Issue - meetings

The following question was received from Councillor Nikki Hennessy:

"What partnership work went into organising Freshers Week this year?"

The Leader provided the following response:

The Community Safety Partnership recognises the Edge Hill University 'Welcome Weeks' period as a priority and has led on an initiative to provide information to students to encourage them to be good neighbours, for over a decade. For clarification, the first three weeks of Edge Hill's Autumn term are described as the Welcome Weeks. Whilst the partnership used to look at the first week of term, given activities aimed at new and returning students tend to take place for over a week, the period was extended.

In May 2018 a number of partner organisations, including Edge Hill University, Edge Hill Students Union, Lancashire Constabulary, Lancashire Fire and Rescue, Young Addaction, Ormskirk Street Pastors, Council Members and the Ormskirk Residents Group, were invited to attend a pre-planning meeting to discuss what actions they could undertake, including improved communication between Edge Hill and the British Transport Police on when the 'Nightclub Night', involving a significant number of students travelling by train between Ormskirk and Liverpool, would be taking place.

Following the meeting, an action plan was finalised detailing all the actions agreed by the partner agencies. Some of the key actions included additional police patrols, visits to student properties to discuss noise and waste and leave posters, alcohol harm reduction work, fire safety and specific presentations being provided for students on a range of topics.

During the Welcome Weeks period, meetings took place with partners as appropriate to review activities, complaint levels and investigate whether any additional action was required.

Following delivery of the action plan an evaluation was completed and reported back to the Community Safety Partnership and Edge Hill Forum.