PETITION Update - Consultation at SMBC closes at 5pm tomorrow #HaveYourSay

I have responded to Sandwell Council consultation as below, I also will be having a meeting in Walsall next week to discuss other developments and will updated. Consultation - https://www.sandwell.gov.uk/illegalencampments Pleasing to see some movement forward on this matter, despite some efforts to ignore parts of the community who petitioned, and there is consultation. There are clear areas for improvement not least communication. Unauthorised Encampments – Documents 4.2 HRA 1998 etc – you state that weekends and bank holidays are excluded form the 24hr period. This matter has clearly been frustrating for the Police at times when they require a contact and lead on the matter. Communities don’t just close down at weekends and bank holidays and the areas at risk are still there to be encroached upon. I’d suggest that the council appoint a Liaison Officer to cover out of hour periods and ensure there is no blockage to communication and action. If this can not be done please advise reasoning. 6.4 Injunctions to protect land - there is comment about pre-emptive injunctions. Can areas that have been identified at risk and have been used in the past for unauthorised encampments be declared as “No Go” areas? Can encroachment on these areas be banned and anyone that has set up be moved on immediately? Walsall have made positive moves with regards to areas and injunctions. 7 Reporting Unauthorised Encampments – reporting No.: 0121 569 3862. How will this number be promoted to make residents aware of actions to take and who to call? 11 Policy Forum – “It is valuable to share information” – Indeed as stated it is very valuable , recent experience has shown this area to be very weak. During discussions with various officers from differing parties of the protocol, it is clear that this has been an area of frustration. The Police and Council need to have very clear procedures for communication with each other and neighbouring forces and authorities. Communities have to be involved and engaged. There is a need for the Police and Council to be very clear with the community as to what action is being taken and what timescales are involved in the removal of unauthorised encampments. I’d welcome your comments as to how the Police and Council will communicate with, and advise communities that are affected by unauthorised encampments. The role of Councillors in this matter should also be looked at, our community experience has been that Councillors have been less than communicative or helpful. That needs to change, they are elected to serve us and should be seen to do so. Policy Statement: “Safeguard the Community” - this is at all times paramount. As part of safeguarding the community the Police and Council need to be fully engaged with them and as mentioned previously communication needs to be better and where issues have arisen the community need to be reassured. I look forward to hearing more about procedures to communicate more effectively. • Will the Council put forward a motion to request that the Government look to change current law and make unauthorised encampments illegal? - Physical barriers and deterrents – as we have previously brought up in a petition it is clear that trip fences and bollards do not work. There are numerous examples across the borough of broken and rotten fences/bollards. Other ways to stop and deter need to be looked at including our suggestion of high containment kerbs which can also help with parking issues outside of schools where open spaces are used. There is also natural planting and landscaping that can be looked at. I’d like to see the Council look at innovative solutions and long term sustainable resolutions. If more planting of trees, shrubs, wild flower beds and associated landscaping can be used there are obvious positive outcomes for nature, air quality and the aesthetics of an area. A real opportunity to get social value payback on a project. Communities have to be engaged and the Council and Police should work with us to look at these innovations and the funding opportunities that may be available to us to achieve this. I’d look forward to your comments on barriers and deterrents. PLEASE BE ADVISED I have tried previously to respond to the consultation on line in the proscribed format and received the message that the service I was using was interrupted by a technical fault. The Information provided not being saved. Are you aware of this fault and will you take action to resolve this matter for the future? Have you any logs of how often this has happened with this consultation?