Tackling Anti Social Behaviour in Freemantle

The City Council has received a number of complaints from residents regarding street drinking and associated anti-social behaviour in Shirley Road.

Southampton City Council and the Police have taken a range of actions to tackle anti-social behaviour in the area. Having been informed of the problems, this is what the council did:

- Increased police patrols in the area and used powers to seize alcohol.
- Identified those responsible for the problems and warned them about their behaviour.
- Removed a bench they were using a place to congregate.
- Visited local off licences and asked them not to serve to the main instigators of the problems in the area.

The council will continue to monitor the situation and take further action to deal with any further concerns that are raised.

If you have any questions about what has been done or would like to speak to someone about this or any other issues that are affecting you, please do not hesitate to contact us in the Safer Communities Team on 023 8083 2013.

To report a new or un-related problem of anti-social behaviour:

Call: 0845 045 45 45 Hampshire Constabulary
101 Non-emergency Police number

Go online: www.southampton.gov.uk
www.hampshire.police.uk

Civil Service Ground Update

Progress is being made by the City Council to acquire the former Civil Service Sports Ground, behind Malmesbury Road. The council received approval earlier this year from the Secretary of State for Education to Compulsory Purchase the land.

The Council intends that the land is used as playing fields for local schools, including neighbouring St Marks School, as well as community use.

As part of the process the council has submitted a planning application to register the land as open space. The decision will be taken by the council's planning panel early in the New Year at a panel meeting in either January or February.

As your local councillors, Brian Parnell, Michael Ball and I have written formal letters of support. I also intend to speak at the panel meeting.

Bovis Homes and Stonechat (the development arm of the Civil Service Sports Club) have both objected and are arguing that at least some of the site should be developed for housing. We have been resisting these attempts to develop the site for many years and I will arguing strongly at the panel meeting that their submissions are rejected.

I am pleased to report that we have gained the formal support of Sport England who have unequivocally stated that in their view the whole site should be regarded as open space. I am very confident that the council will approve the application and that this will be an important step towards finally acquiring the land next year.

Her Majesty's Guide to the Country's Debt

A tongue in cheek but very accurate guide to the county's national debt...

New Powers to Manage Multi Occupation Homes

Southampton City Council is taking advantage of new powers made available by the government to better manage Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs).

As a port city with 2 universities, Southampton has areas with large concentrations of HMOs, leading to parking problems and other difficulties.

New planning powers, called an Article 4 Direction will allow the council to require planning permission for new HMOs and will mean it is possible to refuse applications where they are inappropriate or set sensible conditions on the applicants.

The council has announced that it will implement an Article 4 Direction as soon as possible and on Tuesday I headed a delegation from Southampton and Bournemouth to meet with Civil Servants in London from the Communities and Local Government Department to discuss how the new powers will work.