Meeting 31/01/07


Present
R.Robinson, R.Lee, M.McNeill, L.Hiddleston, S.Podmore, J.McGowan.

In Attendance
Clackmannanshire Councillors-G.Matchett and B.Fearon, T.Duff Youth Worker, M.McArdle Clacks Council, P.C C. Hogg, INSP D.Johnstone C.S.P., A.Senior Community Warden, W.J.Biush.
Tron Traders M.Connelly, D.Drysdale, P.O`Hagen, G.Kirkwood, E.Duncan, W.Orr, A. Orr.

Welcome and Apologies
The chair welcomed everyone to the meeting apologies where put in for M.Robinson and A.Hiddleston

Minutes of the last meeting
The minutes were handed out and read they were proposed by J.McGowan and seconded by L.Hiddleston.
Matters Arising

None
Inspector David Johnstone
Inspector Johnstone apologised for his absence at last months meeting, Police federation work and the inspector for the Tullibody area had limited his free time and the induction of new student officers made it impossible to appear for the meeting. He Informed us as we know Clacks is a large Area to police with each area having its own problems but each community having a generalised area of concerns that are similar in each area and his job is to recognise these and Police them he also praised the work of the Community Police Wardens that work well with the Police. He recognises the benefit the Tullibody Regen money had been in getting extra weekend policing for Tullibody but said that set down procedure had to be maintained where serious incidents must be priority for all available Officers to attend. He hopes once settled he would become an aid to the Community but only with the help of the Local Communities. The Chair thanked him for his input and asked if there were any questions for him A. Orr from the Tron Traders ask about Priority calls and response times and was backed up by D.drysdale who the previous Monday had called the Police about an incident and had yet to have a response to his phone call Inspector Johnstone was disappointed at this and would speak to officers dealing with it he said there is a shortage manpower but it will be up to him to maximise the work of the officers available and hopes to gain the support of the public.
G.Matchett whom has a great deal of experience with the working of the hierarchy within Police was disappointed in the increase in crime in the community and sympathised with the inspector since he knows that his hands are tied by policy decision from above him and that is why G.Matchett keeps constant dialogue with the Chief Constable and believes that this is the only way to keep the Chief Constable informed of the wants and needs of the Clacks Community and maybe influence his manning policy. The C.C.T.V at the Tron was also brought up since there are 16 traders in the Tron but the CCTV seems to only cover the INN or the COOP and never appears to move to cover other area along Main street or the Bookmakers or the general area at old school court and the lighting at the Tron is the rest of the lighting to be upgraded the meeting was informed that the sighted lines of the CCTV can be set on auto to cover area around the cameras and they also run a 24hr tape for which incidents can be reviewed.

PC Caroline Hogg Central Scotland Police
UNDETECTED 80-40 VANDALISM
ROAD TRAFFIC-18
DETECTED-96
Half of the undetected crime files are vandalism, specifically in the baingle braes/Newmills/Ramsay Tullis Areas
There has been 5thefts by Hb`s in the area, specifically the NCH (family centre) the Post Office and Banchory School on the same night, person reported for the post office.
Disorder calls number 8
3 at Keirford Avenue, 4 at Auld Kirk road and 1 at Mac alpine court. Of these there is 1 of theft, 1 of a lost dog, 1 of a car with a big exhaust and the others youths causing annoyance. One call in particular in Auld Kirk rd the youths causing the problems went into the house at the time of calling, 1 call of youths throwing stones _no damage and one stones thrown at lights in the lane at Auld Kirk rd.
At the present time there are regeneration patrols every Friday and Saturday, ASBIT patrol also OP Vanquish who the Police are liasing with re-vandalism ETC.

Community Wardens Report
As a result of the flexible deployment guidance from the Scottish Executive, the 2 wardens covering Tullibody will now also be covering Menstrie, Alloa town centre and the Fairyburn area This means that we will be more intelligence led in our operations and will be able to target problem area more quickly to avoid any escalation of events. We are however 2 members down at the moment due to a pilot project at Lornshill and another member leaving.
Foot Patrol 25.5 hrs 8hrs combined police patrol 16 hrs at the Tron shopping centre,
Mobile Patrol 25hrs
2hrs dealing with vandalism at Newmills
1hr graffiti
3hrs youth activity

Ochilveiw Housing Housing Officer
Not present

Malcolm McCardle
Malcolm has come from the Council to meet the Tron traders to help them in their quest to get the Tron a badly needed facelift and to redesign the outlay of the Tron to discourage the youths playing football or encourage them to go to a more suitable area for that activity since’ no ball games’ signs are ineffective and are unenforceable since even if the Police confiscated their football it could be classed as theft since no by-laws exist against ball games in the clacks area.G.Matchett agreed that the Tron badly needed revamped or redesigned to do away with the open space at the Tron that encourages the football. He also said that lit areas must be made available to give the youths a place to congregate safely and be able to be Policed efficiently unlike the areas they use now namely the Golf course and other inaccessible places Malcolm told the meeting that there is funding there but the Traders would have to organise themselves by forming a group with a chair and secretary and treasurer, have a constitution set up also a bank account so that they can apply for funding for the project, very informed discussion followed about the worries of the traders having to compete against the big supermarket chains and the run down look of the Tron that ultimately reflects on the surrounding Communities. Since this subject would take more time than meeting had put aside for Mr McCardle, the Chair suggested a meeting set aside for this subject alone Mr McCardle agreed and asked for volunteers for a meeting on the 19th Feb. D.Drysdale L.Hiddleston, J.McGowan M.Connelly and both Clacks Councillors said they would try to go B.Robinson said he would also come.

Tracie Duff
The Blue Light Disco at Sauchie was a success with 134 youths attending without incident the next is at Alloa Ton Hall then Tullibody The week following this meeting every night has something on for the youth of the area She is hoping to pamphlet the secondary Schools to see if a Youth discussion group can be set up to highlight the needs of the youths in the area The chairman welcome the move and ask for any feedback got from these groups to be passed to the Community Council. The pilot film club is pencilled in for the 23rd of Feb.

Clackmannanshire Councillor Brian fearon`s report
Because of the increase in budget for the new schools it meant an increase in council tax or the loss of some amenities and services which was thought less desirable The contact service to the Council has been a success dropping from a time of 54 sec in July 2006 to 29sec in the sept.and the auto-menu for call direct services is well used. The services share with Stirling is proving an effective cost saving exercise and Clacks keeping its own identity and keeping its local housing and road services. The antisocial behaviour strategy is moving on nicely and the dispersal used in Sauchie a sign of the success when used in conjunction with other organisation. Improvement to the housing stock with the renewal of kitchens and exterior doors might start in May bringing the 5000 housing stock well above the national standard.
Secretary’s Correspondence
There was no correspondence

Treasurers Report
The treasurer handed out the audit for the Gala Day, which will be updated at the end of the financial year
A.O.C.B.
The Chair will send E-Mail to Grant Eals
Inititial date for the Gala Day is 28th July, as there was no other business the chair thanked everyone for his or her attendance and closed the meeting.

DATE OF NEXT MEETING 28/02/07