MINUTES OF PARKLANDS AREA PANEL MEETING - 19TH SEPTEMBER
2011
Present:
Councillors
Boughton
D Coleman M Mitchell
Co-opted Members: Mrs Pamela Hill (in the Chair), Mr Brian Coope, Mr Carl O'Hara, Mr
Denis McCullough, Mr Lee Richardson
In attendance:
Mr H. Wignall, Blackpool Services Directorate
Mr S. Butterfield and Miss G. Atkinson, Chief Executive Directorate
Mr I. Treasure, NHS Blackpool
Inspector Ainsworth, Lancashire Constabulary
Mark Alderson, Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service
1. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
Mr Coope declared a personal and prejudicial interest with regard to Item 4, ’Area Panel
Funding Requests’. The nature of the interest being that he was a member of the
Heron’s Reach Neighbourhood Watch group which had submitted a funding application
to the Panel for consideration at the meeting. In light of this, Mr Coope would leave the
room and not participate in the meeting upon that funding application being considered.
Mrs Hill declared a personal interest with regard to Item 4, ’Area Panel Funding
Requests’. The nature of the interest being that she lived in the Heron’s Reach area.
2. MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD ON 16TH JUNE 2011
The Area Panel agreed that the minutes of the meeting held on 16th June 2011 be
signed by the Chairman as a correct record.
3. FAIRNESS COMMISSION
Mr Butterfield, Policy, Performance, Research and Partnership Manager, presented the
Panel with an overview of the Fairness Commission model which had been initially
piloted by Islington Council. The aim of the Commission was to assist Blackpool to
become a fairer town by assessing inequalities in the area and considering improvement
recommendations.
It was reported that the Islington Fairness Model was based on academic research
which suggested that inequality of income led to an increase in social and healthrelated issues. The findings had been used to influence public, private and voluntary
MINUTES OF PARKLANDS AREA PANEL MEETING - 19TH SEPTEMBER
2011
organisations’ approach to tackling inequality issues. The Panel was advised that the
outcome of the Fairness Commission would be a report containing recommendations
to shape services and budget decisions. Mr Butterfield explained that the process
required extensive public consultation to enable residents and organisations to submit
their views regarding inequality in Blackpool. In light of this, it was proposed that a
presentation be provided at the next round of Area Forum meetings. The Panel was
provided with an outline of the three options in which a presentation on the Commission
could be delivered at the next Area Forum meeting.
In response to a query raised, Mr Butterfield advised that information on the Fairness
Commission would be widely available once the membership and key objectives of the
Commission had been identified. At present, the Commission was in the initial planning
stages and would be consulting with the Third Sector. Mr Butterfield explained that the
processes needed to ensure that hard to reach groups had the opportunity to be
involved to ensure a positive community input.
The Area Panel agreed to schedule a 30-minute presentation on the Fairness
Commission at the next Area Forum meeting.
Background Papers: None.
4. AREA PANEL FUNDING REQUESTS
The Panel considered two funding applications that had been submitted:
a) £3,314.18 for litter bins, seats and promotional information regarding Heron’s Reach;
and
b) £1,000 for the purchase of a secure storage unit, renovation of Kingscote Pavilion and
groundworks for Layton Juniors Football Club.
Members were conscious of the limited funding available in the Panel budget and
considered that additional information in respect of both applications was required in
order to make an informed decision.
The Area Panel agreed to:
1) Request further information in respect of the two funding applications; and
2) Defer consideration of both funding applications until the next Panel meeting.
Background Papers: None.
5. UPDATE FROM PANEL MEMBERS AND ADVISORY BODIES
All Panel members and representatives of the advisory bodies were invited to provide an
update and report any issues to the Panel.
MINUTES OF PARKLANDS AREA PANEL MEETING - 19TH SEPTEMBER
2011
Inspector Ainsworth provided an update from Lancashire Constabulary which included
competitive crime statistics for April to August 2011 for the Layton and Grange Park
wards. It was reported that vehicle crime, criminal damage and violent crime had all
experienced a decrease in incidents. There had been a slight increase in the number
of domestic burglaries; however it was anticipated that a recent number of arrests would
have a positive impact on the number of incidents. In response to an increase in metal
theft, which was a problem both nationally and across Blackpool, Lancashire
Constabulary had commenced a targeted initiative to tackle the issue.
Mr Alderson, Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service, presented a written report which
outlined the number of fire-related incidents in the Parklands area for 2010/11. The
number of accidental fires had increased in the Park and Marton wards and decreased
in the Layton ward.
Mrs Hill continued with an update on recent activities in Age Concern. From April to June
2011, the organisation had responded to over 1,700 enquiries on a wide-range of issues.
She also provided an update on the Hospital Aftercare and Carers Breaks services and
explained that funding from the Council to support the Hospital Aftercare service had
been significantly reduced in light of budget cuts.
The Panel was advised that the Warmth for Well-Being project would be promoted
across Blackpool and local community representatives were encouraged to raise
awareness of the project and refer at-risk residents to Age Concern. The organisation
was also piloting a day centre service at Warren Manor for individuals with mild to
moderate mental health issues.
Mr Treasure, NHS Blackpool, reported on the progress of the proposed Health Reform
legislation and the establishment of a Shadow Clinical Commissioning Group. He also
reported that NHS Blackpool was part of a pilot scheme to test a new 111 nonemergency telephone number that would create a single point of contact for patients
who required out of hours service or health advice.
With regard to the Newton Drive Surgery, the Panel was advised that it was now fully
open and provided residents with a range of health services and a Dental Education
Centre. Blackpool Coastal Housing would be circulating a letter to tenants on the Grange
Park estate to advise on procedures to access dental care at the new surgery. In
response to a concern raised, Mr Treasure explained that a pharmaceutical needs
assessment had been undertaken across Blackpool which had not identified a conflict
between the new surgery’s pharmacy and the one already located on Newton Drive;
however, Mr Treasure agreed to investigate the concern raised and report back to the
Panel at a future date.
A suggestion was raised regarding the provision of syringes at pharmacies and whether
a procedure could be enforced to minimise the number of syringes removed from the
premises. Mr Treasure agreed to consider the feasibility of the suggestion and
report back to a future meeting of the Panel.
In response to a previous query raised by the Panel, Mr Treasure advised that the
construction of a multi-storey car park at Blackpool Victoria Hospital was due to
commence around April 2012. The Panel requested further information on the proposed
MINUTES OF PARKLANDS AREA PANEL MEETING - 19TH SEPTEMBER
2011
opening of the car park and queries whether a levy would be imposed on employees. It
was agreed that a representative of Blackpool Victoria Hospital be invited to attend a
future meeting of the Panel.
The item continued with an update from Mr Wignall, Head of Neighbourhood Services
(Central). A copy of the Parklands Area Forum Performance Report September 2011
was circulated at the meeting and Mr Wignall invited feedback on the use of the report
as a means of communication. With regard to the number of dog fouling and fly-tipping
incidents, the Panel was advised that a pilot scheme would be launched in the
Brunswick ward advertise the incidents as examples of environmental crime. The Panel
requested that a concern raised regarding dog fouling around Boundary Primary School
be investigated by Mr Wignall.
In response to a concern raised regarding illegal parking around Stanley Primary School,
Mr Wignall confirmed that the Council had planned to increase targeted enforcement in
the area to tackle the issue.
The Panel was advised that the Home Office had recently launched a £5 million
Innovation Fund which was available to voluntary and community groups to deliver crime
reduction projects. The Panel considered it a valuable opportunity for voluntary
organisations to undertake partnership working.
A concern was raised with regard to a building in the Layton ward, which had been
previously used as a respite care centre. It was considered that the building being
unoccupied for a period of time would increase its risk of metal theft and could become a
hazardous environment. Mr Wignall agreed to investigate the matter and report back to a
future meeting of the Panel.
A discussion took place with regard to the 20 mph zone through the Layton ward. There
was a concern that the speed limit was not adhered to by motorists and that there was
risk of a serious accident. Inspector Ainsworth advised that the speed limit in that area
was advisory and not enforceable; however, the issue would be forwarded to the local
Neighbourhood Policing Team for consideration.
The Area Panel agreed to note the updates.
Background Papers: None.
6. AREA FORUM PLANNING
The Panel noted that the next Area Forum meeting had been scheduled for Monday 31st
October 2011, commencing at 6.30 p.m. at St Paul’s Church.
The Panel agreed that the theme for the meeting would include a 30-minute presentation
on the Fairness Commission followed by a Question and Answer session to allow
members of the public to raise issues or questions.
With regard to the marketplace, the Panel agreed that the following organisations be
invited to provide a stand:
MINUTES OF PARKLANDS AREA PANEL MEETING - 19TH SEPTEMBER
2011
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the Richmond Fellowship;
Neighbourhood Services (Central);
Blackpool Carers Centre;
NHS Blackpool with regard to public health issues; and
Transportation Services with regard to Project 30.
With regard to future Area Forum meetings, the following themes were agreed:
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Project 30; and
Anti-Social Behaviour.
Background Papers: None.
7. DATE OF NEXT MEETING
The Area Panel noted the date of the next meeting at Thursday 8th December 2011,
commencing at 5.00 p.m. in Committee Room B.
Chairman
(The meeting ended at 6:45 pm)
Any queries regarding these minutes, please contact:
Georgina Atkinson, Senior Democratic Services Adviser
Tel: 01253 477164
E-mail: georgina.atkinson@blackpool.gov.uk