Meeting held at Leigh Town Council
Offices on Monday 4th September 2006 at 7.30pm
Present:
Cllr. Mrs. G.M. Horrigan JP, MBE Chairman
Mr. A. Brien Westcliff and Leigh NHW
Inspector D.
Colwell Essex
Police Western Sector
Mrs. I. Crosby Women’s
Institute
Town Cllr. P. Dolby Leigh Town Council & Secretary
Mr. J. Holden West Leigh Residents Association &
Treasurer
Mr. P. Horrigan Assistant Secretary
Mr D. Johnson Vice Chairman
Cllr. J. Lamb Southend
Borough Council
PCSO. S.
Papagelakis Essex Police Community Support Team
Mr J. Taylor Chalkwell Residents Association and NHW
Cllr. C. Walker Southend Borough Council
Chairman – Opening
Remarks:
The Chairman welcomed the members to the meeting and reported on the
successful prize presentation evening of the ‘design out crime’ poster
competition.
Apologies for Absence:
Mr M. Holland Southend
NHW coordinator
Mr. F. Smith Belfairs Residents Association
New Members:
The Chairman introduced Mr. Holden of the West Leigh Residents
Association to the meeting. The Panel members introduced themselves for Mr
Holden’s benefit. Mr. Holden confirmed that he was the representative for the
WLRA on the Restorative Justice Team and was also delighted to have been
appointed Treasurer of the Panel.
The Secretary advised that Mr. D Buttimore had resigned from the Panel for
health reasons and a letter had been sent thanking Mr Buttimore for his service
to both the Panel and to Central Leigh NHW.
Minutes of
Last Meeting:
The minutes of the
meeting held on Monday 10th July 2006 were unanimously accepted as a
true record of proceedings and were duly signed by the Chairman.
Matters
Arising:
The Secretary confirmed
that he had sent a letter to the Leigh Times correcting an incorrect report in
a previous edition. Thanks were expressed in the letter to the Leigh Lions and
the Leigh Rotary for their valued financial support towards the costs of the
poster competition and the presentation evening. The letter appeared in the
last edition.
Insp. Colwell confirmed
that the Off Licence Watch scheme had been launched. This covers Leigh Road and
Leigh Broadway. Its object is to link off licences within that area with a view
to providing self help in reducing the opportunities for under age alcohol
purchase, alcohol abuse etc. It will be linked to the Business Watch scheme operating
in that area.
Correspondence:
Cllr. Walker advised that copies of the winning posters had been sent to
the Home Office. He had taken the opportunity to mention that grant funding
from SBC had been cut this year and asked whether the HO had any funding stream
that the Panel could call upon to continue its work with primary schools.
Insp. Colwell commented that the coverage of the event in the local press
had been excellent.
Treasurer’s
Report:
The Treasurer presented
the audited annual balance sheet and income and expenditure account as at 31st
March, 2006. Mr P Holland proposed and Cllr C Walker seconded their adoption
which was carried unanimously.
The Treasurer reported that
current funds stood at £420.
It was proposed by Cllr.
Lamb, seconded by Cllr. Walker and agreed unanimously that the new mandate with
Barclays Bank PLC should be completed by the Treasurer and that the authorised
signatories will be the Chairman – Mrs G. Horrigan, the Vice Chairman – Mr D.
Johnson and the Treasurer – Mr J. Holden. All cheques and other financial
papers will require any two signatures from those named above.
Cllr J Lamb felt that
the Panel should still approach SBC’s Voluntary Grants Team for funding
opportunities next year. It is possible that £100 or £200 may be available for
our poster competition.
Other organisations that
could be approached were the Leigh Lions, Leigh Rotary, Leigh Town Council, The
Southend Fund via Howard Briggs and The Fowler Trust via Charles Latham. The
Secretary and Mr Johnson will contact them.
Crime
Patterns:
August copies of Communicate were distributed to members.
Insp. Colwell reported a
spate of burglaries in July and August. These had been in the Valkyrie Road
area in Westcliff, Chalkwell and the Highlands Boulevard and Marine Parade
areas in Leigh. The burglar had been caught and now resided in prison. Even
though his MO had been crude there had been no reports of burglaries in progress
by the public. Even so burglaries are 30% down on the same period last year.
Theft from vehicles in
the Leigh Marshes car park is still a major problem given its remote location
and lack of CCTV or parking attendants.
A man has been arrested
for 26 offences of graffiti. He was already on bail for previous similar
offences.
The Police had a meeting
with the Eastwood Bowling Club and a good action plan has been drawn up to deal
with problems in Eastwood Park. 3 arrests have been made in the park recently
and a mini moto seized and subsequently crushed.
The Chairman reported
increased visibility of officers in the Eastwood area and that they were
engaging with the public.
Mr J. Holden raised a
recent story in the local press that reported an increase of drug abuse in
Leigh.
Insp. Colwell advised
that crime figures do not support this and if it were true the Police would act
on the problem.
Mr. Johnson commented
that there may be a related displacement problem from the Grand Hotel as they
had gone some way to improving problems.
Cllr. Lamb expressed
concern over drinking outside of bars in the Broadway and people walking in the
Old Town with pints in hand. There had
been a number of people outside Vie, amongst other bars, last Sunday evening
which is intimidating for passers by.
Insp. Colwell advised
that alcohol exclusion zones were working well in some areas of the borough and
that he was in discussion with SBC for similar zones in Leigh. Support for this
initiative from the Panel will be appreciated.
PCSO Papagelakis reported
that the over 21 rule that has been in operation among the pubs in the Old Town
will continue in the winter. The publicans are happy with the way things have
gone and are seeking support from their breweries.
The Chairman commented
that this support from publicans should be mentioned at Police press meetings.
Insp. Colwell noted that
there was still a problem with under16s bringing drink down to the Old Town.
Mr. Brien reported an
encouraging increase in Police visibility in Westcliff.
Mr Taylor advised that
the names of street coordinators could not be publicised under the Data Protection
Act. This caused problems for NHW Chairmen and he will discuss the matter with
Mick Holland.
The Secretary reported
that monthly crime statistics have not been produced since March. This is a
serious matter as council money towards improvements to safety is often based
on levels of crime in particular roads - street lighting is an example.
The Chairman noted that
these figures were needed when licensing and planning applications were
considered.
Mr Johnson added that
residents of flats above licensed premises should also be considered when
extensions to licences are heard.
Cllr. Lamb commented
that residents must voice any objections that they may have.
Mr. Holden thought that
cumulative impact zones should be reconsidered for Leigh. We now have experience
of many months under the new licensing law and its effect on Leigh.
Mr Taylor noted that Communicate was either not received or
was received late.
The next PCCG meetings
are at Shoeburyness High School on Wednesday 13th September commencing
at 7.30pm and the Annual Divisional is on Monday 6th November in the
Council Chamber of the Civic Centre at 7.30pm.
Any Other Business:
The Chairman requested
the Secretary to approach the Youth Council for a replacement for Tom Carlile
who is now at university.
Date of Next Meeting:
Monday 13th November,
2006 at 07.30 pm.
The meeting closed at
08.40 pm.