HARPENDEN TOWN COUNCIL
MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF
THE BUSINESS AND COMMUNITY GOVERNANCE FORUM
HELD AT THE TOWN HALL ON MONDAY 7 SEPTEMBER 2009 AT 6.00 PM
Present: Town Mayor, Councillor Farmer (Chairman)
Town Councillors Holley, Mrs Kent and Weaver
Town/District Councillor Pawle
County Councillor Lloyd
Maria Cutler St Albans District Council
Inspector Mike Hanson Hertfordshire Police
Sergeant Lewis Ducket Hertfordshire Police
David Wright Harpenden Cycles
Andrew Davis Davis and Co
David Williams Roundwood Park School – representing Harpenden Secondary Schools
Keith Lunn Breathing Space
Alan Cox Harpenden Seniors Forum
Peter Barrett Harpenden Society
1. APOLOGIES
Apologies were received from:
Daniel Chichester-Miles Town Councillor
David Jump Jarvis Group Ltd
Lance Trendall The Land Office
Iain Humphrey Oyster Studios
2. DECLARATION OF INTEREST
Members were invited to make any declarations of personal or prejudicial interests that may have any relation to items on the agenda. None were made at this time.
3. MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD ON 2 MARCH 2009
Councillor Weaver advised that he was in attendance at the last meeting although it was shown he had submitted his apologies. Subject to the amendment Members confirmed the Minutes as a true record and they were duly signed.
4. CHAIRMAN’S REPORT AND URGENT ITEMS
There were none.
5. COMMUNITY SAFETY
5.1 Inspector Hanson introduced the comparative crime figures from April 2009 to August 2009 compared with April 2008 to August 2008. Inspector Hanson reported that the level of crimes during the period being reported showed a reduction of 8%. Crime was reported down in all wards in Harpenden except Harpenden North which had increased.
Comparative Crime Figures
Area
/ Total ReportedApril 2009 – Aug 2009
Total % DET Rank / Total Reported
April 2008 – Aug 2008
Total % DET Rank / % up / down
+/- / No.
Total District of St Albans / 3632 33% -- / 3778 31% -- / -4% / -146
Harpenden South / 64 20% 20 / 68 25% 20 / -6% / -4
Harpenden West / 226 30% 4 / 273 22% 3 / -17% / -47
Harpenden North / 92 27% 18 / 74 11% 19 / +24% / +18
Harpenden East / 152 24% 12 / 163 16% 10 / -7% / -11
% DET Percentage of crimes detected
Rank Rank in District of 20 wards (1=Highest Crime, 20=Lowest Crime)
Neighbourhood Watch
Neighbourhood Watch schemes continue to be a positive factor in reducing crime. Harpenden is traditionally strong for supporting Neighbourhood Watch.
District of St Albans 1126 schemes
Harpenden South 84 (last reported 97 schemes)
Harpenden West 45 (last reported 37 schemes)
Harpenden North 44 (last reported 37 schemes)
Harpenden East 80 (last reported 74 schemes)
Total 253 (last reported 245 schemes)
Neighbourhood Team Establishment
Police – 1 Sergeant and 7 Police Constables.
PCSO – 5 covering Harpenden and villages, including 2 dedicated to Wheathampstead and Redbourn only.
– 2 youth and schools (1 vacancy)
The total number of posts had not changed although there had been movements between wards.
St Albans Business Against Crime (SABAC)
There are currently 155 members in the District, still mainly retailers in the St Albans City Centre. There are 26 members in Harpenden.
Public Order Related Offences – there are currently 40 people banned from SABAC member’s premises under the exclusion scheme and this was a district wide ban.
Harpenden Police station Opening Hours
Monday, Wednesday and Friday : 0800 – 1700 hours (closed 1400–1500 hours)
5.2 Sergeant Ducket reported that the main issues had been criminal damage (i.e. fires), shoplifting and night time work where they had focussed successfully on individuals.
5.3 He added that 3 visitor rides (County Councillor Lloyd, Town Councillor Ellis and a Town Council officer), where they accompanied the Police to view their work, had been well received and found to be very informative.
5.4 County Councillor Lloyd commented that the unmarked ANPR vehicle was a good asset to the Police and the Ward meeting were very useful in particular with the street visits.
5.5 Councillor Weaver reported that the PCSO presence was working well with regard to reducing shoplifting.
5.6 Sergeant Ducket advised that there were ‘Safer Neighbourhood’ groups covering Harpenden North/East and South/West. He added that there was a website [www.herts.police.uk] which provided each Ward with its own profile page including details of Police Officers/PCSO’s, incidents, surgeries and contact details.
6. ST ALBANS AND HARPENDEN FIRE SERVICE
Unfortunately, the Officer from the Fire and Rescue Service could not attend and no report had been forwarded.
7. OFFICER REPORTS
7.1 Regeneration and Town Centres Officer
7.1.1 Maria Cutler updated the meeting with details on the latest issues:
· New Countywide Economic Development Partnership – Hertfordshire Works has now been established and has issued the first draft of the ‘County Economic Development Strategy’. This new partnership also has ‘task groups’ one of which is ‘Vibrant Towns’ which looks at town centres and local shopping areas. There potentially is a bidding round for Performance Reward Grant funding (capital monies) and this may be appropriate for Harpenden.
· The first inaugural meeting of the St Albans District LSP Economic Development Partnership is to be held on 9 September and the Town Clerk will attend. It aims to work with the business community and other local partners and is chaired by the St Albans Chamber of Commerce.
· Harpenden Retail Group – the next meeting is to be held on 16 September at 6.00pm and it is hoped that the meetings in the future will be lead and chaired by a local retailer. Issues on the next agenda include; Farmers Market, Christmas lights, pavement licensing and ‘keep it local’ campaign.
· Executive Forum – this has been going now since June 2009 in response to the recession for local executives who are unemployed. It is a 6 week rolling project, meeting at different local venues, for participants to get advice, guidance and network.
7.1.2 County Councillor Lloyd advised that the Performance Reward Grant is Central Government funding for District Council’s and not sure if Harpenden would receive any funding. However, Harpenden needed to be proactive and cannot wait for other areas to consider applying.
7.1.3 Maria Cutler advised that the timescale for applying for funds was not yet known but expected to be a short period. In addition, the required criteria was match funding, to boost vibrancy of the area and could it be used elsewhere.
7.1.4 She added that Thompsons Close could be a feasible scheme which needed to be developed and it may be possible to implement a scheme piece meal.
7.1.5 Councillor Weaver commented that Thompsons Close was the centre of the town and he would not want to see businesses close in the area like other town centres nearby.
7.1.6 Peter Barrett advised the meeting that he had recently written to the District Council concerning unauthorised street furniture. He had received a good reply advising that A-boards required licensing and had concerns why this service was moving to the Licensing Section.
7.1.7 David Wright asked whether a bench could be located on the green area between Station Road and Vaughan Road. It was agreed that it could be pursued but would have to be presented to the Environment Committee for approval.
7.2 Parking
7.2.1 Members were advised that the issues concerning parking in the Town, including enforcement and the retailers parking permits, were all part of the same objective and therefore needed to be implemented together to ensure the smooth transition.
7.2.2 With regard to the 2 car parks (Baa Lambs and Leyton Road), these would shortly be changed to restricted parking, to avoid long term car parkers currently using them, and enforced by NCP.
7.2.3 In conjunction with this, not wanting to adversely affect traders, the District and Town Councils had introduced a discounted retailers parking permits scheme in Lydekker and Bowers Way West car parks. However, despite 130 notices of the scheme being delivered, 29 applications had been received of which only 12 had purchased a permit. It was therefore in the retailers’ interest to take up the scheme to ensure its viability and continuation for a longer period.
7.2.4 In addition, a controlled parking zone scheme (CPZ) would be introduced along Leyton Road up to Pimlico Cottages, involving yellow lines on the eastern side and residents parking on the western side.
7.2.5 Members were concerned that due process was taken in particular as to whether the scheme had been informed before implementing and was there a formal TRO. They also wanted assurances before the scheme was introduced. Members were advised that a public meeting inviting residents in the area was held by the District Council on 5 August.
7.3 Thompson Close
7.3.1 Members were advised that the Town Council were working with local businesses to enhance the area. However, 2 planning applications had been refused and objections had been received to advertise in the boarded up windows.
7.3.2 Members were also advised that the County Council had agreed funding for new lighting which the Town Council were looking to match fund before implementing.
7.3.3 Keith Lunn advised that Breathing Space was being extended and would be willing to help finance a scheme for the area.
8. DATE OF NEXT MEETING
8.1 It was noted that the date of the next Meeting was 22 March 2010 at 6.00pm.
The Meeting closed at 6.55 pm.
Chairman ……………..…………….
Date ………………………………….