UPDATE OLD OSCOTT COMMUNITY CENTRE

During discussions wih Age UK recently the following information was relayed to me.

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Happily, Oscott Community Centre continues to grow. Lunch clubs are increasingly popular.

I have copied our Service Manager, Annette Gregory into this email. Annette is better placed to describe the recent changes at Oscott Community Centre.

Kind Regards,

Rosie Barrett

PA to Chief Executive

Age UK Birmingham 

08.08.2014

GLENMEAD AND BURFORD PLAYING FIELDS GRASS CUT TODAY

I was pleased to see that both the Glenmead and Burford Road playing fields were cut today after persistent requests from the 3 Oscott Councillors and residents.

The fields now look a lot better and residents can use them again.

OSCOTT WARD COUNCILLORS SURGEY DETAILS FROM SEPT 1st

Oscott Ward Councillors surgery details from September 2014 are listed below.

Councillors operate a rota

1st Saturday of the month, 10.30am

610 Community Centre, Kingstanding Road, Birmingham, B44 (Induction Loop Available).

1st Wednesday of the month, 7.00pm

610 Community Centre, Kingstanding Road, Birmingham, B44 (Induction Loop Available).

4th Tuesday of the month,  09.30am

610 Community Centre, Kingstanding Road, Birmingham, B44 (Induction Loop Available).


Home visits for those with genuine mobility difficulties can be arranged.

ANY ISSUES RELATING TO THE 997 BUS ROUTE

As the Councillor who is championing the 997 bus route I would welcome and comments or concerns regarding this route.
I am  regular bus users as many of you know and I am in touch with the 997 route manager which means I  can inform him of any concerns you have.

To contact me Email Keith.Linnecor@birmingham.gov.uk.

Many thanks to all those who have already been in touch

BOTH GLENMEAD AND BURFORD ROAD PLAYING FIELDS NEED A LONG TERM SOLUTION

Both Councillor Barbara Dring and I have both been in contact with Councillor Ian Ward the Birmingham City deputy leader regarding the long term future of both Glenmead and Burford Road Playing Fields. He has been reminded that work is expected to start soon on replacing some of the fencing on the Burford Road site and that the Glenmead Road site has in the past had money spent on security fencing around its changing room facilities. We have also reminded him that while we (including Councillor Tristan Chatfield) understand Government cuts in Council funding has been unprecedented,  we need these playing fields as there is such limited open space in Oscott for its children to play on.

Many of you may recall some years ago following my campaign both sites were opened up for public use rather than be sealed for use only by schools. and left empty most of the time with children forced to play ball games on the street out side.

The outcome  of our discussions with the deputy leader is the fields will be maintained to the end of the the year.

He will be signing for the updating the fence on Burford Rd immediately for work to commence.

He will also looking for funding from Sport England and the FA for all weather pitches etc.

This is progress and good news as many have forgotten that there is the need for a long term strategy to improve these Playing field areas.

The 3 Oscott Councillors are  also continuing in the short term to get the current department responsible for these sites to improve the grass cutting on them despite the cuts they face in funding. The grass on these sites is due to be cut shortly

PROSED WORK TO BE CARRIED OUT ON THE BURFORD PLAYING FIELDS

I have been asked by a couple of residents who were not able to get to any of the site visits arranged by the 3 Oscott ward Councillors what work is being carried out on the Burford Road Playing Fields site. I hope the information below helps. Also see my July 18th Post. 5.1          The works proposed for Burford Road Unattached School Playing Field are as follows:- ·       New 2.45m Zaun anti climb fencing and gate on the Kingstanding Road entrance with an inner second set of anti climb gates and fencing. ·       The concrete base will be broken out; topsoiled with site materials and seeded this will stop the anti social behaviour currently experienced by the residents. ·       Grounds to be re graded to 1 in 3 gradient along the boundary of Burford Road and Stowell Road to allow easier maintenance and negate the need to spray off bank. ·       Installation of new 2.45m high Zaun Duo fencing along the boundary of Burford Road. ·       Relocation of 2.1m high galvanised palisade fencing from the Burford Road boundary to   the      side boundary of Stowell Road. ·     Details are shown on the attached plan. Appendix 3 Benefits of this scheme will be the improvement to the infrastructure of the playing field within the Oscott ward, it will also enhance the area through improved atheistically pleasing boundary treatment which will provide the site with an improved presence.

5.2           The Council is the landowner for the works proposed in this report and therefore Education and Skills Infrastructure have the ability to exercise control over the delivery of the proposed works and meet their objectives within the resources available. The Planning Application was submitted on the 24th March 2014 and a positive outcome is expected.                 5.5       The works will be procured through the Landscape Construction Framework 2013-15. The      works are planned to commence at the beginning of August and complete by the end of September.         I am please this work is going to be carried out shortly it is a long time coming but when you remember the un costed  promises made by others I think the length of time it has taken is more understandable.

PERRY BEECHES SWIMMING POOL UPDATE

The Perry Beeches Pool It is included within what is called the Framework contract for the north of the city. A number of organisations are currently bidding for the right to manage the city’s leisure facilities that fall within the Framework. The successful organisation is likely to be known by January with a handover in April of next year.

I do know that in initial discussions the potential contractors have been looking at investing in and improving the site.Councillors from Oscott and Perry Barr will do what we can to ensure any change over at the Perry Beeches Pool site goes smoothly.

COOKSEY LANE PAVEMENT UPDATE

The pavement in Cooksey Lane is still scheduled to have resurfacing work carried out on it in November this year. Residents will be notified prior to the commencement of the work

MANY OF THE STREET TREES IN OSCOTT NEED TO BE PRUNED MORE

It is clear that Amey ( the private contractor given a 25 year contact to improve our streets including trees by the last Council administration) have not been pruning the trees in Oscott to the satisfaction of many residents.
 This is the reason I am calling on their senior officer to look again at this years tree pruning program with an aim to improve it.
There also needs to be more of the larger trees replaced by more suitable species.

THE OSCOTT LOCAL POLICE TEAM TO ENFORCE ALCOHOL RESTRICTED ZONES IN OSCOTT MORE DURING SUMMER

At the Oscott Police Neighbourhood Tasking Group meeting today it was agreed to enforce the Alcohol restrict zone concept again in the Oscott area during the summer period.
It is hoped by doing his acts of anti social street drinking near local pubs can be reduced.
As the Councillor who introduced this concept (many have forgotten this) to the Birmingham area originally after seeing it in action in Wolverhampton, I am in full support of the Police enforcing this scheme again more in the Oscott area. I think it is about time.
There are still many of the original Alcohol Restricted Zone signs in place so there is no excuse to drink on our streets in an anti social way.
Clearly resident having a  quiet drink in their gardens and so on will not be effected but those causing trouble when drinking on our streets will at the very least have their drinks confiscated.

PLEASE DO NOT USE MOTORISED VEHICLES IN THE QUESLETT NATURE RESERVE

The Queslett Nature Reserve is what it says on the tin "a nature Reserve."
It is not a park it is a wild area meant to be enjoyed by users on foot or push bike and to encourage wild life.
Motor Bikes Quad bikes and horses are not suitable given the nature of the paths which are often obscured by bends and dips in the ground.
Those out walking in the reserve could be at risk from those using motorised vehicles and the FQNR would ask anyone thinking of using motorised vehicles or horses to find other places to do so.
Note the Councils Parks department will be putting up notices regarding the danger of using motorised vehicles in the reserve later this year and the Ranger service are aware of the problem.

MISSED BLACK BAGS COLLECTIONS

Sadly due to industrial action by some member of the Councils Salvage department members black bags put out in some roads in Oscott will not be collected until the next time they are due to be.


I would suggest to residents that in future they do not put out (and ask their neighbours not to as well) their black bags together in a communal pile in the road.
I would also suggest that residents simply leave their black bags only at the edge of their property from now on.
This would help in the future by meaning residents could take in their own bags if need be in the future, should holidays, low levels of salvage department staff, or industrial actions happen again  in the future leading to missed collections and we would not see mounds of black bags on our street.

Piles of black bags left on our streets does not look good and leads to confusion when it comes to identification. Also those residents who have properties where often these bags are joined together have to put up with the inconvenience they cause at the best of times.
I have also asked that the Council look at considering  giving out this advise in the future.?
I am aware many Salvage crew operatives pile bags together ready to be picked up but that is acceptable as the bags would be collected shortly after.

BURFORD ROAD PLAYING FIELD UPDATE

At the Oscott Ward Advisory Board a senior officer from the Education department confirmed new fencing will be erected on the Burford Road Playing Field.
There is no intention of closing the field and work will continue to look for new groups to use the field.
The grass cutting regime will remain under review.

Councillor Tristan Chatfield, Councillor Barbara Dring and I will continue our battle with the Education department to improve the grass cutting regime not only at the Burford site but other sites in Oscott also effected.

We are also trying to get the grass cut on both the Burford Road and Glenmead Road playing fields.

EXTRA FUNDING FOR KINGSTANDING LIBRARY

The Wolfertone Foundation have donated funding to help Children use our libraries in Birmingham.
Some of this funding will now be used to help the Children's section of Kingstanding Library.
The funding will be used to help improve children's literacy with better equipment and other measures.
Any money that is given to help any library in Oscott is very much appreciated.

THE OSCOTT WARD ADVISORY BOARD GETS NEW CHAIR PERSON

At a well attended meeting of the Oscott Ward Committee last night Councillor Barbara Dring was again appointed as its Chair.
Councillor Tristan Chatfield was appointed as the Ward Advisory Chairman and I will be the Neighbourhood Tasking Group Representative.

AS the previous Chair of the Ward Advisory Board for so long I thought it was time to stand down and give someone else a chance to have a go.

I would like to thank all those members and observers who for so many years have helped make such tough decisions and given up so much time to do so. There work has helped the Oscott Ward Committee with its deliberations on things like the Oscott Community Chest.

I have every faith that Tristan who has understudied me as Chair of the Oscott WAB will do a fine job and bring something new to it.

UPDATE

A big thank you to all those who have passed on their good wishes regarding my accident.
I am on the road to recovery.