Minutes of Bishops Hull Local Action Team
Meeting Tuesday 5th May 2009, Robin Close Meeting Room
Present: Nick Mott (chairman), Simon Parry (PCSO), Dave Smith, Tom Catherall, Nigel Stuart-Thorn, Ken Burgess, Rod Porter, Alan Paul (apologised for short attendance).
Apologies: Claire Griffiths, Malcolm Summers, Pete Yeandle .
1. Welcome
The chairman asked that the best wishes of the LAT were passed to Claire Griffiths the local beat officer who has not been well.
2. Minutes of the meeting held on 05 May 2009.
The following amendments were noted;
Apologies; Nigel Stuart-Thorn to be added to the list of apologies.
Item 5, Youth Activities, 3rd paragraph, amend to; Rod announced that a funding application for the appointment of a Youth Worker had been put on hold.
Item 7.2, 'PACT' priorities - Claire would be applying for the funding for the installation of a camera…
[Note; Nigel Stuart-Thorn stated a camera could be hired from the Taunton Deane Council, Deane or Parish Councillors could request this].
3. Speedwatch.
Speedwatch had been out twice during the previous month on Bishops Hull Road & Netherclay. Alan Paul had accompanied the team.
On Thursday 14th May there will be another Police initiative at 0800 on Bishops Hull Road with the Road Police Unit (RPU).
Nothing further had been heard from Chris Fry for approval for a site on Silk Mills to monitor traffic speed. This was to provide information to the Parish Council and the County Council. The County Council are reviewing speed limits over the coming year.
Debbie Perry, PCSO, asked if the speedwatch team could also target Heron Drive again. Another location the speedwatch was considering was Waterfield Drive.
The profile of the speedwatch team has now become a known deterrent to speeding within the village.
The speedwatch team only operate in daylight hours.
Trull LAT want to start up a speedwatch and have been trained. Dave has offered to go with the Bishops Hull camera once they have had their sites approved.
4. Village Events Group (VEG)
The VEG group have a new chairman and vice chairman.
At the event on Saturday July 11th the LAT have been asked to assist with the 'Bouncy Castle' and the 'Jousting'. The LAT will seek further advice from the VEG on what this entails. Further assistance will be required to clear up on Sunday 12th.
The event will have free entry and will be advertised locally in Bishops Hull and Galmington. It is hoped to cater for 500. The school will not be used.
The following LAT members can help; Dave, Nick and Tom. Nigel, Rod and Pete would be unavailable. The LAT will seek to arrange for another two or three volunteers.
5. Support for Youth Activities
Paintball
The old site at Hestercombe was no longer being used. A new site at Hestercombe had been agreed. Nothing further had been heard about a 'fixture list' of dates of events. The Police have had a training session to be 'Marshalls' in April. A request was made to see if a meeting could be arranged between all the LATs involved and the Police.
Fishing
Nothing further to report.
Energise Disco
Over 600 had attended the April event. The LAT have no statistics on how many young people from Bishops Hull go to this event. Simon was asked if the Police could obtain any information.
It was not known if the Slinkey Bus could be hired for this event.
Youth group
The LAT helped with the furniture at the youth group on Friday 1st May.
Jane Kilty would be contacted about CRB checks. It was understood that a separate CRB check was required for each different youth activity.
The LAT would be interested in finding out what older young people (11-18) would be interested in.
Cycling
Funding was being sought by the Bishops Lydeard PCSO for a bmx track in Bishops Lydeard.
Funding
Funding can be sought from;
Awards for all (website) [note, this is quite a complex process to obtain an award].
Somerset Youth Capital.
Somerset Community Foundations (a recent award was approved for the refurbishment of the Frank Bond Centre).
6. Car Boot
The LAT would be interested in attending a Car Boot sale on the Playing Fields to raise their profile.
Several dates were proposed. It was suggested that if the Police Community Contact Van could be made available this would be a good focal point. Simon would look into availability.
The secretary would contact the Playing Field Association (Paul Bulbeck - chairman, Dave Jorgensen - vice chairman, Edward Rose - treasurer).
The LAT would provide an information leaflet and/or a questionnaire.
7. Police Report
The beat PC, Claire, has been off work. Police response during this period is through the PCSOs, including Sue Tompson from Bishops Lydeard and PC Andy Davis.
The LAT sent their best wishes to Claire.
Reported crime in Bishops Hull remains low, mainly nuisance or domestic.
There had been drugs raids throughout Taunton on 29/30 April. These had included an address in Bishops Hull.
Student parking on Heron Drive remained an issue as did cycling on pavements in the same vicinity.
The 'Clear Up' initiative, including a tour of BH with the Council Housing Officer, was in abeyance.
Alan Paul stated the signs for the 'No Cold Calling Zones' would be going up shortly. This would be done by the DLO.
8. Parish Council
Items discussed at the recent Parish Council;
Parking in Heron Drive.
Speed limit on Silk Mills Road.
Planning decisions on Bishops Hull Road.
The footbridge over the river at Netherclay.
Erosion of the footpath by the river.
Dogs attacking lambs.
Amendments to the local bus service.
A question was raised about parking in Waterfield Drive. If anyone had a problem, the issue should be raised with the police.
9. Treasurers Report
No change to last month figures.
10. Any Other Business
10.1 Nigel spoke about the 'Community Restorative Justice Panel' and the course he had attended. This is where the criminal, the victim and a mediator (the harmed and the harmer) meet.
10.2 Hay Bale Push. It was recommended that this issue would be best dealt with by the VEG. Rod was asked to raise this with the VEG on behalf of the LAT.
10.3 The issue of the status of the 'smoking shelter' at the Crown Inn on Wellington Road was discussed.
10.4 The Secretary would not be available for the next meeting.
Tom Catherall
Secretary BH LAT
11th May 2009
