(i)

despite the fact that their logos were currently in the process of being changed, they would still officially be known as the Devon and Cornwall Constabulary.  This change was being introduced to reflect the fact that ‘Police’ was the name most commonly used and referred to by the public;

(ii)

according to the latest British Crime Survey, Devon and Cornwall was the third safest place to live in the Country;

(iii)

the downward trend in respect of general crime continued as follows –

• Turnchapel, Hooe and Oreston – down 20%
• Plymstock – down 14%
• Elburton and Dunstone – down 17%
• Goosewell – down 13%

(iv)

detection was up from 17% to 30% compared to 18 months ago;

(v)

anti-social behaviour was down by 5% across all neighbourhoods.  Members were reminded that this category also included activities such as dog fouling and littering;

(vi)

the following success stories could be shared, namely –

• three people had been arrested in connection with a stolen vehicle
• two drug warrants had been positively issued in respect of incidents at Chestnut Avenue and Lippel Drive
• a School Speedwatch had taken place on 2 February.  Out of the 120  vehicles that had gone through the speed detector, ten had been stopped and the drivers spoken to by the children

(vii)

Police surgeries continued to be held at Plymstock Library at 11.00 a.m. on the second Wednesday of every month and the mobile surgery was out and about on the first Wednesday of every month;

(viii)

the next Elburton and Dunstone PACT meeting would take place on 7 June at Elburton Village Hall commencing at 7.00 p.m.  Dates of the other neighbourhood PACT meetings were subject to change and therefore could not be confirmed.

(ix)

the Police’s ‘Tackling Anti-Social Behaviour’ leaflet recommended monthly community engagement and, to this end, a raft of different opportunities were available to members of the public including those mentioned at (vii) above;

(x)

concerns relating to speeding should be raised at the appropriate PACT meeting where, if enough complaints were received, consideration would be given to siting mobile units at any blackspots identified.

(i)

the purpose of Locality Working was to improve public engagement and improve the way in which service providers worked together, particularly in respect of jointly commissioned services;

(ii)

six Locality Service Co-ordination Teams were being set up across the City comprising practitioners from the following key services –

• Community Safety
• Children and Young People
• Health and Adult Social Care
• Street Services

(iii)

in the interim period, Partners and Communities Together (PACT) meetings would be used as the principle forum in which residents would be able to make their views known about service provision.  Information would also be shared via the Council’s website, schools and libraries and, in regard to health and adult social care matters, opportunities were being explored to publicise material in pharmacies.

(v)

meetings would be minuted by Neighbourhood Liaison Officers and would be available for public inspection;

(v)

there would be numerous opportunities for residents to meet with ward councillors such as PACT meetings, ward surgeries and local resident association meetings;

(vi)

Area Committees were not well attended across the City and locality working was being introduced to try and encourage more public participation in local issues.  If locality working proved to be less successful the situation would be reviewed after 12 months;

(vii)

a benefit of locality working was that services would be sharing resources;

(viii)

residents would still be able to contact their ward councillors with any concerns;

(ix)

PACT meetings started at 7.00 p.m. and there would be opportunity for public questions on PACT agendas;

(x)

ward members would agree amongst themselves which of them would attend each PACT meeting;

(xi)

the term third sector referred to voluntary/community groups.

(i)

the erection of two ‘s’ bend signs on the approach to the ‘s’ bend at St. John’s Road with its junction of Church Hill Road;

(ii)

condition of the car park at Jennycliffe and the overflow car park at Mount Batten Tower;

(iii)

the appearance of a new sign at the Mountbatten Centre car park warning of a £95 fine or £125 tow fee for anyone illegally parked;

(iv)

the sale of Hooe Barn;

(v)

Plymstock swimming pool;

(vi)

condition of the rugby pitch at King George V Playing Fields;

(vii)

wheely bins from properties in Springfield Road being left out along Wembury Road;

(viii)

difficulties in accessing officers due to inaccuracies in the staff telephone directory or staff only working part-time;

(ix)

Plymouth City Council’s pension’s deficit;

(x)

Broadway car park;

(xi)

mountain biking at Buddle Wood;

(xii)

accessible formats of Council reports and documents;

(xiii)

Council employees paid in excess of £100,000;

(xiv)

Radford Hide;

(xv)

East End traffic scheme;

(xvi)

accessibility to public toilets;

(xvii)

council contracts;

(xviii)

a marine strategy;

(xix)

access to Council officers;

(xx)

allocated funding;

(xxi)

property;

(xxii)

health and safety;

(xxiii)

Mount Batten passenger ferry;

(xxiv)

access to Queen Anne’s Battery public slipway;

(xxv)

environmental issues;

(xxvi)

recycling policy;

(xxvii)

access to school playing fields;

(xxviii)

access to Fair Trading.

(a)

with regard to (i) above, it was thought that the signs were in place but contact would be made with the relevant department to ensure this was the case;

(b)

with regard to (ii) above, the car park at Jennycliffe had been repaired but Councillor Leaves would arrange for it to be inspected again, along with the overflow car park at Mount Batten Tower;

(c)

with regard to (iii) above, the car park was on private land but Councillor Leaves would ask the Council’s legal department to look into the matter;

(d)

with regard to (iv) above, the barn had been sold for £1 with the proviso that it be brought back into public use;

(e)

with regard to (v) above, a central location had been identified but residents had objected and the application had been refused by the planning department;

(f)

with regard to (vi) above, Councillor Leaves would refer the matter to Parks;

(g)

with regard to (vii) above, Councillor Leaves would refer the matter to Environmental Services;

(h)

with regard to (viii) above, Councillor Mrs. Pengelly would raise the matter with the Assistant Director for Human Resources and Organisational Development;

(i)

with regard to (ix) above, the City Council’s pension’s deficit stood at £316m;

(j)

with regard to (x) above (see also minute 48(ii)), Councillor Viney was dealing with the concerns raised;

(k)

with regard to (xi) above, Councillor Leaves had visited the area and spoken to the youths involved.  As far as he was concerned this no longer appeared to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 60.