Agenda item

Neighbourhood Committee and Neighbourhood partnership decision and discussion

(Report of subgroups and NP Co-ordinator, Abdulrazak Dahir)

The NP first received a Police Activities Update on NP priorities as follows:-

• Prostitution – Officers in Fromevale and Eastville had joined forces in monitoring. There had also been a nationwide operation concerning exploitation and brothels. The results would be available in December;
• Street drinking – this had been particularly apparent in Fishponds Park. A Police presence around the park had been well received;
• Burglary – this would be a focus as there was generally a surge at Christmas. She also reported an emerging pattern of thefts of gold from Asian community members, who are preparing for the Diwali celebrations.
• Parking at schools – every school in the area receives a daily patrol. Road Safety week would take place at the end of November;
• Neighbourhood Watch – a Co-ordination meeting was being arranged and officers would attend to restart relationships.

The following points arose from discussion:-

• It was reported that there had recently been several break-ins to retail premises, these were particularly concerning as they had been from the front. The Police replied that somebody had been arrested for these and the break- ins had now declined. There would be additional patrols in order to keep on top of the problem;
• It was reported that there had been an incident outside Lidl with drunken individuals who weren’t aware of their action. Was it possible to ban these individuals from shopping or issue them with Community Service Orders. The Police responded that there had been long-running incidents of this sort. PCSO’s regularly patrolled the length of Fishponds Park to Morrisons and collated information on incidents of nuisance. The Police were working with the Council’s - ASB team to engage with these individuals to stop drinking and if this failed injunctions would be issued. It was noted that the Shopwatch Scheme which relied on the business community to communicate with each other and the Police on issues of concern had not taken off. The Police pointed out that they were happy to work with anyone that could assist them;
• It was noted that the new Public Safety Protection Orders were reliant on incident reporting in an area as evidence of a problem. This Council had not applied for one yet.

Part 1: Citywide NP Event.

This was noted.

Part 2: NP Equalities Review 2016.

It was noted that the Equalities Report was available online.

Part 3: Wellbeing Grant Applications.

1. Holy Trinity Church Stapleton – There were no NP comments. On being put to the vote, the Neighbourhood Committee unanimously granted the application;

2. Stoke Park Children Centre – The NP Co-ordinator reported that this had been recommended for refusal as it did not address the NP priorities, it was outside the NP area and it did not provide a breakdown of where the children would come from. He was happy to provide feedback to the applicant with respect to submitting a better application. There were no NP comments. On being put to the vote, the Neighbourhood Committee unanimously refused the application;

3. Fishponds Business Forum (FBF) – The NP Co-ordinator stated that he was sympathetic to the application and recognised the efforts of last year but the application had been recommended for refusal as there were concerns over governance and the capacity of FBF to deliver the project. Representative of Fishponds Business Forum wished to strongly challenge and circulated a paper regarding the application. He sought general agreement from local businesses to provide the same Christmas lights as last. The NP Co-ordinator stated that governance structures needed to be in place before the application could be processed. It was suggested Fishponds Planning Subgroup, who possessed all the necessary policies, to sponsor the FBF application. Representatives of Fishponds Planning Subgroup confirmed that they would be happy to sponsor the application. Councillor Bowden-Jones noted that the Friends of Fishponds Park had also proper governance in place and wondered whether they could work with Fishponds Business Forum to provide the lights. The representative of Friends of Fishponds Park confirmed that he was happy to work with Fishponds Business Forum. Councillor Threlfall was supportive of this option and proposed that the budget be split so that £800 was allocated for lights in the park, £440 for Lodge Causeway lights, £370 for Fishponds Road and including all administrative costs, the sum funded be rounded to £1600. This was supported by the NP. On being put to the vote, the Neighbourhood Committee unanimously granted the application as amended.

Part 4: Traffic and Transport Update.

This was noted.

Part 5: Environment Subgroup.

The following points arose:-

• The NP Co-ordinator reported that the £1000 allocated to the Trendlewood Estate to carry out environment enhancement had not been used and it was therefore recommended that the money be used to fund other projects. There were no NP comments. On being put to the vote, this was agreed by the Neighbourhood Committee 4 for, 2 against;
• With respect to the Environment Subgroup recommendations as set out below, it was noted that Snuff Mills was missing from the maps and that the maps had proved popular in St George. The success of the maps would be assessed at a later date and a roll out of new regions would be considered. On being put to the vote, the Neighbourhood Committee unanimously agreed the recommendations as set out below;

2016/17 Environment Budget available £41,124.75 (excluding £1000 as agreed above)                                                                                                

                                                Remaining Neighbourhood Budget - £39, 124.75

• The NP Co-ordinator referred to the recommendations of the Environment Subgroup as set out below. There was some discussion regarding the cost of each tree which could be as much as £765 per tree. It was noted because of the planning obligation, the amount of S106 available could only be spent on tree planting. The NP therefore agreed to approve the full amount of S106 £24,891.28 and to secure as many trees as possible subject to finding suitable locations and it meets planning obligation. On being put to the vote, this was unanimously agreed by the Neighbourhood Committee.

2016/17 Neighbourhood Section 106 Parks Specific 2016/17.

Action - NP Co-ordinator to confirm number of trees secured.

• The NP noted the proposal to contribute 20 trees in Eastville Park which required funding as set out below. The NP agreed to support 13 trees at £295 amounting to a total of £3,835 as this was sufficient to cover the tree planting plan. On being put to the vote, this was unanimously agreed by the Neighbourhood Committee.

2016/17 Neighbourhood Budget available 2016/17 (SAD)

Part 6: Proposed Community Asset Transfer for Former Hillfields Youth Centre.

• The NP Co-ordinator reported that the Service Director would make a decision on the proposal for a new 15 year lease of HYC to Hillfields Young Mother’s Group and Hillfields Community Trust. The two local members expressed their support for the proposal and for the work done by both groups. The NP supported the proposal.

Resolved:- that

1. The Citywide NP event update be noted;
2. The NP Equalities Review 2016 update be noted;
3. To note the decisions of the Neighbourhood Committee with respect to the Wellbeing Grant Applications;
4. The progress made on the Traffic & Transport update, be noted;
5. The Environment Subgroup progress be noted and the recommendations to allocate S106, Environment and Neighbourhood Budgets be approved;
6. The comments made above on the proposed Community Asset Transfer for Hillfields Community Hub, formerly known as Hillfields Youth Centre be noted.