19 01 2006

APOLOGIES

 

Apologies for inability to attend the meeting were submitted on behalf of Linda Edwards (Borough Solicitor).

 

 

 

Councillor Redrup, in accordance with the Constitution, stated that he had had discussions with his Group Leader regarding alcohol drinking in public places.

 

 

 

 

RESOLVED: That the Minutes of the Sub Committee meeting held on 14 November 2005 be approved and signed by the Chairman as a true and correct record.

 

 

Following discussion at their meeting on 14 November 2005, regarding alcohol related crime and disorder, the Sub Committee had decided to undertake an evidence gathering exercise, concentrating on three specific areas of the Borough, namely: Falkland Gardens, Ann’s Hill Cemetery and Alverstoke Village.  Ward Councillors for those areas had now been consulted and the Sub Committee were apprised of their responses, which mainly seemed to relate to problems arising from under-age drinking, for which the police had adequate powers to deal.

 

The Chairman reported on the concerns of a particular resident in Alverstoke, which related to young people ‘hanging around’ and problems that did not necessarily emanate from the local hostelry.

 

It was further reported that the police did not support any measures being introduced to provide alcohol-free zones in the Borough.  There were public perceptions of problems caused by alcohol drinking in public places but disturbances were mostly attributable to minors.  There appeared to be no evidence of an adult drinking problem in public places in Gosport.

 

However, the Sub Committee considered that, as part of their information gathering exercise, it would be useful to explore the views of the Accredited Community Safety Officers (ACSOs) and the Anti Social Behaviour Co-ordinators to receive evidence recorded by them of problems and specific incidents occurring as a result of alcohol consumption.  Members were also minded to contact the police for their first-hand views of the situation.

 

The Sub Committee discussed the role of the Community Safety Partnership, which included representatives from the Police, Fire and Rescue Service, Probation Service, Headteachers, Anti-Social Behaviour Co-ordinators, ACSOs and various other agencies.  Members felt they needed clarification about the remit of the Partnership in order to understand what priorities and initiatives had been identified for the Borough over the next few years.

 

The Sub Committee concluded that at the present time they had no clear evidence of problems of alcohol consumption in public areas in the Borough and agreed that they would benefit from inviting the ACSO and ASB Co-ordinators to a meeting.

 

Members considered that it would be courteous to inform the Ward Councillors, of the three areas identified with potential problems, and of the further action proposed by the Sub Committee.

 

RESOLVED:  That:

(a)  Officers be requested to forward copies of the Minutes of the Accredited Community Safety Officers’ liaison meetings, and information relating to ‘hot spots’, to the Members of the Sub Committee;

 

(b) invitations be extended to the Accredited Community Safety Officer(s) and the Anti-Social Behaviour Co-ordinators to attend a future meeting of the Sub Committee in order to hear their views and receive evidence of problems caused by drinking in public places; and

 

(c)  the Ward Councillors for the areas covering the Falkland Gardens, Ann’s Hill Cemetery and Alverstoke Village be thanked for their comments and informed of the further evidence gathering exercise.

 

 

Consideration was given to the Government’s new initiative and action plan of embedding and delivering a programme to foster a culture of respect throughout society.  A key goal of action was to tackle anti social behaviour and promote respect, to empower individuals and the community to feel secure and make their neighbourhoods safer and better places to live.

 

The document had specific elements where local authorities would need to work with other agencies and organisations and the Sub Committee agreed that they would welcome a digestible breakdown of the contents of the campaign insofar as it affected this Council.

 

The Borough Treasurer reported that the Community Safety Partnership would be considering the document and would distil its effect upon this Council and its partners.  The document was still at the consultation stage and funding availability to undertake suggested measures was yet to be clarified.

 

The Borough Treasurer suggested that, following the appointment of a new Head of Community Safety, a report could be submitted to the Sub Committee on the effects of the campaign and the implications for the Council.

 

RESOLVED:  That:

(a)  the document on the ‘Respect’ campaign be received and noted; and

 

(b)  when the fuller implications of the campaign are known, a report be submitted to Members in due course.

 

 

 

The Sub Committee considered the development of a work programme, reviewing the decisions taken at the meeting on 14 November 2005.  Members reiterated their earlier decisions as follows:

 

o       Officers from various service units of the Council could be invited to a meeting to discuss anti social behaviour as it related to their work;

 

o       The views and perception of young people (Youth Council representatives) should be heard;

 

o       The police be requested to provide a report on the ‘beat officer’ initiative in Bridgemary;

 

o       Licensees (PubWatch) be invited to express their views on alcohol drinking in public places/under-age drinking/related problems, especially since the introduction of the Licensing Act 2003; and

 

o       The views of Council tenants should be considered via the Housing Forum.

 

RESOLVED:  That, following the Borough elections in May, arrangements be made for a half-day conference to be held at the Town Hall, when representatives from various organisations and agencies, as discussed, be invited to give presentations on their perspective of anti social behaviour in the Borough and, where appropriate, to explain what preventative/enforcement measures were currently available.

 

 

(i)  Graffiti

The Head of Contracts and Amenities informed the Sub Committee that proposals were in hand for cleaning graffiti around the Borough.  From 1 March 2006, twenty-five locations known to have suffered at the hands of ‘artists’, would be targeted, these ranged from street furniture, Gosport High Street, Lee-on-the Solent skate-park, bus shelters, cycle tracks etc.  The majority of the areas to be cleaned were either on GBC or HCC owned land.

 

The Head of Contracts and Amenities would be discussing with Legal Services the implications of cleaning graffiti from private property and whether any charges could be made for work undertaken.  He further reported that sites cleaned would be monitored, detailing the work carried out and when, which would help to identify recurring incidents and regular ‘hot spots’.  It was planned to take ‘before’ and ‘after’ photographs, which could be made available for the proposed conference in May/June.

 

(ii)  Environmental issues

The Sub Committee discussed:

o       problems arising from dumping on Council land

o       rubbish left on property where ownership of land was unclear or unknown;

o       flytipping;

o       use of skips;

o       the likelihood of recurring problems unless cleared sites could be secured;

o       measures to make the entire community a better place to live and work

o       possible funding from the Community Safety Partnership and other options and resources that might be explored.

 

The Chairman requested Members and Officers to give some thought to designing schemes, similar to the ‘graffiti team’, that would address other environmental issues that were of public concern.

 

 

 

RESOLVED:  That the date of the next meeting of the Sub Committee be arranged as soon as possible after the Adjourned Annual Council in May 2006.