The Chair welcomed all to the meeting.  Everyone agreed it was great to see long standing Forum Chair, Ian Sturrock, at the meeting and on the mend from a serious illness.  New Community Safety Officer for the area, Mark Reynolds, was introduced and welcomed.  He is responsible from the Council’s perspective for crime and anti-social behaviour and works alongside the Neighbourhood Policing Team.

A copy of the code of conduct was circulated with the agenda papers and all were asked to abide by the code for the duration of the meeting.

The minutes of the last meeting held on Monday 18 February 2019 were agreed as an accurate record and the following updates were given.

Wordsworth Way to Bury Road footpath condition
Councillor Smith arranged to have the footpath from Wordsworth Way to Bury Road inspected by Highways as it has sunken in places by 30cm.  Highways passed this issue on to Environmental Management as the footpath is not adopted.  Environmental Management have carried out an inspection and they agree it is uneven; most likely caused by the roots from neighbouring trees that are raising the tarmacadam.  However, the route would pass as easy to use for a definitive footpath as they do not have to be to adoptable standards.

Bamford Way footpath
Environmental Management Enforcement Officer, Mick Ball, has taken over this issue from Diane Lodwig concerning builders continuously storing items on and completely blocking the footpath on Bamford Way.  The footpath was cleared and then kept clear.

War Office Road grass verge
Highways were requested to inspect and assessed the damaged grass verge on War Office Road at the junction with Bury Road.

Marland Golf Course
Bamford Ward Councillors’ campaign to save Marland Golf Course was effective in changing minds and resulted in an agreement to have it run by a professional for a full year to make it successful.  The future is looking good for the Golf Course and the Ward Councillors continue their support.

PCSOs Sana Haider and Paul Robinson provided the crime statistics from the date of the last forum on 18 February 2019 to 13 May 2019 and presented the following information:

The Neighbourhood Team will continue a burglary initiative with high visibility patrols and leaflet cocooning and involve Home Watch Schemes.  Anyone interested in setting up a Home Watch Scheme or WhatsApp Group can contact Sana who will gladly assist.  With summer almost upon us and the weather improving, all are asked to consider reviewing home security and be mindful of not leaving doors and windows open.

One male juvenile has been arrested and remanded in custody for the theft of motor vehicles in the Bamford area.

Given the very high percentage of thefts from motor vehicles being from insecure vehicles, residents are reminded to fully secure their vehicles.

Pulse Policing Operation will continue, where officers bus up and deployed to carry out foot patrols in various hot spot areas at key times for issues such as burglary, anti-social behaviour and drug dealing.

A knife crime initiative was carried out over a week during which many stop and searches were conducted aimed at preventing the carrying of knives.  No knives were recovered during that week, however, some knives have since been recovered and removed from the streets.

Operation Dragster to catch off road bikers was carried out on 11 May 2019 during which one bike was seized and one Section 59 Warning issued.  It was pointed out that some of these bikes are being used not only off road but also along the Highway.  Police are gathering intelligence and targeting known addresses and locations.

Parking at the junction of Springbank Lane and Bagslate Moor Road is a problem with vehicles causing obstructions and blocking line of sight.  Police have attended previously and the problem eased but is now worse than ever.  Sana will visit the area and the Ward Councillors are  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

War Office Road/Bury Road Junction road markings
Councillor Howard has arranged for the hatch markings to be repainted at the junction of War Office Road and Bury Road near Crimble Lane opposite The Harvester as indiscriminate parking is taking place.  The markings should be painted very soon.

Malvern Street closure
The closure of Malvern Street West is due to be implemented this summer as the land issue is resolved and the Legal Order has been sealed.

Potholes
A comment was made that the £1.084M Rochdale share of the Government pothole funding was insufficient to tackle the current state of the roads in the Borough.  Woodlands Road and Fieldhead Avenue have numerous dangerous potholes, some are four inches deep, which need urgent attention.  Both roads are due for resurfacing but require work in the interim.  Highways will be asked to inspect them now and provide target dates for resurfacing.

Township structure change
A Working Party consisting of Township Chairs and a cross-party group of Elected Members agreed to the Township structure changing from the existing four Townships to five.  The three existing structures of Heywood, Middleton and Pennines Townships will remain exactly the same.  Rochdale Township will be split into two, Rochdale North and Rochdale South.  Bamford is in Rochdale South Township together with Balderstone & Kirkholt, Castleton, Central Rochdale and Milkstone & Deeplish Wards.  Council front line services will remain the same.

Spatial Framework
No update on the Spatial Framework is available.  Results are being analysed following on from the first phase of consultation and it is due to come back in October 2019 but may be delayed beyond that date.


Bamford Ward Councillors hold a surgery from 10am to 11am on the first Thursday of each month in Bamford Chapel, although they often go beyond 11am.  Ward Councillors contact details are available on the Council website:

Councillor Jane Howard
Telephone: 07870 172144
Email: jane.howard@rochdale.gov.uk

Councillor Angela Jennifer Smith
Telephone: 07710 297377
Email: angela.smith@rochdale.gov.uk

Councillor Pat Sullivan
Telephone: 0161 762 1129 or 07967 985240
Email: patricia.sullivan@rochdale.gov.uk

Rochdale Borough Council Officers

Stuart Hay, Township Officer
Telephone: 01706 922230
Email: stuart.hay@rochdale.gov.uk

Mick Ball, Public Realm Inspector
Telephone: 01706 922634
Email: mick.ball@rochdale.gov.uk

Mark Reynolds, Community Safety, Crime and Anti-Social Behaviour Officer
Telephone: 01706 924979
Email: mark.reynolds@rochdale.gov.uk

Greater Manchester Police

PCSO 70838 Sana Haider
Email: sana.haider@gmp.police.uk

Mondays at 6.30pm in Bamford Chapel
5 August 2019
28 October 2019
20 January 2020