Agenda and minutes

RESOLVED to appoint Councillor Carole McCulloch as the Chair of the Committee for the 2016/17 municipal year.

RESOLVED to appoint Councillor Marcia Watson as the Vice Chair of the Committee for the 2016/17 municipal year.

Councillor Mohammed Saghir

Julianne Christou

Brian Mann

Liam Searle

Jennie Smith

Susan Vickers

Christine Willetts

None.

Last meeting held 2 March 2016 (for confirmation)

Subject to removing the repetition of Councillor Glyn Jenkins name from the attendance list, the minutes of the last meeting were agreed as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

Rob Gabbitas, Neighbourhood Development Officer, presented an update on performance, events, priorities and activities within each ward. There were a number of questions and comments from the Committee:

(a)  Groundworks have won the contract for the lead organisation for the area. There will be an insistence that they analyse where the gaps are, how those gaps can be filled effectively, and how they can do better at getting people into work;

(b)  there is insufficient accountability for lead organisations at the moment. Ward Councillors and Area Committees have a role to play in holding lead organisations to account. Lead organisations should be required to report to Area Committees on a regular basis;

(c)  there was a request from Councillors for the new format of ward reports to contain more detailed information on those activities which fit with previously agreed ward priorities, including a work plan and monitoring of progress towards achieving ward objectives;

(d)  the Dementia Awareness day on page 26 of the agenda will be taking place on 19 May, from 9am till 12 noon at the Co-op, in conjunction with Sharan Jones (Health and Wellbeing Manager, Public Health, Nottingham City Council) and Age UK;

(e)  Southwold Primary school’s community day on page 34 of the agenda will be held on 29 June, with the aim of engaging more widely with the community. It will have a food festival format.

RESOLVED to:

(1)  note the contents of the ward reports;

(2)  add a standing item to future West Area Committee agendas to receive performance updates from the lead organisation;

(3)  add further information to future ward reports regarding progress against ward priorities.

Report of Nottingham City Homes

Elira Mano, Tenancy and Estate Manager at Nottingham City Homes, presented an update on Nottingham City Homes performance and environmental schemes. There were a number of comments and queries from the Committee:

(a)  some work has been done on the external finish to “Whimpey no-fine” properties in Bilborough and other areas. Some BISF (British Iron and Steel Federation) style homes still require cladding, and discussion regarding the most cost-effective solutions. Elira will ask Capital programmes and Major Works to look into this and provide more information to Councillors;

(b)  in some areas of the City private home owners have been offered the cladding at a discount. Councillors and citizens have been asking for this offer to be extended to Bilborough for some time. Unfortunately, the scheme was on a phased rollout to different areas of the city at different times, and central government funding for the scheme has now been cut, so the scheme has been frozen. A letter has been circulated advising affected private home owners and apologising, Councillor Chapman will provide a copy of this letter to all West Area Councillors. There is a worry that there will be resentment that Council tenants are receiving this offer, so it needs to be made clear wherever possible that the scheme is being funded from Council tenants’ rents;

(c)  a mediation service was introduced last year to try to help tackle anti-social behaviour. This has been very positively received so far;

(d)  tenancy visits take place every 3 years, to help to identify vulnerable tenants who may have fallen through the cracks of the support network. Other events which trigger a tenancy visit include high rent arrears, and high cost of repairs or recharges;

(e)  the Joint Service Centre in Strelley has experienced significant delays, and a construction firm has now been appointed;

(f)  Councillors requested updates on Leen Valley insulation schemes and wall schemes in Aspley. Updates will be provided to Councillors.

RESOLVED to:

(1)  note the performance information contained in appendices 1 and 2 of the report;

(2)  note the allocation of funds;

(3)  approve the Area Capital Programme funding request;

(4)  circulate information on the curtailment of the cladding discount scheme to private home owners to those affected.

Report of Director of Neighbourhood Services

Rob Gabbitas, Neighbourhood Development Officer, presented a report on the Area Capital Fund.

RESOLVED to:

(1)  note the funds available as follows;

(2)  approve the following Area Capital schemes.

Report of Director of Neighbourhood Services

Rob Gabbitas, Neighbourhood Development Officer, presented a report on projects approved under delegated authority.

RESOLVED to note the funding decisions approved by the Director of Neighbourhood Services under delegated authority.

To meet on the following dates at 5:30pm

14 September 2016

16 November 2016

15 February 2017

AGREED to meet at 5:30pm on the following dates:

·  14 September 2016

·  16 November 2016

·  15 February 2017