Agenda and minutes

Growth and Prosperity Overview and Scrutiny Panel (Reviews) - Thursday 3 December 2009 10.00 am

Venue: COUNCIL HOUSE, PLYMOUTH (NEXT TO THE CIVIC CENTRE)

Contact: Helen Rickman, Democratic Support Officer  Email: helen.rickman@plymouth.gov.uk

Items
No. Item

14.

DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

Members will be asked to make any declarations of interest in respect of items on this agenda.

Minutes:

There were no declarations of interest in accordance with the code of conduct.

15.

CHAIR'S URGENT BUSINESS

To receive reports on business which, in the opinion of the Chair, should be brought forward for urgent consideration.

Minutes:

There were no items of chair’s urgent business.

16.

MINUTES pdf icon PDF 21 KB

To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 28 October 2009.

 

Minutes:

Resolved that the minutes of the meeting held on 28 October 2009 be confirmed as a correct record.

17.

REVIEW OF PLYMOUTH SKATEBOARDING BY-LAW pdf icon PDF 190 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Task and Finish Group Panel considered representations from a local businessman, Ward Councillors and representatives of council service areas in relation to their views on the skateboarding by-law. The following individuals were invited to the meeting to provide the panel with their opinions and answer any questions raised:

 

  • John Williams – Café Roma Manager
  • Sarah Harris – Youth Parliament Coordinator
  • Kathy Davey – City Centre Street Operations Manager
  • Mike Kendall - Highways Management Coordinator
  • John Drury – Anti-Social Behaviour Manager
  • Catherine Dilloway – Project Manager
  • Karen Brimicombe - Portfolio Manager
  • Councillor Stevens – Ward Councillor for Devonport
  • Councillor Mrs. Stephens – Ward Councillor for St Peter and the Waterfront
  • Anthony Patten -

 

 

John Williams, Café Roma Manager, informed the Panel that –

 

(1)

he did not consider the skateboarders to be a problem as they were good children;

 

(2)

there were other more important problems involving youths in the city centre that should be addressed first;

 

(3)

the skateboarders should not be criminalised as they were partaking in a sport and had not caused nuisance elsewhere;

 

(4)

he accepted the potential fear skateboarders caused to the elderly and the damage they caused to street furniture however he felt that the issue could be addressed by communicating with the skateboarders in order to make them aware of the potential problems they were causing;

 

(5)

at weekends there were many more undesirable people in the city centre, such as gangs of youths who ran riot;

 

(6)

it was important that the Council should work with the skateboarders other than against them;

 

(7)

an area should be allocated in the city centre where the youths could skateboard;

 

In response to questions raised, John Williams informed the Panel that –

 

(8)

he considered that the issue with skateboarding was likely to be a problem throughout the country;

 

(9)

if skateboarders were given a designated area to skate and didn’t use it there would be a problem;

 

(10)

he had been informed that Central Park skate park was too dangerous to use;

 

(11)

skateboarders liked to have an audience;

 

(12)

the skateboarders did not need more laws which would criminalise them; he felt that essentially they were good children who needed guidance;

 

Sarah Harris, Youth Parliament Coordinator, informed the Panel that –

 

(13)

she had attempted to canvass views of skaters with regards to the Task and Finish Group however this was made difficult by exams, the Wild Mouse roller coaster and the weather;

 

(14)

flyers had been created by members of the youth parliament in order to encourage people to take part in the task and finish group;

 

(15)

she had visited the piazza on four separate occasions and was provided with the following responses:

 

  • “Trying to ban skating in the city centre will be impossible. Who would police it? What would the penalties be? What about no ball areas – who polices them?”

 

18.

EXEMPT BUSINESS

To consider passing a resolution under Section 100A (4) of the Local Government Act 1972 to exclude the press and public from the meeting for the following item(s) of business on the grounds that it (they) involve(s) the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph(s) … of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act, as amended by the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

Minutes:

There were no items of exempt business.