CITY COUNCIL

SHARD END WARD MEETING MONDAY 2 OCTOBER 2017 7PM YARDLEY & DISTRICT RUGBY CLUB COLE HALL LANE B34 6HE MEETING NOTES

Present: Councillors Marje Bridle, John Cotton and Ian Ward

Officers: Beverly Edmead – Community Governance Team Phil Grainger – Place Manager Sgt Dan Turnbull – Police Pat Whyte – Community Development & Support Unit

There were approx. 50 residents present.

Cllr M Bridle in the Chair

1. WELCOME AND INTRODUCTIONS Following introductions, Cllr Bridle, Ward Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting.

Members and residents congratulated Cllr Ward following his appointment as Interim Leader of the City Council, and wished him well in his new role.

2. NOTICE OF RECORDING The Chair advised that members of the press/public may record and/or take photographs except where there were confidential or exempt items.

3. APOLOGIES None submitted.

4. LOCAL NEWS/INFORMATION UPDATES (i) Sgt Dan Turnbull advised of the following:-

- Travellers Update Work was ongoing with City Council and WMP to secure an injunction to cover other areas of the City as well as those already covered by the current injunction. A group of travellers recently encamped in neighbouring Allotments and Coleshill Park, had been successfully moved on. The reinforcement of security measures around parks/open spaces continued to be a priority for officers.

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- Off Road Bikes/Pedal Bikes Nuisance Previous nuisance behaviour reported around Packington Avenue/Shard End Crescent appeared to have reduced; however there were a small group of young people who had repeatedly ignored all attempts to change their behaviour or engage with Support Agencies. Evidence was being gathered so that further action could be taken against the perpetrators. Work was also ongoing with the parents/guardians of the young people involved.

Several residents advised that the nuisance behaviour had increased around Cole Hall Lane/Wyndhurst Road/Glebe Farm/Audley and Alderpits Roads and called for a more robust approach to dealing with the young people causing the nuisance. Some of the offenders were known and it was agreed that residents would discuss the information further with Sgt Turnbull at the end of the meeting. Action: Residents to discuss/provide details to Sgt Turnbull following the meeting

- Active Citizens World Café Event Took place on Saturday 9th Sept, 11am – 1pm, Fox Hollies School. Approx. £25,000 funding was available for residents/community groups to access. A number of priorities and concerns were highlighted at the event – these included drugs dealing/drugs use; young people/acts of criminality and anti- social behaviour, violence/violent crime. The local policing team would seek to concentrate on the drug-dealing issues and concerns over the next few weeks, with a particular focus on street dealing. Residents were reminded that specific information like location, times and dates, description of alleged perpetrators/ vehicle details should be provided in confidence at the end of the meeting.

Residents advised that Middle Lea Ford/Cole Hall Lane were particularly problematic and agreed to share information further with Sgt Turnbull following the meeting.

Residents Issues and Concerns - A resident advised of a recent incident regarding a noise nuisance and anti-social behaviour complaint which had left him badly beaten up and hospitalised. Sgt Turnbull confirmed he was aware of the matter and felt it would be better to discuss the issue with the resident at the end of the meeting.

- Hillstone Primary School – problems with obstructive parking; parents taking their children to and from school blatantly disregarded road restrictions and residents requests not to block drives. Residents called for more robust enforcement action and felt that residents’ only parking/parking permits should be considered. Reference was also made to a trial scheme in Solihull which saw the local police working closely with schools to prevent parking in roads closest to the schools.

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Cllr Ward explained that Residents Only schemes had to be paid for by all residents in the designated scheme area even though there was no guarantee of a parking space for everyone or every household.

Sgt Turnbull explained that the main aim of the Solihull trial scheme was to change parent driving habits and practises around schools and encourage more walking to school as parents had been forced to park further away. However, the trial scheme was for a period of time and could not realistically be sustained by police officers doing school patrol duties twice daily.

Sgt Turnbull further advised that locally, school parking obstructions was not one of the main policing priorities; however officers would continue to work with and support the schools to find a workable solution to the issues. In the meantime, a Schools Panel Meeting with the local primary schools would be arranged in due course.

Members further advised of a number of initiatives available to schools – these included the Modeshift Stars and Safer Travel to School initiatives. Schools were actively encouraged to work alongside the Safer Travel to School Team to promote alternative ways of children travelling to school. Cllr Cotton would also be working alongside the schools and officers to identify suitable safe parking areas for parents to park and walk their child to school.

Action: All to Note

(ii) Councillors Updates Ward Plans Cllr Bridle briefly advised residents that each ward was required to identify its main Priorities/areas of concern, and would be used to develop a Ward Plan to help with the allocation of resources. Copies of the Ward Plan template were circulated at the meeting. Residents were encouraged to complete and return the forms at the end of the meeting or if they preferred, to hand them in at the Cllrs Advice Bureau at The Pump on Friday evening.

Local Innovation Fund Update Community Caretaking – the project was up and running. Residents/volunteers with gardening/DIY skills were actively being sought to work alongside/train young people, sharing experiences as well as skills and knowledge.

Glebe Farm Library – a number of residents and volunteers were involved with helping to develop and shape several ideas regarding making the best use of the building/facilities. The proposal for the LIF funding for the use of the facility as a Community Hub was expected to be approved by Cabinet Committee Local Leadership (CCLL) later in the month. A meeting of the Friends of Glebe Farm Library would be held in due course to explore further ideas and suggestions. Residents were encouraged to attend.

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Waste Collection Service - the strike had been temporarily suspended pending the court hearing on 27 November 2017. Normal collection services had been resumed, and crews would be actively working to clear the backlog of household waste and recycling. Cllr Ward briefly advised of the reasons for the restructuring of the Refuse Collection Service and the offer of alternative jobs for those members of staff affected by the restructure. However, the offer was rejected by the Unite Union, which had led to the industrial action.

Cllr Ward further advised that all efforts would continue to be made to successfully resolve the dispute before the court date.

New Homes - the former Yardley Sewerage site had now been designated as a suitable location for redevelopment. Proposals would be put forward for the building of approx. 273 new homes by Birmingham Municipal Housing Trust (BMHT), of which 143 would be for rent and 130 for sale.

Yardley & District Rugby Club – recent meeting and ongoing discussions with Sport regarding the relocation of the Club. The proposed traffic calming measures and the reconfiguration of the road layout, including the widening of the bridge for Cole Hall Lane would be included as part of the planning development. In the meantime, Highway Officers would continue to carry out a full transport remodelling analysis.

Residents advised of concerns regarding the increased driving speeds and dangerous manoeuvres by drivers, which included ignoring the Stop/ Give Way signs and driving on the opposite side of the road to avoid the bollards. Residents further advised they had received a letter from officers which alluded to the removal of the current traffic calming measures in the Spring and agreed to let Cllr Bridle have a copy of the letter.

Bus Services Update – Cllr Cotton advised of a recent meeting with officers from National Express/Centro regarding the changes to the bus services/routes in the ward. It was agreed that a public meeting would be arranged in the near future – residents would be notified as soon as the details had been confirmed.

The petition regarding the No. 59 bus service would be submitted to the next meeting of City Council. Action: All to Note

6. RESIDENTS NEWS UPDATES/CONCERNS AND ISSUES Residents advised of the following matters of concern:- - Birmingham’s Bid for the Commonwealth Games in 2022 Residents sought further clarity on the financial resources required to host the Games, whether the City Council and residents would be left to cover the costs, and the impact it would have on services/service provision as a result.

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Acknowledging residents’ concerns, Cllr Ward explained that 75% of the costs would be covered by Central Government, who had supported Birmingham’s bid. The City Council’s revenue budget was ring-fenced and as such, could not be used to support or pay for the Games. Discussions regarding the financing of the Games were ongoing with a number of key partners, agencies including the Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs) and businesses across the Black Country, Greater Birmingham, Solihull and Warwickshire; West Midlands Combined Authority and a number of other partners. The financial contribution made by the City Council would be nominal and drawn from prudential borrowing and capital investment schemes. Throughout the ongoing discussions with the Treasury, it had been made clear that the City Council would not be solely responsible for the cost of the Games.

Residents welcomed the information update.

- Shard End Community Centre – discussions still ongoing with Sport England and Other partner agencies; however several were also facing their own financial difficulties due to a reduction in government funding. There were significant repairs needed to the building and the drainage on the surrounding land/field was particularly poor. It had been proposed that the building/land should be released for the development of new homes and a new centre built on Lea Ford Road. British Cycling were still quite keen to become involved with service provision from the centre once it’s up and running, however it could be some time before a workable solution and the appropriate financial support package was found.

- Alderpits Road Bungalows – several residents living in the bungalows expressed their disappointment at the lack of progress made regarding the provision of a patio/sitting area to the rear of the communal gardens. Also, the fencing to the rear of Alderpits Road was in urgent need of attention. Youths had been gathering at the rear of the properties and causing anti-social behaviour/wanton damage, which included trying to set fire to the trees. Residents advised that calls had been made to the police, however the attitude of the call handler had been very poor and they had been left appalled and frustrated by the lack of knowledge and care shown by the operator.

Another resident complained about the lack of privacy and care shown when he attended Police Station to report anti-social behaviour.

Sgt Dan Turnbull explained that the Contact Centres were based in West Bromwich, and the City Centre, therefore detailed knowledge of the ward was unlikely to be known by the call handler; however, it appeared the service received had fallen short and unacceptable. Sgt Turnbull further explained that whilst the local Neighbourhood Policing Team was still based at Shard End, there was no longer a ‘front office’ facility. Incidents

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that required a more detailed investigation /long term prevention were carried out by Investigation Team, based at Stechford Police Station. Sgt Turnbull agreed to meet with the residents following the meeting to look into their concerns in more detail.

Phil Grainger, Place Manager also agreed to meet with the residents on site to discuss the concerns raised and agree a course of action. Action: All to Note

- Glebe Farm Road Shops – residents felt there were too many takeaways/fast food outlets in the parade of shops and called for a restriction on the numbers. Residents were advised of the City Council policy which had a limit of 10% on these types of outlets in shopping centres; however a recent decision by the Planning Inspectorate had overturned this policy, which could have a detrimental impact on shopping parades/centres

7. DATE OF NEXT MEETING Monday 13 November 2017, 7pm, Aylesbury Community Hall, 116 Bradley Road

8. AUTHORITY TO CHAIRPERSON AND OFFICERS Noted and agreed that:- “In an urgent situation between meetings, the Chair, jointly with the relevant Chief Officer had authority to act on behalf of the Committee”.

The Chair thanked residents for their attendance and active participation in the meeting.

The meeting closed at 8:40pm

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