Agenda for Bulwell and Bulwell Forest Area Committee on Wednesday, 7th September, 2016, 5.30 pm

Agenda and minutes

Venue: Bulwell Riverside, Main Street Bulwell, Nottingham NG6 8QJ

Contact: Catherine Ziane-Pryor  Email: catherine.pryor@nottinghamcity.gov.uk

Items
No. Item

16.

APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

The opportunity for Community Representatives to suggest future agenda items.

Minutes:

Councillor Nick McDonald (work commitments)

Suki Shergill

Doreen Carruthers

Gillian Slack

Councillor Jackie Morris - for lateness

17.

DECLARATIONS OF INTERESTS

Minutes:

None.

18.

MINUTES pdf icon PDF 279 KB

Of the meeting held on 18 May 2016 (for confirmation).

Minutes:

The minutes of the meeting held on 18 May 2016 were confirmed as a true record and signed by the Chair.

19.

COMMUNITY REPRESENTATIVES - FURTHER APPOINTMENT

To note the appointment of Reverend David Gray of St. John’s Church as a community representative.

Minutes:

RESOLVED to note the appointment of Reverend David Gray of St. John’s Church as a Community Representative for the 2016/17 municipal year.

20.

AREA LEAD UPDATE (RIGHT TRACK)

Verbal Update by Right Track

Minutes:

Stuart Bell and Nick Parr of Right Track Social Enterprise updated the Committee on the work of Right Track (RT) as the Lead Organisation for the Area.

 

The following points were highlighted:

 

(a)  Right Track Social Enterprise has been the Lead Organisation in Area 1 for the past 3 years and provides and enables community engagement and activities for all sections and ages of the community, including employment and training and support;

(b)  although the contract for Area 1 Lead Organisation was renewed on 12 July 2016, the amount of funding has been reduced by £5,000;

(c)  RT is involved with the Employment and Skills Area Partnership which met for the first time in June and proposes to hold a Local Opportunities Roadshow in October with local businesses meeting with local people who want to get back into work, as a confidence builder, finding out what local businesses do and what skills they need. It is hoped that further sessions can be provided;

(d)  drop-in Jobs Clubs already operate in Top Valley (Mondays and Fridays 10am-12 noon) and Bulwell Riverside (Wednesdays 10am -4pm), with an average attendance of 15 people per session;

(e)  ‘Nottingham into Work’ has helped 106 local people, 55 were successful in gaining employment, 39 of whom are still in employment 6 months later;

(f)  RT also work with children and young people, engaging with 457 local young people during the first year quarter, 274 through the toy library alone, with a variety of engagement and activity sessions;

(g)  RT has engaged with 4 new local volunteering community groups to help them set up and source funding and contacts, and during the new year, hopes to provide specific ‘set-up’ sessions for other emerging groups;

(h)  Any Councillors or community representatives wanting to find out more about what RT does and can provide, can contact Stuart or Nick via the Neighbourhood Development Officers.

 

The Committee’s questions were responded to as follows:

 

(i)  the local people who RT have helped into work are aged 18-29 years old;

(j)  work opportunities have been accessed across a range of sectors including warehouse, driving and retail, depending on the young people’s areas of interest;

(k)  career advice is provided to young people engaged with RT to try and encourage them to raise their aspirations of what they are capable of achieving and working as;

(l)  statistics can be provided regarding the level and type of formal qualifications which young people engaging with RT may have, but this would be following the meeting. Some young people do have qualifications but many struggle with maths and English so RT aims for them to achieve basic qualifications in these subjects but with only 6 months engagement, this is not always possible;

(m)  with regard to current school leavers, it is possible to electronically access their course attendance and formal qualification and records but this is not possible for everyone;

(n)  RT undertakes a skills audit with all young people accessing their employment support service and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 20.

21.

AREA COMMITTEE - IMPROVING THE HEALTH OF CITIZENS pdf icon PDF 273 KB

Report of Alison Challenger, Director of Public Health

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Gayle Aughton, Commissioning Manager, presented the report which informs the Committee of the outcome of the ward-level research and recent consultation on the health profile of Nottingham’s citizens to ensure that commissioning of Public Health Services will appropriately and most effectively meet the health needs of the local population.

 

Consultation included gathering information on the preferences of citizens with regard to venues and time of day to contact and access services. This feedback has proved very valuable and will be applied to future commissioning of health services by Public Health.

 

Internet links are provided in the report to a variety of Public Health statistical and commissioning information:

 

The health profiles can be found on the Nottingham Insight website:

https://nottinghaminsight.org.uk/f/96676/Library/Public-Health/

 

The Adults Healthy Lifestyle Strategic Commissioning Review may be accessed here:

http://www.nottinghamcity.gov.uk/business-information-and-support/commissioning-contracting-and-procurement/commissioning-contracting-and-procurement-latest-news/

 

The report also included a summary of each Area Committee findings from the consultation, the questions of which included:

 

(i)  How can we support citizens to access services which will help them to have a healthy lifestyle?

(ii)  What are the barriers /gaps?

(iii)  What enablers can help overcome these barriers?

(iv)  How can we make services more attractive to hard to reach groups?

(v)  What works well in your area?

 

The report also noted how Councillor local knowledge and input has contributed to shaping the new model of ‘Adults Healthy Lifestyles’ and a summary of the Nottingham City Joint Health and Wellbeing Strategy.

 

A ‘you said, we did’ response has been taken to feedback from the consultation.

 

The Public Health team is keen to develop a mutually beneficial relationship with Area Committees for information sharing of what does and doesn’t work, why services may not be performing as expected for citizens and how to improve access and services.

 

The main benefits of Public Health engaging with Area Committees includes:

 

·  increasing efficiency, saving officer time in undertaking community based questions with citizens;

·  Improved quality of engagement with a wide and diverse range of stakeholders

·  Increasing effectiveness, supporting evidence of services being developed to meet the needs of citizens, or requiring amendments.

 

The next steps to strengthening the link between Public Health and Area Committees includes:

 

·  investigation into linking Area Committee priorities with up and coming strategic commissioning reviews;

·  considering what would be the most effective and efficient way of communicating to Area Committees Public Health updates and key information.  

 

The low uptake of Flu Vaccinations has been raised as an issue of concern by Area 1 Councillors. It is possible that citizens had in part lost confidence in the flu jab as last year it was found that the vaccination did not protect against all of the main strains of flu. A briefing note on the uptake of city-wide vaccinations was compared with national uptake, circulated at the meeting and uploaded to online agenda following the meeting. Generally the Nottingham uptake in most categories was lower but still similar to the national figures with the exception of pregnant women where 34.8% were vaccinated in Nottingham compared to a 42.3%  ...  view the full minutes text for item 21.

22.

NOTTINGHAM CITY HOMES (NCH) : PERFORMANCE AND ENGAGEMENT UPDATES AND PROPOSED ENVIRONMENTAL SCHEMES pdf icon PDF 129 KB

Report of NCH Chief Executive (Tenancy and Estates Manager to present.)

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Elira Mano, Nottingham City Homes Area Housing Manager, presented the report of the Chief Executive of Nottingham City Homes (NCH), which updates the Committee with a list of community activity in the area including NCH involvement with community groups, an overall performance report and requests approval for environmental schemes.

 

With regard to the metal fencing proposed for South Snape Road, Councillors requested that following the disappearance of other fencing that anything installed is robustly secured and cannot be easily removed.

 

Concern was also expressed by Councillors and Community groups that, despite assurances, the issue of constantly changing Patch Managers in some neighbourhoods was still not resolved. It was noted that this was having a very destructive impact on community groups which were, as a result, on the verge of disbanding. In addition, elected members had asked to be kept informed of changes within the area but communication had been poor and delayed. Elira responded that there had been issues with retaining staff but that the concerns of the Committee would be highlighted with senior managers, noting that the latest re-organisation had only affected management.

 

Elira announced that there is to be a Nottingham City Homes hosted Fun Day at Bulwell Academy on 17 September from 11am to 3pm.

 

RESOLVED

 

(1)  to note the update and performance information in Appendices 1 and 2 to the report;

 

(2)  to note the allocation of funds for 2015/16, as follows:

 

Ward

Budget including carry over from 2015/16

Schemes Approved

Schemes Committed

Schemes De- Committed

Remaining Budget

Bulwell

£186,832.39

£0

£0

£0

£186,832.39

Bulwell Forest 

£51,086.58

£1,400

£0

£0

£49,686.58

 

(3)  to approve the Area Capital Programme funding requests as follows:

 

(a)   

Norwich Gardens phase 5

 

Contribution for the continuation of the external improvements to this area, to include new patios, new fencing and an upgrade of the external space of each property.

£34,000

(b)   

Duchess Gardens

Contribution towards a pilot scheme redesigning the external layout to 4 bungalows as they are currently excluded and offer no defensible space for residents. This will involve the creation of private gardens as there is currently no defensible space for this block of properties.

£34,000

(c)   

South Snape Road

Request for the funding to complete this project. We are looking to remove the existing dilapidated timber fencing and replace it with a high quality metal ball finial railing. We will also be replacing the intermediate timber fencing between each property.

£17,983.00

 

 

23.

POLICE UPDATE

A verbal update from Nottinghamshire Police.

Minutes:

Police Sergeant Nev McGeehan verbally updated the Committee with the crime statistics within Area 1 compared to the same April –September period last year:

 

(a)  Overall crime was down by 11% with 132 fewer offenses;

(b)  Violent crime was down by 16% with 62 fewer offenses;

(c)  Robbery was down by 30% with 8 fewer offences;

(d)  Dwelling burglary was down by 35% with 24 fewer offences;

(e)  Non-dwelling burglary (business’ and out buildings) has risen by 19%  with 7 additional crimes, particularly focused in the Blenheim Allotments where sheds have been broken into;

(f)  Motor vehicle theft was up by 16% with 3 more offenses;

(g)  Taking from motor vehicles was up by 33% with 11 more incidents;

(h)  Criminal damage is down by 21% as a result of 49 fewer crimes;

(i)  Arson is down 70% with 14 fewer crimes;

(j)  Drugs offenses are up by 51 % and weapons offenses up by 70% although this is likely to be a reflection of the success of Police targeted work against drug dealers who often carry weapons;

(k)  Hate crime figures do not reflect the rates predicted by the national media and have dropped by 45% with 14 fewer incidents;

(l)  ASB has dropped by 24%b with 273 fewer incidents.

(m)  Sexual offences have dropped from 32 last year to 24 this year, although some of last year’s figures may be a reflection of the reporting of historical abuse.

(n)  The use of social media is supporting the Police in contacting citizens, highlighting crime and making reporting and intelligence much easier;

(o)  There is an impact on criminal statistics reflected by who is in prison and who is living with in the area;

(p)  Pokemon Parklife was an idea of one of the PCSOs who created Pokémon lures which worked very well in attracting and enabling engagement with citizens and was relatively cheap to achieve.

 

RESOLVED to record the Committee’s thank for Sergeant Nev McGeehan for his attendance and update.

24.

PROPOSED BULWELL CONSERVATION AREA pdf icon PDF 265 KB

Report and presentation by Mark Armstrong, Town Centre Co-ordinator

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Mark Armstrong, Town Centre Co-ordinator, and Tom Street, Principal Conservation Officer, informed the Committee of the initial proposals to establish a conservation area in Bulwell, including the Town Centre and some surrounding areas. Consultation had been undertaken and amendments made to the proposed boundaries as a result.

 

The proposal is one of 5 potential designated conservation areas being considered during the first year of activity of the newly adopted Nottingham Heritage Strategy and contributes to the 15 year long-term strategy for the City.

 

A consultation event was held in Bulwell Market with historic photographs on display of the town centre and the proposed conservation area map. The proposal was very well received and generated a lot of interest and discussion with local citizens welcoming the opportunity to protect the historical aspects of the town centre and suggesting further additions.

 

A map of the proposed conservation area is included within the report along with demonstrations that the streets and buildings included warrant protection.

 

Comments from the Committee included:

 

(a)  only some of the Bulwell Stone built houses on Mersey Street and Thames Street survived the slum clearance and although many are now privately owned, it is important to protect those that remain;

 

(b)  some of the commercial buildings in the town centre have their upper floor windows covered with black painted boards which is a shame;

 

(c)  although a building of interest, St John’s Church is too far from the town centre to be included within the conservation area boundary without including housing which is not currently of historic interest for a conservation area.

 

Mark Armstrong responded to some of the issues raised as follows:

 

(d)  sometimes windows are completely boarded when the frames are in need of repair or replacing as this is the cheaper option. If the town centre does gain approval as a conservation area, the City Council can apply for funding from the Lottery Heritage Fund or Historic England for funds to which building owners can apply for to help clean and tidy the buildings of interest. In addition, a designated conservation area  provides environmental health with more impetus to address issues with buildings which detract from the area;

 

(e)  in establishing a conservation area, this could act as a stimulus for regeneration in the area.

 

RESOLVED

 

(1)  to note the proposal to designate as a Conservation Area the area shown outlined red on the plan in Appendix 1 to the report;

 

(2)  to recommend the designation by Executive Board in due course.

25.

BULWELL AND BULWELL FOREST AREA CAPITAL FUND pdf icon PDF 329 KB

Report of the Director of Neighbourhood Services

Minutes:

Neighbourhood Development Officer Celia Knight introduced the Area Capital Report which proposes Area Capital and Public Realm (Local Transport Plan –LTP) funded schemes within each ward.

 

It is noted that no new Public Realm or Local Transport  Plan schemes are proposed at this time for Bulwell ward and that there have not been and de-commitment of funding.

 

RESOLVED

(1)  to note financial position of Bulwell Ward as follows:

 

2016 - 2017 LTP allocation

£85,600

LTP carried forward from 2015 - 2016

£0

2016 - 2017 Public Realm allocation

£51,300

Public Realm carried forward from 2015 - 2016

£70,953

Total Available 2016 - 2017 ACF

£207,853

Less LTP schemes

-

£47,500

Less Public Realm schemes

-

£0

De-committed funds

+

£0

Remaining available balance

£160,353

LTP element remaining

£38,100

Public Realm element remaining

£122,253

 

(2)  to approve the following Bulwell Forest Ward LTP funded schemes:

 

Location

Type

Estimate

Details

Colston Road

footpath

£19,470

Resurface footpath on Colston Road from St Albans Rd to Austin St - lead service: Highway Maintenance

Hucknall Road

signage

£250

Installation of two signs on existing posts to highlight location of the Bowls Club - lead service: Highway Maintenance

Highbury Road

footpath

£9,938

Surface treatment of footpath on Highbury Road from Broomhill Lane to Church Lane (LTP contribution) - lead service: Highway Maintenance

Total including previously approved schemes

£48,300

 

(3)  to approve the following Bulwell Forest Ward Public Realm funded schemes:

 

 

 

 

 

Location

Type

Estimate

Details

Pine Hill Close subway

area improvement

£483

Restoration and repainting of subway following fire damage - lead service: Streetscene

Highbury Road

footpath

£20,863

Surface treatment of footpath on Highbury Road from Broomhill Lane to Church Lane (PR contribution) - lead service: Highway Maintenance

Revelstoke Way

adoption

£400

Further contribution to existing scheme to adopt link footpath - lead service: Rights of Way

Total including previously approved schemes.

£23,746

 

 

 

 

(4)  to note the financial position of Bulwell Forest Ward as follows:

 

 

2016 - 2017 LTP allocation

£48,300

LTP carried forward from 2015 - 2016

£0

2016 - 2017 Public Realm allocation

£29,000

Public Realm carried forward from 2015 - 2016

£7,523

Total Available 2016 - 2017 ACF

£84,823

Less LTP schemes

-

£48,300

Less Public Realm schemes

-

£23,746

De-committed funds

+

£700

Remaining available balance

£13,477

LTP element remaining

£0

Public Realm element remaining

£13,477

 

 

26.

DELEGATED AUTHORITY AND FINANCE pdf icon PDF 288 KB

Report of the Director of Neighbourhood Services

 

Minutes:

Neighbourhood Development Officer Celia Knight presented the report which informs the Committee of the financial position of Ward Member Budgets and the actions agreed by the Director of Neighbourhood Services as a result of Ward Member funding requests.

 

It is noted that further schemes and events have received Councillor support in principal but that the formal approval process is yet to be completed.

 

RESOLVED to note:

 

(a)   the following Bulwell Ward allocation:

Schemes: Bulwell Ward

Councillor(s)

£ total

Dream

Hartshorne, Klein & Morris

£1,500

Events

Morris

£500

Carnival

Klein

£106

Toy library (Arts Festival)

Hartshorne, Klein, Morris

£2,000

 

(b)  the Ward Councillor budget position for Bulwell Ward Councillors:

 

Balance Brought Forward 15/16

£11,026

Councillor Funding 16/17

£15,000

Total Funds

£ 26,026

Allocated 16/17

£ 4490

De-committed Schemes

£  0

Uncommitted Funds after Allocated Schemes

£  21,536

 

(c)  the following Bulwell Forest Ward allocations:

 

Schemes: Bulwell Forest Ward

Councillor(s)

£ total

St Mary’s Guides

Campbell, Clark, McDonald

£690

Southglade Library Garden

Campbell, Clark, McDonald

£375

Residential Music Camp in Derbyshire

Campbell, Clark, McDonald

£270

Bulwell Riverside Youth and Play Sessions

Campbell, Clark, McDonald

£384

Literacy Volunteers

Campbell, Clark, McDonald

£340

Our Lady’s Community Hall Equipment

Campbell, Clark, McDonald

£350

Bulwell Forest Week of Action 2017

Campbell, Clark, McDonald

£1500

Bulwell and Rise Park Xmas Lights 2017

Campbell, Clark, McDonald

£3900

 

(d)  the Ward Councillor budget position for Bulwell Forest Ward Councillors:

 

Balance Brought Forward 15/16

  £1,517

Councillor Funding 16/17

£15,000

Total Funds

£16,517

Allocated 16/17

  £7,809

De-committed Schemes 16/17

  0

Uncommitted Funds after Allocated Schemes

  £8,708

 

27.

BULWELL AND BULWELL FOREST WARD REPORTS pdf icon PDF 214 KB

Report of the Director of Neighbourhood Services

 

Minutes:

Celia Knight, Neighbourhood Development Officer, presented the report which outlines current ward priorities and issues within the wards and identifies the lead organisation or City Council Department for addressing those issues.

 

RESOLVED to note:

 

(i)  the current ward priorities for Bulwell Ward as follows;

 

(i)  Safer Nottingham

anti-social behaviour and criminal damage

domestic abuse

 

(ii)  Neighbourhood Nottingham

dog fouling/fly tipping reduction

Crabtree engagement

 

(iii)  Families Nottingham

Big Steps Small Changes

school readiness

 

(iv)  Health Nottingham

    healthy eating in schools (obesity reduction)

information /awareness on reduction of bowel and lung cancer

smoking reduction in schools

breast feeding initiative

 

(v)  Working Nottingham

maximising employment opportunities for local people

 

(b)  the current ward priorities for Bulwell Ward as follows;

 

(i)  Safer Nottingham

anti-social behaviour and criminal damage

cannabis growing

 

(ii)  Neighbourhood Nottingham

increased tenant/resident engagement particularly around the Deptford crescent

management of vacant sites

development of parks and open spaces

dog fouling

tree planting

 

(iii)  Families Nottingham

increase awareness about services provided by the Children’s Centres

 

(iv)  Health Nottingham

promotion of energy advice

provision of support to carers

 

(v)  Working Nottingham

increase access to awareness about training and employment opportunities.

 

(c)  the current ward issues as follows:

 

(i)  Bulwell Ward

town centre upgrade and development

parking

anti-social behaviour;

 

(ii)  Bulwell Forest Ward

nuisance bikes on parks and open spaces

management of derelict sites

parking outside Highbury Road Co-op

 

(d)  the forthcoming community and partner events and engagement  listed in Appendix 3 to the report.

28.

ITEMS FOR FUTURE AGENDA

The opportunity for Community Representatives to suggest future agenda items.

Minutes:

This is an opportunity for Community Representatives to suggest future agenda items to be considered by the Committee. Any suggestions needed to be presented at least six weeks before the meeting date to either Celia Knight, Neighbourhood Development Officer for Bulwell Forest Ward, or Suki Shergill, Neighbourhood Development Officer for Bulwell Ward.

 

RESOLVED to consider inviting ‘Nott’s Wildlife Trust’ to provide an update on their activity in the area, including Sellars Wood woodland.

29.

FORTHCOMING EVENTS

An opportunity for Community Groups and City Council Colleagues to highlight forthcoming events and activities.

Minutes:

17 September 2016   NCH Fun Day,

11am -3pm  Bulwell Academy

 

29 September 2016  Older Person’s Event,

9.30pm to 12.30pm  Bulwell Riverside 

30.

Additional Area Health Information pdf icon PDF 215 KB

Circulated at the meeting and submitted to the agenda following the meeting.

Additional documents: