Tornado Residents

Sparkbrook District Tornado Bulletin No. 6, 16.08.05

The Council’s emergency response plan has now entered a new phase, which relates to facilitating reconstruction efforts. As such, the lead officer responsibility for this phase has now moved from David Maxted - Strategic Director for Local Services to David Pywell – Strategic Director for Development. Clive Dutton – Director for Planning and Regeneration Services will support co-ordination efforts both internal and external to the City Council.

The Sparkbrook District Team will remain an integral part of the Council’s plan to facilitate recovery efforts as soon as possible. The District will provide front-end engagement with local residents and traders. The information point at the corner of Ladypool Road is open 9.00am-6.00pm Monday to Friday. Weekend provision will be available on Saturdays10.00am – 4.00pm. The information point will be closed on Sundays.
Specifically, a series of regular meetings have been organised by the Sparkbrook District Team, which are detailed as follows:

· Community Leaders Briefings – every Monday 12.00-13.00 at the Birmingham Sports Centre.
· Residents meetings – every Tuesday 19.00 at Lahore Karahi Restaurant, Ladypool Road.
· Briefings for local Traders Associations – every Wednesday 16.00-18.00 at Southside Enterprise Centre, Ladypool Road.

Information
Concerns or / and issues raised through the above meetings have been clustered into the six District Plan priorities and are presented as follows:

1. COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND CIVIL RENEWAL

A resident’s survey is being undertaken across the areas affected by the Tornado, which will help the District and Council to highlight the key issues that need to be addressed as part of the recovery planning.

A range of activities will be used to ensure that residents in the affected area are part of the planning and recovery process. These include planning for real exercises, street champions as well as regular community meetings.

Sparkbrook District has a long history of strong voluntary and community organisations that have actively campaigned on behalf of local people. In order to maintain and strengthen this partnership we are committed to having a fair and transparent DSP (District Strategic Partnership). In order to achieve genuine localisation, residents and voluntary and community organisations are being supported to have a greater influence over local decision making, the delivery of services and the management of life in their neighbourhood.

· Community Events / Festivals
Residents have requested support for the following local community events / festivals that are taking place over the next few weeks:

ACTION: The following events are being supported:

o Balsall Heath Park Sports Week - A week long sports activities have been organised for this week in Balsall Heath Park. The event has been supported by the Selly Oak District, the Sparkbrook District and Ladypool Traders Association. The event is free to local residents – so come along and enjoy the fun!

o Friends of Balsall Heath Park – “Monkey Business” Event. This is planned for Saturday 20 August 2005 and will take place in Balsall Heath Park. Activities include: races, football, various games and bouncy castles.

2. ENVIRONMENT AND SECURITY (CLEAN AND SAFE)

A key feature of the District’s “Clean and Safe” agenda is to make the area cleaner, greener and safer. The specific issues that have arisen as a result of the tornado, and which fall under this agenda as detailed below.

· Waste Collection
Residents have requested that additional provision be made to remove additional rubbish that has been generated as a result of the tornado.

ACTION: Special rubbish collections will be organised through “You Are Your City” and the “Clean and Safe” Programmes.

· Asbestos Debris
Residents have sought independent reassurances that the asbestos debris that is in the area is not a major cause for concern in terms of public health.

ACTION: An independent expert from National Asbestos Training & Accreditation Scheme (NATAS) will be attending the briefing on Tuesday 16 August 2005 in order to talk to residents.

· Damaged vehicles on Ladypool Road
Concerns have been raised regarding the number of damaged cars that have been temporarily stored in the car park on the junction of Ladypool Road and Clifton Road.

ACTION: Sparkbrook District Team is liaising with the Council’s Environmental Services in order to address the issue.

3. PROSPERITY

The District will work with residents and traders towards the regeneration of the Ladypool Road area through the Prosperity Theme Group of the District Strategic Partnership (DSP). Systems will be put in place to ensure that residents and traders have the strongest influence within this group.

The District’s prosperity agenda recognises the need to work collaboratively with other partners. These include: The Birmingham and Solihull Learning and Skills Council, the Solihull Business Link, Job Centre Plus and local Trade Associations. A key priority of this agenda is the aim to promote the Balti Triangle as a key cultural tourist attraction to the District and the City. The specific issues that have arisen as a result of the tornado, and which fall under the prosperity theme in the District Plan are detailed below.

· Marketing
Traders have requested additional support in terms of protecting trade through active marketing.

ACTION: A communication and marketing package is being developed in conjunction with Business Link Birmingham, Sparkbrook District Team, the Council’s Planning and Regeneration Service, Marketing Birmingham and local Traders Associations. This support package will comprise “good news” stories placed in key news mediums, including newspapers, radio stations, local newsletters etc. In addition, ten local businesses will be assisted through tailored marketing support via the Enterprising Communities Programme.

· Reconstruction Support
Traders have impressed on major support agencies (including the Council, Business Link, Advantage West Midlands, the East Birmingham and North Solihull Regeneration Zone, an the Government Office West Midlands) that additional support will be required in order to assist reconstruction efforts.

ACTION: In order to support the above, and assess the level of damage caused to the local business community on Ladypool Road, two initial surveys are being organised, which relate to individual businesses and seek to establish the impact on consumers’ behaviour. These will be used to assist in the ‘medium to long-term’ recovery planning.

4. HEALTH

The District’s Health agenda seeks to improve local people’s health by reforming District sport and leisure facilities as a means of “preventing” illness over the longer term. However, it is recognised that illness prevention should be holistic and cover both the mind and body. Should any health needs arise as a result of the tornado please contact your GP.

· Counselling
Residents have highlighted the need to raise awareness of the fact that some residents, including children and young people, may be suffering from trauma and may require counselling.

ACTION: The Heart of Birmingham PCT has been contacted to seek help. The PCT have advised that in the first instance any residents that may be suffering from trauma and stress as a result of the tornado should be referred to their Family Doctor for support.

The Sparkbrook District is intending to facilitate specific counselling services for those affected by the tornado. Once this support has been secured information will be distributed.

5. HOUSING

The housing theme group is supporting local tenants to look at options for future management of their housing stock. For all sectors of housing, the theme group is identifying areas to pilot neighbourhood management schemes. Over the medium- to long-term we will be exploring opportunities for capital investment in new housing and retail outlets in partnership with the Housing Market Renewal initiative.

· Home Owners without Insurance

The Council is seeking to support local people in terms of damage to their places of residence. Specifically, the council’s Home Works Team based at Greencoat House on Stratford Road has been charged to identify the number of households that have been affected by the tornado and who do not have insurance cover. Residents are advised to seek advice from their High Street lenders on loan arrangements. However, if this is not an option then the Council will be able to offer a subsidized loan. The purpose of these loans is to make local properties habitable and to specifically repair storm-damage.

All loans from the Council become a legal charge on the property and any outstanding loan will be recovered upon sale or change of ownership.

After the surveyor from the Home Works Team of the Housing Department has visited the owner and scheduled the works a loan officer employed by a Partner organisation will visit the resident in their own home and offer individual advice.

Further advice and support is available from Council’s Home Works Team on 303 2645 / 303 6321.

A member of the above team will be present at the residents’ meeting on Tuesday 16 August 2005 at Lahore Karahi Restaurant on Ladypool Road at 7pm.