Old Colwyn (East) Residents’ Association
Open Meeting Wednesday 13th May
A Talk by Mr Phil Rafferty, Head of Regulatory Services, Conwy County Council.
Mr Rafferty opened a good natured, sometimes amusing and honest talk by saying that he was attending the meeting at the request of Councillor Bob Squire to give a brief overview of what Regulatory Services are doing at the moment in partnership with the police.
Most of the enforcement arm of the Council sits within Mr Rafferty’s control. It is a strong team and includes Trading Standards, Licensing, Environmental Health, Community Safety, Development Control, Building Control, Births, Deaths and Marriages.
Mr Rafferty said that he would use his copy of the April association minutes as a guide and talk about a few of the issues in it that the department can do something about.
At present he said that he has been talking at a high level with colleagues in the police, Superintendent Barry Jones and Chief Superintendent Simon Humphreys about how the relationship can be cemented between the police and local authority even more than it is already.
There is a meeting soon to finalise it all and then a change should be seen in the way things that are important to the community are regulated.
Seven key areas of work have been identified that will be focussed on over the next twelve months. They include;
Local priorities ~ such as perhaps dog fouling and littering,
Alcohol related crime ~
Antisocial behaviour ~
Enforcement of licensed premises ~
Matters from the last minutes
Bins stored in the street ~ Mr Rafferty explained that was not under his direct control but he would take it up with the Head of Environmental Services to see if any internal cooperation could take place in this respect.
Local crime and nuisance ~ there are some bye-
It is in this area that his team working with and supplemented by the police, particularly CBMs and PCSOs will maximise enforcement of rules and byelaws to eradicate issues highlighted.
Damage to trees ~ criminal damage is a police matter but there are things which the council can do to in partnership. Mobile CCTV can be put in place to monitor things like that.
On street drinking and purchase of alcohol for underage people ~ When regulation of licensed premises passed from the police to the Council a few years ago, the police and Local authority were quite robust with licensed premises. This led to something unexpected happening; more problems began in open spaces because some of the problems were driven away from some of the pubs and clubs in the County. Young people began drinking in open parks and the like. Tactics have not been the best in that respect so far because it was unexpected, said Mr Rafferty. Pub Safe can be improved.
Persons buying alcohol for young people is a matter which will be tackled stringently after next Monday. There will be a consistent approach across Conwy.
On street drinking is only an issue in designated areas he explained, police officers can ask them to stop drinking or surrender alcohol, failure to do so leads to a power of arrest ultimately. Such areas are not a ban on drinking, he explained, it is where there is an associated problem of disorder, this gives discretion to police to help sort the matter out together with their other available powers.
The Council will work together with the police to identify areas and to capture evidence to make a difference.
No cold calling signs replacement ~ Mr Rafferty said that he would chase that matter up. This is a key area at present, with the recession there is a fear that cold calling crime will increase. Elsewhere the level of opportunist crime is on the increase. The target hardening of property is an important issue and he advised residents to take advice from the police officers present.
Dog Fouling ~ Mr Rafferty described this as top of the shop wherever he speaks on local issues. There are two dog wardens in the county but there are 50 officers within the enforcement arm of the department and there is a training course going on at present to allow them to issue fixed penalty notices. The Police officers are also becoming involved. It is not just about penalty, there is some education work to be done. Previous tactics have been to concentrate resources where the main problem is perceived to be and then move on. The new resourcing will hopefully see a reduction in dog fouling. There will be more education in schools around this type of issue working with schools liaison officers to reinforce the message.
Mr Rafferty continued to say that generally within Conwy, the level of crime is really low. He can understand some of the frustration with some of the instances in Old Colwyn but in the main if people look elsewhere we are really fortunate in Conwy to have the low crime levels that we have. He continued that that does not mean that it is acceptable, it is not and the partnerships are striving to reduce the levels of offending.
Over the summer, by throwing more resources into the work in partnership with the police we should see a difference on the streets dealing with the issues of the type raised by the residents’ association.
The Council has recently employed an antisocial behaviour coordinator within enforcement. A number will be available and the officer can look at any area with a particular number of problems and work out what needs to be done to tackle the problems with interagency work.
With relation to licensing, certain identified premises having a level of crime associated with them will be challenged.
Chair ~ I would like to thank you for coming tonight Phil it is a real boost to have you here, we now know that the Council is behind the police and you are all working together and when we tell you something, it will be addressed.
Mr Rafferty continued saying that there had been a marked increase in the number of penalties for dog fouling and he was very pleased that the PCSOs had become involved. There would be a noticeable change. Often it just needs something simple like a sign erecting in an area to cause a difference. It is important to keep liaising with the police and his department.
The Chair asked if the designated area signs had to be so specific. It is understood that they do not ban drinking but it was almost as if the signs gave permission to drink unless asked to stop. If the signs were not so specific and people were drinking and not causing a problem the police officers will not stop them but use discretion.
Mr Rafferty replied that his department was a bit stuck on that point with the guidance given out by the Home Office about what should be on the sign. It used to be a ban on drinking but that changed from the Home Office. There is a deterrent factor with the sign because people think that it is a ban. He undertook to look at the terminology on the future signs.
Mr Rafferty outlined that because of Welsh Assembly initiative a couple of years ago around working together, Conwy Regulatory Services is about to formalise a working relationship with Denbighshire because many problems in the two counties are similar. There are officers better equipped for certain duties in Denbighshire than Conwy and vice versa, so the idea is now to be better use of resources. There will be cross border cooperation with targeting certain problems.
Ten areas in Conwy and ten areas in Denbighshire have been identified, those areas will be addressed and Old Colwyn is one such area, with the intention of improving matters and then a watchful eye will be kept thereafter.
Another issue is where someone has been arrested for a drink related offence, when they have got to court, there is consensus of thought that the sentence does not deter the individuals from doing it again when the are back out on the street. There has now been discussion about the application of exclusion orders and the like, also bail conditions before they go to court. That will be in partnership with police.
The Chair said it is exciting to know that it is bubbling up to the top because it has been low key for a long time now, I know that you have been working hard in various ways and so have the police but the team work is the important issue.
Mr Rafferty that’s right, the team work is really good, at operational level, it is nothing to see local authority officers and police, it happens quite regularly. He gave an example of matters brought to his attention recently by Councillor Squire on a Friday afternoon and the following Friday, a full scale operation was mounted to tackle the problem at a couple of premises that had come to attention. That is the intention of this joint working group.
Roy Jones asked Mr Rafferty if the hours of licensed premises were restricted if there are problems.
Mr Rafferty replied that it is possible, in the priorities that have been identified they have separated dealing with licensed premises, looking at the conditions and hours of operation and making sure that they are ok, away from alcohol related crime. If licensed premises becomes a problem it is not only the police or the Council that can do something about it. Members of the public can also become involved if it affects them as a resident. He urged people to first of all report it to the police or the council. Don’t be frustrated if nothing appears to be happening, evidentially it is important to report all incidents. Eventually that evidence will enable pressure to be brought on the premises if there are sufficient problems there.
A resident can call a review of a premises licence. Say in the case of licensed premises near to the home of a resident where there is a lot of disturbance or noise related to the licensed premises. The resident can approach Regulatory Services who will in the first instance try to resolve the matter with the licensee. In the few cases that do not work with the service, it would then come before the Licensing Committee. Hours can be reduced; licensed activities can be reduced for instance noisy premises could be prevented from having music; a licence can be suspended for up to three months or ultimately remove the licence.
Conwy County have used those powers to really good effect. When a licensee is brought before the panel, they are very nervous and employ the best solicitors and barristers to represent them. It is a powerful tool, if residents have issues; the message is keep reporting it.
CBMs, PCSOs and council officers are working really hard on the issue of drinking in open spaces. The tactics have to be fine tuned and that is part of the action plan being developed. It will be targeted over the summer.
The Chair once again thanked Phil Rafferty for attending the meeting and there was a round of applause.
