To elect a Chair and Vice Chair for the forthcoming municipal year.  Members are reminded that the Chairman must be a member of Shropshire Council

The outgoing Chair Tudor Bebb nominated Cllr. Roger Evans as Chair, this was seconded by Neil Evans.  All were in favour.

The new Chair wished to place on record his thanks to Cllr. Bebb for chairing the LJC for the past year.  Cllr Evans then nominated Cllr Bebb as Vice Chair.  This was seconded by Bill Clyne.  All were in favour

To receive apologies for absence from members of the Committee

Apologies were received from Minsterley Parish Councillor Geoff Brown and PC Jon Summerfield

To receive notification of any substitutions

David Leeson substituted for Geoff Brown

Members are reminded they must not participate in the discussion or vote on any matter in which they have a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest and should leave the room prior to the commencement of the debate.

No declarations were recorded

The note of the meeting held on 19 February 2014 is attached for confirmation

Cllr Bebb mentioned an alteration for misspelling.  The new correct minutes needed to be signed by Cllr Evans after the meeting.

A representative of the Local Fire Services will attend the meeting to give an update

The Fire Service has had another resignation from the service; however a new person is currently in training.  Currently 13 still serving from Minsterley.  There have been recent incidents of barns catching fire.  No causes hve yet to be determined.

Brigade are pushing the online consultation.  The fire chief was on radio and TV discussin – “Shaping Your Service 2020” in which £900,000 needs to be saved from Fire Service budgets.  There is potential for the control room to move from Shrewsbury to Worcester.  The Fire Service are still looking for volunteers in the area for day cover.

TB question: -           What is the potential for the fire station in Minsterley to close.

Answer : -                  No likelihood that Minsterley will close as things stand as the station is not in the 4 earmarked savings stations

A Community Road Safety Partnership Officer will be in attendance to provide details on the pilot scheme taking place in Worcestershire on the Community Speed Watch Scheme

Rod Lake, Traffic Management Advisor for West Midlands Police gave a presentation regarding Community Speed Watch.  The Scheme isn’t new but for West Mercia and Safer Road Partnership it is relatively new.  In West Mercia something similar happened in Shifnal historically.

CSW has been raised again by Bill Longmore PCC.  The running will come under the safer roads partnerships.  At the moment there are two pilot schemes in Worcestershire and Hereford and early indications are that they are running OK.  Intention is to introduce it force-wide this year.

The CSW Scheme involves trained volunteers, at least 3 per trip out.  All kit and training provided by West Mercia Police.  Notices can be sent out to perpetrators of speeding but not convictions.

Locations the CRSP would have to investigate to ensure CSW volunteers would remain safe.  30/40 MPH speed limit zones.  Min 6 volunteers, min 3 expected to carry out checks (health and safety reasons).  All data given to local Police and they’d do the admin behind this e.g. letters.

CSW should be classed as another string to the bow, but not the only tool to be used.  Pilot scheme doing well but will always need volunteers, perhaps 1 hour per week.

Q:  Our LJC area wishes to apply – How will this work?

A:  Publicity launch and communities can apply via website or through the local policing teams.  It must fit the criteria

Q:  Pilots – Weill the Community Support Officer have to be with volunteers

A:  No – Just volunteers

Q:  Cost?

A:  None – All gear can be kept at local volunteers house (the radars) and will be provided by West Mercia Police

Q:  How many lots of equipment will Shropshire get?

A:  All groups will get 1 unit per group, unless they wish to share.  In total 10 schemes will exist throughout West Mercia with perhaps Shropshire getting 2 – 3 scheme if they fit the criteria

Q:  Volunteers must restrict themselves to just speed?

A:  Yes- can’t check mobile phones etc.

Q:  Volunteers won’t be able to prosecute the speeders.  If speeder drives through many times?

A:  Speed, time, location, reg. plate all noted- and then the police will send out letters.  First time – letter, second offence sterner letter, 3^rd time a visit from the police.

Cliff Medlicott from WMAS is to give a presentation about community defibrillator schemes

Cliff Dorricott, Community Response Manager gave a presentation to the LJC regarding defibrillators.

There are over 140,000 out of hospital cardiac arrests in the UK.  80-90% of these attacks can be helped by using defibrillators.  The WMAS offer 4 hour training course and 2 hour refresher courses to train residents in using defibrillators.

Q: What if a resident hurts someone?

A:  Following a cardiac arrest the patient is already not alive, hence needing to use the machine.  Therefore what is the worst that can happen?

The community defibrillator battery will last for 4 years.  He machine costs £800 with a 7 year guarantee and batteries can be replaced within 24 hours for £125-136

Q: Councillors have heard that boxes are expensive to store the machines in

A:  There are many companies who offer various styles.  The WMAS are happy with any box with a lock that can be opened by members of the community.  They don’t have to be expensive

Q: What about graffiti and young people messing about with the machines?

A:  Since 2008 only one machine has been interfered with and so at present this is not deemed to be an issue.

Statement from the public: - I think this is an excellent idea and something the Parishes and LJC should be looking to introduce

Q:  Who has to buy the machines?

A:  All communities will go about it in a different way.  Most have raised money and have had support from the British Heart Foundation in the form of a £400 subsidy.

Q:  What’s the biggest community barrier to being a volunteer?

A:  Fear and training.  The more people can see the machines, see they are easy to use and have access to training.  MWAS hope to remove the fear from residents

Q:  How many volunteers would be needed?

A:  Start with 6 or 10 and continue to grow from there.

Commissioning Manager Neil Wilcox to give a presentation on LJC and how integral they are to the future of service delivery in Shropshire. 

Neil Willcox, Commissioning Manager at Shropshire Council gave a presentation about the future role of LJC’s

All LJC’s had missed having the grant funding, although contrary to this some LJC’s don’t miss the funding as it had changed them into something they didn’t originally intend to be.

Strategically - The idea and approach of local commissioning has taken off.  The opportunity for communities is to identify the priorities and how communities can take control and solve these issues.  The LJC’s will be able to look at all assets the local community has and look at how further coordination of this can benefit residents.  More designs need to be given locally and therefore more money too.

LJC’s are the best starting point for these discussions and will be given the delegated authority to spend money.  CET will continue to enable the community to develop action plans etc. e.g. through the place plans.  Shropshire Council is committed to this idea.

An example of locality commissioning is where the LJC’s can do the speed watch scheme and point out where the best place for the cameras to go etc.  The first pilot scheme is likely to be Young People.   

Claire Cox presented at the LJC about a Shropshire Council project in economic growth

In mid-March the authority asked the question ‘How can we deliver economic growth Shropshire wide?’  This question has led to prototyping in 7 weeks in the Minsterley and Pontesbury area.  The team will be based in Pontesbury Youth Centre for the next seven weeks.

JP:  pleased to see it happening but frustrated that it is happening now in the school holidays.

All:  Agree

CC:  Agrees however due to timescales set by management this was necessary to do.

To discuss the proposal that a small portion of Parish funds be given to the LJC to disseminate amongst local projects that have cross-border benefits for the community.

The Clerk at Longden wasn’t sure the LJC could do this under section 137

DF read out a reply from Karen Roper – area Secretary of ALC who stated that it could technically be done, however it would need the agreement of all concerned.

Ford & Pontesbury Parish Councils agree in principle to the idea subject to potential process.

Longden, Hanwood and Minsterley would like to explore this further with their Clerks and other Parish Councillors

To receive questions from members of the public. 

Members of the public will also have the opportunity to ask for updates on matters discussed at previous meetings not raised elsewhere in the meeting

There  were no public questions

To confirm the date of the next meeting of the LJC as Wednesday 22nd October 2014

Future dates of LJC meeting to be:          Wednesday 21 Jan, 2015

Wednesday 22 April, 2015

Members were advised that the date of the next meeting of the LJC was Wednesday 22nd October 2014