www.actongreen.org.uk

 

    EALING BOROUGH NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH ASSOCIATION

 

REPORT OF THE AGM, HELD IN EALING TOWN HALL, NOVEMBER 25, 2003

 

Attendance around 45, including the police. No papers had been received in advance; many were tabled, including last year’s Minutes.

The Minutes of the 2002 AGM, undated, were signed by the Acting Chairman

 

Chief Superintendent Martin Bridger, Borough Commander.

Much of what he said was given in my previous ECPCG report

  1. He referred to the Police daily performance review and the need for partnership with the community; what do they/we expect from the Police?
  2. S Acton Estate project. Aim to reduce crime and anti-social behaviour; must be sustained. Intelligence led, problem solving. Targets: to remove dumped rubbish in 2 days, graffiti in 24 hours, to identify generators of crime, consider poor quality of life issues
  3. Ward based policing is coming to the Met. Cooperation with the public essential
  4. Neighbourhood Watch. Important; are we engaging properly? What improvements are required? What do we want? Need for accountability. He suggested a consultative seminar to achieve cooperation and set priorities. He would say what the Police want; community to state its needs
  5. Canal Watch successful; 38 volunteers took over
  6. Greenford Business Watch failed; to be re-launched

 

Acting Chairman of EBNWA, David Eaton

The Chairman had resigned and the Committee was defunct. Yellow Pages pulled out of NW signs contract. Norwich Union withdrew support for National Neighbourhood Watch. However, 66 new NW schemes had been launched last year, a total of 385; all success was due to Debbie Jackson. A new management structure is required. A Crime Reduction consultant had produced a report with recommendations, which was tabled. A review would be carried out. The AGM would move to April to fit in with the Financial Year; suggestions for change would be submitted then.

 

Treasurer, Paul Fodrio

Members had seen neither report nor accounts. Slides giving some figures were shown.

 

Borough Manager, Debbie Jackson

A part-time assistant, working 18 hours per week, had been recruited. A volunteer worked on 2 days a week. There had been a student placement. The database was being changed. Electronic mapping of Watches was being carried out. Money had now been received for NW signs; a contractor to erect them was being sought. Partnerships included PSA, Beesafe, LBE gating system, Groundwork. A Newsletter had been produced

 

National Neighbourhood Watch Association – John Howells

He outlined the work of NNWA, now 21 years old. 160,000 coordinators covered 6m homes or 27% population, growing 2% a year. Services were offered to local associations. (Details of this can be obtained from lizdendy@ukgateway.net)

 

Richard Barnes, Deputy Chair, the Metropolitan Police Association, spoke briefly.

 

Comment. Difficult to make a valid contribution, with no prior information. I asked that the suggested consultation seminar be held before any restructuring takes place, as residents wished to contribute. The meeting was hardly a legal AGM; several constitutional procedures were omitted. ED, 6.12.03