Agenda and minutes

None.

To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 15 November 2016.

The minutes of the meeting held on 15 November 2016 were confirmed as a correct record and they were signed by the Chair.

Donna Busuttill, Nottinghamshire Police

Inspector Donna Busuttil gave an update from Nottinghamshire Police on current issues relevant to the Dales, St Anns and Mapperley wards. She highlighted the following information:

(a)  on Friday 10 February through to Sunday 12 February 2017 a joint operation was run along with Nottingham City Homes and the Community Protection officers on the streets of the wards. The operation was not a secret and people within the community were aware that it would be taking place, despite this a number of knives were recovered from individuals;

(b)  a passive drugs dog was used and a number of seizures of controlled substances were made;

(c)  in coordination with Nottingham City Homes and with a housing officer present 2 warrants were executed;

(d)  Nottinghamshire police plan on running similar operations in the future and feedback or questions from those in the community are welcomed;

(e)  nationally Police forces have changed the way that crimes are recorded. Many incidents that would previously not have been recorded as a crime and given a crime number now class as a formal incident and Nottinghamshire Police are in the process of reassessing a number of incidents and having to assign crime numbers to old cases. As a result the crime figures for the last quarter are not reflective of the crime that has been committed.

Following questions and comments from the Committee the following further points were made:

(f)  in the Dales ward vehicle crime is up 12%, up from 9. There is no pattern to the crime and patrols have been increased. Shoplifting is up  24% and police are working with shop owners to reduce this. 3 burglaries took place which appeared to target Asian families, in particularly their jewellery.  This fits with a pattern of crime seen in the neighbouring Carlton area where a person was apprehended on suspicion of burglary. Public Order crime is up by 54%, up by 24 incidents. This is attributed to old incidents being reopened as a result of the new reporting criteria;

(g)  frustration was expressed that the new crime reporting legislation has led to very minor incidents and mischief calls being included in the crime statistics diverting time and resources away from more serious incidents;

(h)  neither of the 2 recent murders in the Sneinton area could have been predicted or prevented. They were two separate incidents and there is no need for the community to feel unsafe. It was not possible for Inspector Busuttil to comment further due to ongoing investigation;

(i)  despite residents commenting that they had not seen the Community Protection officers in the Dales ward the CPO’s have been working jointly with Nottinghamshire Police throughout the wards;

(j)  Inspector Donna Busuttil offered to bring comparative figures to the next meeting to allow the Committee to see crime figures over a 6 month period which should give a clear picture following the changes in reporting legislation;

RESOLVED to thank Inspector Donna Busuttil for her attendance, note the content of her update and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 36.

David Baillie, Regeneration Officer

David Baille, Regeneration Officer, introduced a report outlining the decision to stop up of a footpath on Conway Close in order to allow the construction of housing. The Delegated Decision was taken in exercise of Area Committee Executive Powers under delegation 82(b). No objections were received during the consultation process and the Stopping Up Order was confirmed on 12.10.2016. Construction work started the same month and is scheduled to finish in July 2017.

RESOLVED to

(1)  note the decision of the Head of Neighbourhood Management in Delegated Decision 2582 in exercise of her executive powers on behalf of the committee;

(2)  note the steps that have been taken since the approval of Delegated Decision 2582 to implement that decision.

Peter Morley, Commissioning Manager

Peter Morley, Commissioning Manager, gave a presentation on Financial Vulnerability and Resilience highlighting the following points:

(a)  Nottingham City has the second highest level of population unable to manage debt of all locality areas at over 41%. Groups more likely to be affected include:

·  citizens with mental health issues;

·  families;

·  citizens with physical or mental disabilities, learning disabilities or long term health problems;

·  refugees or asylum seekers;

·  elderly citizens;

·  citizens with drug or alcohol misuse issues;

·  young people;

·  care leavers;

·  citizens claiming Job Seekers Allowance or citizens who work in in insecure employment/low wage work;

·  ex-offenders.

(b)  historically there have been different services citywide with differing quality that citizens did not know how to access and a shortage of early intervention work to prevent vulnerability;

(c)  to rectify this the Council recommissioned all of the advice services that it funds through a “hub and spoke” model which was completed in September 2015. The second stage is to implement change in the services to address the historical issues including;

·  move facilities to an early intervention approach;

·  standardise advice and assessment across the city;

·  standardise access arrangement;

·  ensure citizens and professionals know what services are available.

(d)  the council applied for and received £300,000 of Transformation Challenge Award funding. The process is underway to identify appropriate ways to spend the funds, ideas include:

·  shared free phone number and shared appointment booking system for advice services

·  trainer/development worker to act as a link between advice services and employment support

·  virtual chatroom (skype)

·  specialist immigration advisor

·  training for Advice Nottingham staff on standardised access to assessment/ referral to other services.

(e)  the services will be evaluated on outcomes that show impact, improve access between services, fit with the financial resilience action plan and reduce citizens vulnerability;

(f)  further consultation will be done in localities,  and support groups will be set up as appropriate. This work will be overseen by the Health and Wellbeing Board;

(g)  the team welcome feedback from the community and can be sent to peter.morley@nottinghamcity.gov.uk 

Following questions and comments from the Committee the further points were made:

(h)  out of standard hours (not 9am – 5pm) for the advice services in localities would be helpful for those citizens who do work, foodbanks are open outside of normal working hours and could be an appropriate place to offer other services or advertise other services, this idea will be feedback to the steering group for consideration;

RESOLVED to thank Peter Morley for his presentation and note the content.

Matt Alvey, Community Employment & Skills Officer

Matt Alvey, Community Employment and Skills Officer gave a presentation on the Employment and Skills plan highlighting the following points:

(a)  On average the Dales, Mapperley and St Anns wards have a slightly higher than city average of citizens on out of work benefits but the overall figures up to October 2016 are showing a reduction;

(b)  current priorities of the Employment and Skills Area Partnership are:

·  to engage with residents who are currently economically inactive, including those not claiming benefits;

·  increase the number of job opportunities, including entry level jobs, for Dales, Mapperley and St Anns wards;

·  raise awareness and increase access to local support groups;

·  reduce the numbers of long term unemployed job seekers.

(c)   the Partnership aims to promote Nottingham Jobs opportunities to employment advisors and local residents. Following feedback from both advisors and residents the hub has been restructured to allow better joint working when using job searching tools;

(d)  The Partnership also works to:

·  promote vacancies to local advisors – the Partnership email local vacancies to advisors on a regular basis

·  promote vacancies to local jobs fairs – the next one is due to take place on 28 March 2017 between 12pm - 3pm at City College Nottingham, Carlton Road, NG3 2NR;

·  match client caseloads to vacancies and promote Nottingham Jobs Hub activities;

·  monitor claimant figures;

·  review referrals and performance of local employment programmes.

(e)  The Partnership has recently commissioned a research project to look at the barriers to local employment. This will run alongside a review of local employability services offered in Dales, Mapperley and St Anns to produce details of local employability provision;

(f)  the Step into Work programme has been recognised nationally and offers good quality programmes across the city. The Partnership is currently looking at ring-fence some local opportunities for local residents through this programme;

Following questions and comments from the committee the following points were made:

(g)  work is being done to improve access for those citizens who use English as an additional language, there is a good presence of advice and support services in localities to reach those who do not use the internet and local libraries offer free internet access to citizens which allows them to access the online services. There is still work to be done around literacy but there are programmes in place to increase literacy levels city wide;

(h)  the draft report from a community research paper shows that 0 hours contracts are damaging. It also shows that access to child care is a limiting factor and this report is due to be shared at an upcoming Partnership meeting and its finding will help to shape future action plans.

RESOLVED to thank Matt Alvey for his attendance and note the content of his presentation.

Lisa Ball, Strategic Planning & Performance Consultant

Lorraine Raynor, Chief Environmental Health and Safer Housing Officer, gave a presentation and introduced a report on the Proposal for a Scheme of Selective Licensing for Privately Rented Houses and highlighted the following points:

(a)  the Council currently runs a mandatory licensing scheme for Houses of Multiple Occupancy (HMO) with three or more storeys or, 5 or more occupiers, and a discretionary scheme of additional licencing which covers HMO’s of 2 storeys or more, or, 3 or more occupiers;

(b)  the Council is currently consulting on a proposal to introduce a citywide selective licensing scheme that will cover all of the Private Rented Sector (PRS), it is thought that this will bring over 40,000 properties into the licensing scheme within Nottingham City. The consultation runs until the end of March and feedback can be given here: http://www.nottinghamcity.gov.uk/consultation-engagement-and-surveys/#housing ;

(c)   this scheme aims to drive up standards of homes, improve living conditions and reduce levels of deprivation for residents and contribute to reducing levels of antisocial and criminal  behaviour by tackling Rogue Landlords and working with landlords and tenants to provide advice and assistance;

(d)  the Dales, Mapperley and St Anns have a high proportion of PRS properties which falls short of acceptable standards.

Following questions and comments from the Committee the following points were made;

(e)  Should the consultation be a success and the Council agree with the proposal and agree to a selective licencing scheme for all PRS properties in the city, the decision would then need to be approved by the Department of Communities and Local Government. If permission is then granted for a citywide scheme would likely start in  early 2018;

(f)  the fee for a 5 year license will be £600 per property. If the landlord is accredited through Decent and Safe Homes (DASH) or Unipol then there will be a £140 discount;

(g)  the same standards will apply to properties and to fees if a lettings agent is involved, properties will have to meet certain standards and the same fee of £600 per property will be charged and it will be the duty of the landlord to sign up to the scheme;

(h)  the proposed selective licensing scheme would run the same model of enforcements as currently runs for the mandatory and additional licencing. Advice will be offered to landlords and instructions on what needs to be done to improve the property, if no action is taken this will then lead to enforcement and ultimately to prosecution. If there is a pattern of poor behaviour then licenses will not be granted or will be granted only if a suitable management agent is put in place;

(i)  a high proportion of properties within the private rented sector will require improvement if this scheme is approved. It will ensure a basic minimum of standard for all housing and will improve outcomes for tenants;

(j)  the scheme will offer advice and support to landlords who are having issues with tenants such as housing benefits not being used to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 40.

Michelle Graley, Neighbourhood development Officer for St Anns presented the St Anns part of the Ward Performance report, she highlighted the following points:

(a)  10 Tea and Cake public meeting have taken place across the ward to date. They have been well attended and have led to a list of issues affecting the ward to be complied. Common problems across the ward include commuter/nuisance parking, street furniture repairs and fly tipping. These issues will be taken back to Neighbourhood Action Team to address;

(b)  phase 1 of the Skate Plaza has been completed. There are a number of young people including  those from the Skating Community already using the Plaza regularly;

(c)  Mr Tony Miller has approached the Neighbourhood Development Officer about a plaque he salvaged from the now disused Cannon Lewis Memorial Hall. It commemorates the lives of local young men who fought and lost their lives in World War I. He has made a number of attempts to have one of the local churches give the plaque a home but has not been successful. St Anns Councillors have agreed to look at sitting the plaque in a display case somewhere within St Anns with a view to carrying out a special event as part of the centenary commemorations.

Fi Cusick, Neighbourhood Development Officer for Mapperley Ward presented the Mapperley part of the report. She highlighted the following points:

(d)  January saw an increase in prostitution in the Mapperley Road Area.  The Police Task Force are aware of that some of the workers who used to use the area are returning as their situations change. The Task Force are working with those who are known to the team. The numbers are still very low, and significantly lower than they were historically;

(e)  fly tipping continues to be an issue around Brewsters Recycling Centre on Brewsters Road. The 3G camera will be deployed there with a view to gathering information;

(f)  20 November 2016 was the day of a “one off” leaf only collection in the Mapperley Park area. It was very successful and an extra 30 tonnes of leaves were collected, the total collected exceeds 230 tonnes from routine leaf clearance through the autumn and winter months; 

(g)  in January Community Protection teams delivered letters to all households on Blue Bell Hill Road as a result of continued dog fouling,  community support operations are being planned in the Mapperley ward to address this issue;

(h)  funds have been allocated to improvement plans for Astely Drive Park. Plans will go out to consultation with residents, and they will also be consulted on whether the path between Pendle Crescent and the park is reopened in the summer months, as it has been closed off for many years due to unsafe footing in bad weather;

(i)  the Big Push will be launched on 8 March 2017 between 12pm and 2pm at The Wells Community Centre to get local residents involved in the refurbishment and rebuild of the centre. Discussion will take place  ...  view the full minutes text for item 41.

Michelle Graley, Neighbourhood Development Officer

Greg Foister, Neighbourhood Development Officer, presented a report on the Area Capital Fund – 2016/17 Programme providing the latest spend proposals under the Area Capital Fund. In an amendment to the original report circulated with the agenda the Committee was asked to approve funding for 15 of schemes as set out in original appendix as circulated.

RESOLVED to

(1)  note the remaining monies available to Dale, Mapperley and St Anns Wards for 2016:

Dales:  £2,816

Mapperley:  £0

St Anns:  £60,520

(2)  approve the following schemes:

 Dales LTP

Dales Ward Public Realm Schemes

Mapperley Public Realm Schemes

Mapperley Withdrawn Schemes

St Anns LTP schemes

St Anns Public Realm Schemes

St Anns Withdrawn Schemes

Fi Cusick, Neighbourhood Development Officer

Fi Cusick, Neighbourhood Development Officer, presented the report on the use of delegated authority by the Corporate Director for Commercial and Operations. 

RESOLVED to note the actions agreed by the Corporate Director for Commercial and Operations in respect of projects and schemes within the Dales, Mapperley and St Anns Wards.

Toni Smithhurst, Tenancy Estate Manager

Toni Smithurst, Tenancy and Estate Manager for Nottingham City Homes, presented a report providing summary updates on Capital Programme and major work, area regeneration and environmental issues, key messages from the Tenant and Leasehold Congress, Tenant and Residents Associations updates, area performance and good news stories and positive publicity. She highlighted the following information:

(a)  the newly formed residents group at Victoria Centre Tenant and Resident Group is working hard with the Housing Patch Manager to establish itself as a community group;

(b)  costs for the roof garden at the Victoria Centre Flats are being finalised though no start date for the construction work has been confirmed. Materials will need to be hoisted to the roof and a full health and safety assessment is due to take place;

(c)  phase one of the door entry and intercom upgrade has been completed in  Victoria Centre flats. Work has been commenced on phase two and phase three;

(d)  work is due to start this month on the external cladding of Newark Crescent, this is partly funded by the RemoUrban Funding. The low rise blocks of Byron, Haywood, Morley and Keswick will also be upgraded through this project with external wall insulation and new heating;

(e)  Homes in the Windmill Lane area have also benefited from external wall insulation through the RemoUrban project. Residents have also been offered the opportunity for free lighting upgrade to LED and update has been very high;

(f)  Jointly with Nottinghamshire, Police Nottingham City Homes successfully too possession of a property in the St Anns ward following numerous reports regarding antisocial behaviour;

(g)  the annual Tenant and Leaseholder Awards 2017 are now open for nominations. The awards are looking for the best individuals, groups or initiative that are improving the life of residents and neighbourhoods;

RESOLVED to

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

(2)  note the allocation of funds for 2016/17:

(3)  approve £2,394 from the Area Capital Programme for the following scheme:

Community Representatives

Community representatives gave a brief update on the activities of their organisations and current issues including:.

(a)  Brian Blackburn for the Afro-Caribbean National Artistic Centre bought a programme of events, services and uses for the centre. These are attached to the minutes;

(b)  Peter Goode of St Andrew’s Church advised the meeting that the church continued to be used for various groups and craft activities and workshops outside of worship. The Church has recently been the venue of a patchwork exhibition which saw over 400 visitors;

(c)  Pete Wright from Sneinton Tenants Outreach Programme advised that the skate plaza is doing very well. He has been advised by members of the Skater community that they hope to run competitions there in the future;

(d)  Noel Martin from Prettier Whittier reported that they plan on running the successful planter scheme again this year and if possible selling some of them to help fund the group;

(e)  Greg Foister, Neighbourhood Development Officer read out an update from Jonathon Kavanagh – Friends of Colwick Woods:

·  a disabled access route is being completed from Greenwood Road to West View, they hope to have joint funding from Nottingham City Council and Tesco Grant;

·  there is a Stargazing event on 4 March  2017;

·  practical work such as tree planting, clearing scrub and removing tyres will be taking place over the upcoming month;

·  Friends of Colwick Woods note the installation of 11 litter bins and thank the Council for this;

·  A successful guided walk took place with Framework regarding physical and mental health. This event was covered by the Evening Post and more walks are planned for April;

(f)  Cherry Underwood from the Renewal Trust updated the Committee on the Caravan Project – a leaflet outlining the project is attached to these minutes.