Luton Borough CouncilStopsley

Ward Forums

Issues Raised

Reviewed GJR/18/03/14

STOPSLEY WARD FORUM ACTIONS

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1. 8/11/12 Travellers The main issue concerned travellers. One occasion the travellers camped on the swimming pool site, having broken in. The police refused to use their powers to remove the travellers from the swimming pool site so officers let them through on to the common in order, apparently, to ensure there were no travellers present for the opening of the pool. Officers then asked the police to remove the travellers quickly from the Regional Sports Centre area; the police refused because as far as they were concerned council officers gave the travellers permission to be there.

In the second case travellers here for a funeral placed mobile offices without permission on the Stopsley Mobile Home Park car park, moving residents’ cars out of the way. They remained for several days and there were problems.

The Forum agreed that officers should be asked to look again at security on the Mobile Home Park to prevent a repetition.

LBCParks Division

LBCHousing Department

Barry Timms

Maureen Backler

To increase security for Stopsley Common when the works of demolishing the sports centre and reinstatement is complete. Then the barrier at St Thomas road entrance will be a fixed i.e. no lock as our maintenance vehicles can gain access from the Lothair road end.

The Stopsley Mobile Home site and the Gypsy Traveller Site have been surveyed for possible improvements to security. Due to the layout of the site it would not be possible to install any measures to prevent access as it would cause difficulties for the residents of the sites.

As the entire surrounding area is not Housing land I asked the Parks Department if they could investigate possible security measures to the surrounding areas.

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STOPSLEY WARD FORUM ACTIONS

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2. 8/11/12 Swimming pool The other issue raised concerned the swimming pool. Disabled facilities are considered inadequate by some users and there is a bin store behind the pool where rubbish is not kept under control, apparently because there are not enough bins.Since the Forum there has been a complaint from a resident that the balancing pond behind the houses in Hitchin Road is inadequately fenced. Small children could easily get into the pond area.

Daniel Palframan - Active Luton

We have not received a response, but will chase again.

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STOPSLEY WARD FORUM ACTIONS

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3. 19/3/13 Police & Crime Commissioner (PCC)The forum asked that the new PCC attend a future meeting of the East Luton Area Board to meet local people and discuss any issues that may arise.

Area Boards Support Manager

Gary Roberts

The Police & Crime Commissioner (Mr Olly Martins) will be attending the East Luton Area Board on Thursday 7th November 2013. This will be an agenda item on the evening.

4 19/3/13 Swimming Pool (Inspire Sports Village Parking)There is an issue with parking at the new centre. It is maybe a capacity issue.A notice was put up at Inspire to say that if the car park was full people should park their cars in the crematorium.Who allowed this sign to be put up?The entrance to the crematorium was crowded with cars.

Daniel PalframanManagerInspire Sports Village

Daniel Palframan

We are sensitive to our neighbours in all aspects of operations at Inspire and would like to apologise to those who have been upset by the recent car parking issue. This has been due to recent big events such as the ITV Splash programme and last weekend when there were three separate major events taking place at the centre. This coinciding with the normal weekend football use led to increased traffic in the area. We have a travel plan with the Council, and along with the Parks department, are working to improve access. We have just signed an agreement with the Hilton Hotel to allow us to use their car park as overflow for major events. Inspire has been extremely popular since it opened last year, and while we are happy that so many people are making use of its world class facilities, we will continue to look into other options to prevent overflow for major events.(Active Luton)

18/3/14 This is still an issue so should remain on the action plan

Daniel PalframanManagerInspire Sports Village

Daniel Palframan

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STOPSLEY WARD FORUM ACTIONS

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5. 7/11/13 Fly-tippingIf residents witness this taking place and can record the vehicle registration number then phone it through tot he Council on 01582 546000

6. 7/11/13 Stopsley Common – Shared footpath and cycleway.

■ Residents want to be informed and involved with any consultation meeting/s that take place. ■ Information about these events need to be circulated properly to ensure that it reaches everyone concerned.

LBCHighways & Engineering

Mark Aaronson

Consultation on this issue will be taking place and no decisions will be taken until next summer. Groundworks are looking at the use of Stopsley Common cycle route.

18/3/14 Shared footpath/cyclewayA petition against this proposal was being submitted the East Luton Area Board on the 18/4/14. Residents are concerned that Travellers will use it as a ‘Quad bike race track’ .

LBCHighways & Engineering

Mark Aaronson

This was discussed at the Area Board and it was resolved that:-

(i) That the petitioners concerns in the report (Ref 6.1) be noted;

(ii) That the Head of Engineering and Street Services investigate the feasibility of placing a route through the park by considering other suitable options within the park;

(iii) That as part of a pending wider consultation process regarding Stopsley District Park that the cycle route options be included in the process being carried out by the Groundworks.

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STOPSLEY WARD FORUM ACTIONS

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7 7/11/13 Luton Regional Sports Centre

When is the building due to be demolished?

LBCPlanning

Jackie Barnell

Building demolished and re soiling to be completed by end of February depending on prevailing weather conditions

8 7/11/13 Proposal to put in five trees in the shopping area

The forum feels this is a waste of money. Ask Planning to look into it.

LBCParks

LBCPlanning Division

Barry Timms

Jackie Barnell

No such proposal could be found Further information required

9. 7/11/13 Stopsley Memorial■ Needs refurbishment.■ The bench has gone.■ No litter bin/s

Works complete

10. 7/11/13 Speed reduction in Stapleford RoadConcern was raised regarding speeding in Stapleford Road. A representative from Engineering Team, Highways Services ENR was asked to look investigate the feasibility of installing mini roundabouts in Stapleford Road

LBCEngineering Team, Highway Services.

Nasir Akram

There are currently air tube surveys in place to carry out a vehicle count. This will form part of an overall engineering assessment/study determine whether mini roundabouts should be installed or not.Nasir Akram (Technician – Highway Services)

In designing mini-roundabouts the Engineering Team consults Design Manual for Road and Bridges (issued by Department of Transport) and Mini Roundabouts - good practice guide (Issued by Department of Transport).Volume 6 section 2 of Design Manual for Road and Bridges does not recommend mini roundabout being constructed where traffic on any of the arms is below 500 vehicles per day (2-Way flow).

The traffic counts carried out in effort to investigate feasibility of mini roundabouts in Stapleford Road, show that level of vehicles on one arm is less than 500 vehicles per day. This is the case with both locations of Stapleford Road Junction with Chesford Road and Stapleford road junction with Peartree Road. Therefore we cannot recommend construction of mini-roundabouts at both locations in Stapleford Road.

Nasir Akram (Technician – Highway Services) 11th April 2014

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STOPSLEY WARD FORUM ACTIONS

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11. 18/3/14 TravellersResolution going to the Executive

See below for the report and the decision of the Executive.

Agenda Item Number: 5.1Luton Borough Council Executive Meeting Date: 7th April 2014Report of: Head of Policy and PerformanceReport author: Angela Fraser – 01582 546070Subject: Recommendation of the East Luton Area Board- The removal of travellers at Stopsley CommonConsultations:CouncillorsLead Executive Member(s): Cllr Ashraf Stakeholders XWards Affected: Stopsley Others X (Public)

RecommendationsThat the Executive:1. As a matter of urgency, and in consultation with local residents, ensure that open land at Stopsley Common is protected from illegal encampments;2. Adopt the policy of immediate eviction of travellers as applied in 2013 in Luton with the use of Section 61 notices for speedy evictions;3. Request the Police to enforce the law in respect of criminal damage and provide an explanation as to why this has not happened when offences have taken place in their presence. This is to protect local residents from intimidation they are confronted with from travellers/trespasses;4. Request the Head of Engineering and Street Services to ensure a thorough cleaning operation is carried out on Stopsley Common to remove all hazardous waste from the area.Background2. At a meeting of the East Luton Area Board held on 18th March 2014, the Stopsley Ward Councillors raised the concerns of residents at the Ward Forum meeting regarding the illegal encampment of travellers, on Stopsley Common.

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3. The residents request the Council take immediate action and use all enforcement action available for the speedy removal of illegal encampments of travellers.4. A similar issue was reported to the Executive at their meeting on 29th July, 2013 and the following decision (EX/124/13) was made:(i) That as a matter of urgency open land at Hedley Rise, Laxton Close, Chatham Close and Falstone Close be protected.

(ii) That the Council adopts the policy of immediate eviction of travellers as applied in 2012 in Luton and which is currently applied in Hertfordshire and Central Bedfordshire with the use of Section 61 notices for speedy evictions.(iii)That the unacceptable service response of the ‘travellers hotline’ (01582 510333) be reviewed by the Head of Engineering and Street Services.5.1/2(iv)That the Head of Engineering and Street Services be instructed to arrange as a matter of urgency a meeting with Gavin Shuker MP, the Police and Crime Commissioner for Bedfordshire, the Bedfordshire Chief Constable, the Chief Executive, Councillor Ashraf andthe Leader of the Council to meet with local residents to agree an amicable solution to the travellers problems in the first instance within the Wigmore Ward area and subsequent meetings be held in other areas in the Town.(v)That the Head of Engineering and Street Services be requested to invite the Police to attend traveller evictions to prevent illegal encampment in other local areas.(vi)That the Police be requested to enforce the law in respect of criminal damage and provide an explanation as to why this has not happened when offences have taken place in their presence.Reason: For Wigmore residents to have a clear understanding of the council’s policy regarding traveller evictions to protect local residents from intimidation from travellers/trespasses.5. Local residents expressed their disappointment of the Police failing to take action in respect of criminal damage caused by travellers, and request the Council ask for an explanation from the Police as to why this has not happened, which would protect local residents from intimidation from travellers/trespasses.6. The Executive is requested to note the damage and destruction left by travellers once removed and the cost to the council for a cleanup operation on Stopsley Common to remove all hazardous waste from the area.7. The Highways Services Manager advised residents the enforcement of Section 61 notices was the responsibility of the Police and not the Council.APPENDICESAppendix A – Executive report 29th July 2013IMPLICATIONS Clearance – agreed by:Legal 1. With respect to the first recommendation (protecting Stopsley Common), it is open to the Council as land owner to secure land under its ownership and / or control and in some circumstances it has an obligation to ensure such land is properly protected. Prior to taking such action the Council should establish who has a right to use the land, whether there is any legal restriction on the proposed steps and ensure that these are not infringed.2. With respect to the second recommendation (adopting section 61), this is a police power and is not available to the Council. Whetherthe power should be used is an operational decision to be made by the police taking account of the relevant facts, guidance andcase law. The Council has no power to direct the police to use any of their powers, but may ask the police to do so in appropriate cases however, in doing so the Council should also consider using its own

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Agreed by Clive Tobin,26th March 20145.1/3powers, carefully balancing these with the needs of the travellers concerned.3. With respect to the third recommendation (action in relation to criminal damage) the Council may make such a request however, again in each case it is a matter for the police to determine the action to be taken.4. With respect to the fourth recommendation (cleaning up Stopsley Common) the Council is obliged to take action in relation to hazardous waste and may, in certain circumstances, need to notify the Environment Agency of the presence of such waste.5. Further, the Council should consider its overall policy in relation to the traveller community having regard to:a. the duties placed on the Council to assess the accommodation needs of travellers residing in or resorting to its district;b. the Council’s power to provide sites;c. the Planning Policy for traveller sites issued by the Department of Communities and Local Government;d. the protection of those from the traveller community under the Equality Act 2010; ande. whether development of a. b. and c. above may reduce the incidence of unlawful encampments..Finance The eviction costs are covered within the budget allocation for 2013/14.Agreed by – John Hulme, 24th March 2014Equalities Luton Borough Council has an agreed policy on unauthorised encampments which supports eviction; however the policy complies with all legal obligations on the welfare of the travellers, pregnant travellers and the welfare of young people.Agreed by Sandra Legate (Equality and Diversity Policy Manager) on the 25th March 2014Environment Protecting the open land at these locations will ensure that the local residents have access to green space.Agreed by the Sustainability Officer on 25th July 2014Community SafetyStaffingOtherFOR EXECUTIVE ONLY - Options:a) To accept the recommendations of the East Luton Area Boardb) To reject the recommendations of the East Luton Area Board and request further information

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AGENDAITEM/

WARD(S)AFFECTED

SUBJECT DEC.NO.

DECISION AND REASONS FORDECISION

OTHER OPTIONSCONSIDERED

5.1Stopsley/Wigmore

Recommendations of theEast Luton Area Board –The Removal of Travellersat Stopsley Common.

EX/37/14 i) That the Parks and Cemeteries Manager be instructed as a matter of urgency, and in consultation with local residents, to ensure that open land at Stopsley Common is properly protected from illegal encampments;(ii) That the Police be requested to adopt a policy of immediate eviction of travellers as applied in 2013 in Luton with the use of Section 61 notices for speedy evictions.(iii) That the Police be requested to enforce the law in respect of criminal damage and provide an explanation as to why this has not happened when offences have taken place in their presence, in order to protect local residents from intimidation they are confronted with people from illegal encampments;(iv) That the Head of Engineering and Street Services be requested to ensure a thorough cleaning operation is carried out on Stopsley Common to remove all hazardous waste from the area.(v) That the significant concern of the Executive, Ward Councillors and local residents regarding the handling of this particular matter by the Police be noted leading to a view of ‘no confidence’ on this issue to be recorded.(vi) That the Chief Executive formally write to the Chief Constable drawing her attention to the Executive, Ward Councillors and local residents dissatisfaction with the lack of action by the Police in tackling both the eviction of illegal encampments at this site and criminal damage taking place in the locality and asking for clarification of the actions that the Police will take to re-build the trust of the residents.

To reject therecommendations of theEast Area Luton Boardand request furtherinformation

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(vii) That this matter be raised at the meeting between the Leader, Deputy Leader and the Police on Wednesday 9th April 2014 and Ward Councillors be informed of the outcome for onwardcommunication to local residents.Reason: To protect the vulnerable andstreamline enforcement.

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