Agenda and minutes

RESOLVED:  That all items be considered in public. 

Councillors Lindsay Bliss and John Major attended the meeting and spoke as Ward Councillors in support of the petition.  Although they were unable to attend, it was noted that Councillors Allam and Duncan, who were Ward Councillors for Yeading, also supported the petition. 

Concerns and suggestions raised at the meeting included the following:

• Residents believed that the fear of crime was widespread amongst those people that used the pedestrian subway as there had been periodic serious crimes committed there (three sexual assaults and a violent robbery) as well as a number of robberies.  In one incident, the victim was unconscious for a number of months and had since lost all confidence;
• Parents dropping their children off at the local school were walking a significantly longer route to avoid using the subway;
• Residents felt that they had been let down as TfL had produced a report in January 2009 but only some of the recommendations had since been implemented.  The vegetation around the entrance to the subway had been cleared some months ago but had since grown back – consideration needed to be given to keeping this area cleared on a regular basis;
• Concern was expressed that negotiations were still ongoing between the Council and TfL with regard to how the CCTV would be operated and managed once it was installed;
• Residents requested that CCTV cameras be installed as a matter of urgency.  John McDonnell MP, school staff and parents and the Safer Neighbourhood Team all supported the proposal to install CCTV at the subway; and
• Criminals had used the subway as an escape route.

Councillor Douglas Mills listened to the concerns of the petitioners and responded to the points raised.  It was noted that the Council had been working in partnership with TfL on improving security at the subway and had resulted in improved lighting being installed and dome mirrors being erected.  There had not been any lack of effort made to find a solution in the area but hard-wired CCTV cameras at the site had proved to be too expensive.  TfL had met with residents on site in July 2010.  Since then, an alternative more cost effective wireless solution had been agreed between the Council and TfL which would see the installation of two wireless CCTV cameras at the subway by the end of December 2010.  

With regard to the clearance of the vegetation around the subway, it was noted that investigations were underway to reduce the height of the embankments.  This work was being undertaken separately to the installation of the CCTV cameras in order that no delay was caused and would include surveying the carriageway structure so as not to undermine it. 

Although the wireless CCTV cameras were already on order, an agreement still needed to be drawn up between the Council and TfL with regard to the ownership and maintenance.  As well as a built in hard drive in the CCTV cameras which would record footage, the police and the Council would be able to dial  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3.

Councillor Andrew Retter attended the meeting as the petition organiser as those residents that had signed the petition were fearful of reprisals from those individuals that were displaying anti-social behaviour. 

Concerns and suggestions raised at the meeting included the following:

• When Zurich moved out of its offices, the car park had been left empty and open.  Young people had since been spending a lot of time in the car park and were displaying anti-social behaviour.  Residents had made a number of complaints about the behaviour to the Safer Neighbourhood Team;
• A number of years ago, there had been a dispersal zone in operation in the area but this was no longer in place;
• Councillor Retter had been in the area a while ago with a couple of residents and a police officer when they witnessed some young people playing football.  These young people then set fire to a pile of rubbish;
• Two mosquitoes had been installed in the Waukesha Building car park which were disturbing the young people and moving them on.  However, it was noted that one of the mosquitoes had been moved to face the ground which reduced its effectiveness;
• Two burly local residents had taken to going out in the evening to move the young people on and there were worries that this might progress to groups of vigilantes patrolling the streets; and
• The Council had fined a local pub for noise and anti-social behaviour incidents.

Councillor Douglas Mills listened to the concerns of the petitioners and responded to the points raised.  It was noted that there were a limited number of temporary CCTV cameras available – four that would fit onto large lampposts and two that would fit the smaller ones.  The need for CCTV in this area was not as great as in other areas where the problems were worse.  As such, Councillor Mills advised that a temporary CCTV camera could be installed but that no definite timescales could be applied as to when this was likely to be. 

In addition, consideration was being given to the erection of fencing around the Zurich car park and the gate being locked as an added deterrent to stop the young people from congregating there. 

Councillor Mills advised that the Council would be reliant on the Safer Neighbourhood Team to identify anyone displaying anti-social behaviour. Although the police were currently stopping these young people when they were caught, they were not being referred to Early Intervention Panels so that they could be given Acceptable Behaviour Contracts. 

RESOLVED:  That the Cabinet Member noted the views of the petitioners, and advised that:

1. the LBH Community Safety Team will continue dialogue with the managing agents to encourage improvements to the car park area in Ferndown;

2. the Police Safer Neighbourhoods Team (SNT) has been requested to patrol the area in the evenings and, from time to time, after 11pm;

3. the Police will advise youths not to play football in the car park area, and take a robust stance to stop the playing  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

Councillor Bruce Baker attended the meeting and spoke as a Ward Councillor in support of the request for the retention of the CCTV camera in The Sigers.  The petition had originally been considered by Councillor Mills on 18 March 2010 and it had been resolved to install a temporary wireless CCTV camera in the road and then report back to the Cabinet Member after three months for further consideration.  This period had now expired and the matter was due for reconsideration.

Concerns and suggestions raised at the meeting included the following:

• Before the temporary CCTV camera had been installed, there had been a significant number of incidents such as graffiti, vandalism and a wall being knocked down that had mostly taken place after dark.  Since the camera’s installation, these incidents had reduced and residents were concerned that taking it away now that the nights were drawing in would result in things going back to the way they were;
• Residents requested that the CCTV camera be left in situ for a further trial period as the anti-social behaviour came in peaks and troughs;
• One of the residents who had lived in the road for eight years had had her car vandalised more than a dozen times and had twice found graffiti on her wall.  Following the latest vandalism incident, this resident had been advised that the CCTV footage had been obscured by a tree so the culprit could not be identified.  However, it appeared that this advice may have been inaccurate;
• Residents claimed that, with regard to another instance of anti-social behaviour, the police had advised that the CCTV footage was not of sufficient quality to identify the perpetrators.  Residents also advised that, although these young people were CCTV aware and wore baseball caps and hoodies to hide their identities, since the installation of the camera, they were toning down their behaviour;
• Not all of the residents had been told that the camera was being installed and concern was expressed that there were no signs up to warn that CCTV was in operation.  It was believed that signs would have acted as an increased deterrent;
• The alleyway that ran from The Sigers to Highgrove Pool had caused problems for the police in that there were about six exits from the alleyway which made it difficult for the police to pursue suspects;
• It was noted that the footpath in the alleyway was due to be refurbished with new lighting and residents requested that CCTV be installed at eye level (perhaps in a house brick) at the end of the alleyway at the same time; and
• It was suggested that, if the temporary camera came down, a dummy camera be put up by the Council in its place and a sign be erected advising that CCTV was in operation.

Councillor Douglas Mills listened to the concerns of the petitioners and responded to the points raised.  It was noted that the Council had six temporary cameras at its disposal, only two of which  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.