Speed checks would be made in Banners Gate Road from time to time in the future.  Holes in the tarmac needed filling in - reported to BCC Highways.
Inconsiderate parking by the Banners Gate Schools - the police had sent warning letters to offenders.
Removal of graffiti on phone box in Reay Nadin and the cable box by 66 Coppice View was in hand.
Community Hall Update:  The kitchen refurbishment had been completed and BCC will reimburse the Hall Committee.
The next Coffee Morning will now be held on 8^th December 2009 from 1030 - 1200; there will be a raffle, a book sale (all books 25p), and the seasonal delight of mulled wine and mince pies.
NEW ITEMS
Trading Standards Meeting:  The Chairman reported that the meeting considered ways of improving consumer relations and to put forward ideas and suggestions on how the public connect with consumer rights on problems with goods and services.  It was suggested that traders and retailers should have the information on consumer rights and trading standards in plain sight with relevant telephone number and website address so that they can be contacted at the time information is needed.  A questionnaire of 1 - 10 items had been circulated at the meeting and a copy was tabled for information.
ANY OTHER BUSINESS
Totters:  A resident asked if there were any laws pertaining to these collectors of scrap.  No one was aware of any bye-laws and the

general opinion of the meeting was they did a useful job in removing unwanted materials.
Charity Leaflets:  In checking with Companies House that a firm collecting on behalf of charity was bona fide a member had found the company named was no longer viable; Trading Standards had checked and the company in question was not allowed to trade so two offences are being committed; both Companies House and the Charities Commission have been informed.
Latest Scan:  If parking in a public car park beware of leaving your keys in the car whilst stowing away shopping, you will notice something stuck on the rear windscreen and whilst you try to remove it someone will drive away with your car.
DATE OF NEXT MEETING   Monday, 25^th January

The Chairman welcomed Sergeant Rachel Crump from West Midlands Police to speak on police services in the Sutton/Erdington areas. 
Sgt. Crump thanked the assembly for the opportunity to address them; she was sure that residents had no idea of the extent of the services provided to the general public by the police.  Sgt. Crump had been in Sutton Coldfield since September 1998, was not out on the street unless providing Duty Inspector cover, but a member of an Operational Command Unit (OCU) where she had the unique role of working in a Constituency Office liaising with the Birmingham City Council from February 2009.  The Sergeant said the police and local Council were known to be measured on how they tackled Crime and

Anti- Social Behaviour together but this was only one facet of working in a Constituency Office; there was also the fire service, environmental wardens and ward officers, highways officers, etc., who work in different areas within Sutton Coldfield and endeavour to make it a better place.  Things dealt with included litter, events at the town centre, and taxi marshals for Sutton Coldfield town centre. Sutton Coldfield town forms the biggest night time economy outside of Broad Street and gets very busy at 4 a.m., taxi marshals get people into cars and out of the town, and this initiative will shortly also be provided for Thursday nights too. 
Violent behaviour initiatives Section 27 Dispersal Orders Act, anyone hanging around and causing trouble the police can give them a notice to get out of the town, if they don't go or come back within 48 hours they can be arrested.  People are watched on CCTV and the designated officer will ring through to colleagues on the ground and direct them to an area to diffuse a developing situation.  There are currently a number of Test Purchasing operations being conducted within Sutton Coldfield from money given by the Wards, Local Delivery Group and DAAT.  The Boldmere Tasking Group includes Banners Gate.  Sutton & Erdington have been granted £14,500 for people from the Tasking Group to carry out a Neighbourhood Speed Watch, residents will monitor motorists, feed the figures to the police and those speeding will be sent warning letters, the equipment is now being received.  Community Pay-back is composed of a range of groups who have done crime and 'payback' by planting trees and bushes, painting and gardening for people who cannot do so any more, and this work in the constituency is overseen by Sgt. Crump. D2 OCU changes its name shortly to Birmingham North Local Policing Unit (LPU) and will then be aligned to the Ward boundaries and join up with the Ward Constituencies. The new Chief Constable's vision statement is "Serving our communities and protecting them from harm". There was police coverage of schools in Sutton Coldfield and Kingstanding; one officer based within College High

School, one for  the schools in Kingstanding, and another responsible for the senior schools in Sutton Coldfield.  Sgt. Crump then gave a PowerPoint presentation on the Banners Gate area which listed officers, their job titles and responsibilities, and staffing levels in those areas covered by the Boldmere Tasking Group.  The groups are:
Neighbourhood Teams and 24 hr response cover; CID including the Robbery Team, Burglary Team and Vehicle Team; Drugs and Alcohol Unit tests people refers them to the relevant agency; Road Policing Unit; Public Protection Unit including the Child Abuse Investigation Unit, and Domestic Abuse Unit - attend court with people and help with safety; the Vulnerable Persons Officer concerned with elderly, young, or those at risk; Sex Offenders.   The picture presentation then showed the D2 Custody Suite with offices of Inspector, Sergeants, and Custody Enquiry where people are booked in, with cells for juvenile, female and male detainees. In the back yard there is an enclosure with shutters where high risk prisoners enter.  Operations Centre has Front Office Staff to meet & greet; Call Handlers - manning phones; Crime Screeners - check crime reports are correct; Data Handlers - computing; Quality Assurance - performance; Resources Allocation Dispatcher - tells police where they are required; Criminal Justice Unit - checks paperwork correct for Court Prosecution; OCU Support including Administration, Finance, IT specialists, Chaplain, Secretary, Health & Safety Co-ordinator, Porters, Drivers, Cleaners, Typists, Property Office.  The film showed specialist teams, e.g., the Air Support Unit, Bus Teams, Examining Vehicles, Dog Unit - drugs, money and explosives, Armed Response Team for situations where fire arms present.  Sgt. Crump said that all the people shown gave support and reassurance to the force and to the community and she hoped to return in 2010 and explain how policing for the future would look.
The Chairman thanked Sgt. Crump for her presentation and those present responded with warm applause.