Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council

Big plans, bright future

Arts Leisure & Culture Select Committee Minutes

Date:
Wednesday, 10th October, 2007
Time:
1.00 pm
Place:
Ground Floor Committee Room, Town Hall, High Street, Stockton
 
Please note: all Minutes are subject to approval at the next Meeting

Attendance Details

Present:
Cllr Mrs Jean O'Donnell (Chair); Cllr Dick Cains, Cllr Ken Dixon, Cllr Andrew Sherris and Cllr Mrs Sylvia Walmsley.
Officers:
P K Bell, P J Mennear (LD).
In Attendance:
A Slater (British Waterways), S Chaytor (Tees Active), Superintendent D Brunskill.
Apologies for absence:
Cllr Hilary Aggio, Cllr Jackie Earl, Cllr Mrs Kath Nelson and Cllr Mick Womphrey.
Item Description Decision
Public
ALC
16/07		 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
 There were no interests declared.
ALC
17/07		 MINUTES OF MEETING HELD 1ST OCTOBER 2007
Preamble
CONCLUDED that the minutes of the meeting held on 1st October 2007 be forwarded to Council for consideration.
ALC
18/07		 WORK PROGRAMME
Preamble
CONCLUDED that the updated Work Programme be noted.
ALC
19/07		 SCRUTINY REVIEW OF RIVER BASED LEISURE FACILITIES: -
Preamble
CONCLUDED that the evidence received from Superintendent Dave Brunskill and Steve Chaytor be noted.
1.00 pm - 3.00 pm

Preamble

ItemPreamble
ALC
17/07		Consideration was given to the content of the draft minutes of the meeting held on 1st October 2007.
ALC
18/07		Members were presented with an updated Work Programme.
ALC
19/07		As part of the review of river based leisure facilities Members received evidence from Superintendent Dave Brunskill (Cleveland Police) and Steve Chaytor (Managing Director - Tees Active).

Superintendent Dave Brunskil presented Members with the details of the incidents of anti social behaviour around the River Tees. Included in the details was a break down of incident types. A more detailed summary was presented of anti social behaviour (including suspicious incidents) and vehicular nuisances.

In summary Superintendent Dave Brunskill reported that there did not appear to be any particular repeat locations for youths congregating or offending. Various incidents had been dealt with by officers speaking to persons at the time and there had been incidents where persons had left prior to Police arrival. However, there were no real areas of concern.

A Slater (British Waterways) felt that anti social behaviour along the river could impact on people's perception of the area. There had been issues with events in the past and he also outlined that he felt youths drinking around the Barrage area were causing a problem and there was an issue with cars gathering and being raced in the car park areas.

Members felt that the Council's Neighbourhood Enforcement Service could have a role to play in patrolling of the river between the Police and the Council's Enforcement Officers.

Superintendent Dave Brunskill agreed with this and felt that he could meet with the Head of Community Protection (Mike Batty) to explore this further. He also felt that the Tranquillity scheme that operates in the town centre could potentially be extended for the area around the Tees Barrage.

It was felt that there could be greater co-ordination between British Waterways and the relevant local policing team, especially with regard to upcoming events. The Barrage location could be flagged up as having priority for a response during event periods. An action plan could be worked up in relation to the busier summer months.

With regard the issue of the problem in the Barrage car park he felt that one of his Officers could liaise with Alan Slater and look at the design of the car park to try and design out the problems.

The Chair thanked Superintendent Dave Brunskill for his attendance at the meeting and his helpful suggestions.

Steve Chaytor (Managing Director - Tees Active) gave Members an overview of the activities of Tees Active along the River Tees.

He outlined that Tees Active's Castlegate Quay Watersports Centre is one of three watersports centres along the river, concentrating on entry level activities but with increasing corporate activity also. They do a lot of work with school children but unfortunately 80-90% of the children were not from Stockton area schools. Tees Active had tried to get more children from Stockton schools. Staff from Tees Active had visited the schools to do presentations, produced posters and made leaflet drops but this still remains an issue.

He also reported that Tees Active were developing a business marketing package that would be available soon.

Members agreed with suggestions that there could be increased linkages between the three watersports centres in order to ensure activity was co-ordinated and use of the river maximised, and that the issue of under-use by Stockton's children and young people should be investigated further.

The Chair thanked Steve Chaytor for his attendance at the meeting.

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