Agenda item

The Leader invited the Chairman of the Joint Overview and Scrutiny Board, Councillor S. R. Colella to introduce the report of the Joint Overview and Scrutiny Board following their Inquiry into reported crime and disorder issues around the Multi Use Games Area (MUGA) at Swanslength, Alvechurch.

 

Councillor Colella reminded members that following the receipt of three public petitions, one calling for removal of the MUGA and two supporting its retention, the issue had been referred by the Cabinet to the Joint Overview and Scrutiny Board and that an Inquiry had been subsequently been undertaken. Interviews had taken place with a variety of stakeholders and partners including a number of local residents. Officers had provided reports and information to the Joint Board and Members had also carried out site visits.

 

Councillor Colella referred to the eleven recommendations from the Joint Board, including the main recommendation that the MUGA be retained.

 

The Portfolio Holder for Community Services, Councillor M. J. A. Webb responded by thanking the Joint Board for its very thorough and detailed investigation of the matter and stated that he was particularly pleased that local children who used the facility had attended some of the meetings and had participated in the local democratic process.

 

Councillor Webb referred to paragraph 6.15 of the report and indicated it may be appropriate to look again at the Council’s procedures to consider where improvements in processes may be achieved. It was important to ensure that the fullest information was provided to officers. 

 

Councillor Webb stated that he would be pleased to attend the next meeting of the Joint Overview and Scrutiny Board on 23rd November 2010 in order to formally report back to the Board the Cabinet’s response to each of the recommendations within the report.

 

Following discussion of the recommendations it was

 

RESOLVED:

 

(a)       that the response to each of the recommendations within the report of the Joint Overview and Scrutiny Board be as set out below:

 

 

Recommendation One

 

That the Alvechurch MUGA be left in situ.

 

Cabinet Response

 

 This was agreed.  

 

 Recommendation Two

 

That the Community Safety Officers for Alvechurch make periodic house calls to vulnerable residents living in close proximity to the MUGA. 

 

Cabinet Response

 

That the Community Support Officers be requested to continue to make periodic house calls to vulnerable residents living in close proximity to the MUGA.

 

Recommendation Three

 

That the Alvechurch Community Together (ACT) Trust consider extending the opening hours of the Alvechurch Youth Club until the later time of 10pm in the evening for the older teenagers to actively discourage young people from socialising around the MUGA area late in the evening. 

 

Cabinet Response

 

This was agreed but wording to be amended to relate to “the Lounge” Drop in Centre.

 

Recommendation Four

 

That the Alvechurch Youth Club carry out targeted outreach work on the MUGA itself to engage with the young people who use the site as a social meeting point in the evening after dusk.

         

          Cabinet Response

 

Amend to “that ACT youth workers be requested to carry out targeted outreach work to positively engage young people and encourage them to join the youth club and that youth workers run organised activity sessions at the MUGA.”

 

Recommendation Five

 

That the Performance Management Board monitor the levels and types of reported Anti-Social Behaviour at Swanslength over the next 12 months to assess the levels of reported ASB compared to the previous 12 months. 

This should also be compared to general ASB trends across the district. 

 

Cabinet Response

 

That the situation be monitored by the relevant Portfolio Holder rather than the Performance Management Board.

 

Recommendation Six

 

That Bromsgrove Community Safety Partnership monitor the levels of reported Anti-Social Behaviour around the MUGA to identify emerging issues of ASB and coordinate remedial action in partnership with the local police service and the Bromsgrove District Council Community Safety Team.

 

Cabinet Response

 

Amend to read “that Bromsgrove Community Safety Partnership continue to monitor…”

 

Recommendation Seven

 

That West Mercia Police allocate a higher level of uniformed presence of the Swanslength area between 9pm and 1am at night.

 

Cabinet Response

 

Amend to read “that West Mercia Police be requested to continue monitoring the vicinity of the MUGA after 9pm in the way they did in the summer.”

 

Recommendation Eight

 

That the street lighting located near to the MUGA facility be relocated further away from the MUGA site to discourage this area from being a social meeting point for people in the evening.

 

Cabinet Response

 

This was agreed.

 

Recommendation Nine

 

That the full length of the perimeter wall running alongside Swanslength be removed and the ground re-banked to remove the makeshift seating that the wall provides for people using the MUGA area as a social meeting point in the evenings. 

 

Cabinet Response

 

This was agreed.

 

Recommendation Ten

 

That a programme of landscaping be completed to create an open space recreation ground to increase visibility of the site and reduce the number of ASB acts that are obscured by undergrowth. 

 

Cabinet Response

 

This was agreed.

 

Recommendation Eleven

 

That the seating panels provided as part of the MUGA facility be removed and replaced with blank panels and that the swing frame and seat be removed altogether.

 

Cabinet Response

 

This was agreed.

 

(b)       that relevant officers work within the planning process to ensure that Statutory Consultees  and partners engage effectively with the planning process and that they properly respond in their capacity as Statutory Consultees.