:  To note that there were no declarations of personal or prejudicial interests made by Members of the Panel arising from the business transacted at this meeting.

To consider whether any of the items listed on the agenda should be considered with the press and public excluded on the grounds that it is thought likely, in view of the nature of the business to be transacted, that there would be disclosure of confidential information in breach of an obligation of confidence or of exempt information as defined in the Local Government (Access to Information) Act 1985.

RESOLVED:  That all items be considered with the press and public present.

That the minutes of the meeting held on 15 January 2004, having been circulated, be taken as read and signed as a correct record.

RESOLVED: That the minutes of the meeting held on 15 January 2004, having been circulated, be taken as read and signed as a correct record.

To receive questions (if any) from local residents or organisations under the provisions of Advisory Panel Procedure Rule 15 (Part 4E of the Constitution).

RESOLVED:  To note that there are no public questions to be received at this meeting under the provisions of Advisory Panel and Consultative Forum Procedure Rule 15 (Part 4E of the Constitution).

To receive deputations (if any) under the provisions of Advisory Panel Procedure Rule 14 (Part 4E of the Constitution).

RESOLVED:  To note that there are no deputations to be received at this meeting under the provisions of Advisory Panel and Consultative Forum Procedure Rule 14 (Part 4E of the Constitution).

To receive petitions (if any) submitted by members of the public/Councillors under the provisions of Advisory Panel Procedure Rule 13 (Part 4E of the Constitution).

RESOLVED:  To note that there are no petitions to be received at this meeting under the provisions of the Advisory Panel and Consultative Forum Procedure Rule 13 (Part 4E of the Constitution).

To receive any references from Council and/or other Committees or Panels.

RESOLVED: To note that there are no references from Council or other Committees or Panels to be received at this meeting.

Oral Presentation by the Chief Environmental Health Officer.

The Chief Environmental Health Officer (CEHO) attended the meeting to deliver a presentation on the new Community Safety Service and the Wealdstone Comprehensive Community Safety Project.

He began by explaining that the Council was in the process of creating a new ‘Community Safety Service’ which would bring together a number of existing service areas in order to facilitate a ‘joined up’ approach to addressing a broad range of community safety problems which were currently dealt with independently by different sections of the Council. For example, fly-tipping was currently dealt with by Parks, Highways or Environmental Health depending on whether the waste was dumped in a park, by the roadside or on a private road respectively. Under the new system it would be dealt with by one single operational system.

This new approach, it was explained, would also have the advantage of greater efficiency, and would therefore mean that resources would be freed up resulting in greater capacity, it would be easier for the public to communicate with the Council as there would be one single contact point for all community safety services, and it would also allow officers to analyse and address the root causes of problems, thereby shifting the emphasis to prevention rather than just dealing with the manifestation of problems.

The CEHO advised that the Service would be delivered through the following four major operational areas with responsibility for the sub-sections indicated, and he outlined the remit of each service area in more detail:

Wealdstone would be the first to benefit from the reorganisation with the launch of a Community Safety Project for Wealdstone, which would be used as the pilot study for devising operational solutions and delivery systems. The specific areas of operation for the project would be:

1.          Anti-Social Behaviour, including fly-tipping

2.          Abandoned vehicles

3.          Crime Management/Community Policing

4.          Obstruction of the footway/highway by retail activity

5.          Dealing effectively with street clutter and furniture

6.          Management of commercial and domestic waste

7.          Empty buildings, commercial and domestic

8.          Graffiti, fly-posting and fly-boarding

9.          Planning and co-ordination  of infrastructure improvements and street works, including those undertaken by utilities

10.       Foul odours – Wealdstone Brook and individual commercial premises

11.       Environmental protection/Public Health issues eg noise nuisance

12.       Engagement with traders and community groups

13.       Development of sustainable diversionary activities eg skateboard park

It was noted that this project would be co-ordinated with the Public Realm rollout under the New Harrow Project, which was currently being rolled out in Wealdstone, and the Safer Neighbourhoods scheme (also known as Operation Opal and Community Policing), under which each Ward would have its own dedicated Police team consisting of one sergeant, two Police Constables and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 134.

Oral Presentation by the Chief Planning Officer.

The Panel received a oral update from the Chief Planning Officer regarding the Community Premises Initiative. It was advised that construction at the site was due to be completed by  mid September and the various occupants were due to move in in November.

It was noted that the update which Members had requested regarding the relocation of the Grant Road After-School Club was included elsewhere in the agenda. With reference to this, a Member queried whether the letter seeking suitable alternative accommodation had been sent to all local schools as the School at which she was a governor had not received it. She also pointed out that Whitefriars School had been approached to be a partner but had not heard anything back from the Authority since. She further suggested that the Authority should publicise the After-School Club facility more widely. Another Member advised that the Canons Cluster had been very successful in publicising their After-School Club and suggested liaison with them for ideas. Feedback was requested on these issues.

The Chief Planning Officer (CPO) then referred to the Panel’s request that the use of the multi-storey car park as an adjunct to the new youth facility at Premier House be investigated. He advised that the conversion of this site had been investigated and officers had preliminarily identified a number of issues which would need to be addressed if the site were to be utilised. These included additional fencing, new lighting and resurfacing. He advised that there was a potential incompatibility between a surface which would meet the requirements relating to use by children and that suitable for car-parking. He indicated that the project would be quite costly. The CPO queried whether the Panel wished officers to pursue the idea and come back with a written report and a more detailed costing analysis. It was noted that , if the initiative were to then be agreed by the Panel, a report would need to be submitted to Cabinet.

During the discussion which followed, the Panel agreed that they were in favour of a more detailed report being submitted to the next meeting and the Chair agreed to circulate his briefing note on the matter in the meantime. It was requested that the report address possible sources of external funding for the project. The Panel also requested that a more detailed report which took a holistic perspective of the provision of youth activities in Wealdstone, and suggested diversionary activities, sites which could be utilised etc be submitted to a future meeting of the Panel. A further report regarding the Leisure Centre was also requested.

RESOLVED: That the above be noted/agreed.

FOR INFORMATION.

RESOLVED: To note the information update provided.

Oral Update from the WAC advisers to the Panel on the activities of WAC.

The representatives of Wealdstone Active Community (WAC) updated the Panel on future activities to be organised by WAC.

The arrangements for the Community Safety Day on 27^th March were reiterated and arrangements for the Blooming Wealdstone event on 3 July and the joint event with Wealdstone Football Club on May 29 to promote their new football ground which would open later this year were also outlined. It was also advised that the WAC Annual General Meeting was scheduled to take place on 19 April in Holy Trinity Church and all would be welcome to attend. It was advised that over £1000 had been raised for Children in Need through a number of previous events held in the autumn.

The representatives drew the Panel’s attention to the fact that, arising from the rollout of the New Harrow Project to Wealdstone, new potted plants had been installed in the High Street and the shrubbery at Holy Trinity Church had been pruned.

It was noted that a local artist, Lawrence Mathias, had now been engaged to lead the project to paint a mural on the metal fence adjacent to the train station. It was emphasised that all input to the content of the mural would be welcomed.

Finally, the representatives distributed  the new edition of Wealdstone Live.

RESOLVED: That the above update be noted.

An adviser to the Panel who represented Wealdstone Active Community reported that, in response to her requests at previous meetings, she had been supplied with information regarding the cost of the rising bollards scheme which had been implemented in the High Street and the possibility of seeking compensation from the manufacturer for the difficulties experienced in its operation. She read aloud excerpts of a letter from the Transportation Section. The letter advised that, as the difficulties experienced related to inconsistent installation of transponders by a bus company, the fault could not be blamed on the manufacturer and it was therefore unlikely that a compensation claim would be successful.

Arising out of discussion on the above, the adviser further pointed out that, in contravention of the traffic regulations, cars were currently using the pedestrianised centre for short-term parking. The adviser informed the Panel that local businesses felt that this arrangement worked well and she requested that a report be submitted to the next meeting of the Panel regarding the formalising of this arrangement and addressing the issue of short term parking in Wealdstone generally. It was agreed that this would be requested.

Another adviser to the Panel referred to the advert placed in the local paper recently by a local travel agent which stated that the company were closing down due to the parking/traffic difficulties in the town centre. He argued that this was very one-sided and the closure was as likely to have been influenced by market pressures and the general downturn in business due to international events.

RESOLVED: That the above information be noted and a report regarding short-term parking in Wealdstone Town Centre be submitted to the next meeting of the Panel.

To agree the date of the next meeting of the Panel.

RESOLVED: That the next meeting of the Panel be held at 6.30 pm on Monday 5 July 2004.