Birmingham City Council Notes of the meeting of the Billesley Ward Meeting 12 December 2016 at 7pm at Holy Cross Community Centre, Beauchamp Road B13 0NS Present: Councillor Alex Buchanan in the Chair, Councillor Susan Barnett & Councillor Phil Davis Sergeant Neil Ogden, West Midlands Police West Midlands Fire Service representatives Kay Thomas, Community Governance Manager There were 7 residents also in attendance 1. Notice of Recording – Noted 2. Apologies – Steve McCabe M.P. 3. Petitions – none submitted 4. WEST MIDLANDS FIRE SERVICE The meeting was advised that the West Midlands Fire Service was currently consulting with residents on how the fire service was organised and how it operated. The feedback received would help shape the service. The form for responses could be found at the West Midlands Fire Service website or at [email protected]. Station crew would offer assistance with the form on request. Councillor Davis queried whether fire stations were at risk of closure. The meeting was advised this was not the case at present but budgets were constantly reducing but reductions in back staff and joining services with police and ambulance services were currently being considered to mitigate closures. In response to a concern raised regarding units in Warstock Road and the storage of flammable substances the meeting was advised that the majority of the units were empty and a system was in place to keep a check on the units and regular visits were made to the address. Concern was expressed regarding the possible loss of community engagement that the Fire Service was involved in if budgets were cut. The Chair urged residents to complete and return the survey and to pass the details on to others. A resident undertook to take some forms to school. 5. UPDATE ON PROPOSED CHURCH OF ENGLAND FREE SCHOOL Councillor Barnett declared an interest as an employee of the Diocese of Birmingham. Peter French, Assistant Director, Birmingham Diocesan Board of Education & Mike Wilkes, Christ Church Academy attended the meeting to give a brief update on proposals for a Church of England Secondary Academy school. The application for the school had been submitted to the Department for Education and if the criteria were met an interview process would follow. There was a need for additional forms of entry at secondary school level across the City and Billesley had been highlighted. If approved, a suitable site would need to be found and would be subject to planning regulations. The school was flexible on location. If all was successful the school would look to take students at year 7 in 2019. 1 The Chair referred to the concern that had been voiced regarding the prospect of a new school in the area but stressed that no decision had yet been made and no location agreed. It was suggested that the notes of this meeting be circulated to residents in the suggested area for the school. Residents generally welcomed a secondary school that was located within the ward, especially if Baverstock School closed. Councillor Barnett noted that numbers of children from Billesley had to go out of district to find a school place so a good school in the right area was needed but she was aware of issues such as parking, therefore councillors were working closely with the church. Mr Wilkes said the benefit of a new build was that matters such as traffic congestion, safe routes to school, community use etc could be built into the plans. In response to a question it was confirmed that the school would not have a faith based admissions policy. 6. MATTERS OF URGENT LOCAL CONCERN a) New Ward Boundaries The Chair explained the changes to the ward boundaries as from 2018. Councillor Davis referred to conversations regarding the possibility of a community council for Billesley b) Verge Protection Trittiford Road A local resident expressed concerns regarding the verge protection proposals for Trittiford Road and in view of the layout of her property these proposals would make access impossible. She was unable to have a footway crossing due to the vicinity of trees and therefore these proposals would create a problem especially for those people who were disabled or infirm. The bunds would also create problems when trying to get disabled people out of or into the car as the door could not be fully opened. Without being able to drive across the pavement to access her property she would be unable to park as staff from the school parked in the road. There was an issue for blue badge holders that needed to be addressed before the proposals were put in place. Councillor Barnett said that there were considerable numbers of complaints regarding parking on grass verges and it was suggested that further investigations be made into a dropped kerb, perhaps shared with a neighbour. 2 surveys were undertaken each year and residents contacted where cars were found parked in front gardens without a driveway so some advice could be sought at that stage. c) Meeting Publicity Residents felt there should be more publicity for the meetings. Sergeant Ogden said that he would be producing a newsletter for circulation and would include details. The Chair added that details were posted on Facebook and on B14 website. 7. ITEMS FOR FUTURE AGENDA No items raised. 8. AUTHORITY TO ACT BETWEEN MEETINGS Noted and agreed 2 POLICE TASKING MEETING Sergeant Neil Ogden gave the following update and made the following main points; Changes to Police Structure − From 20 November the police would be moving back towards ward local policing and Billesley ward would be covered by Birmingham West Neighbourhood Policing Unit. − The team would be local to the Billeseley area. − Changes had been made to the call centre, back office and investigations to enable more emphasis to be put on local policing − The team was based at Billesley Police Station but the station was on the list to close. − New technology was playing a part in the changes for officers and back office support. − Bodycams would be rolled out − The sergeant now had responsibility for preventing harm, reducing demand, activating citizens, increasing public confidence and managing local offenders. Crime Figures − Year on year there had been an increase in crimes. April to November there had been 250 more victims of crime in Billesley − Shoplifting, drug related crime, begging, anti-social behaviour (around the Maypole & Yardley Wood areas) had increased − The team was aware of the issues and had actions in place and would be focusing attention on them during the year ahead. − Police officers would be attending schools and community groups and organising walkabouts for residents to come out and meet the local officers. Wmnow − To help with communication with local residents the police had launched ‘wmnow’ so that once registered, information, messages, crime alerts and general details about meetings/events etc could be received Graffiti Councillor Davis reported graffiti on the post box by the post office, Yardley Wood Road and other incidents of graffiti which would have been captured on cctv but in the absence of cameras assistance was required from the shopkeepers. Meeting ended at 8.45pm 3 .