Agenda and minutes

RESOLVED to appoint Councillor Steve Young as Chair for the 2018/19 municipal year.

RESOLVED to appoint Councillor Nicola Heaton as Vice-Chair for the 2018/19 municipal year.

Councillor Corall Jenkins – personal reasons

Mary Daly

Sarah Jordan

Roy Nettleship

Pat Rice

Dee Whitworth

None.

Of the meeting held on 14 February 2018, for confirmation.

The minutes of the meeting held on 14 February 2018 were confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

Report of the Director of Community Protection

Abdul Ghaffar, Neighbourhood Development Officer, introduced the report inviting the Committee to formally appoint Community Representatives from the Bridge, Clifton North and Clifton South wards as required by the Terms of Reference.

RESOLVED to formally note the appointment of Community Representatives as highlighted below for the municipal year 2018/19:

The Chair then informed the Committee that Parbinder Singh will be moving to become Neighbourhood Development Officer for Wollaton West. Words of thanks were received from Councillors Cook, Edwards and Rule, and Community Representatives, for his hard work and support.

Verbal update

Inspector James Walker, Nottinghamshire Police, gave a verbal update on crime in the Meadows, highlighting the following:

(a)  there has been series of violent incidents in the Meadows recently. 6 incidents have taken place since 4 April, and 12 arrests have been made. There is a link between violent incidents and drug related incidents, and an individual has been arrested for possession of class A drugs;

(b)  the Meadows currently has 1 sergeant, 2 beat officers and 3 Police Community Support Officers. The force is bidding for additional resources, and has already successfully worked with the knife crime team who have been involved with arrests;

(c)  3G cameras have been placed in hotspots for drug-related activity. Public meetings have also taken place for reassurance, as well as an increase in social media activity to inform citizens of work being done.

Sergeant Nigel Bradley, Nottinghamshire Police, gave a verbal update on crime generally in Clifton and the Meadows, highlighting the following:

(d)  there has been a rise in auto crime in Clifton, with vehicles being broken into at night. Police presence in certain areas has been increased, and messages on social media have asked citizens to be careful;

(e)  in Clifton, there has been a 23% reduction in anti-social behaviour in the year to date and a  reduction in hate crime. Burglary figures are relatively low but remain static;

(f)  in the Meadows, overall crime is down in the year to date, including reductions in shoplifting and anti-social behaviour. There has been a slight increase in vehicle crime;

The following comments were made by members of the Committee:

(g)  some youth and outreach work has been cut, but there are still a number of organisations and events that can provide activities for young people to take part in. A calendar is being produced by Bridges Community Trust to better advertise these. A youth strategy is also being developed for the area by the police;

(h)  the police is liaising with local schools on education around gun and knife crime and anti-social behaviour. 12 schools officers are being recruited across Nottinghamshire to work as a liaison with schools.

RESOLVED to thank Inspector Walker and Sergeant Bradley for the information provided.

Report of the Director of Community Protection

Prairie Bryant, Neighbourhood Development Officer, introduced the report by focussing on current priorities and issues facing Clifton South ward. This was followed by Abdul Ghaffar, Neighbourhood Development Officer and Parbinder Singh, Neighbourhood Development Officers, focussing on the current priorities, issues and key actions delivered in the Bridge and Clifton North wards.

RESOLVED to note the progress on Ward priorities and other supporting information including the issues being addresses by each Neighbourhood Action Team, and upcoming opportunities for citizens to engage.

Report of the Chief Executive of Nottingham City Homes

Toni Smithurst, Area Housing Manager, Nottingham City Homes (NCH), introduced the report providing updates on key issues and themes which link back to local priorities and the strategic themes for Nottingham City Homes.

RESOLVED to

(1)  note the update and performance information in appendices 1 and 2 of the report;

(2)  note the allocation of funds for 2017/18, detailed below

(3)  approve the Area Capital Programme funding request set out below:

Joint report of the Corporate Director Corporate Director for Development and Growth and the Corporate Director for Commercial and Operations

Ceri Davies, Housing Strategy Specialist, introduced the report informing the Committee of a proposed Additional Licensing scheme for Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs), highlighting the following:

(a)  a successful Additional Licensing scheme already exists in Nottingham City, but this is due to end in December 2018;

(b)  the area that the scheme will cover remains largely the same as the existing scheme. In the Bridge Ward this covers the lace market and parts of Old Meadows;

(c)  the current scheme has successfully improved the conditions of HMOs, taken rogue landlords out of the market, and tackled problems with anti-social behaviour;

(d)  the Council is currently consulting on the proposed new scheme, with consultation running until 20 July 2018 prior to Executive Board approval;

(e)  the scheme does not cover the Clifton area at all. Areas need have evidence of having at least 10 HMOs, 2 of which have attracted complaints;

(f)  fees for landlords in the new scheme have increased slightly to £1000 over 5 years for accredited landlords, £1370 for unaccredited landlords and £1720 for landlords with a history of non-compliance.

RESOLVED to

(1)  note the contents of the report;

(2)  ask partners to actively contribute to the consultation process.

Joint report of the Director of Neighbourhood Services and the Corporate Director for Commercial and Operations.

James Dymond, Parks Development Manager, introduced the report with proposals for the spending of Section 106 funding in Area 8, highlighting the following:

(a)  the relevant Section 106 funding must be used towards the provision of enhancement of public open space or other community facilities in the City Of Nottingham;

(b)  the largest proposed spend is for match funding for a £1.5m Heritage Lottery Fund bid to restore the memorial gardens at Victoria Embankment, including war memorial restoration, undercroft improvements, fountain repairs restoration of the statue, path repairs and landscape works;

(c)  other smaller spending proposals are at Ruddington Lane park, Arkwright Walk park, Locksley play area, Iremonger’s pond and for improvements to trees around the area.

The following suggestions were made by members of the Committee:

(d)  football goals would also be welcome at Ruddington Lane park;

(e)  new trees would be beneficial at the Fairham Brook area in Silverdale;

(f)  the footpath to the tram stop at Ruddington Lane should be improved and better lit.

The following answers were given in response to questions from the Committee:

(g)  the undercroft at the war memorial could be used as an interpretation or activity space for visitors or veterans and their families;

(h)  Victoria Embankment is a destination park for the city and the region. Once plans are more concrete they will be shared more widely. Public support is an important criterion for the Heritage Lottery funding.

RESOLVED to endorse the proposals for the spend of Section 106 funding on parks and open spaces in Area 8.

Verbal update by Mark Armstrong, Town Centre Co-ordinator

Mark Armstrong, Town Centre Co-ordinator, gave a verbal update and presentation highlighting the following:

(a)  there has recently been a halt in physical works such as the cut-through to Morrisons and the flower park but these are due to begin again in October;

(b)  a planning application has been approved for new retail units and a gym on the Morrisons site, with one occupier already confirmed;

(c)  the new urban expansion was approved by Rushcliffe Borough Council. New employment sites will be built in the first phase with a commitment to providing jobs for people from Clifton. The housing will be built over the next 10 years;

(d)  the Clifton Triangle site, with a new Lidl supermarket and B&M Bargains, is almost complete. Recruitment has focused on providing jobs for local people;

(e)  Clifton’s retail units are 100% occupied which is unusual nationally. House prices in the area have also increased due to factors such as the tram line and the quality of housing.

The following points were raised during the discussion which followed:

(f)  there is scope for further trees to be planted on the Clifton Triangle site;

(g)  the increase in house prices could price younger people out of the housing market. The new urban expansion should be built more quickly by Rushcliffe to provide much needed housing.

RESOLVED to thank Mark for the information provided

The following information was provided by Community Representatives:

(a)  the Meadows Dance and Social Group has been running for over 20 years. The group recently applied for lottery funding and was awarded around £5,000 which is enough to keep it running for another year;

(b)  the Wilford Community Group held a mayday event, included maypole dancing, which was very well attended;

(c)  in Clifton Village a litter pick was organised for villagers. 16 people took part and a dozen or more bags of litter were collected. A litter champion has now been appointed who organised a further litter pick, and spoken to the fast food outlets and the university to encourage them to cover areas along the A453;

(d)  Good Companions has been running since 2000 to reduce loneliness, organising a home visiting service and friendship groups. A new treasurer and 6 new volunteers have recently been recruited, and fundraising has taken place at Morrisons and Wilford fireworks. £24,000 has recently been awarded from the People’s Trust for a co-ordinator to set up 2 new friendship groups, and a new social inclusion co-ordinator has been funded for one year.

RESOLVED to thank Community Representatives for the information provided.

Report of the Director of Community Protection

Parbinder Singh, Neighbourhood Development Officer, introduced the report providing the Committee with the latest spend proposals under the Area Capital Fund including highways, traffic and safety and public realm.

RESOLVED to

(1)  note the monies available to Bridge, Clifton North and Clifton South wards as outlined below:

(2)  approve the programme of schemes as outlined for Bridge Ward (3 schemes totalling £97,918) and Clifton North Ward (3 schemes totalling £43,411):

Report of the Director of Community Protection

Parbinder Singh, Neighbourhood Development Officer, introduced the report advising the Committee of the use of delegated authority by the Director of Community Protection for those projects funded by Ward Councillor budgets.

RESOLVED to note the actions agreed by the Director of Community Protection in respect of projects and schemes within the Bridge, Clifton North and Clifton South wards, as detailed below:

To agree to meet on the following Wednesdays at 6.30pm:

12 September 2018 (Clifton Cornerstone)

12 December 2018 (Loxley House)

13 March 2019 (Clifton Cornerstone)

AGREED to meet on the following Wednesdays at 6.30pm:

12 September 2018 (Clifton Cornerstone)

12 December 2018 (Loxley House)

13 March 2019 (Clifton Cornerstone)