COMMUNITY LIAISON COMMITTEE
MINUTES of a meeting held on 23rd
July, 2008.
Present: Councillor E.T. Williams
(Chairman); Councillor Mrs. J.E. Charles (Vice-Chairman);
Councillors R.J. Bertin, R.F. Curtis, C.P.J. Elmore,
A.M. Ernest, N.P. Hodges, H.J.W. James, G. John and
Miss. S.J.C. Williams.
Also present: Councillor J.C. Bird.
Representing Town and Community
Councils: Councillors S. Hodges and T. Stenstrom (Barry
Town Council), J.R. Harris (Cowbridge with Llanblethian Town
Council), E. Hacker (Llantwit Major Town Council), J.R. Baker
(Penarth Town Council), S.J. Carter (Colwinston Community Council),
S. Wilson (Ewenny Community Council), P. King (Llandough Community
Council), M. Hurst (Llandow Community Council), A.J. Pryer
(Llanmaes Community Council), D.B. Jones (Michaelston-le-Pit
Community Council), R. Skinner (Penllyn Community Council), A.P.
Wilson (St. Brides Major Community Council), R. Magee and G. Rawson
(St. Nicholas and Bonvilston Community Council), R. Cox (Sully
Community Council), A. Foyle (Welsh St. Donats Community
Council), E. Jervis and I. Moody (Wenvoe Community Council), P.J.
Thomas and P.M. Ball (Wick Community Council).
Also present: Inspector M. Taylor (South Wales
Police, Penarth Sector), Mr. D. Vining (Head of ICT) and A.
Clements (Chief Executive YMCA), D. Chang and M. Cooper (Bro
Radio).
180 APOLOGIES FOR
ABSENCE –
These were received from Councillors Mrs. V.M.
Hartrey and R.L. Traherne (Vale of Glamorgan Council),
Councillor M. Hartrey (Dinas Powys Community Council), M. Major
(Llangan Community Council), G. Thomas and L. Weeding (Pendoylan
Community Council) and C.M. Evans (Peterston-Super-Ely Community
Council).
181 MINUTES –
AGREED - T H A T the minutes of the meeting
held on 12th March 2008 be accepted as a correct
record.
182 MATTERS ARISING
FROM THE MINUTES -
Councillor Wilson referred to Page 1219 of the
previous minutes and confirmed that there had been police
representation at St. Brides Major Community Council meetings since
May 2008.
183 DECLARATIONS OF
INTEREST -
No declarations were received.
184 POLICE MATTERS
-
Inspector Mark Taylor provided an update on
the most significant operations in the Valley, Penarth and Vale
Sectors.
There had been a spate of thefts from vehicles
in beauty spots along the Heritage Coast and particularly in
Ogmore-by-Sea. An operation had been undertaken to address
this anti social behaviour and it had been very successful with a
corresponding reduction in the number of thefts from
vehicles.
In Rhoose there had been an upturn in anti
social behaviour but the main culprits had been identified.
South Wales Police were working with partner organisations to
address anti social behaviour across all the sectors as it was a
major public concern.
On 25th July 2008 a Radio One
roadshow was to be held in Barry Island. This was a new
type of event for the Police but they were currently putting an
operation together to ensure it would be well managed.
Operation Stingray had been put in place to
combat drinking in anti drinking zones and there was an operation
in place to address anti social behaviour hot spots in parks.
A series of measure to reduce truancy had also been
undertaken.
When anti social behaviour was reported to the
Police it was now possible to streamline this on the computers so
incidents could be followed up more easily. Also, similar
type incidents could be linked to form an overall pattern.
The Police were working with other agencies as part of PACT to
address ongoing problems and there had been a reduction in the
number of incidents reported in June 2008. Penarth Carnival
Week had been very successful with only one arrest. This
event usually attracted a lot of youths but there had been very
little anti social behaviour. Several properties in the
Penarth area had been visited with dogs trained to seek out drugs
and this was a very successful operation which sent out the right
message. There had also been several reports of motor cycle
nuisance but despite responding to complaints the Police had not
found anyone in the reported area. In the past motor cycles
had been taken away and leaflets drops had been undertaken which
had proved beneficial.
Traffic operations were quite successful in
tackling other offences. As a result of speeding and seat
belt campaigns, controlled substances had been found in two
vehicles. Inspector Taylor praised PACT because it brought
together partner organisations to identify mutual priorities and
let to effective use of resources. During discussion members
raised a number of issues as detailed below:
|
Question
|
Response
|
|
It was understood that a significant number of
people had been booked for illegal parking in Barry Island and
other tourist areas, could it be recognised that parking fines
could deter visitors when we are trying to attract them?
|
A high priority for PACT was to address
illegal parking because of the problems it caused for
residents. At Barry Island, despite the large car parks,
illegally parked cars blocked access to homes of
residents.
The local Member praised this initiative which
had been very successful and also thanked the Police for the quick
and efficient way they had dealt with the recent illegal rave in
Porthkerry Park.
|
|
Were the spate of thefts from vehicles along
the Heritage Coast mostly from visitors’ or residents’ cars?
|
Most thefts were opportunist. Thieves
tended to target vehicles where items were left on view or where
they observed someone leaving the car.
|
|
The operation to tackle anti social behaviour
in parks seems to have moved the problem into the local area.
Youths were now gathering behind Cadoxton School and three black
bags of cans and bottles had been collected recently. Hunter
Street, Vere Street and Main Street were suffering from a rise in
anti social behaviour, what could be done to address this?
|
Comments would be passed to the Sector
Inspector but it was a difficult problem to address. The
Police would focus resources on areas where problems existed.
The Council, through the OneVale initiative,
was now able to gather statistics about anti social behaviour
and so build up an accurate picture of hot spots for certain
offences i.e. abandoned vehicles, fly tipping, graffiti, etc.
Eventually these would be marked on ordnance survey and this
information would be shared with the Police.
|
|
Contact had been made with the Vale of
Glamorgan Council, Welsh Assembly and Cardiff Council about heavy
vehicles using Llandough as a through route. Each authority
claimed it was the responsibility of the other. How could
this problem be addressed?
|
If drivers missed the turnoff to Culverhouse
Cross satellite navigation directed them through Llandough.
There was a weight restriction on the bridge and signage could
highlight that that road was not suitable for heavy vehicles.
The Council had designed a new sign to indicate that satellite
navigation systems should be ignored and these could be erected in
a suitable position. Inspector Taylor indicated that an
officer could be made available if the problem occurred at a
particular time but if on an intermittent basis it would involve
too many resources.
|
|
Would there be zero tolerance on camping at
Ogmore-by-Sea?
|
This could not be immediately addressed when
noticed as notices had to be served by the appropriate body and the
Police provided support. Inspector Taylor would mention this
to the local inspector.
|
AGREED - T H A T Inspector Taylor be thanked
for providing the Committee with an update on the work of the Force
in the Vale of Glamorgan and in his response to the questions
raised in relation to service provision.
185 ICT SERVICES FOR
TOWN AND COMMUNITY COUNCILS (PRESENTATION BY DAVID VINING, HEAD OF
STRATEGIC ICT) -
The Council’s ICT structure comprised of 52
staff who supported 2,000 PCs, 140 servers, over 120 applications
and 400 printers. The wide area network covered 120 sites and
supported 2,000 telephone extensions and 1,000 mobiles. ICT
provision for libraries was already integrated into the section
together with some support for schools and CAB. The type of
support services provided by ICT included:
· hardware /
software procurement, installation and support
· server
management and e-mail support
· application
support and development
· network and
telephony
· project
management
· business
administrative support
· ICT
strategy
· IT training
facility
· ITT service
desk.
Whilst Town Councils had generally good IT
provision amongst the Community Councils there were less resources
available and some did not have internet access or e-mail
accounts.
The Council’s ICT Section could possibly help
Town and Community Councils with:
· procurement
of hardware and software via Council framework contracts
· recycling of
older PCs to and from Councils
· provision of
expert advice and guidance
· possible
access to corporate e-mail systems
· access to
GIS information or data bases
· possible web
posting and basic development
· access to
cheap, free ICT training.
There was a cost implication to the support
services that could be provided by the Vale of Glamorgan Council
but this was likely to be less than would be charged to an
individual Town or Community Council by a commercial company.
Although the resources in the Council were stretched there was a
government initiative towards the sharing of resources within
public sector organisations. David Vining would circulate a
questionnaire to Town and Community Councils to identify what might
be needed or be of assistance in the way of ICT provision.
Representatives from Town and Community
Councils confirmed that IT provision varied from good to little at
all but for the smaller Councils there were little resources
available. Members indicated that CASH grants might be
available and possibly Rural Regeneration funding although this did
not apply to Llandough, Penarth or Barry. Members also
thought that helping those Community Councils without ICT provision
could assist in the drive to reduce the amount of paper the Council
produced. Support from the Council’s ICT section would be
ideal for smaller Councils as training would be free, support could
be on an hourly rate and broadband was about £10 per month and this
could be met from precept, so cost implications were not so
great.
AGREED - T H A T David Vining be thanked for
his interesting and informative presentation and it be noted he
will liaise with Town and Community Councils to progress this
matter.
186 BRO RADIO FOR THE
VALE (PRESENTATION BY DANNY CHANG, MARK COOPER AND ANTHEA CLEMENTS)
-
Bro Radio was a partnership between Barry YMCA
and Vale of Glamorgan Broadcasting Community Interest
Company. Both parties were committed to developing a long
term sustainable community venture open to all ages whether novice
or professional.
It was planned that the Vale’s first radio
station would be running 24/7 playing a mix of music, news and
travel, local sport and local current affairs. It would be
available on the FM dial and on the internet. On air
broadcast would be driven 100% by the community. Bro Radio
would be based in the Barry YMCA Hub in purpose built
studios. It would be run by experienced broadcasting
professionals and Bro Radio was looking for programme ideas,
presenters, DJs and those who fancied learning about the more
technical aspects of radio broadcasting. Town and Community
Councils could benefit from a community radio station as it could
be used to promote general interest in an area, generate support
for specific local events or provide news or information about
sports or specific community interest features. The Vale of
Glamorgan Council could use the radio station to promote or advise
all sectors of the community. Bro Radio was seeking the
support of all Town and Community Councils, either through funding
or promotional material, for each of their communities.
Approaches would be made to each of the Town and Community Councils
in the next few weeks by Bro Radio as their support would be vital
to make the radio station successful and representative of the
whole Vale community. Bro Radio would be run by a charitable
community interest company which could not make a profit so any
extra funds would be given to the YMCA. Commercial funding
could only account for 50% of funding so the balance would need to
be found through attributing voluntary hours or grants and
donations.
There was a lot of support for Bro Radio from
Members and Town and Community Councillors although there was some
concern about financial viability and long term
sustainability. Members thought it would be useful if
questionnaires were put in libraries and circulated to schools and
organisations to try to identify what people would want to listen
to on Bro Radio.
AGREED - T H A T Danny Chang, Anthea Clements
and Mark Cooper be thanked for their interesting and informative
presentation.
187 DATE OF NEXT
MEETING -
Wednesday, 22nd October, 2008 at
7.00 p.m.