Agenda and draft minutes

There were no declarations of interest.

The minutes of the meeting held on Tuesday 8 January 2019 were declared a true record and were signed by the Chairman.

The report of the Executive Manager – Transformation is attached.

The Service Manager – Transformation presented the report of the` Executive Manager – Operations and Transformation which provided the Group with an update on the delivery of the Council’s partnership with the Canal and Rivers Trust. It was noted that the Service Level Agreement included that the Canal and Rivers trust would maintain the surfaced multi-user path and verge, pedestrian and cycle routes and to maintain street furniture including bins and motorcycle barriers. The Service Manager informed the Group that the payment made to the Canal and River Trust for 2018/19 was £40,825 + VAT in order for them to maintain the accessible route along the Grantham Canal.

The Canal and Rivers Trust National Contracts Manager delivered a presentation to the Group which focused on the outcomes of the Service Level Agreement with the Council. The presentation covered:

• Introduction
• Waterways and Wellbeing
• The Trusts Finances
• The Trust in the East Midlands
• The Trust in Rushcliffe
• Delivering Contract Work
• Service Level Agreement Improvements
• Volunteer Partner Groups
• Towpath Taskforces
• Grantham Canal Heritage Imitative
• Hickling Hut Restoration

Following the presentation, the Group asked for further information regarding the discovery of the lengthman’s hut in Hickling. The National Contracts Manager explained that a lengthman was somebody who would look after a section of canal and that the Trust would invite local Councillors to celebrate the restoration project which was currently taking place. The Group also praised the Canal and Rivers Trust work with the Friends of the Lady Bay Canal Group.

The National Contracts Manager noted that the Trust would be unable to maintain refurbishments without the financial payment from the Council as part of the Service Level Agreement. He explained that the aim for the Canal and Rivers Trust is to link the whole canal together but that it would be impossible without funding for other resources such as the National Lottery.

The Group were pleased to note that the Trust actively sought community engagement and volunteers to assist with projects and refurbishments. It was stated that the Trust worked with Groups of volunteers from the retail sector who allowed their employees time off work to volunteer for local community projects.

Following a question the National Contracts Manager confirmed that they were planning to try and increase their commercial income which was particularly relevant if in the future grants and other sources of income started to reduce.

The Chairman thanked the officers for delivering their presentation and for answering the Group’s questions.

It was RESOLVED that

a)    The report of the Executive Manager – Transformation be noted.

b)    The work of the partnership between the Council and the Canal and River Trust be endorsed

c)    Councillors be invited to the unveiling of the restored lengthman’s hut in Hickling.

The report of the Executive Manager – Neighbourhoods is attached.

The Executive Manager – Neighbourhoods presented the report which detailed a review of the South Nottinghamshire Community Safety Partnership (SNCSP). It was noted that the Partnership covered the administrative areas of Rushcliffe, Broxtowe and Gedling. The Executive Manager advised that the statutory and voluntary partners who participated in the SNCSP aimed to reduce crime and disorder, anti-social behaviour and to promote healthy and safer communities.

Inspector Craig Berry delivered a presentation to the Group which had a particular focus on stakeholder engagement. The presentation covered:

• Statements about demands on policing
• Recorded incidents vs recorded crime
• Rushcliffe year to date crime data
• Community engagement
• Partnership Delivery

Following the presentations, the Group were informed that in Rushcliffe, the most common place where violence with injury took place was Whatton Prison and Nottingham Forest Football Ground and that theft of vehicles in Rushcliffe were often then used to commit further crimes. The Group asked questions regarding the levels of theft in shops within the Borough. Inspector Berry stated that there were currently 14 shops in West Bridgford signed up to the successful ‘shop watch’ scheme and was hopeful that the scheme would expand into other areas in Rushcliffe such as Keyworth.

Due to the nationwide increase of fly tipping, the Group were informed that those who committed this crime were often organised criminals who lived outside of Rushcliffe and would choose the area because of its quiet roads. However the Council supported by the Police had been successful in catching perpetrators using CCTV evidence. The Group raised concerns that tradesmen who left their unused materials in a customer’s home could encourage fly tipping.  The Group were also informed that there was an increase of road traffic accidents within the Borough due to its fast country roads and that speed limits had been reduced in order to reduce the number of accidents.

It was noted that the shared mental health trained social worker which was partially funded by Nottinghamshire County Council and the other borough council’s which formed the SNCSP had returned to their previous role as Nottinghamshire County Council had cut the funding for the post.

It was RESOLVED that:

a)    The report of the Executive Manager – Neighbourhoods be noted

b)    The work of the South Notts Community Safety Partnership be endorsed.

Action Sheet – Partnership Delivery Group – 19 March 2019