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.