Agenda and draft minutes

In the absense of Councillor Sue Johnson (Chair) Councillor Sajid Mohammed (Vice Chair) chaired the meeting

Councillor Sue Johnson   – Unwell

Countillor Rosemary Healy   - personal

Cherry Underwood – Renewal Trust  

To confirm the minutes of the meeting held 8 December 2020

The minutes of the meeting held on 8 December 2020 were confirmed as a true record and were signed by the Chair presiding at the meeting.

Verbal update from Nottighamshire Police and Community Protection Officers

Inspector James Walker of Nottinghamshire Police gave an update detailing the year to date figures shown below.

He highlighted the following points:

(a)  The numbers under the Hate category include all incidents motivated by hate, not just hate crimes. Out of these 18 incidents 13 have been hate crimes and have largely stemmed from an increase in neighbour disputes. This is not an indication that there is a community wide problem developing, but a magnification of existing tension between neighbours as a result of the national lockdown situation;

(b)  Anti social behaviour offences are on the increase as Covid restriction breaches are counted as ASB. This is a pattern seen across other areas and across the force as a whole. It is expected that as the restrictions ease this number will reduce again;

(c)  Overall crime in both Mapperley and St Ann’s is down compared to this time last year;

(d)  A number of warrants have been executed in the area in relation to drug and burglaries with firearms, money and drugs being seized and a number of people being charged and remanded into custody;

(e)  There are 3 new PC’s joining teams across the three wards including a knife crime specialist;

(f)  Over all crime in Sneinton has bucked the force trend and is slightly increased on this time last year, but is slightly less that report at the last meeting of this committee. Although the numbers are increased they represent very small number of actual incidents. The rise in the numbers of robbery still include the numbers for the spike in occurrences from summer 2020 for which 2 people were responsible for 23 crimes, and have since been dealt with;

(g)  The large increase in the hate occurrences show 62 incidences, 12 of which are reported as crimes. 11 of these have come from one neighbour dispute which Nottinghamshire Police, Community Protection and Nottingham City Council are working together to resolve;

(h)  There has been one significant antisocial behaviour Covid restriction breach which resulted in 18 fixed penalty notices being issued, however this was a one off incident and there have otherwise been no large gatherings within the Sneinton area;

Following questions and comments from Committee members the following additional information was highlighted.

(i)  There have been reports of aggressive begging from residents in Sneinton. Assistance with this has been requested from the dedicated team to help address this and Ward Councillors will be updated on work planned to tackle this issue;

(j)  Committee members shared concerns about the rise in hate incidents focused on the two addresses within Sneinton.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 32.

Verbal update from Community Representatives

The Committee heard updates from the Community Representatives present.

Peter Wright informed the Committee that although not much has been happening due to the ongoing Covid situation STOP have won a Community Green Flag award for the garden for the fourth year in a row. The group continues to look forward to working with the Council in the coming year.

Greg Foister thanked Neighbourhood Development Officer Beth Hana for help with grant applications for STARA.

Both Committee members and Community Representatives expressed concerns about the level of graffiti still being seen around the area. Despite being recently painted the two bridges are again showing the level of the problem. The Council is looking at the best way to tackle this issue, and continue to address the legal arrangements with RailTrack to pass ownership to the Council.

The issue of noisy modified exhausts on cars will be raised with Neighbourhood policing teams.

The Committee thanked the Community Representative and all community groups for their continued hard work and commitment to improving the City for its Citizens.

Verbal update on the Covid Response in Dales, Mapperley and St Ann’s

Beth Hanna, Neighbourhood Development Officer, gave a verbal update on work taking place within the wards on the response to the Covid Pandemic. During discussion the following points were highlighted:

(a)  The golden number developed and released early in the pandemic remains active and allows citizens to call one number for a range of different services. The number of calls has been decreasing as citizens become familiar with eh support that is available;

(b)  The Area Partnerships, originally set up in response to the first lockdown cover provision including mental health support, digital inclusion, networking and information sharing. There is a city wide focus on the impact that the Covid pandemic and subsequent lockdowns have had on mental health. Services include talking therapies, green and social prescribing as well as options specifically tailored for the BAME community;

(c)  The area partnerships have produced leaflets for each ward (appended) detailing useful numbers, local services and support for Citizens. The Renewal Trust is also involved with keeping community groups involved, updated and connected to maximise partnership working;

(d)  The latest data from Public Health can be found here: - https://www.nottinghamcity.gov.uk/coronavirus-covid-19/covid-19-surveillance-reports/ and provides information for Nottingham City as a whole. Whilst the number of cases is decreasing it is decreasing at a slower rate than other parts of the country;

(e)  Schools will be returning soon and the stay at home order is due to be relaxed on 29 March 2021. Community testing sites are positioned across the city with an additional 2 testing facilities in Clifton and the Meadows. Additional sites are planned for Aspley and Bulwell too;

(f)  Following some good weather over the weekend it is essential that the message continues to be that of social distancing to remain safe, to wear masks and to wash hands regularly;

Committee members urged citizens to take up the offer of the vaccine when it comes through. Councillors who had already received their first dose described the process and everyone agreed that the vaccine was the most effective way to protect lives of friends, family and the wider community.

Report of the Chief Executive of Nottingham City Homes

Wade Adams, Area Housing Manager, Nottingham City Homes, gave an update providing an update on key issues and themes linked to the local priorities and strategic themes for Nottingham City Homes. He highlighted the following points:

(a)  Work to communal areas at Bentick and Kingston Courts is due to take place in 2021 to compliment the fire safety work that has taken place. The sprinkler system in Victoria centre is scheduled for completion some time in March 2021;

(b)  Nominations are now open for the Tenants and Leaseholders Awards 2021 and the tenant academy continues to offer free courses details of which can be found on the Nottingham City homes website;

(c)  One of the apprentices who started with Nottingham City Homes in December 2020 has ben employed full time as a Patch Manager. They join the small team of Patch Managers who continue to work with vulnerable citizens and the tenancy sustainability teams;

Councillors agreed that the completion of work at Colwick Woods was good news and were pleased to see that internal work was beginning at Kingston and Bentinck Courts.

The committee noted information within the report and the update provided.

Report of the Director of Community Protection

Beth Hana, Neighbourhood Development Officer, presented the Ward Budget report to the Committee detailing the spend. In an amendment to the published document Beth highlighted a change to the Mapperley allocations:

Resolved to note the actions agreed by the Director of Community Protection in respect of projects and schemes within the Dales, Mapperley and St Ann’s Wards detailed below:

Dales:

Mapperley

St Ann’s

Report of the Director of Community Protection

Beth Hana, Neighbourhood Development Officer, gave an overview of activity taking place in each ward. The following points were highlighted:

(a)  In the Dales ward CCTV cameras have been relocated to Kentwood Road to combat the fly tipping issue there and work is taking place in the Westwood Road area with Days of Action planned to address the issues there too. Work is also taking place with the Selective Licensing team to tackle key streets where there is an issue with landlords.

(b)  Tracks are looking to relocate to the old Sneinton Library and a consultation opens to the public next week to see what services citizens would like to see and to establish a new name for the building;

(c)  The Greenway Centre continues to operate the foodbank and the Renewal Trust has confirmed that once Covid restrictions ease they will offer employment support sessions from the Centre. They will also offer sessions at BANCA too;

(d)  The Renewal trust will be giving out activities and packs along with the Youth and Play team for the upcoming Easter holidays through the Community Hubs. Metro Housing are also getting involved with activities for residents;

(e)  Plans for the rebuild of the Wells Centre are yet to be finalised but progress is being made;

The committee noted the content of the report and thanks teams across the Council and Partners for their continued hard work.

Report of the Director of Community Protection

Beth Hana, Neighbourhood Development Officer, presented the

report updating the Committee on latest spend proposals under the Area Capital Fund including highways and footways.

Resolved to:

(1)  Approve the new schemes prioritised by Ward Councillors since the last Area Committee as detailed below:

Dales Public Realm Schemes

Mapperley LTP Schemes

Mapperely Public Realm Schemes

St Ann’s Public Realm Schemes

St Ann’s Withdrawn Schemes

(2)  Note the monies available to Dales, Mapperley and St Ann’s Wards for 20/21 as detailed below:

Dales:

2020 - 2021 LTP allocation  £66,000

LTP carried forward from 2019 – 2020  £0

2020 - 2021 Public Realm allocation  £31,700

Public Realm carried forward from 2019 - 2020   £18,876

Total Available 2020 - 2021 ACF  £116,576

*Less LTP schemes     - £66,000

**Less Public Realm schemes   - £26,570

***Decommitted funds     + £0

Remaining available balance    £24,006

LTP element remaining   £0

Public Realm element remaining  £24,006

Mapperley:

2020 - 2021 LTP allocation  £61,000

LTP carried forward from 2019 – 2020  £0

2020 - 2021 Public Realm allocation  £29,300

Public Realm carried forward from 2019 - 2020   £0

Total Available 2020 - 2021 ACF  £90,300

*Less LTP schemes     - £61,000

**Less Public Realm schemes   - £29,300

***Decommitted  ...  view the full minutes text for item 38.