Important safety info + STC full meeting report

The STC Full Council meeting on 20/04/2022 was full of exciting events, but I want to start with something that can be of great importance for the safety of people who are thinking about installing a home CCTV system. At the meeting, two residents came to share with the councillors the details of the unpleasant event that happened on Bracken Road.

I don’t want to go into the details of this story, but after the introduction of the curfew around the Leisure Center and Market Square, groups of young people began circulating in large groups around other places in the town. Unfortunately, one of such groups wandered into the Bracken Road area and began harassing the inhabitants of this so far quietest part of the town. The situation escalated to the point where the police had to be called. The residents began to contact the STC and BDC councillors searching for help.

The situation developed to such an unpleasant extent that it was even raised at the PCC Summit, which was recently held in Shirebrook (I will publish a report about this event later). Residents revealed at the STC meeting that all events were recorded on CCTV systems that many of the area’s residents had installed on their homes. As different residents chose different systems, it turned out that some applications on smartphones can hack systems based on image transmission via Wi-Fi. Only hardwired systems withstood the attack attempts. Hence, if you decide to spend money on a CCTV system, avoid Wi-Fi systems like Nest, Google, Amazon, or Screwfix. These systems look nice and have cool features but won’t deter criminals who know how to bypass them.

Below are the most interesting events of STC Full Meeting 20.4.22

2022/022 TO RECEIVE APOLOGIES AND REASONS FOR ABSENCE.
Four councillors did not appear at the meeting, which has not happened for a long time.

2022/023 TO RECEIVE DECLARATIONS OF INTERESTS.
Two councillors declared an interest and left Chamber when necessary.

2022/024 TO DISCUSS ANY POLICE MATTERS AND DECIDE ANY ISSUES FOR REPORT. CRIME FIGURES ARE ATTACHED FOR INFORMATION – (PAGES 1-4).
Here, every meeting is the same discussion. The same councillors take part in it, repeating the same things. The fact that STC spends 300,000 a year on Leisure and zero on crime prevention does not matter to them. It’s good that although BDC has some projects to counteract ASB. 

I’m writing a more extensive article about crime, but I can already present one interesting fact from that material. According to police statistics, for the first time since January 2019, the crime rate in Shirebrook has dropped below 90 a month. So for the first time in 37 months, we have had such a low level of crime.

It happened just a year after Angelique Foster took over as Police and Crime Commissioner. It is too early to predict a long-term improvement. Still, I am personally full of hope because the changes in PCC’s strategy presented at the Summit reflect what residents have been demanding for years. It could be even better, even faster, if STC decided to help and change its political priorities from Leisure to safety. However, I note the change in the trend with satisfaction. The statistics show a decline for the first time since I started recording crime data. This is big.

However, I urge all residents to report every crime, even if you have to wait on the phone for an extended time. Demand that the case you reported receives a reference number. Only then will this crime appear in the statistics, and only then does it impact the allocation of funds for combating crime in this area. Are you not reporting a crime? You help criminals. Simple. Do you have to wait for the phone? Life!

Also, remember that if you are not in immediate danger, then 101 is not the only way to contact the police. If you do not know how to report a crime, you can use this website, which will not only direct you to the right place but also make it easier to submit a report online:

https://www.police.uk/pu/contact-the-police/report-a-crime-incident/

2022/025 TO PERMIT PUBLIC PARTICIPATION PERIOD. A PERIOD OF UP TO BUT NO LONGER THAN TEN MINUTES TO RECEIVE QUESTIONS AND OPINIONS FROM MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC ON ANY MATTER WHICH AFFECTS THE TOWN.
As I mentioned earlier, two residents of Bracken Road attended the meeting who told about the groups of young people who appeared in this quietest area of the town, causing destruction and panic among the residents. Interestingly, it happened several dozen yards from my house, and I was completely unaware! The worst thing is that some of our youth are starting to imitate youth from big cities – dressing in black clothes, carefully covering their faces and simulating the behaviour of gangs. This is an alarming trend.

Several councillors and BDC employees got involved in the case. The region has become the target of frequent visits of CCTV vans from BDC. A BDC employee present at the meeting also stressed that every incident should be reported. At the moment, the situation seems to be resolved, although the CCTV van continues to visit this area.

I’m afraid the problem will only get worse if the STC doesn’t really rethink its approach to prevention. The police have their hands full of work, and a little effort and funding from the STC to counter antisocial behaviour could make a huge difference. Unfortunately, I don’t know how to convince Labor Party councillors to discuss it.

2022/026 TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE TOWN COUNCIL HAVING BEEN HELD 16TH FEBRUARY 2022 – (PAGES 16-18)
All approved.

2022/027 TO REVIEW THE MINUTES OF COMMITTEE MEETINGS AND NOTE THE DECISIONS THERETO;
a. LEISURE COMMITTEE MEETING HELD 2ND MARCH 2022 – (PAGES 14-16)
b. OPERATIONS COMMITTEE MEETING HELD 16TH MARCH 2022 – (PAGES 17-18)
All approved.

2022/028 TO REVIEW AND APPROVE FINANCIAL INFORMATION
a. TO AUTHORISE CASH BOOK ENTRIES SINCE PREVIOUS MEETING
b. TO ADDRESS QUERIES ARISING FROM THE CASH BOOK.
c. TO REVIEW BANK RECONCILIATION/S FOR CASH BOOK PERIOD – (PAGES 27-28)
d. TO CONSIDER AND DECIDE APPLICATIONS FOR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE.
i. NONE RECEIVED TO DATE.

I asked about another several hundred-pound bill from “The Post”. I don’t think we should be paying almost £ 500 for … whatever the publisher delivers. Labour councillors, on the contrary – their propaganda tube will continue to omit the most important facts from the life of the town in the name of social good! Not a word about debt. Not a word about the true cost of Town Hall construction. Not a word about the reason for the removal of the two Labor Party councillors from the STC. Not a word about the highest STC operating cost of any of the Parish Councils in the Bolsover District. Not a word about cutting down the oldest trees in the District at the behest of the Labor Party-led Executive Council of BDC against a vote by BDC councillors. Not a word about LC heating costs. Not a word about what is really important, and in return, a mass of propaganda and empty phrases.

You pay thousands of pounds for all of this. Every year.

The second item I raised in this part of the meeting was the cost of heating and the bill that STC received from AMP Heat Ltd, which does not specify either the meter reading or the amount of fuel delivered. Looks like it was weird only for me. All Labour Party councillors didn’t notice anything wrong with the invoice looking like that:

Just to underline what I see and don’t understand:

I admit that I did not stop my investigation after the last publication on this matter. I contacted AMP, and it admitted that there was an error on the STC bill. I also submitted another FOI request to STC on this issue to get a complete picture of the situation. I am also considering additional steps in this matter.

2022/029 TO CONSIDER RESPONSES AS NECESSARY TO LISTED CORRESPONDENCE.
a. CAROLE HIRST – FESTIVAL OF BRASS UPDATE
b. BDC – PIOTR DANEK – OZBOX UPDATE – (PAGE 32)
c. HAYLEY ETHERIDGE – BETTER LIFE IN SHIREBROOK – (PAGE 33)
d. BDC – ADAM NORMAN – DIVERSIONARY SESSIONS – REQUEST FOR SUPPORT
It seems to me that this agenda item has been somewhat neglected. Normally, each letter is discussed in detail, but this time, for some reason that I do not understand, all the councillors jumped from topic to topic at lightning speed.

2022/030 TO CONSIDER PLANNING APPLICATIONS AND REVIEW PLANNING DECISIONS – (PAGE 34)
Labour-led BDC once again stabbed in the back Labour-led STC. What is it about? Some time ago, the STC discussed an application from a businessman who wants to convert a car park in the northern part of the town into a car depot. Generally, it appears that the businessman intends to set up a scrap yard in a residential area. The STC voted unanimously to recommend that the BDC deny this application. Yet- BDC approved it a few weeks later…

You would think- 3 of the eight councillors on the BDC Executive Council are from Shirebrook, and of course, they all represent the Labour Party. The majority of councillors on BDC are from the Labour Party. You would think that councillors from Shirebrook would block the application at both STC and BDC levels. However, somewhere between STC and BDC, something happens that makes Shirebrook councillors either unable to uphold decisions made by them at STC or completely change their minds.

Hmmm… maybe we need a non-Labour councillor in BDC??? Perhaps then that councillor could keep a closer eye on them and inform residents what is going on in BDC… if only there was someone willing… if only the people of Shirebrook would go to the local elections for once….

2022/031 TO RECEIVE INFORMATION FROM THE TOWN CLERK.
a. TO REVIEW AND ADOPT REVISED CODE OF CONDUCT
I have listened to discussions about the “Code of Conduct” during my visits to other Councils. I shall pass over the STC discussion in silence. Generally, when I read some paragraphs of this document, it seemed to me that some snowflake with green hair wrote them. “Words can hurt”, and we have to be “careful what we say” so that no one gets “offended”. I was threatened in the STC Chamber. No one cared. I asked for a CCTV recording of that incident- it was “overwritten”. I, however, have to be careful what I write and say so that someone does not feel offended. It smacks of double standards to me.

However, I was interested in point three of this review, where I was expecting more information about ‘councillors training’. I have been a councillor for 11 months and still don’t understand a lot of things. Such training could be very helpful to me. So I am looking forward to it. However, in the documents provided, the TRAINING page was…. blank. A completely blank sheet of paper. 

Apart from the waste of paper – the BDC could have at least written three sentences about when these training would be available and what they would consist of. When I asked about it, a few words of explanation were given by the Town Clerk. I am grateful for this, although it seems that these explanations should have come from the BDC and not from our Town Clerk.

In my opinion- every newly-elected councillor should receive training before their first meeting. It would be even better if, before the first real meeting, the councillor had the opportunity to attend a “mock meeting”- a pretend council meeting where they would be shown how to speak, what the jargon used by more experienced councillors means, how to use Standing Orders etc.

Today – a newly elected councillor jumps straight into the deep end, and it only depends on how hard he can wave his arms around whether he can stay afloat. Especially in a place like STC…

b. TO REVIEW INFORMATION ON SPEED INDICATOR DEVICES PROJECT
The Police and Crime Commissioner’s office has offered STC help with funding for speed radars. Councillors discussed where to put them. There were several suggestions, with the most common names being Langwith Road, Portland Road and Main Street. However, these radars can be repositioned, so their initial location may change. If data coming off the computer system indicates that drivers are obeying the speed limit in that location and residents complain about speeding in another area of the township- the radar could be moved.

2022/032 TO RECEIVE CHAIRMAN’S COMMUNICATIONS.
a. UPDATES FROM PREVIOUS MEETING.
b. OTHER ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION.
Here I was hoping that the Chair would finally break the conspiracy of silence on the debt issue. There have been important developments and changes on this issue in recent weeks that should have been discussed in public. However, the Chair has chosen to hide these changes from councillors and residents. I have had enough of this – in the near future, I will publish everything I know about it. 

I want to give Labour a chance to come clean– I will wait for the Annual General Meeting of STC. If there they continue to try and hide the truth about the town’s debt – I will have no choice: I will publish everything I know. Keep your hats on, dear residents. If you think the AMP scandal is the worst thing that could happen to us, you don’t even know half of it…

2022/033 TO DISCUSS AND DECIDE SHIREBROOK TOWN COUNCIL’S POSITION IN RELATION TO LOCAL GOVERNMENT REFORM – LEVELLING UP.
From my point of view, it looks like the Labour Party is not interested in Levelling Up our region. Why? They win elections here by keeping the region in permanent decline. So why change anything? Changes for the better initiated by a Tory government would threaten their interests and political influence. That is why there was no discussion about our approach to Leveling Up agenda sent by HM Gov. At all.

2022/034 CONFIDENTIAL ITEM/S – Exclusion of the Press & Public.
No confidential items were discussed.

2022/035 CONTRACTUAL/BUSINESS MATTERS.
None.

2022/036 PERSONNEL MATTERS.
None.

2022/037 TO APPROVE THE DATE OF THE NEXT MEETING OF THE TOWN COUNCIL.
(TO BE SET AT THE ANNUAL MEETING SCHEDULED FOR 18TH MAY 2022)

This time briefly and not in great detail due to lack of time. See you next time!