ACTION ACCOUNT FOLLOWING THE RESIDENTS’  MEETING HELD ON TUESDAY 13TH SEPTEMBER    2005   - TORNADO DAMAGE AND CLEAN UP.

PROBLEM	ACTIONS TAKEN/SOLUTIONS	ACTIONS TO BE TAKEN	RESPONSIBILITY			

ASBESTOS
•	Residents remain concerned about asbestos dust and  particularly about the long term degeneration of asbestos in gardens.

•	Residents continue to wish for  the pilot for removal of asbestos  to be carried out. Scale and costs can then be determined.

•	Asbestos Tiles still lying in Taunton and Clifton Road and are being added to.

•	Unsafe building practices	
•	Meeting held with HSE at the end of last week.  Advice given by experts (HSE, Health Protection Agency, Environment Agency and Public Health) all assured officers that asbestos levels were below the safe thresholds.  Risks are considered minimal   and so no duty falls on the Council, however, the public were assured that testing would continue.

•	HSE advised  further  testing would be more appropriate, however residents want the pilot undertaken as the practicalities of removal remain an issue.

•	Residents assured that tiles contain no free fibres

•	HSE was contacted and has visited the site to inspect builders work practices.
•	A meeting was held with the HSE, Builders and Environmental Health re safe working practices also to be arranged between contractors, housing association and Council.	
•	An independent retest of samples in the worst affected areas is to be undertaken, but it is not anticipated that it will be any worse.  Previous and future test results to be made available for future meetings

•	Residents   continue to press for pilot to address the separate   task of removing  asbestos from their gardens. Trevor Haynes to re consider pilot again with Clive Dutton taking with him the strong feelings of the residents. District Clean and Safe budget to be made available.

•	Bryan Langford will contact Street cleansing crew and deal with the issue

•	If residents see anything that causes concern contact Bryan Langford on 303 9800 stating addresses.  It will then be passed onto the HSE	
Trevor Haynes 
(Head of Building Consultancy)

Trevor Haynes

Bryan Langford  (Environmental Services)

Dealt with			
FENCING
•	Temporary fencing is still needed to help secure properties.	
•	Fencing still required at the rear of 16 to 32 Alder Road for security purposes.	
•	Identify area as a matter of urgency.	
•	Becky Jones and Jason Harrison
			
TREES
•	Fallen trees in Montgomery and Fernhill Crofts and  the Car Park area and Fairhill Way
•	Runcorn Road.
•	Resident with tree in his garden whose roots are in the garden of the Woodstock Vale Residential Home.
•	There are a number of issues regarding   trees in Private property	
•	Have been removed.

•	And Birchwood to be removed Wed 14th Sept.
•	Tree now removed

•	Letter from Residents sent to Cllr Evans	

•	A contract has been set up with Groundwork and referrals have been made for removal of trees.	 

•	Richard Welch			
SPECIFIC PROBLEMS PERTAINING TO ALDER AND BIRCHWOOD ROADS
•	Security concerns still raised by residents

•	Drugs problem in Birchwood Road, specifically around 2 properties that are known to residents.

•	There are also specific issues across the whole area regarding shared fencing and especially security within this area	

•	Security patrols were increased and Chief Superintendent Jan Turner contacted.  Police now patrolling on foot up until 2 a.m, supplemented by high visibility regular patrols from the Crime fighting team (Edward Road) and the use of a helicopter.

•	Police are presently acting on information received.

•	Sparkbrook NRF to be used for security gates. Rear security fences only and not between gardens. RSL’s to contribute.

•	Identify as a matter of urgency.	

•	Police and BCC Security

•	Becky Jones/ Jason Harrison			
INFORMATION BULLETIN
•	Problems still occurring with delivery not reaching all affected households
	
•	First Street representative meeting held 8th September.  	
•	Until Street representatives scheme is in place all bulletins and minutes of meetings will be distributed by post.
•	Esther Boyd to be contacted to help with delivering information by email as appropriate.
	
•	Elaine Wills District Office			
SCHOOLS INFORMATION
•	Information to be delivered to schools
	
•	Dealt with.					
ADVICE LINE	•	Has now been set up to replace the Tornado information caravan via Sparkbrook Neighbourhood Office on 303 0430 	
PARKS
•	There is a security issue in Balsall Heath Park.  Rear of houses easily accessible although has been temporarily fenced.	
•	Fencing has been made as secure as possible whilst waiting for the replacement fencing to be manufactured - it will take up to 6 weeks	
•	Sue Amey agreed to inspect the temporary fencing arrangements in the meantime.	
•	Sue Amey 
        (District Parks
         Manager) 			
SKIPS	36 Skips have been provided and an additional has been ordered for Birchwood Crescent.

It was noted that residents may not use them, as contractors had been deterring using their particular skips. It was agreed that notices would be displayed on each skip.  	•	4 more skips to be provided for Birchwood and Alder on 22/9/05 – 27/9/05 and again on the 29/9/05 – 4/10/05.

•	Residents to be provided with prior notice via wardens	
•	Pete Cotton/wardens			
STREET REPRESENTATIVES
•	A new scheme to be set up to ensure residents are fully aware of issues and the regeneration of the area after the Tornado	
•	A meeting was held on 8th September with residents and representatives were identified for  Birchwood Crescent, Coppice Road, Queenswood Road, Dearman Road and White Road.

Discussions taking place with street champions in the Sparkbrook North Neighbourhood forum area and further work with Balsall Heath Forum street reps, further volunteers most welcome. 	
•	A further meeting to be held with existing street representative/ champion schemes and all those who have volunteered their help to set this scheme up.

•	Meeting times to be arranged in conjunction with all volunteers.  
	
•	District Office
Lead Officers Becky Jones and Priti Bharadwa.			
UNSECURED LADDERS
•	Being left against buildings causing security problems for residents	
•	Contractors have been contacted.  Buildings are being monitored to ensure safety and building regulations are being met.  City have no powers of enforcement re unsecured ladders and rely on good will.	
•	Any problems contact Trevor Haynes and he will do his best to help.	
•	Trevor Haynes			
INSURANCE CLAIMS
•	What support is available to residents whose Insurance companies are very slow to respond		
•	ABI asked to attend the next residents’ meeting to discuss particular concerns	
•	Elaine Wills, District Office