Tunstall Police put on activies for kids over the summer school break - Positive Policing
6 weeks of activities for young people have been planned to keep a lid on anti-social behaviour during the school holidays, and keep children entertained.
Tunstall Police are working with schools and other organisations to lay on the sessions for children and teenagers in the north of the city, all because officers saw anti-social behaviour levels drop during last year's summer break, thanks to a similar programme.
Between July 20 and September 5 last year, Tunstall police received 290 calls about anti-social behaviour, compared to 490 during the same period in 2008. Inspector Mark Hardern, commander of Tunstall neighbourhood policing unit, hopes the success will continue this summer.
"Last year was the first time the activities went on, and we had a 40 per cent drop in anti-social behaviour compared to 2008. The largest reduction in the city was in the Tunstall area. We had problems in previous years because the kids were saying there was nothing for them to do. Last summer we had a positive reaction because they saw the authorities were listening to them and doing something. Residents weren't phoning in so much, and they could see their quality of life improving."
The activities for the Northern Neighbourhood Cluster – which includes schools in Tunstall, Goldenhill, Burslem and Packmoor – are being held in venues across the area.
The programme is funded by Stoke-on-Trent City Council and councillors' ward budgets. Jill Chadwick, development manager for the Northern Neighbourhood Area, said: "There are 25 schools in our area, and anyone in the area can go to any of the activities. It is a real partnership between a lot of different agencies.
There is something for everyone, from age three to 19, and it's all free. Activities are going on from 7.30am until 9pm or 10pm."
Teenagers have been consulted over what activities they would like to do, and some of those on offer include sports, street dance, cooking and beauty therapy.
Joe Smith, chairman of SAGE (Sandyford and Goldenhill Residents' Association) said: "Most of the anti-social behaviour comes from sheer boredom, because the kids don't know what to do. I'm sure having these activities available will have a good effect. "
A magazine is being produced to give details about what's on offer, which will be distributed in schools, police stations and other public places.
Details will also be published on Stoke-on-Trent City Council's website as the summer break approaches.
Comments
Once again Mark Harden and
Once again Mark Harden and Tunstall Police step forward to organise activities for the kids.
For this they are to be congratulated or their efforts.
Where are our council?
Talking about cuts in services, but the services cut are the front line services.
Strange how these cuts never affect their pockets?
Let me explain.
04/05 there were 90 staff earning £50,000, and above.
08/09 there was 222 staff earning £50,000 and above.
This figure has increased to 269 since the last Audit.
Figures from city council audit reports from 04/2009
Roughly raising the wage bill £2 1/2 million a year in the last five years .
Will someone please explain to me why Residents Associations have to fight for pennys.
The council had £93 million surplus last year (according to audit report) they then "invested" £50 million in the Labour party, which for some reason (best known to themselves) they are not withdrawing to help in the present situation.
The Audit has started and anyone who is interested can phone Robert Thorley (phone 234567) and demand a copy of the audit.
I don't understand how you
I don't understand how you can invest money in a political party? That doesn't make any sense, does it to you Tel? What's going on down in those dark corridors in Stoke.
Very much like the very
Very much like the very successful Space(Staffordhsire Police Activity & Community Enterprise) scheme from back in the 80's this scheme has one purpose, to put on activities that are sadly missing from every day life.
Webb Monkey, why can't we get
Webb Monkey, why can't we get it back to help in our present financial predicament,or as it gone the same way as the 106 money that areas in Tunstall should have got, but "DID NOT".?
Why are our councillors so quiet,over Tunstall losing out constantly to other areas in financial help?
The more I hear the angrier I get.
The millions given out to Chell Heath, Fegg Hayes, Abbey Hulton, Bentilee and other places when Tunstall does not get a penny.
I was once told by a local councillor when I bought these millions up " well we tried" !
This realy gets my back up, "you did not try hard enough did you".
Greenfields Residents Association was promised the money (allbeit after 6 months of waiting) to survey our play area, and then we could start the ball rolling for a park for the little ones.
I relayed this good news at our local AGM.
I have now got to go back to my committee and tell them that it as been withdrawn.
This is just one item.
How many more R/As plans will fall by the wayside because of the City Council backing out I do not know.
I would be gratefull of any feedback from other R/As that have had knockbacks from this council.
Hiya Terry, were you given a
Hiya Terry, were you given a full report of why the plan was withdrawn or were you just told in passing. (Please feel free to start a new forum post on this as it deserves attention in it's own right)
We have just had a set back, which I'll detail in the minutes of our RA meeting from Monday, but to summarise.
People who bought homes from WilCon and Barrettes paid that bit extra so the money could be put into a council pot (for the estate) which would be spent on an open space area and play area. After many years of rangling, that money sat in the bank gaining interest (but not for our estate) until the our estates people could finally get some one from the council to respond. 2008 saw the opening of the Bankeyfields openspace and park, with monies for 10 years of maintenance.
It's 2010 now, and 2 years after the park was opened, we had to wait well past expected waiting time for the open space's grass to be cut (keep baring in mind there is a 10 year maintenance plan). The job is half done, and was done so badly kids in the area set the excess dried grass on fire.
Then on Monday, Councillor Ryan said there was "no money for our estate in the ward budget."
The previous residents group, calling themselves the Bankeyfields Neighbourhood Watch even reported to residents that a yearly £10k maintenance contract was put in place (£10k to badly cut some grass a year, and ignore all other pathways).
To be told after two years that money is gone, well, you'll no doubt be reading more very shortly. But angry and a little concerned about how this money is mis-managed is an understatement.
Webb Monkey, Then on Monday,
Webb Monkey, Then on Monday, Councillor Ryan said there was "no money for our estate in the ward budget,
"surprise, surprise.
So whos getting all the ward budget????
Time to kick some backsides.
I am sick of being lead down the path by these jokers.
Mark Harden and The Police staff in Tunstall have done a great job, and can't be criticised in any way.
Just a thought. Was this
Just a thought. Was this £50million invested in the labour party at about the time the goverment was thinking of taking over our councill as it was performing so badly.
Sugar in your tea vicar ???
There must be better places
There must be better places for Stoke Council to invest £50million, than investing in the Labour Party.
I'd suggest shares in BP or Bushehr I, the Iranian Nuclear power plant, property in Dubai, any of which would net you more cash than investing in the Labour Party. I'd be interested in seeing the returns from this investment.
Webb Monkey, been scanning
Webb Monkey, been scanning the pre Audit report and can find no mention of the £50 million.
Strange that don't you think?
Steve, right on the head mate, get the feelng of being screwed?
Add to this the mysterious dissapearance of the 106 money, and Tunstalls lack of involvement in the millions for Housing, and Enviroment, the park money (£57,577 to all areas except Tunstall) and the Ward Budget and you get the Idea that we are being taken for a ride by the council and the "councils councillors".
Residents Associations in Tunstall are being squeezed out of any money.
I blieve we in the north are going to suffer more han others.
I believe it would be of benefit to us if we got together and discussed what was going on, as I believe its happening to all of us and the last thing this council wants is us getting together.
Anone up for it?
Hiya Terry Mark Elam from
Hiya Terry
Mark Elam from Florence Residents Association, in the South of the City, have spoken recently about setting up a Stoke RA forum.
We'd be able to meet up, but also plan stuff out in the forums. Is that something you'd be up for?
Also, yes, once we've got our figures straight I'd like for us to meet up, as there is some other stuff I wanted to speak to you about, such as some of the schemes you've put in place that have led to a drop of ASBO crimes.
How long befrore we get the
How long befrore we get the chance to sack a few ward councillors.
Next May, Tunstall Ward goes
Next May, Tunstall Ward goes down to 1 councillor, we over here in Bankeyfields will then be part of the new ward Sandyford.
I would suggest some
I would suggest some councillors take heed then and start earning their keep now .
Sorry I have not replied, had
Sorry I have not replied, had to make a visit to ward 101 for a few days.
Mark yes I would like to get together with other R/As -without the council dictating the agenda- and put our plans forward.
Yes would be glad to pass on our ways of reducing A/S/B to any of the R/As.
Steve, bang on mate they have ot to pull their fingers out, and serve the people not that crooked lot in Stoke.
This is a letter answering the request (£93million surplus.) and it is the most strange answer I have had from the Council FOI.
We have now considered your request for information and a copy of the information is below.The £93m to which you refer relates to the investment balance as at 31 March 2008. At the time in question no money was invested with the Debt Management Office (i.e. the Government). The £43m is a running down of cash balances which cannot be traced to individual items of spend as it is part of an overall strategy to fund either revenue or capital by cash (rather than, say, borrowing). It is not clear where the £43m has been derived from.
So "don't know where it came from, and don't know where its gone" ??????
You could not make it up.
Start the fan up.
Hiya Terry, hope your on the
Hiya Terry, hope your on the mend. I'm not sure what ward 101 is (it could be maternity), but after reading your recent comments with Warren, doesn't sound good. You taking it easy for a bit?
I'll get in touch with Mark, and we'll start work on the site, and from the back of that we then need to bring as many groups together as possible.
As to the vanishing monies in this city, it seems border line fraudulent, we are starting to dig deeper into our own problems and quite a lot of these balance sheets don't add up.
Now, where did I put that spare £43million pounds, nope can't find it, ah well.
Webb Monkey, the number of
Webb Monkey, the number of times I have argued with councillors, and members of the city council over discrepances in the City council Budget, and I'm always in the wrong surprisingly, even when I put the facts in front of them.
To get the truth out of officers of the council, and "councills coucillors" seems to be an impossable task as they revel in their ability to hold secrets, on the "need to know basis" which covers a very wide field of "what they want you to know" in order to keep their little bit of power.
I will be putting a blog on about our stitch up as soon as I can.
Looking forward to reading
Looking forward to reading the blog.
I don't understand the idea of all of these secrets, just what does it hide?
One of the answers would be they've not gotten around to asking, so they put you off with any old tosh, and another would be the information they are trying to get to you just isn't their. i.e accounts.
The other thing Terry is what goes around comes around, and considering there is a big local election looming next year, you'd think our cities politicians would be bending over backwards to get the community vote.
Could be worse, they could be a Newcastle under Lyme Councillor, who have sucessfully managed to insult stoke on trent twice this week, once with the "Work, Slim Down, Stop Whinging" from Ashley Howells and then later that day the leader of the Newcastle Conservatives Nicola Ralph said it's our own fault for the comments, because we keep voting labour in, as way of an excuse.
Terry, whilst you've been researching for this and that over the past few years, have you come across published ward budgets. It would be good to compare what Tunstall gets compared to everyone else.
Finally, have a little look at the 5 things you'd improve about Tunstall
Webb Monkey, yes and they
Webb Monkey, yes and they make interesting reading.
I have applied for the last two years ward budget under the Freedom of Information Act,
As soon as I get them I will publish it on here.
In my opinion the Ward Budget will be a realy interesting document as I believe Greenfields is not the only RA to get screwed, but we have a sting in our tail.
These audits make interesting reading and anyone can phone up and get a copy of the city accounts (untill 30th of this month when they lock it all away) and ask questions of the Audit committee (chairman Mike Coleman city council)
The people who will be trying to get the votes will be Wanger (being backed by Parvez Acthar in Tunstall) and my guess Sandyford and Goldenhill will become the battleground.
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