Shed some pounds on shed security

Solihull Police report that a number of sheds on the Gospel Lane allotments have been broken into. They offer advice on securing your garden and shed:

Here are some basic tips for you if you are looking to make sure your garden and shed are as secure as possible.

● Put gravel on paths and driveways to alert you to someone approaching
● Fix a wooden trellis to the top of fences as if climbed, it will break, creating noise and attracting attention.
● Ensure gates at the side or back of the house are kept locked with a good quality bolt and padlock.
● Do not leave ladders lying around.
● Install security lights to illuminate your garden.
● Keep shrubs, hedges and large plants cut back.
● The planting of a prickly hedge, such as firethorn, climbing rose or hawthorn, against existing fencing will act as a powerful deterrent.
● Speak to your local garden centre about plants which provide natural protection.
● Lock sheds with a padlock or mortice deadlock as they often contain tools suitable for breaking into your home.
● Check to see if your shed has sustained any damage after the Winter months which may make access easy for a burglar.
● If your shed has windows, consider putting net or curtains up
● Consider installing a battery operated shed alarm
● Chain cycles, mowers, ladders and stools together inside the shed
● Consider having lockable steel boxes fitted to the floor of your shed to store tools in

Planning Applications to the 25 May 2013

Another quiet week:

2013/03471/PA - 62 Yardley Road, B27 6LG
Erection of rear detached storage building

You can find the details by inputting the reference number into the Council online database here

If you have any comments, you can submit them online - feel free to pass your comments on to me.

CANCELLED - Acocks Green Ward Committee May 29

As the start of the Council year has been delayed by the unavoidable postponement of the Council AGM and we had a single item agenda for Ward Committee on Wednesday 29 May, it has been cancelled. This should have been updated on the council website, but this hasn't been done. My apologies for that.

Access to Fox Hollies Leisure Centre - new access

The new gate allowing access from Fox Hollies Road and the No 11 bus route is now open and will be available as follows:

06:45-22:15 Monday-Friday

06:45-15:45 Saturday

07:45-20:45 Sunday

This has been funded by the Acocks Green Ward Community Chest and is a result of the work done by Cllr Stacey and myself since last year to get this access reopened and make it easier for people to use the leisure centre. 

Planning Applications to the 18 May 2013

Another quiet week:

2013/03195/PA - 73 Kilmorie Road, B27 6AY
Erection of two storey side and rear and single storey forward and rear extensions.

You can find the details by inputting the reference number into the Council online database here

If you have any comments, you can submit them online - feel free to pass your comments on to me.

Council - 1943

How things used to be - back in 1943.Lots of things have changed - particularly the range of services that the council used to operate. The counting process is reassuringly unchanged - although I can't recall ever having a public audience at a count. A wonderful historical document.

Objects in the rear view mirror ...

There has been a spate of thefts of BMW Mini wing mirrors across the West Midlands force area. Some neighbourhoods have been hit harder than others, but each of those still counts as a crime and our local coppers are being proactive. The mirrors are attractive to thieves as they are quite easy to remove very rapidly. A little while back, officers raided a house elsewhere in the force area and found a whole load of these mirrors, but as there is no way to tie the mirrors to a particular vehicle and thereby prove that they are stolen goods, no action can be taken.

To help tackle this, local officers have identified owners living in the ward - about 100 - and will be contacting them to offer some advice and a free visit to allow the officers to covertly mark the mirrors to ensure that if they do turn up in a haul of stolen goods, they can be tracked back to a theft.

If you own one of these cars, spending a few quid on some security screws may help (example here, but others are available) and an investment of £7 could save you more in lost excess.

Half term looms ahead and if you want to give your kids something to do, the House of Play and Education, a great little local charity that is going from strength to strength, is running some sessions at St Edmund's Church on Reddings Lane (just outside the border of the ward by about 100ft).

Rubbish cleared

This little lot was reported by a local resident to Stewart and me this week after they had been asking for months for it to be cleared. We had it gone within a few days.

Planning Applications to the 11 May 2013

Another quiet week:

2013/02836/PA - 18 Ryde Grove, B27 7SW
Erection of single storey rear extension to replace conservatory..

You can find the details by inputting the reference number into the Council online database here

If you have any comments, you can submit them online - feel free to pass your comments on to me.

Unemployment Update

Month on month, the number of unemployment benefit claimants in Acocks Green fell by 45 between February and March 2013. That leaves us with a claimant rate of 10.4%, compared to a Birmingham rate of 11.9%. That remains up 25 on the same month last year, however.

Overall, the number of people unemployed in the city fell by 143.

There is positive news in these numbers, but it is still tough out there. I'm aware of one part-time post advertised in Acocks Green that attracted over 300 applications.

Library Update

Just a quick paragraph about Acocks Green Library. Stewart and I attended a site meeting this morning with representatives of the contractors and the City Council. We've confirmed that the asbestos testing is to be carried out around the roof lights on Friday, with scaffolders on site to provide temporary towers around each of the areas so that the testing can be completed as quickly as possible. It is expected to be done within the day, but there is a possibility that it might run over into Saturday.

The testing is only usually done close to the start of work because it is destructive - physical samples have to be removed from the fabric of the building.

We'll have the results of that testing early next week and that should allow us to move forward reasonably rapidly to get the works properly underway.

Library Update - 9 May - Closure postponed

The closure planned for this Saturday has been postponed.

Last week's meeting identified some asbestos testing that needs to be carried out prior to the work starting and the advice then was that it needed to be done with the building closed and just in advance of work. Following a more detailed risk assessment, it has been clarified that we can carry this work out on a Friday when the library is closed as normal. Once we know the results, then we'll have a clearer idea of how to progress.

As our aim is to keep the library open as much as possible, it would be wrong to close the library and have it standing unused for any longer than we actually need to. Stewart and I are both anxious to avoid the mess that saw South Yardley out of action for a year and a half while problems were put right.

This is a reversal of an announcement earlier in the week, but as we are now able to keep the library open, this is the right decision to take. Sorry for any inconvenience caused and I will try to keep people up to date on progress.

Planning Applications to 4 May 2013

And back to a single application this week:

2013/02968/PA - 9 Woodford Green Road, B28 8PH
Erection of single storey extension and conservatory to rear.

You can find the details by inputting the reference number into the Council online database here

If you have any comments, you can submit them online - feel free to pass your comments on to me.

Library Update

After a site meeting on Friday, we now have a confirmed date for the start of the temporary closure. Acocks Green library will close this Saturday, the 11 May, to allow for preparations to hand over to the contractors on the 24 May, with work planned to start on the 28 May. Reopening is planned for early September. 

South Yardley library will pick up the strain and will open all day on Wednesdays to provide extra access:

Monday 9am-7pm

Tuesday 9am - 5pm

Wednesday 9am - 5pm

Thursday 9am - 7pm

Friday 9am - 5pm

Saturday 9am - 5pm

(Note that it will be closed on Monday 27 May for the Bank Holiday)

I will keep you updated on progress. 

Police update

This is the latest update from our local neighbourhood team.

April saw ten burglaries, two up on the previous month. Unusually, four have been forced entry through front doors and on two occasions, vehicles were also taken. Two were from empty properties where boilers and copper pipe were taken and there have been three burglaries on commercial properties. Two robberies and five thefts of motor vehicles have also been reported. Fifteen thefts from motor vehicles, five of which related to the theft of front and rear number plates. Four sets of Astra wing mirrors have been stolen - the successor to the theft of Mini Cooper wing mirrors. There have been two cases of theft of satnavs from vehicles and one incident of a theft of a bag from a car, which resulted in the arrest of the thieves. There has also been the theft of a catalytic converter from a van.

There have been a few incidents of anti-social behaviour on the Gospel Estate and two youngsters have been placed on anti-social behaviour contracts.

Just a reminder - no elections in Acocks Green this year!

I've had a couple of people ask me why they haven't received voting cards this year. There's no need to worry - in Birmingham, we elect our councillors 'by thirds' so in three out of four years, one council seat in each electoral ward is up for election for a four year term. The fourth year is 'fallow' and we don't have elections. 2013 is our fallow year.

The next election planned in Birmingham will be in late May 2014, when the local elections will be shifted back a few weeks to bring them into line with elections to the European parliament.

Planning Applications to the 27 April 2013

Another flurry of applications as spring arrives.

2013/02796/PA - 12 Grayland Close, B27 7NE
Erection of two storey side, first floor rear, single storey side/rear extension and rear conservatory

2013/02579/PA - 254 The Avenue, B27 6NU
Erection of single storey rear extension

2013/02836/PA - 15 Ryde Grove, B27 7SW
Erection of single storey rear extension

2013/02811/PA - Archbishop Ilsley Catholic School, Victoria Road, B27 7XY
Installation of synthetic turf sports facility creating two multi use tennis and netball courts

2013/02275/PA - 79 Woodford Green Road, B28 8PH
Erection of two storey side and single storey forward extensions

You can find the details by inputting the reference number into the Council online database here

If you have any comments, you can submit them online - feel free to pass your comments on to me.

Tunnels

If you are driving into the city centre over the next week or so, don't forget that the Lancaster Circus tunnel on the A34 will be closed until 6am on Monday 6 May 2013 for essential refurbishment. 

With changes in usage, this isn't a very busy route, so the disruption should be relatively minimal. Diversions will be signposted around Lancaster Circus.

Later in the year, there will be a more significant closure, as the St Chad's and Queensway tunnels will both be completely closed from the 19 July to the 2 September 2013 to allow for essential in depth repairs to the conditions of these 40 year old structures (preceded by about 4 weeks of overnight closures and followed by another two weeks of overnight closures as well). The work is unavoidable and the decision was taken to do it with a total closure for about six weeks rather than six months of total closures at weekends. This method is also substantially cheaper. Either way was going to cause significant inconvenience to drivers in the city, but a total closure for six weeks over the summer means that retailers aren't inconvenienced in the run up to Christmas.

If you drive into the city regularly, it might be worth thinking about how you'll do the journey during the closure period - can you replan your route, avoid the journey temporarily or could you consider taking the train or the bus?

To keep up to date on all things tunnel related, there's a website.

Planning Applications to 20 April 2013

Just a single application:

2013/00789/PA - 42 Victoria Road, B27 7YA
Erection of detached garage/storage building to side and erection of 2m high boundary wall to side.

You can find the details by inputting the reference number into the Council online database here

If you have any comments, you can submit them online - feel free to pass your comments on to me.

Millennium Green Spring Clean

Cllr Stewart Stacey, Cllr John O'Shea and Dee Smyth

Saturday saw bright sunshine as spring finally sprung in Acocks Green and there was a good community turnout to help clean up a hidden little piece of green in the shape of Millennium Green. Litter was picked, soil turned for planting and ivy cut back to stop it choking trees. Cllr Stacey and myself were joined by a colleague, Dee Smyth, to help out the local residents who have done a sterling job in developing and maintaining the site for years.

Forced entry

Picture from @bhameastpolice

The picture on the left shows the small arsenal of weapons found when the Yardley priority team executed one of two drugs warrants over the weekend in Acocks Green. It includes a range of bladed weapons and an extendible baton. The knowledge that this can lurk behind the doors of a few homes is why the police force entry to properties - a few seconds of surprise can save injury.
A large quantity of cash was recovered under the Proceeds of Crime Act and two people are in custody, helping with inquiries into robbery and assault.
These raids were the direct result of information received through Crimestoppers, which allows you to anonymously help the fight to keep our community safe.

Elsewhere, inquiries continue into the fire on Cateswell Road - just outside the ward. A 56 year old man was arrested in relation to the fire, which has now been confirmed as arson. A woman died in the fire and her daughter suffered severe burns and remains very ill in hospital. If you were in the area around 5am on Wednesday, the police need to hear from you. You can call them on 101 or contact them through Crimestoppers.

Spare an hour or two on Saturday? Join the Millennium Green clear up.

If you are feeling inspired to lend a hand clearing up a great community project, you could do worse than pop along to the Millennium Green on Saturday. Kicking off at 10am, volunteers will be helping to clear up the park which provides a welcome green space on the north side of the Warwick Road. There's lots to do, so please come along if you can.

Rookwood Road rail bridge repairs

The coping stones along the wall of the footbridge that links Rookwood Road and Alexander Road were dislodged a few weeks back and pushed over onto the embankment below. The stones on the other wall were similarly vandalised late last year and have already been replaced. The new stones are now secured with rods driven down into the brickwork beneath. British Transport Police will be increasing activity in the area, as a result of the vandalism on this bridge and the risk to trains below. If you know anything about this, please give Crimestoppers a call or you can call BTP directly on 0800 40 50 40.

New fountain for Acocks Green.

Photo from @AftabRahman

OK, so it was a temporary addition to the street scene on Arden Road. A local resident contacted me about this early yesterday evening and I was straight on to Severn Trent to check that they had a response team on the way, who attended within an hour of the first call from another resident and fixed the problem.

By the way, the barriers have been put up because we're using some money from a developer and from local highways project funding to improve the junction layout there and calm traffic speeds.

Diary Date - Transport, Connectivity and Sustainability O&S Committee - Friday 19 April

Transport, Connectivity and Sustainability O&S Committee
Friday 19 April - 10am
Committee Room 6, Council House, Birmingham

Key items on the agenda:

• Cabinet members - 
• Green Safe and Smart City (James McKay)
• Development, Jobs & Skills (Tahir Ali)
• Health and Wellbeing (Steve Bedser)
• Birmingham's Green Commission Vision Statement
• Building a Green City
• Carbon Plan analysis
• Response to consultation - World Class Rail Network for the West Midlands

Sadly, this one isn't webcast, so you'll miss the excitement. You can always come along though....

Fox Hollies Leisure Centre Path

After years of waiting, the footpath from Fox Hollies Road through to the leisure centre should reopen on the 1 May. There is a bit of cleaning up to do first, but things are well on track to see this brought back into use, allowing easy access to the leisure centre from the busy bus routes and meeting a demand from local residents.

We had a couple of options to sort this. One was to reopen the old path closed when the school raised security concerns, but this required some work to deal with problems of subsidence and would also have left us open to dealing with further potential costs further down the line. The solution we have came to a very similar cost, but without the ongoing risk. It has been paid for through the Community Chest money available to Acocks Green Ward Committee.

Yes, this is still about wheelie bins

We've got preliminary results from the wheelie bin consultation survey that is currently ongoing and they make interesting reading.

• 61% of respondents agree that wheelie bins will help to reduce the number of vermin in their neighbourhood (25% disagree and 14% didn't know)
• 58% agree wheelie bins will reduce the amount of rubbish spilt onto the street (31% disagree, 11% unsure)
• 51% think wheelie bins will improve the cleanliness of their neighbourhood (35% disagreed and 14% didn't know)
• 50% think wheelie bins will be good for the city (36% disagree and 14% are unsure)

That seems very reassuring - especially when you remember that apart from a few streets in Selly Oak, wheelie bins aren't even in use. A 2011 survey for YouGov found 77% support for wheelie bins nationally, with just 10% of respondents opposed to them. 

Want to have your say? Then go here. 

I think everybody appreciates that change - especially a change on this scale - makes some people worry. It isn't helped by some scaremongering from the opposition parties, warning people that they will face charges of £90 a month to clean their bins (they won't). There are bound to be problems with the switchover, but at least we have the chance to learn from the experience of the 82% of councils that have already made the switch and we'll have the experience from Brandwood and Harborne to build a Birmingham perspective on transforming our waste collection service. 

We've also got the figures from those wards on property suitability - 96.7% of low-rise homes in Brandwood and 91.9% of low-rise properties in Harborne have been initially assessed as suitable. Of the 16,000 properties identified as suitable for wheelie bins across both wards, only about 100 have challenged their assessment as suitable and there have also been some challenges raised by householders originally deemed unsuitable for wheelie bins. The assessment considers each property and if it has steep steps or slopes to the roadside, no storage space for wheelie bins or poor access for the wagons, then they will be deemed unsuitable for wheelie bins and red carded. They will continue to get the black bag service. I suspect that there will be wards that will have a higher number of unsuitable properties than either of these two and we've got to handle the switch sensitively. I'll certainly be making sure that properties are correctly assessed in Acocks Green and supporting residents who have been wrongly identified - but we're still a way away from that. 

Meanwhile, figures show that the government's changes to benefits will take over £9 million out of the Birmingham economy thanks to the bedroom tax alone. 

Planning Applications to the 13 April

Only a couple of applications

2013/02474/PA - Highway verge off Fox Hollies Road, B27 7US
Installation of replacement 15m high telecommunications mast with 3 no. antennas, 1 no. equipment cabinet and associated ancillary works

(This is the current site beside Merestones petrol station and is replacing the existing mast that has been there for a number of years.) 

2013/02386/PA - 25 Olton Croft
Installation of step lift to front

You can find the details by inputting the reference number into the Council online database here

If you have any comments, you can submit them online - feel free to pass your comments on to me.

Diary Date - Acocks Green Ward Committee - Wednesday 17 April 2013

Acocks Green Ward Committee
Wednesday 17 April 2013 - 7pm
The Oaklands Primary School, Dolphin Lane

Key items on the agenda:

• Community Chest Projects
• Wheelie Bin Consultation
• Environmental Health Update
• Meetings for the year ahead
• Other urgent business

Illuminating Woodcock Lane

Stewart and I have been working very hard on keeping Woodcock Lane at the top of the list for urgent replacement of the streetlighting on the road, pushing Amey to prioritise it, given that it is probably the worst lit street in the ward and has some blocks of accommodation used by our most vulnerable residents.

I'm delighted that we can now announce that this is about to start.

The work is due to start on the 13 May and is scheduled to take about 30 days in total, working between 8am and 6pm on weekdays, with the possibility of some Saturday work. It isn't unusual for there to be a delay between the new columns being installed and for the connection to the power supply to be completed - this part of it is done by electricity operator and not Amey, so has to work to their timetable.

The new lamp posts will be installed towards the back of the pavement so that they cast light across both the road carriageway and the footpath.  This also means that they are less likely to be hit by motorists. The new lamps will be LED types, which save up to 60% on energy bills and because they direct the light downwards - where it is actually used - they reduce light pollution. The difference is striking.

Digging for victory

Out again in Mallard Close at the site of the new orchard to help Fran and her team of volunteers launch Acocks Green in Bloom 2013. This little patch of wasteland beside some garages has been transformed into a small community garden. Trees have been planted and we were preparing the soil and planting box hedges today. My gardening skills aren't great, but I lent a hand moving the soil to be sifted, laying the gravel and even got to plant some sage and rosemary too. There's plenty more to do and there's a bit more good news too as the Ward Committee, of which I'm chair, is helping out the Acocks Green Village Partnership and paying for some more baskets to make the floral display that much brighter in the Village this summer.

By the way, next Saturday sees the spring clean up of the Millennium Green (off The Avenue) - do come along, bring your wellies and some gloves!

Scrutiny Committee Report on Cycling

I didn't get called to speak, but here's the speech I would have given.

It has been a great introduction to the life of this council to have served as part of a group that has shown such cross-party agreement in setting a transformational direction for cycling and other forms of low-carbon transport in our city. In that mood, it seems appropriate today to borrow from the Thatcherite's Thatcherite, Norman Tebbit, as we encourage the people of Birmingham to get on their bikes. Indeed, only last weekend, one of my children went solo on his bike for the first time.

In particular, I welcome the recommendation that specific targets should be set - it was a criticism of the last strategy document that it was long on words, but short on measurable outcomes. This report has not made the same mistake and I welcome the executive commitment to take it through to delivery. We have a chance to build on the legacy of the Olympics, to seize the moment to take this city forward, but it takes commitment at the highest level amongst officers and executives to deliver on the ambitions.

This report is also about road safety - I would particularly encourage the spread of 20mph zones and limits across appropriate roads in the city. These will help make our neighbourhoods better places to live as well as delivering proven benefits in terms of reducing casualties and the severity of injuries. There is safety in numbers - the more people we can encourage to get on their bikes, the safer it becomes for them, as drivers get used to their presence, as Cllr Barnett pointed out.

A public outcry over road safety brought about a massive change in the Netherlands. They made the same mistakes that we did after the war, building cities and towns designed around car ownership. It was only at the start of the 1970s, following a rise in injuries to children, that they took a political decision to change direction and embarked on building the system that we see today. Make no mistake, this is a long term project that will take decades, but we need to make a start and this report is a good point.

As a committee, we have had sterling support from cycling evangelists like CTC and Sustrans, in the gallery today, as well as individual enthusiasts in the city, for which we are grateful, but the are not our target audience. We need to deliver, but not for those hundreds of indefatigable cyclists, who will resort to two wheels no matter how hard we, as a council have made it over the years. We need to deliver for those thousands, or tens of thousands, who will cycle if we make it easier and safer. We need to deliver on this for future generations.

Build it and they will come.

Location:Chamberlain Square,Birmingham,United Kingdom

Acocks Green Policing Update

Recorded crime since the start of April has been exactly the same as it was last year - 37 offences recorded. One was a house burglary and we've had three vehicle crimes, but no robberies. Our local officers are targeted to cut recorded crime by 5% this year, on top of the 10% from last year.

To tackle some of the anti-social behaviour around Lidl and Merestones petrol station on Fox Hollies Road, the retail radio scheme that has proved very effective in the Green will be extended to those stores. This allows retailers to share intelligence and have direct contact with the police officers on duty, helping to speed up response to incidents.

As the days get longer and we head towards summer, the perennial problem of quad bikes and motorbikes being driven irresponsibly is likely to return. The police have removed one in recent weeks and it will be crushed - the owners rarely pay the collection and storage fees. Two other riders have been issued with warning letters and continued breaches will lead to prosecution. To tackle this, they need information on ownership, so please get in touch with them - you can contact them through Crimestoppers anonymously if you wish.

Some good news - money from the proceeds of crime has been awarded to the Acocks Green Village Partnership and has been used to support the Big Dig over on Mallard Road.

Location:Yardley Road,Birmingham,United Kingdom

Diary Date - Full Council - Tuesday 9 April 2013

Full Council
Tuesday 9 April 2013 - 2pm
Council Chamber, Council House
And you can now watch online here.

Key items on the agenda:

• Question Time
• Members of the Public to any Cabinet Member or District Committee Chair
• Any Councillor to Committee Chair or Lead Member
• Councillors other than Cabinet Members to Cabinet Member
• Councillors other than Cabinet Members to Leader or Deputy Leader
• Report of council business management committee
• Reports of Overview & Scrutiny
• Health of Birmingham's Third Sector
• Changing Gear: Transforming Urban Movement Through Cycling & Walking in Birmingham
• Motions for Debate
• Tory motion supporting the alignment of government spending with the priorities of the local business community
• LibDem motion about Pupil Premium

This is a meeting open to the public and we've certainly seen significant use of the online streaming - far more have watched online than have attended these meetings in a year. 

Planning Applications to the 6th April

This covers the couple of weeks over Easter.

2013/02121/PA - 1233-1237 Warwick Road (Olton Tyres)
Continuation of change fo use from retail (Use Class A1 to sale of tyre, tyre changing, storage and installation of new shop front

2013/02052/PA - 177 Shirley Road
Erection of two storey side extension

2013/02229/PA - 165 Tynedale Road
Erection of two storey side extension

2013/02272/PA - 18 Elton Grove
Erection of single storey rear extension

You can find the details by inputting the reference number into the Council online database here

If you have any comments, you can submit them online - feel free to pass your comments on to me.

Road resurfacing - Greswolde Park Road

Amey will be resurfacing the full length of Greswolde Park Road during the week beginning April 15th 2013. They expect to take up to five days to complete the work and will be working between 8am and 6pm.

Pedestrian and emergency vehicle access will be maintained, but sections of the road will be closed to other traffic during the work, as it involves laying hot surfacing material to the road bed. Width and speed restrictions will also be in force during the work period. If access is required for emergency or medical reasons, please contact Highways on 0121 303 6644 (option 2) to discuss the problem.

During the work, please don't park your car on the highway, as it will be moved by the City Council and this may incur expense on your part. Note that this might also cause access problems to Orchard Way while the work is being carried out.

Bins and snow update

A quick update on the bins around Acocks Green.

All black sack collections are now up to date, although some dry recyclate collections are still outstanding. We'll be catching up with those as soon as possible.

Elsewhere in the city, we've put garden waste and litter crews into helping clear the backlog.

Crews have been issued with specialist foul weather kit, including boot chains, to help keep them working safely.

Diary Date - Yardley District Committee - Thursday 28 March 2013

Yardley District Committee
Thursday 28 March 2013 - 12 noon
Committee Rooms 3 & 4, Council House
And you can now watch online here.

Items on the agenda will be

• Revenue Budget Monitoring 2012/13, period 11
• Revenue Budget 2013/14
• Local Services Performance Report
• Tenant Engagement - Establishing a district housing panel
• Wheelie bin, recycling and refuse collection services - district consultation
• Birmingham Youth Service
• Amey - Highway Trees overview
• Work programme update 2012/13

This is a meeting open to the public and we've certainly seen significant use of the online streaming - far more have watched online than have attended these meetings in a year. 

Future meetings planned in:
6 June 2013; 18 July 2013; 12 September 2013; 21 November 2013; 16 January 2014; 27 March 2014

Planning Applications to 23 March

A couple of weeks to catch up with here and a veritable feast for the planning geeks amongst you. Incidentally - the BBC Two series "The Planners" has been an excellent insight into the trials and tribulations of how planning decisions are made. Well worth catching up with on iPlayer.

2013/01672/PA - 1098 Warwick Road, Lloyds TSB Bank plc
Display of various internally illuminated and non-illuminated signs

2013/01604/PA - Victoria Road, Archbishop Ilsley RC 6th Form College
Removal & replacement of boundary fencing to Warwick Road elevation

2013/01897/PA - 12 Langworth Avenue
Erection of single storey rear extension

2013/01971/PA - 87 Severne Road
Erection of single storey front extension

2013/01521/PA - 10 Botteville Road
Erection of two storey rear extension

2013/01975/PA - 125 Lulworth Road
Erection of a two storey rear & side extension and single storey rear extension

2013/01942/PA - 5 Charles Lane Trust Houses, Adjacent to Fox Hollies Road
Installation of 1 no. telecommunication DSLAM cabinet (BT plc)
(Within School Road Conservation Area)

A typical BT DSLAM cabinet

Note: This is not a mobile phone mast - it relates to providing fibre broadband access to properties in the area. The picture to the left shows an example of a DSLAM cabinet - not the actual site. 

2013/01941/PA - Edenbridge Road, site outside 208 School Road
Prior notification for the installation of 1 no. DSLAM cabinet (BT plc)
(Within School Road Conservation Area)

Note as above.

2013/01640/PA - 62 Yardley Road
Erection of rear detached storage building

2013/01816/PA - site outside 31 Shirley Road
Replacement and upgrade of existing public telephone kiosk with kiosk combining public telephone service and ATM service
(They keep on trying with this one)

You can find the details by inputting the reference number into the Council online database here

If you have any comments, you can submit them online - feel free to pass your comments on to me.

Dig for Acocks Green!

With Ged & Fran from AG in Bloom & Noel from Waste

Planting a fruit tree in the community garden

Last weekend, (windswept and rain-soaked) I joined the volunteers from across Acocks Green to plant trees in the community garden on Mallard Close, just by Holy Souls School. This has been created by a hard-working and dedicated community group who led last year on the Acocks Green in Bloom project and have added this to their portfolio. A small patch of grass on the corner behind a row of shops has been dug over, a small path and flower bed has been created with bricks and gravel and it is going to look great. The day before, I joined a small crew that spent time cleaning up the litter dropped daily on the roads and verges around the Green - ably supported by the local management from the City Council's Fleet and Waste depot on Redfern Road, who haven't forgotten their litter collection skills learnt before they took up managing a vital service.

I'm really proud of what these people do and delighted to be able to lend a hand from time to time. We've got some tremendous community activists in Acocks Green - but there's always room for more. It isn't political - this is about making our area that much better a place to live.

Bins and snow update

Just a brief update on where we are with bin collections in Acocks Green. The crews have cleared all black sacks due for collection. There may be some dry recyclate (plastics and paper) out there, but that is mostly on rounds further towards Kings Heath. There are some outstanding patches of green waste bags that need to be collected and those should be done on Monday, weather permitting.

I'll post any more information as I get it.

Acocks Green Police News

Latest news from the police in Acocks Green on recent crime.

We had ten thefts from motor vehicles, down nine month on month and down two year on year. Two were thefts from insecure vehicles, one was the theft of a spare wheel from underneath a van parked on Sainsburys' car park, five were thefts of number plates and one was a case of petrol siphoning.

There were two robberies - the same as last month and this time last year. One was the theft of a mobile phone from a teenager on Alexander Road and the other was robbery from a cigarette delivery van outside a shop on Shirley Road. We also had two cases of theft from the person, one of which was a distraction theft in a pub in Acocks Green. Please be aware that there seems to be a small spate of this sort of non-violent theft across the constituency as it has been reported at more than one meeting. There was also the theft of a mobile phone by a cycling thief on Fox Hollies Park. Please be careful - don't have your mobiles on display and be aware of who is around you.

Last month saw eight burglaries - two down on the previous month, but three up on the same month last year. These were across the ward, including Sorrell Drive, Mayfield Road, Broomhall Crescent, Woodberry Road and Victoria Road. A couple of these were down to insecure front doors and two saw cases of 'lock snapping', where a specialist tool is used to allow the lock to be forced open. Three of the burglaries took place at night, but five happened in the daytime - so do remember to keep doors and windows secure.

Planning Applications to 9 March 2013

Normal service resumed with just a single application

2013/00071/PA - Aldi Foodstore, Warwick Road
Installation of new full height shopfront to front elevation and new rendered finish to existing brickwork panels.

You can find the details by inputting the reference number into the Council online database here

If you have any comments, you can submit them online - feel free to pass your comments on to me.

Licensing Applications 14 Feb - 7 Mar

Just one of interest to the ward and that's a premises license application from Fox Hollies News 4 U, 305 Fox Hollies Road to allow sale of alcohol for consumption off the premises during normal opening hours 7:30am to 11pm every day.

Planning Applications to 2 March 2013

Bit of a rush this week (sorry for the lack of posting this earlier in the week - been rather hectic)

2013/00643/PA - 61 Kilmorie Road
Erection of two storey side extension and single storey front and rear extensions

2013/00728/PA - 20 Dudley Park Road
Erection of 3 storey detached block utilising roof space to provide 7 assisted living flats (Use Class C3)

2013/01184/PA - 58 Olton Croft
Erection of single storey rear extension and creation of patio area

2013/00474/PA - 132 Yardley Road
Installation of a footway crossing (dropped kerb)

2013/01198/PA - 93 Hazelwood Road
Erection of two storey rear and single storey side and rear extension, forward porch and new double pitch gable ended roof

You can find the details by inputting the reference number into the Council online database here

If you have any comments, you can submit them online - feel free to pass your comments on to me.

Changes in station opening hours

Just to let you know that the station opening hours are due to change from Sunday 31 March 2013.

Acocks Green
Mon - Thu:   0700 - 1600
Fri:               0700 - 1800
Sat:              0800 - 1600
Sun:             CLOSED

Spring Road
Mon-Fri:     0700 - 1100
Sat:             0900 - 1400
Sun:            CLOSED

Tyseley
Mon - Fri:   0700 - 0900
Sat/Sun:       CLOSED

Sorry. 

Your Labour team has backed local residents consistently on this issue, but the Liberal Democrat transport minister didn't listen to us. 

Turning Acocks green

Pictured left is one of the new bollards that forms part of the major refresh of the street furniture - benches, bollards and bins - in the Acocks Green Village. This has been delivered by your Labour team, who had to argue hard with the our own Deputy Leader to ensure that we could deliver this investment in our local town centre. Even in these tough times, we've got to ensure that this remains an attractive place for people to open businesses and for us to shop in.

Don't forget, we've got more improvements coming with £1.7 million to be spent on improving the Warwick Road through the Village over the next couple of years.

Add to that the work to be done on Acocks Green Station - thanks to a decade of hard campaigning by local people desperate to see access to the platforms improved and we've got some good news to come for our area.

Watch this space!

Snaglist

Here's a sample of work scheduled and completed across the ward recently thanks to the intervention of the Labour team. 

Faulty street lights

On the Shirley Road/School Lane roundabout, at the junction of Shirley Road and Dolphin Lane, Oakhill Crescent, Yardley Road (including the belisha beacon), Westley Road, Flint Green Road, Shirley Road.

Damaged bollards repaired

Warwick Road/Westley Road junction (at the Green roundabout), Station Road/Oxford Road/Sherbourne Road junction.

Potholes

A couple of impressive examples of this species appeared - one particularly deep one on the Warwick Road lozenge roundabout opposite Lincoln Road North and another on the junction of Stockfield Road and Warwick Road, both of which were genuine hazards to road users. Both have been fixed. 

Other issues

Elsewhere, Amey will also be repairing the damaged trip rails on Warwick Road opposite Stockfield Road. 

A couple of weeks back, I was walking down Dudley Park Road and noticed that a deep hole had suddenly  opened up in the footpath just by the junction with Station Road. This was quite an urgent risk, given that it was potentially a serious trip hazard for any pedestrian, so I had the Amey hit squad out that same morning to perform a fix. The drainage team will need to have a look, as a void appears to have opened up beneath the footpath, so this might not be a permanent repair. 

A defective road sign on Weston Lane is to be realigned and adjusted to protect cyclists. This isn't part of the patch, but has been raised by a constituent, so I've raised it and Amey will be out to fix it. The sign warns drivers turning into Weston Lane from Battery Way to expect cyclists crossing the junction following the cycle route down into the dead end. Sadly, it was installed too low on the pole and has been turned round so that drivers can't see it. 

We've also got a problem with blocked gullies around the Spring Road station. Amey have been to have a look and the problem is actually with a blocked public sewer, which is maintained by Severn Trent. They've flagged it and I'll chase it myself with a contact with Severn Trent. 

Elsewhere, working with the landlords of the flats on Sherbourne Road, we had the access drive extended slightly to allow our bin wagons to be sure of access to the bin stores, as there was a period of several weeks when we weren't able to clear rubbish. An untaxed vehicle was parked on the private drive and prevented our trucks getting close enough to safely manoeuvre the large wheeled bins - the crews were trying daily at one point. 

Planning Applications to the 23 February 2013

Quiet again on the planning front with a single application - although a decent sized one.

2013/01113/PA - 75 Woodford Green Road, Hall Green
Erection of two storey and single storey extension to rear

You can find the details by inputting the reference number into the Council online database here

If you have any comments, you can submit them online - feel free to pass your comments on to me.

Wheelie Bin Consultation Starts

You can find the survey here. Fill it in and let us know YOUR views.

If you are so inclined, you can find my views here.

Green Waste Collections Restart

As from this week, the green waste collection across Birmingham restarts. It will happen on the usual cycle, so if you have your recylates collected this week, your first green waste collection will be next week. If you had your recyclates collected last week, then this should be your first green waste collection of the new season. There will be no charge for the service this year.

Police Report

Just some highlights from recent police meetings:

Thirty thefts or attempted thefts from vehicles, lately with nineteen occasions where items were actually taken. Satnavs are particularly popular, so please take care to remove them and their associated cables to avoid tempting thieves - even the circle on the windscreen where the bracket was fitted can be a temptation, so wipe it down! Thirty is eleven up on last month and seventeen up on last year. VWs continue to be a target, as their locks are vulnerable to brute force attacks and there have also been six break ins on vans, including a number of catalytic converters stolen from vehicles parked at a garage. It appears that the actual value of those is quite limited as stolen goods, but the damage caused is expensive to fix.

We had three incidents of damage to vehicles, one which was domestic related and one as a result of a snowball being thrown at a vehicle. Additional officers were on duty in the Green around 3pm on school days during the snow and they spent their time speaking to those involved in throwing snowballs at passing vehicles.  During the cold snap, officers carried out early morning patrols watching out for vehicles left unattended with their engines running to deice. On one occasion, they found 16 of them - all vulnerable to theft and none of them insured if they had been stolen.

There's still a problem with theft of wing mirrors from the BMW Mini - an experienced thief can remove them in about half a minute and as they retail for £300, can be used to turn a quick profit. One of the PCSOs has also reported that there has been a spate of thefts of the old style Mini across the force - so look after those classic cars!

Last month saw ten burglaries, three down on last month, but three up on last year. Most of these involved forced entry through back doors or windows, some of them using the resident's own garden tools to smash through the plastic panel on the door.

There have been a number of drive-offs or 'bilkings' from the Meir Stones petrol station by the bus garage. The retail radio system used in the Green has been extended to the garage and to Lidl and this will hopefully speed up the flow of information to the police.

One concern in December was a small number of robberies around Acocks Green Recreation Ground and along Broad Road. Acting on intelligence received, a suspect has now been arrested, charged with two offences and remanded in custody. The robberies have ceased.

Finally, the police have also executed three drugs warrants on properties in Tean Close, Onslow Road and industrial premises on Reddings Lane. All three came from tips from members of the public and resulted in the confiscation of a number of cannabis plants.

Save money on energy spend - Birmingham and Solihull Together

This new scheme - backed by Birmingham City Council and Solihull Council - will allow residents to share in a bulk buy scheme for domestic energy. Householders have a four week switching window starting last Monday and running through to Sunday 17 March to register. You can find out whether you can save money on their energy bills before deciding to sign up quickly and easily on line or on the phone.

The campaign has negotiated three tariffs – for pre-payment, direct debit and green energy options. As an added bonus the more people who sign up, the greater the cashback style discounts they will receive on their first bill. The national pilot "Together" campaign saw 1,000 people in Cornwall save an average of £133 on their annual bills.

The switching window opens on Monday February 18 and closes on Sunday March 17.

Sign up here.

Unemployed? Need help to get to work or an interview? Help is at hand.

If you live in Acocks Green, South Yardley or Stechford & Yardley North, you may be eligible for help with the costs of public transport to get to interviews or even for up to eight weeks after you've got that job through the WorkWise scheme. This could be a free, unlimited day pass for bus, train and tram across the Midlands to get you to an interview or a pass to help you through the first two months of a new job. 

To be eligible, you must:

• Live within an eligible ward in the West Midlands (all three listed above are part of the scheme and the rest can be found here). You can check your ward here. 
• Be a JobCentrePlus client and not receiving travel assistance from another provider
• Be unemployed before signing up for WorkWise
• Be attending an interview for or starting a new job that takes up at least 16 hours a week
• Provide proof of ID, address and employment or interview
• Have an existing travel card or provide a passport-sized photograph
• Make a complete application within five days of starting work through your JobCentrePlus advisor

To apply, ask your advisor in the JobCentre or call direct on 0121 214 7436.

(A hat tip to fellow Labour Cllr Ian Cruise for bringing this to my attention).

Which report on ticket machines

Not great reading for those of us near stations where the Liberal Democrat transport minister agreed to let London Midland - named as one of the worst operators in the country - cut back on ticket office opening hours.

Buying a ticket for tomorrow was restricted to after 4pm at one station and unavailable at others. Information buttons often failed to provide anything about ticket validity - get this wrong, and you could get a fine or miss your train altogether.... Which? executive director Richard Lloyd told us: 'Ticket office hours are being cut, often leaving people with little choice but to use a machine. It is only fair that machines sell exactly the same tickets as websites or ticket offices. We are calling on the train companies to update their machines and also make it crystal clear how, when and where tickets can be used.'

Remember that ticket office cut - it was a decision taken by a Liberal Democrat minister where he could genuinely have chosen to help the people in Acocks Green. He chose not to. At least he had the good grace not to turn up for a photo opportunity.

Diary Date - Acocks Green Ward Committee

Acocks Green Ward Committee
Wednesday 20 February 2013 - 7pm
Severne Road J&I, Severne Road

Items on the agenda will be

• BSEEN - Promoting and supporting Birmingham Energy Savers
• Planning update - planning officer attending to discuss commercial planning considerations and other issues. 
• Planning matters
• Community Chest
• Local Housing
• Wheeled bins consultation update
• Other issues of local concern

Look forward to seeing you there!

Next meetings: 

17 April 2013 - The Oaklands Primary School

29 May 2013 - Scout Hut, behind Scanlons on Spring Road

Planning Applications to the 16th February 2013

Another single application for this week's crop

2013/00789/PA - 42 Victoria Road
Erection of detached structure to side

You can find the details by inputting the reference number into the Council online database here

If you have any comments, you can submit them online - feel free to pass your comments on to me.

Acocks Green Library Update (Again)

We now have a revised closure date for the repair works required to the library. It was planned for Saturday 23 Feb, but it now looks as though the library will close on the 28 March.

Works are planned to start on the 2 April and complete on the 21 June.

In the meantime, South Yardley Library will be opening extended hours to support residents of Acocks Green:

• Mon 9am to 7pm
• Tue 9am to 5pm
• Wed 9am to 5pm
• Thu 9am to 7pm
• Fri 9am to 5pm
• Sat 9am to 5pm

Webcasting the change

We've got an excellent new site to stream meetings. It aligns video with the agenda and you can jump from point to point and even from speaker to speaker.

Cabinet on Monday agreed that South Yardley ward committee - comprising three locally elected councillors (two Labour and one LibDem) review the Oaklands Recreation Ground steering group to ensure that it is still fit for purpose to develop the ground for the future. Seems reasonable that we maintain democratic control over a £3 million spend. (This isn't within Acocks Green, but may become an issue within Yardley)

Cabinet has also agreed to preserve the Housing Liaison Board structure to engage with tenants and leaseholders - although they do need to be genuinely representative of the tenants and leaseholders within their area. Acocks Green has a strong HLB and I'm pleased that we'll be continuing it.

Also great to see Cabinet supporting a Birmingham Jobs Fund to support Birmingham's young people into work, following policies suggested by a policy commission comprising the council, local employers, voluntary groups and government. This fund will take money from the ward-committee community chest budget, but this contribution has the potential to make a real difference to the economic clout of Birmingham - with funding starting as soon as April this year. In some wards across Birmingham, a quarter of young people are out of work - totalling 15,000, with 3000 of them out of work for more than a year. Birmingham is lucky to have a young population and we need to ensure that they are placed to drive the city forward economically. What we can't tolerate is a future where we have some wards that are the worst affected in the country and we have to prioritise our spending.

Diary Date - Fox HolliesGreen Neighbourhood Forum - 13 February 2013

Fox Hollies Green Neighbourhood Forum Open Public Meeting
Wednesday 13 February 2013 - 7pm
The Oaklands Primary School, Dolphin Lane

Items on the agenda will be

• Community First Fund
• Police Report
• Issues of local concern

Yes, I know this clashes with the Yarnfield meeting, but Cllr Stacey will attend this one and I'll be along about 8pm! We have yet to master omnipresence, but being in two places at once is manageable.

Diary Date - Yarnfield Police Meeting - Wed 13 Feb

Yarnfield Police Meeting
Wednesday 13 February 2013 - 7pm

Scout Hut, behind Scanlon's on Spring Road
Meet with the local policing team for the Yarnfield and discuss issues of importance for the neighbourhood.

Planning Applications to the 9th February 2013

Only a single application this week.

2013/00643/PA - 61 Kilmorie Road
Erection of two storey side extension and single storey front and rear extensions

You can find the details by inputting the reference number into the Council online database here

If you have any comments, you can submit them online - feel free to pass your comments on to me.

Footway repairs in Avery Drive

The whole length of Avery Drive is due to be resurfaced over the three weeks starting on the 8 March 2013.

Residents should have received a letter by now informing them of the planned work

The work should not stop access to your home at any point, but please be aware that you don't park vehicles on the road outside your home while the contractors are working on that stretch of pavement.

I don't think it applies to any properties in Avery Drive, but if a dropped kerb is required to allow access to parking on the front garden of your home, then this can be installed for just £150. Existing dropped kerbs will be reinstated. Please bear in mind that you will have to have planning permission to install hard standing on your garden.

Post office news updated

The BBC have a rather more balanced piece here, which is clearer.

The Post Office are seeking to relocate Acocks Green post office into another local retailer as a franchised office. This would, it can be assumed, then result in the closure of the existing site.

However, they are clear that if a partner cannot be found, then the current post office will be maintained.

There will be a 6 week consultation prior to any move and while people will not be able to object to the principle of the closure/relocation, you will have an opportunity to object to the new location on the grounds of practical issues like parking, etc.

This is slightly more reassuring than the original spin, but will still require close monitoring and might mean another unoccupied store front in Acocks Green, which is never a good thing.

Acocks Green Post Office at risk?

A rather worrying article here which mentions the future of Acocks Green Post Office.

The headline suggests closure may be a risk if the Post Office cannot find a commercial partner, but further down the article, it says that if no partner can be found, the office will remain.

I'll try to find out more information on this, but it is a worrying development.

Temporary Library Closure

Despite government pressure on Birmingham City Council's capital spending, Cllr Stacey and I can confirm that we have protected the money put aside to repair the roof of Acocks Green Library.

The closure date has been confirmed as Saturday 23 February to allow for preparatory work to allow the contractors to start on the 4th March. The work to the roof and skylights should take about 12 weeks in all.

Cllr Stacey and I will be keeping a close eye on the works.

In the meantime, South Yardley Library will be opening extended hours to support residents of Acocks Green:

• Mon 9am to 7pm
• Tue 9am to 5pm
• Wed 9am to 5pm
• Thu 9am to 7pm
• Fri 9am to 5pm
• Sat 9am to 5pm

Stewart and I put a lot of effort into trying to sort out an alternative service in Acocks Green, but were unsuccessful in securing a suitable location, despite some advanced negotiations.

NOW UPDATED!

Planning Applications to 2 February 2013

This week's small crop.

2013/00510/PA - 31 Edenbridge Road
Application for a Certificate of Lawful Development for a proposed dormer window to rear and roof
alterations to side to form gable end

2012/07891/PA - 3 & 12 The Willows
Erection of detached garage to front of No. 12 The Willows and creation of 2 no. off street parking
spaces for No. 3 The Willows

2013/00136/PA - 1296 Warwick Road 
Retention of two self contained flats

You can find the details by inputting the reference number into the Council online database here

If you have any comments, you can submit them online - feel free to pass your comments on to me.

Diary Date - City Council Meeting - 5 February 2013

Full Council
Tuesday 5 February 2013 - 2pm
Council Chamber - streamed live too.

Key agenda items:

• Question time
• Public questions to any cabinet member or district committee chair
• Questions from any councillor to a committee chair or lead member of a joint board
• Questions from councillors other than cabinet members to a cabinet member
• Questions from councillors other than cabinet members to the leader or deputy leader
• Overview and Scrutiny Reports
• Birmingham - Where the World Meets
• Birmingham's Local Centres
• Motions for debate
• LibDem motion on community chest funding
• Labour motion on youth unemployment

Acocks Green Bins Update

Our local depot reports this morning that all black sack collections outstanding from last week were completed by the end of Saturday.

We are still outstanding the recyclate collections for last Monday and Tuesday, plus some from Wednesday (including my own road). This will all be completed by close of play this Wednesday.

City wide, that means we've caught up on a quarter of a million black bag collections and the vast majority of the 350,000 paper and plastic/glass recycling collections.

Again, sorry for inconvenience, but we are getting there!