As a result of the barbeque mayhem that began in May last year, instead of enforcing the byelaws, our councillors arranged Multi Agency meetings. These were held on the 16th May, the 18th June, and 17th July 2008. The minutes of these meetings have recently become available and show that they were attended by Councillor Penny Ewens (chair), Councillor Jamie Matthews, representatives from Parks and Countryside, Leeds University, and both student unions. At item 4.7 of the minutes from the 16th May 2008, it states:
“A discussion was had about having a designated barbeque area. It was agreed that an idea such as this would need to be consulted on. Phil Staniforth will look at what options are available and liaise with Area Management”.
And at paragraph 4.1 of the minutes from the 17th July 2009, it states that Leeds University:
“will publicise agreement on by-laws once made”.
What agreement was this ? To change the city’s byelaws ? To get students to vote for designated barbeque areas ? And in exchange for what ?
Points to note :
- Even though local residents only found out about the proposal in March 2009, planning for it had been going on for 10 months.
- Local residents were not invited to attend these meetings.
- Officers from the student unions attended all 3 meetings.
Then in December 2008, with residents still unaware of the barbeque consultation, a student union rep gave the following report to his colleagues on the executive about the DPPO and barbeque consultations:
-Gathering letters to send in for the 2 separate consultations and had a UCR publicity day.
– Support for the barbecue is overwhelming with 50 letters in support and 10 against.
– DPPO is split with about 20 letters each way.
– More letters coming in daily.
The process has clearly included one section of the community (students) and excluded everyone else. The appearance is that our councillors have known what they wanted to do for over a year and have deliberately worked with the one section of the community that they thought would be supportive, and deliberately kept the section that they knew wouldn’t agree with them in the dark until the very last minute.
References
Minutes of meeting of the 16th May 2008
Minutes of meeting of the 18th June 2008
Minutes of meeting of the 17th July 2008
Extract from student union rep Rob Damaio update report – Dec 08
16th May
Amanda Jackson – Concern that the media had
exaggerated the scale of the problem.
Obviously Woodhouse Moor is not on Planet Amanda.
8th June
Signage – It was agreed that a hot ash bin may reduce the number of skip
fires caused by people putting barbecues into skips. A notice would need to
be put up advising that it is against the bye law to have barbecues on
Woodhouse Moor and that the bin was for any hot ashes.
I am confused! If barbeques are against the bye laws, where are the hot ashes coming from to go in the bin?
I have received a letter from Leeds Council’s Parks & Countryside – Douglas Louis. My complaint is against the discrimation of Woodhouse Moor being singled out for barbecues and the harassment of people’s enjoyment by smoke from these barbecues who live near by. Leeds Council will not rest until all of Woodhouse Moor has been devoured, one way or another, by the urban gorilla!
Albert Slingsby
‘The Politics of Division.’
On this matter, England ruled a large part of the world by ‘Divide & Rule’ tatics. I worked for the Yorkshire Electric Board and the foreman used to say if I’ve 12 men, I want 6 for me and 6 against me, then I get to know all the tales that you’ve said about the place!!
Albert. And when communities have been split apart, it’s very difficult to undo the damage.
Ian. I thought exactly the same thing. All that trouble, and what’s Amanda’s concern – that it’s being exaggerated. And one of the others said she wanted the problem to be solved in “a multi agency way”. What on earth does that mean? Of course, if the byelaws were enforced, they wouldn’t be able to attend these little talking shops anymore. And then what would they do with their time.
Perhaps we should be appealing to the Environment Agency to ban the selling of disposable barbecues. That might help a bit. Amanda should be on the Moor at 7.00am after a busy weekend and see for herself what the trouble is – so should the eminent councillors! It is only a minority of people who abuse the Moor – many are fairly responsible, although this does not usually include taking their litter home unfortunately.
Helen. I agree. It’s crazy that something as dangerous as disposable barbeques should be so freely available. There are age restrictions on the sale of knives, lighter fuel, fireworks and alcohol – but not disposable barbeques. The person to approach about asking for a ban on their sale would be our MP, Hilary Benn : bennh@parliament.uk He could then take it up with the Environment Agency. I think he’d be very receptive to your suggestion as after he saw all the burn marks on the Moor, he wrote to the council to say that public parks are not for barbeques.