SKELTON NEIGHBOURHOOD ACTION PARTNERSHIP (SNAP)

Meeting held on 15th March 2023 Boosbeck Village Hall Dear Resident THE ACTION TAKEN

BY SKELTON NAP ON ISSUES RAISED.

 Swilly Lane hedgeback. Some sections had been cut but others left.

● ACTION: This work was completed beginning 13th March 2023.

 Wooden fences Glastonbury Road. An update on the installation of these fences was requested to prevent vehicles crossing the verge at the cul-de-sac.

● ACTION: The Highways Officers are investigating installing fencing at the end of the cul-de-sac.

 Car Park, Hollybush Activity Centre. A correction was requested to the statement that the car park belonged to the Activity Centre.

● ACTION: The correction that the car park does not belong to the Hollybush Activity Centre was included in the previous edition of CV&MN.

 A thank you for the action taken by PCSO Collins at the den at Pit Park Boosbeck.

● ACTION: This was passed to PCSO Collins.

 Request for an EMWA application to be sent to Friends of Skelton Community Orchard.

● ACTION: Application form sent.

 An issue at the Hollybush Activity Centre to be followed up by Ward Councillors.

● ACTION: After the meeting the HAC Committee expressed their wish to follow the matter up themselves.

 Request to share details about Friends of Skelton Old Church event o ACTION: This was carried out.

 A request for future village cleans in North Skelton.

● ACTION: In reply it was stated that alleys are swept weekly, the main roads completed quarterly. Litter picking is ongoing. A deep clean was completed as part of the Great British Spring Clean in March of this year. Another deep clean will be carried out in 2023. The problem encountered is that even though leaflets are delivered to properties, vehicles are not moved.

 A request to cut back North Skelton Car Park Shrubbery.

● ACTION: The Council’s Neighbourhood Team was asked to stop cutting back about 2013-2014 because residents complained about people using it as a short cut. The Team are unable to restart cutting as the shrubbery is not theirs.

 Safety Rules signage Skelton Green Wheelie Playful. These signs have been repeatedly taken from the site but as they are about the safe use of the site, a request had been made for replacements.

● ACTION: New signage has been put up in different materials and located on both gates. They look much better. The bin has also been replaced to the Council’s now standard bin. Requested that thanks be passed to the Officer for this work.

Police Report

PCSO Lynas gave the updated report and he was accompanied by PC Freund who was on attachment from the Response Team.

SKELTON WEST There were 7 reported Anti Social Behaviour issues and 7 burglaries.

SKELTON EAST There were 19 Anti Social Behaviour issues, mostly related to the retail part, and 7 burglaries.

Across both Wards there have been several Off Road Bike and quad bike complaints. Some are from the local area and others from further afield and outside RCBC. While some use legitimate routes, they are not continuous, so unauthorised access to farmland and paths is causing damage and danger. Some are linked with crime. Police can seize bikes and they would welcome any information about the vehicles, their riders and where they are stored.

PC Freund explained that she has a response role to 999 incidents. She is based at Kirkleatham covering RCBC. She is on attachment with the Neighbourhood Team but will move around different teams.

Cllr Foggo reported on a Police meeting he attended with the new Chief Constable. The management side of police is being reorganised and is being set up at present. It will mean that Redcar and Cleveland will have its own inspectorate which will look after and control police in Redcar and Cleveland. This means that more police will stay in the Redcar and Cleveland area.

PCSO Lynas stated that crime is low in East Cleveland but it does happen and asked everyone to report incidents so staff can be allocated to the issues. This can have an impact on funding and staffing. Reports can be made through 999 in an emergency. 101, or COPA App for passing on information and Crimestoppers. ASB can also be reported to RCBC on 01642 774774 or online.

The reluctance of residents to report to police was raised, including being fearful of repercussions. It was stated to police that their report to NAP refers to reported incidents, but it would help and encourage people to report, if NAP was informed of the outcomes to the reported instances.

Amongst the issues raised by residents with the police were:-

● There was a request for more traffic officers to deal with speeding motorists, particularly at night, including Boosbeck, Boosbeck Road. It was noted that there are speed cameras at Hobdale Terrace.

● The parking at the Pizza shop and pub, vehicles parked with head lights left on, and parking both sides of the road and at the corners. There was discussion on potential options for this problem and a safer streets pack is being sent out to a resident.

● The parking on corners at Trouthall Lane and Boosbeck High Street. This was obstructing the highway and could be enforced by the police.

● There was lengthy discussion about the parking at Skelton Primary School including with the school governors who attended the meeting. PC Freund informed the meeting about a North Yorkshire school which purchased cones shaped like children which they put out at school times. A meeting is scheduled to take place regarding the problems with parking at the school and governors will be invited.

● HGVs continue to use Station Lane to access the industrial estate. This has been raised on many occasions, and Cllr Foggo has visited businesses about the problems but the businesses have no control over delivery drivers. Surveys have been carried out and the results passed to police to deal with the speeding and weight limits. There is no limit on the bridge because it is a Railtrack bridge.

FIRE

Community Liaison Officer Barry Whitton reported that there were no deliberate F1 fires but there had been an F1 fire at Lingdale concerning a log fire. There were 19 secondary fires, 4 were grassland fires in Skelton. The summer campaign was launched during that week. There is now a strategy in place as summers get drier. He reminded everyone that the service carries out Home Safety Checks. It was pointed out that the Cleveland Fire Service has the best record for Home Safety Checks. Barry pointed out that prevention is the highest priority; the Team has daily meetings and they attend partnership meetings. This area is of great importance because of the density of petrochemical sites in Teesside thus the Service give safety advice to these businesses, fire survival guidance on a 999 call and they have the fastest response times in the Country. The service was praised for their work. Residents pointed out that fires had been set in the Den in the vicinity of Park Pit. This will be followed up by Barry and the Loftus team. Barry gave out leaflets “ Be a

Firestopper”. This is where people can identify fly tipping which could be a firerisk. It can be reported to Firestoppers 0800 169 5558 or firestoppersreport.co.uk. It is 100% anonymous. Always.

Funding Updates

A new round of available funding will start after the May 2023 elections. Since the last meeting supported applications were: Skelton Castle Cricket Club, FOSCO (building), Lockwood Primary, Skelton Primary, Brickyard Bakers, FOSCO (notice board), and Café Creations.

Cllr Craig clarified that the Café Creations funding was to support families with snacky meals during the holiday period. This information will be passed to Lockwood and Skelton schools.

Community Projects

FOSCO use the building (adjacent to the Car Park, Skelton High Street, for storage and events. Formerly owned by Skelton and Gilling Estates, it is now owned by the Council. There are plans for a new roof, electricity and water installations and they are assisting with raising funding for this work. A kitchen area has been secured ‘in kind’ by a local company. The building has had various uses in the past including Fire Stations and it is part of the village heritage. FOSCO would like to receive stories about this including from retired firemen. To assist funding, a ‘Go fund me’ page was suggested.

Questions And Updates

Repairing vehicles, Byland Road. Nick Simpson, Beyond Housing had passed on an update regarding tenants and non-tenants repairing vehicles on land and the car park on Byland Road which belongs to Beyond Housing. Work is underway to carry out enforcement and removal from land any vehicle causing obstructions, although this can be a lengthy process as notices have to be served.

Pit Park is not opened yet though the equipment has been installed. This will be followed up. In response to a query about access point at Pit Park near Curious Little Thinkers it was pointed out that plans were proposed and Sustrans had advised of an option which was to be considered at a site meeting. There are rules about access and chicanes and work needs to be done to Sustrans set standards. It is funding related.

The fence and gatepost along the perimeter of the nature area, was propped up but has fallen down. This will be followed up with Officers

In response to a request for more bins at Pit Park and between Skelton Green and Boosbeck, it was confirmed that new bins are due to be installed at

Pit Park. The request will be passed to officers but the cost and resources involved was pointed out, and people not using them.

Daffodil Sunday – 26th March –poster to be circulated.

Elections May 2023 – ID is needed to vote at the elections. Information leaflets were left at the venue and information will be circulated.

White lines, hill between Skelton and Skelton Green. The lines at the corner at the bottom of the hill are nearly non-existent. This has been passed to Officers to refresh these lines.

Contact details for Boosbeck Allotments Association. Any information to be passed to Jo Mead. Nuisance cats at Hollybush estate. Reported that this was becoming a nuisance and it will be passed to Beyond Housing.

Youth Services. There was a request to Councillors to save Youth Services. This will be referred to the Council’s children’s services.

EAST CLEVELAND BUS SERVICE. IMPORTANT NOTICE.

The new East Cleveland services 1 & 2 were due to commence from Monday 27th March 2023. Sadly clearance has not yet been received from the Traffic Commissioner so regrettably their launch is postponed. Stagecoach have apologised for any inconvenience and hardship this may cause.

Customers are advised to frequently return to their website and twitter accounts for the latest information. The Tees Flex on demand bus will still run.

Cllr Craig told those attending that Cllr Foggo was not standing for election to the Council in the next election taking place in May 2023 and this would be his last NAP meeting. She praised his knowledge, support and thanked him on behalf of everyone for all the work he had done for the Skelton are.

Cllr Foggo responded that he had enjoyed being a Councillor, that he had achieved some things but not others as they could not be done. He said it had been a very rewarding role.

Residents agreed saying everyone attending the meeting were there to support the people around them and the area.

THE NEXT MEETING: June

AGM. Venue and date to be notified later.

Cllr. Cliff Foggo (Chair) cliff.foggo@ redcar-cleveland.gov.uk

Cllr Julie Craig julie.craig@redcarcleveland.gov.uk

Cllr Craig Holmes craig.holmes@ redcar-cleveland.gov.uk

Cllr Lee Holmes lee.holmes@redcarcleveland.gov.uk

Eileen Goodenough, Vice Chair.

Hello everyone and welcome to this month crime prevention policing page, brought to you by your dedicated crime prevention officer for Redcar, Eston, Guisborough and East Cleveland

This month I’ll like to concentrate on two important subjects which are Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) and garden security.

You may be thinking why I am mentioning VAWG on a crime prevention page, well part of my role is visiting survivors of domestic abuse, which unforunately happens more than people think with me and the team visiting anywhere between 10 – 20 survivors per week and this is just the tip of the iceberg as its vastly under reported. because of this I want to introduce you to an amazing mobile App call Hollie Guard that is a person attack among other things for you mobile phone.

The second is Gardening crime prevention as we are now heading into Spring when we start to tidy the garden and buy new things ready for the summer. As you’ll be aware this is also a time for an increase in thefts so by following the below simple inexpensive steps I hope to make you one less victim of crime.

Do you know about the Hollie Guard app?

Victims of crime, including victims of domestic abuse, can use an app to help protect them in dangerous or life-threatening situations.

Hollie Guard is an advanced personal safety device, and with a simple tap or shake, can send your location and video/audio evidence to nominated emergency contacts via email or text.

The app can also send a high-pitched alarm and a light starts to flash on your phone to attract attention.

The app was commissioned by The Hollie Gazzard Trust after the murder of Hollie Gazzard in Gloucester in 2014 by her then boyfriend – Asher Maslin, who stalked Hollie during an abusive relationship. The Trust helps reduce domestic abuse through creating and delivering programmes on domestic abuse and promoting healthy relationships within schools and colleges.

Once the app is activated, your location can be tracked and viewed in real time by your emergency contact. Evidence is not stored on the smartphone but on secure servers so that it may be used as future evidence.

When travelling, the ‘journey’ feature allows you to notify your friends, family and co-workers of your movements. An email or text will be generated and sent to your emergency contacts when you have safely completed your journey.

‘Meetings’ allows you to identify when you are going to a meeting or working alone. An alert will automatically be created if the timer expires, or you do not cancel the meeting.

‘Man down’ facility provides extra protection for users in situations when the user may become motionless, by alerting your emergency contact to a sudden deceleration, non-movement and impact.

Hollie Guard is ideal when out and about, on a night out, travelling, for the kids going to and from school, out with their friends and many more applications.

The app is available free of charge for iPhone, Android and Windows phones. To register, go to https://hollieguard.com

If you need help or want to report domestic violence please visit the Harbour link or call