Agenda and minutes

Councillor Wildgust  -  personal

Michael Savage 

Chris Easton declared a personal interest in item 7, minute 46, as a landlord of property in the city, which did not preclude him from speaking.

Last meeting held on 14 December 2016 (for confirmation)

(a)  Confirmation

The Committee confirmed the minutes of the meeting held on 14 December 2016 as a correct record and they were signed by the Chair;

(b)  Area Based Grants

Further to minute 33 dated 14 December 2016, Gary Cawthorne, Bestwood Partnership, updated the Committee on the latest position in regard to activities, events and performance during the period 1 January to 29 March 2017.

A copy of his report was handed around the table and is appended to these minutes.

Please contact the Neighbourhood Development Officer at least 3 days before the meeting with any issues you wish to raise

Issues raised were grime hotspots and fly-tipping and whether enough was being done to reduce both, such as fines being given to offenders.

Inspector Gordon Fenwick, Nottinghamshire Police, to report

Inspector Fenwick, Notts Police, and SCPO Burns, Community Protection, updated the Committee on policing matters in the wards, including crime and arrest figures, local initiatives to address crime and anti-social behaviour and current police / Community Protection areas of focus.

RESOLVED to note the update.

Reports of Technical Officer, Road Safety

Chris Berry, Road Safety Project Officer, presented the report, which detailed accident trends and ‘clusters’ (four or more accidents at the same spot) within the wards over the last 5 years. The report highlighted problem areas as follows:

Basford

B682 Nottingham Road junction with Western Boulevard: 15 accidents / 21 casualties.

·  This cluster spreads west to include the junction with Scotland Road;

·  3 casualties sustained serious injuries;

·  At this site there has been 1 accident involving a pedestrian, 6 accidents involving pedal cycles, 1 involving a child and 1 involving a powered two-wheeler.

B6004 Southwark Street/David Lane junction with the B682 Vernon Road: 14 accidents / 23 casualties.

·  1 casualty sustained serious injuries;

·  At this site there has been 1 accident involving a pedestrian, 4 accidents involving pedal cycles, 5 involving a child and 2 involving a powered two-wheeler.

B6004 Stockhill Lane junction with the A610 Nuthall Road: 12 accidents / 13 casualties.

·  1 casualty sustained serious injuries;

·  At this site there have been 2 accidents involving a pedestrian, 2 accidents involving pedal cycles, 2 involving a child and 2 involving a powered two-wheeler.

A611 Hucknall Road junction with Arnold Road: 11 accidents / 13 casualties.

·  At this site there have been 4 accidents involving a pedestrian, 1 accident involving pedal cycles and 1 involving a child.

B682 Vernon Road junction with Nottingham Road (mini roundabout): 12 accidents / 13 casualties.

·  1 casualty sustained serious injuries;

·  At this site there have been 2 accidents involving a pedestrian and 2 involving a child.

Bestwood

A611 Hucknall Road junction with Kersall Drive: 6 accidents / 9 casualties.

·  This cluster is on the boundary of the adjacent Basford and Bulwell Forest Wards;

·  1 casualty sustained serious injuries;

·  At this site there have been 1 accident involving pedal cycles and 2 involving a powered two-wheeler.

A611 Hucknall Road junction with Arnold Road: 6 accidents / 15 casualties.

·  At this site there have been 2 accidents involving a child, 3 involving OAPs and 2 involving a powered two-wheeler.

Bestwood Park Drive junction with Deer Park Drive: 5 accidents / 5 casualties.

·  2 casualty sustained serious injuries;

·  At this site there have been 4 accidents involving pedal cycles.

Beckhampton Road junction with Bestwood Park Drive: 4 accidents / 4 casualties.

·  At this site there have been 2 accidents involving pedestrians and 1 involving a child.

RESOLVED to note the report.

Report of Corporate Director, Commercial and Operations

Lisa Ball, Strategic Planning and Performance Consultant, delivered a presentation to accompany the joint report of the Corporate Directors of Development and Growth, and Commercial and Operations, on a proposal to introduce a scheme of selective licensing for privately rented houses within the City to meet the commitment for quality housing for all.

The aim of the scheme is to ensure that privately rented accommodation meets a minimum standard and to reduce anti-social behaviour. The City Council’s Executive Board have approved that public consultation is undertaken between January 16 and 31 March 2017, the outcome of which will determine if the scheme will be submitted to the Secretary of State for final approval.

The full consultation document can be found here:http://www.nottinghamcity.gov.uk/consultation-engagement-and-surveys/#housing

The following points were highlighted and questions responded to:

a)  there will be a charge of £600 every five years to private rented landlords, reduced to £460 for accredited landlords. This will contribute to the cost of operating the scheme and will be used to support the aims of the scheme;

b)  if implemented, the scheme will operate alongside existing housing schemes such as that for Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs);

c)  although some wards within the City have relatively few private rented properties, such as Bulwell Forest, the whole City will be included within the scheme to ensure coherence;

d)  the proposed licensing scheme is part of an overall housing strategy which also includes a homelessness strategy. Homelessness organisations including the City Council Homelessness Team and Framework have been invited to take part in the consultation;

e)  in addition to ensuring that landlords are fully informed and aware of any new and emerging legislation, if landlords are having problems with tenants, the scheme will provide advice, support and training, support and advice will also be available for tenants having problems with their landlords;

f)  if agreed, the scheme will become compulsory and all private rented landlords who are not included in any other schemes, such as HMO’s, will need to apply for a licence or be fined;

g)  if the standards of the scheme are not complied to, enforcement action will be taken;

h)  if agreed, the scheme could be in place by Spring 2018;

i)  details of how the accreditation panels will assess landlords are within the consultation document;

j)  random checks will be undertaken by Environmental Health colleagues on a variety of properties to ensure eligible landlords are registered;

k)  there are several similar schemes already operating throughout the country, but if agreed, few will be as large as the Nottingham model.

RESOLVED to note the proposed scheme and consultation process detailed within the report, and to encourage partners to actively contribute to the consultation process.

(a)  Performance

Wade Adams, Area Housing Manager, Nottingham City Homes, updated the Committee on performance against key issues and themes linked to local priorities and strategic themes for NCH, including the capital programme / major works, area regeneration / environmental issues, key messages from the Tenant and Leaseholder Congress, Tenant and Resident Association updates, area performance and positive publicity.

RESOLVED to note the update.

(b)  Environmental Schemes

RESOLVED to note that there are no schemes for approval at this meeting and, as such, the remaining available balances are £95,055.70 (Basford) and £56,241.33 (Bestwood).

Report of the Director of Neighbourhood Services

Dale Griffin and Gursharan Nijran, Neighbourhood Development Officers, presented the report, which detailed current priorities and issues, and provided details of forthcoming events and activities, in the Basford and Bestwood wards.

During discussion, it was stated that the Committee thanks Community Protection Officers in both wards in regard to dog fouling, both in engaging with the public to prevent it, and in handing out fines to those guilty of allowing their animals to do it.

RESOLVED to note the report.

Report of the Director of Neighbourhood Services

Dale Griffin and Gursharan Nijran, Neighbourhood Development Officers, presented the report, which detailed the latest spend proposals under the Area Capital 2016/17 programme, including highways, footpaths and public realm.

RESOLVED

Report of the Director of Neighbourhood Services

Dale Griffin and Gursharan Nijran, Neighbourhood Development Officers, presented the report, which detailed decisions taken by the Director of Neighbourhood Services under delegated authority since the last meeting.

RESOLVED to note the actions taken under delegated authority in respect of projects in the Basford and Bestwood wards as follows: