Agenda and minutes

Councillor Morgan informed attendees that, following concerns raised at the Autumn 2008 Area Consultation Meeting regarding litter near Richmond Adult and Community College, residents near the College had indicated they were willing to have bins provided by the College installed within their vicinity.  Councillor Morgan added that he was continuing to actively pursue this matter

Councillor Acton informed attendees that the Marriott Hotel was due to open at the Twickenham Stadium site on 1 April 2009, and added that the Stadium would not be hosting concerts in 2009.

Councillor Carr noted that the ARCADIA works had commenced on Twickenham Embankment. 

With regard to the item on single ward Area Consultation Meetings discussed at the last meeting, Councillor Carr stated that ward Councillors were looking to implement single ward meetings for both St Margaret’s & North Twickenham, and Twickenham Riverside ward.

Officers from the Police Safer Neighbourhood team will be in attendance to address any police issues residents may have.

Sergeant Davis, from the St. Margaret’s and North Twickenham Safer Neighbourhoods Team (SNT), detailed crime statistics in the Borough from February 2008 to January 2009, as well as the crime statistics for St. Margaret’s and North Twickenham ward covering the same time period.  Sergeant Davis stated that the Police had been granted powers under Section 27 of the Violent Crime Reduction Act 2007 to issue a direction to an individual to leave a locality to minimise the risk of alcohol-related crime or disorder arising and / or taking place.

Sergeant Davis outlined the priorities for the team, and added that the St. Margaret’s and North Twickenham SNT was performing well.

Sergeant Lovegrove, from the Twickenham Riverside Safer Neighbourhoods Team, outlined the team priorities for the year that had been agreed at a Police Liaison Group last year.  Sergeant Lovegrove added details of crime statistics in Twickenham Riverside ward from last year. 

Discussions were held over public houses and nightlife in Twickenham town centre.  Sergeant Lovegrove informed attendees that it was a criminal offence for public houses to serve alcohol to drunks, but that there was an issue with proving public house staff had committed such offences.  Sergeant Lovegrove added that the night-time situation in Twickenham town centre was not always as bad as perceived.

A concern was raised by one resident over graffiti in the area.  Councillor Carr informed attendees that instances of graffiti and ‘tagging’ could be reported to the Council, who would liaise and share information with the Police. 

Councillor Carr thanked SNT officers for their work in the area, and added that Metropolitan Police statistics confirmed the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames as the safest borough in London.  With regard to concerns held by residents over the nighttime economy in Twickenham, Councillor Carr informed attendees of the work of the Alcohol Task Group, which had put together a borough-wide Alcohol Strategy that would look to address these concerns.

Councillor Carr informed attendees of the public exhibition to be held in the Civic Centre that would allow the public to consider three schemes that are being proposed for the Twickenham Riverside site by the developers shortlisted by the Council.  This exhibition was to be held between Monday 9 March through to Sunday 15 March 2009.

Concerns were expressed by residents that views expressed at the exhibition opposing the proposals would not be taken into account in progressing the Twickenham Riverside site development.  Councillor Carr responded that feedback from the exhibition would be presented to the Cabinet meeting in April.  The consultation undertaken so far in arriving at the current proposals was detailed, with Councillor Carr confirming that results of previous consultation undertaken had been incorporated into the Development Brief for the site.  Councillor Carr added that a political decision had been made by the current administration that a River Centre should form the heart of the site.  Councillor Carr reiterated that the exhibition would be based on different proposals put forward by three shortlisted developers.  It was the responsibility of the developer to produce a scheme which incurred no cost to the Council.

A query was raised by members of the public as to what route the Council would pursue if feedback from the exhibition suggested that the majority of residents were wholly against all three proposals put forward.  Councillor Carr responded that this would be taken into account, but that she would be disappointed if this was the outcome of exhibition feedback. 

A discussion was held over the opportunities for residents to comment at the exhibition that they wish to see “none of the above” proposals pursued.  Councillor Carr responded that she did not believe that a specific “none of the above” box would be made available in questionnaires. 

The Council’s Assistant Director of Environment has subsequently responded to queries made on this point at the meeting, that “there is patently no reference in this [a previous email sent to residents] to there being a specific "none of the above" box and that was not the intent. We will be analysing all comments made in the comments box so the point is that people will be able to express dissatisfaction in whatever way they want in this box - if that is how they feel. A none of the above box would have been a rather narrower way of people being able to express their concerns so in my view our approach is fine.”

In response to concerns held over the consultation process thus far undertaken, and the proposed use of land that was against the expressed wishes of some residents within the Borough, Councillors explained that the Council’s Unitary Development Plan laid out expectations in broad terms of the land use of the site.  Councillor Carr reiterated that the current administration had chosen the River Centre to form the heart of the development, and informed attendees that the decision had been taken to fund the shell of  ...  view the full minutes text for item 12a

This is a new item introduced to Area Consultation Meetings.  Councillors will be consulting attendees to identify the three most important issues in your ward.

No community priorities were established at this meeting.

Councillor Acton informed attendees of an upcoming Fairtrade Event. 

The next St Margaret’s & North Twickenham and Twickenham Riverside ACM is scheduled for 6 October 2009 in York House.

The provisional time, date and venue of the next Area Consultation Meeting were 6 October 2009, The Salon, Richmond Road, York House, Twickenham.