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Name of group Nechells Neighbourhood Tasking Group

Date and start time 23 April 2013 at 1400 hours

Location of meeting Highgate Fire Station

In Attendance West Midlands Police Birmingham City Council Sgt Dave Bates – in the Chair (DB) Alex Warsama –LHM – (AW) Russell Davey Env Health (RD) West Midlands Fire Service Paul Johnson (PJ) Aston Mark Clifton (MC) Highgate Mark Crooke (MC) – Friends of Sara Park John Gordon (JG) – Digbeth Residents Assoc Eddie Howard (EH)– Highgate Housing Liaison Board

Apologies Ayesha Choudhury, Margaret Morcom, , Inspector Dutton, Emma Gardner (EG) – St Basils, Sgt Amanda Thompson, ASgt Kirsty Pattinson – Digbeth (KP)

Agenda Item Action

1.

WELCOME & INTRODUCTIONS Introductions were made and the Chair welcomed all to the meeting.

2.

NOTES OF LAST MEETING The notes of the previous meeting were agreed. MC stated that at the last meeting Noran Flynn had commented that the Councillors were not attending the meeting when they should be and that this had been missed from the minutes. AW stated that he had raised the issue at the recent Ward meeting with Councillor Ali and Councillor Mosquito. They had stated that they are heavily committed with meetings but would attend if a particular issue needed to be raised with them. MC also noted that he felt the standard of the minutes had declined. Any issues arising from the notes would be picked up during the meeting.

3.

PARTNER UPDATES/ PERFORMANCE West Midlands Fire Service PJ reported stats continued to be good. There had been 5 fires in dwellings during the month with no hotspot areas. No injuries had been sustained and these figures were well below the predicted trend. Arson Dwellings were still above trend but only 1 reported in last 30 days which was a small fire only 1 square metre. Accidental fires non dwellings, such as communal areas in tower blocks, were also above trend but there had only been 1 in past 30 days which was a very small electrical fire in an office. Non domestic arsons were down by approx 50%. One had been reported

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4.

in past 30 days which was a 2 m square fire in the toilets of a leisure centre. The fire service are doing preventative work with neighbouring businesses after each incident. Vehicle arsons were below trend with 0 being reported in last 30 days. Arson rubbish – had been some quite high peaks 4-5 months ago but pro-active patrols had been conducted by the cycle teams and the levels were now below trend. 5 had been reported in the past 30 days with no hotspot areas being identified. Previously levels had reached up to 15 per month. Non domestic false alarms were down with 71 being reported for the year compared to a 3yr average of 150. False alarms in dwellings were also below average following fire service home checks and community talks. No arsons in derelict buildings had been reported in last 30 days. JG noted an improvement in relation to this in the Digbeth area. The fire service had completed walkabouts around Talfourd St and the Coventry Rd regarding dumped rubbish with no specific concerns being raised. MC stated that there were still issues with dumped rubbish in those areas. PJ noted that it was partly the result of trade waste being collected on different days by different contractors. They had also linked in with John Street from Free at Last who was running a scheme to provide mentoring for 12 young people. The young people were due to attend the station tomorrow as part of a youth leaders programme. West Midlands Police The Chair provided a hand-out relating to police performance from 1st to 23rd April. Total crime was up 12.4% in Digbeth and 50% in Nechells, although numbers in Nechells were still substantially lower than the other neighbourhoods. Crime levels were down in Small Heath by 7.5%. Robbery was generally down with the exception of Nechells where there had been 7 offences. Burglary dwelling offences were also down. JG noted that there had only been 1 offence in Digbeth and Highgate and that the police perhaps needed to advertise these success stories. Vehicle crime was up, except in Small Heath where there was a small reduction. JG made reference to the use of ‘capture cars’ by the police and thought it was a good tactic and more vehicles should be obtained. MC considered that there was an issue of entrapment. DB advised that the courts accepted the use of such tactics. A new category of violence with injury had been introduced this year. There was a slight reduction in Digbeth but a rise in Small Heath. No trends had been identified at this stage.

5.

Walk Abouts – AW provided an update regarding the areas he had received to be considered for the walk-about day. He had received approx 6 from Nechells and another 2/3 from Small Heath/Digbeth. His team were also visiting areas today and tomorrow. Housing were also including an internal survey with the tenants within the tower blocks. Once the areas had been reviewed they would be brought back to the meeting with a coach trip to visit the locations planned for June. AW was keen to work with RD to share information. AW had also invited the councillors to join the tour of the areas in June. AW noted that the area around Safeside Fire station had significant parking problems which could be made worse by the building of new student accommodation nearby. This was the type of issue that could be brought to the councillors attention.

AW/RD

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6.

MC supported the walkabouts but questioned whether the good work would simply happen on one occasion and the areas would then deteriorate again. AW stated that there would be a neighbourhood plan, linking in the various services and the areas would be reviewed. DB stated that we needed to build representation from community members who could report back such issues. MC noted that the meeting required a budget to assist community members with transport arrangements to attend these meetings as many people were put off by the cost or unable to attend on public transport.

Nechells

a) Updates

Boy Racers – DB updated that it was not current government policy to fit

new speed cameras and that the existing cameras in Birmingham had now been turned off. It was therefore not possible to have these installed on the Heartlands Parkway. There had, however, been no boy racers in Nechells for several months since the prosecutions were made. The funding remained to install temporary lane closures if they returned.

Discharge

7. 8. 9. 9.

Nechells Parkway, children throwing stones at vehicles A number of warning letters have been issued and referrals made to Free at Last. No further incidents reported. Anti Social Behaviour – Nechells Park Road –AT had liaised with MH regarding the asb. This had been an issue during the summer months last year. The Nechells team would be monitoring now the weather was getting warmer. New Issue – Robbery Robberies were up for the month with a number reported around Star City and on bus routes to and from that area. Arrests had been made and referrals were being made to Free at Last. AT to update at next meeting. SMALL HEATH Environmental Issues MC wished it to be noted that RD had conducted a walk-about with him at his request. 4-5 areas had been noted and all of them had been rectified. This included rubbish being removed from around Sara Park playcentre and other cleansing issues. MC had received thanks from residents who had noticed the improvement. RD stated that environmental health would be continuing bag checks along the Coventry Rd and visiting businesses. The multiple collections by different contractors made the issues difficult to fully resolve. For further update at next meeting.

Group of Youths, Bordesley Green – Criminal Damage .DB updated that there had been 7 incidents since Jan. One suspect had been charged with an assault matter on a bus in the area. There had only been one incident since the last meeting and patrols were continuing. The

Discharge

Discharge

AT

RD Discharge

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10. 11. 12. 13. 14.

earlier spike in offending appeared to have reduced.

ASB/Drug dealing Talfourd Street, including Hafton Grove – DB stated that they had been receiving less complaints in regards to the Cosmos Club. The NHT were working with the council regarding a closure order for one address linked to drug use in the area and DB would update at the next meeting. MC stated that a resident known to him had reported that there were still some concerns regarding drug dealing linked to the Club.

Business robberies Coventry Road - DB stated that there had been a further robbery at LloydsTSB in which offenders had threatened staff with a machete. The NHT had attempted to start a business watch scheme but only 3 people had attended the first meeting on 3rd April. MC stated that the police appeared to have done all they could and if the businesses were not willing to take part the matter should be discharged. DB stated that the NHT were revisiting the businesses to establish what level of engagement/assistant they required and the best format. MC stated that there 2 women were regularly begging near to the Halal Supermarket and Sonali bank. DB said that the NHT would look out for them. For update at next meeting.

New Issues – Burglaries Barwell Road DB updated that there had been a series of burglaries in the Barwell Rd area. One male had been arrested for a number of these offences approx 3 months ago but they had continued. Another person had recently been arrested and was on bail. The Small Heath Team were fitting crime prevention equipment to all ground floor properties in the road and a neighbourhood watch scheme had been set up. MC stated that it was important that public money was not used to pay for improvements on private premises. DB stated that funding would not be used to upgrade the environment on the private areas and the neighbourhood watch members were liaising with their management companies. For update at next meeting.

DIGBETH/ HIGHGATE

St Patrick’s Day Update A meeting had been held with the public houses who were generally pleased with how the event had run. Some of the smaller venues had reduced takings but the 1400-1600 hrs closed door policy appeared to have been successful. The businesses reported that the operation had been a lot better than the previous year and the licensed premises appreciated having a local officer allocated to them for the operation. JG enquired about whether a debrief document had been created and what the outcomes were as they had requested last years document but had never received it. DB stated that he was not sure whether a formal document had been produced but would enquire with KP who could update with the key findings. KP to update re debrief doc at next meeting. Brinklow Tower- ASB, Drug Dealing DB provided update from KP that two warrants had now been executed at an address in the block and the target had now vacated the premises. A residents’ questionnaire was also being distributed. EH stated that he had spoken to Insp Dutton to advise him that the evicted person

DB DB DB KP

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15. 16. 17. 18.

appeared to be living in Wilcote Tower. He also stated that there was a very strong smell of cannabis on the 4th floor and tenants had complained about drugs being used in the communal areas on the 18th floor. DB stated that the information would be passed to KP for action. AW stated that there had been reports of rough sleepers in the shute rooms who were setting fires to keep warm. The council were considering locking them. EH praised the work of the concierge at Wilmcote Tower. EH did advise that parking around Horton Square seemed much better and that the children from St Albans school were now not causing any problems after school. However the betting shop at Horton Square still had people smoking and drinking outside. New Issues There had been a rise in vehicle crime around the Millennium Point side of Digbeth which was being tackled with additional patrols. KP to provide update for next meeting. COMMUNITY PRIORITIES

The following priorities were agreed;

Robbery (Nechells)

Environmental Issues (Small Heath)

Brinklow Tower (Digbeth/Highgate)

Other The Digbeth team had organised a coach trip to Stratford for elderly residents from the area which had been well received. A news update was passed to the group.

Next Meeting

The next meeting on 21 May 2013 at 2pm. Venue Carol Gethin House, Arthur St.

KP KP

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