Agenda item

Report of Strategic Director for Commercial and Neighbourhood Services

Greg Foister, Neighbourhood Development Officer (NDO) for Dales and Fi Cusick, NDO for Mapperley, introduced the Strategic Director for Commercial and Neighbourhood Services’ report providing summary updates on key themes within the Nottingham Plan 2020 for Quarter 2 2015/16, highlighting the following:

St Ann’s

(a)  There is concentrated project working on identifying and dealing with domestic violence, and this is likely to increase reporting of domestic violence crimes;

(b)  Overall crime has increased in the ward, but anti-social behaviour and noise pollution levels have significantly reduced;

(c)  Cleanliness scores consistently above the 86 points target, fly-tipping and graffiti levels are down, but dog fouling remains an issue;

(d)  St Ann’s councillors have asked for a review of parking concerns across the ward, and are also keen to ensure there is local targeted work delivered to get the unemployed back into work.

Dales

(e)  there was good community engagement demonstrated during the most recent Week of Action, with over 6.5 tonnes of rubbish removed. The next Week of Action will focus on Sneinton Dale, and will address shopping/retail waste; 

(f)  mobile cameras will be used at fly-tipping hotspots to help identify offenders;

(g)  there is an issue with the ineffective treatment of weeds in the ward, and further work will be undertaken to address the problem;

(h)  the Neighbourhood Management Team will continue to engage with New College Nottingham on engaging with hard-to-reach communities in the ward on employment issues;

(i)  there will be further local consultation on the development of Greenway Park;

(j)  the report highlighted the schedule of ward walks in September and October 2015.

Mapperley

(i)  Phase 2 of the Mapperley Road Residents Parking Scheme continues to make progressis the main issue being taken forward, with Phase 2 now in development;

(j)  consultation is taking place on proposals to develop the site of the former Morley School;

(k)  the Friends of Coppice Park are holding its annual Fireworks Display on 4 November;

(l)  the next Mapperley ‘Day’ of Action is taking place in the week beginning 2 November. Activities will include action against speeding vehicles;

(m)  Keepmoat Homes plan to erect a stone sign at or near the site of St Ann’s Well at its Kingsthorpe development to commemorate this local historical site;

(n)  a mobile camera is now in operation and will be deployed at crime and ASB hotspots.

Inspector Claire Rukas provided the following update on crime and anti-social behaviour:

(o)  overall crime has risen, and violent crime, including domestic violence, remained a key priority;

(p)  robbery, burglary dwelling and theft from vehicles figures have reduced. However, burglary dwelling remained a significant issue in Mapperley Park, and addressing this ‘hot spot’ was a Police priority;

(q)  criminal damage had increased in August 2015 but crime statistics had been unusually low in August 2014.

During discussion, the following issues were raised:

(r)  while the levels of community engagement with the Week of Action initiatives were encouraging, community representatives and councillors wanted greater co-ordination and outreach work to improve uptake further. Sneinton Alchemy had a register of volunteering opportunities, and several Committee members suggested linking up with the Nottingham Community and Voluntary Service to publicise and boost community involvement; 

(s)  Inspector Rukas explained that Nottinghamshire Police have an intelligence-led focus in prioritising use of resources. She clarified that burglary dwelling in Mapperley Park was a priority within that crime category, and refuted the suggestion that Police resources in general were being deployed in the Mapperley Park area. Inspector Rukas also made a plea for information from the community for information on crime or suspected crime so that Police resources could be targeted appropriately;

(t)  Inspector Rukas confirmed that the citywide review of Police Community Support Officer (PCSO) capacity was likely to leave the 3 wards with a complement of 15 officers, down from 17. She also confirmed that the Sneinton Beat was below capacity, with no recruitment expected soon;

(u)  a councillor acknowledged that more needed doing to explain to citizens that Council Tax charges only provided a small proportion of overall Local Government spend, with the remainder coming from central government. The City Council received less and less central government funding each year, which was why Council Tax charge increases were not matched by there being more comprehensive services;

(v)  a community representative expressed frustration that a funding bid to provide a 9-a-side football pitch within the Area had not progressed as expected, and asked councillors to consider how they could help take this forward. 

Mark Sunderland, South Neighbourhood Operations Manager, provided a brief update on street-cleansing issues, and confirmed that Area-specific information can be made available in future. Cleanliness and fly-tipping targets were being met, but dog fouling incidence was on the increase. He also confirmed that flytippers would be pursued through enforcement action where possible, but that it was a complex, lengthy process.

RESOLVED to note the Ward Performance for Quarter 2 2015/16.