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The meeting took place at Bank Mill House - April 17th, 2008
1.Apologies
These are recorded on the Meetings Attendance Record.
2.Approval of the Minutes of the March meeting and Matters Arising
These had been circulated prior to the meeting and were accepted as a true record - proposed by Alan Whalley and seconded by Cynthia Parkinson.
a. Funder Finder Application Forms - The Area Council had granted CAG £250 to cover its revenue expenses in providing information in the form of minutes, agendas etc.
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A further £750 had been granted towards the provision of Christmas trees on a match funding basis. A letter of thanks had been sent to the Area Council.
b. Town Hall Square conservation area colours - Information had been received from Caroline Baker showing that Central Government legislation was a little vague. Further information will be requested for the next meeting.
Action: Ian Wilkinson
c. Hanging Baskets - Bank Mill House did not want the hassle of watering a hanging basket and, therefore, refused the Area Council's offer.
d. Insurance Renewal - An email had been sent to County Counsellor Susan Shorrock requesting help from her Lancashire Local pot. Progress will be reported.
Action: Peter Holden
3. Any Other Business Items
a. Blue plaques
b. Town Council
4. Youth and the Community
a. Project update
PCSO Kath Stretton had outlined to the March meeting that the Police were well aware of large groups of youths gathering in areas of Great Harwood, particularly on Friday and Saturday evenings.
It is the Police's belief that the majority are well behaved, but they can be noisy and the sheer numbers can be intimidating. The Police spend an inordinate amount of time moving the youths from place to place because calls are being received from the public complaining of the youngsters presence.
The Police believe that if the youths had a place to go the problem would be greatly reduced and to this end a questionnaire is being drawn up aimed at finding out the thoughts of the youngsters. At this point the DRAFT questionnaire is not quite ready but on completion it will be emailed to CAG members for constructive criticism before circulation.
Action: Police
Hyndburn BC are putting together a calendar of events and activities that are taking place during the six weeks summer school holiday in attempt to give the youths an interest during this period. Progress will be reported.
Action: Steve Watson
b. Youth anti-social behaviour in Great Harwood
Much discussion took place on this subject in the light of the well publicised damage caused to the shelter in Memorial Park the other weekend.
The swift action of the police in identifying the culprits, coupled with the robust, high visibility policing at the weekend, seems to have sent shock waves through the wandering youth fraternity if the relative peace of last weekend is anything to go by.
This show of police strength is to be maintained for the near future. There is a feeling that the alcohol that seems to be fuelling the anti-social behaviour is being provided by adults.
Members are asked to pass this information of unlawful practice to their Groups so that word can be spread throughout the area in an attempt to make these adults aware of their illegal actions and at the same time to promote Great Harwood as a "zero tolerance town".
Action: Members
The Area Council will be asked to make this subject an agenda item at its next public meeting.
Action: Peter Holden
5. Press involvement with CAG
In an attempt to further increase the awareness of the people in the town of the events and initiatives that are taking place in Great Harwood the Herald, the Observer and the Telegraph will be circulated with the Monthly meeting minutes.
Each paper will be asked if it sees an item of interest and wants extra information to contact the Group's contact for further details.
Action: Peter Holden
6. Bunting update
The suggestions to fly the bunting across Queen St and in a triangle on Town Hall Square will be brought up at the next Regeneration Partnership Board meeting so that the correct licences can be determined.
Action: John Duckworth
There is a question as to whether the licence to put bunting across the streets of Accrington covers the whole of Hyndburn. This will be investigated and reported back.
Action: Steve Watson
7. Swimming Baths Café update
The Area Council has asked the Hyndburn Leisure Trust to reconsider its proposals to close the café.
The worry to CAG members is that even though the Hyndburn Leisure Trust is a private company it has been allowed to make such decisions without consultation with the Great Harwood Councillors and residents.
8. Treasurer's Report
The purchase of the bunting (£110.25) is the only expenditure since the last meeting, leaving a general balance of £200.08.
9. Reports to increase members awareness.
a. Regeneration Partnership Board update.
The first meeting saw the appointment of CAG members John Duckworth as Chairman and Peter Holden as Vice Chairman.
A sub group is to meet with the Borough Council's Bill Huntly and Karen Hall to discuss every aspect of market stalls on the Town Hall Square.
b. Planning update
The planning applications deposited with HBC between March 10th and March 21st had been received by the Secretary that day. None appeared to have any major significance.
c. Networking - Community Engagement update
Nothing had been received from the Hyndburn Community Network since the last meeting.
d. On Policing
- Several youth referrals have been made and hopefully these will nip further bad behaviour in the bud.
- A joint services project, "Neat Streets", will take place in Great Harwood between May 6th and May 17th in an attempt, not only to clean up but also to help in the education of better habits for the future. The partner agencies will include Environmental Health, the Police, Dog Warden and DVLA. The boundaries of the area to be covered will be ascertained and the initiative advertised. Action : Police
- A Neighbourhood Policing team car is to be used soon in an attempt to increase the effectiveness of the PACT initiative - Police and Community Together.
e. From Groups - these are appended under "Group Reports"
10. Gateway Signs for May
Harwood Bar Residents Association and the Trefoil Guild and any two others. Action : Ann Roberts
11. Other Business
a. Blue plaques for Great Harwood - The Great Harwood Appreciation Society had been researching this idea for several years and was almost in a position to advise on the costs required to make progress. As the Appreciation Society was not a "constituted" Group the meeting agreed to help to find funds when the project gets to that stage.
b. Town Council - The meeting was disappointed with the haste that this topic had been brought to the fore and seemed to require immediate decisions through a vote by the residents.
It is felt that this should have been an agenda item at the last Area Council meeting and more information should have been available about what is entailed.
The first thoughts are that an extra tier of potential bureaucracy will be created and, hence, it will be harder for residents to get action - quite the opposite of the Government's intention according to the consultation document.
12. Next meetings - the next meetings will take place at Bank Mill House at 7.00pm on the following dates:
May 15th - chairman Stan Grime.
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