St. Helens Council Town Hall, St.Helens, Merseyside, WA10 1HP Telephone: 01744-456249 (Sharon Dickinson, Support Officer)

Rainhill Ward Committee Public Meeting

Agenda

Date: 29th January 2008 Time: 7.00 p.m. Venue: Rainhill Village Hall Membership: Councillors: De’Asha, Doyle, Glover Co-opted Members: Nicki Boardman, Helena Housing Constable Miller, Merseyside Police Eric Golden, Community Empowerment Network Gill Davies, Tenants and Residents Association Councillor W. M. Wood, Parish Council

1. Apologies for Absence

2. Minutes of the Previous Meeting

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3. Declaration of Interests from Members

4. Matters Arising from the Previous Meeting

a) October Issues b) Environmental Project Fund

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5. Public Question Time

6. Local Issues – Rainhill Station

7. Update on Environmental Protection Planned Schemes

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8. Environmental Fund New Proposals

9. Community Safety Update 12

10. Council Budget Consultation 16

11. Date of the Next Meeting – 11th March 2008

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Item 2: Minutes of the Previous Meeting

Rainhill Ward Committee At a meeting of this Committee held on 30th October 2007 at Rainhill Village Hall

(Present) Cllr M Doyle (St. Helens Council) Cllr S Glover (St. Helens Council) Cllr J De’Asha (St. Helens Council) Cllr W M Wood (Rainhill Parish Council) E Golden (Community Empowerment Network) N. Boardman (Helena Housing) (Also Present) Sue Lightup (St. Helens Council) Hannah Easby (St. Helens Council) Peter McAnespie (St. Helens Council) David Boocock (St. Helens Council) (Not Present) Constable A Miller (Merseyside Police) 1. Apologies for Absence Merseyside Police sent apologies on behalf of Constable A Miller. 2. Local Issues – Youth Provision Item 7 of the agenda was moved up the agenda as the speaker, David Boocock, needed to leave the meeting early to attend another ward committee. David Boocock provided information about youth provision in Rainhill. This included:

• Girls group – run out of the 4 F centre on a Wednesday night with activities such as fashion design and catwalk shows.

• Organised bus to take young people to Parr for motor sports There is currently a detached team in the area that want to consult with local young people about their needs and wants but they are finding it difficult to meet and talk with them due to Section 30 (legal provision of dispersing young people from an area). There are very little facilities in the area that can be accessed on a Friday and Saturday night. Transport is a challenge as young people view it as costly and dangerous, particularly at night. Cllrs De’Asha and Doyle asked whether Outreach workers were asking young people what they want to do and reporting this back. Cllrs felt that there was a lack of communication between outreach workers and Cllrs. Cllr De’Asha asked whether the 4 F centre could be used on Friday or Saturday night for young people. David Boocock replied that the venue was not big enough as such an event is likely to attract up to 150 young people. It was suggested that the Village Hall could be used and David Boocock agreed it could be used for activities such as Urban Art. The Councillors wanted to speak to young people and report back to the Ward Committee. David Boocock suggested that the Youth Council would be a good way

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of interacting with young people; he could provide the names of those who live in Rainhill.

• David Boocock to get the names of young people from Rainhill who are members of the Youth Council.

3. Minutes of the previous meeting The minutes were agreed as a true reflection of the previous meeting with two amendments to Paragraph 29: Foxwood Estate should read Becketts Wood Estate and the information about the fence on the corner of Rainhill Road and Worthington Road is to be fed back to Arena Housing. 4. Declaration of interest from Members Ward Committee members agreed to declare their interests as and when they arise during the meeting. 5. Delegated Powers Sue Lightup explained that the Committee could grant powers to the lead officer in consultation with either the Chair or three Ward Councillors to approve schemes previously put forward by the Committee for appraisal. This would be subject to the cost if the scheme being at or below an agreed financial limit, to be agreed by the Committee. Other wards had set a limit of £1000, given the level of the Committee budget.

• Officers will report back that the Committee resolved to delegate powers to the lead officer in consultation with the Chair for a proposed financial limit of £2000.

6. Matter arising from the previous meeting]

20.Environmental Fund RAH-07 Sue Lightup provided the cost breakdown of the portaloo: Lease £16,000 to £17,000 per year. Purchase £55,000 Maintenance: £10,000 Additional cost of £15,000 to put in foundations, sewer and water

connections. The Committee asked for more accurate costings as the total breakdown of the costs (£96,000- £97,000) did not correspond with the original cost appraisal.

• Council Officers to ask for more accurate costings.

29.Local Issues Cllr De’Asha reported back that the alleygates scheme was in progress and resident had been informed. 31. Environmental Fund – New proposals Improve land in front of Rainhill station - Email has been received from the conservation Officer, The Committee would like further clarification from the officer concerned and have asked that he reports to the Committee at the next meeting.

• Conservation Officer to attend the next meeting with information about

Rainhill Station. 6a) Environmental Project Fund RAH – 01: Replacement of Perimeter fencing to Old Lane Playing Field on junction of Old Lane and Warrington Road. - Works complete.

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RAH – 02 Public Seating Area x2 - Project due to be completed at the end of October but needs consultation with Cllr Doyle as to exact location. Cllr Doyle has consulted with Council officer who felt that a site visit was not necessary. RAH – 03 Street Lighting – Martins Close. This is already programmed within the council’s schedule of work. RAH – 04 Fence, Martins Close – This scheme was unable to be pursed through the Ward Committee environmental fund, as the Parish Council owns the land. RAH – 05 Plastic Recycling, Tasker Terrace – Information regarding this scheme will be provided at Item 12. RAH – 06 Manor Farm Pond, Fence, footpath – Work is due to be completed at the end of November. RAH – 07 Portaloo – The scheme was rejected as the costs of a portaloo were outside the scope of the Environmental fund. A detailed breakdown of the costs had been supplied earlier in the meeting. RAH – 08 Rainhill Road Entry Project – Works have been programmed for completion by the end of October. RAH – 09 Memorial Site, plinth clean up – The scheme appraisal is in progress, the Contractor is confident it can be cleaned up. Cllr W M Wood asked if something could be done about the misspelling perseverance on the plinth.

• Council Officers will look into this and report back. RAH – 10 Warrington Road, Tidy Up Rear of Shops – This is private land and needs permission of adjacent property owners to enable an investigation of drains to be carried out. RAH – 11 Houghton Street Memorial, Planting – The scheme appraisal in progress. Ra – 6 – 2007 – 1: Portaloo – The scheme was rejected as the costs of a portaloo were outside the scope of the Environmental fund. Ra – 9 – 2007 – 2: Drainage to field, Warburton Hey play area: The Council have proposed to raise the level of the land, possibly by using material from the existing mounds, provide top soil and to seed the area. It is also recommended to install an additional 100 mtrs of land drainage to improve the area. The estimated cost is £5000. Cllr Doyle requested that the council provide costings for an expansion of this scheme. Residents would like to restore/clean up the footpath that runs alongside the field, between Warburton Hey Road and Warrington Road.

• Council officers to add this request to the original proposal.

Ra – 9 – 2007 – 3: Clearance of School Lane footpath - The footpath has been inspected by the Council's Public Rights of Way Officer, who feels that this rural path is fit for purpose in its current condition. The adjacent farmer has carried clearance works out this year by Grounds Maintenance and, to a certain extent. No estimate could be given without clear information with regard to the extent and standard of improvement being requested. 6. Public Question Time No questions were raised at this meeting. 7. Update on Environmental Protection Planned Schemes Members of the ward Committee reviewed and noted the information contained in the report. 9. Environmental Fund New Proposals There were no new proposals to report.

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10. Community Safety Update The representative from Merseyside Police was not at the meeting but members of the Committee wanted to ask the police at the next meeting if they had plans for automatic speed warning signs as the committee believed they were effective. Members at the meeting noted the summary report.

• Constable A. Miller to respond at the next meeting 11. LDF Consultation Peter McAnespie, from St. Helens Council presented the Core Strategy to the ward committee. The Core Strategy replaces the Local Development Framework as the key spatial strategy. It sets out the council’s spatial vision to 2024. Out of the 5 spatial areas highlighted in the plan, Rainhill falls within area 5, Rural St. Helens, and the key objectives for the area include:

• Cllr WM Wood raised concern that there was no mention of spatial developments in Rainhill, specifically. Cllr Doyle agreed that the principles were very good but unless all areas of the Borough were developed, there was the danger that some area, like Rainhill, would be left behind. 12. Recycling Sue Lightup provided information about the pilot plastic recycling scheme taking place in Rainhill. The recycling containers will be delivered to households on the week commencing 12th November and the first collection will be 27th November. The Committee noted the information provided about recycling. 13. Any other Business Nicki Boardman will update the committee on the progress of vacating residents from Warburton Hey flats at the next meeting. 13. Date of next meeting The next meeting of the Rainhill Ward Committee will be on Tuesday 29th January 2008.

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Item 4a: Matters Arising

There were no Matters Asising

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Item 4b: Matters Arising

RAINHILL WARD COMMITTEE - ENVIRONMENTAL FUND PROGRESS REPORT – JANUARY 2008

Application In Progress Works Programmed/Complete Project currently not selected

App. No. Scheme Estimated

Cost Actual ExpenditureOn Completion

Application Form Received

Technical Appraisal in

Progress

Scheme Appraisal Complete

Ward Committee Approved

D = under Delegated Powers

Leader/ Chief

Executive Approved

Works Programmed

Works Completed

RAH-01 Replacement of the perimeter fencing to the Old Lane Playing Field on junction of Old Lane and Warrington Road

£2,000 50%

contribution requested

£1,687.50

RAH-02 Public Seating Area – 2 No. (memorial)

£1,571 £1,801.00

RAH-03 Street Lighting – Martins Close

-

RAH-04 Fence – Martins Close Playing Fields

-

RAH-05 Plastic Recycling – Tasker Terrace

RAH-06 Manor Farm Pond – Fence, footpath

£5,574

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App. No. Scheme Estimated Cost

Actual ExpenditureOn Completion

Application Form Received

Technical Appraisal in

Progress

Scheme Appraisal Complete

Ward Committee Approved

D = under Delegated Powers

Leader/ Chief

Executive Approved

Works Programmed

Works Completed

RAH-07 Portaloo – capital costs only -

RAH-08

Rainhill Road Entry Project £963 £1,176.00

RAH-09 Memorial Site – plinth clean up £490 D

RAH-10

Warrington Road – Tidy Up Rear of Shops

RAH-11 Houghton Street Memorial - Planting

Ra-6-2007-1

Portaloo

Ra-9-2007-2

Drainage to field – Warburton Hey play area

£5,000

Ra-9-2007-3

Clearance of School Lane footpath

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Item 7: Update on Environmental Protection Planned Schemes

Works to be undertaken Ward Location Scheme

Jan 2008 – March 2008

April 2008 – June 2008

Rainhill Highway Maintenance Schemes

A57 Warrington Road (parts) Carriageway Resurfacing

Longton Lane (parts) Carriageway Resurfacing

B5413 Rainhill Road (parts) Carriageway Resurfacing

Street Lighting Schemes

A57 Warrington Road Replace Old Lighting with 10m T/S Columns and 150W S0N lanterns from House No 631 to Dunbeath Avenue

Carriageway Resurfacing Scheme In a carriageway resurfacing scheme the top layers of the road surface will be removed. Manhole covers and gully grates and frames

will be set to new levels. The road surface will be regulated if required, and a new surface course will be laid. Road markings will be replaced on completion of the works.

Carriageway resurfacing is undertaken when the road surface has become cracked, rutted or has started to break up. The new surface

protects the underlying layers from water penetration, strengthens the road construction and gives an improved ride for vehicles.

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Item 9: Community Safety Update

TACKLING CRIME AND DISORDER IN ST.HELENS – WARD UPDATE RAINHILL

Crime has continued to fall across the Borough and most key crime types are showing significant reductions when compared with last year. Some Wards have had greater reductions than others but the overall trend for the current year continues to be downwards, with a 29.5% reduction in all recorded crime for the year to date when compared to last year. The Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership is currently underway with a strategic assessment which will inform an annual cycle of development plans, the first of which will commence in April 2008. The views and priorities of residents have been canvassed and will form a key element in the assessment and planning process.

Oct – Dec

2006 Oct – Dec

2006 +/- %

Borough Wide Profile British Crime Survey Comparator Crimes 3090 1897 38.6 Total Recorded Crime 4713 3324 29.5

Ward Profile Theft of a Vehicle 12 4 66.7 Theft from a Vehicle 18 15 16.7 Domestic Burglary 23 25 34.8 Theft from a Person 1 2 100.0 Criminal Damage and Arson 49 28 42.9 Drug Offences 4 4 Anti-Social Behaviour calls to the Police

• Rowdy Behaviour 123 61 50.4 • Nuisance Vehicles 22 3 86.3 • Street Drinking 3 3 • Substance Misuse 0 0 Merseyside Police - Your Neighbourhood Inspector is Neil Kavanagh and

your Neighbourhood Sergeant is Neil Forsyth.

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Ward Initiatives Weekly Police Surgeries Police surgeries continue to take place at Rainhill Library every Thursday between 15:30 and 16:30. These are an excellent opportunity for the local community to speak with members of Merseyside Police to inform us of their local concerns. Operation Cracker High-risk business premises such as Post Offices, Banks, Off Licenses and Betting shops were visited over the Christmas and New Year period to reduce robberies. School Visits In December Community Support Officers continued to visit all local primary schools in the Rainhill area. Community Support and Traffic Officers John May and Maureen Hamer visited Deepdale Pre-School’s Christmas Play where John May dressed as Father Christmas and handed out presents to the children. KINS meetings These community-led meetings are continuing on a regular basis. PCSOs attend to offer advice and deal with any Police related issues raised. Traffic Campaign Community Support and Traffic Officers are still dealing with the one of the main concerns in Rainhill, this being parking in the village and surrounding area. Issues surrounding parking have been brought to the attention of CSO’s and an enforcement campaign will begin shortly. Speedwatch campaigns are continuing with 14 warnings being issued on Stoney Lane during the last initiative. Rainhill Shop Watch The trial run of the Rainhill Shop Watch was successful. Many shops were involved in this trial including Somerfield. It is hoped that this will be developed in the future.

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Borough-Wide Initiatives Crime Busting Solution comes to St Helens

SmartWater, the latest high-tech solution to fighting crime which has a 100 per cent conviction rate, has arrived in St Helens. Merseyside Police, St Helens Council and the Business Chamber have teamed up to deliver SmartWater with funding

from the Neighbourhood Renewal Fund SmartWater is a unique method of marking items and property that is invisible to the naked eye and may mark people who attempt to steal items with a substance which cannot easily be removed from clothes or skin but which can be identified by the Police. Property can instantly be identified if stolen. The development of this unique forensic solution will be incorporated into both the business and residential community across St Helens.

Domestic Violence – Help is only a phone call away

Domestic abuse is a serious crime and Merseyside Police in St Helens has teamed up with St Helens Council to reinforce the message that this is a serious crime - don't accept it, help is just a phone call away. The St Helens Family Crime Investigation Unit (FCIU) co-ordinates

the local response to calls for help in instances of Domestic Abuse. Our message is simple - Anyone who threatens a partner or commits acts of violence within a relationship will be arrested and we will seek to place offenders before the courts. Merseyside Police and partners would urge anyone suffering from domestic abuse to seek help. If you need to discuss any issues in confidence, the following services are available:- St Helens Women’s Aid 01925 220541 (24 hours) St Helens Social Services 01744 677740 St Helens Police Family Crime Investigation Unit 0151 777 1590 Independent Domestic Violence Advocate 01744 457116

St Helens Team Receive National Award A St Helens multi-agency initiative has been nationally recognised by the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) for its innovative approach to support schools with incidents involving drugs. A protocol, adopted by the Boroughs schools for responding to incidents involving drugs, has been developed by a team comprising of St Helens Drug and Alcohol Action Team, Young Peoples Substance Misuse Team, Healthy Schools and Merseyside Police.

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The protocol is designed to help schools provide an appropriate response when drugs have been found or have been brought into schools or where other drug related problems occur. The protocol ensures that correct procedures are followed and that all the necessary safeguarding issues are properly dealt with. The protocol is being supported with a comprehensive training programme for teachers as well as assemblies and interactive sessions for pupils as part of their PHSE lessons covering such issues as substance misuse and the harms that drugs can cause. The Team, represented by Detective Sergeant Graham Harrison, Madeline Jones (Young Peoples Substance Misuse Coordinator), Lynda Pratt (DAAT Business Manager) and Eric Albrecht (Principal Officer for Healthy Schools) were presented with the ACPO Commendation by Tom Hollis QPM (Chairman of ACPO Drugs Portfolio) at the ACPO Drugs Conference in Cardiff on 20 November 2007. Useful Contacts 0151 709 6010 – NON-EMERGENCY NUMBER (general enquiries, speak to Neighbourhood Officers) 999 – EMERGENCY 0800 555 111 – CRIMESTOPPERS (providing information about crime in your area anonymously)

Further information can be found by logging on to our website – www.merseyside.police.uk

St Helens Council

Tel: 01744 456789 Email: contactcentre@sthelens.gov.uk

Website: www.sthelens.gov.uk

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Item 10: Council Budget Consultation COUNCIL BUDGET CONSULTATION Dear Ward Committee Members Consultation on the Council’s Budget Proposals for 2008-09 I am writing to you, as a key stakeholder within the Borough, to seek your views on our proposals for next year’s budget. A copy of the article on the budget which is due to be published in the next edition of St.Helens First is attached along with a copy of the Budget Consultation Questionnaire which will be available on the Council website and at Libraries. Below I have set out the key issues contained within the proposals. Key Factors Affecting the Budget The Council receives a significant level of funding from Central Government in the form of a general Revenue Support Grant. This has seen an increase of 5.5% for 2007-08. This compares to a national increase of 3.6%. This better result is due to the Government fully implementing changes to the basis of allocation originally identified in 2006. Schools funding is now given separately and can only be used for designated schools related purposes. This is to increase by 4.3% per pupil. Service demands, particularly in Social Care for Children and Adults continues to increase year-on- year. The Council has again met its targets for Efficiency savings set at 2.5% of gross spend and has plans to achieve the new Government target of 3% in 2008-09. In total the Government expects savings amounting to £12.7m to be achieved by 2010-11. The Government has significantly changed its Specific Grant regime with many previous grants, including most of those within the Local Area Agreement, being brought together as one non-ring-fenced grant called the Area Based Grant.

St.Helens…facing tomorrow’s challenges together www.sthelens.co.uk Key Budget Proposals

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To undertake a fundamental review with our strategic partners of all expenditure falling within the Area Based Grant in 2008-09 to assess its effectiveness in terms of impact, outcomes, support to key national and local priorities and value for money. To provide £1,150k of additional funding for Adult Social Care. To provide £900k of funding to support the implementation of a Children’s Care Strategy and to enhance family support. To provide £25k of to support Shopmobility. To enhance support for Drug and Alcohol Abuse by strengthening prevention of under-age alcohol sales and additional youth initiatives to provide support. In total this is an additional £135k. £50k is being provided to support inward investment. £150k is being provided to support Community based activities and the voluntary and community sector. To invest £39m in Capital projects in 2008-09. To set a Council Tax increase of 2.5%. As you will be aware this is the second Budget under our administration. I have based this budget on the principles of reflecting the Communities needs and aspirations, meeting the statutory responsibilities placed on the administration and maintaining a sound financial basis for the delivery of these services. Your comments would be most welcome and if you would like to meet to discuss the proposals please contact me and I will arrange this. However could you please ensure that any comments are received by the Council before Wednesday 6 February 2008. Yours sincerely,

Councillor Brian Spencer, Leader of the Council

St.Helens…facing tomorrow’s challenges together www.sthelens.co.uk

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BUDGET CONSULTATION 2008/09 In the Council’s draft budget statement it is proposed to:

• Provide an additional £500,000 to support the continued implementation of

the Looked After Children’s Care strategy; • Provide an additional £400,000 to support preventative family support

services; • Provide an additional £550,000 to improve services for older people; • Provide an additional £600,000 to support the growth in dementia and

younger adults services; • Invest £100,000 in youth drug and alcohol prevention and support initiatives; • Provide £100,0000 to support community based cultural initiatives; and • To make available an additional £50,000 to support community facilitation.

To what extent do you agree or disagree with these proposals?

Strongly agree

Agree Don’t know

Disagree Strongly disagree

The proposed Council Tax increase for 2008/09 is 2.5%. Would you be prepared to accept an increase in Council Tax above this level to fund additional services? The Council consults with the Community on its budget using a number of methods (outlined below). Please indicate which of the following you believe to be effective methods of consultation. Effective Ineffective Don’t Know Ward Committees People’s Panel Budget Consultation Questionnaire Council Tax Leaflet Are there any other ways in which you feel the Council could improve its consultation on the budget with the Community?

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Do you feel that the information the Council provides on its finances is sufficient and useful? If not, how could this be improved? Do you feel you have an understanding of the Council’s broad priorities and aims?

Understand Don’t understand

Comment

Are there any areas of Council Services that you think could be provided more efficiently? From your point of view, do you think the Council should spend more money, less money or the same amount of money on the following service areas? More

money Same amount of money

Less money

Education Children’s Social Services Adult Social Care and Health Community Safety Youth & Youth Offending Libraries, Culture & Heritage Parks & Open Spaces Waste Collection and Recycling Traffic Management & Road Safety Street Cleansing Highways & Street Lighting Environmental Health and Trading Standards Recreation & Sport Private Housing Initiatives Economic Development

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Are there any other issues that you feel need to be taken in to account when setting the budget? Name and address (optional) Please return hard copies of this questionnaire to: Ian Roberts, Assistant Chief Executive (Finance) Town Hall Victoria Square St Helens WA10 1HP