Stockton Home Safety Association Minutes

Date:
Tuesday, 12th June, 2007
Time:
1.30pm
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 Ann Cains(Chairman), Cllr Jackie Earl, Cllr Mrs Jean O'Donnell, Cllr Julia Roberts, A Mitchinson (SDAG), F Russell (Trading Standards), D Sanders (Cleveland Police), L Provett (Sure Start), K Jarvis (Public)
Officers:
S Johnson (LD), M Jones (LD)
In Attendance:
Carole Reynolds (RSVP)
Apologies for absence:
C Snowden (Environmental Health), M Thornton (Cleveland Police), J Mennell (Public), A Moriarty (SDAG), D Turton (Cleveland Fire Brigade),K Harrison (Cleveland Fire Brigade), M Wetherall (SDAG)
Item Description Decision
Public
SHS
1/07		 APPOINTMENT OF CHAIRMAN 2007/8
 RESOLVED that Councillor Mrs Cains be appointed Chair of the Stockton Home Safety Association for the Municipal Year 2006/07.
SHS
2/07		 APPOINTMENT OF VICE CHAIRMAN 2007/8
Preamble
RESOLVED that the appointment of the Vice-Chairman 2007/8 be deferred to the next meeting.
SHS
3/07		 MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD ON 10TH APRIL 2007
 CONCLUDED that the minutes of the meeting held on 10th April be agreed as a correct record.
SHS
4/07		 MATTERS ARISING
Preamble
CONCLUDED that the Trading Standards Officer would send all Council Members information on 'No Cold Calling' Zones
SHS
5/07		 DOORSTOPPERS
Preamble
AGREED that RSVP would draft a letter of agreement between RSVP and Stockton Home Safety Association.
SHS
6/07		 NO COLD CALLING ZONES
Preamble
CONCLUDED that the information to be noted.
SHS
7/07		 FALLS AWARENESS DAY
Preamble
AGREED that the secretary would write to Stockton Shop Mobility inviting them to take part in Falls Awareness Day.
SHS
8/07		 REPORT OF SECRETARY
Preamble
CONCLUDED not to advertise in the Community Safety Booklet.
SHS
9/07		 REPORT OF TRADING STANDARDS OFFICER
Preamble
CONCLUDED that the information be noted.
SHS
10/07		 REPORT OF FIRE OFFICER
Preamble
CONCLUDED that arrangements would be made to present the cheque to Cleveland Fire Brigade.
SHS
11/07		 REPORT OF POLICE OFFICER
Preamble
CONCLUDED that the information be noted.
SHS
12/07		 ANY OTHER BUSINESS
Preamble
CONCLUDED that the information be noted.
1.30pm - 2.50pm

Preamble

ItemPreamble
SHS
2/07		The Chairman suggested appointing a non elected Council member for the Vice-Chairman for 2007/08. The Chairman felt that such an appointment would make the Association more inclusive. Members agreed, and the appointment of Vice-Chairman was deferred to the next meeting
SHS
4/07		It was noted that Council Members were awaiting information from Trading Standards on advice to give to residents regarding 'No Cold Calling' zones. The Trading Standards Officer stated that the sending out of this information was postponed due to the May election, and he would ensure members received the information.
SHS
5/07		Carole Reynolds from the Retired Senior Volunteer Programme (RSVP) was in attendance at the meeting and updated the Association on the lottery bid for the RSVP project to operate in the Stockton Borough. The Officer informed the Association that RSVP had been sucessful in the first stage of the lottery bid.

The Officer explained that RSVP was now looking for smaller funding bodies to make bids to, such as Comic Relief. Due to the nature of RSVP they were unable to make funding bids to smaller bodies in their own name, and therefore would apply under Stockton Home Safety Association name as agreed at the meeting held on 10th April 2007. The Officer clarified that although the funding bid would be in the Association's name, RSVP would carry out all the necessary work and would report back to the Association on a regular basis. Members discussed applying for additional funding and agreed that a letter of agreement should be drafted between the Association and RSVP. The Officer from RSVP agreed that they would draft the letter of agreement for approval.

The Chairman requested that RSVP keep the secretary updated on the progress of the lottery funding bid.
SHS
6/07		The Trading Standards Officer informed that he would be giving a general talk on Trading Standards issues and also 'No Cold Calling' zones at the Neighbourhood Watch meeting at the Fairfield pub on 12th June 2007.

The Officer updated the Association on the pilot 'No Cold Calling' zone in Yarm. Trading Standards delievered another presentation to the residents of this area relating to the 'Beat the Bogeyman' issue. The Officer also informed that a national charity who had a government permit to collect money throughout the country, had been collecting in the pilot 'No Cold Calling' zone. Trading Standards were in dispute with the charity and the issue had yet to be resolved.

The Officer noted that the two pilot schemes would be assessed at the end of 2007.
SHS
7/07		The secretary updated the Association on the arrangements for the Falls Awareness event on Wednesday 27th June 2007. The secretary confirmed that representatives from North Tees Primary Care Trust (PCT), Cleveland Fire Brigade, and Help the Aged would be in attendance to provide information. The events trailer would be set up on the evening of Tuesday 26th June 2007 in preparation and the Association had a licence to hold the event between 9.00am - 5.00pm on Stockton market.

A member suggested inviting Stockton Shop Mobility to attend the event and provide information. The Association agreed and requested the secretary draft a letter to Stockton Shop Mobility.

Members discussed the staffing arrangements for the events trailer throughout the day.

The Chairman commented on the success of the 2006 Falls Awareness event.
SHS
8/07		The secretary informed the meeting that she has been contacted by Crime Services Agency regarding their Community Safety Booklet, which was distributed to 70,000 households and businesses in the Stockton area. The agency enquired whether the Association would like to submit an article to be included in the Community Safety booklet, at a cost of £895 for a half page advert and £1795 for a full page advert.

Members decided that due to other avenues of advertising available to the Assoication, the possibility that other Stockton Borough Council groups may be placing adverts, and the Association not being on a recruitment drive, it would not be appropriate to advertise in the Community Safety Booklet.
SHS
9/07		Rogue Traders Day

The Trading Standards Officer informed that Rogue Traders Day would take place throughout the North East of England on Friday 15th June 2007. Several authorities/bodies, including Trading Standards, Cleveland Police, and Customs, would be working together in the Stockton area to stop people in unmarked vans or with building equipment etc. If those stopped appeared to be suspicious they would be asked to attend an interview immediately, however the Officer informed that they had the right to refuse to be interviewed at that time.

During the day packs on 'No Cold Calling' zones, 'Bogus Callers' etc would be handed out.

A member questioned how often this event would take place. The Officer stated that this was an annual event.

Imitation Dummies

The Officer informed that the 'Imitation Dummies Act' prohibited the sale of merchandise that resembled a child's dummy due to the possibility of small parts leading to choking. Trading Standards had been alerted to the sale of sugar dummies in local shops and took action. Trading Standards had located the warehouse manufacturing the imitation sugar dummies and confirmed that this product had been withdrawn from sale.

Novelty Witch's Hats

The Officer updated the Association on the ongoing issue of a child's Novelty Halloween Witch's Hat that had been withdrawn from sale due to issues over safety. The Officer confirmed that they had not received a response from the manufacturer and therefore they were due to be prosecuted.

Underage Sales

The Trading Standards Officer reported that there were no underage sales of cigarettes at the exercise carried out in April but there had been three underage sales of alcohol in April. One of the sales was by a licensee and it was likely that this would be going to the Council's Licensing committee.

Child's Bicycle

Trading Standards had received a complaint about a child's bicycle currently on sale at a major retailer. On investigation there appeared to be a number of complaints with the bicycle. Trading Standards had contacted the manufacturer and were awaiting a response.

No Smoking Ban

The Officer informed that he had attended training on how to enforce the forthcoming Smoking ban. The Members discussed the possible consequences of the Smoking ban, including an increase of noise pollution and the problem of those premises that do not have any outside space, and how Trading Standards could enforce the ban.
SHS
10/07		The Fire Officer was not in attendance at the meeting.

The Chairman noted a previous decision by the Association to mark the retirement of Peter Dix, Cleveland Fire Brigade's former representative on the Association, by a monetary donation of £150 to the Brigade. Due to the regulations regarding publicity for Councillors in the run up to an election the presentation of the cheque to the Fire Authority had been postponed. The Chairman confirmed arrangments would now be made to present the cheque.
SHS
11/07		The Police Officer informed that the number of domestic burglaries had increased, however this was believed to be a 'seasonal blip' as home owners tended to spend more time in their gardens in the summer months and often did not lock their doors. There had been nine burglaries in two months in the Hartburn area, and the Officer confirmed that someone had been arrested and imprisoned in relation to these burglaries.

The Police Officer updated the Association on the 2 in 1 burglaries key rings campaign. The campaign would be taken to the Stockton Show at Preston Park. The Police Officer added that the April 2007 figures for vehicle crime was down 23% compared to April 2006.
SHS
12/07		A member informed that the week commencing 11th June was Child Safety week. Events are being held thoughout all Sure Start Childrens' Centres in association with Trading Standards and the PCT. It was noted that Sure Start provided Home Safety Checks and a safety equipment loan scheme.

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