Three Towns Area Committee

20 April 2005


Agenda Item 2.1



SALTCOATS, 20 April 2005 - At a Meeting of the Three Towns Area Committee of North Ayrshire Council at 10.00 am.

Present
David Munn, Gordon Allison, Margaret Munn, Alan Munro, Samuel Taylor and Nan Wallace.


In Attendance
A Milson, Learning Manager, Quality Development (Educational Services); and J Bannatyne and E Fisher, Corporate and Democratic Support Officers (Chief Executive's).

Also In Attendance
Sergeant A McGrath, Strathclyde Police.

Chair
Councillor D Munn in the Chair.


    1. Minutes
      The Minutes of the Meeting of the Three Towns Area Committee held on 2 March 2005, copies of which had previously been circulated, were confirmed.
        2. Strathclyde Police: Trends in Crime figures

        A report showing the crime figures for February/March 2005, including details of detection rates for the period April 2004 to February 2005 was tabled at the meeting.
          Sergeant McGrath advised the Committee that within the Three Towns there has been a large reduction in crime, especially serious crime during February/March compared to the same period last year. There has been a 50% reduction in the number of housebreakings and in vandalism although detection rates for vandalism have decreased. There has been an increase in the number of people reported for possessing drugs and offensive weapons which is due to proactive policing involving officers carrying out a high number of searches. The Scottish Executive are currently considering providing the Police with additional powers of search. There has also been an increase in car thefts and assaults. Apart from vandalism, detection rates remain relatively stable over all the crime groups.

          Discussion took place on the availability of weapons to young people and on the steps currently being taken to regulate the sale of weapons.


          Arising from discussion on vandalism, Sergeant McGrath advised the Committee of an Anti-Vandalism Campaign featuring the Tram Direct Theatre who will perform a play highlighting the problems vandalism for all Primary 5 school pupils in North Ayrshire. He also gave information on Crime Stoppers, a confidential way of reporting crime by telephone and undertook to supply Crime Stopper cards to the Council for distribution.

          The Committee agreed to recommend that the Council write to the Scottish Executive and MSPs to express its concern over the need to further regulate the sale of weapons to young people.

          3. Community Learning and Development: Community Engagement
            Submitted report by the Corporate Director (Educational Services) on the role of Community Learning and Development in relation to community engagement under Anti Social Behaviour Compacts and Community Learning and Development Action Plans.

            The Scottish Executive guidance ‘Working and Learning Together to Build Stronger Communities’ sets out the long-term framework for the development of Community Learning and Development in Scotland to help individuals and communities tackle real issues through community action and community-based learning. Over the three year period 2004/07 a number of Community Development and Learning Action Plans will be developed in partnership with local communities set within a Community Planning framework, including one in Ardeer which will identify the needs of the community through a process of consultations with local groups and individuals.

            Anti-Social Behaviour Neighbourhood Compacts which incorporate the principles of Community Learning and Development, have also been developed in North Saltcoats and North Ardrossan. These involve gauging local opinions on issues of learning and anti-social behaviour, raising awareness of local services, targeting the involvement of young people and adults, consulting local businesses, churches and relevant agencies in the community and arranging for the starting up of a Steering Committee, on which the community will be represented to effect change and work in partnership with agencies and service providers through the formulation of the Action Plan. Details of the main areas on which the Neighbourhood Compacts and Action Plans will focus and of the individuals and organisations consulted were provided in the report.

            Noted.

            4. Community Development Grants Scheme and the Local Youth Action Challenge Fund: Budgetary Provision 2005/06

            Submitted report by the Chief Executive on the budgetary provision in financial year 2005/06 in respect of the Community Development Grants Scheme and the Local Youth Action Challenge Fund.


            The Corporate Policy Committee at its meeting on 8 February 2005 agreed to approve the allocation of £104,200 to the Community Development Grants Scheme to be devolved to the three Area Committees in financial year 2005/06. The Three Towns Area Committee has been allocated £26,900. The Community Planning Partnership is also currently considering an allocation for 2005/06 to each of the three Area Committees from the Community Regeneration Fund. This funding is to be targeted at areas of disadvantage identified in the Scottish Index of Deprivation and the amounts awarded and criteria for awards will be reported to the next meeting. The Scottish Executive has made available £162,000 in 2005/06 to the North Ayrshire Community Safety Partnership to establish a Local Youth Action Challenge Fund to support the provision of services, projects and activities aimed at young people. The total allocation for the three Area Committees is £60,000, of which £15,000 has been allocated to the Three Towns Area Committee.

            Noted.

            5. Community Development Grants Scheme and Local Youth Action Challenge Fund - Analysis and Applications for Grant Aid

            Councillor M Munn declared an interest in the application from the Three Towns Healthy Living.

            Submitted report by the Corporate Director (Educational Services) on applications for financial assistance under the Council's Community Development Grants Scheme and Local Youth Action Challenge Fund.

            The Community Development Grants Scheme has an opening balance of £26,900 and the Local Youth Action Challenge Fund has an opening balance of £15,000.

            The Committee agreed to make the following awards:-

            Community Development Grants Scheme
            OrganisationAward
            'D' in the Park£650
            SNAP Craft Group£400
            North Ayrshire Sports Council£1,515
            Three Towns Healthy Living£1,900
            1st Stevenston Boys Brigade£1,000
            Ardrossan Eglinton Angling Club£2,000
            Local Youth Action Challenge Fund
            OrganisationAward
            St John's Youth Group£2,588


            6. Ardrossan Common Good Fund: Request for Financial Assistance

            Submitted report by the Chief Executive on an application from Amy-beth Cowan for financial assistance from the Ardrossan Common Good Fund. The opening balance of funding available for disbursement from Ardrossan Common Good Fund in 2005/06 is £2,475.

            The Committee agreed to refuse the application, on the grounds that it does not meet the criteria for funding from the Ardrossan Common Good Fund.

            7. Saltcoats Common Good Fund: Request for Financial Assistance

            Submitted report by the Chief Executive on applications for financial assistance from Maureen Theresa Pllu and Rebecca Findlay from the Saltcoats Common Good Fund. The opening balance of funding available for disbursement from Saltcoats Common Good Fund in 2005/06 is £1,260.

            The Committee agreed (a) to award Maureen Theresa Pllu £300 from the Saltcoats Common Good Fund; and (b) to refuse the application by Rebecca Findlay on the grounds that is does not meet the criteria for funding from the Saltcoats Common Good Fund.

            8. Stevenston Common Good Fund: Request for Financial Assistance

            Submitted report by the Chief Executive on applications for financial assistance from North Ayrshire Skate Park and 1st Stevenston Boys Brigade from the Stevenston Common Good Fund. The opening balance of funding available for disbursement from Stevenston Common Good Fund in 2005/06 is £13,500;

            The Committee agreed (a) to award 1st Stevenston Boys Brigade £1,000 from the Stevenston Common Good Fund; and (b) to (i) refuse the application from the North Ayrshire Skate Group on the grounds that it does not meet the criteria for funding from Stevenston Common Good Fund; and (ii) to refer the application to the Learning Manager, Quality Development (Educational Services) with the request that the group be advised to submit a application for funding from the Local Youth Action Challenge Fund.

            9. Future Agenda Items

            The Committee agreed that suggestions for future agenda items should be forwarded to J Bannatyne, Corporate and Democratic Support Officer (Chief Executive's).

            The meeting ended at 11.10 am.