OMTRA Meeting With Officers July 2023

OMTRA committee members met with councillors and representatives from Community Protection and the Resident Development and Resettlement Team on 13th July 2023

Scott Clancy (SC), Senior Community Protection Officer, commented that it makes things much easier when we work together and when there is a community of people that take pride in the area.

Lylse-Anne Renwick (LAR), Senior Development Officer for Nottingham South wanted to understand how she could help, having heard that OMTRA is active and passionate.

Councillor Eunice Regan (ER) is new to the role but said she is "always around".

Councillor Michael Edwards (ME) had a range of topics to discuss and lots of information to share.

We discussed Fly Tipping and learned that in terms of enforcement, CPOs do letter drops & door knocks as well as interviews under caution but there was a concession that more could be done around communicating results.

Officers can issue a caution if there is reasonable suspicion e.g. where an address is found, or materials can be matched to an address, which allows for an interview under caution.

LAR notes that the new cameras are high quality and that there is a number you can call to to report what is witnessed.

LAR also notes that the camera on the corner of Holgate has been turned round to cover Holgate as well.

ME is seeking views on the repositioning of bins that are being replaced. The bins to be re-positioned are apparently quite a bit bigger and NCC wants to put them where bins are most used.

A suggestion was made that officers could go down to the embankment at busy times to remind people about litter etc. and CPOs were supportive of the idea.

ME updated us that clean champions have had their bags changed from purple to black, which may have caused some confusion where residents thought bags had been dumped.

ME highlighted that conversations were being had about the underpass under RHW and was seeking views.

On alleyways in the OMTRA area, it was highlighted that some aren’t locked and that OMTRA don’t have money to put new locks in etc.

LAR suggested that funding for locks should be possible as a one off but that people would need to look after them.

ER expressed the view that HMOs seem to be a theme in the issue she has experienced so far.

ME was currently focused on alleyways between Holgate, Glapton & Woolmer and between Barnsley, Glapton & Conisbrough.

SC encouraged residents to report issues with alleyways. Although the alleyways are the responsibility of residents, officers can help e.g. with leaflets and door knocks.

On events, LAR offered to provide basic information on how money from local events feeds back into the community, akin to the information that is given around events that take place in WB parks.

On graffiti, ME clarified that it was NCC's responsibility to clean it up and that there is an expectation of urgency if it is rude or crude, whilst the police will investigate.

We also learned that graffiti cleaning packs are available and CPOs had some to hand.

Councillors also gave an update on new developments, trees, the pond at the Memorial Gardens, toilets at the new cafe, paddling pool and the no through route on the embankment.

ME also told us of an upcoming change to bins & street cleaning. NCC introducing a new system "with accountability". Street scene reverting to being separate from to parks and open spaces (they were previously separate but were brought together). The new plan is to send people round to do litter picking. On the next working day, they will send the street cleaning machines. May be mid-August but could be later. Even then, there will still be a problem with cars parked.

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