Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor J Cook and Councillor Jones.

Resolved:

that the Minutes of the meeting held on 4 September 2024 be signed as a true record.

Resolved:

that the Order of Business be confirmed as printed on the Agenda.

County Councillor Bridgeman declared that he was an employee of Ipswich Borough Council.

Residents are encouraged to ask questions at Area Committee meetings. Questions will be answered by an appropriate Officer or Councillor.

To ask a question, residents simply need to email areacommitteequestions@ipswich.gov.uk including their name and address, a contact telephone number, their question, and which Area Committee they wish the question to be asked at. We ask that questions be submitted by 10am two working days before the day of the meeting in order that relevant information can be brought to the committee; for this meeting the deadline is 10am on Monday 28 October 2024. 

Questions may be asked by residents without prior notice having been given, with the permission of the Chair, however it may not be possible for an answer to be given at the meeting. Priority will however be given to those residents who have submitted questions in advance.

All questions must either be:

·       relevant to the area committee they are to be asked at, or;

·       relevant to Ipswich as a whole and be asked by a resident of the area covered by the committee it is to be asked at.

Please note that questions or representations must not contain:

·       references to identifiable individuals (whether by name or other information) unless the consent of that individual has been obtained and included with the notification;

·       potentially defamatory or provocative or abusive comments;

·       discriminatory remarks.

Please note that responses will not be provided where the question requires the disclosure of confidential or exempt information.

If for any reason a question which has been submitted in advance is not able to be asked at a meeting, the Council will, within 14 days of the meeting date, reply to the resident asking the question explaining why and if possible providing a written answer.

20.1.     The Chair confirmed that one question was received in advance of the meeting.

20.2.     Question 1: We are currently having issues with the amount of people meeting outside of the off licence across the road from our property.  Almost every evening we have a large group of people who purchase alcohol from the shop and gather to drink and socialize outside of the shop. We have spoken to the store owner, Housing officers, shop owners on the road and the police in the past. 

The problem is that they gather from 5pm until the store closes at 11pm, and sometimes well after it has closed, and obviously as the evening progresses, they get rowdier. The stores either side had to remove plant pots as the people were urinating in them. They now visibly urinate in the front garden of the next door flats or around the corner by a cafe. 

We have reported fights happening, drunk people who can't walk being left on the side of the road, and other anti-social behaviour to no result.

The last time we reported a fight we were told that the police had reviewed the cameras in the area and failed to see anything as we described. This was very disheartening as we know we aren't crazy and had video footage from our own phones. It's hard not to take that as people just not caring. 

The noise is so loud by around 8pm that we can hear it over our television. Other neighbours have shouted to them from their windows. It really is unbearable. 

The only thing we are told is that now the summer is over, it won't be as frequent. But 2 years in a row we have suffered from the constant noise. 

It is happening less frequently now with the weather, but honestly, we ended up staying out at other places as much as possible just to have a peaceful evening. 

Is there anything that can be done about this please? I am aware it can be tricky, but any help would be appreciated. 

20.3.     The following response was provided by Inspector Partridge.

I am sorry to hear how this issue has made you feel and the upset it has caused. I have done some research, and it would appear we have only been called twice to that location for the premises itself. I have researched the wider area and can see that we have been called to offences in nearby locations, but these have not been directly outside the location mentioned. I would ask that any ASB is reported online or by telephone where appropriate. I will raise the concerns with the local policing team and ask them to visit the premises and nearby location.

21.1.     Inspector Lawlor, Ipswich Central SNT, reported that licensed premises continued to be considered with work undertaken alongside Local Authorities to ensure Ipswich’s Night Time Economy was safe. A number of visits had been carried out to various licensing premises and it was noted that the NTE also added to the local ASB profile and therefore, it was hoped that partnership working would help to reduce this. A closure order had been issued on the Supper Club this month due to disorder and this would be reviewed at the end of the year however, the premises remained open at present time.

21.2.     A temporary closure order had also been issued on the Water Lily pub which was closed at this time. A warrant had been executed whereby four people were arrested for offences and this continued to be investigated. A review hearing would be held in November and it was likely that this would remain closed as the landlord had not contested this.

21.3.     Priorities in Central Ipswich included Arras Square. Ongoing work had been dedicated to this area and regular meetings were taking place with local businesses. Local ASB would be reviewed of which most was tied into the NTE ASB. Overall reports of ASB had decreased which was in line with the issues being seasonal. The bus stop outside Vodka Revolution was investigated as a focal point for ASB but this did not appear to be the case however, the area would continue to be monitored.

21.4.     Operation Spotlight was an externally funded operation for ASB patrols and was dedicated to the Ipswich Town centre. The Officers undertaking patrols were protected and would not be asked to attend any other live jobs during their patrols. This had enabled high vis patrols in the town centre with 478 extra policing hours in the Buttermarket shopping centre alone. 576 extra hours had been dedicated in Ipswich altogether alongside the usual patrols taking place.

21.5.     A Day of Action had been held on 22 October which included the Joint Roads and Armed Policing Team, Road Casualty Reduction team and local Response Investigation Team. This was undertaken alongside other partnership agencies such as HRMC and IBC Licensing. 5 arrests were made, 5 vehicles seized, 102 Traffic Offence Reports issued, 17 breath tests, and 2 stop searches. This had been a highly successful day and it was aimed that another day of action would be held in January 2025.

21.6.     Ongoing work continued with attendance at Maple Park for the Thursday night sport sessions. The last session would take place this week and it was hoped that more sessions of a similar nature would be held in future. The sessions had been well attended with 56 young persons engaged with at the most recent session.

21.7.     Operation Golder targeted drug offences and violent crime and a number of targeted patrols had been held in certain areas. Officers had visited cuckoo’ed addresses where vulnerable people’s houses had been taken over by drug users to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 21.

Resolved:

that the financial statement in Appendix 1 to the report be noted.

Reason: To provide clear and transparent details of the amount of funds available to the Area Committee to deliver the priorities in its Action Plan.

23.1.     The Chair reported that there were no actions from the previous meeting.

24.1.     County Councillor Bridgeman reported that the Suffolk Climate Change Partnership were offering a Suffolk Loft Insulation Offer of 50% off (up to £200) eco-friendly loft insulation for homeowners in Suffolk. Lighting on the Waterfront continued to be monitored; SCC were installing more lighting in the area however; it was not confirmed exactly where this would be.

24.2.     Councillor Kreidewolf confirmed that the railings at the Civic Drive roundabout had been replaced by SCC and the final part of the work would be completed shortly. The TRO on Berners Street was awaiting implementation following a number of dangerous situations occurring with regards to transport and it was hoped that this would be in place soon.

24.3.     Councillor I Lockington noted that the TRO in Berners Street and Christchurch Street had been funded from her local SCC Highways budget and would continue to be chased to ensure it was implemented as soon as possible. A number of residents had advised issues with drainage due to rainwater and it was hoped that Anglian Water could be supported and persuaded to provide better drains in the areas affected.

24.4.     Councillor T Lockington noted that the use of glyphosate as weed treatment was extensive which had resulted in lots of detritus appearing on pavements which then became an IBC issue. Pavement weeds were a new hazard, and it was important that this was closely monitored.

24.5.     County Councillor Richards noted that the children’s football held at Maple Park had been stopped over the Winter as the surface was unsuitable for playing however, it was hoped that the sessions would commence again in Spring 2025. £1200 had been provided towards this from County Councillor Richard’s locality budget and the charity hoped to raise the total amount needed by that time to continue the sessions.

Wednesday 15 January 2025, 7pm at All Saints Church Hall

Wednesday 12 March 2025, 7pm at Zoar Baptist Church

25.1.     The Chair reported that the dates of future meetings were listed on the Agenda, with the next meeting scheduled for Wednesday 15 January 2025 at 7.00pm.