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SpecialPowers

23-11-2005 16:24

Does Anybody Care About The Community Wardens?

The Community Wardens are finishing in March 06, already the team has gone from 12 wardens down to just 5, and still have to cover 4 NRF areas with all the same amount of paperwork AREA COUNCIL MEETINGS and patrols.The Wardens are doing an excellent jobbut for ll their good work that they are doing i never see any articles in the newspapers i recognition.
Recently the wardens worked very well in rhyddings park Funday for Halloween.WHERE WAS THAT STORY?????
It is now up to the public to save the wardens time is running out!!!!!

Less	23-11-2005 16:36

Re: Does Anybody Care About The Community Wardens?

Quote:

Originally Posted by SpecialPowers

Can I ask do you have a personal reason for this thread?
The wardens have been discussed on here on a number of occasions, most of what was said I remember was with a positive attitude, if you are now coming on here hoping for a campaign don't you think you have left it just a little too late? 6 months ago we might have made a small difference but now? Get out a spade and help to dig the grave, artificial desperation won't save this corpse!
http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/8/8_1_35.gif

Neil	23-11-2005 16:46

Re: Does Anybody Care About The Community Wardens?

Quote:

Originally Posted by SpecialPowers

Recently the wardens worked very well in rhyddings park Funday for Halloween.WHERE WAS THAT STORY?????

I must admit that the Fun Day was my first experience of the Community Wardens. Until that day I thought they were a waste of time and of no use to the Community.
How wrong was I?
I was extremely pleased to meet most of them at the Fun Day and am extremely grateful for the work they did before, after and during the event. The Friends of Rhyddings Park have only been in existence for a few weeks and without the Wardens we would have struggled to find enough volunteers for the Halloween Fun Day. So with my Chairman hat on I would like to say a big thank you to the Community Wardens for making our Fun Day happen.

I think the problem is that not enough people actually know what the Wardens do for Hyndburn. After taking to several I now have a better understanding of what they are about. It will be a shame to loose such a dedicated group of people and I think Hyndburn will be a worse place without them.

SpecialPowers

23-11-2005 16:48

Re: Does Anybody Care About The Community Wardens?

no it is not a personal thread.I support the Wardens whole heartedly, i was just wondering why it has gone quiet on the warden front!!There is no need for you to be funny about it it is never to late to have hope!!!!

Less	23-11-2005 16:57

Re: Does Anybody Care About The Community Wardens?

Quote:

Originally Posted by SpecialPowers

no it is not a personal thread.I support the Wardens whole heartedly, i was just wondering why it has gone quiet on the warden front!!There is no need for you to be funny about it it is never to late to have hope!!!!

I wasn't being funny, just wondered if you were a warden hoping for some support, obviously you are just someone that gets over-serious when asking and given an answer that doesn't suit you.

As for hope I wonder how many as the ground comes hurtling towards them have said, "I hope my parachute opens".

P.S. please don't think that you have offended me in any way, there are far more on here that are better qualified and capable of doing that than you!

P.P.S. If however I have managed to upset you I am truely sorry because you are obviously too easy a target!

http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/36/36_11_6.gif

SpecialPowers

23-11-2005 17:07

Re: Does Anybody Care About The Community Wardens?

Dont you worry less, you have not offended me

Less	23-11-2005 17:10

Re: Does Anybody Care About The Community Wardens?

Quote:

Originally Posted by SpecialPowers

Dont you worry less, you have not offended me

Please don't growl while you're saying that!

SPUGGIE J

23-11-2005 17:23

Re: Does Anybody Care About The Community Wardens?

Will somebody put me out of my pain and suffering and tell me what exactly these wardens are and what they do. Only asking because I hate thread searching.

Neil	23-11-2005 17:30

Re: Does Anybody Care About The Community Wardens?

There used to be an ex-warden on this forum. I think he lives/lived in Burnley but can't remember his name.

Gayle

23-11-2005 17:35

Re: Does Anybody Care About The Community Wardens?

It would be a priority of the Labour party, if they were in control of the Council, to find funding for Community Wardens. They do an invaluable job.

It would also be their aim to extend the scheme to the whole of Hyndburn and not just little pockets of it.

SPUGGIE J

23-11-2005 17:46

Re: Does Anybody Care About The Community Wardens?

Who are they? What are they? I am in limbo and desperate to know they score.

garinda

23-11-2005 17:58

Re: Does Anybody Care About The Community Wardens?

I feel a bit like Queen Victoria did about lesbians, I've never seen one so I don't know what they do.

I have of course read of their demise in the papers, but am unsure what they do. Are they just responsible for certain areas, if so where are those areas?

Gayle

23-11-2005 18:04

Re: Does Anybody Care About The Community Wardens?

They were basically like old fashioned beat bobbies - in that they were highly visible and got to know members of the community very well. They don't quite have the same powers as the police but they did have some and they were the sort of bridge between the community and the police. They did a good job and crime did reduce in those areas that had them. They brought a sense of security to the areas. They were in the main deprived areas.

We've never had them in Ossy.

SpecialPowers

23-11-2005 18:09

Re: Does Anybody Care About The Community Wardens?

the neighbourhood wardens work in the 4 NRF areas which are church woodnook/barnfield springhill/ferngore and central

Neil	23-11-2005 18:16

Re: Does Anybody Care About The Community Wardens?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gayle

Sounds good Gayle. Can we expect a sharp rise in Council Tax when the Labour Party get in at the next election to pay for it?

Gayle

23-11-2005 18:21

Re: Does Anybody Care About The Community Wardens?

No, and they weren't paid for out of Council tax to start with.

Neil	23-11-2005 18:40

Re: Does Anybody Care About The Community Wardens?

They were funded from some Government regeneration scheme or something I think.

They should be at least part funded by the Police IMHO. After all some of there work helps the Police and reduces there work load.

Winnie

23-11-2005 18:51

Re: Does Anybody Care About The Community Wardens?

Quote:

Originally Posted by SPUGGIE J

Who are they? What are they? I am in limbo and desperate to know they score.

The wardens are people who are dressed in high vis clothes a bit like police, they patrol the streets, parks, open spaces, they go to meetings to do with the community, they can give out fixed penalty notices for all sorts of things like dog fouling, littering, they can ticket cars for not having car tax, they also have the power to confiscate alcohol and tobacco products, they look out for A.S.B.and juvenile nuisance, they are a link pin between the man on the street and the police and the council. I salute them all, well done, keep up the good work for as long as you can !!!!!!!

Neil	23-11-2005 18:58

Re: Does Anybody Care About The Community Wardens?

Welcome to AccyWeb Winnie. Why not do and introduce yourself in the introduction bit of the forum

Graham Jones

23-11-2005 22:25

Re: Does Anybody Care About The Community Wardens?

The Council was given £5.5m NRF [Neighbourhood Renewal Funding] funding from 2001-2006 to spend on improving services in the 4 worst wards in Hyndburn. Barnfield, Central, Church and Springhill.

Around £0.5m was allocated over the period for community wardens. After submitting new deprivation figures last year, Hyndburn will now no longer qualify for NRF funding which ran out in 2006. However Hyndburn will be given 'parachute payments' for 2 years till 2008.

The wardens have therefore been given notice.

The Labour Party argues it is a simple case of choices from within Council budgets. Reduce officers in several departments, primarily Area Councils and the Council will then be able to afford a warden scheme.

There is no magic money, nor will there be Council Tax rises from either party to pay for the wardens. Both political parties have said that openly. It is all now down to a choice of which do you prefer; Area Councils or Wardens across the Borough.

The Conservative's flagship is the Area Councils and so no Warden service. The Labour Party's flagship is the Warden Service with Area Council staffing cut right back to a minimum and failing Area Councils looked in to.

For clarity, the Labour Party proposal is 24 wardens across the whole borough, rather than 12 in the 4 wards. It is also to increase their role and powers in helping community groups, as well as more ticketing powers for dog fouling, fly tipping etc..

garinda

23-11-2005 22:37

Re: Does Anybody Care About The Community Wardens?

From those figures it looks like the wardens were on a salary of around £10,400 per annum. How would the wardens be funded if we had them across the borough?

chav1

23-11-2005 22:45

Re: Does Anybody Care About The Community Wardens?

perhaps if the council chose what they spent money on a bit more carefuly we wouldnt be needing to discuss this

do we need to list all the things that have been done by HBC that have been a blatent waste of money that could have helped if not pay for the wardens

those who havnt had dealings with the wardens probably wont understand how invaluable they are but as a person who has had help and has friends who have been helped by the wardens i can say they do make a difference

SPUGGIE J

23-11-2005 23:07

Re: Does Anybody Care About The Community Wardens?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Winnie

Cheers winnie now I know whats happening I can follow the thread. :)

entwisi

24-11-2005 06:41

Re: Does Anybody Care About The Community Wardens?

<fx:Ian puts on gruf voice>

And now follows a party political broadcast by the Labour Party

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gayle

</fx>

:)

SPUGGIE J

24-11-2005 12:22

Re: Does Anybody Care About The Community Wardens?

If the job they do is important and brings good results for the communities they serve then yes keep them and if possible bring in more. Community spirit is slacking so maybe this might restore some.

wellbeing

24-11-2005 13:45

Re: Does Anybody Care About The Community Wardens?

i feel the community wardens do an excellent job and it is a shame that they are being made redundant.It must be hard for them now having to work knowing they are out o a job in march!why has no 1 been bothered to look for funding earlier than now.Accrington is going to turn into a right mess and then the council will keep themselves!!!

SPUGGIE J

24-11-2005 15:09

Re: Does Anybody Care About The Community Wardens?

Quote:

Originally Posted by wellbeing

It dosnt need the council todo any more damage than they have already done. When all the good work the wardens is undone after their departure the councils shoulders will be slippier than graphite lube dust. :(

Graham Jones

24-11-2005 19:00

Re: Does Anybody Care About The Community Wardens?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Neil

They should be at least part funded by the Police IMHO. After all some of there work helps the Police and reduces there work load.

A study of man hours and activities earlier this year showed there was a 5-10% overlap. However wardens are only in the 4 wards. What was found outside the 4 wards that Community Officers and PCSO's were doing a lot more Council work than that. Evironmental issues, community support issues.

There is no strong argument to say the Police should pay which does not come bouncing back. Further along that line of thinking, The Police have statutory duties and where their community and environmental issues are lower down the list of priorities, issues which however are important to residents and a clear case for the neccesity of wardens.

Environmental Services at HBC have legal powers the Police do not. Issues around penalty notices for flytipping, litter, dog fouling, dirty back yards, refuge out on the wrong day etc...

Its worth pointing out in determining priorities, the wardens are accountable through the ballot box the Police are not. In the future we should expect to see some devolved management to residents ie. hours worked / issues and areas the wardens should tackle.

Neil	24-11-2005 19:50

Re: Does Anybody Care About The Community Wardens?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Graham Jones

However wardens are only in the 4 wards.

Are you sure that the Wardens only work in those 4 wards?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Graham Jones

In the future we should expect to see some devolved management to residents ie. hours worked / issues and areas the wardens should tackle.

Devolution has already started in Hyndburn, I saw you at one of the Friends of Rhyddings Park meetings. I think you forgot to sign in.

wellbeing

24-11-2005 20:41

Re: Does Anybody Care About The Community Wardens?

i was speaking to the wardens about the 4 wards and they do also work in the parks over hyndburn they work in gt harwood ossy rishton peel area.but that is classed as overtime!!!i really respect the wardens for their effort!!!

Graham Jones

24-11-2005 21:08

Re: Does Anybody Care About The Community Wardens?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Neil

Are you sure that the Wardens only work in those 4 wards?

Devolution has already started in Hyndburn, I saw you at one of the Friends of Rhyddings Park meetings. I think you forgot to sign in.

The wardens original funding was for the 4 wards only. Subsequently they have been asked to attend all area councils and have a walk around. This change in duties confused a lot of residents in places like Rishton into believing they now had a warden service. The Council did little to explain their limited activities in those areas.

Serious devolution can't happen for the warden service now they have been given redundancy notices. If the scheme is revived by one of the political parties, then expect some devolvement of duties to residents. I think it would be quite something for Ossy, or Harwood or Clayton to have their own dedicated warden service.

Secondly the Green Spaces forum received some funding for evenings for HBC open spaces to be patrolled and the wardens were employed to patrol those across the borough. I have seen them a few times up Plantation Rd. So techncially they can be seen outside the 4 wards, though in essence they don't work outside the 4 wards in their normal capacity.

FoRP. What a shambolic meeting. No-one came out with much credit [except Gayle!]. The residents that were there were either Peter's friends or Peters enemies [ie Labour voters]. The rules were being made up on the fly, PB changed his title to stay as chair [to chief facilitator NOT chair person] and a farcical postal vote was set up to obtain political control for Peter and his supporters. No other group in my experience has either been as chaotic, convoluted or as political as that. And the subsequent vote I have a suspicion ;) was contrived to keep Gayle out at all costs.

It would be interesting to hear your comments but it was also ILLUMINATING to know that you were there Neil!! I always had you down as a close friend of Peter's ;)

Neil	25-11-2005 00:59

Re: Does Anybody Care About The Community Wardens?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Graham Jones

It would be interesting to hear your comments

I apologize now as I think this might get long and is rather off topic.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Graham Jones

FoRP. What a shambolic meeting.

I agree with you it was shambolic. I personally believe that the mass Labour turnout was a mistake

on your part. I think that all you managed to do was make people suspicious, myself included, as to

the ulterior motive for your presence. After all why would 3 or 4 Labour Councillors from outside

Oswaldtwistle want to attend the meeting as claimed observers? The behavour of certain members of

the Labour party only served to annoy people, in fact several residents mentioned that to me at the

time and since the meeting.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Graham Jones

No-one came out with much credit [except Gayle!].

I have a few reasons to disagree with that but I do not wish to discuss Gayle on here except to say

that I personally have a lot of time for her and think she would have made an excellent committee

member. We discussed Rhyddings Park both in PM's and in person. Some of which was in confidence so

no I won't say what about.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Graham Jones

The residents that were there were either Peter's friends or Peters enemies [ie

Labour voters].

The whole idea of the group is to be non political, that is why Coucillors are excluded from being

allowed on the committee. You heard the comments of some residents on this subject when the

Constitution was discussed. After all what would be the point of the Council devolving the park to

other Councillors?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Graham Jones

PB changed his title to stay as chair [to chief facilitator NOT chair

person]

Whatever name you want to use someone had to keep the meeting on track. He said himself that the

group should not be political and was opposed to Councillors being involved at Committee level

Quote:

Originally Posted by Graham Jones

a farcical postal vote was set up to obtain political control for Peter and his

supporters.

I have already stated on this forum that I am not a supporter of Peter.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Graham Jones

it was also ILLUMINATING to know that you were there Neil!!

Why Illuminating?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Graham Jones

I always had you down as a close friend of Peter's

Have you actually read any of my posts on AccyWeb? If you had you might withdraw that statement :)

If you want to discuss the subject further I will buy you a pint in The Stag on Saturday night so I

don't get slapped for thread wondering.

Alec_Ish

26-11-2005 17:30

Re: Does Anybody Care About The Community Wardens?

Special powers! ill stick up 4 you.
The Com. wardens are good as i was a junior com. warden and they are really nice and friendly and have helped my neighbourood recently.

P.s Carm down less lol :)

Alec
(Jimmi5bellies Son)

Graham Jones

26-11-2005 20:29

Re: Does Anybody Care About The Community Wardens?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Neil

I apologize now as I think this might get long and is rather off topic.

I agree with you it was shambolic. I personally believe that the mass Labour turnout was a mistake

on your part. I think that all you managed to do was make people suspicious, myself included, as to

the ulterior motive for your presence. After all why would 3 or 4 Labour Councillors from outside

Oswaldtwistle want to attend the meeting as claimed observers? The behavour of certain members of

the Labour party only served to annoy people, in fact several residents mentioned that to me at the

time and since the meeting.

I have a few reasons to disagree with that but I do not wish to discuss Gayle on here except to say

that I personally have a lot of time for her and think she would have made an excellent committee

member. We discussed Rhyddings Park both in PM's and in person. Some of which was in confidence so

no I won't say what about.

The whole idea of the group is to be non political, that is why Coucillors are excluded from being

allowed on the committee. You heard the comments of some residents on this subject when the

Constitution was discussed. After all what would be the point of the Council devolving the park to

other Councillors?

Whatever name you want to use someone had to keep the meeting on track. He said himself that the

group should not be political and was opposed to Councillors being involved at Committee level

I have already stated on this forum that I am not a supporter of Peter.

Why Illuminating?

Have you actually read any of my posts on AccyWeb? If you had you might withdraw that statement :)

If you want to discuss the subject further I will buy you a pint in The Stag on Saturday night so I

don't get slapped for thread wondering.

I'll wander once as well!

Your understanding of that meeting and all around it is not mine. I would like to challange your assumptions.

Friends of Oakhill Park last week, organised like FoRP by the Council has no exclusion of Councillors and residents are happy.

No-one wants me to step down as chair of Arden Hall as yet. Having a chair as a councillor is a big asset, and thats with 2 years of experience. We have Tories on our committee I am sure, so IMHO I think people make problems where there aren't any. Resident chairs have a big learning curve in front of them [in terms of the complexities/networking of councils, NGO's] but if they work hard they can suceed.

This meeting was trumpeted as pilot for a new council policy so it would have been a dereliction not to be there.The problems were nothing to do with politics, and everything to do with Peter Britcliffe's style of leadership.

Someone wrote the following week in the paper they would never vote Labour again which was ironic because 3 Conservative voters outside told me this will be the first time they will not vote Conservative at the local election [they're voting Labour] because of the way that meeting was organised. Obviously not everyone thought PB handed it well at all.

Peter's track record is overtly polictical and I just hope you are not tinged and manage to make it a success. We will meet anyway at the Green Spaces Forum now you are chair of a Friends. Should be interesting with your cross political views ;)

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