Question: County Councillor Howe
What discussions have taken place with South Wales Police with regards to the establishment of PACT meetings in all wards in Cardiff? In what way will the Council be co-operating with this initiative? What steps are the Executive taking to deal with alleyways which ate the subject of anti-social behaviour?
Reply: County Councillor Woodman
South Wales Police have implemented... (PACT) meetings as part of the roll-out of their neighbourhood policing programme. The Use of PACT meetings follows a nationally used model for community engagement and citizen-focused policing and allows communities to raise their community safety comcerns with the police on a regular basis and to receive feedback and reassurance as to how these concerns have been addressed.
Because PACT meetings address community safety concerns, which include wider quality of life issues such as fear of crime and anti-social behaviour in addition to crime and disorder, it is inevitable that many of the issues raised will require a partnership response involving both the police and local quthority services. Cardiff Council, as a key member of Cardiff Community Safety Partnership, is fully supportive of this engagement process.
There was initial expectation from the police that PACT meetings, which take place every month in every ward, usually during evenings and weekends, would be attended by Cardiff Council Officers. This has since been clarified at a recent meeting where it was agreed that the neighbourhood police teams will invite ward Councillors to PACT meetings to represent the Council and to bring back issues and concerns raised to the relevant service areas. Neighbourhood police officers will also recieve awareness - raising around which Council departments and officers are responsible for which services to assist this process.
It has also been determined that relevant officers will attend subsequent PACT meetings to provide responses and feedback on how issues and concerns have been addressed or, at the very least, ensure detailed responses are available at the meeting upon request. I will be presenting an outline paper to the Executive to encourage all members to engage with the PACT process and to attend their local PACT meetings wherever possible and ensure Cardiff Council is represented.
WHere residents are experiencing anti-social behaviour issues associated with alleyways, then this is the type of cross-cuttimg community safety issue which can be raised at PACT meetings or reported through the new single non-emergency number for action as part of the neighbourhood policing programme. Where persistent anti-social behaviour is recorded, there may be a need to consider longer-term solutions such as closure or controlled access. The feasibility of a particular course of action, and the role of the Council in it, will depend on the status and ownership of the alleyway in question.
A programme of gully closures has been rolled out on COuncil estates - since 2001 over 200 gullies have been closed, part-closed, gated, or improved. For Alleyways which are privately owned, residents can take action themselves to install gates and manage access through shared keyholding arrangements. For alleyways which are adopted, there are stopping up procedures which can be followed. In addition, a consultation paper has recently been issued by the Welsh Assembly Government on proposed new regulations under the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act which could in certain circumstances allow the gating of lances and alleyways for the prevention of crime and anti-social behaviour.
Supplementary Question: County Councilor Howe
With regard to the first question about PACT meetings, would you not agree that the whole thing appears to be a bit of a shambles? Myself and ward colleagues were summoned to the first PACT meeting in Whitchurc just a couple of weeks ago. Our community offiers tried to explain what the purpose of PACT was, but actually ended up explaining that the way they envisaged it progressing was that the police would set up this PACT meeting to take up community issues, but then after it had been going for a couple of months most of it would be passed on to the Local Authority. I think ward colleagues will bear me out that that was actually the debate that went on in that particular meeting.
Now there is concern that this is the first that COuncillors have heard about this. If we are supposed to be leading these PACT meetings, as we are told that we are, why is it that the Executive has not informed us of this? Why are there no clear guidelines as to what exactly our role in PACT meetings are, and what exactly is the role of COuncil and officials?
Reply: County Councillor Woodman
First of all I would point out that it is a police initiative. The PACT meetings are instigated by the Police. They didn't consult with the Council in the first place that they were going to roll them out. I am dissapointed that Whitchurch actually found theirs to be a complete shambles because in the Pentwyn ward we found out extremely well attended and very useful, and so did our residents. As regards the police explanation as to how it was going to work, I am not responsible for what the police tell you, and if you have issues with that I strongly suggest you take that up with Chief Superintendent Bob Evans. I am unaware that things will be passed back to the Council in a few months' time because it is a police initiative. However, I am aware that because they didn't liasie with us in the first instance they were going to roll out these PACT meetings, that is the reason why I have arranged a paper to come to the Executive.
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Question: County Councillor Howe
How does the Council decide what food will be served in Leisure Centre cafeteria and vending machines?
Reply: County Councillor Howells
The Recreation Services Unit has a Catering Policy which supports the recommendations made by the Food Standards Agency Wales. The aim of the policy is to set out a cautious approach to issues of nutrition and health while trying to avoid unwarranted or unproven restrictions that would lead to less choice and reduced enjoyment for all users of our catering facilities.
The main points of the RSU Catering Policy are:
The Recreation Services Unit Catering Policy is subject to annual review. A wider review is currently being undertaked to include St David's Hall and New Theatre which now come within the Culture, Leisure and Parks Service Area. A copy of the full policy can be provided in writing.
Supplementary Question: County Councillor Howe
I have to tell you that Llanishen Leisure Centre isn't following the recommendations of that policy. I was in the Leisure Centre just a couple of days ago waiting for my son to finish his swimming lesson, and I though, as I was looking at issures of food and nutrition in this Council, I'd have a look at what was on offer in the Leisure Centre. I could have brough a hamburger, cheeseburger, a portion of chips, sausage rolls and chips and the healthy option of a vegetarian sausage roll and chips. I could have brough a range of fizzy drinks, a range of chocolate and a manky old banana that was just sort of on top of the fridge behind the counter. On a serious note, would you not agree that this Council should be promoting healthy living and healthy lifestyles, and a healthy nutritious balance of food in our cafeterias, particularly cafeterias in Leisure Centres, and will you take that matter forward?
Reply: County Councillor Howells:
I will take that forward because under the catering policy there should be availability of healthy food like baked potatoes in the leisure centre, and there should be fresh fruit and salad available every day within Llanishen Leisure Centre, so I am surprised that it doesn't conform with teh current state of policy, but I will look into that for you.
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Question: County Councillor Howe
Which school will children from the new AWE housing development on Caerphilly Road be attending? Please advise me of all decisions which have taken place to date with regard to the school catchment of this site.
Reply: County Councillor Kelloway
The new AWE housing development on Caerphilly Road is within the catchment areas of Coed Glas Primary School and Llanishen High School. It is customary practice that new developments are added to the local catchment area schools unless there are difficulties in accommodating additional children. An estimate of the pupil yield from the development has been undertaken. This indicates that the catchment area will be able to accommodate the extra demand, if necessary with some capital investment. Planning gain monies for the improvement of educational facilities has been obtained from the developers.
DIscussion on catchment area schools has been confined to staff within the schools and Lifelong Learning Service as there are no planned departures from normal practice.
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Question: County Councillor Howe
What criteria is the Council using to allocate RAISE funding to Schools? Does the creteria consider the take-up of free school meals or the eligibility for free school meals? What is the National Assembly guidance on this issue?
Reply: County Councillor Kelloway
The creteria for allocating RAISE funding to schools have not been determined by the COuncil but by the Welsh Assembly Government. The guidance from the Assembly is that eligibility to free school meals is the main criterion.
A copy of the Assembly guidance is attached.
Annex B - RAISE - Notes for information RAISE distributions have been calculated on the folloing basis: Total of $14.1m has been split for orimary and special/secondary school sectors according to proportion of pupils eligible for Free School Meals (FSM pupils) in each sector in 2005.
Eligible schools have been identified by excluding those dues for closure at the end of the academic year 2005/06, those with fewer than 50 pupils of compulsory school age on roll at January 2005 (because of their eligibility for small and rural schools grants) and schools with less than 20% of pupils eligible for FSM....
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Question: County Councillor Howe
Residents of Clas Ty Newydd, a complex for the elderly in Whitchurch have complained to me about the disruption work to to refit their kitchens has caused. What assistance does the Council offer to such residents to ensure that they have to endure the minimum amount of disruption possible when this work is being undertaken?
Reply: County Councillor Woodman
Where works are undertaken to ensure that kitchens meet the Welsh Housing Quality Standard, they are programmed so that this is minimum disruption to tenants and members of their household. Possible disruptions are discussed with tenants prior to the commencement of works, with property layout and the needs of individual tenants and members of their household being considered. When works are being undertaken, efforts are made to provide services during the day and to ensure that services are available at the end of each day. Work to refurbish both kitchens and bathrooms take approximately 5-7 working days.
Question: County Councillor Howe
How many breakfast clubs have been set up in Cardiff unsing the Assembly's funding for free school breakfasts?
Reply: County Councillor Kelloway
There are currently 21 schools participating in the free breakfasts scheme, with another 4 schools planning to start during the Autumn Term later this year. THis will equate to 27% of Cardiff Schools.
Ty Gwyn Special School has also shown an interest in starting the scheme in the autumn. This would be the first special school to introduce the scheme. The Welsh Assembly Government has asked the Headteacher to draft a proposal outlining how the scheme would operate given the special issues. It intends to then incorporate these orperating attangements into its guidance documents.
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Question: County Councillor Howe
In October last year the following notice of motion was passed by this Council:
This Council
This Council therefore calls unpon the Executive to
- bring forward proposals to address the ongoing problems with maintenance of land not woned by the Council across the CIty;
- include in any such proposals detailed consideration of the implications for the next budget round.
As it is now some 10 months since this motion was passed, when will we see some action on addressing this problem?
Replu: County Councillor Elgan Morgan
There has been a considerable amount of action undertaken to address the problem. As you know all members of the Council were written to in December and asked to identify problem land in their wards. This information received has been analysed and collated. Not supresingly the anlysis undertaken to date shows that the ownership of a number of the sites is unkown and it is this that make them problem sites. Further attempts have been made through the land registry office to establish ownership, but with little success. The parcels of land in question have been prioritised as short, medium and long term and a small number have been dealt with already. A report on progress was made to the Economic Committee
Following a report to the Enviromental Scrutiny Committee a report identifying actions and resource implications will be made to the Executive at the earlist opportunity.
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Question: County Councillor Howe
Are you aware that road works associated with the developments of the AWE site on Caerphilly Road are scheduled to be ongoing for approximately 20 weeks? As a result of this there is a gap of virtually a full kilometere between bus stops for services inbound to UHW and the City Centre, with no bus stop at all over the whole strentch between Ty GLas Road and Maes y Coed Road. Would you agree that this is unacceptable and agree to liaise with Cardiff Bus and Stagecoach, the developers and Traffic and Transportation Officers to identify a short-term solution to rectify this situation?
Reply: County Councillor Elgan Morgan
I agree that the temporary loss of these bus stops is regrettable and that the gap of around 800 metres between stops is further than I would wish. I am advised that the bus stops were taken out of use to allow road widening to be undertaken safely. In view of the extent of works, which are continuous along the whole AWE site frontage, it has not been possible to identify temporary alternative stops. The bus stops will not however be out of action for the full duration of the works, and one of the two bus stops currently out of action is to be relocated and brought back into used in aroung four weeks time. The second stop is scheduled to be brought back in to use in aroung 10 week's time.
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