Tornado Residents

Notes of a Meeting held at Lahore Karahi at 7:00p.m.on 16th August 2005

Subject: Discussion on issues by residents affected by the Tornado

Present: Approximately 30 residents
Vennetta Johnston – Sparkbrook District Director
Moseley and King’s Heath and Sparkbrook Councillors (notes recorded by Cllr Henley)

District Director’s introduction
This was the second residents’ meeting organised by the Council, and they will take place every Tuesday until no longer required. There will also be meetings with Chairs of neighbourhood forums on Mondays, Traders on Wednesdays, and with MPs and Councillors to discuss lobbying for financial support.

Ms Johnston went through Bulletin 6, published today. She mentioned specifically the plans for a survey of residents’ views; special waste collections through ‘Clean and Safe’ which will be notified in advance to residents; removal of damaged cars in car parks; trauma counselling will shortly be provided through a private company.

Esther Boyd, Queenswood, asked about fences down which were a security problem mentioned at the previous meeting. The reply was that work had started on fences by the park. Ms Johnston agreed to look at the problems of damaged houses with no occupants which are not protected by fences.

A tree from Woodstock Road has fallen into the garden of 63 Birchwood and no action has been taken to clear it. Bryan Langford of Environmental Health agreed to deal with that tree and any other dangerous trees.

Martin Brooks of Homeworks, Greencoat House, 261 Stratford Road (464 3445 or 303 9124) said that loans would be made available to uninsured property owners as a “last resort” if they could not borrow from banks or building societies. He asked for contact details of anyone in that position to be given to him. The loan would be a “charge” on the property and if not paid off (interest will be base rate plus 1.5%) would be deducted from the proceeds of a sale of the property.

Raja Amin, Balsall Heath Neighbourhood Forum, said it was a natural disaster and the Government gives money to victims overseas, why not here in Birmingham? He said we needed help, not a loan. Mr Brooks said it was a Cabinet decision to offer loans. Cllr Mullaney said that the Bellwin formula covered Government support and that the Council had to find the first £3 million and then 15% of the cost. Mr Amin asked what was local government going to do, after all they took £1000 Council Tax every year from each of us, what are they going to give back to help us? Cllr Mullaney said £10M had been spent on tarpaulins and cranes and debris removal.

The meeting agreed unanimously to ask Ms Johnston to report up the management line that the proposals for individual property repair loans were not a solution. A neighbourhood wide approach was required and anyone who came to look would see that. Ms Johnston said that policy was ‘fluid’ and might change. She hoped to have a regeneration proposal to put before Phil Woolas, the Minister for Local Government in the ODPM when he came back to visit the area again.

A Council tenant on Birchwood with Angina and Arthritis has been offered unsuitable properties and is sleeping in a chair and using a toilet in the garden. Mr Brooks promised to sort out the problem.

Asbestos
Alan Davis of National Asbestos training and Accreditation Council gave advice. He said the Council leaflet was sensible as was the policy of bagging all debris in red bags for safe disposal in case it contained asbestos. He said the materials found in older houses were a very low risk. He advised that residents wear respirators, gloves and overalls while collecting debris. Dust can be removed using a vacuum cleaner.

Residents were very annoyed that they have been left to deal with this problem. They asked for a source of protective clothing and Ms Johnston promised to provide it from the caravan. Mr Langford said the risk was very low to residents. Ms Johnston also promised to retain the services of the Asbestos expert for rapid consultation if necessary.

Esther Boyd suggested that street representatives be recruited to ensure better communications and effective contributions from the community towards regeneration planning. Ms Johnston agreed.

Status of actions from last week: