Agenda item

Report of the Executive Director of People

Note: Councillor Singh, a Whoberley Ward Councillor and the petition organiser have been invited to attend the meeting for the consideration of this item.

Further to Minute 35/14, the Cabinet Member considered a further report of the Executive Director of Place which provided an update on progress against further recommendations made by the Cabinet Member at his meeting held on 2 October 2014 in response to a petition bearing 11 signatures which was submitted by Councillor B Singh on 25 March 2014.

Reports in response to the petition were presented to the Cabinet Member on 3 July and 2 October 2014 and detailed actions taken by officers in response to residents’ concerns about environmental and nuisance behaviour on the open space at the rear of properties 2-66 Brookside Avenue, Whoberley Ward. The open space is owned by the Council and managed by the Parks Service of the Place Directorate. 

Since the Cabinet Member meeting in October 2014, it was reported that neither the Police or the City Council have had reports of nuisance/anti-social behaviour associated with the open space to the rear of the homes in Brookside Avenue. In light of this, the report focused on what physical measures could be implemented to improve site security.

Councillor Singh, a Whoberley Ward Councillor and the petition spokesperson attended the meeting and spoke in support of the petition. Councillor Singh praised the petition spokesperson for all the work undertaken to bring this matter to the forefront and for liaising with Council Officers and the Local Neighbourhood Policing Team to resolve the issues. Councillor Singh stated that he would have liked a firmer decision on the pallasade fencing along the Allesley Old Road to stop people from using the area as a short cut. The petition spokesperson added that the pallasade fencing was dependant on a successful application to the Community Grant Fund which would not be known until February 2015.

The Local Neighbourhood Police Officer also attended the meeting and stated that a lot of the problems were seasonal and although recorded incidents were low, this did not reflect the actual problems on the ground. And unfortunately, many of the problems occurred when he was off duty and there was no uniform presence in the area.

The Cabinet Member carefully considered all the comments made by Councillor Singh, the petition spokesperson and the Local Neighbourhood Police Officer and noted the photographs circulated at the meeting showing quad bikes and drug bags found in close proximity to the primary school. He expressed disappointment that all the good work done by the Local Neighbourhood Police Officer was not being supported by other agencies. 

RESOLVED that the Cabinet Member for Policing and Equalities:

1.  Endorses the additional action taken by Officers and to support a proportionate response to the anti-social behavioural issues identified by residents’, with the provision of fencing as detailed in this report, subject to a successful funding bid to the Community Grant Fund.

2.  Requests officers to liaise with the Police to ensure they continue to patrol the area and to respond to any issues raised or identified and, if appropriate to exercise their powers to obtain identities of and disperse groups of individuals that are likely to cause nuisance or offending behaviour.

3.  Endorses the continued efforts of the Community Development Service to work with the community in tackling local issues including litter and environmental issues.

4.  Requests Officers to continue to monitor incidents of crime and nuisance together with the effectiveness of their action and to respond appropriately to any such issues.

5.  Requests the Head of Community Safety to draft a letter to the Chief Superintendent of Police commending the work of the Local Neighbourhood Policing Team, but expressing disappointment that when they are not in attendance, there is no uniformed presence in the area. The letter to be copied to Councillor Singh for information.

6.  Directs officers to access forthwith funding of £5000 by way of Partnership funding from the Police and Crime Board to provide for the installation of pallisade fencing to the relevant part of the Allesley Old Road.

7.  Directs the Head of Community Safety to explore at the earliest opportunity the installation of high tech CCTV cameras in the vicinity, in consultation with the Police.

8.  Requests a further report to review progress at the Cabinet Member meeting scheduled for 23 April 2015.