Agenda item

The Committee considered a report of the Director of Neighbourhood Services, presented by the relevant Neighbourhood Development Officer (NDO) for each individual ward, detailing performance against strategic themes in the Nottingham Plan 2020 and against local priorities. The main points, and Committee comments, were as follows:

(1)  Clifton North – Parbinder Singh

(a)  crime and anti-social behaviour levels had increased from the same period last year, while fly-tipping had also increased;

(b)  the Cleanliness Index score of 92 was up on last year, and there was also a decrease in the levels of graffiti, and deliberate fires;

(c)  unemployment levels were down slightly;

(d)  key successes included a successful Local Area Group meeting for Silverdale Estate, the re-opening of Southchurch Drive and access to shops on Varney Road, the recent crime prevention event at Clifton Community Centre and consultation and engagement with residents on Eddlestone drive on trees;

(e)  key issues for the ward were ongoing disruption because of tram works and A453 widening, a recent increase in reported crime and anti-social behaviour and external wall insulation;

(2)  Clifton South – Prairie Bryant

(a)  crime and anti-social behaviour levels had increased from the same period last year, while fly-tipping had also increased;

(b)  the Cleanliness Index score of 93 was up on last year, and there was also a decrease in the levels of graffiti and deliberate fires;

(c)  unemployment levels in the ward had decreased;

(d)  key successes included the free ‘Shopping Shuttle’ bus service supporting local businesses, a crime prevention event at Park Gate Community Centre and microchip/responsible dog-ownership event in Central Park, an initial meeting to plan how to market the Clifton offer once tram works had been completed, and the successful removal of travellers from Clifton Village Green within 48 hours;

(e)  key issues for the ward were the ongoing impact of tram works and the A453 widening, and ensuring sustainability of local businesses during the disruption.

(3)  Bridge – Abdul Ghaffar

(a)  crime levels had increased from the same period last year, although levels of anti-social behaviour had not changed;

(b)  the Cleanliness Index score of 93 was up on last year, and there had been a decrease in levels of graffiti and fly-tipping;

(c)  unemployment levels were down;

(d)  key successes included increased Community Protection enforcement action and reporting issues for action, targeted work on fly-tipping and dumping, and actions to make improvements to a House in Multiple Occupancy (HMO) on Glapton Road;

(e)  key issues were ongoing disruption caused by tram works and resulting bus diversions, and the increase in reported violent incidents in Bridge ward.

(4)  Inspector Waldram – Nottinghamshire Police

(a)  overall crime has reduced since last year, with particular improvements in levels of burglary from dwellings and robbery. This was due in part to targeted activity against prolific and persistent offenders. However, there had been a significant increase in specific crime categories, including thefts from sheds and out-houses, thefts of bicycles and thefts from works vans and hotel car parks;

(b)  there was also an increase in all crime in several small, very closely defined geographic areas;

(c)  there was an increase in anti-social behaviour across the rea involving young teenage and pre-teenage boys, and the crime and drugs partnership was working to address this.

(5)  Wade Adams – Tenancy and Estate Manager

(a)  repair rates for all 3 wards were above target and satisfaction with repairs were also improved;

(b)  rent collection rates had improved since the last meeting, as had void re-letting times.

(6)  Discussion

The key points emerging from discussion of performance reports were:

(a)  councillors and community representatives agreed on the need to keep a close watching brief on the recent reported increase in levels of crime and anti-social behaviour throughout the Area;

(b)  the Committee welcomed the very positive outcomes on cleanliness throughout the Area;

(c)  a councillor welcomed the action taken to improve the condition of a particular HMO in Bridge ward, and looked forward to new powers to address similar issues being used more widely;

(d)  a community representative welcome the swift action taken to remove a group of travellers from Clifton Village Green;

(e)  a community representative raised a concern about speeding on Wilford Lane. There had been discussion with the Highways Agency about getting a surveillance camera installed, but progress on the issue was slow;

(f)  a community representative raised a concern about the safety of schoolchildren in the vicinity of heavy machinery sued for tram works. A councillor responded that this particular issue was being addressed through the councillor casework system.

RESOLVED to note the performance report and Committee comments on it.