Minutes of the Community Safety Partnership
MINUTES OF MEETING OF OPERATIONAL TIER – COLERAINE COMMUNITY SAFETY PARTNERSHIP HELD ON THURSDAY 18TH MAY 2006 IN COLERAINE BOROUGH COUNCIL OFFICES, CLOONAVIN, 66 PORTSTEWART ROAD, COLERAINE.
PRESENT:
Bill Wilsdon, NI Fire and Rescue ServiceSuzanne Crozier, District Policing Partnership
Mark Mc Guicken, Community Safety Unit
Ann Mc Nickle Coleraine Rural and Urban Network
Gwyneth Mc Quiston, Coleraine Borough Chamber of Commerce
Julie Smyth, Probation Board Northern Ireland
Deirdre Bradley, Youth Service (until 10.45 a.m.)
Alison Barber Youth Justice Agency
Julie Welsh, Coleraine Borough Council
IN ATTENDANCE:
Elaine Black, Community Safety Partnership
APOLOGIES:
Peter Crook, Causeway Health and Social Services Trust
Simon Langtry, Police Service for Northern Ireland
Isobel Higgins, Northern Ireland Housing Executive
Patricia Mc Callion, Coleraine Borough Strategic Partnership
1. Welcome
1.1. Elaine welcomed all present to the meeting and outlined that the appointment of a Vice Chairperson was needed at the start of the meeting in order for the meeting to continue.
1.2. Julie Welsh and Alison Barber from Coleraine Borough Council and the Youth Justice Agency respectively were welcomed to their first meeting.
1.3. It was agreed to appoint the Vice Chairperson after the presentation on the Best Practice Visit to Sefton.
2. Apologies
2.1. All apologies were received and recorded.
3. Sefton Best Practice Visit presentation
3.1. Elaine outlined the itinerary and learning points from the Sefton Best Practice Visit assisted by members who took part in the visit.
3.2. All members who still have to forward their Evaluation forms were encouraged to do so in order for the report to be completed.
4. Appointment of Vice Chairperson
4.1. After a full discussion, Ann Mc Nickle agreed to act as temporary Vice Chair person for this meeting and for the purposes of signing off the outstanding invoices being processed through Council.
5. Minutes of the previous meeting
5.1. The minutes of the meeting held on 16th March 06 were accepted as a true record by all present. Proposed: Gwyneth Mc Quiston Seconded: Suzanne Crozier
6. Matters Arising
6.1. Advanced Certificate in Community Safety course
6.1.1. Patricia had forwarded a response to Conal Devitt about the non payment of a place on the Advanced Certificate in Community Safety for a member of the Partnership. To date there is no formal response.
6.1.2. The members agreed this situation was unsatisfactory especially due to the inconsistent approach applied to the payment of places on the course.
6.1.3. It was agreed that the treatment of the member of the Operational tier is poor practice and did not enable a positive learning experience.
6.1.4. Mark agreed to feedback the discussion by the Operational tier and to encourage a written response from Conal Devitt.
7. Correspondence
7.1. A summary of correspondence was circulated to members. The main items included a letter from Victim Support, Causeway VIPS, Road Safety Committee and a memo from CSU regarding a Crimestoppers campaign.
7.2. Victim Support have requested copies of the minutes of meetings and Elaine will respond in writing to confirm these will be forwarded until Victim Support is able to access them on the website.
7.3. The CSU memo regarding the Crimestoppers campaign outlines that the Partnership can apply to have a number of local Crimestopper Campaigns and if successful these can be managed by AV Browne. Simon and Elaine met with Crimestoppers and will prepare a list of ideas which could be incorporated into an application/s.
7.4. A letter from Road Safety Committee advising of their future plans and requesting support was read and noted.
7.5. Causeway VIPs are trying to regenerate themselves and Elaine is continuing to attend their meetings to maintain a liaison with the agencies working with vulnerable and isolated persons on behalf of the Partnership
8. Financial Update
8.1. A copy of the funding summary provided to the Community Safety Unit on 7th April was circulated along with a funding summary for May 06. This relates to 2005/06 expenditure which now shows an underspend of £1330.00
8.2. The Underspend is due to 2 groups not accepting their Continuation fund and others not spending the full amount awarded.
8.3. Kilrea Community Forum is the only group now which has not responded to contact from the Community Safety Co-ordinator to ascertain whether they will spend the full award. It was agreed that Elaine forward a letter outlining to the group that if they do not produce receipts for the full 70% advance payment then efforts will be made to reclaim the outstanding amount. It was agreed that as the deadline for final claims is past the remainder of the funding initially awarded to the group (£150) is no longer available.
8.4. It is essential that the members consider the underspend and Elaine outlined that 3 approaches had been made from groups/ organizations who could benefit from any remaining funds. It was agreed last month to cover the renewal of the National Community Safety Network membership (approximately £150)
8.5. The 3 projects are from Coleraine Youth Council, PSNI and Older People’s forum.
8.6. The Coleraine Youth Council Project is a Community Relations initiative incorporating a local residential which focuses on beliefs and behaviour around prejudice and hatred and anti social behaviour. Costings and an outline of the project have been received.
8.7. There is limited information on the Plasma screen idea. At the last Operational meeting the Plasma screen was suggested along with Radiolink and School Packs as PSNI ideas and the priority identified for funding from the projects was Radiolink. Mark believed other plasma screen projects have been a greater cost than any funding that remains. This would mean the PSNI would need to find additional resources and this could extend the timeframe to complete the project at a time the project needs completed. Additional issues that were considered during the discussion of the Plasma screen included the timescale to complete the project, any planning permissions or broadcasting licences required, the full cost including mounting of the screen and insurances, the timescale to complete the idea versus the time available to expend the money and Sourcing Match funding if required to complete the project. Also the difficulties in setting up the verification of the Radiolink funding will be the same for the Plasma screen.
8.8. There is no firm information on the Older Person’s Project idea other than an event to bring together older people of different ethnic minorities.
8.9. It was agreed to fund the Coleraine Youth Council local residential up to £700 as it met the baseline criteria set for applications under the Small Grant Scheme.
8.10. The members agreed that Elaine would manage any final underspend for 2005/06 monies as soon as possible.
9. Action Plan
9.1. The Community Safety Unit has circulated a pro forma funding agreement for projects and have advised that if alternative terms and conditions are used the Partnership may be held liable. Elaine has used the pro forma Funding agreements and members supported this action.
9.2. Support meetings have taken place with Coleraine Town Partnership with regards the Town Centre Ranger, Coleraine Youth Forum in relation to the Youth Intervention programme and NEXUS about the Schools Sexual Awareness programme. All of these project promoters are compiling a project plan and submitting a final budget profile.
9.3. The Anti Social Behaviour Initiative is underway and Elaine circulated copies of the Anti Social Behaviour School lesson plan and work book. A pilot of the lesson took place on 11th May 06 and was regarded a success from the feedback from the teacher. Student evaluations are being collected and a further meeting with Graham Walker is taking place in the next few weeks to consider its introduction in the next school curriculum year.
9.4. Elaine circulated a financial summary for the Action Plan budget and outlined that a revision was needed to the budget as an error was noted in how the total in kind resources was calculated. It was agreed that Elaine would revise the figures and provide a summary for the next meeting. The revisions are as follows: -
9.5. In year 1 it was agreed that the Anti Social Behaviour initiative would be reduced by the difference shown in column 4 and in year 2 the budgets for primarily the Night Time economy and Youth Intervention programme would be revised.
10. Community Safety projects
10.1. CCTV
10.1.1. Mark outlined that the Coleraine bid is being returned along with 21 of the 24 CCTV applications that were submitted. This is to clarify issues that have been raised I the assessment process.
10.2. Safer Dancing
10.2.1. Suzanne and Elaine attended the last meeting of Safer Dancing where general business was completed.
10.2.2. It appears that the group are considering a Development Day however Mark confirmed that CSU’s funding for this was only available in the previous financial year. The group would have to reprofile their budget if they wished to use existing Challenge funds.
10.2.3. Both quarter 1 and 2 financial claims have been forwarded to the Community Safety Unit by the Partnership. The next financial quarter ends on end May 06.
10.3. Bonfire
10.3.1. There is a Bonfire Safety meeting on 23rd May and Elaine will try to attend to assess her involvement in future meetings and report back to the committee.
10.4. Neighbourhood Watch
10.4.1. Simon, Suzanne and Elaine meet as a Neighbourhood Watch Planning group and copies of the last meeting’s minutes along with the Neighbourhood Watch Network event report and a draft funding application was circulated.
10.4.2. The planning group recommended that a funding application is placed with the Community Safety Unit by June 06 to continue to run network events and ongoing support for new schemes and initiatives. All present agreed that the funding application should be submitted. There will be another round of funding in September 06.
10.4.3. A new Neighbourhood Watch Scheme application has been received for Clarence Court/ The Rope Walk area of Coleraine. The application appears to be in order and the vetting completed. It was agreed to endorse the application.
10.4.4. Following correspondence from the Partnership to Castlerock and Gransden Park seeking greater information the latter area has continued to work with PSNI to complete the information needed however will remain pending until Elaine receives all the information required.
10.4.5. There are currently 5 accredited schemes in place and following the new guidance notes all co-ordinators will be issued with Identification cards in the near future.
10.5. Small Grant scheme projects
10.5.1. The main report on Small Grant project expenditure is included in item 7.
10.5.2. The final steps for the Small Grant scheme is to receive and review the final evaluations of the projects and to complete final verifications of expenditure by reviewing bank statements and BACs payments where appropriate.
10.6. Community Safety Website
10.6.1. A meeting is arranged for 24th May 2006 in Cloonavin to review the website and content to date. Elaine continues to forward the content for Worldsites to develop. Direct links to all organizations are being established. The website address is www.colerainecommunitysafety.com
10.7. Project ASB
10.7.1. This item is now complete and is an integral tool in the Partnership’s Anti Social Behaviour Initiative.
11. Any Other Business
11.1. Joint Enforcement Initiative
11.1.1. Elaine attended a meeting organized by PSNI which brought together different agencies with joint involvement/ enforcement for licensed premises, underage drinking, on street drinking, bicycling/ skateboarding, illegal street trading. Elaine will provide copies of the initiative for interested members.
11.2. Mini Motos Group
11.2.1. Ann informed members that a new group had formed to enable young people to use mini mopeds safely and encouraged members to contact her if there was any funding available and or links that organizations would like to make with them.
12. Date, Time and venue of Next Meeting
12.1.The next meeting was agreed for Thursday 15th June 2006 at 2.00 p.m. in Conference room 1, Cloonavin.