Agenda and minutes

Cllr Carole McCulloch was appointed as Chair for the period 2015-16.

Cllr Marcia Watson was appointed as Vice-Chair for the period 2015-16.

Cllr Graham Chapman – other Council business

Sioban Campbell  )

Julianne Christou  )  Nottingham City Council

Heidi May  )

John Day

Vic Plant

Jenni Smith

None

To confirm the minutes for the meeting of 11 February 2015.

The Committee confirmed the minutes of the meeting held on 11 February 2015 as a correct record and they were signed by the Chair.

Deborah Wilson informed the Committee that the Oakwood Drive and Cheslyn Drive projects, approved at the February meeting, have now been put on hold.

James Welbourn, Governance Officer at Nottingham City Council presented the report on the Area Capital Fund 2013-15 and Nottingham City Homes Environmental Schemes September 2014.

RESOLVED to confirm the committee’s previous approval of all the funding proposals as set out in the attached appendices 1 and 2 to the original report considered at the September meeting.

Verbal updates from Sgt Ian Cresswell (Aspley), and Sgt Gary Bulmer (Bilborough).

Inspector Gordon Fenwick provided an update on anti-social behaviour, problem solving and performance in the Area 3 ward.

(a)  domestic incidents – there have been 995 domestic only incidents (this includes arguing/squabbling).  736 violent offences reported to the police, with 365 of these offences being domestic in nature;

(b)  high risk victims can be trapped because of the situation they are in.  These sorts of cases are not dealt with directly by the Neighbourhood Inspector team, who mainly deal with medium risk victims;

(c)  domestic violence with or without injury has slightly increased in the area;

(d)  burglary is being controlled, as well as the issue of vehicle offences – there were initially some prolific offenders.  Three arrests were made, and then these offences stopped. 

  An arrest has been made regarding a diesel theft in Bilborough;

(e)  crimes against society are down;

(f)  there has been a reduction in anti-social behaviour of 7% in the West Area.  However, anti-social behaviour is still far too high, with 475 incidents being reported. 

Broxtowe Country Park has an issue with off-road bikes currently;

(g)  Councillor Wood reported that damage had occurred to trees planted in his ward.  The cost to install these trees was £39,000;

(h)  making initial visits to parents/guardians of children involved in group anti-social behaviour can prove successful.  These meetings are put in very quickly, and then followed up with appropriate action.

  Youths can change their tactics and find vulnerable locations within the area.  Meetings were set up with Social Services to make sure all work done with anti-social behaviour was joined up;

(i)  Police Community Support Officers are now involved in female football coaching.  Councillors praised this type of work – another example given was the work of Gary Bulmer at Strelley boxing club.

RESOLVED to

(1)  thank officers for the update;

(2)  ask Nicky Jarvis to provide Cllr McCulloch with a 10 point plan for domestic violence victims for the next meeting;

Verbal update from Simon Whalley

Simon Whalley, Community Protection Officer provided an update on anti-social behaviour, problem solving and performance in the Area 3 ward.

(a)  50% of Community Protection officers in the area are now based at Bulwell Police Station, with the other 50% based at Oxclose Lane Police Station.  Two cars have been provided so that officers can be transported to ‘the beat’;

(b)  the Community Protection Notice acts as a warning letter, and allows a much broader scope to deal with a wider range of issues;

(c)  dog fouling is a big concern for Community Protection.  Smaller areas can be targeted by covert officers issuing fines, but there needs to be a more effective strategy for the area as a whole, as it is too large for such a tactic;

(d)  noise figures for the area contain a number of repeat offenders.  The Community Protection car lead to a 70% reduction in repeat offenders; the car (also known as Operation Twilight) runs Sunday-Thursday (5pm-11pm), and Friday and Saturday (5pm-1am);

(e)  there has been a large increase in calls to the anti-social behaviour line regarding children playing football in Bilborough and Aspley.  The increase could be due in part to Nottingham being named as ‘City of Football’.

RESOLVED to thank Simon Whalley for the update.

Update from Neil Harvey, CCTV Operations Manager at Nottingham City Council.

Neil Harvey, CCTV Operations Manager at Nottingham City Council provided the committee with information on the use of CCTV, and how it works with tackling anti-social behaviour. 

Following questions from Councillors, the following information was provided;

(a)  when deciding whether a new camera is required in a particular area, a problem solving exercise would need to take place.  Following this exercise, if CCTV was adjudged to be a measure that works, a feasibility study would need to be performed.  The funding for the new camera would need to go through the committee, as there is no money for new cameras within the service itself;

(b)  3G cameras could be placed in Aspley ward, in addition to an analytic camera being trialled in Bracebridge Drive.  The problem of alleged flytipping is already monitored by a camera, but the area on camera is too big, so not all activity can be captured.  A new IP, or analytic camera would be able to cover this greater area;

(c)  there are 23 cameras installed across the West Area, with 19 of them in Aspley ward;

(d)  Neil extended an open invite to all present to come and see the different cameras in operation in the control room itself.

RESOLVED to thank Neil for the update.  

Report presented by Nicky Jarvis, Nottingham City Homes.

Nicky Jarvis of Nottingham City Homes presented the update report for Aspley, Bilborough and Leen Valley regions.

RESOLVED to thank Nicky for the report.

Deborah Wilson, Neighbourhood Development Officer, presented a report of the Director of Neighbourhood Services, detailing the latest spend proposals under the Area Capital Fund, including Nottingham City Homes (NCH) Environmental improvement funding.

RESOLVED

(1)  to note the monies available:

  Aspley  -  £117,945

  Bilborough  -  £128,443

Leen Valley  -  £66,641

(2)  to approve the following schemes:

Aspley LTP Scheme

Aspley Public Realm Schemes

Bilborough Public Realm Scheme

Leen Valley LTP Scheme

Leen Valley Public Realm Schemes

(3)  to note the monies available for NCH Environmentals in each ward:

  Aspley  -  £0

  Bilborough  -  £201,279

  Leen Valley  -  £49,721

(4)  to approve the decommitted scheme in Aspley Ward, and the two committed schemes within Aspley ward at Lindfield Road, and Bells Lane Estate (all contained within Appendix 2).

RESOLVED to note the report of the Director of Neighbourhood Services, detailing performance in the 3 wards during quarter 1 2015/16.

RESOLVED to note the actions agreed by the Director of Neighbourhood Services in respect of projects and schemes within West Area, detailed in Appendix A of the Agenda pack, and the new Ward Councillor Budget Allocation for 2015/16.

To consider meeting on the following dates:

16/09/2015

11/11/2015

10/02/2016

RESOLVED that the Committee will meet at Loxley House at 5.30pm on the following Wednesdays:

16/09/2015

11/11/2015

10/02/2016