PETITION Update: Cabinet Petitions Committee – Wed 30 Nov 4.15pm

Cabinet Petitions Committee – Wed 30 Nov 4.15pm – Chair – Cllr D Hosell Questions: • Was Cllr D Hosell recording, either audio only or audio & visual, the meeting on his tablet device? • Who was the gent attending who was from Highways that Cllr D Hosell would not give me contact details for? • Why would Cllr D Hosell not give me the contact details of the Highways officer? Cllr Hosell said there had been a site visit to the field outside of Yew Tree School with members of the community. • When was this particular site visit and who were the attendees? • Why wasn’t the head petitioner of a petition of 1300+ community signatories invited to attend? • Have any reports or minutes been produced from this meeting that I can view? • Are there any other site visits, local meetings, consultations planned or arranged for this site? • Will the head petitioner be invited should there be further site visits or local meetings? General comment: It was very clear that the Chair was trying to act in a manner that might be considered more approachable and more amenable than at the previous meeting. However he was far from consistent in the way time was used and how petitioners were engaged. Some petitions are more complex than others and the 5 minutes allocated does not lend itself well in those circumstances and does not give a petitioner a fair opportunity to pass on all relevant details. This may be something we as community members look to take up with our Cllrs. There ought to be more Cllrs at these meetings to encourage debate and discussion on petitions and to look at questioning petitioners and gathering more information. I personally believe the petitions scheme is weighted heavily on the council side and does not help petitioners out forward their cases fairly. Brief Summary of my presentation/crib notes with “factual” comments, (the cheeky beggar ) Identification of Land: This “traveller” matter is an issue that has affected not just the land but the lives of those that live near the land. The majority of those that have been affected are those on the Yew Tree as it created considerable ASB issues. I am currently working with various Heads of Service @ Walsall Council to look at innovative solutions regarding physical barriers. I have attended a meeting with the Dir. Of Public Health, Heads of Highways and Clean & Green to look at a scoping exercise to produce a feasibility study then to apply for external funding. Currently waiting on date for further meeting. At the recent Cabinet Scrutiny Committee at Walsall Council it was resolved that the Delves Green Common has Town & Village Green status. My own research shows that this would mean that it would then be covered by the Commons Act 2006 which would make any encroachment ILLEGAL not unauthorised. This is a major step forward and would usurp any injunctions on this site and would allow the owners to instruct immediate removal and prosecute anyone that does encroach on the land. Awaiting full comment from legal services. Are there any sites in Sandwell that might be able to be designated with Town and Village Green Status? Walsall Council Link: https://cmispublic.walsall.gov.uk/cmis/Meetings/tabid/70/ctl/ViewMeetingPublic/mid/397/Meeting/2375/Committee/347/SelectedTab/Documents/Default.aspx At the meeting a gent from Sandwell Highways was present who I understand is also looking at one site. I asked for his details from the Chair but was refused. I’d welcome meeting up with this Highways contact and discussing more partnership working on matters that have arisen locally. Perhaps Democratic Services will pass on my request and also advise on what work he and his Highway Dept. have been done and what reports/findings are available to view. Out of office hours: Numerous officers have commented on the communication failings and areas of weakness but no point in me advising who and what they said and when as this will be picked up I’m sure elsewhere. Programme to secure sites: If it is to install trip fences and bollards, they clearly do not work as we have said in our petition and we have plenty of photographic evidence to back it up. They are easily broken and driven over and they are poorly maintained and often not repaired. I note the taller bollards that have been installed on land in Friar Park which has yet to go the full length of the field as it looks like a gas pipe has been identified. Update 021216 – mounds of earth have been put on the remainder. What a pity that trees have not been planted! What say has this local community had in determining the “types” of deterrent to be used? Have SMBC looked to work in partnership with communities to secure external funding to look at opportunities for innovative, creative, long term and sustainable solutions? Protocols, Procedures, Consultation and Communication: I’m pleased that SMBC has conducted one consultation on this matter and I look forward to viewing ALL responses and results when this is in the public domain. There have been clear communication failures across all parties and especially communication with and engagement with the community. My own Ward Cllrs and Constituency MP have failed to respond to our requests and it is felt that we are being ignored and there are attempts to usurp our petition and our efforts to try and represent the 1300+ signatories of the petition. This has to change and improve considerably. It is good to see that the Chief Executive of Solihull Council is looking at how encampments are managed across the region and to see that further work is being undertaken to develop a single joint protocol between the Police and various authorities. I look forward to a full “Public” consultation prior to implementation. Our petition has clearly driven many matters to the fore and certainly engaged a wider audience who have endured and experienced encampments. I look forward to a clear framework, clear and concise communication channels and procedures to improve matters for all.