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Minutes – Community Affairs Committee – 3 September 2018

The minutes of this meeting are presented below.

You can also download a PDF copy of the minutes here: Minutes – Community Affairs Committee – 3 September 2018

MINUTES OF THE COMMUNITY AFFAIRS COMMITTEE MEETING HELD ON MONDAY 3 SEPTEMBER 2018 AT 5.30PM

PRESENT:

  • Councillors Apel, P Evans, Galloway, Hixson, Macey, Spink

EX-OFFICIO:

  • The Mayor (Councillor Bell), Councillors Dignum and Kilby

ALSO PRESENT:

  • Councillor Budge, Julia Sander – Friends of Chartres, Graham Pound – Friends of Valletta, Andrea Hill – Friends of Ravenna, Pam Bushby -Divisional Manager, Communities, Chichester District Council, Julie Bolton – West Sussex County Council’s Tree and Woodlands Officer, Paula Chatfield – Tree Warden, Representatives of The Crown Community Pub Hub

APOLOGIES:

  • Deputy Mayor (Councillor Tupper), Councillor Sharp

ABSENT:

  • Councillor Holman

IN ATTENDANCE:

  • Administration Manager

20. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

As recorded above.

21. MINUTES

RESOLVED that the Minutes of the Meeting held on 4 June and 16 July 2018, having been printed
and circulated, were submitted and the Chairman was authorised to sign the same as a correct
record.

22. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST BY MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE IN MATTERS ON THE AGENDA FOR THIS MEETING

No interests were declared.

23. POLICING AND SECURITY IN THE CITY

(a) Community Warden Update

The Chairman welcomed Pam Bushby, Divisional Manager, Communities, Chichester District Council to the meeting.

The Committee were advised that a main issue of concern in all the warden’s reports was the drug-related issues taking place in the City. All agencies were working together and the matter was being dealt with although not always visible to the public. Posters had been displayed informing residents how to report incidents in their area.

The City Centre Warden was liaising with the BID Rangers on how to effectively patrol the City Centre during the week. One of the issues relating to the City Centre was cycling in the precinct outside of permitted hours.

There had been a slight improvement on the homelessness in the City and the District Council had now appointed an Outreach Worker to work on this matter with other agencies.

Chichester District Council Cabinet would shortly be discussing continuing the funding for Community Wardens for the next 3 years. It was noted that in the Memorandum of Understanding between various partners, there would be a 2% increase in contributed funding, therefore the City Council contribution would increase by £800.

(b) Community Warden Reports

The Committee noted that the Community Wardens had apologised for not being able to attend the meeting, however their reports for the City Centre, South, East and West Wards had been circulated to all members.

24. REPORTS FROM REPRESENTATIVES OF FRIENDS OF CHARTRES, RAVENNA AND VALLETTA

(a) Friends of Chartres

The Friends of Chartres report had been circulated to all members.

Councillor P Evans congratulated the Friends of Chartres on their improved website.

(b) Friends of Ravenna

The Friends of Ravenna report had been circulated to all members and noted.

(c) Friends of Valletta

The Friends of Valletta report had been circulated to all members and noted.

25. CHICHESTER TREE WARDENS

(a) General

Committee members had received a copy of West Sussex County Council’s ’Frequently Asked Questions’ relating to the Tree Warden Scheme and a leaflet on the Tree Council was circulated at the meeting.

(b) Report from Tree Warden

The Chairman welcomed Paula Chatfield to the meeting; Mrs Chatfield was currently the acting Chairman of the Chichester Tree Wardens Group. Ms Julie Bolton, West Sussex County Council’s Tree and Woodlands Officer was also in attendance. Over recent years the working relationship between the City Council and Tree Wardens had diminished and it was hoped that this would now be resurrected. It was noted that Parish Councils appoint Tree Wardens and Mrs Chatfield informed the Committee that three residents wished to become Tree Wardens for the area.

It was proposed, seconded and RESOLVED that:

(i) the City Council endorse the work of the Tree Wardens;

(ii) the City Council would carry out the necessary administration required to appoint new Tree Wardens;

(iii) the Planning Hyperlist would be forwarded to the Chairman of the Tree Wardens Group;

(iv) Tree Wardens comments would be welcomed on planning applications involving tree works;

(v) an item be included on the next Property Sub-Committee Meeting in connection with working with the Tree Wardens to identify the types/conditions, etc, of trees within the Walls of the City; and

(vi) a standing agenda item on the Community Affairs Committee Agenda to receive areport from Chichester Tree Wardens at each meeting.

26. SAMMY COMMUNITY TRANSPORT

The Committee agreed that it was sad that this community initiative had ceased but more information was required, particularly regarding funding. Although the Town Clerk had contacted the administrators for Sammy Community Transport to ask for a representative to attend the meeting, no response had been received. This matter would be discussed further at the next Community Affairs Committee meeting.

27. MONITORING VEHICLE SPEEDS IN ST PANCRAS, CHICHESTER

A resident had raised concerns with the City Council about vehicle speeds in the St Pancras area of the City. West Sussex County Council were also aware of these concerns and were currently in the process of investigating this matter. Information on Speed Indicator Devices had been forwarded to the City Council but it was felt that more statistical information was required from West Sussex County Council before any action was taken by the City Council.

28. PUBLIC DRINKING FOUNTAINS

The Chairman and Councillor Budge said that they had both been approached about the provision of public drinking fountains in the City. Members noted that public drinking fountains could attract malicious activities and that any drinking fountains should only have the capability ofrefilling water bottles to avoid any health risks.

To celebrate Rotary Club’s centenary in 2019, it was hoped to install a drinking fountain in Priory Park and the City Centre.

Members were aware of the ‘Refill’ initiative, a nationwide scheme to promote the refill of water drinking bottles from a ‘Refill’ station in your area; this could be a cafe, shop, hotel or business premises.

The Mayor commented that in his opinion there were better projects to resource.

29. CROWN COMMUNITY PUB HUB – UPDATE

A representative from the Crown Community Pub Hub explained that the Bid submitted to purchase the property by the Community had been refused. However, the community continued to organise events at the Crown Community Pub Hub and were waiting to see the planning application that would be submitted by the developers.

30. PRIORY PARK 100 – UPDATE

There was no update on Priory Park 100.

31. ITEMS FOR INCLUSION ON NEXT AGENDA

  • Sammy Community Transport
  • Monitoring Vehicle Speeds in St Pancras

The meeting ended at 6.30pm

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