RESOLVED for Councillor Eunice Campbell-Clark to be appointed Chair for the 2018/19 municipal year.

RESOLVED for Councillor Jackie Morris and Councillor Cheryl Barnard to be appointed joint Vice-Chairs for the 2018/19 municipal year.

The Chair of the meeting was of the opinion that this item, although not included on the agenda, should be considered as a matter of urgency in accordance with Section 100B(4)(b) of the Local Government Act 1972, in view of the special circumstances that the Internationally recognised award was specifically relevant to an officer working with the community in the Area covered by this Committee.

It was with great pleasure that the Chair informed the Committee that Neighbourhood Development Officer Celia Knight has been awarded an MBE (Member of the British Empire) in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List for championing local communities for more than 40 years. The Committee congratulated Celia on the well-deserved award.

Councillor Nick McDonald – personal

Doreen Carruthers

Gillian Slack

Ros Yousouf (Judith Traynor substituting)

None.

Of the meeting held on 28 February 2018 (for confirmation)

The minutes of the meeting held on 28 February 2018 were confirmed as a true record and signed by the Chair.

Report of the Director of Community Protection

Celia Knight, Neighbourhood Development Officer, presented the report which set out the role and requirements of community representatives and listed group nominations which have already been approved by Councillors.

The Chair welcomed community representatives and emphasised that it was not appropriate for casework to be raised as an issue in the public meeting, but that individual issues can be raised separately with ward councillors and Nottingham City Homes officers, who will be pleased to assist.

RESOLVED to note the following appointment of Community representatives for the 2018/19 municipal year:

Bulwell Ward

Bulwell Forest Ward

Verbal update of crime statistics and Policing issues in the Area.

Sergeant Nev McGeehan provided a verbal update on crime statistics across the Area compared to the same period (1 April to 26 June) last year.

The following points were highlighted and it noted that some rises in crime figures were as a result of changes in the way crime is recorded:

(a)  the number of total crimes reported was up by 27.6% from 835 to 1,066;

(b)  victim based crime has increased by 24.46% from 744 incidents to 926 incidents, but now includes threats and harassment;

(c)  robberies increased from 12 to 13;

(d)  burglaries have reduced significantly from 83 to 46, which is a drop of 44.55%;

(e)  vehicle offenses were down by 10 from 53 to 43;

(f)  shop lifting has risen significantly from 99 to 155. However, this may partly be due to 5 days of proactive action in Bulwell town centre to target repeat offenders, when shops were more likely to report incidents to Police knowing that officers were nearby. Efforts are being made to try and prevent known repeat offenders from legally entering the Town Centre area by issuing them with restriction orders;

(g)  arson has increased by 7 offences to 12 and with the current hot and dry weather, it is anticipated that this trend will continue. However, a prolific offender has been caught and charged with several offences across the City;

(h)  cycle thefts have increased from 9 to 17;

(i)  hate crime has increased from 17 to 24 but is mostly connected to neighbour disputes and between patients and staff at Highbury Hospital, so there is no significant cause for concern.

Questions from the Committee were responded to as follows:

(j)  with regard to the request for a Police or Police Community Support Officer (PCSO) presence in Bulwell Market Place during Market days to reassure citizens and pick up incidents, the numbers of Officers available has been significantly reduced by more than half during the past few years. As such the capacity does not exist to regularly support this request, even with Community Protection Officers (CPOs). The recent Police recruitment drive will increase overall numbers but by the nature of the job, PCSOs often apply to the Police, which leaves vacancies in their roles;

(k)  the significant rise in crimes against people rather than objects and reduction in Policing numbers has been considered at a national level by the Crime Recoding Team and no direct correlation found. However, the changes in the way that crimes are recorded has had an impact on the figures which cannot easily be considered like-for-like when verbal abuse and threats are counted as assault or public order offences;

(l)  several alternative funding sources for the Police have been investigated but so far found to be inappropriate or unworkable. In some other Forces, sponsorship of vehicles and resources has been considered but there is a concern that where sponsorship is received, there may be a perception that the Police are beholding to sponsors and no longer wholly independent.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8.

Verbal Presentation

Barbara Bates from the Bulwell Forest Community Garden provided a verbal report on the garden which was accompanied by a slide show of photographs of the volunteers, achievements, activities undertaken and produce.

The following points were highlighted and questions from the Committee responded to:

(a)  the Community Garden is sited on Austin Street in Bulwell Forest and came about as a result of a few residents on Broomhill Road discussing the lack of safe open green spaces for children and local people to engage with nature, socialise and get to know each other;

(b)  with the idea of establishing a community garden, residents asked the City Council for an area of land and after a year, were allocated a two and a half acre plot of land behind Cantrell School to the rear of St Alban’s Road;

(c)  local residents were consulted to ensure that the garden could meet their needs and expectations. Initially some citizens supported the garden but were concerned that it would become a target for theft, vandalism and general anti-social behaviour, but apart from one brief spate, this has not been the case;

(d)  initially there were 3 or 4 volunteers working very hard to provide a family area where it was appropriate to hold children’s activities during the school holidays, but volunteer numbers have now swelled and approximately 25 regular volunteers and approximately 200 people attend the garden activities and events on a regular basis; 

(e)  although starting from nothing, the garden now has 22 raised beds, a pond is being constructed and a medicinal garden and a seasonal recipe book is being developed;

(f)  the garden is open to the community between 10am and 4pm on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays and between 1pm and 4pm on a Saturday, promoting physical activity, education, healthy eating  and good mental health and wellbeing;

(g)  the Lunch Club is very popular and meets every Friday at 10.30am  to harvest, prepare and then cook a meal including produce grown in the garden. The club regularly attracts between 25 and 30 people per session. Other activities include Yoga at 10am on a Wednesday , the ‘Green Fingers Club’ and the ‘Forest After School Club’;

(h)  Initially the founding members visited school fairs and events to raise local awareness of the Garden, but due to reducing volunteer numbers, this hasn’t been possible this year;

(i)  some of the volunteers and participants have additional needs which does raise concerns as the garden group do not have specialist knowledge but are keen to be inclusive;

(j)  it is a concern that, as there is no charge for citizens to attend activities and events such as the lunch club and school holiday activities, larger numbers of citizens from across the City, not just the local area, are attending sessions which are now starting to exceed capacity. Whilst there would be reluctance to turn people away, further consideration is needed as to how this can be managed to ensure that quality standards are met and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 9.

Nick Parr, Right Track Head of Community and Learning, to present.

Nick Parr, Head of Community and Learning art Right Track Social Enterprise, presented an update which follows on from the report provided to the last meeting. 

The report provides an overall summary of community focused activity in the area during the past year by the Area 1 Consortium which includes the Toy Library, Think for the Future, Bulwell Healthy Living Centre, Crabtree Community Centre, Snapewood Community Centre, Top Valley Community Centre, Right Track Social Enterprise. The consortium has worked really hard to improve the offer to the community in the area and support citizens. It has engaged with the Department of Work and Pensions and local businesses to hold job clubs and the Toy Library now holds sessions in the community and local parks.

An overview of sessions, activities, support and services, such as youth work, employability and play activity, provided from local community centres is listed in the report with the aim to improve education, upskill and build confidence of citizens, whilst also improving health outcomes and increase investment into the area.

A total of 499 children under the age of 4 were engaged with a total of 10,292 interactions recorded.

Steve Parkinson from the Toy Library and Hannah Rees from Think for the Future had hoped to attend the meeting but were unable, so the schedule of summer activities will be circulated with the initial publication of the minutes.

In response to a question from the Committee regarding encouraging and or supporting young people to become self-employed, such as running a market stall, it really depends on the capability of the individual. Generally it’s more beneficial to the individual to initially work as an employee but further enquiries can be made.

RESOLVED to thank Nick Parr for his attendance and update.

Report of the Chief Executive of Nottingham City Homes.

Joanne Smith, Area Housing Manager, presented the report of the Chief Executive of Nottingham City Homes (NCH), which updates the Committee with a list of community activity in the area including NCH involvement with community groups, an overall performance report and requests approval for environmental schemes.

The following points were highlighted:

(a)  it is noted that the Chatham Court Grand Design Team are due to finish on site at the end of the month;

(b)  addressing anti-social behaviour exceeded the customer satisfaction target of 85% by 2%. As a result the target will be raised;

(c)  Nottingham City Homes has won 3 awards at the National Housing Awards including Landlord of the Year, Outstanding approach to Tenant Involvement, and Innovation of the Year.

Members of the Committee congratulated Nottingham City Homes Officers and Teams on winning such prestigious awards and excelling against the customer satisfaction target. Ward Councillors had noticed reduction in casework regarding tenant anti-social behaviour issues.

In addition, the work being undertaken in Norwich Gardens and Courtleet Way has significantly improved the area and is money well spent.

RESOLVED

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

(2)  to note the following financial position:

(3)  to approve the following environmental schemes:

Report of the Director of Community Protection

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

RESOLVED to note:

(1)  the current ward priorities for Bulwell Ward are summarised as follows;

(a)  Safer Nottingham

Reduce anti-social behaviour, fly tipping and criminal damage

Reduce shop thefts in Bulwell Town Centre

Tackle drug offences

(b)  Neighbourhood Nottingham

Engagement work in Crabtree to combat fly tipping

Regenerate Bulwell Town Centre

Reduce parking overspill from Bulwell Riverside

Dog fouling reduction

(c)  Families Nottingham

Small Steps Big Changes

Encouraging positive parenting

(d)  Health Nottingham

Promote healthy lifestyles

Lung check/ MOTs

Bulwell Health and Wellbeing Programme booklet

(e)  Working Nottingham

Deliver employment and training

Support residents into work

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

(a)  Safer Nottingham

St Alban’s Rd/ Carey Road barrier failures at crossing

Deliberate fires

Parking around Stanstead School

Nuisance Bikes

(b)  Neighbourhood Nottingham

Increased engagement particularly the Deptford crescent area

Management of vacant sites

Dog fouling

Spillage on road from lorries on Bestwood Rd/Hucknall Rd

Littering around the entrance to Highbury Hospital

(c)  Health Nottingham

Promotion of energy advice

Provision of support to carers

(d)  Working Nottingham

Increase access to and awareness of training and employment opportunities.

(3)  the current ward issues as follows:

(a)  Bulwell Ward

Reduction of shop thefts

Positive parenting

Reduce fly tipping in targeted areas

Reduce dog fouling in targeted areas

(b)  Bulwell Forest Ward

Deliberate fires

Nuisance Bikes

Fly tipping and litter

  Dog fouling

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

Report of the Director of Community Protection

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

RESOLVED

(1)  with regard to Bulwell Ward:

(a)  to approve the following Local Transport Plan schemes:

(b)  to approve the following Public Realm Scheme:

(c)  to note that there are no funding withdrawals proposed at this time;

(d)  to note the following financial position:

(2)  with regard to Bulwell Forest Ward:

(a)  to approve the following Local Transport Plan schemes:

(b)  subject to receiving the approval of Councillor Nick McDonald, to approve the following Public Realm Scheme:

(c)  to approve the following de-commitment of funding:

(d)  to note the following financial position:

Report of the Director of Community Protection

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 Community Safety as a result of Ward Member funding requests.

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

RESOLVED to

(1)  note the Bulwell Ward allocations and budget for March-May 2018:

(a)   allocations:

  (b)  current budget available:

(2)  Note the Bulwell Forest Ward allocations and budget for March-May 2018:

(a)  allocations:

(b)  current budget available:

The opportunity for Community Group Representatives to suggest topics for future agenda.

Community Representatives are invited to propose future agenda items for the Committee consideration. Any suggestions should be provided to either Celia Knight (Bulwell Forest Ward) celia.knight@nottinghamcity.gov.uk 0115 8833729 or Suki Shergill (Bulwell Ward) 0115 8833728 at least a month in advance of the Committee meeting.

The opportunity for Community Groups and City Council Colleagues to inform the Committee of forthcoming events.

Bulwell Arts Festival – 7-14 July 2018

Family Fun Day at Bulwell Academy–14 July 2018

Southglade Parklive Fun day – 1 August 2018, 12 noon to 4pm

Mellish Sports Centre fun day – 11 August 2018 (initially proposed 4 August)

Fun Day on Bulwell Bogs – 4 August 2018

To approve that the Committee meet on the following dates at 5.30pm in Bulwell Riverside:

5 September 2018;

12 December 2018;

20 March 2019.

RESOLVED to approve that the Committee meet at Bulwell Riverside at 5.30pm on the following Wednesdays:

5 September 2018;

12 December 2018;

20 March 2019.