BRYNMAWR TOWN COUNCIL
CYNGOR TREF BRYNMAWR
Meeting with Inspector Ms. Sarah Greening and PC Richard Lewis held on Wednesday, 22 March 2017 in the Council Chamber, Orchard Street, Brynmawr at 5.00pm.
Present:- Councillors M.I. Morgan (Chair).
I.R.K. Jenkins
D. Lyn Elias
H.J. Swales
W.K. Hodgins
P.G. Morgan
B.M. Sutton
Miss. S.M. Morgan
J. Gardner
N. Boyd
Mrs. J. Boyd
In Attendance:- Mrs. A.C. Davies (Town Clerk/RFO).
Miss. N.J. Williams (Asst. Town Clerk).
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Apologies:- Mrs. O. M. Swales, Mrs. D. Brown, B.I. Nash,
T.S. Hughes.
The Chair welcomed Inspector Ms. Sarah Greening and PC Richard Lewis to the meeting.
Inspector Greening introduced herself and explained to Council that she is the local Inspector in Blaenau Gwent who covers Brynmawr, Abertillery, Blaina and Tredegar for the past 12 months. She has been with the Gwent Police for 14 years and said she has no plans to go anywhere else at the moment.
A member expressed his concern on the lack of Policing during Friday – Sunday nights where a high amount of vandalism has taken place and in his opinion we are not getting the service that other towns in Blaenau Gwent are receiving.
Inspector Greening said she did not attend the meeting to speak about lack of resources which is a problem the Police Force has due to cut backs and said the PC's can not deal with ASB alone and the PCSO'S only work until 10pm, this is the time that the Welsh Government states they are contracted to.
Local ASB dispersals are put in place when a number of complaints/reports are raised in one area. The dispersals last for 48 hours but would like a longer period of time but it is having a beneficial impact.
P.C Lewis explained to members that he has set up a local youth programme where youngsters will be able to get involved in different sport activities/street games in
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different areas of Blaenau Gwent during the Easter/Summer Holidays to try to get youngsters interested in sport to keep them off the streets.
PC. Lewis said that Mr. Gareth Windmill has funding for heavy duty ramps to be set up at Brynmawr Welfare Park, next to the tennis courts on Wednesdays and Fridays but need a storage area for this equipment.
A member explained to the Inspector that he is currently in contact with numerous organisations such as Play Wales, Lottery, Terrence Gardens to have a Skate Park for the children at the Welfare Park. The member asked the Inspector would she be kind enough to send a letter of support to Mr. Greg Morgan, Blaenau Gwent Youth Services.
The Head of Paid Services is happy for the land to be used.
Inspector Greening agreed to send a letter and said research had proven in other areas that having skate parks alleviated a certain amount of ASB.
Town Centre Dispersal Orders are placed in every town, what does that say about the Policing in the area. Parking on double yellow lines and pictures on Facebook of cars parked outside Greggs and nothing is being done about it. The member expressed his concerns about our children’s well-being and the lack of CCTV around Brynmawr. The CBC wanted the CCTV Cameras to help assist the Police not to be the Police. The member informed the Inspector that on Saturday, 18 March around 6.30pm a group of youngsters was smoking and drinking outside Cost Cutters when the member overheard a conversation where men 20-30 years old was enticing young girls to go with them up to a flat above Barty's Barbour’s in the town centre. The member reported this serious incident.
Inspector Greening thanked the member for informing her about the incident and agreed that if the CCTV Cameras were in working order the Police could take the footage to the school to see if they could identify the youngsters involved.
A member asked why has the PACK Meetings discontinued.
Inspector Greening informed members that PACK Meetings are now called Your Voice and are held every 6 months. Each ward has a survey on parking issues, speeding, ASB and dog fouling etc.
A member asked Inspector Greening would she be kind enough to write a letter to Mr. Stephen Gillingham, Head of Paid Services, BGCBC expressing the major concerns in Brynmawr and to hopefully get the CCTV Cameras in working order.
Inspector Greening agreed to send a letter.
The Inspector informed the meeting that parking offences will be taken over by the County Borough Council next year where Parking Enforcement Officers will help the Police enormously regarding all parking issues.
A question was asked regarding the cut backs and is a big proportion of police funding spent on Anti-terrorism.
The Inspector said this was not correct and informed the meeting that 45% of Police funds is spent on Cyber Crime. The Police Force has to move with the times.
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The Inspector said she has to work with what staff she is allocated by the Welsh Government but feels she has a team that is absolutely committed to their profession and feels very proud of them.
Inspector Greening and PC. Lewis thanked The Town Council for meeting them and hope that they can work more closely together and looked forward to future
meetings.
Meeting closed at 5.50pm.