Agenda and minutes

None.

RESOLVED: That all items be considered in public.

Councillor Phoday Jarjussey attended the meeting and spoke as Ward Councillor. 

Concerns and suggestions from petitioners included the following:

·         The bench was located close to resident's properties.

·         There had been ongoing anti-social behaviour which included drug dealing.

·         Residents had been to their local Ward Surgery and had spoken with their Ward Councillors.

·         Residents had recently set up a neighbourhood watch, which met every 3 months.

·         CCTV had been installed in Dallas Terrace.

·         Police officers had patrolled the area.

·         Despite intervention, the bench continued to be a hot spot for anti-social activity.

·         Drug dealers lived on Black Rod Close.

·         There was often loud noise during the day and night.

·         Residents do not want to put their life in danger by asking people to move along.

·         A2 Dominion were happy for the bench to be removed.

·         People were often smoking cannabis and drinking alcohol on the bench.

·         Broken bottle and snap bags used for cannabis were often in the area surrounding the bench.

·         The area was a hotspot for burglary and drug related incidents.

Councillor Phoday Jarjussey spoke in support of the petitioners’ request and raised the following issues:

·         Ward Councillors supported the petitioners concerns.

·         He had been a regular visitor to Black Rod Close.

·         There had been a number of ongoing issues.

·         CCTV had been installed in the local area and alley gating to deter anti-social behaviour.

·         Was hard for residents to enjoy the communal area.

·         The bench near the post office in Hayes had been removed.

·         The bench located on Black Rod Close needed to be removed.

·         Those engaging in anti-social behaviour did not care about residents.

The Cabinet Member for Community, Commerce and Regeneration, Cllr Doug Mills listened to the concerns and responded to the points raised.  Cllr Mills was sympathetic to petitioners' concerns and informed residents of legislation that would be coming into force in October 2014 namely Public Spaces Protection Orders.  This new legislation would give the police more power to engage with those engaging in anti-social behaviour.  The legislation was similar to the dispersal zones and the Controlled Drinking Zones that had been implemented in the Borough to combat street drinking.

Unfortunately, whilst the removing the bench may have seemed an appropriate short term solution to tackle anti-social behaviour in Black Rod Close, it was not an appropriate long term solution.  For example some residents did use the communal bench and had objected to its removal.

Ed Shaylor, Service Manager for Community Safety, reassured petitioners that the Council and the local police team would continue to work with residents to address petitioners' concerns, for example through the ward panel.  Cllr Mills informed petitioners that he would speak with the Borough Commander if local police were unable to tackle the issues in Black Rod Close, Hayes.

Resolved -

That the Cabinet Member:

1)    Noted the views of the petitioners.

2)    Informed petitioners that removal of the bench was not considered the most appropriate way of dealing with the issue.

3)    Informed residents that new legislation would  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

The petition was not heard in the absence of petitioners.