Neighbourhood Governance Note of Southfield Ward Forum Meeting Wednesday 29 March 2017 at Mission Hall, Acton Green Church, Cunnington Street W4 5ER Present: Councillors: Andrew Steed (Chair), Gary Busuttil and Gary Malcolm Attendees: 19 residents attended the meeting. Sgt Gail Stanton, Southfield Safer Neighbourhood Team Jackie O Reilly Note taker Don Tanswell Southfield Park Triangle Resident Association Chris Carrington, Southfield Police Panel No. Note Action Point/Information 1. Welcome and introductions Cllr Steed opened the meeting promptly at 7.30pm and welcomed all. Councillors Busuttil and Malcolm and Sgt Stanton were introduced to the meeting. Cllr Steed explained that the meeting was an unsupported officer meeting but Jackie O Reilly had stepped in to take the notes. 2. Request for Any Other Business (AOB) Items 2.1 Cllr Steed invited residents to provide items for the public forum, 2.1 3. Notes of the last ward forum held on 14 December 2016 Accuracy 3.1) Cllr Steed asked the meeting to review the notes for accuracy and matters arising. 3.1) Dillis Jones omission on AOB should have stated problems contacting the council, only email addresses or website published. Telephone numbers no longer given, all details should be published in Around Ealing 3.2) Matters Arising 3.2) Harvey Rose Antrobus Road, under item 3.3. It should have stated more speed signs required as no substantial money spent on improving traffic in the area. Signs should be large so they can be seen. 4. 3.3) None Update on Policing Matters 3.3) 4.1) Councillor Steed welcomed Sgt Gail Stanton. 1
4.2) 4.3) 4.4) 4.5) 4.6) 4.7) 4.8) 4.9) 4.10) 4.11) Sgt Stanton introduced herself and gave an update on events over the past 6 months. Speeding 3 Pc s spent time on The Avenue carrying out speed checks. Over a period of 1.20 hours there were 14 drivers who exceeded speed limits, The fastest was recorded at 29 mph, all apart from 1 were local residents 2 arrests had been made following theft of a moped on the 13 March. Offenders were out on bail. Advice to all, please ensure that vehicles are secured. Gunnersbury Nature Reserve problems with anti-social behaviour at the end of last year, 3 people had been arrested for possession of cannabis. There were also rough sleepers. Burglaries considerable reduction in the last 6 months; residents have improved security at properties and an excellent neighbourhood watch team looking out for residents. Southfield Ward was one of the safest wards in Ealing and the team intend to keep it that way Sgt Stanton introduced Inspector Aaron Clarke who had replaced Inspector Graham Durn. Inspector Clarke told the meeting he had been in the ward for the past week and was impressed with the good practice in Southfield, which could be used in the Acton clusters. At next meeting in June hope to inform all how productive team had been and the major London Plan for the police. The SNT had a Twitter account and there would shortly be a Facebook account, You can also follow the Southfield Neighbourhood Watch on their Twitter account. 4.12) QUESTIONS/ANSWERS Resident asked if there were any rough sleepers in the ward. 2
4.13) 4.14) 4.15) Anthony Garrick of Catford Road asked if a survey could be done on mobile phone use particularly in The Avenue. Richard Cunningham, 48 The Avenue asked what was the best channel to report minor matters to the police? 5. Southfield Safer Neighbourhood Panel 4.13) We only know of them at Gunnersbury Nature Reserve but now moved into accommodation. If You know of others let us know. 4.14) Sgt Stanton confirmed this could be done. The penalty points and the larger fine plus all the publicity may deter drivers from using their phones when driving. There are no stats of accidents in The Avenue whilst using a mobile phone but we could try and get a report back to you all for the next meeting, 4.15) Sgt Stanton confirmed 101 if the suspect was not there and it was a non-emergency but 999 if situation was happening at the time and suspect in sight. 5.1) Chris Carrington introduced himself to the meeting. He said that everyone would be familiar with the Southfield Neighbourhood Watch who had the best coverage in Ealing; a total of 45 members covering over 100 streets. The existence of the panel was less known, it was set up in 2007 on the instigation of the police to engage in communities. Each ward panel was made up of residents, police and councillors. The panel is elected each year at the AGM and is open to the public. The panel meets 4 times a year to discuss best course of action to address antisocial behaviour and crime in the ward and find an outcome and set a number of promises. The panel concluded to have daily patrols in areas to address ASB like the nature reserve and also on the industrial estate in Warple Way and also speed checks. Events were held in two local cafes with the police attending and people would drop in and talk in an informal setting. There was also the publication of Acton News which was an Acton wide publication, it highlights crime and the current promises. Anyone who wished to join the panel were invited to speak to Chris after the meeting. 3
5.2) 5.3) QUESTIONS/ANSWERS/COMMENTS Nick Moulds of 19 Wilkinson Way said that Dr Suzanne Tanswell had done a great job and was in constant contact with the Safer Neighbourhood 6 Update from Southfield Park Triangle Residents Association Don Tanswell 6.1) Don Tanswell introduced himself as the chair of the Southfield Triangle Residents Association. He provided an update on behalf of the project running with the scouts and the local school to improve the scout hut. 7 7.1) 7.2) 7.3) 7.4) Ward Forum Budget Updates and Spend for 2017/2018 Councillor Steed confirmed that a petition may be required for a CPZ consultation for Stanley Gardens and The Vale. NP: The Southfield Road street trees would be completed mid-april. Anna Marie Yassin put forward a proposal for community herb garden for Acton Green. This had now been agreed with Parks; the 2 beds had been built and planting would take place on Sunday at 10.30am. Councillor Steed stated that the project had been a great idea and the feedback had been very positive. Councillor Steed also confirmed that agreement for the murals under the bridge at Turnham Green following ward forum donation, from Hounslow funding and through private donations. Councillor Steed introduced Ted Chauhan from Berrymede Road. Ted told the meeting he was from a small community of parents whose children attended Ark Primary School. There had been a campaign for the last few years on road safety on Acton Lane. There was fast moving traffic in close proximity to the underpass located on Acton Lane. There had been a campaign to get the white wall removed as it created a pinch point on the footpath close to the underpass the owner had now agreed for the wall to be removed. South Acton Ward had agreed to cover 40% of the costs if Southfield covered the remaining 60%. 4
7.5) 7.6) 7.7) 7.8) 7.9) 7.10) 8 8.1) 8.2) 8.3) 8.4) Councillor Busuttil confirmed this had been 3 years in the making. The works were costed at 12,000. Councillor Steed stated all ward councillors were happy to proceed. There was an urgency to get this approved as the leader of the council has to sign it off and the next sign off meeting was being held in April so it was important we get this approved here tonight. QUESTIONS/ANSWERS/COMMENTS Resident asked if there was a covenant on the wall. Resident from Southfield Road said there was a much wider issue with the bus drivers speeding especially the E3, Councillor Busuttil asked the police when they carried out their speed checks were any of the buses speeding? Julia Gallen a governor at Ark Primary School wanted it noted that she totally supported the removal of the wall. ANY OTHER BUSINESS Trees Councillor Malcolm informed the meeting that resident promised the tree stump would be removed in Antrobus Road, it was done but there was a pavement patch where it was that needed to be done. Parks Councillor Malcolm stated that resident had walked across Acton Green and it was looking absolutely beautiful the parks team had done outstanding work there. Crossing on Southfield Road Mr Collinson, St Albans Avenue was very concerned that there was no crossing from the church to the park, there should be one there between The Avenue and the double roundabouts on Acton Lane. That part of the road was crossed by residents, commuters to the tube and rail services and children, it was very risky crossing without a proper means to safely cross. 7.6) 7.7) Councillor Bussittill stated he wasn t sure but the owner had given their agreement. 7.8) Sgt Stanton confirmed that it would be a good idea to discuss outside the meeting to find a solution, happy to chat after. 8.1) Councillor Steed confirmed that highways has some work to do in tidying up. In AGRA area,. Steve Lewis had been monitoring the trees and the news was Positive. If anyone was concerned about a tree, inform ward councillors and they would take it up with Dale Mortimer, Trees Manager. 8.4) Councillor Malcolm stated that residents had been chosen a different location further along the road, however a resident cited a number of legal obstacles why the crossing could not be at the church/park. However, ward councillors would go back to officers to get the information and see if a 5
new proposal could be put forward. Duncan Campbell recalled that this was raised before but the road was now frequently used so he would strongly support a crossing there. Investment had been put into the park and a lot of children now use it, there is gym equipment; however there was an issue with the location, don t know how that can be resolved. 8.5) 8.6) Street Signs - Harvey Rose stated that objections had been raised about cyclists on the footpath and wanted signs advising them to dismount. Contact Centre - Michael Collinson stated it was now very difficult to get through to anyone at the council by phone. You are told someone will call you back within 5 days and they don t. A lot of people don t have access to computers. Council is now too distant and no longer operating as a local council, this was not a criticism of the local ward councillors. Don Tans well endorsed the issue of the location and it wasn t just about the crossing you need to think about the use of the road, install a cycle path cyclists using the footpaths. 8.6) Councillor Steed said a lot of the services were being pushed to the internet, the council was surreptitiously pushing residents down only one route. As ward councillors feedback is passed back to Perceval House, but no easy solution on this issue. 8.7) Octoberfest - Councillor Malcolm confirmed the festival had taken place in August 2016 but had not been a huge commercial success but it had all gone off peacefully with only 1 complaint. The organisers wanted to come back to do another event on Acton Green but it won t be the Octoberfest. Plans were for it to be family friendly but no other information available at this time. Planning Applications a local resident stated he felt blessed to live in the area, it was a great place to live and that didn t happen by accident. It s because of residents, volunteers, good police and good councillors but the area was now being totally overwhelmed with developments and planning applications. Objections had been sent in but left with a feeling that the objection would not make a jot of difference. With all the development the locality would be spoilt. Councillors must step up to the planners and make their voices heard, 6 8.6) Carole Van Dyke asked when residents would be Councillor Steed was unable to confirm as there had been no further information available.
try and have a bit of an impact not just in the ward but in surrounding areas too. Chris said there seemed to be voting on a party political line. Councillor Steed thanked everyone for their comments and concerns on planning. NP: Condition of Hardwicke Road Carol Van Dyke wanted to raise concerns abut the number of potholes in the road, it was in a terrible state. Councillor Steed confirmed that councillors would go back to highways to discuss. 9 9.1) Meeting Close Councillor Steed brought the meeting to a close at 9.27pm, and thanked everyone for attending and their participation throughout. 7