Agenda and minutes

In the absence of Councillor Ottewell, Councillor Grocock, Vice-Chair, took the Chair.

Councillor Ottewell  -  personal

Councillor Norris  -  other council business

Dale Griffin  -  Neighbourhood Management

Nick Parr  -  Right Track

None.

The Committee confirmed the minutes of the meeting held on 26 November 2014 as a correct record and they were signed by the Chair presiding at the meeting.

Presentation by Martin Barradell, Community Sport Officer

Martin Barradell (Assistant Community Sport Officer) presented the report. The main points were as follows:

·  Fit in the Community is a three year sports project which is being run between Nottingham City Council and Nottingham City Homes (NCH);

·  the aim of the project is to get 5,500 social housing tenants more active. This has been broken down into 3 age groups - 14-24, 25-59 and 60+;

·  the project is looking at making sports in the community more accessible and to provide potential users with training and support;

·  NCH staff, neighbourhood police, community groups and champions all help to engage and identify potential users. The sessions which are offered are free and NCH tenants can also access volunteering opportunities in a wide range of training, including first aid, disability awareness and safeguarding;

·  to date, almost 1,000 tenants and city residents have taken part in the project;

·  the next steps are to:

-  increase participation by women and girls, linking to the ‘This Girl Can’ campaign;

-  continue to build the community workforce and to develop casual community coaches and community volunteers;

-  work with Activity Co-ordinators to develop the offer within independent living schemes;

-  continue effective working with existing partners and continue to develop relationships with new ones.

In response to questions from the committee, the following additional information was provided:

·  NCH provide the statistics, including residency details, so monitoring of where users live can be undertaken;

·  the project was trialled in Aspley and St Ann’s and work is undertaken in each ward for 4 weeks at a time. Officers are looking at extending the scheme across the whole city;

·  residents who do not live in an NCH property are also targeted by officers;

·  Community Champions are used to promote local activities and sessions and details are included in the NCH newsletter;

·  groups that already exist and meet are approached, in order for members to be signposted to relevant activities;

·  a webpage is available for ‘Fit in the Community’, through the NCH website, which allows users to find activities local to them;

·  TV adverts are helping to promote sports. However, advertising needs to be incorporated on a local level and it needs to be relevant for the audience it is aimed at.

RESOLVED

(1)  to note the report and thank Mr Barradell for the informative presentation;

(2)  that the Neighbourhood Development Officer convene a meeting, between ward Councillors, NDOs and Mr Barradell, to discuss local requirements from the project for Area 2.

Presentation by Nick Parr, Right Track, and Danny Goodwin, Employment and Skills Officer

The report was presented by Danny Goodwin, Employment and Skills Officer. The main points were as follows:

·  Nottingham City Council is committed to reducing unemployment and Right Track is funded to co-ordinate employment and skills activity in Area 2 Wards. They engage with the local community to attempt to remove barriers which are causing unemployment;

·  there are 5 key priorities:

-  increase the employment rate of the working age population;

-  increase the number of adults with Level 2 Skills;

-  lead and deliver a community coordination strategy for employment and training;

-  incorporate financial inclusion, benefit and debt advice in provision;

-  deliver a programme of community recruitment and information events;

·  Right Track work with partners to engage those in the community who are the hardest to reach. They work on 3 key areas - work ethics, English and maths skills and work experience;

·  although Area 2 has a diverse range of residents and is one of the most deprived areas in the city, since the start of the programme, those claiming Job Seeker’s Allowance has fallen from December 2013: Basford – 605, Bestwood – 815 to December 2014: Basford – 435, Bestwood - 590;

·  work is ongoing with local schools to ensure that support is being offered to young people and that employability is on the school’s agenda;

·  help is being provided to local smaller communities (such as to the Kurdish community in Area 5) to assist in increasing their employability.

RESOLVED to note the actions in the plan and thank Mr Goodwin for the informative presentation.

Inspector Woolley to report

RESOLVED to note the update, provided by Inspector Woolley, on crime statistics and police actions for the Basford and Bestwood wards.

Lynn Standen to report

The Committee received an update from Lynn Standen, Nottingham City Homes (NCH), detailing the latest position in relation to work undertaken by NCH as follows:

·  the Decent Homes Standard;

·  door and slate roof replacement programmes;

·  houses in multiple occupation (HIMO) refurbishment;

·  Equalities Act 2010 works (covering works to 60 Independent Living Schemes throughout the City);

·  ongoing works at Cadlan Court and Valley Farm Court, Top Valley, and Carnforth Court, Bestwood Park;

·  the planned fencing and guttering programme for Basford (January 2015) and Bestwood (February 2015);

·  infill developments to be built by NCH on Trinstead Way, following demolition of the site (anticipated start is Spring 2015).

Ms Standen also informed the Committee of the following:

·  the key messages from the Tenant and Leasehold Congress;

·  Tenant and Residents Associations updates;

·  Area performance figures;

·  ‘good news’ stories and positive publicity.

RESOLVED

(1)  that the thanks of the Committee to Ms Standen for the update be recorded and that the latest position, as detailed in the report, was noted;

(2)  that Ms Standen be requested to inform ward Councillors of the start date for the work on Trinstead Way.

Note:  Subsequent to the meeting, in response to a request from the Committee, the following information was received:

  Voids

  Currently, there are 12 lettable voids in the Basford Ward and 20 in the Bestwood Ward, and these are at various stages of the voids process. The majority are recent voids, with the only ones having lower demand being as follows:

  Basford Ward

  5 are Independent Living at Kersall Court, Fenton Court and Kibworth Court. The remaining 7 are general needs, with 6 houses and 1 flat.

  Bestwood Ward

  11 are Independent Living at Townsend Court, The Cornfields, Cadlan Court and Masson Court. An Open Day is taking place at Townsend Court on 21 March 2015, with a view to increasing demand, and this is complimented by recent works at the complex through the ‘Grander Designs’ project. The remaining 9 are general needs with 1 house and 8 flats.

  With regard to vacant ex-warden accommodation, these properties are assessed individually to ensure that those moving in will fit in well with the current tenants. At present, work is underway to look at options for The Cornfields, Townsend Court and Carnforth Court.

  Drying Areas

  There is currently only Hazel Hill Crescent drying area for repair in Area 2. If there are any others that Councillors would like adding to the list, please contact Lee Hall, Surveying Technician, Nottingham City Homes.

Gursharan Nijran, Neighbourhood Development Officer, presented a report of the Director of Neighbourhood Services, which provided an update on key issues and themes in the wards, linked to local priorities and strategic themes in the Nottingham Plan 2020. The report provides summary updates on the following key themes:

·  Ward priorities;

·  Community engagement;

·  Finance;

·  Safer Nottingham - crime and anti-social behaviour;

·  Neighbourhood Nottingham – cleansing and Environmental issues;

·  Working Nottingham - unemployment rates;

·  Healthy Nottingham – local health priorities;

·  Housing;

·  Community Protection;

·  Fire.

RESOLVED to note the latest position in regard to ward performance against local priorities and strategic themes of the Nottingham Plan 2020.

Gursharan Nijran, Neighbourhood Development Officer, presented a revised report of the Director of Neighbourhood Services, copies of which were placed around the table, which provided an update on the latest spend proposals under the Area Capital Fund 2013-15, including highways and footways.

RESOLVED to approve the following Area Capital fund schemes, and to note the remaining available funds for Basford (£664) and Bestwood (£31,182):

Reports of Director of Neighbourhood Services

Gursharan Nijran, Neighbourhood Development Officer, presented a report of the Director of Neighbourhood Services, detailing completed and ongoing projects and schemes in the Basford and Bestwood areas funded from Councillors’ individual delegated ward allocations.

RESOLVED to note the projects and schemes funded from ward Councillor delegated budgets, and the latest funding position, as follows: