Agenda item

The minutes of the meeting held on Tuesday 10 March 2009 are attached to these agenda papers and Councillors will be asked to confirm them as a correct record following any comments that residents may have.

Please note, if people who presented items at the last meeting are present, they will be asked, where possible, to give a brief update on matters discussed.

Minute 9 – Crime and Anti-Social Behaviour

Osprey Road Area

- Residents raised concerns about kissing gates having been installed off Osprey Road. It was hoped that consultation would’ve taken place with the local Neighbourhood Watch before they were installed.

- Concern was also expressed about the level of overgrowth on the Astil Lodge Footpath. Parks Officer Stefan Cabaniuk agreed to look into getting this cut back.

- The Chair noted that a patchwalk had taken place in the local area and a range of issues were being addressed. A meeting of those who attended would be convened in the future and they would be updated. It was intended to invite Neighbourhood Watch representatives.

Illegal use of motorbikes

- A range of concerns were raised and Councillors agreed to have this as a substantive discussion item at the next meeting.

- PC Martin Birch explained about the current Police tactics, which were being used against the illegal use of motorbikes. He noted that there had been a number of successes taking motorbikes off the streets in recent weeks.

- PC Birch further commented that the best way for the Police to stop illegal motorbikes was for them to receive good quality information from local residents about where the motorbikes were being kept. The Police could then go and confiscate them.

- A resident spoke positively of what he thought was a recent reduction in problems with motorbikes.

Minute 6 – Youth and Children’s Working Group

- Kim Thorrington, Youth Worker, Widening Participation outlined for the meeting a number of projects he was progressing with the funding provided by the Community Meeting, as follows:-

- Social support group for young people who experience mental health issues, supported to £500.

- Youth Action Group, to develop young people to have more of a say in the political processes that affect their lives, supported to £500.

- Support for young parents, such as first aid training and a camping residential which would include educational and fun activities and networking opportunities. This is to be supported to approximately £1000.

- ‘Last chance’ programme for young women in danger of criminal behaviour – to include visits to prisons and Young Offenders Institutions.

- Setting up a football team in the ward – funding for kit and facilities hire.

- Young people ‘mentoring’ adult service providers in the ward to let them know of the issues affecting them. 

- An Independent living project, teaching young people life skills.

The Chair commented that there should be an agenda item at a future meeting to have feedback from the projects which were funded.

Councillor Dempster suggested to Kim that the City Council’s Children and Young People’s Services could pay for Criminal Records Bureau checks which needed to be done. She also suggested that the Primary Care Trust could assist with funding for the mental health project.