Agenda and minutes

Councillor Graham Chapman – other Council business

Councillor Marcia Watson - unwell

Councillor Graham Chapman – other Council business

Councillor Marcia Watson – unwell

Christine Willetts

Nigel Brice

Liam Searle

Kristian Murden

None.

Last meeting held on 15 November 2017 (for confirmation)

The minutes of the meeting held on 15 November 2017 were agreed as a true record and they were signed by the Chair.

Discussion Item – Portfolio Holder for Community and Customer Services to introduce

The item was withdrawn at the request of the Portfolio Holder for Community and Customer Services.

Verbal update

Neither Sergeant Ian Johnson nor Inspector Gordon Fenwick attended the meeting.

The Committee received an update on anti-social behaviour and community engagement from Maria Summers, Senior Community Protection Officer, highlighting the following:

(a)  several criminal damage hotspots were identified, including Wigman Road, Bilborough Road, Sherborne Road and Broxtowe Lane. CCTV vehicles were being deployed at hotspots to record and deter criminal activity, and an address has been identified from where a significant level of anti-social behaviour is originating;

(b)  53 Fixed Penalty Notices (FPNs) have been issued for littering, and 1 FPN for dog-fouling;

(c)  5 Community Protection Officers are currently assigned to Aspley ward, 4 to Bilborough ward, where there is currently 1 vacancy, and 1 to Leen Valley ward;

(d)  a range of community engagement activities were planned, including a ‘Light Night’ treasure hunt.

Ms Summers indicated that CPOs were happy to come along to youth engagement events to build up relations with young people in the area.

The Committee thanked Ms Summers and agreed to receive updates from Community Protection colleagues on anti-social behaviour as a standing item at future meetings.

Community representatives to report

The Committee received no items or good news stories from community representatives.

Report of Corporate Director, Commercial and Operations

James Tilford, Park Development Officer, introduced a report of the Corporate Director, Commercial and Operations, highlighting the proposed plan for West Area sites requiring investment to bring them up to Green Flag standard in the future.

Mr Tilford explained that the sites, detailed in the report, had been identified following consultation with local councillors in November and December 2017 to ensure they reflected local needs.

In response to specific questions from councillors, he confirmed that the Funding Panel was to consider the proposals for Bilborough Park Play Area and Trafford Gardens on 21 February 2018. If approved, it was hoped that the improvements would be delivered by the 2018 summer holiday.

RESOLVED to

(1)  endorse the investment plan and the use of Section 106, area capital and external funding to deliver the proposed improvements, detailed in the report;

(2)  endorse the use of £15,248.29 of Section 106 funding from the development at Ascot Road, Nottingham (reference 15/01928/PFUL3) for improvements at the Mill and Windmill Allotments.

Report of the Corporate Director, Commercial and Operations

Martin Willis and Rob Kirkwood of the Nottingham Open Spaces Forum presented a report of the Corporate Director, Commercial and Operations, introducing the work of the Forum and seeking the Committee’s endorsement for its work.

Mr Willis and Mr Kirkwood explained that the Forum was established in 2016 to support the City Council in maintaining and improving Nottingham’s open spaces. The Forum had recently secured registered charity status, and provided a structure for ‘Friends’ groups across Nottingham to work together to champion local causes, to raise money to supplement Council expenditure and to raise public awareness of the importance and public benefit of open spaces.

Mr Willis and Mr Kirkwood explained that the Forum has limited influence on the use of land, such as the allotments at New Aspley Gardens, which were not designated as open spaces. However, they expressed the view it was possible that the Forum could work with St Martin’s Church to help with improvements at the neighbouring Chieftain’s Field.

RESOLVED to note the report and to endorse the work of the Nottingham Open Spaces Forum.

Report of Chief Executive, Nottingham City Homes

Nicky Jarvis, Area Housing Manager, introduced a report of the Chief Executive, Nottingham City Homes (NCH), requesting approval for area capital funding and providing updates on the following key themes:

Capital programme and major works;

Area regeneration and environmental issues;

Tenants and Residents Associations;

Area performance, and

Good news stories and positive publicity.

Ms Jarvis advised that NCH has been shortlisted for several national awards, including Development of the Year and Landlord of the Year. It was planned to have a refresh of the NCH reports coming to Area Committees.

In response to a Councillor’s question, Ms Jarvis undertook to establish whether NCH could provide a breakdown of ‘repairs’ data to assist in determining the key causes of councillor casework relating to NCH repairs.

RESOLVED to

(1)  note the update and performance information at Appendices 1 and 2 of the report;

(2)  note the allocations of funds for 2017/18, detailed at Appendix 3 to the report;

(3)  approve the following Area Capital funding request:

Report of Chief Executive, Nottingham City Homes

Cath Stocks, North City Housing Manager, to introduce

Cath Stocks, City Housing Manager, introduced a report sharing an overview of the Area Cluster meetings which took place across Nottingham in September, October and November 2017.

Overall, satisfaction levels with NCH were at record levels, and the organisation’s performance on tenancy sustainment, equality and new homes construction was recognised nationally.

Key ongoing challenges included:

·  The impact of welfare reform on residents;

·  The impact of the 1% rent reduction;

·  Reduced support services;

·  Loss of homes through right to buy leading to reduced income, and

·  Increasing demand on services.

Area-specific concerns raised in addition to the above included the repairs offer, tree management issues and alleyway management issues.

Several points were made in the discussion which followed:

(a)  a councillor highlighted a resident’s concerns about being incorrectly found to be liable for the ‘Bedroom Tax’ who had been under threat of eviction. Ms Stocks advised that a new Tenancy Sustainment Manager was in place and would take this issue forward outside the meeting;

(b)  a councillor reported a poor customer service he experienced in respect of the repair of a window broken by the maintenance service. In response, Ms Stocks explained that upskilling and multiskilling the repairs team was a priority for NCH so that a range of repairs could be carried out by each member of the team;

(c)  It was explained that parking remained a priority for NCH tenants and NCH looked to provide parking solutions where there was a majority of NCH properties. A councillor highlighted the issue of parking issues arising from displaced workplace parking capacity;

(d)  NCH are actively reviewing their policy on the management of trees on NCH properties to minimise tree management issues.

RESOLVED to note the report and to thank Ms Stocks for her attendance.

Report of Director of Community Protection

The Committee noted the progress on ward priorities. In response to a councillor’s comment, the Committee was advised that the Nottingham Alert system has been overtaken by the use of Facebook and Twitter by Nottinghamshire Police and the Community Protection function.

Report of Director of Community Protection

RESOLVED to:

(1)  note the Area Capital Funds available to Aspley, Bilborough and Len Valley wards at Appendix 1 to the report;

(2)  approve the following schemes:

Report of Director of Community Protection

RESOLVED to note the actions agreed by the Director of Neighbourhood Services in respect of projects and schemes within the Aspley, Bilborough and Leen Valley wards, detailed within the report.