CHIRK TOWN COUNCIL

CYNGOR TREF Y WAUN

 

MINUTES OF COUNCIL MEETING HELD 2nd July 2008

 

Present

Mr Barry Evans (Chairman), Mrs H J Spragg, Miss J Win-Jones, Mr M Fennell, Mr N James, Mr D Richards,

Mr M Maxfield, Mr R Jones, Mr J Vant.  Mr S A Hughes, Clerk to the Council.

Inspector Lisa Surridge, North Wales Police

 

Apologies

Apologies for absence were received from Mrs C Gough, Mr D Evans, Mr Hemmings, Mr R Smith.

 

39.  POLICING MATTERS.

The Chairman welcomed Inspector Surridge to the Council and expressed thanks to her for attending this specially arranged meeting.

The Chairman explained that the Council had expressed concern on a number of occasions in recent months about the perceived lack of seeing the Chirk Policing Team patrolling the area on foot.  Previously, in the earlier days after the appointment of PCSO’s, their was a good response from the community as to how welcome it was for them to see the police officers and have confidence in the support from them.

Members mentioned anti-social behaviour problems and gangs of youths causing trouble and annoyance, illegal parking of vehicles etc and also the difficulty in contacting the police and response to incidents.

 

Inspector Surridge informed the Council that number of reported incidents of crime in the area were down this year and asked that the public report incidents as soon as possible so that investigations can be pursued.

With regard to the Policing Team in Chirk Inspector Surridge said that due to long term sick leave the PCSO’s in Chirk had had to cover the Ceiriog Valley area too but the officer for that area was due to return shortly to start office duties.

Inspector Surridge also mentioned that the Community Beat manager, PC Cullen had been seconded to the area policing support team at various times as is done with other managers in the area.

However, Inspector Surridge said that the two PCSO’s would be patrolling the area on foot except for a half hour in the office at the start and end of a shift and for a lunch break though they will have use of a car when needed to travel further afield.  With regard to the Community Beat Manager she said that she would look into his work load on the area policing support team and ensure he was on duty in Chirk and that at times when he was called to man the area policing team vehicle he would be stationed in Chirk to respond to emergencies.

Inspector Surridge informed the Council that her sergeant would attend the outlying police stations including Chirk to check more regularly on the policing team and work practice.

 

The continuing problem with anti-social behaviour at the Millennium Garden was raised in particular the working etc.of the CCTV camera.  The Chairman said the Council were renovating the site including removing tall shrubs so as to improve visibility of the site but the CCTV camera was obstructed by an oak tree.

The Inspector said that her officers do have the support of the CCTV cameras in the area but are not able to do anything about the tree mentioned.

 

At the end of the discussions Inspector Surridge suggested that she is invited to meetings with the Council say, every 3 months.  The Chairman thanked Inspector Surridge most warmly for her attendance and said that further meeting would be arranged as suggested.

 

40.  CHIRK SKIP SITE.

The Clerk reported receipt of a letter from the Chief Environment Officer, Wrexham CBC advising that the Skip Site at Chirk would be permanently closed from August 2nd due to environmental problems.

Members voiced their concern at this notice and in the ensuing discussion decided to make objections to the proposed removal of this community amenity and ask that the site is maintained for the benefit of the communities of Chirk and the Ceiriog Valley.

The Council confirmed that the skip service was a vital amenity for householders to get rid of their waste in a good safe environmentally friendly fashion.  There was a danger that indiscriminate dumping of rubbish will continue at the site and in other places all over the area giving rise to environmental hazards and encouraging vermin to these sites.

It was pointed out that the facility at Plas Madoc was not user friendly as the revamping works had not been carried out and the site not readily accessible with skips having to reached via stairs and customers having to carry heavy and large objects and bags of waste to throw in to the skip containers.  The site was also closed at various times meaning customers having to wait long periods or return at a later time.

 

Signed  R Barry Evans  Chairman                                                                                                 30th July 2008