Councillor Sue Johnson – Personal

Councillor David Mellen – Council Business

Fiona Cusick – Neighbourhood Development Officer

Yasser Farook – Muslim Community Organisation

Dr Irfan Malik – BANCA.

Mark Sunderland – South Neighbourhood Operations Manager

Councillor Jon Collins and Councillor Neghat Khan declared that they were Directors on the Robin Hood Energy Board. This did not preclude them from speaking on the matter.

To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 12 June 2018

Councillor Gul Khan noted that in item 7 paragraph (a) of the minutes of the meeting help on 12 June the Greenwood Centre should be amended to read the Greenway Centre.

The rest of the minutes were confirmed as a true record of the meeting and were signed by the Chair.

Report of the Corporate Director Commercial & Operations

In a change to the published agenda the Chair agreed to hear the item from Robin Hood Energy first.

Andy Springall, Operations Director for Robin Hood Energy gave a presentation outlining the formation of, and the first years of trading of Robin Hood Energy. The following points were highlighted:

(a)  The company was established in 2014 and was the first publicly owned Not for Profit energy company in the UK and was set up to help tackle fuel poverty in Nottingham City;

(b)  The company now serves over 115,000 customers across the UK taking in customers from an extended partnership of white label companies and other local authorities;

(c)  The Company has done much better than other “start up” energy companies and has already reached profit within the first three years. Loans from the City Council to start the company are being repaid at commercial rates;

(d)  There are a wide range of tariffs available including green energy tariffs and a reduce tariff for City residents. Average savings for City residents are around £153 compared to standard prepay tariffs;

(e)  Customers tariffs are regularly reviewed to ensure they are on the best one for them. Now that the company has reached profit it has voluntarily joined the warm home discount scheme and fuel vouchers are regularly sent to foodbanks across Nottingham City to help the most vulnerable;

Following comments and questions from the Committee the following additional information was given:

(f)  For customers on prepaid meters there is a commitment that they will not pay more for their energy than other customers;

(g)  Warm Home discounts are given to pensions and are assessed on individual basis by the Department for Work and Pensions;

RESOLVED to note thank Andy Springall for his attendance and to note the content of the presentation.

Update from Community Representatives

Community Representatives took the opportunity to update the Committee on their group’s activities since the last meeting and to raise any issues they have identified;

(a)  Sneinton Tenants Outreach Programme (STOP) informed the Committee that activities held at King Edward Park continue to be very popular. Over 1000 young people attended sessions over the summer and it has been a very good year for the park;

(b)  Prettier Whittier raised issues with the decline of the state of repair of both bridges near the Greenway Centre. Concerns were raised about overgrowth, broken glass and graffiti which has led to volunteers feeling disheartened given their recent efforts to help improve the area. It was confirmed that negotiations were taking place with Rail Track around a programme of works to improve the area;

(c)  Sneinton Tenants and Residents Association advised the Committee that community litter picks were making visual impact on the area and were well attended. All agreed that with the improvement in the way the area is looking it is likely to encourage residents to take better care of the area.

RESOLVED to thank the Community Representatives for their updates and to note their content.

Update from Inspector James Walker, Nottinghamshire Police

Inspector James Walker, Nottinghamshire Police, gave a verbal update on Policing in the Area. He highlighted the following points:

(a)  For Mapperley and St Ann’s there have been increases in the overall crime, 7% and 12% respectively. In the Dales ward crime has dropped by 3%;

(b)  There have been two significant incidents in the area since the last meeting. The first was a stabbing on Robin Hood Chase on 5^th July, 8 people have been arrested and are currently on Police bail. The second incident was a firearm being discharged in St Ann’s on 26 July. Arrests were made at the time and inquiries are ongoing;

(c)  The area retains the knife crime resources as a default resource which is shared with Radford, there will continue to be a high visible presence of officers in the area and engagement at schools and youth groups continues to be a priority for preventing further knife crime;

(d)  Dispersal orders were issued for the Manor Street area of Sneinton where Anti-Social behaviour had been causing significant problems for residents;

(e)  Burglary rates have come down by 25% in the Mapperley area following the conviction and imprisonment of one person. Theft and robbery rates remain the same across all areas;

(f)  Drug offences are up slightly but this could be attributed to the proactive approach to tackle knife crime;

(g)  Violence against the person type crimes have increased. Following an incident where someone was assaulted at their home address there was concern from residents, however Nottinghamshire Police have confirmed that this was not a random attack;

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

(h)  There are concerns about anti-social behaviour on Alison Walk and a shop that is drawing in individuals involved in anti-social behaviour. There is a similar situation with another shop in the area which is acting as a magnet for anti-social behaviour. Evidence is being gathered to consider dispersal orders or licence consequences;  

RESOLVED to thank Inspector James Walker for his update and to note its content.

Report of the Chief Executive of Nottingham City Homes

Luke Walters, Area Housing Manager for Nottingham City Home, introduced the report updating the committee on the activity of Nottingham City Homes since the last meeting. He highlighted the following information:

(a)  Work at Morley, Byron, Haywood and Keswick Courts is progressing well. Work at Haywood and Morley will be bought forward  with the aim of completing by October;

(b)  The replacement and renewal programme is continuing across properties across the wards with new bathrooms, kitchens doors and windows being installed following a survey of stock condition;

(c)  Work on the lifts at Victoria Centre is progressing well and despite  some delay the work on the roof gardens should be underway very soon. Negotiation of the work programme to repair the bin chutes has been started and the design for the sprinkler system has commenced;

(d)  Work will start soon on major improvement works to the Radbourne Road Estate which will include resurfacing work, upgrade to the planters, and works to tackle fly tipping;

(e)  Specific work programmes are taking place with vulnerable adults and care leavers to help support sustained tenancy;

RESOLVED to:

(1)  Note the update and performance information set out in appendices 1 and 2 of the published report

(2)  To note the allocation of funds for 2018/19 as below:

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

Report of the Director of Neighbourhood Services and the Corporate Director of Commercial & Operations

Martin Harris, Parks Senior Technical Officer, introduced the report on Coppice Park and other open space improvements to the Committee. During discussion he outlined that the funding would be spent on Coppice Recreation Ground specifically on improvements to Caunton Avenue Playground and assorted other schemes of improvements as previously agreed.  He advised the committee that section 106 monies had come from developments within the local area. He also confirmed that there would be applications for match funding grants for work to Coppice Park.

RESOLVED to endorse the proposals at to spend section 106 and other capital funding on parks and open spaces

Report of the Director of Community Protection

Greg Foister, Neighbourhood Development Officer, presented the report on Ward Councillor Budgets advising the Area 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 respects of projects and schemes within the Dales, Mapperley and St Ann’s wards detailed below:

Report of the Director of Community Protection

Greg Foister and Michelle Grayley, Neighbourhood Development Officers presented the Ward Performance Report updating the committee on issues facing each ward and giving details of forthcoming events. The following points were highlighted:

(a)  In the Dales Ward there has been a real focus on delivering projects, and this could not have been done without the local volunteers with schemes addressing parking, planting and speeding;

(b)  Dales Ward walks and surgeries have been moved to 5pm to allow more residents to attend;

(c)  Extensive negotiations are taking place with Railtrack to establish a programme of works on the two bridges. CCTV is in operation within the ward;

(d)  In the Mapperley ward the Brewster’s recycling centre has experienced a significant amount of fly tipping and as a result the decision has been made to close it down. The glass recycling bin will be re-sited;

(e)  Traffic and parking schemes continue to progress in the Querneby Road, Lucknow Drive, Mapperley Road and  Ransom Road areas;

(f)  The Wells Community Centre rebuild is still under discussion ad a final decision on the project will be made shortly.

(g)  In the St Ann’s Ward there are lots of upcoming events to look forward to including the Halloween Family event and King Edwards Park Firework display;

(h)  Tree works have taken place to prune or remove troublesome trees  across the ward and anti-social behaviour discussed in the item on Area Policing is being addressed;

RESOLVED to note the progress on Ward Priorities and other supporting information including the issues being addressed by each Neighbourhood Action Team, and upcoming opportunities for citizens to engage as detailed in the appendices of the published report.

Report of the Director of Community Protection

Greg Foister, Neighbourhood Development Officer, presented the report on the Area Capital Fund 2018/19 Programme providing the Committee with latest spend proposals under the Area Capital Fund including highways and footways.

RESOLVED to

(1)  Approve new schemes prioritises by Ward Councillors since the last area committee meeting as detailed below

Mapperley LTP Schemes

(2)  note the monies available to Dales, Mapperley and St Ann’s Wards for 2018/19 as detailed below:

Dales:  £11,065

Mapperley:  £53,842

St Ann’s:  £156,346

11 December 2018, 6pm at Loxley House, Station Street, Nottingham

RESOLVED to meet on 11 December 2018 at 6pm, Loxley House, Station Street, Nottingham.