WILFORD COMMUNITY GROUP

The Tenants and Residents Association for Wilford

Minutes of the Closed Committee Meeting

held on Thursday 8^th January 2004

at Nottingham Moderns RFC (Ward Lounge)

Present: David Boulton (DB) Chairman

Sheila Atherton (SA) Treasurer

Roger Steel (RS) Vice Chairman

Josie Foster (JF) Minute Secretary

Mike Cathcart (MC)

Kate Clark (KC)

Brian Clark (BC)

Brian Hardy (BH)

Jonathan Shewell-Cooper (JS-C)

Invited Guests Brendan Clarke-Smith, Dave Stretton, Area 9 Team Leader, Street Scene, and Andrew Brooks

Dave Stretton introduced himself by running through a few points of the position that he holds at

the moment, in this area.

Street Scene started in April 2003 and he became Team Leader for Clifton, Wilford and Silverdale. He is responsible for ground maintenance, cleansing, road sweeping and litter bins, but not dustbins.

The graffiti removal programme in Wilford has, so far, been successful and another run is taking place on the 19^th January. 40 sq. m of graffiti was removed from the Wilford area. One of the problems is getting permission off people where it is private property such as the Social Club and the Boots Homes, or a Commercial Building,. (SA said she would give him a contact name and number at Boots to enable him to make direct contact. With regard to the Boots Homes) The council also like to submit invoices for the cost of removing graffiti if the property is privately owned. One of the areas targeted for the next run is the riverside of the flood bank

He has established contact with the Environment Agency and in the new financial year they may give more in the budget for removing graffiti on a regular basis. Ideally he would like to see a graffiti removal team working every 4 weeks rather than as at present every 9 weeks. There are no long term plans for the flood bank wall. JS-C asked if preventable measures could be taken such as anti-graffiti paint or facing with stone similar to that used in front of the properties on the river side. Dave Stretton replied that they are, in fact, looking at different anti-graffiti coatings to apply. RS suggested ivy being planted on the riverside. The Environment Agency do not approve of this as they suggest it will interfere with the structural integrity of the flood defences. In any case, there is nowhere to plant into, as the bank is solid concrete down to the river. Other areas identified for cleaning of graffiti, the fencing on the corner of Holly Avenue, as Boots own this property Dave Stretton will use the contact number given to him by SA. Dog Waste bin already identified together with various units belonging to BT, NTL and the Electricity Exchange near the Library.

RS asked about graffiti on the Toll Bridge – Dave Stretton replied that Area 9 are only responsible up to the Wilford side of the river, crossing over the bridge it then becomes the responsibility of Area 8.

From April the City will see more street wardens that may see a reduction in graffiti in the areas for which they have responsibility. DS could not say whether there would be any wardens specific to Wilford.

Street Cleaning - Parked cars cause a problem when street sweeping, this is done every Friday and Dave Stretton will endeavour to get alternative times when this is carried out. RS requested that as well as alternating the times could the sweeper include all of Holly Avenue this means the bottom end of Holly Avenue and the cul-de-sac, these are very often missed. D Stretton would mention this to the driver.

JS-C asked about the encroachment of weeds on to the cycle path between Emmanuel School and Wilford Lane – this, however, is the responsibility of Rushcliffe BC.

RS mentioned overhanging trees, in particular near the Ferry Inn, these trees also block the street lighting on Main Road, Street Scene will remove low branches but for more severe pruning contact Tree Service Section.

He is aware of the damaged wall in Cribb Close and this is being dealt with.

KC mentioned some blocked drains on Main Road, which cause problems when there is severe rainfall – this is the responsibility of the Highways Department, not Street Scene.

DS left the committee with a number of contact points for reporting burnt out cars, fly-tipping, graffiti and so forth. DB said that he would publicise these details on the notice boards.

			Action
1	Apologies None
2	Wilford Sports Ground and the Protection of Wilford’s Open Spaces DB spoke about concerns with what is happening to the Wilford Sports Ground (David Wilson Development), and, as the plans have been passed, there does not seem to be any other routes to go down that he and JS-C have not already tried. JS-C will write to the Chief Executive with a copy to John Collins, Leader of the Council and a copy to MP Alan Simpson together with a covering letter. Invited guest, resident Andrew Brooks, who lives on Ruddington Lane, is very concerned that all local green spaces are being developed and Wilford will be left with only a narrow belt of green by the riverbank. Consequently, Wilford will be ruined, and as a result, become a less desirable area to live in as a result. He is a member of the Nottingham Wildlife Trust and he spoke at length about the dismay felt by this group at the destruction of the woodland on the Wilford Sports Ground (David Wilson Development). Other areas of concern being the closure of the Becket School on Ruddington Lane and its relocation near the Wilwell Farm Nature Reserve. Mr Brooks asked would we be able to form a sub-committee to deal with situations such as this. DB responded that as we are only nine members it was difficult to form and successfully run sub-committees adequately. Any actions taken would be taken working as a full committee. BC-S would find out who owns the land that is currently occupied by the Becket School on Ruddington Lane. DB asked Andrew Brooks if it would be beneficial to invite residents to a meeting with the Nottingham Wildlife Trust to inform them of wildlife matters in Wilford. AB said he could take a small group around Wilwell Farm Nature Reserve. The Committee took a short break and Andrew Brooks left the meeting.		JS-C BC-S
3	Minutes of the Previous Meeting (4^th December 2003) The Minutes were approved.
4	Review outstanding actions from previous meeting
	4.1	Contact Constabulary Field Intelligence Officer Beat Officer, Nigel Brown, is willing to come to a meeting. RS suggested we put a card on the notice boards with Nigel Brown’s telephone number etc. Any information would be useful to the people dealing with the data base information and could help to establish a relationship to help fight crime in Wilford. BC-S spoke about anti-social behaviour being targeted by a campaign in the Evening Post campaign, at the same time Nigel Brown is going into schools and a day of action is being planned. The Committee felt that a Field Intelligence Officer should not attend a closed committee meeting. RS will invite PC Brown to the March committee meeting	RS
	4.2	2004 Open Gardens Day Carried Over	DB
	4.3	Bus Travel from Wilford into West Bridgford via Compton Acres BC-S has spoken generally of this in council and has telephoned NCT to talk of bus services in this area. BC-S raised the matter of residents getting to surgeries, the cancelled bus services and bus shelters. NCT will write eventually.
	4.4	State of the Pavements and Bus turn round BC-S reported that money for repairing pavements has run out. RS, as part of the NET consultation, has written to say that a bus turn round would be appreciated. JS-C questions whether we will even have a bus once the tram is up and running.
	4.5	Illuminations It was refused on the grounds that no money was available. We will discuss later in the year.
	4.6	Spring Bulb Planting JS-C will organise.	JS-C
	4.7	Sewage Pumping Station BH sent a fax to Mr Pollard, who responded that the Pumping Station is repairable. BC-S said it would be fixed completely and is in the budget for this year. Work will commence sometime in the New Year
	4.8	Correspondence re Co-op Notice Board They are happy for us to place the notice board and BC and BH will carry out this job a week on Sunday at a mutually agreed time. KC asked if it would be in order to place Church Notices on the notice boards. DB will contact David Rowe.	BC/BH DB
5	Chairman’s Report
	5.1	DB met Neil Harby, Traffic Management, Nottingham City Council, just before Christmas to talk about the barriers. Mr Harby said the ground was flat enough for cyclists to ride around the barriers and nothing could be done to prevent this. We have either to live with the barriers or take them away. The committee voted in favour of keeping the barriers.
	5.2	Cribb Close Wall Mr Stretton has been approached about this problem and we will wait events.
	5.3	Embankment Footpath This will start sometime this year. Planting will take place in February.
	5.4	Next Open Meeting The Social Club are very enthusiastic for us to have our open meetings there and the Club Steward has written to the Treasurer to confirm that this is in order. The next open meeting will be Wednesday 28^th January at lunchtime and the proposed evening meeting will be cancelled. Volunteers to take this meeting were KC, BH and JF (who could not attend until after 12.00 p.m.)	DB KC/BH/ JF
	5.5	NET reply to consultation feedback NET responded that they are willing to come to a closed meeting in either February or March and it is hoped we shall be able to build a relationship between the Group Committee and NET.
6	Vice-Chairman’s Report RS had attended the Area Committee Meeting on the 10^th December 2003
	6.1	Clifton Audio Project Demonstration This was a project dealing with the youth in the area
	6.2	Traffic calming This was undergoing a review in Clifton. The BBC will be filming at Clifton and producing a programme looking at local democracy. If more than 65% are in favour the speed humps will not be removed. A further consultation is to take place and the whole of Area 9 will get a leaflet, four meetings will follow this with a review lead by Andrew Price. A draft area local action plan for Transport is to be drawn up by the Area Committee, the Forum and the Traders Committee with questions such as (a) the Wilford Tram stops need to be re-examined and (b) Silverdale would like a tram stop.
	6.3	Meetings held about policing The Chief Constable had headed meetings in Clifton and Silverdale. The meeting at Clifton attracted 75 residents and 200 residents attended the one on Silverdale.
7	Sewage Pumping Station Covered in Agenda Item 4 (Review of Outstanding Actions) item 4.7.
8	Tram – correspondence DB reported back on correspondence received from NET and explained that this appeared to be a general response letter sent to all residents who had responded to the consultation document. He also reported letters to the Evening Post from residents in response to letters he had written on behalf of the Group. As two of the letters referred to the conduct of the committee, it was agreed that he should write privately rather than reply through the Post and divert the issue away from the tram.		DB
9	Venues for future open and closed meetings As from tonight the Nottingham Moderns Rugby Football Club will be charging £10 per meeting. BH to investigate the possibilities of using the Social Club. SA asked that the Rugby Club provide an invoice for the meeting. RS would chase this up.		BH RS
10	Any Other Business (urgent items only) SA ask that the minutes record that she had no receipt for the £40 spent on printing costs at Instaprint.
11	Date of Next Meeting Open Meeting at Social Club on Wednesday 28^th January 2003. Closed meeting on Thursday 5^th February – venue to be arranged later.
	The Meeting closed at 10.45 p.m. Signed …………………………………. Chairman Date ………………………………….