Notes from June's Town Talk
| Published: 11th June 2008 22:40 |
Notes from the Town Talk held on
Tuesday 3rd June 2008 from 6.15pm to 7.15pm at
Westmill Community Centre, Hitchin
Notes provided by Margaret Bracy, the Hitchin Community Development Officer at the Council.
The Chair, Councillor Judi Billing, welcomed everybody to the first Town Talk of the new Civic year. The next Town Talk will be held at the Gurdwara, 50 Wilbury Way, Hitchin, on Tuesday 22nd July 2008.
Action from previous Town Talks:
1. Under ‘Freedom of Information Act - Council Interpretation'
‘All Freedom of Information requests received by North Hertfordshire District Council are processed using the guidelines set out by the Information Commissionaire. Each case is dealt with on an individual basis as no two requests are the same.
To ensure that the guidelines are adhered to and as part of the Council's corporate governance, the Council hold bi-monthly Data Protection and Freedom of Information liaison group meetings. These meetings involve discussions relating to current requests and to make members of the group aware of changes to the Data Protection and Freedom of Information Acts.'
For further information see the North Herts District Council website. Further information can also be obtained from the Department of Constitutional Affairs or the Information Commissioner.
Issues raised by members of the public present:
- Churchgate Development
- Public Involvement in future planning
- Public Involvement in the preparation of the Hitchin Urban Transport Plan
- West of Hitchin Action Group - development
- Rubbish and Recycling
- Funding for adult learning @ North Herts College
- Vehicle access to Bancroft Gardens
- Grass cutting
- Police Report
Police Report
Overall crime is down compared with the same period last year; there have been significant reductions in the levels of violent crimes reported from within the town centre and adjoining wards. This is attributable to a number of Operations we have run in the town centre on Friday and Saturday evenings with our partner agencies.
We now have a Night Time Economy group and the focus of this is reduction of alcohol related crime and the promotion of community reassurance/safety.
There has been an increase in the yearly levels of dwelling burglaries following the unprecedented rise just prior to Christmas. Three offenders were charged two weeks ago with offences that occurred in Priory and Bearton wards earlier in the year where high performance vehicles were stolen during the burglary.
Neighbourhood Team Initiatives have been working on Dwelling burglaries with a number of successful operations. Work continues on Windmill Hill with a dedicated steering group with all partner agencies and representatives from the local community. Operation Tarantula was launched in January dealing with motor vehicle crime with the focus being on preventative measures. There have been a significant increase in Neighbourhood Watch schemes.
The established Locality Panels have identified their current priorities and will meet every three months to review them.
Public Involvement - Land Allocation Document/Hitchin Transport Plan
The questioner didn't feel the Council is doing enough to involve Hitchin people. Felt the Council were treating areas of the district differently, for example meeting with Parish Councils. Requested that the Council use Hitchin Area Committee for public consultation. Similarly with the Hitchin Transport Plan that a structure like Town Talk could be used as part of the wider consultation. The transport flow plan appended to the Committee Minutes does not show public consultation. Feels that there should be public involvement early on in the process as some groups, such as the Hitchin Cycling Group, would have expertise.
Councillor David Billing said that the Local Development Framework does not mention explicitly involving the community which he feels is a mistake. There was involvement of individual members of the Committee but didn't amount to a Committee debate.
West of Hitchin Action Group (WHAG) - Development
The action group felt that consultation was minimal and that Hitchin Forum informed the residents.
Councillor Thake said that local councils are charged legally with finding houses and that dialogue will become more intense from now on in laymen's terms bluntly saying this what we need to do and what do you think.
The residents don't feel they are being heard and that there should be a forum in Hitchin where people can be involved. Consultation and involvement must be at the beginning. The group asked for confirmation that there would be responses before the revised document and this was confirmed. Councillor Thake said that the process had slipped and continued to slip beyond the authorities control and was unlikely to be before August.
It was confirmed that analysis and Council's response will be in the public domain before the next stage.
Funding for Adult Learning @ North Herts College
A resident presented to Councillor Billing an information note regarding the funding cut to North Herts College by the Learning Skills Council. She raised a number of questions which the Councillors present said they would look into.
Bancroft Gardens
The resident also wanted to let the members know about the vehicular access to Bancroft Gardens and how she felt that it was dangerous for young children in the play area.
The Community Development Officer said that there had been a ‘misuse' of the access arrangements by some users of the Hall and that a letter had been sent to the Hall hirer. There had been email correspondence with the resident and the Community Facilities Manager about this.
Grass Cutting
A resident mentioned that when contractors cut the grass, particularly on Westmill, they leave the cuttings on paths and they are not picked up. The two members for Oughton Ward were asked to take this up with the relevant officer.
Rubbish and Recycling
It was stated by a resident that the Government deliberately ‘buried' a report which said that alternative weekly collections of waste increased the incidence of rats etc and that the Council should consider it very seriously.
It was said that the Report had not been ‘buried' and was available on the government website.
It was also said that the report may not be an accurate one and that kitchen waste could be put in either of the bins and so collected weekly.
Councillor Judi Billing said that Councillor Needham, Portfolio Holder for Waste, had been invited to the next Hitchin Committee on Tuesday 22nd July, and that she would be invited to join the Town Talk as well if she was available.
A resident raised a cleaning service of bins paid for by the Council. Costs of a cleaning service periodically could be one of the things that could be discussed.
A question was also raised about two pamphlets that had been distributed which conflicted each other. An NHDC officer said that this had been addressed.
It was added that we should be celebrating the increase in recycling
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