Agenda and minutes

There were no declarations of interest.

It was confirmed that all items would be held in Part I.

The lead petitioner was in attendance and addressed the Cabinet Member. A detailed presentation was referenced, during which it was highlighted that quiet enjoyment of Fassnidge Park had been significantly disrupted by antisocial behaviour. Incident numbers were considered misleading due to restricted Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB) and noise reporting hours, with many disturbances going unrecorded. A range of issues had been experienced, including late?night noise, vandalism, criminality, drug activity, fireworks and sexual activity. Six crimes had been reported in the past year, including a serious sexual assault, alongside rising crime levels in Uxbridge, particularly violence against women and girls. Police advice recommending that the park be locked was referenced and concerns were raised that this guidance may not have reached the Council. Securing the park was described as a modest and proportionate cost and the non?locking policy was viewed as unsuitable for an urban park serving a densely populated area. Proposals for automated locking, raised fencing and emergency signage were presented, with manual and volunteer-led schemes suggested as alternatives.

Councillor Tony Burles, Ward Councillor for Uxbridge, spoke in support of the petition and emphasised the need to prioritise resident safety. The park’s central location was noted to attract groups late at night and the previous locking arrangement was reported to have worked effectively for many years.

A written submission from Councillor Farhad Choubedar was received. Support was expressed for reintroducing nightly gate locking and improving fencing, though it was acknowledged that such measures would not remove all antisocial behaviour. Support was also given for lighting, CCTV and increased ASB patrols in partnership with local police as longer?term and immediate measures.

The Head of Waste and Green Spaces reported that the decision to stop locking park gates had been made as a cost?saving measure of approximately £35,000. It was noted that many councils no longer locked parks and had not seen increased ASB as a result, although park circumstances varied. ASB could be reported at any time, though responses were limited after hours and the disputed figures in the report reflected the data available to the service. The options suggested by residents were acknowledged as those previously examined.

Further petitioners spoke, questioning whether the financial saving justified the impact on safety, particularly in light of the reported sexual assault. Concerns were raised regarding limited police availability at weekends, councillor attendance at ward panel meetings and the long?term decline of the park. The importance of reinstating nightly locking to preserve the park as a key local asset was emphasised.

The Cabinet Member noted that the data presented in the officer report did not align with the accounts provided during the meeting and therefore determined that a decision could not be made until the statistics had been verified. Disappointment was expressed at the limited police input into the process. Officers were instructed to obtain further data from the police and to explore the feasibility of a voluntary gate?locking scheme. The petition and the current council policy were noted.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 17.