Minutes of Bishops Hull Local Action Team
Meeting Tuesday 31st March 2009, Robin Close Meeting Room
Present: Pete Yeandle, Ken Burgess, Rod Porter, Dave Smith, Nick Mott, Alan Paul, Chris Fry, Tom Catherall, Claire Griffiths, Simon Parry.
Apologies: Malcolm Summers
1. Welcome
Nick welcomed Simon Parry the new Bishops Hull PCSO.
2. Minutes of the meeting held on 10th February 2009
These were accepted.
3. Speedwatch
The 'new' speed gun had been used on Bishops Hull Road. Pete and his team had assistance from Andrew Gottlieb and Tony Taylor and an officer from the Road Police Unit (RPU). They had been out 6 times during the month, this had also included Heron Drive.
The police had reported that the Bishops Hull speedwatch team had the highest accuracy of data handling when providing details to them.
A new approved location was due to start in April, this was Netherclay.
Speedwatch would also request approval for Silk Mills. This would be in support of gathering speed information towards the County Council's re-evaluation of speed limits in the district. Details also to be supplied to the Parish Council.
4. Village Events Group (VEG)
An event was being planned for Saturday11th July on the Playing Fields starting at 1600. It would include 3 bands, handbell ringers, cream teas and burgers.
Nothing had been planned for car parking, Rod would raise this at the next VEG.
Also nothing had been heard about a police presence at the event. It was anticipated that the LAT may be asked for volunteers to help.
5. Youth Activities
Youth Group
Members of the LAT and Debbie Perry had helped with the equipment and furniture at the Youth Group on 27th March. More support was required on Friday 1st May and Friday 26th June. Please arrive at the school at 18.50. Parents, friends and colleagues are all encouraged to help.
Claire had passed some publicity information to the Gazette but nothing had yet been published.
Rod announced that the appointment of a Youth Worker had been put on hold until the end of summer.
Paintball
Claire had contacted Martha and Scott Weetch of the Taunton Deane Community Safety Team and had been informed that a new games area at Hestercombe was being arranged as the old area was required by the Hestercombe estate. A fee of £5000 had been paid by Taunton Youth Paintball Project (TYPP) using monies from the crime and disorder budget.
Lawrence Rayment will organise supplies of paintballs and gas but the Police organise events on the day. Gary Deen is the Police PCSO arranger/allocator.
The LAT are hopeful a programme of events for the year can be provided.
Fishing
To be discussed at the next meeting.
Energise Disco
Over 800 had attended Dellers on 27th March (675 capacity- so queues had built up). Energise takes place the last Friday of every month between 7pm and 10pm. Age group 11-16.
There is a planned Energise event in Vivary Park during the summer, date unknown, when the Royal Marine Commando Display Team will also attend.
Mountain biking & Cycling Proficiency
Nothing further had been heard from Jamie Monroe or Stephan about mountain biking (at Haldon and Creechbarrow).
Sue Tompson, PCSO at Bishops Lydeard had arranged £1000 funding for a BMX track on farm land.
BH LAT wondered whether a cycle area could be developed to the rear of the Park and Ride similar to the one at Cotford St Luke. A potential problem could be a proposal to extend the Park & Ride.
Simon Parry is keen to arrange cycling proficiency at Bishops Hull school.
6. Website
The Secretary will arrange for some pictures of LAT events to be included on the website.
7. Police Report
Community items;
7.1 Little crime had been reported in Bishops Hull over the past month.
7.2 'PACT' priorities would be installing a camera to watch over the play park in the Playing Fields where damage had been reported and to combat fly tipping in the village.
7.3 Heron Drive had been designated a 'No Cold Calling Zone' to discourage distraction burglaries. Funding may be available from the Parish Council to provide signs to lineate the area.
7.4 A private individual was requesting road closures within Bishops Hull to hold a charity event, a hay bale push in June. No further details were known.
7.5 Claire had been in contact with the TA in Mountway Road. A Captain was invited to local groups. It was hoped the TA may also help at local events.
7.6 Deborah Perry and Simon Parry, PCSOs, are now holding regular beat surgeries at the Robin Close meeting rooms.
7.7 Another PCSO was currently in training and was expected to be in the area soon.
7.8 Tony Crowter had taken over from Mark West (senior Police Officer for the area).
7.9 Rod asked about a 'litter pick'. Claire stated a community clean up day would work better in the summer school holidays. She would contact the Deane Housing Officers and the DLO.
8. Parish Council Report
Ken raised the issues of speed limits on the Silk Mills Road, street cleaning, the erosion of a footpath close to the river and the Bishops Hull Woodland Field.
Ken and Rod had been removing the protective containers from around young trees. Another day of this was planned for 16th April.
9. Treasurers Report
The LAT were £355.58 in credit.
Rod asked that the issue of attending a car boot sale be included on the next agenda.
10. CVS Volunteer Award
This was to be left to individual recommendations.
11. AOB
11.1 Problems had been noticed at the Royal Crown in Wellington Road. It was understood that these should now be addressed with the pub having a new licencee.
11.2 Due to the upcoming elections there was an embargo on any publicity on issues or events that had been funded by local politicians.
11.3 Chris Fry reported that 20 speedwatch teams throughout the area had been out on Friday 13th March.
11.4 Ken was concerned about the community woodland, planted 7-8 years ago with 30,000 trees on Somerset Wildlife and Taunton Deane Land because of problems caused by dogs let off the leash.
11.5 The date of the next meeting is Tuesday 5th May at 7pm in the Robin Close Meeting Room.
Tom Catherall
BH LAT Secretary
18 April 2009