North Area Panel Minutes 15th February 2006

NORTH AREA PANEL

Meeting held on 15th February, 2006 at Deepcar Village Hall, Helliwell Lane, Deepcar

PRESENT:		Councillors Trevor Bagshaw (Chair), Alison Brelsford, Martin Brelsford, Alan Hooper and Graham Oxley.

		Representatives of Panel Partners:-
		Councillor Norman Garratt, Ecclesfield Parish Council
		Councillor Malcolm Glover, Bradfield Parish Council
		Councillor Andrew Cooke, Stocksbridge Town Council
		John O’Malley, South Yorkshire Police – Police Community Support Officer (Supervisor)
		Inspector Phil Barraclough, South Yorkshire Police
		Andy Rees, South Yorkshire Police
		Kerry Johncock, Tasking and Co-ordinating Officer (Sheffield City Council/South Yorkshire Police)

		Council Officers:-
		Anne Blantern, Area Co-ordinator
		Matthew Rush, Area Action
		John Charlton, Lead Manager – North Area
		Andy Bennett, Highways Link Officer – North Area
		Jason Dietsch, Committee Secretariat

		Approximately 10 members of the public, including representatives of Panel Partners attended the meeting.
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1.	APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE FROM MEMBERS OF THE PANEL
	Apologies for absence were received from Councillors David Baker, Kathleen Chadwick and Arthur Dunworth.

2.	DEEPCAR SAFER NEIGHBOURHOOD AREA
	The Panel received a presentation from Inspector Phil Barraclough, South Yorkshire Police, in relation to the Hillsborough, Upperthorpe and Deepcar Safer Neighbourhoods Area Policing Team and from Kerry Johncock, Tasking and Co-ordinating Officer in relation to the role of the Tasking Co-ordinating Officer in the safer neighbourhoods area.
	Kerry Johncock informed the Panel of her role which was to co-ordinate between different agencies and organisations within the safer neighbourhood team, responsible for ensuring that all perspectives were taken into consideration both in the daily tasking of Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) and in developing problem solving approaches to local quality of life problems. The role was intended to improve accountability of both the Council and Police activity in relation to anti-social behaviour and other quality of life issues. The Tasking Officer would also be required to produce performance information for local teams.
	In summary, the primary activities of the Tasking Officer included:-
	· Tasking and Co-ordinating
	· Provision of support to local partners/stakeholders
	· Community engagement
	· Addressing the local action plan (as produced by the Area Panel)
	· Monitoring and evaluation

	Inspector Phil Barraclough outlined organisational change in relation to the policing districts and the development of Safer Neighbourhood Areas. In April 2005 a restructuring was undertaken and the number of districts relating to the North Area had decreased from 3 to 2 in September, Local Policing Teams were replaced by safer neighbourhood areas, a Government requirement which sought to apply a consistent policing style and service and combine a variety of policing staff directed by the Partnership Tasking Officer and an Inspector. It was intended that policing be carried out with the community and was responsive to the needs of that community.
	The approach adopted by safer neighbourhood areas was to scan then analyse, respond and assess (SARA), working with Area Panels and supported by district command from which additional resources could be drawn upon through the tasking process. It was intended that named officers be identified as points of contact for the community.
	It was considered that safer neighbourhood areas would be more effective as they used a combination of techniques such as consultative meetings and surveys to identify anti-social behaviour and low level crime as a priority in Sheffield. The safer neighbourhood areas (SNAs) were structured with partners to deliver upon this focus in relation to the gathering of intelligence, enforcement and prevention.
	The Hillsborough, Upperthorpe and Deepcar safer neighbourhood area policing team was itself divided into three (namely the Hillsborough and Stannington, Upperthorpe and Walkley and the Deepcar safer neighbourhood teams). Each team included an Inspector, two sergeants, 14 police constables a PCSO supervisor and five PCSOs. Also included were a Tasking Officer, an Education Liaison Officer and a Crime Reduction Officer.
	In the Deepcar area, which included Stocksbridge, Oughtibridge, Bradfield and Deepcar, there were two safer neighbourhood area constables and 10 response team officers and, from January 2006, a new shift system was in operation which provided an overlap particularly for evening periods where there was higher demand on the service, for example, in relation to the licensed trade. Acknowledgement was also made of other demands upon officers at time which might take them away from the safer neighbourhood area including their role as a district resource in relation to other crime investigations or initiatives, policing of football, schools liaison and crime prevention, court appearances, paperwork, training and courses.
	Inspector Barraclough sought the opinion of those attending the meeting as to their perceptions of crime in the City and reported current statistics including that there were two robberies reported daily in Sheffield and an average of 10 burglaries occurring in a day. Overall, Sheffield was a safe City and criminal behaviour was being targeted with focus on certain types of offence including violent crime which was being reduced.

	A potential future development would be the establishment of a police community support officer team at Deepcar and a bid for the resources to support such a team had been submitted. This would support the other team already in existence at Hammerton Road.
	A recent initiative was the ‘golden line’ which was intended to record information about problems occurring in a particular area, on which the public could leave details on an answer service. The golden line was not an immediate service and the 999 and 202020 telephone services remained the appropriate point of contact for emergency and non-emergency responses respectively. · The Hillsborough golden line number was 0114 2964912. · Alternatively, an email contact had recently been established (hills_goldenline@southyorks.pnn.police.uk). It was hoped the use of an e.mail contact would widen accessibility and increase the reporting of information for intelligence purposes and the public could also send text messages and mobile phone generated photographs to this email address, which was both confidential and anonymous.
	Inspector Barraclough drew the public’s attention to an increase in vehicle crime during January and early February 2006 which could in part be explained by the release of key offenders from custody and the increasing number of break-ins to motor vehicles to steal satellite navigation systems which, Inspector Barraclough recommended be removed from people’s vehicles when they were away from the vehicle.
	Police Constable Andy Rees outlined local police information for the Stocksbridge and Deepcar area, stating that serious crime was relatively rare and a priority for the service was to combat incidents of anti-social behaviour. This was defined as low level crime which affected people’s lives and the quality of life in general. Ten individuals were subject to Acceptable Behaviour Contracts (ABCs) and one individual was subject to proceedings relating to the enforcement of an Anti-Social Behaviour Order. In the majority of cases, young people in particular would not come to the police’s attention again once they had received a first warning letter from the police in relation to an incident of anti-social behaviour. Work was undertaken with the community and with Sheffield Homes and the City Council in relation to the processing and enforcement of anti-social behaviour legislation.
	PC Rees outlined crime figures for the Deepcar, Oughtibridge, Stocksbridge and Bradfield safer neighbourhood team area, which showed that a high proportion of offences related to vehicle crime whilst the remainder related to public order offences, theft, drugs related crime, assault, miscellaneous criminal damage, burglary from dwellings and other property.
	Questions were asked in relation to the presentations and policing related issues as follows:-

	Q. Concern was expressed at the level of support from the police for Neighbourhood Watch schemes and a question was asked in relation to a point of contact at the police for neighbourhood watch volunteers and co-ordinators.

	A. Inspector Barraclough responded that work was being undertaken within the safer neighbourhoods area to revive the Police input into Neighbourhood Watch schemes which, he acknowledged had received less attention in recent periods. A meeting was arranged at Niagara Sports and Social Club on 16th March 2006 for the benefit of Neighbourhood Watch co-ordinators. He underlined that the Neighbourhood Watch schemes were considered a valuable resource in tackling crime.

	Q. What measures had been taken in relation to crime prevention?

	A. Inspector Barraclough stated that there was a crime reduction officer in the safer neighbourhood area and initiatives undertaken included target hardening to improve security such as the installation of locks and provision of advice. The importance of people taking responsibility for their security and that of their property was also underlined and there was a campaign of distributing leaflets to vulnerable vehicles or premises where the police service had identified they were at risk or vulnerable to crime.

	Q. A question was asked in relation to the housing of some individuals who contributed to criminal activity and whether the police had a role or input into the allocation policy for the City Council and operation of Sheffield Homes.

	A. Inspector Barraclough responded that the police did not have a say in housing allocations policies and stated that it needed to be accepted that people would be housed according to allocation policies which might mean that they were distributed throughout the City.

	The Chair, Councillor Trevor Bagshaw, pointed to examples of successful improvements in community safety and reductions in anti-social behaviour, such as the Eccelsfield scheme which had been undertaken by the City Council, the police and other partner agencies to tackle anti-social behaviour. He also cited the community safety partnerships in the north area, namely High Green and Ecclesfield partnership (which would be extended to the Grenoside area) and stated that an aspiration might be to establish such a community safety partnership in the Deepcar and Stocksbridge area.

	Q. Clarification was sought in relation to the role of the action plan.

	A. Kerry Johncock clarified that there were community safety targets within the Action Plan, established by the North Area Panel and the Area Co-ordinator, Anne Blantern added that a three year action plan had been established and a one year plan with short term activity was also drawn up annually. Copies of the Plan could be made available to members of the public.

	Q. Would representatives of South Yorkshire Police attend other community group meetings such as the Towns Women’s Guild?

	A. Inspector Barraclough responded that attendance at such community groups could be considered at a future point although at the present time the police service were attending what were considered key meetings in the local area. He also stated that local media and publications such as Look Local, could be utilised by way of a regular article outlining initiatives in relation to policing and informing people of problems and advising them of preventative measures which they could take in relation to reducing crime.
	He also stated that community support officers would be expected to attend meetings at a local level and that he also attended Neighbourhood Watch area meetings.
	Anne Blantern advised the Panel of the “feeling safe, feeling secure” project of which there were five pilots in the City, one of which was in Stocksbridge for which a launch event was held before Christmas 2005. The intention of the project was to increase awareness and confidence of older people in relation to their safety.

	Q. Councillor Malcolm Glover, Bradfield Parish Council, asked whether information within the village appraisals had been used by South Yorkshire Police to inform their understanding of local people’s concerns in relation to policing and community safety.

	A. In response the Chair, Councillor Trevor Bagshaw, stated that this information could be provided to Inspector Barraclough.
	PC Andy Rees informed the Panel that surgeries were held for local people at which they could express concerns in relation to policing in the area and in relation to other matters such as anti-social behaviour.

	Q/C. Councillor Andrew Cooke, Stocksbridge Town Council stated that he supported the idea of a regular article on community safety in publications such as Look Local.

	Q/C. Councillor Graham Oxley stated in relation to a time and resources required for representatives of the South Yorkshire Police to attend community meetings, whether it might be possible for former police officers to be recruited to such a role.

	A. Inspector Barraclough stated that such an initiative would be subject to resources and local police officers did attend many community based meetings. He emphasised that key meetings were attended by the police and it was hoped that in time other groups could also be included in such a programme of visits. He stated that if community group representatives wish to contact him he would request that a police officer or a police community support officer attend such meetings although he stated that few requests of this nature were received for the Hillsborough, Upperthorpe and Deepcar safer neighbourhood area.

	The Chair, on behalf of the Area Panel thanked Inspector Phil Barraclough, Andy Rees and Kerry Johncock for their contribution to the meeting.
	It was agreed (a) to note the information now submitted together with the questions and comments thereon; and
	(b) to request that the presentations relating to the safer neighbourhood areas be circulated with the agenda for the next Area Panel meeting.

3.	QUARTERLY HIGHWAYS UPDATE
	The Panel received a report from Andy Bennett the North Highways Link Officer, outlining the assessment process for requests for highways schemes and updating the Panel in relation to the progress of schemes in the north area.

	In relation to schemes in the north area the following reports were made:-

	Wortley Road, High Green
	A petition was received at the last meeting of the Area Panel in relation to congestion on Wortley Road, High Green and objecting to proposals to relocate bus stops on Wortley Road. This petition was to be reported to the relevant Planning and Highways Board. Also in relation to Wortley Road a school entrance scheme was in the planning stage which would, if realised, use soft engineering solution to improve access to the school on Wortley Road and safety of school children and visitors to the school.

	Green Gate Lane, High Green
	The application to undertake a speed reduction initiative on Green Gate Lane had not been successful on the grounds that it had not scored highly enough against assessment criteria.

	Warren Lane, Chapeltown
	In relation to the conversion of Warren Lane to a one-way system, no feedback had been received from the public in relation to the success of measures on the highway.

	Loxley Infant and Junior School
	A request had been received in relation to a scheme to improve a busy and congested area surrounding Rodney Hill but this had not been successful on the grounds that it had not scored highly enough against the assessment criteria and there were a number of other schemes which had a high number of child related accidents which would receive priority.

	Haggstones Road, Worrall
	The Haggstones Road scheme had been completed and there had in addition, recently been a request for a zebra crossing outside of the post office on Haggstones Road.


	Low Road, Oughtibridge
	In relation to works associated with the section 278 developer agreement build outs would be created on the highway which would also result in the creation of car parking spaces on Low Road. The works to the highway would start in co-operation with the developer as soon as possible.
	An application had also been received for a highways scheme (danger reduction scheme) for a crossing at the bottom of Jawbone Hill for which works should start late February 2006. A survey would also be undertaken to consider whether a crossing should be installed in the vicinity of Orchard Street as part of a danger reduction scheme.

	Oughtibridge Lane
	It was reported that a request had been received for a footbridge over the railway line on Oughtibridge Lane however this had not been successful when assessed against the criteria for highway schemes.

	Langsett Road South and Middlewood Road
	An application had been received to reduce speed limits on Langsett Road South and Middlewood Road. This matter had been discussed with South Yorkshire Police and an agreement had been reached to extend the 30mph limit currently in existence further in the direction of Sheffield and it was the intention that this would be done in Spring 2006. The intention to alter the restrictions would need to be advertised in accordance with the procedure for Traffic Regulation Orders. There was also the intention to create a village gateway including a raised area in the highway into Oughtibridge and a further report could be brought to the Panel in relation to this.

	Beechwood Road, Stocksbridge
	No feedback had yet been received in relation to this proposal.

	Plan 4 Travel – Chapeltown
	It was reported that a special meeting of the Area Panel would be held on 21st March 2006 at a venue yet to be arranged in relation to progress on the Plan 4 Travel and this would incorporate both Chapeltown and Smithywood.

	North Sheffield Better Buses
	Andy Bennett reported that improvement works to bus stops on the Barnsley Road corridor were continuing and were due to be completed by the end of March 2006.

	Special Maintenance Schemes
	The scheme at the junction of Nether Lane, Johnson Lane and Ecclesfield Common was due to be completed on the weekend of 26th February 2006.

	A57
	Works to the section of the A57 between the Norfolk Arms and the water treatment works were due to be completed in March 2006.

	Small Highways Schemes
	Andy Bennett reported that the work in relation to schemes identified by the Area Panel mainly relating to “A” and “K” frames, dropped kerb crossings and concrete bollards, had all been issued for completion and of the 12 submitted schemes nine were approved for completion.

	Footways
	It was reported that there were no works to footways to be reported upon in the north area.

	Members of the public were reminded that if they wished to submit a request for a small highways scheme this could be done via forms available at meetings of the Panel and all requests would be subject to the assessment process.
	Members of the public asked questions and raised comments upon the report submitted.

	Q/C. The highways scheme on Beechwood Road, Stocksbridge was considered to be effective and a further question was asked in relation to the build up of traffic in the vicinity of Laburnum Close, Stocksbridge.

	Q. Were any requests received from South Yorkshire Police in relation to highways schemes?