Mr J.M. asked the following question of the Portfolio Holder for Community Services:

In light of continuing budget pressures on the City Council, does the Portfolio Holder for Community Services agree that the University of Nottingham should make a substantial financial contribution to the cost of Community Protection in dealing with noise and antisocial behaviour caused by a significant minority of students whose behaviour causes deep distress to many residents of New Lenton, The Triangle and The Park Estate?

Councillor Heaton responded as follows:

Thank you Lord Mayor and could I give thanks for this question. 

Nottingham is one of the UK’s most popular destinations for university students with two internationally renowned universities attracting over 60,000 students every year. Both of our universities are key contributors to our local economy supporting over 24,000 local jobs whilst also having an estimated annual total economic impact of over £1 billion across the city of Nottingham and the wider conurbation. Their students also have a strong positive social impact on our local communities through a number of successful volunteering initiatives. 

Despite the many economic and social benefits that the universities in Nottingham bring, their close proximity to the residential areas of New Lenton, the Lenton Triangle and the Park Estate, mean that a significant proportion of student housing is situated alongside longer-term residential housing. It is acknowledged that in these areas noise nuisance and poor waste disposal practices can be a cause of tension between a small minority of students, landlords and longer-term residents and that this can have a negative impact on quality of life for everyone.

Nottingham City Council and the University of Nottingham over the last few years have formed a strong working relationship to try and alleviate some of these key issues in the areas concerned.  At the start of this academic year, we undertook a series of joint enhanced engagement and education activities to remind new and existing students on the importance of keeping good relations with their neighbours. This involved increased foot patrolling in the areas by council and university staff that focussed upon pre-enforcement engagement and communicating behavioural expectations with students.

We also held a number of information stalls and door knocking activities at key locations to inform students on the importance of noise management and respecting their neighbours. 

Despite this level of enhanced preventative activity there are some early indications to suggest that noise nuisance and trade waste issues have become more pronounced this academic year. Our Community Protection Service which looks to provide both a preventative and enforcement service for student-related issues has already reported an increase in the levels of enforcement action taken against students and student housing landlords. 

In the academic year to date, there have already been three times as many Section 46 Notices issued by our Community Protection Officers for trade waste in the Lenton Triangle area compared to the entire previous academic year. That is968 Section 46 Notices for this academic year compared to 357 for the entire previous 15/16 academic year.

Furthermore, our Community Protection Officers have also issued more Community Protection Notice Warnings (CPNWs) in the Park Estate for noise nuisance this academic year than compared to the entire previous academic year. Whilst further work is needed to establish the causes of these overall increases, it is apparent that the heightened levels of enforcement action in these areas is having a disproportionate impact on Community Protection resources at a time of tightened public sector funding.

Therefore, Nottingham City Council will continue to work closely with both universities on all community matters of concern. If either of our universities wish to further help us by making a voluntary financial contribution to alleviate resourcing pressures on Community Protection then we would, of course, very much welcome that decision.