Agenda for Bulwell and Bulwell Forest Area Committee on Wednesday, 22nd February, 2017, 5.30 pm

Agenda and minutes

Venue: Bulwell Riverside, Main Street Bulwell, Nottingham NG6 8QJ

Contact: Catherine Ziane-Pryor  Email: catherine.pryor@nottinghamcity.gov.uk

Items
No. Item

45.

APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

Minutes:

Councillor Alan Clark – personal

Councillor Jackie Morris - personal

Councillor Nick McDonald – other Council business

Doreen Carruthers

Reg Knowles

Colin Bones

 

46.

DECLARATIONS OF INTERESTS

Minutes:

None.

47.

MINUTES pdf icon PDF 306 KB

Of the meeting held on 30 November 2016 (for confirmation)

Minutes:

The minutes of the meeting held on 30 November 2016, were confirmed as a true record and signed by the Chair.

48.

POLICE UPDATE

Locally based Nottinghamshire Police Officers to provide a verbal update.

Minutes:

Nottinghamshire Police Inspector Christine Busuttil verbally updated the Committee with the crime statistics for the Area compared to the same period last year. It is noted that following a national audit, the way in which crimes are recorded has changed with incidents being classed as a crime when reported and prior to confirmation that a crime has been committed. This recording method may provide initially high crime figures when compared against the same period last year.

 

The following points were highlighted with regard to Bulwell:

 

(a)  overall crime was up by 12.7% but this is a reflection on the reporting changes;

 

(b)  theft is up by 72 incidents which includes a spate of vehicle number plate thefts. Citizens are advised to use anti-theft screws on their number plates;

 

(c)  there were 95 additional crimes recorded against society, including shop theft;

 

(d)  drug related offences have risen;

 

(e)  there were 27 reports of domestic violence;

 

(f)  anti-social behaviour has risen to 384 reported incidents. 

 

(g)  2 criminals have been caught, arrested.

 

The following points were highlighted with regard to Bulwell Forest:

 

(h)  110 more incidents were reported but this now includes threats, and social media abuse;

 

(i)  there were 49 more thefts recorded, including number plates and 33 reported shop thefts.

 

Neighbourhood Development Officers reported a telephone scam where callers claimed to be calling from Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC), and stated that if money owing to HMRC was not paid within the next half an hour, the citizen would be arrested. Calls had been reported to the Police number 101, along with the originating telephone number.

 

Inspector Christine Busuttil encouraged all citizens to report such calls and letters to the Police. Whilst community representatives suggested that warnings are included on the local Police social media page, it was noted that too much information was off putting to social media followers. It was often hard to get the message across to the most vulnerable citizens who don’t necessarily access such sites.

 

RESOLVED to record the Committee’s thanks to Police Inspector Christine Busuttil for her attendance and update.

49.

PROPOSAL FOR A SCHEME OF SELECTIVE LICENSING FOR PRIVATELY RENTED HOUSES pdf icon PDF 149 KB

Joint report of Corporate Directors of Development and Growth, and Commercial and Operations

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Lisa Ball, Strategic Planning and Performance Consultant, delivered a presentation to accompany the joint report of the Corporate Directors of Development and Growth, and Commercial and Operations, on a proposal to introduce a scheme of selective licensing for privately rented houses within the City to meet the commitment for quality housing for all.

 

The aim of the scheme is to ensure that privately rented accommodation meets a minimum standard and to reduce anti-social behaviour. The City Council’s Executive Board have approved that public consultation is undertaken between January 16 and 31 March 2017, the outcome of which will determine if the scheme will be submitted to the Secretary of State for final approval.

 

The full consultation document can be found here: http://www.nottinghamcity.gov.uk/consultation-engagement-and-surveys/#housing

 

The following points were highlighted and questions responded to:

 

(a)  there will be a charge of £600 every five years to private rented landlords, reduced to £460 for accredited landlords. This will contribute to the cost of operating the scheme and will be used to support the aims of the scheme;

 

(b)  if implemented, the scheme will operate alongside existing housing schemes such as that for Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs);

 

(c)  although some wards within the City have relatively few private rented properties, such as Bulwell Forest, the whole City will be included within the scheme to ensure coherence;

 

(d)  the proposed licensing scheme is part of an overall housing strategy which also includes a homelessness strategy. Homelessness organisations including the City Council Homelessness Team and Framework have been invited to take part in the consultation;

 

(e)  in addition to ensuring that landlords are fully informed and aware of any new and emerging legislation, if landlords are having problems with tenants, the scheme will provide advice, support and training, support and advice will also be available for tenants having problems with their landlords;

 

(f)  if agreed, the scheme will become compulsory and all private rented landlords who are not included in any other schemes, such as HMO’s, will need to apply for a licence or be fined;

 

(g)  if the standards of the scheme are not complied to, enforcement action will be taken;

 

(h)  if agreed, the scheme could be in place by Spring 2018;

 

(i)  details of how the accreditation panels will assess landlords are within the consultation document;

 

(j)  random checks will be undertaken by Environmental Health colleagues on a variety of properties to ensure eligible landlords are registered;

 

(k)  there are several similar schemes already operating throughout the country, but if agreed, few will be as large as the Nottingham model.

 

Whilst the proposed Licensing scheme is generally welcomed as necessary to improve housing standards across the City, concern was expressed by a minority that it is unfair to penalise existing good landlords.

 

RESOLVED

 

(1)  to note the proposed scheme and consultation process detailed within the report;

 

(2)  to encourage partner to actively contribute to the consultation process.

 

50.

NOTTINGHAM GETS 2 WORK pdf icon PDF 459 KB

Presentation from Gina Law of Ride-Wise

Minutes:

Gina Law, of Ridewise, delivered a presentation on the ‘Nottingham Gets 2 Work’ travel scheme which focuses on promoting sustainable travel and helping young people between the ages of 16 and 29 years old, overcome travel barriers to work, education or training.

 

The following points were highlighted:

 

(a)  there is a requirement that the referral to the scheme is received prior to starting work or training;

 

(b)  since the launch of the scheme in July 2016, travel passes have been issued to 432 young people across the City, 54 of whom are from the Bulwell and Bulwell Forest Area;

 

(c)  free bicycles have been made available to 33 young people attending training courses and new jobs through the ‘build a bike’ project;

 

(d)  Dr Bike and bicycle maintenance sessions have helped bike owners fix and maintain their own cycles;

 

(e)  travel support and advice, including more details on the above projects,  is available at Bulwell Riverside on Mondays between 10am and 1pm, with further information available by contacting ‘www.NottmGets2Work.org.uk’ or by telephoning Gina Law on 0115 8833732.

 

RESOLVED to note the presentation and record the thanks of the Committee to Gina Law for her attendance.

 

51.

RIGHT TRACK SOCIAL ENTERPRISE - LEAD ORGANISATION UPDATE

Nick Parr to provide a verbal update.

Minutes:

Nick Parr, Step into work Community Manager of Right Track, delivered a presentation on the work and progress of Right Track as the Lead Organisation and was accompanied by Steve Parkinson of Bulwell Toy Library who updated the Committee on work with Community Centres.

 

The presentation, which will be circulated with the initial publication of the minutes, focusing on the following topics:

 

(i)  Area Employment and Skills Partnership activity and achievements;

(ii)  Employability Update;

(iii)  Community Centre Update, activity and progress;

(iv)  Children and Young People engagement

 

Questions from the Committee were responded to as follows:

 

(a)  events and activities for young people are open access but young people do need to register to be able to take part, and be of the relevant age range. The number of young people involved is only limited by the size of the venue;

 

(b)  it may be possible to link with NCH priority families Team but it should be noted that funding for special needs is no longer available;

 

(c)  every effort is made to ensure that regular activity sessions are held at recognised venues on regular days to ensure consistency. Some activities are part of a quarterly trial to gauge interest and take-up. This includes the sessions which were held at Top Valley which will soon be moving to Rise Park.

 

Members of the Committee welcomed the positive work and achievements of Right Track.

 

Concern was expressed that there is a small residential pocket in Southglade where residents, mainly young people with young families, who don’t receive much information on what’s available in the area. This needs to be addressed.

 

RESOLVED to note the update and thank Nick and Steve for their attendance.

 

52.

BULWELL RIVERSIDE AND SOUTHGLADE LIBRARIES - UPDATE TO OPENING HOURS pdf icon PDF 337 KB

Report of Director of Sport and Leisure

 

Minutes:

Lucy Batten, Library Operations Manager North, presented the report of the Director of Sport and Leisure which informs the Committee of the revised opening hours for Southglade and Bulwell Riverside Libraries.

 

Consultation of service users and citizens had taken place on the proposal for opening times of Joint Service Centres across the City to be aligned.

 

There have been issues of antisocial behaviour in the evenings at Bulwell Riverside Library which did deter some of the late users. These changes to opening hours will negate this problem.

 

The proposals to reduce library hours are supported by the Committee and the changes will be implemented as of 1 April 2017.

 

RESOLVED to note the following change to opening hours, in line with the results of public consultation and phase two of the library transformation programme:

 

Bulwell Riverside Library:

 

  • current hours 8am till 8pm Mon-Fri and 8am till 4pm Sat

 

  • proposed 8.30am till 6.30pm Mon-Fri and 9am till 1pm Sat

 

Southglade Library:

 

  • current hours 9.30am till 5.30pm Mon, Tues, Thurs. Closed Wednesday, Friday 1pm till 6pm, Saturday 9.30am till 4pm

 

  • proposed hours 9am till 6pm Mon, Wed, Thurs, Closed Tuesday, Friday and Saturday 9am till 1pm.

 

53.

NOTTINGHAM CITY HOMES (NCH): PERFORMANCE AND ENGAGEMENT UPDATES AND PROPOSED ENVIRONMENTAL SCHEMES pdf icon PDF 226 KB

Report of the Chief Executive of Nottingham City Homes

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Elira Mano, Nottingham City Homes Area Housing Manager, presented the report of the Chief Executive of Nottingham City Homes, which updates the Committee with a list of community activity in the area including NCH involvement with community groups, an overall performance report and a request approval for an environmental scheme.

 

It is noted that no Area Capital Programme funding is requested at this time for Bulwell Ward.

 

There is to be a new Housing Patch Manager who will replace a colleague who is moving to a different patch within the City. Although there has been a short period of stability, Members of the Committee were concerned at the break in consistency and local knowledge.

 

It was noted that across the City there had been 76 evictions so far this year, which was a decrease compared to a total of 83 evictions to the same period last year. This slight reduction is attributed to increased tenancy sustainability work.

 

The legislative changes to universal credits, particularly the new arrangements for under 22 year olds and the benefits cap, are likely to impact on a significant number of tenants but support and guidance will be in place to help affected tenants.

 

RESOLVED

 

(1)  to note the update and performance information in Appendices 1 and 2 to the report;

 

(2)  to note the remaining funds for 2016/17 as follows:

 

Ward

Actual Budget (including carry over from 2015/16)

Schemes Approved

Schemes Committed

Remaining Budget

Bulwell

£186,832.39

£85,983.00

£85,983.00

£100,849.39

Bulwell Forest 

£51,086.58

£2,168.00

£2,168.00

£47,518.58

 

(3)  to approve the following Bulwell Forest Area Capital Programme funding requests:

 

Address

Request

Reason

Cost

Deptford Crescent

Number stickers for bins

Reduce the risk of bin theft and tidy up the estate.

£1,600.00

Deptford Crescent

Removal of bollards and install knee rail fencing

Prevent vehicles driving over the grass and churning up the green space.

£4,425.00

 

54.

BULWELL AND BULWELL FOREST WARD REPORTS pdf icon PDF 245 KB

Report of the Director of Neighbourhood Services

Minutes:

Suki Shergill and Celia Knight, Neighbourhood Development Officers for Bulwell and Bulwell Forest Wards respectively, presented the report which outlines the current ward priorities and issues within the wards and identifies the lead organisation or City Council Department for addressing those issues.

 

RESOLVED to note:

 

(i)  the current ward priorities for Bulwell Ward as follows;

 

(i)  Safer Nottingham

anti-social behaviour and criminal damage

  White Ribbon Campaign

 

(ii)  Neighbourhood Nottingham

dog fouling/fly tipping reduction

 

(iii)  Families Nottingham

Small Steps Big Changes

school readiness

 

(iv)  Health Nottingham

  healthy eating in schools

  information/awareness to reduce bowel and lung cancer

 

(v)  Working Nottingham

maximising employment opportunities for local people

 

(b)  the current ward priorities for Bulwell Forest  Ward as follows;

 

(i)  Safer Nottingham

anti-social behaviour and criminal damage

criminal damage  on Bulwell Forest Community Garden

 

(ii)  Neighbourhood Nottingham

increased tenant/resident engagement particularly around   the Deptford Crescent neighbourhood area

management of vacant sites

development of Parks and Open Spaces

dog fouling

tree planting

 

(iii)  Health Nottingham

promotion of energy advice

provision of support to carers

 

(iv)  Working Nottingham

increase access to awareness about training and employment opportunities.

 

(c)  the current ward issues as follows:

 

(i)  Bulwell Ward

town centre upgrade and development

implementing parking schemes

reducing anti-social behaviour;

 

(ii)  Bulwell Forest Ward

nuisance bikes

management of derelict sites

  vandalism on Bulwell Forest Community Garden

 

(d)  the forthcoming community and partner events and engagement  listed in Appendix 3 to the report.

 

55.

AREA COMMITTEE WARD PRIORITIES ACTION PLAN pdf icon PDF 236 KB

Report of Director of Neighbourhood Services

Minutes:

Suki Shergill and Celia Knight, Neighbourhood Development Officers for Bulwell and Bulwell Forest Wards respectively, presented the report which identifies the Ward Priorities and actions to address those priorities.

 

The headline priorities are:

 

(i)  Employment and Employability;

(ii)  Health and Wellbeing;

(iii)Crime and Antisocial Behaviour.

 

RESOLVED to note the Ward priorities and progress of actions to address and/or promote those actions.

 

56.

BULWELL AND BULWELL FOREST DELEGATED AUTHORITY AND FINANCE UPDATE pdf icon PDF 223 KB

Report of Director of Neighbourhood Services

Minutes:

Neighbourhood Development Officers Suki Shergill and Celia Knight presented the report which informs the Committee of the financial position of Ward Member Budgets and the actions agreed by the Director of Neighbourhood Services as a result of Ward Member funding requests.

 

It is noted that further schemes and events have received Councillor support in principal but that the formal approval process is yet to be completed.

 

RESOLVED to note:

 

(a)  the Ward Councillor budget position for Bulwell Ward Councillors:

 

Balance Brought Forward 15/16

£11026

Councillor funding 16/17

£15,000

Total finds 16/17

£26,026

De-committed schemes 16/17

0

Allocated 16/17

£6552

Uncommitted Funds after allocated schemes

£19,474

 

(b)  the following Bulwell Ward Councillor Budget allocations:

Councillor(s)

Amount

Crabtree Community Centre Christmas Event

Hartshorne, Klein & Morris

£1000

Crabtree Community Centre Fridge/Cooker

Hartshorne, Klein & Morris

£900

Toy Library children’s event

Morris

£162

 

(c)  the Ward Councillor budget position for Bulwell Forest Ward Councillors:

 

Balance Brought Forward 15/16

£1,517

Councillor funding 16/17

£15,000

Total funds 16/17

£16,517

De-committed schemes 16/17

0

Allocated 16/17

£13,300

Uncommitted Funds after allocated schemes

£3,217

 

(d)  the following Bulwell Forest Ward Councillor Budget allocations:

 

Schemes: Bulwell Forest Ward

Councillor(s)

Amount

Think Children

Campbell, Clark, McDonald

£466

Top Valley Academy - Outward Bound

Campbell, Clark, McDonald

£600

Aspire Learning Partnership

Campbell, Clark, McDonald

£1125

 

57.

BULWELL AND BULWELL FOREST AREA CAPITAL pdf icon PDF 382 KB

Report of Director of Neighbourhood Services

Minutes:

Neighbourhood Development Officers Celia Knight and Suki Shergill, introduced the Area Capital Report which proposes Area Capital and Public Realm (Local Transport Plan –LTP) funded schemes within each ward.

 

It is noted that no new Local Transport Plan schemes nor Public Realm Schemes are proposed for Bulwell Forest Ward at this time and that neither Ward has further ‘de-committed’ any allocated funds.

 

RESOLVED

 

(1)  to approve the following Bulwell LTP Schemes:

 

 

 

Location

Estimate

Details

Hoewood Road

£294

Resurface of footpath from outside the school to Ravensworth Road (LTP contribution)

Steadfold Close

£15,190

Resurface of footpaths on Steadfold Close

Quarry Avenue

£6,235

Surface treatment of footpaths on Quarry Avenue

Northall Avenue

£5,001

Surface treatment of footpaths on Northall Avenue

Bromley Close

£1,499

Surface treatment of footpaths on Bromley Close

 

(2)  to approve the following Bulwell Public Realm schemes:

 

Location

Estimate

Details

Hoewood Road

£110,333

Resurface of footpath from outside the school to Ravensworth Road (PR contribution)

 

(3)  to note the following Bulwell Ward financial position:

 

2016 - 2017 LTP allocation

£85,600

LTP carried forward from 2015 - 2016

£0

2016 - 2017 Public Realm allocation

£51,300

Public Realm carried forward from 2015 - 2016

£70,953

Total Available 2016 - 2017 ACF

£207,853

Less LTP schemes

-

£75,719

Less Public Realm schemes

-

£122,253

De-committed funds

+

£0

Remaining available balance

£9,881

LTP element remaining

£9,881

Public Realm element remaining

£0

 

(4)  to note the following Bulwell Forest Ward financial position:

 

2016 - 2017 LTP allocation

£48,300

LTP carried forward from 2015 - 2016

£0

2016 - 2017 Public Realm allocation

£29,000

Public Realm carried forward from 2015 - 2016

£7,523

Total Available 2016 - 2017 ACF

£84,823

Less LTP schemes

-

£48,300

Less Public Realm schemes

-

£26,746

De-committed funds

+

£13,646

Remaining available balance

£23,423

LTP element remaining

£9,196

Public Realm element remaining

£14,227

 

58.

ITEMS FOR FUTURE AGENDA

The opportunity for Community Representatives to suggest future agenda items.

 

Minutes:

This is an opportunity for Community Representatives to suggest future agenda items for consideration by the Committee. Any suggestions needed to be presented at least six weeks before the meeting date to either:

 

Suki Shergill, Neighbourhood Development Officer for Bulwell Ward,

Sukhbir.shergill@nottinghamcity.gov.uk 0115 8833728  or

 

Celia Knight, Neighbourhood Development Officer for Bulwell Forest Ward,

Celia.knight@nottinghamcity.gov.uk  0115 8833729

 

Community representatives raised concerns at the speed of some vehicles using Hucknall Lane and Rise Park Road, but as this topic is already being investigated by Highway Team colleagues, it is not currently proposed as a future agenda item at this time.

 

59.

FORTHCOMING EVENTS

An opportunity for Community Group Representatives and City Council

Colleagues to highlight forthcoming events and activities.

Minutes:

Jobs Fair 3 March 2017 9.30am -2.30pm at Bulwell Riverside.

 

Community Film Project 3 March 2017 at 6.30pm ‘Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children’ and 21 March at 2pm ‘I am Bolt’. Tickets will be £1 and screenings will take place at St John’s Church Bulwell.

 

The date of the next Area Committee Meeting is proposed for 7 June 2017 at 5.30pm at Bulwell Riverside.

 

60.

RIGHT TRACK UPDATE pdf icon PDF 256 KB