Agenda for Basford and Bestwood Area Committee on Wednesday, 24th June, 2015, 4.30 pm

Agenda and minutes

Venue: LB 41 - Loxley House, Station Street, Nottingham, NG2 3NG. View directions

Contact: Mark Leavesley  Governance Officer

Items
No. Item

1.

Appointment of Chair

Minutes:

RESOLVED to appoint Councillor Mick Wildgust as Chair of the Committee for the 2015/16 municipal year.

2.

Appointment of Vice-Chair

Minutes:

RESOLVED to appoint Councillor Brian Grocock as Vice Chair to the Committee for the 2015/16 municipal year.

3.

Apologies for Absence

Minutes:

Councillor Cat Arnold (other Council business)

Dale Griffin – Neighbourhood Management

Heidi May – Locality Manager

Tarquin Weaver, CBF Gymnasium

4.

Declarations of Interests

If you need advice on declaring an interest, please contact the Governance Officer above, if possible before the day of the meeting

Minutes:

None.

5.

Minutes pdf icon PDF 227 KB

Last meeting held on 25 February 2015 (for confirmation)

Minutes:

The Committee confirmed the minutes of the meeting held on 25 February 2015 as a correct record and they were signed by the Chair.

6.

Henry Mellish Sport Centre - Management update

Presentation by Tarquin Weaver, CBF Gymnasium

Minutes:

RESOLVED to consider this item at the Committee’s September 2015 meeting.

7.

Ward Councillor delegated authority spend pdf icon PDF 142 KB

Report of Director of Neighbourhood Services

Minutes:

GursharanNijran, Neighbourhood Development Officer, presented a report of the Strategic Director for Commercial and Neighbourhood Services, detailing completed and ongoing projects and schemes in the Basford and Bestwood areas funded from Councillors’ individual delegated ward allocations, and highlighting allocations for 2015/16.

 

RESOLVED

 

(1)  to note the projects and schemes funded from ward Councillor delegated budgets since the last meeting, and the latest funding position, as follows:

 

Basford Ward

?   

(£)

 

 

 

Area 2 Christmas Events

-

500

Basford Schools Book Vouchers

-

5,283

Knit and Knatter

-

200

Brooklyn Park Development

-

5,000

Highbury Vale Summer Fun Day

-

650

 

 

 

Balance brought forward 2013/14

-

16,435

Allocation 2014/15

-

15,000

Total available 2014/15

-

31,435

Total allocated (at 31/03/15)

-

30,855

Total available (at 31/03/15)

-

580

 

 

 

Bestwood Ward

 

 

 

 

 

African Women Empowerment Forum (AWEF)

-

1,475

Crime Prevention Equipment

-

6,000

Christmas Maintenance Budget

-

5,000

Bestwood Estate Community Centre Equipment

-

590

Money Box Pilot

-

1,000

Bestwood Estate Knit and Knatter

-

200

Bestwood Park Community Centre Equipment

-

1,000

Ridge Adventure Playground 5 year Celebration

-

200

Leen Valley Community Centre events

-

1,100

 

 

 

Balance Brought forward 2013/14

-

24,627

Allocation 2014/15

-

15,000

Deprivation award (IMD) 2014/15

-

14,154

Total Available 2014/15

-

53,781

Total de-committed

-

14,000

Total allocated (at 31/03/15)

-

49,315

Total available (at 31/03/15)

-

18,466

 

 

 

(2)  To note that the allocation for each ward councillor in 2015/16 is £5,000.

8.

Area Capital Fund 2015-16 pdf icon PDF 175 KB

Report of Director of Neighbourhood Services

Minutes:

GursharanNijran, Neighbourhood Development Officer, presented a revised report of the Strategic Director for Commercial and 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.

 

Mr Singh highlighted an additional scheme not in the report and requiring approval, asterisked below.

 

RESOLVED to approve the following Area Capital fund schemes, and to note the remaining available funds for Basford (£101,264) and Bestwood (£27,285):

 

Location

 

Scheme

 

Cost (£)

 

 

 

 

 

Basford

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basford Ward Trees

-

Tree work (felling, replanting)

-

5,000

*Park Lane

-

Improvements outside Southwark Primary School

-

3,000

 

 

 

 

 

Bestwood

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bestwood street name plates

-

signage

-

1,364

Bestwood Park Drive 1

-

footpaths

-

45,818

Pedmore Valley

-

footpaths

-

15,565

Bestwood Ward Trees

-

Tree Felling,replanting

-

5,000

Leybourne Drive

-

Area Improvement

-

50,000

Eden Glade

-

Area Improvement

-

12,000

 

 

9.

Environmental Schemes - Nottingham City Homes pdf icon PDF 206 KB

Report of Chief Executive, NCH

Minutes:

Lynn Standen, Tenancy and Estate Manager, introduced the report of the Chief Executive, Nottingham City Homes, requesting approval for 3 environmental schemes.

 

A councillor highlighted the point that old, established posts and railings in Bestwood Park had never been painted despite assurances that this would take place.

 

Mr Singh confirmed that LTP funds had been approved for 30 metres of fencing at Bradwell Drive, and that the brief for commencement will be issued.

 

RESOLVED to approve the following Nottingham City Homes Environmental Schemes:

 

Basford

 

Toton Close ‘Grander Design’ Transformational Work - £65,000

 

Bestwood

 

Raymede Drive Phase 2 ‘Grander Design’ Fencing Programme - £25,825.19

 

Leybourne Drive ‘Grander Design’ Fencing Programme - £50,000

 

 

 

10.

Nottinghamshire Police - update pdf icon PDF 151 KB

Inspector Woolley to report

Minutes:

Inspector Woolley gave an update on crime and anti-social behaviour in Basford and Bestwood wards up to 31 March 2015. The key issues highlighted are:

 

Basford

 

(a)  Most crime categories have seen reductions, except for theft-related crimes. Anti-social behaviour levels are also down on the previous quarter;

 

(b)  The Neighbourhood Police Team has undertaken extensive work on domestic burglary and burglary other (sheds/garages). The new Community Priority is Brooklyn Road and Heathfield Road areas for nuisance vehicles and anti-social behaviour;

 

(c)  A prolific and persistent offender (burglar) has been given a 3-year sentence.

 

Bestwood

 

(d)  There have been reductions in most crime and anti-social behaviour categories except theft-related offences, vehicle crime, violence and sexual offences;

 

(e)  Neighbourhood Police Team activity has focussed on criminal damage and violence-related offences. Perpetrators of criminal damage have been identified and dealth with;

 

(f)  The new Community Priority is Kyle View and surrounding area for anti-social behaviour and drug-related misuse issues.

 

Councillors noted and welcomed the increased reporting of domestic violence. Inspector Woolley also highlighted the difficulty in dealing with cybercrime – identifying victims, identifying where crimes take place (location of perpetrator or victim) and making judgement call whether to prosecute for low-level crime.

 

RESOLVED to note the update.

11.

Nottingham City Homes Area Performance pdf icon PDF 215 KB

Report of Chief Executive, NCH

Minutes:

Lynn Standen, Tenancy and Estate Manager, introduced the report of the Chief Executive, Nottingham City Homes, providing updates on key issues and themes linking back to local priorities and the strategic themes for Nottingham City Homes.

 

The following issues were raised during discussion and in response to councillor questions:

 

(a)  The Decent Homes team manage the process of replacing doors, windows and other fittings, and keep a database of the age and condition of fittings. However, there can be complications when tenants refuse upgrades, or do not respond to team requests for information;

 

(b)  There has been a Day of Action in Leen Valley, focussing on flytipping, repairs and deep cleansing;

 

(c)  There is a recharge for the replacement of fittings deemed to be as a result of malicious damage, and these are reported to the Patch Manager. However, a balance needs striking when dealing with vulnerable tenants;

 

(d)  There can be issues where external contractors delivering work do not follow the correct process, and concerns can be raised via the Decent Homes hotline;

 

(e)  NCH colleagues remind tenants with untidy gardens of their responsibility to maintain them, and if an informal approach is not effective then action can be escalated through a formal letter, loss of £100 good tenancy incentive and final warning/Court action. If due process is not followed, prosecutions/evictions will not be successful;

 

(f)  Ms Standen suggested carrying out a walk/inspection of green areas of concern to councillors in Top Valley, where inconsiderate parking was causing damage.

 

RESOLVED to note the report and discussion.

12.

Right Track: Annual Report 2014-15 pdf icon PDF 519 KB

Report of Head of Employability and Communities

Minutes:

RESOLVED to consider this item at the Committee’s September 2015 meeting.

13.

Ward Performance: January - March 2015 pdf icon PDF 563 KB

Report of Director of Neighbourhood Services

Minutes:

GursharanNijran, Neighbourhood Development Officer, presented a report of the Strategic Director of Commercial and 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.

 

Councillors noted the update and welcomed the high score for cleanliness in both wards.

 

A councillor highlighted the problem of flytipping on vacant land, and it was pointed out that there is an issue with dumping by those from outside the City boundary. Mr Singh confirmed that there is a need to find a more permanent solution to the issue, including working with landowners and communications with citizens.

 

Problem parking around David Lane was highlighted as an issue that may require multi-agency work to resolve.

 

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

 

14.

Future meeting dates

To confirm the following proposed meeting dates (4.30pm, Wednesdays):

 

30 September 2015

25 November 2015

24 February 2016

Minutes:

RESOLVED to meet at 4.30pm on the following Wednesdays:

 

2015  2016

 

30 September  24 February

25 November