26 01 2006

 

 

Apologies were received on behalf of Councillors Redrup andTaylor.

 

 

 

 

There were no declarations of interest.

 

 

 

 

RESOLVED: That the Minutes of the meeting held on 25 October 2005 be approved and signed by the Chairman as a true and correct record.

 

 

Members of the Sub Committee updated the Committee on progress of work being undertaken by them in respect of anti-social behaviour. 

 

The Chairman of the Sub Committee reported on the information gathering exercise that was taking place with regard to alcohol consumption in public places within the Borough, concentrating on three specific areas, namely: the Falkland Gardens, Ann’s Hill Cemetery and Alverstoke Village.  The Ward Councillors for those areas had been consulted and the responses had revealed an unanimous theme that any problems arising from alcohol consumption in public were as a result of under-age drinking, for which the police had adequate powers to deal.  There was no evidence to suggest that there was a problem with adult drinking in public areas. 

 

The Sub Committee had decided to continue with the investigation and to seek the views of the Accredited Community Safety Officers and the Anti-Social Behaviour Co-ordinators, in order to establish whether there was any evidence of problems and incidents occurring as a result of alcohol consumption in public.

 

The Sub Committee had discussed the role of the Gosport Community Safety Partnership and Members were seeking clarification about the remit of the Partnership in order to understand the priorities and objectives identified for the Borough over the next few years, specifically related to anti social behaviour.

 

RESOLVED:  That the work being undertaken by the Anti Social Behaviour Sub Committee be noted.

 

 

(i)  Car Parking

 

At their meeting on 25 October 2005, the Committee had received the Working Group’s report in respect of the review of the car parking scheme. 

 

The report had been forwarded to the Policy and Organisation Board with a formal request that the contents be noted.  However, some Members of the Policy and Organisation Board had expressed disappointment that the Working Group did not appear to have addressed a number of issues that they considered had been raised about the scheme, for example, (i) first hour free parking, (ii) two hour free parking and (iii) free parking on Sundays and Bank Holidays.  These proposals had been referred to in the report although cost implications had not been identified.

 

The Policy and Organisation Board had requested that a further review of the car parking scheme to be undertaken, taking into account the views and issues raised at their meeting on 9 November 2005.

 

The Committee had decided, at their meeting on 25 October 2005, that the car parking charges in the Borough and the arrangements for the car parking charging scheme would be reviewed on an annual basis each September. Members concurred with that resolution and considered that an earlier review was not required.

 

RESOLVED: That, in accordance with the decision made on 25 October 2005, the car parking charging scheme be reviewed in September 2006.

 

(ii)  Other requests

 

It was noted that no requests for other matters to be scrutinised had been received by the Borough Solicitor.

 

 

The only matter to be considered in the Work Programme now was to review the progress of waste collection services in the Borough, together with any associated aspects and problems.  A meeting of the Working Group set up to undertake the scrutiny of this issue would be arranged as soon as possible, following the completion of the restructure of the Environmental Services Unit.

 

 

Select Committees

 

The Chairman referred to the potential for Members to carry out the scrutiny function as a Select Committee, with smaller task and finish working groups.  As the Borough Solicitor was currently undertaking a review of the democratic arrangements of the Council, it was felt prudent to await the outcome of this exercise before making any changes to the current process.

 

 

 

The meeting commenced at 6.00pm and concluded at 6.18pm

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CHAIRMAN