, Pelsall, Rushall - Shelfield Area Partnership Area Manager Report

Updated November 2014

Ongoing Updates on the Actions for Brownhills, Pelsall, Rushall - Shelfield Area Plan

1. Purpose of the Report

1.1 The headings of the work streams have been changed to reflect the four main priorities of the Plan 2013 - 16, which are as follows:-

 Supporting Businesses to thrive and supporting local people into work  Improving Health including well being and Independence for older people  Creating Safe and Sustainable Communities- Reducing levels of crime and providing the right Environment for people to live in  Improving Safeguarding and Life Chances for Children and Young People

2. Area Plan Development

2.1 The Area Plan for the local Area Partnership has been developed in line with strategic priorities as set out for the Borough through the ‘Walsall Plan’ and the strategic plans identified by each of the thematic strategic boards. Local intelligence has been adopted to ensure a local delivery plan is adopted that meets the needs, challenges and aspirations of local communities across the partnership area

3. Supporting business to thrive and supporting local people into work

Partners involved – Town Centre Management Team, the Area Partnership, Brownhills Town Centre Partnership, Walsall Housing Group, Local Primary Schools, Community Payback Team, Princes Trust

3.1 Brownhills Town Centre Partnership – The partnership is in the midst of constituting to a non profit community interest company. This will allow them to apply for external funding to deliver the priorities set by the partnership in the annual Action Plan.

This years Christmas market event will take place Saturday 13th and Sunday 14th December in Brownhills town Centre. With a wide range of bespoke, handmade and niche stalls offering handmade jewellery, craft stalls, candles, bespoke soap gifts, homemade cakes and confectionary, Christmas gifts and much more available to entice visitors to the town during this period. To compliment the market their will be a

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Santa’s Grotto, Ice Rink, Bucking Reindeer, Face Painting, Christmas Donkey, Harry Potter Birds of Prey Display and children’s rides to entertain all the family.

The partnership has also been successful in securing almost £6,000 of funding to install and create superb winter lighting on the iconic Miner Island. Every Tree (with the exception of the 4 immature trees) will be draped in lighting to provide a ‘wow factor’ to all who visit, shop and pass through Brownhills.

Moving into the New Year, the main priority is to work more closely with Ravenscourt Precinct agents, investigate a Civic Space development as well as continue to improve the town making it more vibrant, and attractive to both the businesses and users.

3.2 WHG development - WHG have begun there 10 year plan, part of which is to expand and build new properties, there are 3 planned new developments, Wessex Close, Linden Road and Short Street then from 2015-2017 Silver Street will be started. This will provide a large number of new homes in the area and will link in with the development of town centre plans to encourage more people into the main shopping area.

4 Improving Health including well being and independence for older people

Partners involved – Public Health Walsall, Walsall Housing Group, Area Partnership, Social Care and Inclusion, IYPSS, Green spaces, Sports and Leisure, Pelsall Medical Centre, Holland Park Surgery

4.1 Local Area Co-Coordinator (LAC) Update – During the recent round of recruitment, two successful candidates have been selected to fill the available posts, one of which will be a dedicated resource to the Brownhills ward area, the other for the Bentley – Darlaston North Ward. The start date for both candidates has not yet been confirmed.

The posts were previously identified within the Communities and Public Protection team, Neighbourhood Services, however they have recently been transferred to the Childrens services directorate and will be led by Andrea Potts and Isabel Vanderheeren. For all future reports this will be updated within the improving safeguarding and learning chances for children and young people section of the report.

4.2 Pelsall Village Centre - Work continues at Pelsall Village Centre with the Community Social Worker facilitating better engagement and communication between the clinical staff / nurses, etc, to discuss patient’s needs.

4.3 Evolve Weight Management programme – WHG and Walsall Council Sport and Leisure are involved in running a weight management programme at Humphries House, currently approximately six people per week are regularly attending. The overall aim of the programme as well as weight management is community engagement. The programme is available to all, a big incentive of the programme is

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that free memberships are available for use at Oak Park Leisure Centre for taking part in the programme.

4.4 Brownhills Community Association – The association are looking to further develop the community gardening programme, further enhancing the opportunities available and working closely with the Princes trust to build upon the existing provision and maintain positive engagement with the local community involved. The project is a cross partnership initiative where funding has been requested through whg and Walsall Area Partnerships.

4.5 Midland Heart, Tamworth Close – A new community worker is now in post in the Tamworth Close area, she is available to all residents within the immediate area to support with a variety of concerns. Currently she is working to engage with a greater number of people within the community.

4.6 The Old Vicarage, Pelsall – The sport and leisure development team have supported the Old Vicarage to encourage residents to engage in the low impact activity, table ping pong. As part of the sessions the residents and staff were taught the techniques and skills to engage in table ping pong, and resources were left at the location to continue with this activity in to the future. The session was well received.

4.7 Active Steps, Brownhills and Rushall – Walsall Council active lifestyles team continue to deliver the weekly active steps programme in Brownhills and Rushall, funded as part of the NHS Walsall Falls pathway provision. Active Steps is a specialised exercise programme for people who have previously experienced a fall or are worried or at risk of falling. Sessions provide people with the opportunity to take part in low impact supervised activity sessions in a safe and enjoyable environment.

5. Creating Safe and Sustainable Communities

Partners Involved - Anti-Social Behaviour Unit, IYPSS, Police, Area Partnership, Walsall Housing Group, Trading Standards, Clean and Green services, Countryside Services, Friends of Parks groups, local schools, Fire Service, Prince’s Trust

5.1 CCTV for Brownhills, Rushall-Shelfield and Pelsall - We currently have access to two cameras that can be deployed in the area:

Camera 1 currently located in Old Town Lane, Pelsall. Camera 2 currently located in Yew Tree Road, Shelfield.

In addition to our Area Partnership cameras we continue to work in partnership through the confidential tasking and coordination group meetings to utilise CCTV opportunities across partner organisations where need is identified and relevant to their areas of work. Examples of this include the deployment of additional cameras in areas of greatest concern, recently Old Town Lane, Pelsall where both the area partnership and whg cameras were deployed at slightly different locations to provide the greatest level of cover possible.

5.2 Shelfield Park – It was previously reported that Community Payback have undertaken work to erect some fencing and cut back shrubbery to enable the disused

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bowling green area to be opened up to form part of the park. Consultation was undertaken with local residents regarding the works and the outcome was very positive. Currently the large hedge raised previously, still encloses the bowling green, the works planned to remove the hedge by Clean and Green are due to take place.

5.3 Fordbrook Bridge, Pelsall – A community meeting has been called for 25 November 2014 to further engage with local people around a series of incidents involving items being thrown from the rail bridge, and proposed works to mitigate further incidents. Despite a variety of measures implemented by Walsall Council, Police and Sustrans to date, the issues in this location continue. The process will be led by the Victims of Crime Officer, in conjunction with local Councillors, and supported by the Area Partnership.

5.4 Turners Wood, Pelsall - An community action day to continue with the development of the site was arranged for 08, November 2014, however due to adverse weather conditions it was not possible to work safely on the site. It is proposed that this action day will be re-arranged with an offer from the Friends of Pelsall Common to look into hiring St Michaels Church Hall to enable the offer of warm beverages, a place to store personal belongings and access to toilet facilities.

5.5 Flytipping, Slacky Lane – Although this location falls just outside of the area partnership footprint, the Brownhills, Pelsall, Rushall-Shelfield area partnership continues to work with the North Walsall Area Partnership, ward Councillors, and Severn Trent to address issues in this location and encourage positive action to deter perpetrators.

5.6 Rushall Playing Fields – In conjunction with and Youth Support Services the issues around the use of mini-moto’s used within this area continues to be addressed through positive engagement with young people.

The recent demolition of the changing room facilities within the park provides greater visibility within the area, along with the previous removal of bushes there is now less opportunity for activity to be carried out undetected. The park is very well used and the gym equipment continues to be well utilised.

6. Improving safeguarding and learning chances for children and young people

6.1 Brownhills West Youth Provision –The working relationship between Youth Support Services, WHG and NACRO continues, recent activity includes a Halloween themed evening for young people. There are plans to move the current hub from 92 Cherwell Drive to a vacant shop on Shannon Drive, the new location will allow activities to continue to be delivered.

A Christmas themed event, incorporating a santa’s grotto is planned for the December period.

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6.2 Youth Support Services – A youth consultation took place on 5, November due to the proposed cuts that are being suggested to the Youth Support Service. There will be 10 young people engaged as part of the detached youth work engagement, as well as 6 from youth club and 6 from Brownhills youth Club.

With the darker nights upon us, the detached youth team are out and about throughout the early evening period, visiting the known sites frequented by local young people and responding to hotspots identified through local partners. The team continues engaging with young people across the partnership footprint.

6.3 Prospects Careers service - There are currently 2 programmes running aimed at 16/17 year olds, the first is to target people that have 1 grade C GCSE, offering them support in getting ready for work, life and education, The second is for young people that have no GCSE’s and are aged 16/18 years old. If anyone is aware of any potential candidates for either of the 2 courses the Tony Lloyd at Prospects is able to assist in this area partnership area.

6.4 Brownhills Bonfire and Fireworks display – was held on 01 November at Holland Park. It was a well attended event, with a large bonfire and spectacular fireworks display, in addition there were fairground rides and entertainment for the whole family.

6.5 Rushall Playing Fields as part of the ongoing improvements at the park, gym equipment has now been installed at the park and the next phrase that we are looking to do is potentially a skate park at the site, as it is one of the things that the young people have requested, obviously this project is dependent on external funding being gained. The Parks team are working closely with the Friends of the park on this project as they are leading on the project. The current situation is we are in receipt of four tenders, which have been evaluated and scored. Representatives will be meeting with the user group and young people so that they are able to evaluate the tenders as well, which will then be forward to the funding body for consideration.

6.6 High Heath Park – It was previously reported that the Park Ranger and Councillor Rattigan were working closely on a funding bid to Biffa to address the drainage and produce a wetland area for local schools to take advantage of for education purposes. The outcome of this is yet to be reported. Installation of the four additional pieces of outdoor gym equipment allocated to the park has now commenced. The gym equipment continues to be well used by the local residents in the vicinity.

The annual Christmas event is set to take place on 13 December 2014, featuring a variety of attractions, spanning over a greater period of the day building upon previous years success. The community funday is designed to raise the aspirations and civic pride of all involved including school children, families, parents, local residents and community members, third sector groups, faith groups, partners and businesses.

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6.7 Libraries – The library service is working closely with local schools to encourage greater use of libraries across the area partnership. The management and development of libraries within this area is now aligned to the area partnership geographical footprint.

Greenfields nursery school is currently making regular trips to the library within Rushall.

Pelsall library is also working on building up tighter relationships with local schools, they are very receptive towards this idea at present.

7. Other Activities

7.1 Remembrance day – Services and wreath laying for Remembrance day across the partnership were very well attended, the local community turned out in very high numbers to mark the 100 year commemorative services.

7.2 Budget Consultation Events – The second phase of budget consultation events are being held across the borough at various venues, to gain resident’s feedback on the proposed budget. Residents are able to feedback their views through a variety of methods including face to face, online surveys, written response to the council.

Report Author:

Laura Terry, Interim Area Manager Brownhills, Rushall - Shelfield and Pelsall Area Manager  01922 653705  [email protected]

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