The opportunity to for Community Representatives to raise issues of concern and provide feedback on events.
Minutes:
Community representatives were invited to update the Committee on any issues relevant to their group.
Lenton Abbey residents Association (Adam McGregor)
With specific reference to the changes in future funding, it is vital that organisations provide activities which engage citizens in numbers large enough to ensure that sessions, and facilities can be considered a ‘going concern’.
Councillor Sally Longford commented that with regard to some activities, although publicity has been substantial, more community involvement and engagement is required to ensure ongoing funding.
The Chair suggested that due to the location of the Sheila Roper Centre, activities and facilities should also be publicised to nearby Beeston residents to ensure the highest possible uptake.
Wollaton Park Residents Association (Sue Twyford)
Residents are concerned that the NG8 newsletter is not distributed within the Wollaton area. Although this is a private publication, it is understood that the newsletter distributors do not possess a license to distribute in the broader NG8 area.
Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) continue to be an issue in the area with more properties being converted and multiple households living together in one property. One of the major concerns is that many landlords and tenants do not generally look after the properties or gardens, don’t have knowledge, care nor respect of and for the local area, community or residents.
Councillor Sam Webster commented that communities need a balanced and Nottingham is a victim of its own success with the number of HMOs falling below saturation levels.
Sue Twyford responded that other cities have set their HMO saturation point at very different levels to Nottingham which opted for 25% of the housing stock. Southampton has saturation point of 10% and 20% (2 areas), Solihull 20%, Glasgow 5%, and Birmingham 10%.
Councillor Sam Webster agreed to discuss this point with Planning Department colleagues.
Councillor Sally Longford explained that when article 4 was introduced, the City Council had to consider where to place the HMO saturation point. If the percentage was too high it would not be accepted and if you saturation point was too low, the accommodation needed for citizens would not be provided. The 25% figure was selected as a result of considering the whole of the super output area statistics. However, now that the figure has been approved by Central Government it would be very difficult to go to appeal and ask for it to be overturned. However the issue will be discussed with Planning Officers, who were also shocked by the HMO saturation levels set by some other cities.
There is some confusion with regard to what is and is not acceptable within the Wollaton Conservation Area, regarding dormer windows. Councillor Sally Longford responded that with regard to the bungalows with high pitched roofs, dormer windows were only acceptable in some circumstances to the rear of the property and not to the front or side. Following a planning application for a dormer window to the side roof of a house on Charnock Avenue, the opinion of surrounding residents was sought, but with very little response. As a result of Councillor objection the application was taken to Planning Committee where Councillor Longford formally objected to the application on the grounds that it was inappropriate for a conservation area and did not comply to the rules of the conservation area, but had to withdraw prior to the Committee’s consideration of the item. Unfortunately Planners were of the opinion that the restriction on dormer windows was most relevant to the high pitched bungalow roofs and that’s refusing the application for a side dormer on a house would be overturned at appeal.
Councillor Sam Webster responded that although residents and the Local Authority may prefer more robust planning laws, planning legislation is set by Central Government and must be adhered to, even when it contradicts localism.
Friends of Wollaton Park (Rob Kirkwood)
The group would like to work more independently of the Parks and Open Spaces Team, particularly regarding task days and communications. The austerity cuts have impacted on the City Council staffing and operations, so the City Council needs to consider altering some working practices to enable volunteer groups to function and remain sustainable for a mutual benefit.
The Chair commended the outstanding work of the Friends of Wollaton Park and agreed that some refinement to City Council procedures is required to ensure valuable volunteer work can be undertaken smoothly, adding that he would be happy to assist in suggesting changes to the Parks and Open Spaces Team.
Wollaton Historical Conservation Society (Alan Hall)
The Wollaton Arts Festival is due to be held between 1 and 16 July 2017. The festival brochure is an excellent piece of work and it is hoped that it will attract a lot of publicity. This is the second year of the festival which continues to improve. Community representatives are requested to promote the festival to their groups.
The Chair also reminded the Committee at an exhibition of dinosaur fossils from China, the first to be exhibited outside of China, will be held at Wollaton Hall between 1 July and 29 October 2017. Further details are available on the City Council website.