The Citizen 48 - Page 2
Ashton-Under-Lyne 
Audenshaw Denton Droylsden Dukinfield Hyde Longdendale Mossley Stalybridge
Page 2
Patrollers' Notice Board
Welcome to the latest from the Crime & Disorder Reduction Partnership – the patrollers' Notice Board. This is a whistle-stop tour of what your patrollers have been up to recently.
At your Service - We listen to you, the public
The Tameside patroller service receives a high number of calls on a daily basis from members of the public requesting advice, reassurance and assistance.
Public consultation highlighted several incidents as a concern affecting your quality of life, these included dog fouling, littering, abandoned/untaxed vehicles on the highway and anti-social behaviour. The patroller service takes a zero tolerance approach to these incidents and is proactive in addressing these problems and bringing the offenders to account. As a result of the work carried out by the service a number of successful prosecutions were made following reports and investigations during 2008.
Not only is it the role of a patroller to enforce the council by-laws, community work is an essential part of our daily duties.Therefore regular visits and presentations to community and residents groups, sheltered schemes, youth groups and schools take place throughout the year to offer support, advise and educate on issues ranging from bogus callers to anti social behaviour and bullying.
The patroller service not only deal with anti-social behaviour they also respond to calls from members of the public. The patrollers are integral to the early identification of individuals behaving anti-socially through the Anti-Social Behaviour referral system and work closely with ASB Officers in addressing these issues. The patroller service engages with young people and encourages their involvement in more positive activities. The service informs and educates young people on the danger of alcohol misuse and the effects of anti-social behaviour on their community through presentations at schools and youth groups. If you would like further information on how the service can assist you please contact us on the telephone number shown.
Joint working initiatives with our partners including the police, fire and social registered landlords continues, providing a high visibility uniformed presence in the fight to reduce crime and the fear of crime across the borough.
If you wish to discuss a matter further or feel that the service may be of assistance to you please contact us on 0161 342 3010. Or visit www.tameside.gov.uk/patrollers
Quick Response
A Stalybridge patroller witnessed a vehicle speeding away from a burglary. Thanks to his quick response and fast thinking, the police attended the scene immediately. The patroller had already obtained all relevant details and witness information to pass to GMP for their investigation.
Safety event success
Patrollers held a community safety event in Droylsden town centre on Saturday 7 February. This included distributing property marking pens, purse bells and tamper proof tax holders and offering advice on home security and home watch schemes in the area. Several requests for home security surveys were made on the day and due to the success another event is planned in the near future.
Back to school
Patrollers in Stalybridge attended a career presentation day at Samuel Laycock School. The day was to engage with the children, talking about the patroller service, the uniform they wear and the equipment they use. The children thoroughly enjoyed the interactive session.
Patroller saves the day
A Droylsden patroller stepped in at the last minute to help a local day nursery when the Father Christmas booked was cancelled at the last minute. Fortunately his efforts meant that the visit went as planned with smiles all round!
Youth of today, have your say
Dukinfield patrollers are working closely with Cllr Brian Wild and the neighbourhood policing team by visiting year 7 pupils at Astley Sports College to hold a question and answer session on the role of the police, patrollers and local councillors and to discuss community issues and developments. This was met with enthusiasm by all and it is hoped to run similar events across the borough in the coming months.
Number of Fixed Penalty Notices issued this year: 179
Bloom challenge set to blossom
Council In Bloom staff are hoping it’ll be five in a row as they gear up to win this year’s North West competition.
And the local authority is in good shape for the competition with the Tameside Central Nursery producing 450,000 plants, over 1500 hanging baskets and more than 600 troughs and tubs.
In 2008 Tameside beat Aberdeen, 11 times winners of the Britain in Bloom competition, but were piped at the post by the eventual winners.
Project head, Cllr Dave Sweeton, said: “For an area such as ours to win five consecutive times would be a massive achievement. But this will only happen if we have the continued participation of the residents of the borough and the effort they put in to improving the image of the borough through their gardens.
“We also have to say a massive thank you to all the staff at the council who have really taken this competition to their heart.”
Tameside in Bloom hosted their third Gardeners' Question Time event on Wednesday 11 March at the Broadoak Hotel, Ashton. Local horticultural experts formed a panel and a number of local residents and gardening enthusiasts were invited to ask any gardening related questions. This event commemorates the recording of the first edition of the BBC Radio 4 programme, which was recorded at the Broadoak over 60 years ago.
The Tameside Champion of Champions garden competition, launched in Easter, includes winners of garden competitions run by the District Assemblies and housing associations in the borough.
They will be judged against winners of garden competitions held by the six largest Registered Social Landlords in the borough, including; Ashton Pioneer Homes, The Regenda Group, New Charter Housing Trust, Irwell Valley Housing Association, Manchester and District Housing Association and Peak Valley Housing Association.
The prize winners are then invited to a gala awards evening at Dukinfield Town Hall in November for the competition which attracts around 400 entrants every year. If you would like to enter or know someone who would, contact your District Assembly office for an application form, pick one up from local libraries and town halls or visit www.tameside.gov.uk/inbloom/competition. The closing date for entries is Friday 26 June.
Easter will also herald the launch of the Tameside Horticultural Show. This event, now in its second year, will take place at Stalybridge Civic Hall on 5 and 6 September 2009.
The number of classes has been expanded this year and include vegetables, flowers, bakery, photography and art and a new handicraft section. The show will be open to the public, free of charge. Entry forms and more information can be obtained from Jessica Brooks on 342 3066 or visit www.tameside.gov.uk/inbloom/hortishow
Council provides best services in the country
Tameside Council has been officially recognised as providing the best services in the country.
The council is the only single tier authority in the country to be awarded the top score in seven service areas, according to the latest independent Audit Commission report.
Housing services, benefits, cultural services, the borough’s environment and adult social care all received the maximum score, making Tameside the highest performer in the country, according to the latest Comprehensive Performance Assessment (CPA) results.
This comes hot on the heels of having the best adult services in the country.
Other headlines include:
- Top performing authority in CPA for six successive years
- Top score in seven out of eight service areas in the country
- Best in the North West for value for money for second year running
Executive Council Leader, Cllr Roy Oldham, said: “We’ve managed to maintain our position amongst the elite councils across the country and that has to be something we can all be proud of. The continued levels of success we have achieved since this system was introduced have been outstanding and puts us in a strong position as we ready ourselves for the next set of government targets.”
The Audit Commission inspectors awarded the council the top score, saying the authority is "improving well" and continuing to "build on its track record of strong performance”.
Some of the highlights of the report, called the Direction of Travel Assessment, which is published today, include:
- "many improvements are in services that are most important to local people."
- "The area is safer as crime levels continue to fall and a significant number of new jobs have gone to those in priority neighbourhoods."
- "The council is also strengthening arrangements for the safeguarding of children and young people," For a fuller version of this press release, visit www.tameside.gov.uk/newsroom
