Minutes:
The Board received a presentation from Mr J Unsworth, Divisional
Manager, Waste and Environmental Improvement on the planning and proposed operation of initiatives
being delivered to reduce incidents of anti-social behaviour and unauthorised
fires on mischief night and in the period up to bonfire night.
The Board was advised that each year, the Safer Halton Partnership delivered
a number of activities to reduce incidents of unauthorised bonfires and other
forms of anti-social behaviour during the period covering ‘Mischief Night’ and
‘Bonfire Night’. This included preventative measures, diversionary activity and
the ‘Bonfire Removal Initiative’ which set out to improve community safety by
removing unauthorised and uncontrolled bonfires before they are ignited, and
which had been successfully operating in Halton since 1999. As part of the
Partnership’s efforts to reduce environmental nuisance and anti-social
behaviour during this period, education and community safety messages were also
delivered across the Borough, and information was directly delivered to
households in known ‘hot spot’ areas.
The presentation:-
·
Set out
the Partners objectives – to reduce the impact on anti
social behaviour on the community of Halton on key nights during the
period covering Mischief Night and Bonfire night;
·
Explained
that Partners met and established action plans, looked at the issues and how
they would be addressed based on historical practice and intelligence;
·
Explained
that there was a number of key themes one of which was prevention and the
bonfire initiative had been pioneered in Halton in 2000 and had subsequently
been adopted by other Local Authoroties;
·
Highlighted
the prevention activity – the bonfire removal initiative which cleared bonfire
materials and waste debris; which was funded by CST, HBC and RSL’s; which targeted
known historical ‘black spot’ areas; which was in operation from Monday 27
October to Friday 7 November 2014 and that 19 unauthorised bonfires had been
removed in 2013;
·
Outlined
that the key aim was to reduce and prevent risk; prevent the use of a fire
appliance attending and prevent the negative effect on the local environment
and the associated costs in open spaces;
·
Detailed
other preventative activities – foot patrols on key ‘problem estates to reduce anti social behaviour; estate walk-abouts
looking for potential ‘hot spots’ or problems, visits to retailers, direct
engagement with households regarding wheeled bins and erecting fencing on
bonfire night at problem locations;
·
Highlighted
the publicity and promotional campaigns and direct engagement to educate the
community and raise awareness of the issues i.e. the schools poster
competition;
·
Set out
the diversionary activities – youth distraction activities;
·
Highlighted
that there was an increase in the number of people attending the firework
display every year;
·
Explained
the reassurance given, the clear undertaken with multi agency clean up
vehicles, the safe HUB for staff and how CCTV was monitored on operation
nights; and
·
Detailed
the successful outcomes re the reduction in criminal damage and anti social behaviour and the significant reduction in fire
incidents on 30/31 October and 5/6 November for 2012 and 2013.
The following comments arose from the discussion:-
·
The
Board congratulated all concerned on the success of the initiative to date,
highlighting that everything possible was being done to protect people during
the crucial periods;
·
The
significant progress that had been made in reducing anti
social behaviour and criminal damage since the initiative had been
established in 2000 was noted;
·
The activities
taking place over the last 3 months to address the unauthorised selling of
fireworks was noted; and
·
Clarity
was sought on whether Members could be involved in some of the activities on
mischief night. In response, it was
reported that consideration would have to be given to the health and safety
implications for Members and it would not be possible for all Members to participate.
However, it was reported that Members could register their interest via email
to Mr M Andrews;
RESOLVED: That
(1)
the presentation
and comments raised be noted; and
(2)
Mr
Unsworth be thanked for his informative presentation.
Supporting documents: