Page 15 - Phonebox Magazine November 2007

Mercury Report
Olney Town Council Meeting of Monday 1st October 2007
The meeting started with a minutes silence in memory of Councillor Richard Medd who had recently passed away. A tribute to Cllr Medd appeared in last month’s Phonebox.
Police Report
Thames Valley Police were represented by PCs Dan Smith and Andy Polton. They reported that there had been 21 crimes reported in the last month, about half of the figures from this time last year, and these included:
1 burglary
1 burglary, dwelling
2 thefts from motor vehicles
2 fraud
1 harassment
2 assault
4 criminal damage of motor vehicles 4 shoplifting
1 indecent exposure
PC Smith said that an arrest had been made in the case of the indecent exposure incident.
Mike Hughes said that the problem of vehicles speeding around the old cattle market car park remained. He asked what had happened to the proposal to block off one entrance to prevent cars racing through the car park. Steve Clark said that the matter was now in the hands of Milton Keynes
Council (MKC), as the body responsible for the car park. Mike Hughes said that residents had given up attempting to report such incidents as in his opinion the 0845 number simply does not work. He suggested that this was why the number of reported crimes was down, and that actual crime was still at the same level.
Steve Clark reported that the problem of anti-social behaviour on Johnsons Field is ongoing and he had e-mailed Inspector Sue Usher. Broken glass bottles are being left around the area which is a hazard for parents and children walking to the Infant School. He had also had a complaint from a resident who uses a mobility scooter and now finds it necessary to carry a small broom in order to clear a pathway and not get a puncture.
PC Smith said that it was not always possible for the police to attend reported incidents, as there are times when the entire rural section is covered by one officer. PC Polton said that on weekend nights he is often required to be on duty in the Theatre District of Milton Keynes in case of problems. Dave Price said he thought some responsibility for control ought to lay with management of the clubs themselves. PC Polton said that once individuals had left the premises and were on the streets then it became the police’s responsibility to
maintain order. The irony of the suggestion previously made by a senior police officer that the annual fair should be ‘policed’ by the fair operators themselves was pointed out by more that one member.
John Sharp asked why the ‘yellow card’ system of warnings given to youngsters was not being followed up with letters to their parents, as many parents would not be aware that warnings had been given. PC Smith replied that details are normally passed to the officer running a particular operation and they can use their discretion as to whether to send the letters.
Paul Watson once again pointed out that when the alcohol control area was being set up the police had given assurances that sufficient resources would be made available to enforce it, but this was clearly not happening.
Tarmac areas on Recreation Ground
Following on from last month’s heated discussion around the quotes to tarmac some areas of the Recreation Ground, further investigation had been carried out into the use of an alternative surface called Terracrete. This has reduced the price to £3,237, which is more in line with the budget for the work.
Christmas Markets
There will be no Thursday market on December 28th. Instead there will be a market on Christmas Eve.
Driftway
Tony Evans said he thought that Milton Keynes Council had been made a laughing stock because of the delay in opening the road. Steve Clark said that George Wimpey had made a shambles of the letting of the sub contracts and the fault lay squarely with them. The agreement required completion of the road prior to the occupation of 50% of the dwellings on the Shrove Meadows site and this had been reached in April this year. Milton Keynes Council was awaiting legal advice as to whether further sales could be blocked until George Wimpey honours the agreement, he said.
Alan Richardson asked why the project had been handed over to contractors and MKC had not project managed it themselves. The issues could have been identified prior to the ‘snagging’ stage, he said.
The Olney Group
Dave Price circulated a draft document detailing the proposed rules of the organisation entitled ‘The way we work’. John Smail proposed that the document be discussed at a future meeting. Dave explained that the next event that the group would be organising would be the annual Firework Display on November 3rd. He requested that the Council underwrite the event to the sum of £2000, should it make a financial loss. The council have previously underwritten the event when it was organised by the now defunct Floral Fiesta Committee, but have never been called upon to pay out, he said. It was agreed to underwrite the event. K
Olney Town Fireworks
PRESENTED BY
The Olney Group (TOG)
With the support of Olney’s local sports clubs
SATURDAY 3RD NOVEMBER GATES OPEN 6PM
CHARITY FIELD RECREATION GROUND
OFF EAST STREET, OLNEY
TICKETS
Family £8 in advance or £10 on gate Single £3 in advance or £4 on gate
AVAILABLE FROM Olney Centre Library Stephen Oakley & Co Words Bookshop
C T Wilson
McColl’s Newsagents
Phonebox Magazine, Orchard Press
SPONSORED BY
STEPHEN OAKLEY & CO
The next meeting will be held at 7.30pm on Monday 5th November in the Council Chamber in the Olney Centre. Members of the public are always welcome to attend and, if they wish, speak at the start of the meeting.
Phonebox Magazine 15