Last Tuesday the 8th November the Finance & Community committee met to discuss a wide range of issues. This committee is one of the busiest and this meeting was no exception. The neighbourhood wardens presented their monthly report which included tackling graffiti in the MPF; monitoring anti-social behaviour; running football sessions for local children; monitored the 30mph speed limit on Clays Hill and are updating the list of the elderly and vulnerable in the town so that they can continue to do welfare checks and visits during the winter months.
The F&C committee have joined with Bramber and Upper Beeding to apply for funding for another neighbourhood warden, through the governments Community Action Against Crime Innovation Fund. This is a good example of cross-parish cooperation and hopefully will prove successful.
The F&C is overseeing a CCTV initiative in the town and is in discussions with the Cricket, Bowling and Tennis clubs on a joint initiative to put CCTV in the MPF. By working together a much better system can be installed.
The Steyning 2012 Showcase is already nearly fully booked with only 3 stalls remaining – if you want one you had better book now! Last Showcase saw nearly 1,500 people passing through the Steyning Centre and this year will be better than ever with a great cross-section of community societies, clubs and groups on show. Invitations to the event will go out in Your Steyning in February.
It has been agreed by F&C that ‘Draft’ minutes of all committees and council meetings will be posted on the Parish Council’s website a week before the next meeting. These ‘Drafts’ could be subject to alteration and amendment and will need to be ratified by the relevant committee and Council. The minutes are not meant to be a verbatim report of a meeting or of comments made by members of the public and although the Council is only legally required to record proposals, actions and decisions it was felt that the way the minutes are currently done add clarification.
It was unanimously approved to issue a Young Carers Award to all those unsung young people who care for their parents or, siblings. Nominations will come through the newsletter in Your Steyning and on the website. More information to come, so, if you know of a young carer who deserves some praise, then keep looking at this website for when nominations are needed.
Because WSCC is cutting Youth Service budgets the Council is very concerned about losing any youth facilities in Steyning and it has been decided to form a Youth Services Review Group to look at what services are provided, what is closing and what the impact will be and how the voluntary sector can fill in the gaps.
Communication with the residents is a major issue and the committee wants to avoid the often said ‘…but I didn’t know anything about it!’ Various different ways are being looked at to develop the communication channels so that most of the town are kept informed of issues that may concern them. If you have any views on how we can best communicate with you then let us know via the website!
With the closure of Britons Croft and Adur View there is some understandable concern in the town about the future of special care for the elderly. The Council is going to host a seminar to better understand the provision for older people in the district and will include local prish councils, WSCC, HDC, Saxon Weald, County and District Councillors, Age Concern and other interested parties. It is hoped that as a result there will be a better understanding of health care provision for the elderly and what has to be done in the future.
If you want to see more detail on this meeting then see the draft minutes when they are issued. If you have any comments or queries then please contact us through the website.