Diary Date - Partnership, Contract Performance and Third Sector O&S Committee

Partnership, Contract Performance and Third Sector Overview and Scrutiny Committee
Monday 20 January 2014 - 9:30am
Committee Rooms 2, Council House
And you can now watch online here.

This is an evidence-gathering session on working with housing associations in the city. We should be hearing from a wide range of stakeholders, including housing associations, city council and tenants.

No sign of Fireman Sam...

Hay Mills BRV

This week, I finally met up with Station Commander Rob Davis, the officer in charge of our local fire station in Hay Mills. Trying to tie up timetables has proven rather difficult and our previous appointment was rudely blocked by him being sent away to Suffolk with the West Midlands Fire Service water rescue team to help with the flooding over there.

He showed me round the station and we had a long chat with him and the Green Watch commander, Mark Price about how the service is adapting to meet the changing demands and risks. House fires have - fortunately - become much less common, thanks to changes in how we live, regulation of flammable materials in furniture, a reduction in smoking and also a sustained effort by the fire service to fit smoke alarms and help us stay safe at home.

BRV vehicle rescue kit

Currently, the station houses two traditional five-crew fire engines, with one available around the clock and one only crewed during daytime hours. From March 2, a new, three-crew Brigade Response Vehicle will replace that second truck, but will also be available twenty-fours hours a day. The BRV is built on the chassis of a four-wheel drive pickup and is capable of responding faster to incidents - as well as being cheaper to operate, given that the bigger trucks burn about one gallon of diesel for every mile travelled. It carries a wide range of key kit, including water, first aid kit, two sets of breathing apparatus and some battery-powered 'jaws of life.'

BRV kit lockers - ladders and hose equipment

The introduction is a direct result of changing demands on the service, as many calls in our area relate to minor road accidents, small fires in rubbish or burnt out mopeds and motorbikes - just the kind of call that the BRV is best placed to handle. That is perhaps the key - using the right vehicle for the right job. It reduces costs, matches demand and has helped to prevent closures of fire stations, despite the fire service facing the same cuts as the rest of the public services.

Hay Mills and Billesley pumps attending call

If you dial 999 for a house fire, you can expect the reassurance of the big red truck appearing round the corner. Minor incidents will see just the BRV attending, but with the reassurance that the additional kit and people of the bigger truck can be there if required - the service can respond in serious numbers when needed, as last year's Oldbury fire showed, with every available appliance in the service, bar one, attending the incident and being backed up by mutual aid from neighbouring services. Indeed, virtually every weekend, the service will carry out a couple of major exercises to test their capacity.

Aside from the blue light work, the station will also start cycle patrols in targetted areas - this helps to build connections with the local community and to help spot risks like dumped rubbish before they become serious issues. They will also continue to carry out prevention work - directly with vulnerable residents and also working with our local schools. The fire service is changing how it responds and how it meets our needs. They'll be there when you need them.

Planning Applications to 4 January 2014

Just a couple that have come in over the Christmas and New Year period

2013/08499/PA - 116 Yardley Road, Acocks Green, B27 6LG
Change of use from office and training centre to residential dwelling to provide supported living for young people (C2)

2013/09345/PA - 2 Gospel Farm Road, B27 7JN
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.

Bins update

I'm told that bin collections in Acocks Green were brought up to date over the weekend by overtime working - there were crews out on Sunday clearing the backlog. If there are any outstanding collections, please do let me know.

Overall, volumes remain high, so this might mean that there are still the odd collection that gets delayed. Generally, missed collections will be picked up on the next working collection day.  Normally, it does take us two to three weeks to recover from the Christmas shutdown and the additional volume, so we seem to be a little ahead of the game.

Volume matters, because the more we all throw out, the longer it takes for the crew to put it in the wagon and the more often the wagon has to be emptied.

We've perhaps got away with it compared to last year, as we haven't had the snow and ice to contend with, but then January is still young!

Birmingham Development Plan Consultation Opens

The City Council approved the next stage of the creation of the Birmingham Development Plan at Full Counil at the start of December. This plan lays out a framework for development across the whole of the city until 2031.

It now goes out to public consultation until noon on the 3 March 2014. You can comment in several ways:

On line at www.birmingham.gov.uk/plan2031

By post to: Director or Planning and Regeneration, Birmingham City Council, PO Box 28, Birmingham, B1 1TU

Email to: planningstrategy@birmingham.gov.uk

Council officers will also be available to provide advice on completing the comments form at community libraries as follows:

16 Jan 10am - 4pm - Sutton Coldfield Library
21 Jan 2pm - 3:30pm - Handsworth Library
22 Jan 10am - 12:30pm - Walmley Library
23 Jan 10am - 4pm - Sutton Coldfield Library
31 Jan 11am - 1:30pm - South Yardley Library
6 Feb 1pm - 3pm - Northfield Library
8 Feb 10am - 4pm - Sutton Coldfield Library
15 Feb 10am - 1pm - Walmley Library

You can also obtain advice by visiting the offices at 1 Lancaster Circus in the City Centre or by calling 0121 303 4041 between 10am and 4pm on weekdays.

After this has been completed, the plan will be submitted to the Secretary of State and a planning inspector will be appointed to examine the "soundness" of the plan.

Acocks Green Library Update

Work will restart this week to complete the repairs to the library - it is on course for handover towards the end of the month, weather permitting. We have to complete some additional works, including improving the lightning protection for the building, repairs to the concrete lintel and staircase in the staff area, repairs to the fascia and also much needed repairs to the ramp and the external brickwork. We'll also try to fit in some internal redecoration of the library if the budget allows.

Bin collections update

As usual at this time, the collection rounds for the binmen are particularly heavy - the Christmas and Boxing Day holidays added an extra week's collection to those who normally have their collections on Wednesday or Thursday and that goes on top of the extra waste as a result of the holiday.

Those are the only two bank holidays that we don't collect rubbish as normal and it usually takes a couple of weeks to catch up. Last year was worse because of the snow and ice, but it looks as though we might get away with just the wind and rain at the moment.

The crews are doing all they can to minimise the amount of rubbish not collected each day, but the sheer volume makes it difficult. Some parts of Acocks Green are about a day behind on collections, although there may be pockets where it is a little worse. Crews are working this weekend to clear the backlogs and they will prioritise black bag collections over the recyclables - but all will be cleared.

If there are any patches that are more than a day late, let me know and I'll make sure it gets cleared.

Street Lighting Improvements - Greswolde Park Road

The LED lighting revolution returns to Acocks Green in 2014. It took a serious fight to get the whole of Woodcock Lane relit last year, as Amey initially denied that the rail bridge was part of the highway. It took weeks of nagging, site visits and eventually having the archives exhumed to prove that it was indeed part of the highway and should be properly lit.

Now, the new lights are coming to Greswolde Park Road, comfortably the worst lit street in the ward now we've sorted Woodcock Lane.

The new lighting columns are placed towards the back of the pavement so that they cast light onto the footpath and the road itself. The light is directed downwards and not into gardens or houses and the positioning also reduces the number of lights damaged through collisions. The lights are also much cheaper to run - halving the city council's streetlighting electricity bill and the carbon emissions. As the lighting is more effective than existing lamps, the

Work is due to start in the week beginning 13 January 2014.

It may take several weeks to complete and there may be a delay between the columns being installed, having them connected to the supply and then the old columns removed.

This work is reasonably non-intrusive - but it will not be possible to park by columns that are being installed or removed and there will be trenches and holes dug to allow cables to be installed. Any open trenches will be barriered off in the meantime.

If there are any problems, please contact Highways on 0121 303 6644 (option 4).

Winter Advice Special

Part of the following is extracted from a leaflet put together by the England Illegal Money Lending Team and the Birmingham Financial Inclusion partnership and shamelessly stolen from Cllr John Cotton's website. Other bits have been added from my own resources.

I hope that this helps.

HomeHeat Helpline 
The HomeHeat helpline advises people worried about paying their energy bills and keeping warm during the winter. It gives advice to households in urgent need of heating help and advice. It is free to call and is open 9am to 6pm Monday to Friday.
Web address - www.homeheathelpline.org.uk
Telephone – 0800 33 66 99

Warm Homes Discount
For more information on this, see this earlier post. 

Water 
Severn Trent Water offer a range of tariffs and services which include flexible payment options, Water Direct, the Severn Trent Trust Fund, the Water Sure scheme, a Single Occupier Assessed Charge and Access services. What may also reduce your bills is their Free Meter Option Scheme and our Water
Efficiency products.
Web address - www.stwater.co.uk 
Severn Trent Water on 08457 500 500

Free Debt Advice
Thousands of people every year, for whatever reason, get into debt. One in four people now use loans or credit cards to meet the basic costs of living.This situation could mean that you get behind with your regular bills such as rent, council tax, phone, electricity or gas. Debt agencies can help you maximise your income, prepare a budget and talk to those you owe money to.
Birmingham Debt Advice Team – 0121 303 2087
Birmingham Settlement – 0121 250 3000
Birmingham Citizens Advice Bureau – 0844 477 1010
Stepchange – 0800 138 1111
National Debtline – 0808 808 4000    Web address - http://www.nationaldebtline.co.uk/
Money Advice Service - 0300 500 5000    Web address - www.moneyadviceservice.org.uk

Healthy eating 
Birmingham’s markets are jam packed with fresh produce, lots of choice and bargains. Six days a week, 140 stallholders are up with the lark to offer their great deals. The Indoor Market is famous for its selection of fresh meats, fish and produce, giving supermarkets a run for their money for choice, price and atmosphere. And whether you’re running up a ball gown or saying  ‘curtains’ to ready-made home furnishings, nowhere beats the Rag Market.Opening times:
• Bull Ring Open Market - 9am to 5pm every Tuesday to Saturday
• Bull Ring Indoor Market - 9am to 5.30pm every Monday to Saturday
• Rag Market - Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday 9am - 5pm
Check out www.agirlcalledjack.com/tag/recipes/ 
This blog has recipe ideas for everyone on a budget, written by someone who was until recently living on that very same budget. She's been there and wants to show that being on a budget doesn't mean that you can't have tasty, varied food. Every menu is carefully and realistically priced by Jack from her local shops.

Local Welfare Provision from Birmingham City Council
The Local Welfare Provision scheme is discretionary and seeks to assist vulnerable people who are in short term crisis, to meet their needs for food and essential items or to assist them to maintain their independence
within the community. Before a grant is awarded the applicant will usually be required to demonstrate that their need cannot be met by another source. This may mean asking for help directly from other agencies or
other parts of the council before continuing with an application.
Web address - www.birmingham.gov.uk/lwp

Borrowing Money
Many households are feeling the impact on household finances from spiralling debt caused by high interest and fees and are struggling to access bank services and affordable credit. Birmingham Fair Money has
gathered the not for profit, responsible lenders serving Birmingham under one web site. For loans and savings check out their web site for further information.
Web address - www.birminghamfairmoney.org.uk

If you have already borrowed money and are struggling to repay help can be obtained from the debt section. If you are worried that you may have borrowed from a loan shark you can contact the England Illegal
Money Lending Team. A loan shark is someone who lends money without the appropriate licence issued by the Office of Fair Trading. Loan sharks rarely, give any paperwork and if payments are missed they often use intimidation and violence to get money. The England Illegal Money Lending Team can be contacted 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Telephone - 0300 555 2222
e-mail: reportaloanshark@stoploansharks.gov.uk
or by text to: loan shark + your message to 60003

Budgeting 
The Pay Ahead Stay Ahead Scheme is aimed at 16-24 year olds. They can offer budgeting advice workshops and one to one support for those living in Birmingham. To sign up call or check out their web page. Their website also has an online directory offering help and advice to everyone on issues such as food banks, employment and benefits.
Telephone 0800 160 1990
Web address: www.payaheadstayahead.com

Birmingham Trading Standards
Each year Birmingham Trading Standards Service and the Citizens Advice consumer service receive requests for advice and assistance from members of the public concerning repairs carried out to their homes. Unscrupulous traders can deliberately take advantage of the most vulnerable members of our society. They can charge extortionate prices for very little. We take the job of tackling rogue traders very seriously. Our message is “Think Twice” before you open the door.
For more information visit:
Web address - http://www.noroguetradershere.com/ 
Telephone 0800 233 5000

Local Trading Standards Service
E-mail: tradingstandards@birmingham.gov.uk
Website: www.birmingham.gov.uk/tradingstandards 
twitter: follow@bhamts

Citizens Advice Consumer Service 
Website: www.adviceguide.org.uk
Telephone: 08454 04 05 06 

The Samaritans
It doesn’t matter who you are, how you feel, or what has happened.
If you feel that things are getting to you, get in touch.
Tel: 08457 90 90 90 
E-mail: jo@samaritans.org

Local Advice in and around Acocks Green
These are all part funded through the Community Chest from Acocks Green in order that they provide support to residents within the ward. 

Birmingham TUC Centre for the Unemployed

They offer help to people who are either unemployed or on low wages and have a drop in session between 10am and 12 noon on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays. 

Address: 448 Stratford Road, Birmingham B11 4AE 

Telephone 0121 771 0871

Birmingham Citizens Advice Bureau

They offer free independent and confidential advice. This is on a first-come, first-served basis and they are open Monday and Tuesday between 9:30am and 4pm; and Thursday 10am to 4pm

Address: 744-746 Warwick Road, Tyseley, B11 2HG

Tyseley and Greet Unemployment Resource Centre
They offer advice on benefits, debts and welfare rights.
Address: 541a Warwick Road, Tyseley, B11 2JP
Website: http://www.tg-erc.org.uk/
Telephone: 0121 764 4202

Other sources of advice
Birmingham Community Law Centre
The law centre provides free legal advice and representation in welfare benefits, debt, community care and public law. 
Address: The Bangladesh Centre, 97 Walford Road, Sparkbrook, B11 1NP
Telephone: 0121 772 6233

AdviceNow
Advicenow is an independent, not-for-profit website providing accurate, helpful information on rights and legal issues for people who need it
Web address: http://www.advicenow.org.uk/

Shelter
They provide quick online advice on housing issues through this website.
Web address: http://england.shelter.org.uk/get_advice

Planning Applications to the 21 December 2013

A few to catch up on before Christmas:

2013/09257/PA - Yardleys School, Reddings Lane, Tyseley, B11 3EY
Installation of 2 no. storage containers

2013/09187/PA - Land at the junction of Reddings Lane/Olton Boulevard West, Eaton Electrical
Ltd, Tyseley, B11 3EZVariation of condition number 7 attached to planning approval 2010/01029/PA to amend the wording to
read 'No development, save for works of demolition and site clearance, shall take place until details of the
number, design, location and post development monitoring arrangements of (bird nesting boxes/bat boxes/bricks/tubes) to be provided as part of the development has been submitted to and approved in
writing by the Local Planning Authority. The bird/bat boxes shall be installed in accordance with the approved details and thereafter maintained'

The wording currently reads:
No development shall take place until details of the number, design, location and post-development
monitoring arrangements of (bird nesting boxes/bat boxes/bricks/tubes) to be provided as part of the
development, has been submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority. The
bird/bat boxes shall be installed in accordance with the approved details and thereafter maintained.
Reason: To enhance the nature conservation interest of the site in accordance with Paragraphs 3.37-
3.40 of the Birmingham UDP 2005, PPS9 and the Nature Conservation Strategy for Birmingham SPG.

This would seem to allow clearance to clear the site BEFORE the nature conservation measures have been installed.

2013/09264/PA - 162 Yardley Road, Acocks Green, B27 6GR
Continued use of premises as a tyre fitting & car repair centre.
This has been an issue of local concern for some time. 

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.

Merry Christmas

Diary Date - Transport, Connectivity and Sustainability Overview and Scrutiny Committee

Transport, Connectivity and Sustainability Overview and Scrutiny Committee
Friday 20 December 2013 - 10am
Committee Rooms 3 & 4, Council House
And you can now watch online here.

Key items on the agenda:

• 2013 Summer Tunnel Closures
• Bus Lane Enforcement
• Call in - Review of charges for trade waste services

The call in will be held in private session, as it includes commercially sensitive information.

"Call in" is a process where an Overview and Scrutiny Committee can ask the Cabinet to reconsider a decision if the committee thinks that the decision is wrong.

After the Cabinet has announced its intention to make a decision, members of the relevant O&S Committee have three working days to consider that decision. Two members of the committee can lodge a request to call in the decision. This puts any action to put the decision into practice on hold. The meeting will be held at least ten working days after the publication of the original decision. 

At this meeting, the committee will consider the call in and if a majority of the committee agrees, a report will be submitted. The full Cabinet will then reconsider the decision. They may confirm it or reverse their original decision. 

Planning Applications to the 14 December 2013

A few to catch up on before Christmas:

2013/08883/PA - 1174 Warwick Road, Acocks Green, B27 6BS
Erection of single storey rear extension including alterations to staircase and shop front alterations

2013/08744/PA - 49 Cottesbrooke Road, Acocks Green, B27 6LE
Erection of first floor side and rear extensions and conservatory (Amended description)

2013/08986/PA - 1146 Warwick Road, Acocks Green, B27 6BL
Display of 1 no. internally illuminated fascia sign, 1 no. externally illuminated projecting sign and 1 no.
non-illuminated fascia sign

2013/08818/PA - 120 Douglas Road, Acocks Green, B27 6HW
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.

Christmas Bin Collections

Just a reminder that - as in previous years - there will be no collections on either Wednesday 25 December or Thursday 26 December. Services will return to normal on Friday 27th December.

If you normally receive a black bag refuse collection on Wednesday or Thursday, your next collection will be on Wednesday 1 January or Thursday 2 January 2014. 

If you are also scheduled for a recycling collection on either Wednesday 25 December or Thursday 26 December, your next recycling collection will be on Wednesday 8 January or Thursday 9 January. 

The Household Recyling Centre at Tyseley will be open as normal over the Christmas period if you have to get rid of any large amounts of waste in the interim (except Christmas Day and Boxing Day).

Free loft and cavity wall insulation available

Birmingham Energy Savers - a partnership between Birmingham City Council and Carillion Energy Services are installing free loft and cavity wall insulation (where appropriate) in certain areas of the city.

You can check your specific availability here, but the offer is broadly available across the Yarnfield estate, around The Avenue, the area around Fox Green Crescent and Pemberley Road and across the Gospel Estate. Many of those properties will not be suitable for cavity insulation as they were built with solid brick walls, but please check.Insulating a loft could save £170 a year on your heating bill and cavity wall insulation could put £140 a year back into your pocket.

I'd really recommend this - if you haven't already had this done.

Report - Acocks Green Ward Committee

A brief report on Wednesday's ward committee meeting.

I started with a brief tribute to Trevor Wagg, the late husband of former Cllr Penny Wagg and somebody who - despite our differing political views - was one of the keystones of our community and passed away suddenly a few weeks back. Our civic society is built on people like Trevor who are prepared to get involved and keep things running. He will be missed by his friends and family, but also by the wider Acocks Green and Yardley community.

We had a brief on the role of the local delivery group in the overall community safety and policing structure and the drive to cut crime, engage with young people and work to marginalise extremism of all sorts. You can find the full details here.

Our Environmental Health Officer had to send her apologies, but she sent a brief report. She's rolling out Street Litter Control Notices and has been dealing with properties on Spring Road and Westley Road, but will be dealing with the Yardley Road next. Members of the public raised a couple of issues about rubbish along the Yardley Road, which I'll be forwarding to the relevant council officers for action.

On planning applications, it was noted that the plans to demolish the Glynn Edwards Hall have been withdrawn at the last minute and there is no immediate prospect of a resubmission. We had a look at the current live planning applications, although we did not decide to object to any specific applications. We also noted that 2013/04742/PA, which was refused permission in August, is now the subject of a planning appeal.

Moving on to the community chest applications, almost all of the 2013-14 spending was finally allocated, with £2478 set aside to supply some new computer chairs for the library to replace the existing ones, which can best be described as "well-worn." These are the same chairs that were provided for the new South Yardley library, so should be good enough for us too! I also updated the meeting on the progress of the repairs, explaining that the delays have been caused by the amount of additional work to be done and the days lost to the weather (although we have been remarkably fortunate this autumn). Cllr Stacey pointed out that allowing for time lost affects the overall cost of a contract and there is a trade-off between risking time overruns and paying more upfront. These repairs look to be overrunning by about a month - which is rather better than the experience with South Yardley Library, which remained closed for well over a year for roof repairs.

We also agreed to allocate £1000 to the police project to secure homes against burglaries. We've had a rise across the ward and this is key in reducing fear and protecting people. We also approved a grant of £1200 to support the work of Fox Hollies Green Neighbourhood Forum.

One interesting issue was raised towards the end of the meeting - that of neighbourhood planning. We'll be inviting a council officer with experience of the Balsall Heath pilot to attend a future meeting to discuss it. It is an innovation of the current government, but it is not an easy option - neighbourhood plans have to comply with national and local planning policies and there's a lot of work to be done before it can be put to a referendum of the neighbourhood. Although the term "neighbourhood forum" is used in the government information, they aren't necessarily equivalent to the neighbourhood forums that we have in Birmingham - although the chances are that they would generally pass muster.

There was also a reminder that we are about to start the formal consultation on the 2014-15 budget. There are a number of meetings planned. Next week, there's one at South Yardley Library between 6pm and 8pm. on Wednesday 11 December.

Acocks Green Library Repairs Update

Before.....

I attended another of the regular progress meetings at the library on Tuesday and work is continuing well. Re-roofing is now complete on all three roof sections and the roof lights are installed on the two smaller roof sections. The weather has been generally quite kind, although it has caused some delays and the external work won't be complete until the 20th December.

You can see the difference in the two pictures. The old rooflights, dingy and sealed with flashband (a temporary water proofing measure at best) have been replaced with new, identical uPVC units, which are double glazed and designed to retain heat. Each of these units is assembled in the factory to check that they meet the bespoke size requirements, then taken to bits for powder coating before being delivered to site and reassembled again. The dodecahedronal units on the lower roof will be the most complicated of the lot (there are four or five different designs of roof light up there in total).

The library will be noticeably lighter once this work is done. Because this project has been managed under budget, we're also improving the ventilation by installing powered openers on selected windows to give a better flow of air in the warm months.

Roof fixed and skylights replaced

The photo below shows the water damage above one of the windows on the stairwell in the staff area. The surveyor reports back that this is not merely cosmetic - the lintel will need to be replaced. This will require significant internal and external structural scaffolding to support the roof while the work is completed and is more substantial than first thought.

Again, thanks to careful management of costs, we're able to get this work done. Originally, the roof above this wasn't planned to be replaced, although the condition was at least as poor as the main roof sections above the lending library itself.

Water damaged lintel

Once the externals are completed and after the Christmas break, the internal work - making good and repainting - has to be done. Some of this work could perhaps have been completed during normal closure days, but that would have meant further disruption, so we have decided to keep the library closed until the work is completed.

Unfortunately, this means that we aren't likely to get the library handed back until around the 17th January and it will take at least a week to ten days to return the library to a suitable condition to be opened to users (South Yardley took a fortnight, but that had been completely stripped for well over a year), so the aim is that we should be back in business by the end of January at the very latest.

Planning Applications to 30 Nov 2013

Nothing last week and just one this week:

2013/08766/PA - Land adjacent 4 Grattidge Road, Acocks Green, B27 7AQ
Application to determine the details for condition numbers 1, 2, 3, 4 and 6 attached to approval 2012/05569/PA (This is looking at the details of drainage, hard and soft landscaping, boundary treatment, samples and pedestrian visibility splays)

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

Acocks Green Ward Committee
Wednesday 3 December - 7pm
The Oaklands School, Dolphin Lane

Key items on the agenda:

• Community Safety Update
• Environmental Health Update
• Planning Applications
• Community Chest
• Grant to Fox Hollies Neighbourhood Forum 

Diary Date - Full Council

Full Council
Tuesday 3 December 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
• Proposed Changes to the Constitution
• Changes to the senior management and departmental structure
• Report of the Executive
• Birmingham Development Plan
• New governance arrangements for integrated transport authority
• Report of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee
• Children and Families with no recourse to public funds
• Motions for Debate
• Lab motion on the Standing Up for Birmingham campaign
• Tory motion on reopening train lines, as mentioned in the Birmingham Mobility Action Plan

Incidentally - I missed last month's meeting for unavoidable family reasons. 

Yardleys School to take pupils from 4-16 from 2015?

A proposal for consultation has just landed on my desk and I thought I'd share it - Yardleys School is suggesting that from the 1 September 2015, it might expand from being a secondary school to include the primary phase as well and create an "all-through" school. Pupils will be guaranteed a place - if their parents wish - from reception through to completing their GSCE examinations (and the potential is there to extend either end to nursery and sixth form provision) - but will also be able to join the school at secondary level as they do now.

Birmingham certainly has a need for further school places and this will provide an additional 60 per year from 2015 with the first admissions to reception class in that year. The primary school would not be on the same site as the secondary school, but would be in "refurbished accommodation" on a new site nearby (I don't have any more information than that).

The school holds the view that the "all-through" method would help pupils make the transition from primary to secondary education as well as making curriculum planning easier across the phases.

What do you think?

Leisure Centres Update

You may have noticed that the council have confirmed plans to close nine leisure centres across Birmingham and build six new ones, which will then be operated by the private sector.

The news for Yardley and Acocks Green is good - Fox Hollies will remain and Stechford Cascades is lined up for replacement. Both of these are significant regional facilities - Fox Hollies provides one of the few all-weather athletics tracks in the city (just refurbished at the cost of £300,000) and the Cascades pool offers the only pool capable of hosting swimming galas. The problem with pools is that they are hugely costly to run and those costs spiral as the facilities get older - they weren't designed with current fuel costs in mind and only Bournville has a pool that benefits from free heat from the Cadbury's factory. There's an annual £6 million cost of running our pools across the city, which has proved unsustainable in the face of government attacks on our spending.

There was never a threat to close either the Cascades or to Fox Hollies.

Your Labour councillors in Yardley were very clear that they would not tolerate any plans that would see either closed and we backed the plans to rebuild the Cascades, which is pretty much at the end of its operational life. We actually had cross-party agreement on this proposal. Any suggestion that we even suggested closure of either site is absolutely untrue.

It is true that Labour opposed an opposition motion in council that would have blocked the closure of any pool in Birmingham, but that is because we believe in devolved power - these decisions rested with the districts. For example, Tiverton Road pool was slated for closure by Selly Oak District - it requires investment and will face competition for existing custom from the new pool at Birmingham University. I voted against the opposition motion to ensure that power stayed in the districts.

Acocks Green Station Update

I've just dropped by the consultation session on lift installation planned for Acocks Green station and I can now add an artist's impression of what you will see from the roadside. Two caveats on this - firstly, the facing is brick in this picture, which has been ruled out of the finished article on the grounds of cost (CENTRO are cutting back as well). Secondly, the pitched roof style is much more in keeping with the design of the station rather than the curved design shown in the other artist's impression - although the design drawings have a third plan - a flat roof with a fall to allow water to run off.

There is also the point that the photo on which the design is based is taken from a low angle on the opposite side of the road, minimising the visual impact from this quarter view. From the design drawings, the top of the towers are slightly above the level of the pitch roof of the two "wings" of the station building, but not above the height of the central pitched roof. In reality, the only visibility of the towers is going to be from station/car park level or from the brief quarter views approaching the station along Yardley Road - they will be invisible from the front of the station.

The walkways are glazed and uncovered, to ensure visibility and the whole arrangement is covered by CCTV cameras to improve security - so much as we can expect since the station staffing was slashed.

The towers are available in a range of colours - the grey has been chosen as a relatively unobtrusive colour for the flat metal facing. While I was there, there were certainly mixed views over the design, although most people who attended seemed to think that the addition of lifts was the most important aspect of this development. I've asked that CENTRO look at fitting the pitched roof shown on the top picture, as this would chime nicely with the existing roof of the station and they have undertaken to look into that. It is a particularly affordable solution, as the towers are largely pre-fabricated and can be installed with the minimum of track possession required. The height allows clearance of existing trackside lighting, but also for any potential future electrification of the line.

Licensing applications to 22 November 2013

Applications have been made for the following:

A convenience store/off licence premises license for Lakey Express - 233 Lakey Lane, B28 8QT
Planned opening hours for the store and for the off-sales licence are 0600-2300 every day.
Comments should be sent by the 9 December 2013, ref application 84576.

Michaels Drink Stop, 1164-66 Warwick Road, B27 6BS have applied for an off-licence for trading 1000-2230 Sunday, 0800-2300 Mon - Sat and 0800-2230 on Good Friday, with a licence to match those hours. Comments should be sent by 12 December 2013, ref 84645.

Details of the licensing team can be found here.

Comments can be sent by post to:
Licensing Section, Crystal Court, Aston Cross Business Village, 50 Rocky Lane, Aston, B6 5RQ
By email to licensing@birmingham.gov.uk or you can call them on 0121 303 9896

Library repairs update

I had another meeting with the contractors today to discuss progress on the library. As you can see from the photo, the first of the new lanterns is being installed (there are over a dozen and there are five different designs on the roof). Double-glazed and with solar-reflective glass in them, they will make a difference to the warmth of the library during the winter.

So far, eleven days have been lost to the weather and the forecast isn't good for the days ahead. This means that the handover date may be delayed - it looks unlikely that we'll get the library handed back by the 13th December as originally planned and the earliest date for handover looks to be the 20th December, but that is still weather-dependent. What that means is that we are likely to see the library reopen early in the New Year, once the building has been returned to a useable condition, which will take about a week after it is handed back to us.

Acocks Green Station Access Improvements On Track

Here's an artist's impression of the new lift access towers for Acocks Green station, as the improvement plans start to move into delivery, as promised over a year ago (and it does bear a striking resemblance to the towers installed at Selly Oak. It may have taken seven years to get it done, but we're finally on the way.

The project is expected to start on-site in December and completion is due in Spring 2014. The design provides for step-free access from the car park and the booking hall through to the platforms - ideal for those with mobility problems, prams and wheelchairs.

CENTRO advise that the station should remain open throughout the work, although there may be minor problems when some of the heavy lifting or plant installation work is carried out - advance warning will be given for that. Similarly, although most work will be carried out during the normal working day, there may also be a need to work at weekends or overnight and this will also be advised to local residents who might be affected.

On Tuesday 26 November, between 3:30pm and 6pm, there will be a team from London Midland, CENTRO, Network Rail and the contractors (J Murphy & Sons) at the station to show plans and answer any queries that you might have. You can also contact Network Rail on 08457 11 41 41 if you have any questions or concerns.

Planning Applications to 16 November 2013

Playing catch up now, with three weeks' worth (apologies - it has been hectic)

2013/07598/PA - 3 Victoria Road, Acocks Green, B27 7XZ
Change of use of first floor from residential use (use class C3) to ancillary dental practice (use class D1),
alterations to porch to front and erection of single storey rear extension

2013/08035/PA - Land to the rear of, 1073 Warwick Road onto Netherfield Gardens, Acocks Green, B27 6QTErection of 4no. dwellings and 1no. apartment unit

2013/07516/PA - 187 Fox Hollies Road, Acocks Green, B27 7TZ
Erection of single storey rear extension to create 1 bedroom self contained apartment

2013/08064/PA - 17 Arden Road, Acocks Green, B27 6AH
Erection of single storey front, two storey side and rear and single storey rear extensions and installation of rear dormer

2013/08113/PA - 59 Olton Boulevard East, Acocks Green, B27 7NH
Application for a Certificate of Lawfulness for a proposed 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.

UPDATE - Road repairs - Shirley Road

An update on the forthcoming resurfacing of Shirley Road from Olton Boulevard to the Warwick Road (into the Green).

The work is scheduled to start on the 21 November 2013. It is expected to take up to five days and the crews will be working on site on week nights between 7pm and 6am.

Green waste collection - early sign up discount extended to 22 November

If you have been trying to use the council website over the past couple of days, you will have experienced problems (sadly outside our control). 

This has meant that those trying to sign up to the Early Bird discount offer have missed the original deadline. I contacted the cabinet member in charge earlier today and he's agreed to extend the sign up period by a week to help out those affected by the website outage. 

You have to sign up to the scheme online and if you do so before 22 November 2013, you will only have to pay £30. Signing up afterwards will cost £35 and this price will apply until the 31 July 2014, when the price drops to £17.50 for the remainder of the year. .

We'll provide 20 collections over the collection season in 2014 - February to November. Most properties will be supplied with a wheeled bin, but some properties may be deemed unsuitable and will be supplied with 60 special green bags for the year.

You will also be able to take green waste to our Household Recycling Centres at no cost.

The best option for your green waste is to compost it at home - that cuts out all the carbon emissions from transporting it. You can get some advice on it here.

Don't forget that we are now into the final cycle of green waste collections for this year. 

Update on Acocks Green Post Office

There is a little bit more news on this. The Post Office report that they hope to have a new franchisee in place by the end of this financial year (April 2014), subject to consultation. There's no news as yet on the identity of the franchisee or the location, but I doubt that will be far away.

More as I get it.....

November Diary

Tue 5 November - 2pm
Full Council - Council Chamber, Council House (livestreamed - #bcclive)

Wed 6 November - 7pm
Lakey Lane Police Meeting - Lakey Lane School

Thu 7 November - 2pm
HS2 Joint Scrutiny Committee Meeting - Comm Rm 3 and 4 (livestreamed - #bcclive)

Fri 8 November - 6:30pm
Surgery - Community Room, Archbishop Ilsley

Sat 9 November - 10am
St Mary's Church Autumn Fayre

Sun 10 November - 11am
Remembrance Day Service - Centenary Square

Tue 12 November - 6pm
Sustainability Forum - Council House

Wed 13 November - 7pm
Fox Hollies Green Neighbourhood Forum - The Oaklands School

Thu 14 November - 11am
HLB Walkabout

Fri 15 November - 6:30pm
Surgery - Community Room, Archbishop Ilsley

Sunday 17 November 10am
Westley Vale Millennium Green Autumn Cleanup

Mon 18 November - 10am
Partnership, Contract Performance and Third Sector O and S - Committee Rooms 3 and 4, Council House

Tue 19 November - 7pm
Housing Liaison Board

Wednesday 20 November - 7pm
Yarnfield Police Meeting

Thursday 21 November - 2pm
Yardley District Committee - Committee Rooms 3 and 4, Council House (livestreamed - #bcclive)

Fri 22 November
10am - Transport, Connectivity and Sustainability Overview and Scrutiny Committee - Committee Rooms 3 and 4, Council House

6:30pm - Surgery - Community Room, Archbishop Ilsley

Wed 27 November - 7pm
Fox Hollies Forum AGM - Fox Hollies Forum

Thu 28 November - 10am
HS2 Joint Scrutiny Committee Meeting - Committee Rooms 3 and 4, Council House (livestreamed - #bcclive)

Fri 29 November - 6:30pm
Surgery - Community Room, Archbishop Ilsley

This isn't by any means an exhaustive list of what I do - just the public meetings, although some are invitation only. 

This used to be in the sidebar, but I'm having problems posting it there. 

Policing Update

The dispersal order on the Gospel Estate has been in force since the 14 October and two arrests were made within a couple of days. One was arrested for a public order offence and one for returning to the area after being ordered to leave. More positively, a number of the young people have been put forward for the November Prince's Trust course. There's also an outstanding application for funding under the Proceeds of Crime Act to support further activity. Reports of an aggressive beggar in the village are being tackled through anti-social behaviour legislation. 

Total recorded crime is up 20% year on year to date - but at the end of September, it was up 26%, so inroads are being made. Within that figure, burglaries are up 100%, robbery down 3%, vehicle crime up 9.9%. In September, there were nine burglaries - six of which happened overnight, which is an unusually high number to happen overnight. Six were burgled through the rear of the property, two from the front and one through the garage. Of those nine burglaries - four were properties left insecure. Robberies dropped by four last month, with just two recorded. Finally, there were 14 thefts from motor vehicles - two were left insecure with doors unlocked, two were incidents of number plate theft, five where goods were left on show (laptops and satnavs prove tempting) and one was a case of a digger on a trailer being stolen. 

Over recent weeks, a lot of effort has been focused on the Gospel Estate, with the additional patrols from other departments within the police, including traffic and the operational support unit. Even the firearms unit have been on the patch, but that hasn't been because of a need for their particular skills - just that officers not required elsewhere have been called to help out with high visibility patrols. 

Acocks Green Ward Committee Report

A surprisingly busy agenda to get through last week.

Acocks Green Conservation Area
There have been plans to establish another conservation area in Acocks Green for a number of years and it looks like it could be getting closer. A conservation area allows greater control over the look of a defined area, because it has special historical or architectural value. This is given weight when planning applications are decided and permitted development rights are also usually withdrawn, requiring the owner to seek planning permission (for which there is no charge). It doesn't mean that changes can't be made, rather that special consideration is given before they are approved.

We already have one around the Three Magpies on School Road, which is a fine example of a 1930s' pub and is surrounded by housing of the period. The area around Arden Road, Sherbourne Road and along the Yardley Road to the junction with Douglas Road represents the development of Acocks Green as a railway suburb of Birmingham in the period around the turn of the 19th/20th century (when it was still in Worcestershire).

Thanks to government cutbacks, Birmingham only has two conservation specialists remaining in our planning department and the city council isn't able to progress new proposals, so a local group have retained Joe Holyoak - a specialist - to progress the proposal to the point where the city council can take a decision. Hopefully, we should be able to go out to consultation early in the New Year with the local community and we could see a decision by the City Council cabinet by summer 2014.

Environmental Health Feedback
We had a brief from Kate Stanley, our ward EHO, where we talked about fly tipping, litter and whether we have the power to carry out enforcement action against the Canals and Rivers Trust.

Service Reviews
We're continuing to look at the services that the council offers, in the light of ongoing government cuts and we need your views. What should we stop doing? What should we prioritise? As a council, we have to live within the money provided by the government - raising council tax to fill the gap isn't an option. Your views inform this process, so that we can come back with a detailed budget proposal for 2014/15.

Find more details here. 

Planning Applications
Current applications were discussed and it was agreed that the committee would object to the new proposal for 20 Dudley Park Road (2013/07567/PA).

Acocks Green Neighbourhood Forum
The annual grant was approved for this local group, which is an excellent example of a residents' association in the ward - although it actually stretches over into South Yardley across to the east side of the canal.

Planning Applications to the 26 October 2013

Just one to work with.

2013/07403/PA - 1228 Warwick Road, Acocks Green, B27 6PL
Erection of two storey side and rear and single storey front 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.

Changes to green waste collections for 2014

The last green waste collections this year will be in the fortnight between the 15 and 29 November, depending on your normal collection day.

Collections will restart in the fortnightly cycle beginning the 24 February 2014. This will no longer be a free service - we simply can't afford to maintain it, thanks to swingeing government cuts.

You have to sign up to the scheme online and if you do so before 15 November 2013, you will only have to pay £30. Signing up afterwards will cost £35 and this price will apply until the 31 July 2014, when the price drops to £17.50 for the remainder of the year. .

We'll provide 20 collections over the collection season in 2014 - February to November. Most properties will be supplied with a wheeled bin, but some properties may be deemed unsuitable and will be supplied with 60 special green bags for the year.

You will also be able to take green waste to our Household Recycling Centres at no cost.

The best option for your green waste is to compost it at home - that cuts out all the carbon emissions from transporting it. You can get some advice on it here.

Warm Homes Discount - Apply now!

The Warm Homes Discount scheme replaced the social tariffs that suppliers used to offer for their most vulnerable customers. It is a £135 credit on your electricity bill, usually paid during the spring for the precedin
g winter. There are two groups - the core group, who get the credit automatically and the broader group, who will have to apply and meet criteria set by their energy supplier. The major suppliers are all signed up to the scheme, but the smaller suppliers can opt in if they wish. It is credited to the electricity account as virtually everybody eligible will have an electricity mains connection, while rural customers are unlikely to have a mains gas connection.

You can still get the credit even if you are on a pay as you go or prepay meter. 

You may also need to be a customer of the same supplier when you apply and when you receive the credit. Check on this if you plan on switching in between. 

CORE GROUP
This year, if you were a pensioner on 20 July 2013, you can qualify for a warm home discount if you are either:

• under 75 and only get the Guarantee Credit part of Pension Credit – not the Savings Credit part
• 75 or over and get the Guarantee Credit part of Pension Credit - even if you also get the Savings Credit part.

Your name or your partner’s name must be on your electricity bill, and your energy company must be taking part in the Warm Home Discount scheme.

The Department for Work and Pensions share their data with the energy suppliers, so the suppliers should be told who forms part of the core group. If you fall into this group, you should have a letter confirming eligibility during the autumn. If you don't get one, contact your supplier.

BROADER GROUP
Unfortunately, this requires you to apply to your energy supplier. Each of them can set their own qualifying conditions and there will be a limited number of discounts available. Apply as early as possible! Follow the links below for details of each supplier's scheme.

Atlantic
British Gas or Scottish Gas
EDF
e.On
Equipower or Equigas (Ebico)
First Utility
M&S Energy - call 0800 072 7222 as their website is very unhelpful
nPower
Sainsburys Power (supplied by British Gas)
Scottish Hydro
Scottish Power
Southern Electric
SSE - 0800 980 8831 as they offer another unhelpful website
SWALEC

Generally, these suppliers will have filled their allocation by the end of January each year.

Road repairs - Shirley Road

And still we resurface the roads - Shirley Road from Olton Boulevard to the Warwick Road (into the Green).

The work is scheduled to start during the week of the 18-22 November 2013. It is expected to take up to five days and the crews will be working on site on weekdays between 9:30am and 4pm. Amey will put signs on the road to confirm the precise start date.

As vehicles can't drive over hot tarmac, the section of the road affected will be closed to all traffic while surfacing is being carried out.

Please check with bus operators regarding diversions.

If you require access for medical/personal reasons, you can contact Amey on 0121 303 6644 (option 2), to discuss how access can be arranged. Pedestrian access will be maintained as well as access for emergency vehicles. That number can also be used for any other questions that you might have. 

During working hours, it will not be possible to park on the road. Cars left will have to be removed and this may incur a cost to the registered keeper. There are also likely to be speed and width restrictions while the work is carried out, as well as road closures. 

Sorry for the inconvenience, but this work needs to be done and is usually completed well within the time allocated. 

Acocks Green Library Update

Another site meeting yesterday and another progress report.

The top roof is now almost complete and delivery of the first set of three replacement skylights is due within the week. The new double-glazing units are coated to reflect heat, so will offer additional energy saving over the current plain glass panels.

Weather has taken about three days' work out of the project so far, but there is enough slack at the moment so that the repairs should complete on time before Christmas. It is not likely, however, given the time for handover and recommissioning of the library, that it will reopen to the public until after Christmas.

Time to switch governments.

Consultation - Bus route changes through Acocks Green

CENTRO/Network West Midlands are reviewing some of the bus routes that currently operate through Acocks Green. You can find full details of their proposals affecting all routes here, but in summary, here are the ones around Acocks Green:

2/3 - City Centre - Yardley Wood - Warstock - Maypole - Shirley - Acocks Green
Problem/Idea: It has been suggested that instead of travelling into the City Centre via the Stratford Road, one or both of these routes should operate via Wake Green Road
Options: Either or both services could operate on a changed route via Moseley. Replacement local services would then operate between the City Centre, Stoney Lane, Showell Green Lane and Sparkhill. Route changes between the City Centre and Sparkhill.

3 - City Centre - Yardley Wood - Slade Lane - Gospel Oak - Acocks Green
Problem/Idea: Only a small number of people travel to Acocks Green on this service and it only touches the edge of the shopping area in Shirley
Options: Change the route so that the 3 serves more of Shirley High Street instead of Acocks Green. The route could then serve the Green Business Park (off Dog Kennel Lane) or extend to Solihull. By making this change to the 3, they could introduce a new express bus service between Shirley, Gospel Oak, Acocks Green and the City Centre. This route could be operated via Yardley Road and then the Small Heath Highway. Alternatives would be via Kings Road or Golden Hillock Road.

31/31A - City Centre - Stratford Road - Acocks Green - Shirley/Solihull
Problem/Idea: They are looking an option to change these services so that all buses operate through to Solihull - every 15 minutes during the day.
Options: Would it be better for all buses to operate via Stratford Road between Robin Hood Island and Shirley (like the 31A) or via Streetsbrook Road and Olton Road (like the 31). We would also like to know whether our customers would like a faster service between Gospel Oak and Birmingham City Centre.

If you have views on this, you can either submit them through the web page; by email or by attending one of the exhibitions:

Sat 2 November 9am - 3pm - High Street, Birmingham city centre

Tuesday 12 November 12pm - 6pm - by Marks and Spencer in Solihull town centre

The consultation ends on the 15 November 2013 and any agreed changes are likely to start in February 2014.

Feel free to copy me in on your views too. A little more detail would be helpful, but the implication of these proposals is that 3 would cease to serve Acocks Green, but that a new route would be created running from Shirley, past the Gospel Oak, through Acocks Green and on to the City Centre on a fast route.

20s Plenty Consultation Opens - have your say

Consultation has just opened on plans to reduce speed limits on 90% of Birmingham's roads.

I spoke in Council about this last year - you can read my argument in support of the change here.

Pop across to the council website, read the arguments and let us know your views.

The roll-out will take around 7 years to complete and will largely consist of 20mph limits - signed only - although a very few areas may also get zoned, with additional traffic calming measures. We will prioritise those areas where the risks are highest - that coincides with areas of deprivation - but if other areas are having improvements made (rather like the Warwick Road), then we won't waste the opportunity. This will save lives and reduce injuries.

There's also a chance to meet the project team at Fox Hollies Forum on Greenwood Avenue when they hold a drop-in session on Wednesday 13 November between 3pm and 7pm.

Update on Acocks Green Post Office

The Post Office have issued their proposals for changes in Kings Heath - the branch there is to be relocated into their WH Smiths. 

There are no current proposals for Acocks Green, so at the moment, there is no change planned. 

Diary Date - Acocks Green Ward Committee

Acocks Green Ward Committee
Wednesday 23 October 2013 - 7pm
Fox Hollies Forum, Greenwood Avenue, Acocks Green

Key items on the agenda:

• Update on Conservation area
• Our conservation architect specialist will be attending
• Service Reviews
• A well managed and resilient city
• Developing a successful and inclusive economy
• Support services part II
• Developing successful and inclusive communities
• You can find out more about the service reviews in general here. 
• Environmental health update
• Planning Applications