To receive apologies for absence from Members. 

Apologies for absence were received from the following Members:-

Councillor L Desmond-Williams

Councillor T Lyddon

Councillor K Rowlands

Councillor MC Voisey

Councillor RE Young

To receive declarations of personal and prejudicial interest (if any) from Members/Officers in accordance with the provisions of the Members’ Code of Conduct adopted by Council from 1 September 2008.

None.

To receive for approval the Minutes of 26/02/19

RESOLVED:                     That the Minutes of the meeting of the Town and Community Council Forum dated 26 February 2019, be approved as a true and accurate record.

The Chairperson commenced this item by introducing Chief Superintendent Alun Morgan to Members. Chief Superintendent Morgan was present before the Forum today, to give a verbal presentation on local policing matters.

He stated that he would share some of the issues going forward, as well as outline some of the problems the police faced and of course how they intended dealing with them.

He gave an overview of the current issues and of the desire to be as efficient as possible in the current climate and to identify the most appropriate resources to police in the correct areas, all supported by data and technologies to assist us in that service delivery.

He praised the Council for its desire to work with the police on local issues such as homelessness, drug supplying/misuse and anti-social behaviour and then declared the five policing priorities that the force had formally adopted, namely domestic abuse, knife crime, ‘county lines,’ rape and serious sexual offences as well as the need to prevent and respond to terrorist and extremist threats.

Chief Superintendent Morgan then gave a more detailed explanation of a ‘county line’ that involved a situation arising whereby, drug gangs from big cities expand their operations to smaller towns, often using violence to drive out local dealers and exploiting the vulnerable to sell drugs. These dealers will use dedicated mobile phone lines, the 'county lines' to undertake their business.   

The greater focus on these five priorities would see, perhaps like never before, a more joined-up focus from the police, committing more specialist resources to combat and reduce these priority issues.

He added that there was a process now in place in the police, that allowed for new probationer officers and transferee opportunities, as well as a direct entry scheme for investigators.

All these changes will look to deal more effectively with the more serious calls for service, which were on the increase. Such reinforcement would be implemented, particularly in response to incidents of anti-social behaviour over the anticipated summer months, when such incidents increased in light of the nicer weather.

A Member asked if there was any proposal to reduce the number of police stations, and in particular, Porthcawl Police station.

Chief Superintendent Morgan confirmed that the police estate was constantly being reviewed with no immediate concerns for this station, adding that a merger, like the one to take place in Llantwit Major imminently, could be attractive to Porthcawl, with the caveat that any change would not see policing of the area compromised by any such review. He further advised that the Llantwit Major model sees a new four blue-light partnership with fire, as well as ambulance and coastguard.

Chief Superintendent Morgan then discussed Operation Red Dragon. This was a crackdown by the police with regard to the supply of Class A drugs with the insertion of an undercover police officer actively patrolling the streets of Barry and Bridgend from July to October 2018, in order to obtain some intelligence and evidence to arrest the perpetrators.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 181.

The Team Leader – Policy, Development and Transport submitted a report, the purpose of which, was to provide the Forum with an update on active travel in Bridgend, that was presented to the Clerks of Town and Community Councils on 28 June 2019.

By way of background information, he confirmed that the Active Travel (Wales) Act 2013 came into force in September 2014 and since then, the Welsh Government has been supporting councils in Wales through grant funding, to deliver the active travel programme identified in individual council’s Integrated Network Maps. Each year, councils are invited to submit proposals to implement routes that promote active travel including routes that compliment schemes implemented under safe routes in communities or to schools, also funded by Welsh Government (WG). Where appropriate and applicable, the Council also implements sections of the active travel network through developer contributions.

The Team Leader – Policy, Development and Transport then proceeded to give a presentation, the main thrust of which, was to inform Councillors of the extent of progress and to explain the processes that the Council Officers undergo to determine and assess schemes.

The presentation addressed the following principal points and themes:-

The main purpose of the Act, was to make walking and cycling the preferred way of getting around over short(er) distances.

An Active Travel network map was submitted for approval by WG in October 2017. The network covers:-

·       Existing Routes Map (ERM)

·       Integrated Network Map (INM)

·       Map to be made available to the public

Progress in Bridgend

Active Travel integrates with wider transport policies:-

1. Local Development Plan (LDP)
2. Local Transport Plan (LTP)

Active travel infrastructure improvement and funding

• Schemes to be identified in the INM and the LTP
• Schemes to be associated with and complement safe routes in communities/to schools
• Such schemes to be identified in school travel plans or community access plans
• Schemes to be developed and funded through the land-use process as part of:-

1.     21^st Century Schools programme

2.     Residential developments

3.     NHS/Trust developments

4.     Town Centre regeneration

5.     Transportation infrastructure development.

The presentation then gave information regarding WG funding for 2016/17 – 2018/19, together with that for 2019/20:-

Active Travel and wellbeing goals

• Prosperity
• Resilience
• Healthiness
• More equality
• Community cohesiveness
• Cultural vibrancy
• Global responsibility

Promotion of Active Travel journeys, through:-

Long term planning, e.g. land-use development;

Prevention, e.g. reducing car dependency, cycle training in schools, cycle to work schemes in the workplace;

Integration, e.g. intermodal and land-use integration;

Collaboration, e.g. with communities, schools, etc;

Involvement, e.g. transport users, pedestrians, cyclists, etc

Active Travel and the planning process

The development planning process plans for:

1.     Integration and co-ordination of land-use planning and transport

2.     Accessibility for all (a widened choice)

3.     Reducing the need to travel

4.     Prioritising active travel and public transport provision

5.     Support for ultra-low emission vehicles (ULEVs)

The development control process delivers:

• Design and layout of streets

(Manual for streets)

(Active travel design guide)

      (Other urban design principles)

• Transport assessments
• Amelioration of transport impacts
• ‘polluter’ pays principle  ...  view the full minutes text for item 182.

RESOLVED:                    At the direction of the Chairperson and following the agreement of Members, the Forum deferred this item to the next scheduled meeting.

To consider any other item(s) of business in respect of which notice has been given in accordance with Rule 4 of the Council Procedure Rules and which the person presiding at the meeting is of the opinion should by reason of special circumstances be transacted at the meeting as a matter of urgency. 

None.