Police Inspector Christine Busuttil and Senior Community Protection Officer Darryl Paxford to report
Minutes:
The Police area update was not available due to the absence at short notice, due to illness, of Police Inspector Christine Busuttil.
Darryl Paxford, Senior Community Protection Officer, provided the following community protection update:
a) for the time of year there has been unusually high activity, possibly due to the mild weather;
b) there have been issues around refuse and recycling bins, including contamination and change of collection dates due to the Christmas and New Year period. Collections have now returned to the usual schedule and Cleansing colleagues are working to resolve the other issues;
c) in response to reporting, dog fouling operations have taken place at hotspots and two fixed penalty fines issued. Recently a fine has also been issued following footage captured on CCTV where the owner was identified. Please inform community protection officers of any ongoing dog fouling issues;
d) there have been several attacks on and towards buses, primarily around the Top Valley and Ridgeway area. Although nobody has yet been hurt, damage to buses has put a strain on Nottingham City Transport services and caused distress to passengers and drivers. If anybody has any information please contact Community Protection or call the Police on 101. Community protection officers have increased their presence within the area;
e) there was a spate of graffiti but warnings have been issued and it seems to have stopped;
f) there have been several vandalism attacks to the newly installed play equipment on Bulwell Bogs. Damage may appear minor but is costly and any information regarding culprits would be welcomed by Community Protection or the Police;
g) shoplifting increased up to and over the Christmas period. Boots now employs a security guard, as does Wilkinson’s, and arrests have been made;
h) ongoing fly tipping issues at a disused factory site on Blenheim Lane Industrial Estate have resulted in access being blocked and cameras installed on the entry to the road. This has resulted in a reduction however, the knock-on effects is that fly tipping has been displaced and is appearing elsewhere. Nottingham City Council is one of the few councils in the country to offer a free bulky waste collection service, so it is possible that some of the fly tips are by tradesmen.
Information from committee members included:
i) Community Protection officers are aware of the ongoing issues with a group of youths at and around Top Valley Community Centre. Several have been identified and their parents have been spoken to. If there are any further incidents, they should be reported to community protection as there is the potential to take civil action;
Comments from committee members included:
j) where fly tipping has been reported, it has been removed very quickly, sometimes the following day. Residents are grateful for this rapid response and good work;
k) thanks are given to Darren Tattersall and the Street Scene Teams who are generally very responsive to any issues raised by residents;
l) it is vital that if there is any further damage to the Bulwell Bogs play area, the friends of the Bulwell bogs group is informed promptly to ensure that repairs can be undertaken swiftly as where damage occurs, further damage is likely;
m) Community Protection Officers are thanked for their attendance at community events and ongoing community engagement.
RESOLVED to record the Committee’s thanks to Darryl Paxford for his update and attendance.