Agenda Item 12
Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council
Tipton Town Committee
10th February, 2004
Matters of Interest in Tipton
1.0 Summary Statement
1.1 This item gives an opportunity to publicise forthcoming events and other matters of interest in Tipton. Further details are attached.
1.2 If anyone would like to publicise a future event, or any other matters of interest in Tipton, please call the telephone hotline 0121 569 3183 or e- mail tipton@sandwell.gov.uk
1.3 Alternatively, you can write to the Town Committee c/o Democratic Services Unit, Sandwell Council House, PO Box 2374, Oldbury, West Midlands B69 3DE (fax 0121 569 3182).
2. Recommendation
2.1 That the report be noted.
S Cork Head of Legal & Democratic Services
Contact Officer Jayne Bowker Democratic Services Officer Tel: 0121 569 3188 Matters of Interest in Tipton
3. Resource Implications
The resource implications of the matters referred to in this report have, if necessary, been reported to the appropriate Cabinet Members when individual items were considered.
4. Policy Implications
Town Committees aim to involve local people in the Council’s decision making process. This report aims to give an update on various matters of interest to the Tipton Town area.
5. Sustainability Implications
Sandwell Council is committed to the principles of sustainability. Town Committees have a role in promoting these principles within the wider community.
6. Crime and Disorder Implications
Dealing with crime and disorder/community safety issues are a priority for the work of Town Committees. Any crime and disorder implications connected with the matters referred to will, if necessary, be reported to the appropriate Cabinet member when individual items are considered.
7. Implications for Young People
The Town Committee would welcome more input from young people and encourages groups to promote their activities through meetings of the Town Committee.
8. Background Details
8.1 What’s going on in Tipton
You can find out loads of information about what’s going on in Tipton and in other parts of the Borough by accessing the following websites:-
Sandwell MBC www.sandwell.gov.uk
Sandwell Public Information Network www.webwell.sandwell.gov.uk
8.2 Green Box Recycling Collection Scheme
20% of homes in Sandwell will benefit from an enhanced collection of recyclables from homes by the end of March 2004 with the introduction of the ‘green box’ recycling collection.
Residents in the green box recycling collection areas are asked to put the following materials in their recycling box:
• Newspapers and magazines, junk mail • Cans – all types food or drink • Glass bottles and jars
These materials account for a quarter of the rubbish put out by residents each week.
The introduction of the green box recycling collection scheme commenced in the Autumn of 2003 and is planned as follows:
- November 2003 saw 7,500 in the Great Barr area receive their first collection. - At the beginning of February 2004 a further 7,500 homes in the Rowley Regis area will be included - During March 2004 – a further 8,000 homes in the south-east of the borough and other areas of the borough will be served by the new recycling collection scheme.
The green box recycling scheme is a partnership between Sandwell Council and Community Recycling Venture (CRV) and will enable residents to reduce their rubbish by a fifth. This recycling collection scheme is supported with funding from the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA).
It is envisaged that further areas of Sandwell will receive the green box recycling scheme over the coming years, details of which will be publicised nearer the date.
For further information about recycling please contact Customer Services on 0121 569 6625 during office hours.
8.3 West Midlands Passenger Transport Authority - Draft Policy Statement 2004
The West Midlands Passenger Transport Authority (WMPTA) has issued a public consultation draft of its policy statement 2004. The purpose of this document is to set out the policies by which the Authority, through CENTRO, plans, provides and promotes public transport services and infrastructure. A copy of the document has been circulated to members of the Committee separately.
The Head of Planning and Development Services will be submitting report on this document to the Cabinet Member for Urban Form in February, 2004 to consider the Council's response to the draft policy statement. Any comments from members of Town Committees will be fed into this process."
8.4 Sandwell Homes – Community Agreement
Sandwell Homes have just launched the first Community Agreement to be established within Sandwell, at the Shrubbery Estate in Tipton.
Sandwell Homes arranged for an experienced mediation organisation to visit approximately 60 houses on the estate to find out what sort of problems they were experiencing, particularly the clash of lifestyle between older residents and young people on the estate.
After listening to the issues raised, a Community Agreement was drawn up which all of the residents have agreed to.
Terms of the agreement include:
• everyone in the area shows respect, courtesy and consideration to one another.
Children do not: • Play football or ‘kerby’ in the street • Write graffiti on pavements, fences or walls • Play rat-a-tat ginger
At the same time as expecting residents to abide by the conditions in the agreement, Sandwell Homes has also promised to look at other ways to improve the quality of life on the estate, including working with Leisure Services to provide activities and interest for the young people, and also looking at environmental improvements, car parking, fencing etc.
The Community Agreement shows life on the estate has improved for the residents, Sandwell Homes will consider rolling out similar agreements to other estates within Sandwell.
8.5 Patient Advice and Liaison Service
The work of PALS (Patient Advice and Liaison Service) is growing. 17 Volunteers will be put through induction training shortly with a view to the volunteers working on wards and clinic areas across the three hospital sites (Sandwell, City and Rowley Regis) within the next month. The volunteers will be able to provide information from the PALS resource bank and feed concerns back to the core team as they arise. Sandwell PALS has taken an innovative approach since its launch in 2002. This is yet another approach that will raise awareness of the service to patients, service users and carers. Depending on the success of this initiative, PALS will be considering putting volunteers into other service areas within the community in future.
8.6 Early Steps, Early Years Parental Support Service
Timetable of events for Early Steps, Early Years Parental Support Service, in the Tipton area.
Play session for under 5’s. - Free parent/toddler.
9.30 – 11.00 a.m. 1.30 – 3.00 p.m. Tuesday Locarno MAC Locarno MAC Wednesday Jubilee MAC Thursday St.Martins MAC St.Martin’s MAC Victoria MAC Victoria MAC (opens 22nd Jan ’04) (re-opens 22nd Jan ’04)
There are Toy Libraries operating at these sessions.
Sure Start Links: Sandra Hughes, Early Steps Tipton Town Co- ordinator is working closely with Sure Start Tipton staff regarding setting up the Special Needs multi-sensory room within Jubilee Multi Agency Centre.
Sandra is also anticipating to work with Sure Start Tipton in the development of story sacs within play sessions for parents/carers, training from the Sure Start Tipton staff. Sandra is organising a series of learning experiences with links made with the Family Learning Co- ordinator by offering First Aid Training in February/March 2004. For more details contact Sandra Hughes on 0121 557 4035.
Early Steps organise workshops for the private and voluntary sector parent and toddler group leaders. These have included the PLA ‘Behind the Scenes’ ‘Birth to Three’ workshops, Music in pre-school settings and more recently Pre-school Literacy workshop.
If you would like to know more details please contact Sandra Derham on 0121 557 4035.
8.7 Tipton Festive Lights Competition 2003
Tipton Community Action Group and Tipton Area Housing staff have once again successfully worked in partnership, to provide Tipton residents with an annual Festive Lights Competition, for the third year running.
The Competition was divided into three geographical areas, Great Bridge, Princes End and Tipton Green.
There were four categories judged:
• Houses – 1st, 2nd and 3rd in each area, with an overall Best in Town prize and annual Trophy.
• Streets – Best in Street in each area, with an overall Test in Town annual Trophy.
• Best Estate – An annual Trophy for the Best Estate in Tipton
• Commercial Premises – 1st, 2nd and 3rd Prize across the whole of Tipton.
Prizes included a trophy for each winner, gift vouchers and a bottle of wine. Local traders, agencies and supermarkets kindly donated prizes, to show their support to a local event. All prizes and trophies were presented at a social evening on 17th January, 2004 at the Tipton and Community Activity Centre, Brook Street, Tipton.
8.8 Temporary Closure of Glebefields Library
Library users in Tipton are being encouraged to stock up on their reading matter while their local library undergoes a massive £70,000 internal facelift.
Glebefields Library in St Marks Road will be closing on Saturday 31 January for approximately 10 weeks, with re-opening scheduled for just after Easter.
Key elements of the major revamp will include new shelving, library counter and other furniture as well as replacement lighting, carpeting and interior redecoration.
The library's computer count will go up from the current five to eleven, with a dedicated ICT suite which will house nine PCs and another two being allocated for primary school age children.
The library will also have an additional entrance in Ridgacre Road shared with the new Glebefields Children's Centre currently under construction as part of the local Sure Start project.
Cllr Ian Jones, Cabinet member for education and lifelong learning, said: "These changes will give the library a much needed facelift as well as improving the facilities for adults and children alike.
"Previous experience has shown that following a library refurbishment we usually see an upturn in the numbers of people visiting.
"We look forward to welcoming back our existing users and hope we can entice some new ones to this updated facility
"The library will be working closely with the Children's Centre in future to provide better services and help for parents and children in the area."
Before the library closes, customers are welcome to stock up on books to last them during the time the library is closed.
Regular readers don't need to worry about returning books when the library is closed as items will be "over stamped" with an extended due back date.
Alternatively they can use other nearby libraries in the area or any other Sandwell library.
Local libraries are: Great Bridge Library, Sheepwash Lane, Great Bridge, Tipton, 0121 557 3277; Tipton Library, Owen Street, Unity Walk (off Owen Street), Tipton, 0121 557 1796.
There are also direct bus routes to Wednesbury Library, Walsall Street, Wednesbury, 0121 556 0351.
A mobile library will also be visiting the area at least once a week. Timetables will be posted outside the library.
8.9 Forthcoming Events
Jubilee Park Community Centre
At Jubilee Park Community, in Tipton, there is a range of activities taking place. Listed below is a timetable giving days and times of activities. Everyone is welcome to join in. Kickboxing 5pm - 7pm Monday St Johns Ambulance First Aid Training 7pm - 9pm Youth Club 7.00pm - 9.00pm
Sequence Brownies Group Tuesday Dancing 7.00pm -8.30pm 1pm - 3pm
Housebound Youth Club Wednesday Group 6.30pm - 8.30pm 12noon- 3pm
Kickboxing 5.30pm-7pm Family Bingo Thursday Sunshine Club 7.30pm - 1pm - 3pm 9.30pm Kickboxing 5.30pm-7pm Friday Family Bingo 7.30pm - 9.30pm Football Football Sunday (Morning) (Afternoon)
What else is available at Jubilee Park Community Centre? At Jubilee Park Community Centre you can have access to a: Floodlite Astro Turf , from 9am-9pm for sport events.