Agenda and minutes

Councillor Josh Cook – personal reasons

Councillor Nicola Heaton – leave

Sergeant Nigel Bradley

Chris Brummitt

Mary Daly

Abdul Ghaffar

Pat Rice

Dee Whitworth

None.

Of the meeting held on 13 June 2018 (for confirmation)

The minutes of the meeting held on 13 June 2018 were confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

Prairie Bryant, Neighbourhood Development Officer, introduced the report inviting the Committee to formally appoint a community representative from the Bridge ward onto the Area 8 Committee.

RESOLVED to formally note the appointment of Richard Gutteridge of 26^th Nottingham (The Meadows) Scout Group as Area Committee Community Representative from the Bridge Ward for the 2018/19 municipal year.

Verbal update

Inspector James Walker, Nottinghamshire Police, gave an update on local policing and crime in the Bridge, Clifton North and Clifton South wards, highlighting the following:

(a)  there has been a spike in auto-crime in Clifton. There have been some arrests for burglary and auto-crime and response officers have changed their patrol plans to take in streets where this has happened;

(b)  a PCSO has been trained in the use of off-road bicycles to target those that are riding these illegally;

(c)  an offender who was scratching vehicles in the Silverdale area has now been apprehended;

(d)  a Schools Officer has been recruited for the south of the city who will be going into schools to discuss knife crime, gangs, sexting and other issues affecting young people;

(e)  in the Meadows there have been 3 warrants in the last 3 weeks which has resulted in a drop in all crime;

(f)  a police drop-in centre will be opening at the central fire station from next week;

(g)  Operation Sceptre took place across Nottinghamshire last week, with 418 knives across the county being handed in, and knife purchasing tests taking place in shops including some shops in the Meadows.

Scott Clancy, Senior Community Protection Officer (CPO), gave an update on Community Protection in the area, highlighting the following:

(h)  Community Protection is now enforcing Common Law Powers when dealing with travellers, which require police support but no court involvement. This has resulted in travellers being moved on much more quickly that previously;

(i)  the Meadows Week of Action took place recently, as well as two dog fouling operations;

(j)  a dedicated schools CPO has been recruited, as well as two CPOs who deal purely with social media crime.

RESOLVED to thank Inspector Walker and Scott Clancy for the information provided.

Report of the Corporate Director for Commercial and Operations

Andy Springall, Operations Director, Robin Hood Energy (RHE), delivered a presentation highlighting the following:

(a)  the company was established in 2014 and was the first publicly owned not for profit energy company in the UK. It was originally conceived to help tackle fuel poverty in Nottingham City;

(b)  RHE now serves over 115,000 customers across the UK taking in customers from an extended partnership of white label companies and other local authorities;

(c)  RHE has been much more successful than other ‘start up’ energy companies and has already achieved a profit within the first three years. Loans from the council to start the company are being repaid at commercial rates;

(d)  there are a wide range of tariffs available including green energy tariffs and a reduced tariff for city residents. Average savings for city residents are around £153 compared to standard prepay tariffs;

(e)  customers’ tariffs are regularly reviewed to ensure that they are the most suitable. Now that the company is achieving profit it has voluntarily joined the warm home discount scheme and fuel vouchers are regularly sent to food banks across the city to help the most vulnerable.

RESOLVED to note the information contained in the presentation.

Prairie Bryant, Neighbourhood Development Officer, and Councillor Michael Edwards introduced the report focussing on current priorities and issues facing the three wards within Area 8 and details of forthcoming events and activities. The following was highlighted:

(a)  drugs are a problem in the Bridge ward. Hotspots are checked daily by CPOs and any needles or other drug paraphernalia is reported for removal;

(b)  there has been an increase in fly tipping in the Meadows, with hotspots checked regularly and the Meadows Day of Action cleaning up Arkwright Walk;

(c)  double yellow lines will be introduced at junctions in the Old Meadows following consultation with residents, creating easier access for large vehicles, appropriate parking and safeguarding dropped kerbs;

(d)  successful parking schemes have been completed on Smithy Close, Farnborough Road and Fallows Close in Clifton North, and a scheme is due to be implemented on the Clifton Grove estate;

(e)  there are continuing issues with parking around schools, particularly in Wilford;

(f)  fly-tipping sites continue to be cleared in Clifton following a summer of activity. There are several Clean Champions and regular litter picks are taking place;

(g)  a Youth Activity directory has been completed and updated by the Bridges Community Trust.

Community Representatives were concerned at the lack of youth provision following the termination of projects in the area.

RESOLVED to

(1)  note the progress on ward priorities and other supporting information including the issues being addressed by each Neighbourhood Action Team, and upcoming opportunities for citizens to engage;

(2)  request a more detailed update on youth provision in the area at the next meeting.

Report of the Chief Executive of Nottingham City Homes

Will Morritt, City Housing Manager, Nottingham City Homes (NCH), introduced the report providing updates on key issues and themes which link back to local priorities and the strategic themes for Nottingham City Homes, highlighting the following:

(a)  Mayfield Court is due to have Grander Design work this financial year, with a start date yet to be confirmed. Fire enhancement works at Southchurch Court, including installation of sprinklers, will begin in late 2018 to early 2019 due to electrical infrastructure issues that are being resolved;

(b)  the Decent Neighbourhood team has recently delivered external and boundary improvements to Crammond Close, upgrading canopies, fascias and boundary fencing and door numbers. The aim is to roll out this type of work across the Bridge ward;

(c)  the Tenant Academy has delivered a number of courses in June on items such as practical DIY, basic booking, and women in construction;

(d)  NCH won the Excellence in Tenant Engagement award at the national final of the TPAS awards.

RESOLVED to

(1)  note the update and performance information in the report;

(2)  note the allocation of funds for 2017/18, detailed below;

(3)  approve the Area Capital Programme funding requests set out below:

Verbal update by Mark Armstrong, Town Centre Co-ordinator

Mark Armstrong, Town Centres Coordinator, gave a verbal update on developments in Clifton town centre, highlighting the following:

(a)  improvements to the cut-through from the Clifton shops to Morrison’s will be complete by Christmas. Paving is complete at the top end of the Clifton shops and tree pits will be completed from the end of this month;

(b)  improvements to the Flower Park are due to start at the end of November, including a new design with trees, benches and a new repositioned entrance;

(c)  the Clifton Triangle development is now open and trading. Planning permission will be sought soon for flats on the site.

RESOLVED to thank Mark for the update.

Verbal update

Mark Armstrong, Town Centres Coordinator, delivered a presentation highlighting the following developments:

(a)  the Clifton Extension, provisionally known as Fairham Pastures, is a large development of 3,000 new houses in Rushcliffe borough over 15-20 years. The development will include improvements to Crusader Island and a protected route for a tram extension;

(b)  The Vantage is a development of student accommodation planned at Traffic Street to the north of the Meadows, which was approved by the Planning Committee last month. It will be required to have a management scheme;

(c)  Crocus Street (the Cresswell site) is  a mixed development of student accommodation and private apartments to the north of the Meadows. Positive meetings and consultation has taken place with local residents;

(d)  sand and gravel extraction is planned at Barton in Fabis by Nottinghamshire County Council, on a site which is 12% within the city boundary, as part of their Minerals Plan.

Councillor Chris Gibson highlighted that he has objected to the plans for sand and gravel extraction as he believes that it will have a detrimental impact on the local environment, and requested that other Councillors also raise objections.

RESOLVED to

(1)  thank Mark for the information provided;

(2)  draft a letter from the Committee, signed by the Chair, to say that the sand and gravel extraction at Barton in Fabis will be unacceptable for Clifton.

Any Community Representative wishing to submit an item for discussion at the meeting should email prairie.bryant@nottinghamcity.gov.uk by Monday 1 October

The following information was provided by community representatives:

(a)  development at the Old Rectory in Clifton Village is encouraging and should eradicate an eyesore from the area;

(b)  new bus routes have been proposed in Clifton with no consultation, which will have implications for the community;

(c)  OMTRA won an outstanding award at Nottingham in Bloom, and are bidding to gain conservation status for the Old Meadows.

Prairie Bryant, Neighbourhood Development Officer, introduced the report providing the Committee with the latest spend proposal under the Area Capital Fund including highways, traffic and safety and public realm.

RESOLVED to

(1)  note the monies available to Bridge, Clifton North and Clifton South wards as outlined below:

Bridge

(2)  approve the programme of schemes for Bridge and Clifton South wards as outlined below:

Prairie Bryant, Neighbourhood Development Officer, introduced the report advising the Committee of the use of delegated authority by the Director of Community Protection for projects funded by ward councillor budgets.

RESOLVED to note the actions agreed by the Director of Community Protection in respect of projects and schemes within the Bridge, Clifton North and Clifton South wards as detailed below: