PRESENT: Chair Karen Leakey, Vice-Chair Derek Sutton, Secretary and Archivist Kevin Leakey, John and Vi Clark,
Karen Coulthard, John and Pam Freegard, Joan Gibbard, Kate Johnson, Alan Jones, Cluniford Mason, Rebecca
McIntosh, Val Purvis, Madge Sutton, Ros Timlin, plus 3 other residents.
ALSO PRESENT: John Taylor - Broadgreen Community Plan, PC Diffin, DCI Capstick, PC McIntyre, Councillor
Derique Montaut.
APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE: Treasurer John Phillips, John Banville, Celia Cotton, Kath Cridland, Elizabeth Grady,
Kath Jones, Mike and Lindsay Ponting, Evelyn Mason, Pam Montgomery, Peter Newson, Sue Osbaldstone, Roy
Townsend, David Webb, PCSO’s Bird and Turner, Tim French, Ahmed Ismail - Somali Assoc., Nazma Ramruttun -
BOND.
CONFIRMATION OF THE MINUTES – 2nd September 2009 meeting.
These Minutes were confirmed and signed a true record. Proposed Pam Freegard and seconded by Karen Coulthard.
MATTERS ARISING FROM THE AUGUST MINUTES: None.
COMMUNITY POLICE REPORT – PC Diffin:
ASB – There was a small problem in Manchester Road, outside the Cash and Carry, but apart from that, there were
no other reports of ASB in this area during the last month – It was reported to the Police that Abbey’s had dropped
their alcohol prices which was of concern.
Cycling on the pavements is a problem and will be tackled mainly by education, our PCSO’s are being trained to
tackle the problem, but it may be a couple of months before this becomes a priority. This is because with Halloween
and bonfire night coming up, a patrol strategy has been put in place between the 15 October and 15 November with
patrols targeting the main areas where associated ASB is known to happen, these will run between the hours of 7pm
and 1am. Letters will be sent to shops asking them not to sell eggs, flour and fireworks to young people and also to
leaders, explaining the consequences of ASB at this time.
If ASB continues around the BG centre for what ever reason then a 2 month Dispersal Order might be needed, but
before that happens the Police want to work with people and talk to them about the problems they may be causing for
residents, for example if they are sat in or congregating around their cars, they will try to explain why this might be an
issue. If no notice is taken from this approach then a Dispersal Order could be next.
Litter – There has recently been a successful ‘Safe and Clean Day’ but as soon as rubbish is taken away, more
appears. There is a need to talk to the various leaders, and Richard Palacio - SBC environmental enforcement officer
– will be meeting with the Landlords Forum to speak to them about the rubbish problems.
Speeding – 2 cars have been seized and the Police are currently going down the educational line and our PCSO’s are
working with Drove School and Skeetz youth club, they also hope to be able to bring a car and bike simulator to the
area at some point. Most year 11 students have also attended the fire services ‘Safe Drive, Stay Alive’ roadshow,
which is a very hard hitting and involves powerful personal testimony as well as dramatic video footage to show the
potential outcomes of speeding. The ’20 is Plenty’ campaign also continues.
Burglaries – There has been a sudden problem with this, although the person responsible for it has now been
arrested. Residents were reminded to ensure they kept doors and windows secured at night, and if they were not at
home.
PC Diffin has put our PCSO’s – Bird and Turner, forward for a commendation for their dedicated service to the
Broadgreen Area and they will shortly be awarded Certificates of Merit. This was greeted with much approval from
residents.
GUEST SPEAKERS – DCI Capstick and PC McIntyre – update on Operation Dobbin: Apologies were given for the
long gap since the last visit, but shifts had not coincided with the meetings.
The Police have continued to work very hard on Operation Dobbin and have had some good results. 15 kerb crawlers
have been arrested, 7 of which attended at a cost of £200 to themselves, a rehabilitation course. This was the first
one to be held in Wiltshire and happened last Saturday (3rd Oct) and it seemed to have a big effect on the persons
attending. The courses get to the root cause of their actions and the subsequent harm and impact they could be doing
to not only the community they are kerb crawling in, but also on their families through health issues etc.
They are not simply sat there all day listening to someone talking to them, but they have to be actively involved in
discussions and participating in role play, being their wives, partners, girlfriends etc and seeing how they might feel
about their kerb crawling actions. It is both a dramatic and an emotional day.
Questions were asked as to why kerb crawlers think prostitutes do what they do, and answers varied from – they
wanted their children privately educated, to – they enjoy it. They were also asked why they kerb crawl and again the
answers were varied, from relationship problems, to the ‘thrill’ of it. The group of men on the course varied in age and
cultural backgrounds and there were no atypical persons, or ‘box’ to put them in. If they do not join in then they will be
put back through the courts.
These courses have been running across the UK for a number of years and some 3000 men have attended them.
Men that have not been on one of these courses have a re-offending rate of some 20%, whilst of the 3000 that have
attended, only 1% have been re-convicted.
Things are still being tackled on a multi-agency front but if that fails to work, prostitutes will still be arrested. There are
3 prostitutes persistently working, but Op. Dobbin is a long-term strategy – get the prostitutes off of drugs and put
kerb-crawlers through the course to stop them re-offending, rather than arresting them, giving them a small fine and
seeing them straight back on the streets again.
This is why residents must continue to report working prostitutes to the Police, because a picture could then be built
up.
The work being done through Op. Dobbin was very much appreciated by residents and it was felt that if this works by
stopping kerb crawlers from re-offending, then it was a good and positive thing. We must remember what it used to be
like, with 30 prostitutes and 100 plus kerb crawlers in the area nearly every night. But at the same time, we wouldn’t
want to see the problems of the past returning, when the Police would work to tackle the problem for a short while and
then forgot about it. We were reassured this would not be the case.
CORRESPONDENCE:
Sent:
Mr and Mrs McCue – thanking them for continuing their work at the lunch club.
Cycling on pavement problems – To different groups
Reported problem about lorries in Shrivenham Rd – No reply
Reported problem of polystyrene fish boxes in Broad St.
Received:
Andy Reeves, Community Facilities Operations Manager – update on sign for BG Centre re –no dogs – the sign has
arrived and will be put up shortly. Also sent thanks for distributing leaflets to residents in Salisbury and Gladstone St
informing them of a party at BG centre. - There will also be a 21st Birthday party at Broadgreen, on Saturday
December 19th 2009 7.00pm-11pm.
Rod Bluh – update on Union Square - cranes will be over Central Swindon next year, there is a possibility that the
hoardings around areas not being regenerated immediately may be lowered and used for other things - temporarily.
Also going to be rejuvenating the County Ground play area and would like our help in promoting and contributing to
the consultations.
Caroline Hunt, Parks development officer – would appreciate the opportunity to carry out some initial consultation
work on the proposed CG play area
Father Leslie – still not heard back from Mrs McCue re the proposals for the Broad St Trust.
Cheri Wright, Anti – social behaviour manager SBC – Thanks to the volunteers that helped on the clean up day
Carol Heneghan, NSC - Regeneration Update.
Derek Sutton – proposal to alter constitution.
PLANNING APPLICATIONS:
S/09/1010 - 86 Manchester Road - Conversion of first floor from offices to 1 no. flat and change of use of ground floor
from Class B1 to Class A2 (Financial and Professional Offices) and erection of single storey rear/side extension. -
Application Granted - Delegated Decision
S/LDP/09/1708 - 75 Elmina Road - Certificate of Lawfulness (proposed) for the erection of a detached garage to rear.
- Application Pending Consideration
S/09/1305 - 148 Rosebery Street - Erection of a single storey rear extension - Application Withdrawn
S/09/1335 - Former Paragon Laundry, Aylesbury Street - Partial demolition and erection of 118no. bedroom hotel and
associated works – To be considered by Planning Committee 13 Oct ‘09
S/09/1488 - 124 - 125 Broad Street - Installation of roof lights and insertion of new window in rear elevation -
Application Granted - Delegated Decision
TREASURERS REPORT:
To enable grants to be applied for, it was proposed that a half year audit be made to 31 September 2009
Proposed by Derek Sutton and Seconded by Pam Freegard
CHAIR REPORT: 2 handouts were given out - Police consultation meeting and CP2 survey from Cllr. Dave Woods.
At our meetings next year shall we look at the different cultures in this area and invite member from the different
communities to talk to us about their customs and food etc? - The meeting thought this would be a good idea.
Through our extensive talking and outreach work that we have carried out in the last year or so, it has become clear
that many people now know this area as Broadgreen and are often confused about who we are and where we
represent, with people not only saying we just represent Broad Street and we are only interested in the south side of
Manchester Road, to telling us our name is too long, I thought you were the Broadgreen CC or why aren’t we called
the Broadgreen CC?
We are regularly called the Broadgreen CC in the Adver, in Council documents and in letters and emails, therefore
might it be a good idea to discuss this at a future meeting and if a name change is agreed, put it forward at the AGM?
There was a general agreement that this should be looked at although the current name (BSACC) has long been
established.
VAS AGM – Voluntary Action are looking to merge with Community First, which is the rural Community Council for
Wilts. and Swindon – there seems to be some considerable objections to this move.
21 October ‘09 we are hosting a Street Athletic celebration evening and launching the Community Plan. This will run
between 7 and 9pm. It would be good to see as many people there as possible and it would be greatly appreciated if
any one could help or bring along some food.
The Chair proposed that we should reinstate the Outstanding Person of the year Award this year, and proposed that
Doug Imrie should be nominated for it. It was agreed by the meeting to reinstate the award and Derek Sutton
seconded the proposal of Doug. As there were no other nominations, the meeting carried the proposal. The award will
be presented at the Street Athletics celebration on the 21 October.
The Chair has or will be attending the following:
Invited to 3rd sector visioning.
Swindon Community Forum, Broadgreen Safe and clean day, Street Athletic Finals in Manchester, Broadgreen
Tasking Meeting, BSACC meal at Jury’s Inn, Meeting with Mark Walker - Connecting People Connecting Places and
how we (BSACC) can work within this, Swindon Federation of Community Organisations – the Chair is now a Trustee,
Neighbourhood Renewal Tasking Group, Connecting People Connecting Places – Saturday morning engagement
event in the town centre, Fire services ‘Safe Drive, Stay Alive’ road show – from which the Chair has written to ALL
councillors/MPs/Mr Howlett saying what a hard hitting event this is, but the Fire Service struggle to fund it. Had
feedback from 4 and MP.
To be held –
Meeting with Doug and Lindsay – looking at youth activities next year – including Junior CC, and various sports
activities in Broadgreen and at County Ground.
Ian Young – Street Smart volunteers.
VICE-CHAIR REPORT: The Vice-Chair attended the ‘Safe Drive, Stay Alive’ road show and felt the presentation was
excellent and all drivers should see it – it should be a national presentation.
Twenty is Plenty: A couple of weeks ago a coroner reporting on the sad death of a child, knocked over by a bus said
that if the area the accident occurred in had been a 20 mph zone, then the child may very well have lived. The Adver
contacted the Vice-Chair about this and he agreed 20 mph zones were a good thing and should be pushed for in all
residential areas.
An 80% agreement that we should have 20 mph in the Broadgreen Area has emerged from the Community Plan
consultations, so we must continue until we get it.
YOUTH REPORT: There was no report this month.
BROADGREEN HISTORY PROJECT: There will be a committee meeting before the December BSACC meeting –
details will be given next month. We still plan to visit the library, but this has not been arranged yet.
The Coat of Arms relief that once adorned the Bus Garage in Corporation St was supposed to have been saved, but it
has now emerged, following some pretty exhaustive research by SBC, that the contractors deemed that it was beyond
salvage due to the cost involved and subsequently destroyed it. This was a very disappointing outcome, but
unfortunately it was out of SBC’s hands.
Monthly request - if anybody has any old photos or events of the area– VE day celebrations, Queens silver jubilee,
street parties, fete’s etc then we would be happy to scan them to add to the archive.
BROADGREEN COMMUNITY PLAN: John handed around proof copies of the Plan for approval. It was agreed that it
was ready to go to print and there were no objections or problems with the content or quality. The plan will be publicly
launched on the 21st October; there will be 2 documents, the main full copy and a 4-page summary of it.
NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH REPORT: Speeding in Broad Street is absolutely terrible, there was an accident on the
12th Sept. and speed was the cause. Somebody has been regularly riding a motorbike on the path and recently came
close to knocking a resident down; it was unclear as to who had been doing this or where they had come from, but it
had not been reported to the Police. It was advised that the resident should write down the details every time the
problem was witnessed and it should be reported to the Police.
SHRIVENHAM ROAD REPORT: Problems with leaves over path at County Ground, and over growing brambles not
only from Stratton Bank, but also in the alleyway between Shrivenham Road and the football ground.
COCKRAM COURT: The path outside of Cockram Court is very uneven and dangerous especially for older residents,
this was reported to SBC in 2007, but has still not been repaired properly.
WARD COUNCILLORS REPORT: The County Ground children’s play area has been allocated money from the
budget, for renewal, although when done it might be problematic for residents living by it.
The clean up day was very successful, but there needs to be a pro-active ongoing campaign of education within the
community on how residents should respect other residents and the community as a whole, because how some
people dispose of their rubbish in alleyways etc is of great concern to him. It’s no good blaming the council all the
time; everyone has a part to play in it.
Councillor Montaut was asked if he would like to take this campaign forward, but he felt that the only way things are
effective is if it not led from the top down, if local communities initiate it then there is a better chance of success! The
Chair informed the Councillor that she would be meeting with Ian Young from Swindon Commercial Services (SCS)
about Street Smart volunteers for the area but also wondered if he had an update on the long campaign to clear the
rubbish, that according to MP Anne Snelgrove – speaking on the radio – all our Councillors had been undertaking?
Unfortunately Councillor Montaut said whilst all the councillors were concerned about the rubbish problems, he was
uncertain as to what this campaign was and was only aware of the clean up days and the need to have a long term
strategy, rather than the Council continually picking up the rubbish in the area.
The situation with the Town Centre is very dire, we should be proud of it, but how we bring about the regenerations
needs to be addressed. There are so many empty shops it is depressing and 5 national companies have pulled out of
the area - the depression has hit us harder in this town than in other areas. The arts should be involved in the
regeneration, to make our town distinctive and different.
The Chair asked if the Councillor had started to chase 106 monies yet. Councillor Montaut said he had met with the
Deputy Chief Executive and had asked if officers could draw up a plan, how 106 money is allocated. Currently officers
were deciding how this money was spent. The Secretary asked what influence councillors had over 106 monies
coming out of any Town Centre redevelopments, as the Old Town councillors seem to have had a big influence over
106 monies coming out of the Burmah Oil site being spent in Old Town? Councillor Montaut said the only time he was
able to influence this was when people in the SBC opened up and told him exactly what was going on. The railings
around Faringdon Road Park were paid for from 106 money, but he didn’t find out until after the decision had been
made. The problem is, more and more people are contesting for a limited sum of money and officers have determined
how it is to be spent. He had raised questions at Council about it and had a woolly answer, and had also met with the
106 officer for more details about the situation, but he was very much closed down. Very simply, the way the system
operates is, if you’re part of the ‘inner circle’ you can determine what it should be spent on but it is kept within the
bounds of secrecy, hence no one knew about the deal on the railings until it had been done.
Double yellow lines in the alleys – Met with 2 heads of transport division - civil engineers and they said it would be
another budgetary pressure, but have noted what he said.
B.O.N.D: No report this month
ANY OTHER BUSINESS: A number of residents brought to the attention of the meeting that at different times during
the day people seem to be increasingly urinating and putting children to toilet in the streets and alleyways, this has
been causing some anger and worry as it is not acceptable. The Chair said whilst delivering leaflets recently, a little
boy was playing in a front garden, when his mother put him to toilet there and then, rather than taking him into the
house. When questioned she was told by the mother that she didn’t have time to take him in!
Last weekend during some rather windy weather, there was a big problem with rubbish being blown around the area,
however on the following Monday, Wendy our street cleaner did a wonderful job in clearing it all up.
The new drains in the S4L alleys have been blocked up on numerous occasions with rubbish, food waste and cooking
oil – The Chair said that she was in contact with someone at the council about this, and was waiting to hear back with
news.
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