Agenda and minutes

Please Contact Lorrain Kitching on 01604 837356 or lkitching@northampton.gov.uk when giving apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were received from S Attfield, C Grethe, L Ingram, C Mistry, D Nichols, S Parsons, G Pritchard, R Shah and P Touati.

Copy attached

The minutes of the meeting were agreed as a true record.

3(A) Birds Hill Road Off Billing Brook Road (Page 2)

Councillor Pritchard reported that the speed monitoring at Birds Hill Road had been carried out however the issue of making the road a lower speed zone was still outstanding and queried whether this could be followed up with Northamptonshire County Council.

ACTION: L Ambrose to follow the issue with Northamptonshire County Council in relation to lowering the speed limit on Birds Hill Road.

3(B)  Money 4 Youth Project (Page 4)

L Ambrose reported that as part of the Money 4 Youth scheme some projects were up and running and included Urban Dance Workshops, Duston Girls Keep Fit Project, Dance and Drama in Kings Heath and Craft Activities Club in Eastfield in YMCA Bus.  She informed that the project “Gateway to Leisure” provided a limited number of free leisure cards with a £20 credit to spend at a chosen NBC Leisure Centre before the end of March 2007.  The leisure card was available to anybody between the age of 13 and 19 years who did not already have a card. The card could be used on a range of services including swimming, cinema and gym.  They were available on a first come first served basis from the NBC Leisure Centres.

She added that they were also looking on the possibilities of having a mobile ice rink around the Christmas period.

3(C)  Weston Favell Centre Toilets (Page 5)

L Ambrose reported that in relation to the standard of the toilets in Weston Favell Centre no progress had yet been made and that she would update the Area Partnership once she received the information.

3(D)  Weston Favell Centre Walkway, Penistone Walk (Page 6)

L Ambrose reported that she had not yet had an opportunity to raise the concern about the walkway and the uneven path near Penistone Walk.  She commented that she would follow up on the action and update the Partnership.

P Hackett, Waste Services Manager, NBC gave a verbal presentation on the waste management services operated by the Northampton Borough Council.

He reported that the waste management services had a budget in the region of £4.5m and employed 127 people. The roles ranged from Service Manager, Recycling and Waste Minimisation Officer, Operation Officers, Waste/Recycling Collectors, Clinical Waste Collectors, Trade Waste Collectors, Recycling Material Sorters, Technical Clerks to Transport Officers.

He gave a breakdown and the number of vehicles used by them for various collections which included the collection of black wheelie bins, plastic and cans, paper and card, collection of black sacks from terraced houses and flats, collection from hard to reach areas, trade waste, bulky items collection, clinical waste collection.  He reported that they had a Roll-on-Roll-off vehicle  that transported 40 cubic yard containers to and from disposal sites.  They also had a 7.5 ton box vehicle that was used to deliver wheelie bins, recycling boxes.  He reported that they collected from approximately 89,000 domestic properties twice a week and from approximately 1600 commercial properties each week.  He gave a breakdown of the tonnage of different types of waste collected in 2005/6.

He reported that all their employees went through an element of corporate training, which included equal opportunities, manual handling and basic health and safety.  He reported that a group of their employees had already completed an NVQ in Waste Management and another group was about to begin their NVQ training process.  The training course included elements such as customer care, which covered issues such as placing empty bins and boxes back properly, risk assessments, vehicle reversing techniques and a more in-depth training session on health and safety.  He reported that employees were getting trained on how important it was to take ownership and responsibility of their area that they worked and also to be aware of their surroundings as they moved along from street to street collecting waste.  They also received Health and Safety training.

In relation to collection over holiday periods they reported that the only days they did not collect was on Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.  They worked on all bank holidays.  They collected the Christmas Day and New Year’s Day waste on Saturdays if those days fell on a week day.  He reported that if they missed one day off collection approximately 17,500 properties would not have their wheelie bins/sacks collected.  He reported that changes in collection days over the Christmas and New Year period were normally announced via the media (radio and local newspapers), NBC’s own website and any other publications that the Council might release during the run up to Christmas and the New Year.  He reported that they could not notify all 89,000 domestic properties by letter as this was not feasible, the last estimate cost they had was approximately £30,000.  He added that the letter was also addressed to the occupiers and there were a lot of people who did not open these type of letters and threw  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

Sgt S Bedford, Northants Police gave a presentation on the Thorplands, Lumber tubs and Rectory Farm Safer Communities Team.  The Abington and Weston Favell Communities Team and Ecton Brook and Billing Safer Communities Team was yet to be launched.

He reported that the Government had given commitment that by 2008 every area in England and Wales would benefit from a dedicated, visible, accessible and responsive neighbourhood policing team that would work with the community to identify and respond to local concerns and priorities.  He reported that all police forces were now implementing the neighbourhood policing programmes.  He commented that in Northamptonshire these teams would be known as Safer Communities Team.  He reported that the Safer Communities Teams (SCTs) provided communities with a dedicated team of officers who would work closely with partners, agencies and local communities to tackle crime and disorder concerns and issues identified within their neighbourhood.  The team would be made up of Police Officers, Police Community Support Officers, Special Constables, other police support and also include partner agency staff such as neighbourhood wardens.  The structure and staffing of individual SCTs would vary according to local needs and available resources.  For Thorplands, Lumbertubs and Rectory Farm SCT they had one Sergeant, five Police Constables, five Police Community Support Officers and three Neighbourhood Wardens.  He reported that these had doubled compared to the previous allocations.  He reported that this SCT was red circled, this meant that the officers allocated to this area could not be deployed to any other areas.  There were of course exemptions to this and officers would be allowed to support during events such as Silverstone, Balloon Festival etc.

He reported that they would be working with the community to identify the needs of the residents.  They would hold community action plan meetings on a nine weekly basis.

He reported that they were looking at processes to engage and consult to establish community priorities and to review the process on a six to twelve month cycle.  He commented that they were looking to identify the expected priorities, which were of immediate concern to local residents such as disorder, environmental concerns. He reported that whilst the actual crimes were reducing the fear of crime was increasing.  They were looking to have an assured community by encouraging reporting of crime and disorder, challenging inappropriate behaviour, standing as witnesses and providing community intelligence.  He commented that the risk of offending and getting caught would increase which should help prevent recommitting of crimes.

He commented that the Thorplands, Lumbertubs and Rectory Farm Safer Community Team were carrying out a community survey to identify the top three priorities for them to tackle in the next three to six months.

Councillor Pritchard reported that she found it very difficult to contact someone at present and queried whether this would be improved.  Sgt. S Bedford commented the best solution to ensure that they got through to someone at the team was by calling the general number 01604 700700 rather than calling the individual’s  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

6(A) Raisins Field Close, Ecton Brook

A resident reported that the three bollards that separated the park from the Raisins Field Close to stop it being accessed by vehicles had been removed and tarmaced.  She queried why the bollards had not been replaced.

N Wooding, Neighbourhood Warden commented that he would investigate the issue and update the Partnership.

ACTION:       N Wooding to investigate the removal of three bollards at the end of Raisins Field Road.

6(B) Underpass, Great Billing

A resident reported that the underpass in Great Billing Way to the pocket park was an absolute disgrace due to overflow of water.  Councillor Malpas reported that this occurred every year and they were trying to resolve the issue.  The commented that this was the responsibility of Anglian Water who were refusing to rectify the situation.

6(C) Bus Shelters, Great Billing

A resident reported that the bus shelter on the Great Billing village side on Wellingborough Road needed tidying up as it looked appalling.  The Partnership noted that this belonged to the Parish Council and that plans to replace it with concrete were in place for next year.

6(D) Stagecoach, Meeting with S Keeble MP

Councillor Malpas reported that the Billing Ward had a multi-agency group set up, and had invited the Stage Coach and Sally Keeble MP to tackle the bus issues. He reported that the Number 16 was now safe as it had security cameras installed, however the Number 1. Service was still an issue.

Sgt S Bedford reported that they were working with J Freeman, Director of Stage Coach in a joint operation with inspectors looking for people without tickets and moving busses being attacked. He reported that they were moving the Thorplands bus-stop from the underpass.  

7(A) International Women’s Day

L Ambrose reported that the Community Forum’s were holding an event to celebrate the International Women’s Day on Saturday 10^th March 2007 from 9:30am to 1:00pm at the Guildhall, Northampton. The event featured young women speakers, visit from the Mayor, displays and workshops that included Fair Trade, Ceroc Dance and Henna.

To book a free place they needed to contact Lindsey Ambrose on 01604 837566 or email: lambrose@northampton.gov.uk.

7(B) Money For Youth Update

L Ambrose gave an update on the Money 4 Youth scheme, which had begun in August 2006. Some projects were now up and running and included, Urban Dance Workshops, Duston Girls Keep Fit Project, Dance and Drama in King’s Heath.

Other upcoming projects that had been agreed included Organising a Football Festival for young disabled people run by Northampton Town Football in the Community. The project involved around 100 young people from around the county. The football festival will take place on 15^th July 10.00am to 2,00pm at Moulton College.

She reported that up to date information on the projects could be accessed via the Council’s website www.northampton.gov.uk or following thelink below: http://www.northampton.gov.uk/site/scripts/documents_info.php?documentID=329&pageNumber=2

She informed thatthe project ‘Gateway to Leisure’ provided a limited number of free leisure cards with a £20 credit to spend at a chosen NBC leisure centre before the end of March 2007 on a range of services including swimming, cinemaand gym. They were available on first come first serve basis from the Leisure Centresby young people aged 13 to 19 years who did not already have a leisure card.

She clarified that these projects were able to come aboutas part of the Central Government funding for youth activitiesvia the Youth Opportunities Fund.

7(C) Brookside Residents

It was noted that the Brookside Residents were having an annual spring clean on 25^th March 2007 from 11am to 1pm including lunch at Lodge Farm, Anyone interested to participate were welcome.

The Partnership requested information on the future plans for Weston Favell centre especially as the building was now owned by new owners. A resident queried on plans for better facilities for disabled people.

L Ambrose reported that she would try and see whether anyone would be able to come to the meeting to speak about the future plans for Weston Favell Centre.

The Partnership noted that the Probation Service has expressed an interest to attend the future Area Partnership meeting. The Partnership agreed that this could be the other item on the Agenda.

Agreed that the two items for the next meeting would be:

1)                 Future Plans for Weston Favell Centre (if possible)

2)                 Probation Service

The dates are yet to be agreed.

NB. Due to the Northampton Borough Council elections in May 2007 the next meeting is not likely to be until June 2007.

It was noted that the date of the next meeting was yet to be agreed. Due to the Northampton Borough Council elections in May 2007 the next meeting was not likely to be until June 2007.