Agenda and minutes

Councillor Campbell is appointed Chair for the 2014/15 municipal year.

Councillor Alan Clark and Councillor Jackie Morris are appointed Joint Vice-Chairs.

Doreen Carruthers

Gillian Slack

Councillor Nick McDonald

Reg Knowles

Eileen Stacey

Lynita Conradie

Sheila Loades

Suki Shergill

The Chair informed the committee that Doreen Carruthers is in London today to receive a British Empire Medal, and offered her congratulations.

Meeting held on 19 February 2014 (for confirmation)

The minutes of the meeting held on 19 February 2014 were confirmed and signed by the Chair.

Verbal update from Centre Manager

Steve Pepper, Manager of Bulwell Riverside Joint Service Centre, delivered a PowerPoint presentation, informing the committee of the wide variety community and private groups and clubs hosted at the centre and the community activities held.

The occupancy for the rooms available to hire is as follows:

There was no intention to take income from other community facilities and careful thought has been given to pricing of room hire at the centre, ensuring that this is in line with other local venues. Where applications and enquiries for room hire cannot be met at the centre, the management team are happy to sign post and promote other local facilities.

It is noted that the ‘Youth and Play’ section of the building does have restricted availability and any applications to use the space has to be authorised with the appropriate service.

A website is to be developed for Bulwell Riverside Joint Service Centre which will in future hopefully include an interactive tour of the facilities.

Community representatives expressed concern that the sports hall is very rarely available to hire as when ‘Youth and Play’ are using any part of that building, no other groups could have access.

The local netball team wanted to use the hall but as it does not have netball court floor markings, and as the funds were not available in this financial year to install them, it was not possible to accommodate them.

It is noted that room hire charges vary between the health section of the building and the main section as health charge per session and all other charges are per hour.

Anyone wishing to enquire about hiring a room can call 0115 883 3500 details.

Resolved to note the update.

Report of Director of Crime and Drugs Partnership

Najib Nazir, North Locality Community Safety Officer for the Crime and Drugs Partnership, delivered a report which presents the findings of the Respect for Nottingham survey results.

The survey was to measure citizen’s perception of anti-social behaviour (ASB). 2700 City residents have contributed to the survey which took place during  December 2013. 17% of residents across the city perceived ASB to be a problem. At ward level this is 16% of citizens responded within Bulwell Ward, and 12% responded within Bulwell Forest Ward.

The lowest levels of antisocial behaviour perception and the highest level of confidence in the police were reported since the survey had started.

Dog fouling, litter and rubbish remain constantly high concerns in surveys for the past 3 years.

The full results of the survey, including Ward detail and the community, age and ethnicity mix of those responding, can be found at: http://www.nottinghamcdp.com

The committee made the following points;

(a)  dog fouling continues to be an issue across all wards within the city. Councillors and David Norman of My Sight Nottinghamshire, visited Cantrell Primary School to talk to the children about dog fouling and the difficulties it can cause partially sighted people. When asked, half of the 420 children in the school have a family dog. It is important to educate the children as they will help educate the adults. David Norman explained to the children that partially sighted people can not necessarily see the fouling and are not always aware if they tread in it. This was also the same with food which is dropped on the pavement but with the added issue that guide dogs can be distracted by it. The children were urged to discourage their parents from dropping food in the street and to encourage picking up of dog mess. It is noted that another issue for partially sighted people is overgrown hedges trees and flowers which protrude on to the pavement space;

(b)  Tenants and Residents Associations, along with the Local Action Groups and School Councils are also concerned about dog fouling and the lack of dog fouling wardens. Many educational campaigns and dog fouling clean ups have been held but as the problem persists this proves that enforcement is required;

(c)  fixed penalty fines are regularly issued across the City for dog fouling offences. These fines are advertised in the area of the offence;

(d)  it should be noted that all litter bins the City can be used to deposit dog foul and that if David Norman, as a partially sighted person, can pick up after his guide dog, there is no excuse for anyone else not to pick up after their dog;

(e)  North Locality Manager Heidi May asked that any health and safety risk and trees and bushes protruding on the pavements be reported to the Neighbourhood Action Teams so that action can be taken;

(f)  while the results of the survey were not good, there has been a vast improvement from just a few years ago when burnt  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

Acting Inspector Christine Busutti to verbally update

Acting Inspector Christine Busuttil delivered a brief update on the Area Policing Priorities which were identified following consideration of reported crime, issues raised through the on-line consultation system, the Local Action Groups and Tenant and Resident meetings. Further consultation and monitoring will take place and revised priorities will be set for the next three month period.

Bulwell Forest Ward

There has been a burglary awareness campaign in St Albans and Highbury Road area, encouraging citizens to ensure their properties are secure, and windows closed/locked especially during warm weather, even if they are in their homes.

Bulwell Ward

The main issues to report are anti-social behaviour and grass fires in and around the Snapewood area. There is a possible suspect but this has not been confirmed yet and the neighbourhood teams are working with the Fire and Rescue Service.

It is noted that following an active operation, the statistics for drug-related reported crime are up, but that serious crime is down.

In the Rise Park area, criminal damage remains an issue.

There has been an increase in the theift of unlocked bikes and also shoplifting. 10 life-size cardboard cutouts of local police officers are to be shared out among local shops, although it is hard to tell if they are effective.

Members of the committee expressed concern at ongoing issues in Merchant Street and urged that action is taken against the perpetrators.

RESOLVED to thank Acting Inspector Christine Busuttil for her attendance.

Report of Director of Neighbourhood Services

Celia Knight, Neighbourhood Development Officer, presented the report which proposed 3 schemes within the Bulwell Forest Ward.

RESOLVED

(1)  to approve the following Bulwell Forest schemes:

(2)  to note the following:

(i)  Bulwell Ward

(ii)  Bulwell Forest Ward

Report of Chief Executive of Nottingham City Homes

Nicky Jarvis, Tenancy and Estate Manager, presented the report which requests the Committee’s approval for a proposed scheme in Bulwell Ward.

RESOLVED to approve the following for Bulwell Ward:

Report of Director of Neighbourhood Services

Celia Knight, Neighbourhood Development Officer, presented the report.

The following points were highlighted:

(a)  Paul Jackson of the Bulwell British Legion reported that poppies and trees have been planted and that the Bulwell British Legion would like to place a plaque jointly with the City Council, in commemoration of the start of the First World War 100 years ago on 4 August 1914. All Ward councillors agreed to the proposal. It is noted that on 4 August Saint Mary’s Church Bulwell, will be open from 7am until 7pm;

(b)  with regard to the relocation of the Bulwell Credit Union, the Councillors reported that Lisa Black, Head Of Revenues Benefits and Welfare Rights, is considering possibilities of retaining some form of  counter point within the area as it is recognised that not everyone can afford to travel into the City. However, as the credit union is running as a bank, it legally needs to have a paid employees. As it is currently unable to retrieve funds for many of the loans taken out, it is doubtful that the Bulwell Credit Union can continue in its present state so this could result in job losses. The Leader and Deputy Leader of the Council, along with Ward Councillors and other elected members are concerned at the potential closure. It is suggested that the future of the Bulwell Credit Union be discussed at a future Area Committee meeting;

(c)  concerns have been raised regarding Bulwell Hall Golf Course and rumours that the contractor has gone into liquidation. Eddy Curry, Head of Parks and Open Spaces, submitted the following statement:

(i)  at present we are working in partnership with the Bulwell Hall Golf Club in order to keep the course maintained and to keep the pavilion / café operational.

(ii)  The mounding works are set to continue under Parks control.

(iii)  We have in place an interim management agreement with the Bulwell Hall Golf Club

(iv)  Key message is that it is business is open as usual

Councillors requested that Eddy Curry attend the September Area Committee meeting to provide a full update. The committee were assured that the golf course will be kept open.

RESOLVED

(1)  to note the Ward Performance Report;

(2)  to note that Ward Councillors, from their individual councillor budgets, and the Bulwell British Legion are to jointly fund a plaque to commemorate the centenary of the First World War;

(3)  for an update on the future of the Bulwell Credit Union to be submitted to a future meeting;

(4)  for the Head of Parks and Open Spaces to update the committee on the current situation regarding Bulwell Hall Golf Course.

To agree the following meeting dates at 5.30pm at Bulwell Riverside

3 September 2014

10 December 2014

18 February 2015

Resolved to note the following meeting dates at 5:30 pm at Bulwell Riverside:

3 September 2014

10 December 2014

  18 February 2015