Agenda item

It was noted that the update on School Travel Plan would be reported to the meeting on 8 September 2009.

 

Resolved that :

 

1.                  A revised scoping report on Street Lighting including detailed breakdown of budget to be reported to the meeting on 15^th September 2009

 

2.                  Relevant officers, including a Street lighting officer from a neighbouring borough be invited witnesses to the meeting on 15^th September 2009

 

3.                  An update on School Travel Plan to be reported to the meeting on 15^th September 2009

 

4.                  That the Work Programme for 2009/10 be agreed

 

 

Draft Scoping Reports for Review in 2009/10

 

Appendix A - Zero Tolerance for Anti-Social Behaviour: Hillingdon’s Role

 

Mick Dunkley introduce the report and explained that nuisance from a neighbour may be classed as anti-social. He advised that however, such nuisance would not be classed as anti-social behaviour in the Community Safety Team.  

 

It was noted that the statistics on the Metropolitan Police website showed Hillingdon with the best results in dealing with anti-social behaviour.

 

The Chairman asked whether the new youth centres had had any effects in reducing the level of anti-social behaviour.

 

Mick Dunkley responded that whilst there had been a noticeable change in groups of youths hanging around street corners, there had been no effect in the level of serious anti-social behaviour. To ordinary residents, anti-social behaviour would be greatly dependent on their perception.

 

In response to a question as to whether there had been a reduction in knife crimes in Hillingdon. Members were advised that knife crime in Hillingdon was so low; it would be very hard to measure. Three knife bins had been placed around the Borough and positioning of the knife bins were now intelligence led.

 

In answer to a question about the effect of anti-social behaviour on other services such as housing, Members were informed that in finding a satisfactory resolution would be dependent on individual situations. For example, if people were being extremely anti-social to their neighbour, they would be moved but would need to be re-housed elsewhere. It was noted also, for example, it would be difficult to deal with someone suffering from mental health, but posed no danger to anyone.

 

Following a question as to whether there were policies in place to deal with this issue. Members were informed that there were policies in place within various departments and it was confirmed that the Community Safety Team worked closely in partnership with other departments.

 

Work with the Early Intervention Panel and Parenting partnership were noted as areas with which the Community Safety Team worked closely.  It was noted that officers regularly attended monthly the London wide monthly meetings and worked closely with the Hillingdon Anti-Social Behaviour Team.

 

In answer to a question, Members were advised whilst anti-social behaviour was worst (more widely known) in the South of the borough, more complaints were received from the north of the borough.

 

Councillor Janet Duncan expressed concerns about an area in Hayes where drug dealing took place and groups of youths regularly congregated, leaving local residents so terrorised that only two complained. Nothing had been done as residents were told that the Council could not divert resources.

 

In response, Mick advised that in dealing with concerns about anti-social behaviour, it should not make any difference whether 2 or more complaints had been received, the SARAH system required a response to all complaints.

 

It was noted that Hillingdon Homes had a different way of dealing with issues of complaints and anti-social behaviour.

 

The Chairman, on behalf of the Committee thanked officers for attending.

 

Appendix B –  Street Lighting

 

The Director of Environment and Consumer Protection advised that officers who would have presented the report were unfortunately off sick. Members were informed that all the information that would be required was set out in the report and suggested that responses to any questions or issues raised would be circulated to members after the meeting.

 

Councillor Michael Markham commented that it would be interesting to learn how much was being spent on street lighting, what new technology there was and what Hillingdon should be doing to improve efficiency.

 

The Chairman added that this was an area that the Committee could make a difference in, as it affected everyone, and there was potential for making savings.

 

It was noted that there may be different companies doing the same job and there may also be an issue of lack of communication.

 

Appendix C –  Planning Enforcement  - It’s Increasing effectiveness in a non-compliant world

 

The chairman asked what a Section 215 Notice was. 

 

Jim Lyn advised that the Section 215 Notice dealt with adverse impact on the amenity to a vicinity. This included untidy and overgrown area and properties in severe untidy condition.

 

The Chairman added that Glebe Farm in South Ruislip appeared to be in a state of disrepair and requested officers to look into the situation.

 

Officers advised that under Building Control, the building could well be a dangerous structure and may be unsafe but it does not necessarily follow that a dilapidated building constituted an unsafe building.

 

It was noted that the Planning Enforcement Team worked in partnership with other internal departments using a holistic approached to deal with problems. 

 

Councillor Markham asked how long it could take for an enforcement order to be processed.

 

Members were informed that the key was to help people to understand the planning enforcement process, as the process could not be speeded up.

 

In respect of the Human Rights Act. It was noted that consideration of proportionality was quite significant when taking enforcement action, as issues such as; the action to be taken, whether the action would require the person to leave where they were residing.

 

It was note that a questionnaire had been devised and served on people to complete. From this questionnaire problems such as children that may be on statement would be highlighted. Any statement made in the questionnaire would need to be tested by the Local Authority and judged against the Porter criteria. 

 

Regulation of Investigative Power Act (RIPA)

 

Councillor Markham commented that enforcement was a complex issue and asked whether this area had been included in the whole service review of Planning and Community services in March 2009.

 

Officers advised that the issue of partnership working had not been covered by the review, and Planning and Community Services had now started looking at this.

 

Members were informed that there was scope for more improved way of working in looking at areas such as, the issue of duplication of effort, which needed to be addressed.

 

The Chairman, on behalf the Committee thanked the officers for attending.

 

Appendix D – Sport for Young Children and Elderly and those with Special Needs

 

The Head of Sports and Leisure introduced the report and emphasised that the focus was in trying to create better opportunity for people to be active. It was noted that together with the two new complex; Hillingdon Sports and Leisure centre, the sports centre at Botwell Green, other key organisations and the voluntary sector (for example sports clubs), the Council was trying to build capacity across the Borough, to ensure that Hillingdon became a more active, healthy and successful sporting Borough.

 

The committee heard that 47.5% of the adult population did not engage in any sport or physical activity at all. The Council had invested and continued to invest in slow bound activities (informal exercises such as walking and cycling).

   

In answer to a question about the number of sports facilities in some areas of the Borough and the issue of transport for those living in isolated areas of the Borough; it was noted that the way forward was to create positive intervention in order to create an interest and to engage people, thus building lifetime positive habits.

 

Councillor Kelly asked how children could be influenced in participating in physical activities.

 

Officers responded that promotion of both a healthy and an active lifestyle was the key.  Schools were required to provide a least 2hours of activity per week as part of the curriculum.

 

In response to a question from Councillor Markham about the available of facilities to disabled people. It was noted that the new facilities being built would be accessible to disabled people (although there was much more work to done in that area). It was noted that living a healthy lifestyle was not always about people’s physical abilities and being able to access sports facilities.

 

Members were advised that adverts had been placed in the Hillingdon People, the Council’s free monthly magazine to raise residents’ awareness.

 

The Committee noted that swimming (particularly for the over 60s) was still quite high and 24 people in April and 30 in May had applied for swimming lessons.

 

In response to comments  about some schools not having playgrounds, it was noted that the Council was trying to arrange for those schools without playgrounds to go to other schools and to help the schools to use the space they had as best as they could. More work was needed to be done to create a partnership and to try and engage more schools.

 

Councillor Markham commented that this would require good communications between departments. Members were advised that there were close links between School Sport Partnerships which was funded through Youth Sports and there was increasingly positive links with the Primary Health Care Trust. It was noted that there were plans to set up an intervention programme, but there was other work to be done before reaching this stage. The idea of the intervention programme was to intervene at an earlier stage in order to prevent problems later.

 

The Chairman, on behalf the Committee thanked the officer for attending.

 

Following discussion, the Chairman proposed that the Committee select 1 main topic for review at this meeting, and select the second topic for review at a later date.

 

On being put to the vote, Members unanimously agreed to choose Street Lighting as the main topic for review in 2009/2010.

 

Members agreed that as there had been a review on Anti-social Behaviour in 2006/7, an update would be more appropriate to see what impact there had been and what systems had been put in place following the review.

 

Councillor Janet Duncan added that having an update would not adequately cover the topic and therefore a review should be considered in the future.

 

It was agreed that there should an update following the 2006/2007 review on Anti-Social Behaviour and after which, the Committee may consider as review topic in the future.

 

RESOLVED – That Street Lighting be approved as the main review topic for 2009/2010 and selection of a second topic to be decided a future meeting.

 

It was noted that that detailed breakdown of budget information would be required and officers would be sent some questions and responses to be included on the agenda for the meeting on 15^th September 2009.