Agenda for Bulwell and Bulwell Forest Area Committee on Wednesday, 12th December, 2018, 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

29.

APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

Minutes:

Councillor Eunice Campbell-Clark – unwell 

Councillor Jackie Morris – personal

Gillian Slack

Doreen Carruthers

Ros Yousef (Judith Traynor substituting)

 

In the absence of Councillor Campbell-Clark as Chair, the Vice Chair, Councillor Cheryl Barnard, Chaired the meeting.

 

30.

DECLARATIONS OF INTERESTS

Minutes:

None.

31.

MINUTES pdf icon PDF 289 KB

Of the meeting held on 5 September 2018 (for confirmation)

Minutes:

Confirmation of Minutes

The minutes of the meeting held on 5 September 2018 were confirmed as a true record and signed by the Chair presiding.

 

Matters arising

Further to minute 3 dated 27 June 2018, Heidi May, Head of Neighbourhood Management, informed the Committee that on 7 November 2018, Celia Knight had been awarded the MBE for outstanding service to the community by Prince William at Buckingham Palace. In addition to the Committee’s congratulations, Celia was presented with a large potted plant. Councillor Cheryl Barnard commented that the award is well-deserved, particularly as Celia not only works within Bulwell and Bulwell Forest but also Bilborough and Sherwood and always has the community’s best interests at heart.

32.

LOCAL POLICING UPDATE

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

 

Minutes:

Nottinghamshire Police Sergeant Nev McGeehan verbally updated the Committee on crime statistics between 1 September and 1 December 2018, compared to the same period last year.

 

The following points were highlighted:

 

(a)  There’s been a slight reduction in total crimes reported from 993 to 991;

 

(b)  There is been an increase of 17% in violence against a person;

 

(c)  The number of robberies and burglaries have reduced from 21 to 16 and 64 to 39 respectively although it is anticipated that these types of offences will increase prior to the Christmas period;

 

(d)  Shoplifting is down by 10 offences but again is expected to increase prior to Christmas;

 

(e)  Criminal damage is down from hundred and 12 offences to 95;

 

(f)  Hate incidents have risen slightly from 18 to 19, although six were related to Highbury hospital. There appeared to be no underlying social tensions if which fuel hate crime;

 

(g)  Whilst overall there appears to be a downward trend in criminal activity, the number of ‘other crimes’, such as breach of restraining order and document fraud has risen slightly;

 

(h)  Driving offences have risen from 14 to 38 but it should be noted that Operation Reacher has been active in Bestwood and has overlapped into Bulwell Forest. This may also be the reason why nuisance vehicle reports have reduced significantly;

 

(i)  The Police have been issuing ongoing security advice with regard to the darker nights in security;

 

(j)  There has been a specific focus on shop thefts which has included additional patrols and the use of the regional CCTV van. It is believed that whilst shop owners were aware of the operation, they were more likely to report shoplifting incidents to the Police as they were known to be close at hand and could respond rapidly.

 

RESOLVED to thank Sergeant Nev McGeehan for his attendance and update.

33.

GET AHEAD - EMPLOYMENT PROJECT

Verbal presentation by Michelle Cooke from Nottingham Jobs

Minutes:

Michelle Cook and Donna Denning from the Bestwood Partnership Employment Project ‘Get Ahead’, verbally updated the Committee on the aims, activity and achievements of the project.

 

The following points were highlighted and questions responded to:

 

(a)  Get Ahead supports unemployed people over the age of 16 to get into work covers Areas1 and 2, to the north of the City;

 

(b)  The project is funded by the Employment Skills Partnership which also funds the ‘Step Into Work’ youth employment initiative;

 

(c)  16-17-year-olds who contact the service are directed to Futures which offers more appropriate and targeted support for that age group and has substantial funding for a five-year contract;

 

(d)  This project varies from many others as participants do not need to be in receipt of benefits if to qualify;

 

(e)  To date the project has already achieved 119% of its original target;

 

(f)  By a small margin, the largest group of clients are female, over 50, with a low or no basic skills, many of whom had been bringing up their families;

 

(g)  The scheme will take referrals from anyone (including self-referrals) until September 2019 when final referrals will be accepted;

 

(h)  When people enter the scheme they are assessed on an individual basis with a one-to-one discussion and training needs proposed;

 

(i)  The project is advertised at community events and venues and social venues with flyers and posters at the Bulwell Job Centre, libraries and Futures;

 

RESOLVED to thank Michelle Cook and Donna Denning for their presentation and attendance.

34.

NOTTINGHAMSHIRE, WW1 ROLL OF HONOUR CENTENARY MEMORIAL PROJECT pdf icon PDF 142 KB

Report of the Corporate Director, Commercial and Operations

Additional documents:

Minutes:

James Tilford, Parks Development Officer, presented the report which informs the Committee of the Nottinghamshire World War 1 (WWI) roll of honour centenary Memorial Project which is to be sited in the Memorial Gardens on Nottingham Victoria Embankment, close to the City of Nottingham War Memorial.

 

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

 

(a)  It is proposed that the names of all armed forces and civilians from Nottingham and Nottinghamshire who lost their lives in WWI will be included on this monument. This is expected to total approximately 14,000 names;

 

(b)  Careful consideration had been given to how to display the names and a leaflet illustrating the chosen design of the Memorial was circulated;

 

(c)  Members of the Committee and the groups they represent are invited to check the web-based ‘role of honour’ for Nottingham and Nottinghamshire and contact the role of honour at  http:/ nosf.org.uk/roll-of-honour.html if they are aware of any names that are missing;

 

(d)  The total cost of the projects is £350,000 and whilst the majority of funding has been achieved through contributions from the City, County, District and Borough Councils which commissioned the Memorial, and with further contributions from local branches of the British Legion, approximately £40,000 is still needed to guarantee completion in April or May 2019;

 

(e)  Citizens and community groups are requested to consider making donations towards the memorial which will honour the lives of local people lost in the war. To make a donation link may be found on the role of honour webpage, or a cheque can be made to Nottingham City Council and sent to FAO Eddie Curry, Nottingham City Council, Loxley House, Station Street Nottingham NG2 3NG and please ensure that it is clear that funds are for the Role Of Honour Memorial;

 

(f)  The memorial is only for those who died in WWI and not any other wars or conflicts;

 

(g)  The names of those who died in the 1916 munitions factory incident would be eligible for inclusion, as would doctors and nurses. Clarity will be sought with regard to those who were executed as conscientious objectors;

 

(h)  A local memorial of a dedication of a Centenary Field in Bulwell Forest Recreation Ground has also been agreed as this is an area where trench warfare training took place in preparation for troops being sent to the front lines. The Centenary Field will become a protected area as a park and open space and will be planted with trees and poppies. A dedication ceremony will take place in the New Year in conjunction with the British Legion.

 

RESOLVED to note the report and support the promotion of the projects within the local community.

35.

RIGHT TRACK SOCIAL ENTERPRISE - LEAD ORGANISATION UPDATE pdf icon PDF 235 KB

Report to be presented by Nick Parr, Head of Community and Learning

Minutes:

Nick Parr, Head of Community and Learning for the consortium which includes the Toy Library, Think For The Future, Bulwell Healthy Living Centre, Top Valley Community Centre, Snapewood Community Centre, Crabtree Community Centre, Life, and Right Track Social Enterprise, presented a comprehensive update on the work of the consortium.

 

Information and statistics are provided within the update report which is included within the agenda and includes focus on:

 

(i)  Community Centres;

(ii)  Employment Support;

(iii)  Life (support for learning disability independence)

(iv)The Toy Library, and

(v)  Think For The Future.

 

Members of the Committee welcomed the positive progress and activity taking place across the Area.

 

RESOLVED to note the update and thank Nick Parr for his report and attendance.

36.

NOTTINGHAM CITY HOMES UPDATE AND APPROVALS pdf icon PDF 134 KB

Report of the Chief Executive of Nottingham City Homes

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Elira Mano, Area Housing Manager, presented the Nottingham City Homes Update and Approvals Report which informs the Committee of activity with local groups and organisations, performance against indicators relating to antisocial behaviour, repairs, rent collection, empty properties, and tenancy sustainment, and requests funding for environmental projects.

 

A revised Appendix 3 regarding the financial position and funding requests was circulated at the meeting and is attached to the initial publication of the minutes.

 

With regard to tenant involvement, nominations are requested for the Tenant and Leaseholder Awards which recognise those who take pride in the community and where they live. The awards will take place in March and the closing date for nominations is 14 December 2018.

 

Community representatives queried the cost of £1,500 to upgrade planters at Colston Road flats in Bulwell Forest, believing that this was a very high figure. It was explained that the planters are very large and the cost includes purchase, instalment, compost/soil, plants and labour. The Committee was assured that the proper procurement process has been undertaken and that the purpose of providing the planters is to try and encourage residents of the flats to have more of an investment in their area, reduce antisocial behaviour and increase engagement with Nottingham City Homes. The planters will improve the environment and it is hoped that this will contribute to building community support in the area. The planters are expected to last many years and can be moved if necessary. James Tilford confirmed that in his experience as a Parks Development Officer that the price seemed correct.

 

RESOLVED

 

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

 

(2)  to note the allocation of funds as detailed below:

 

Ward

Actual Budget

Schemes Approved

Schemes Committed

Schemes De-Committed

Remaining Budget

Bulwell

£149,727.89

£0

£144,077

£0

£5,650.89

Bulwell Forest 

£87,548.38

£12,932.00

£12,932.00

£0

£74,616.38

 

(3)  to approve the area capital programme funding requests as follows:

 

Address

Request

Cost

Deptford Crescent – Bulwell Forest

Installation of security gates to maximise security.

£1,632.00

Deptford Crescent – Bulwell Forest

Pocket Park to improve estate facilities

£9,800.00

Colston Road Flats – Bulwell Forest

Upgrade planters to improve estate facilities

£1,500.00

 

(4)  Subject to a positive outcome from consultation, to approve the following scheme:

 

Address

Request

Cost

Between Ridgeway and Petersfield Close – Bulwell Forest 

To create 9 standard and 1 disabled parking spaces

£68,000.00

 

37.

BULWELL AND BULWELL FOREST AREA CAPITAL REPORT pdf icon PDF 283 KB

Report of the Director of Community Protection

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.

 

RESOLVED

 

(1)  to approve the following Bulwell LTP schemes:

 

Location and type

Estimate

Details

Sellers Wood Drive, study

 

£1,000

 

 

review of previous study into feasibility for a pedestrian crossing to the south of Sellers Wood Drive.

Duke Street/Bold Close, Carriage-way

£3,560

 

resurface of carriageway on Duke Street and Bold Close (LTP contribution).

 

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

 

Location and type

Estimate

Details

Duke Street/ Bold Close, Carriage-way

£38,014

resurface of carriageway on Duke Street and Bold Close (PR contribution)

 

(3)  to note that there have been no further de-commitments of funding in Bulwell;

 

(4)  to note the current financial position of Bulwell:

 

2018 - 2019 LTP allocation

£85  £85,600

 

LTP carried forward from 2017 - 2018

£0

 

2018 - 2019 Public Realm allocation

£32,832

 

Public Realm carried forward from 2017 - 2018

£18,432

 

Total Available 2018 - 2019 ACF

£136,864

 

Less LTP schemes

-

£85,600

 

Less Public Realm schemes

-

£51,264

 

De-committed funds

+

£0

Remaining available balance

£0

 

LTP element remaining

£0

 

Public Realm element remaining

£0

 

 

(5)  to note that there are no Bulwell Forest LTP schemes proposed at this time;

 

(6)  to approve the following Bulwell Forest Public Realm Scheme:

 

Location and type

Estimate

Details

Piccadilly, signage

£250

installation of double-sided sign leading to Mellish Sports Centre.

 

(7)  to note that there have been no further de-commitments of funding in Bulwell Forest;

 

(8)  to note the current financial position of Bulwell Forest:

 

2018 - 2019 LTP allocation

£48,300

LTP carried forward from 2017 - 2018

£0

2018 - 2019 Public Realm allocation

£18,560

Public Realm carried forward from 2017 - 2018

£0

Total Available 2018 - 2019 ACF

£66,860

Less LTP schemes

-

£50,556

Less Public Realm schemes

-

£500

De-committed funds

+

£9,571

Remaining available balance

£25,375

LTP element remaining

£7,315

Public Realm element remaining

£18,060

 

38.

BULWELL AND BULWELL FOREST WARD MEMBERS BUDGETS pdf icon PDF 227 KB

Report of the Director of Community Protection

Minutes:

The report outlines the allocations of funds to groups and activities by Ward Councillors from their individual ward budgets, as agreed by the Director of Community Protection.

 

RESOLVED

 

(1)  to note the following Bulwell Ward Budget Allocations since the last report:

 

Schemes: Bulwell Ward

Councillor(s)

Amount

 

Sports Cohesion

Klein, Hartshorne & Morris

£60

 

Great Connections

Klein, Hartshorne & Morris

£958

 

Alton Towers Trip

Klein, Hartshorne & Morris

£200

 

Music Hub

Klein, Hartshorne & Morris

£720

 

Snape Wood Event

Klein, Hartshorne & Morris

£1,050

 

Light switch on

Morris

£200

 

British Legion 100 years event

Klein, Hartshorne & Morris

£450

 

Year 3 School Camp

Klein, Hartshorne & Morris

£2,090

 

Cinema Club project

Klein, Hartshorne & Morris

£356

 

 

 

 

(2)  to note the current Bulwell financial position:

 

Balance Brought Forward 17/18

£2,009

Councillor funding 18/19

£15,000

Total funds 18/19

£17,009

De-committed schemes 18/19

£10,711

Allocated 18/19

£6,084

Uncommitted Funds after allocated schemes

£21,199

 

(3)  to note the following Bulwell Forest Ward Budget Allocations since the last report:

 

Schemes

Councillor(s)

Amount

 

 

SouthgladeParkLive 2019

Campbell-Clark, Barnard, McDonald

£1,500

 

Youth and Play Team Alton

Towers trip

Campbell-Clark, Barnard, McDonald

£200

 

Bulwell Xmas Lights 2019

Campbell-Clark, Barnard, McDonald

£3,900

 

Fun on Bulwell Forest 2019

Campbell-Clark, Barnard, McDonald

£1,198

 

Litter pickers for clean ups

Campbell-Clark, Barnard, McDonald

£80

 

British Legion

Campbell-Clark, Barnard, McDonald

£450

 

Bulwell EAZ school children’s camp

Campbell-Clark, Barnard, McDonald

£430

 

St Johns Church Cinema Club

  Campbell-Clark, Barnard, McDonald

£212

 

 

(4)  to note the to note the current Bulwell financial position:

 

Balance Brought Forward 17/18

£297

Councillor funding 18/19

£15,000

Total funds 18/19

£15,297

De-committed schemes 18/19

£0

Allocated 18/19

£9657

Uncommitted Funds after allocated schemes

£5640

 

 

39.

BULWELL AND BULWELL FOREST WARD REPORTS pdf icon PDF 1 MB

Report of Director of Community Protection

Minutes:

Neighbourhood Development Officers, Suki Shergill and Celia Knight introduced 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.

In addition, an extract of the crime statistics for the Area from April to October 2018 are included at Appendix 3 and the new Respect for Nottingham Ward Action Plans are attached as Appendix 4 to the report.

 

RESOLVED to note the progress on ward priorities and other supporting information, including the issues being addressed by each Neighbourhood Action Team (NAT), and forthcoming opportunities for citizens to engage.

40.

ITEMS FOR FUTURE AGENDA

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

 

Minutes:

Community Representatives are invited to propose future agenda items for the Committee’s 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) Sukhbir.Shergill@nottinghamcity.gov.uk 0115 8833728 at least a month in advance of the Committee meeting.

41.

FORTHCOMING EVENTS

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

 

Minutes:

The Committee were informed of the following forthcoming events:

 

(a)  The Bulwell and Bulwell Forest Budget Consultation Event will take place at Bulwell Riverside on 15 January 2019 and is a chance for citizens to have the say and make a difference. Consultation response is also possible online;

 

(b)  On Friday there will be a white ribbon stand and signposting in the market between 10 am and noon;

 

(c)  From 14 December to the 16 there will be a cohesion stall in Bulwell Market;

 

(d)  On Friday, 14 December the Community Cinema at St John’s Church will show the latest ‘Mama Mia’ film;

 

(e)  22 December at 10:30 am there will be carol singing in Main Street;

 

(f)  Crabtree Christmas dinner will be held on Friday 14 December at 2 pm at a cost of £5 per person and there will be a free children’s party afterwards.

 

42.

MERCHANT STREET PUBLIC SPACE PROTECTION ORDER EXTENSION pdf icon PDF 335 KB

Report of Director of Community Protection

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Chair introduced the report which requests that the Committee consider extending the existing Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) for Merchant Street. It is noted that all Ward Councillors had been provided with the information contained with the exempt appendix.

 

Suzanne Levers, Community Protection Enforcement Officer and Melanie Fretwell, Principal Enforcement Officer, were in attendance to respond to questions.

 

A Community representative queried how easy it would be to enforce the PSPO, particularly in regard to minor incidents. Suzanne Levers responded that enforcement would only be necessary where antisocial behaviour occurred and alarm or distress to residents was caused and was reported, such as a football being kicked against someone’s house or car. Where incidents are reported, they will be looked into.

 

It is noted that the Neighbourhood Action Team (NAT) meetings regularly monitor any activity and reports in the area and that overall residents are confident with enforcement.

 

The decision was unanimous by the Councillor’s present.

 

RESOLVED

 

(1)  that, being satisfied that the test in section 59 of the 2014 Act is met, and having regard to the rights of freedom of expression and freedom of assembly, the Area Committee approve an extension to the Nottingham City Council Merchant Street Public Spaces Protection Order 2016 (“the Order”), a copy of which is attached at Appendix 1 to the report, to have effect for a further period of three years from the 31 January 2019;

 

(2)  for the Area Committee to authorise the Director of Community Protection to carry out the necessary advertisements and arrange for appropriate signage to be erected where necessary in accordance with the legislative requirements.