The document is driven by challenging targets divided in to four key themes, reflecting the Local Area Agreement ‘blocks’. They are:

• Safer and Stronger Communities
• Children and Young People
• Healthier Communities and Older People
• Enterprise and Economic Development

The Community Plan may be viewed on the Birmingham City Council's web site www.birmingham.gov.uk. Type 'Community Plan' into search box, then click on Sutton Coldfield Local Strategic Partnership.  Alternatively, <<click here>> to be directed to the LSP's web page.

Background

The Sutton Coldfield Safer, Stronger Communities Local Delivery Group has been operational since December 2004. There is representation on the group from the following agencies:

• West Midlands Police
• West Midlands Fire Service
• Birmingham City Council (Sutton Coldfield Constituency)
• Youth Services
• Environmental Services
• Housing
• Sutton Coldfield Area Neighbourhood Forums
• Local Business Community
• An Elected Member

The priorities of the group derive from the Sutton Coldfield Constituency Community Plan 2006 – 10 and Birmingham’s Community Safety Strategy 2005 - 08. They are as follows:

• Reduce crime by 20% (burglary, robbery, theft, vehicle crime and assault)
• Reduce fear of crime and arson
• Reduce Arson
• Increase community participation
• Improve the environment by making it cleaner, greener and safer
• Enhance quality of life

What’s happening now?

• There is an ongoing football project in Banners Gate. A side has been formed and they are participating in Sunday league football. The football project has helped to reduce crime in the area and divert youths into worthwhile activities. Paul Madders who formed and manages the team was recently won prestigious Neighbourhood Watch awards
• A dedicated office is being set up in Sutton Coldfield Police Station. This office will be used jointly by Neighbourhood Forum & Watch representatives. This will no doubt help to increase partnership working and help to reduce crime and reassure people
• Five Neighbourhood Management Tasking Groups have been set up within the constituency in order to address local issues. These could be such issues as anti social behaviour, graffiti and general nuisances. There are representatives from the community, Birmingham City Council, West Midlands Police and West Midlands Fire service within each of these groups
• Sergeant Paul Ditta has been seconded to work alongside Lewis O’Rourke (Community Safety Coordinator). Sergeant Ditta will be bringing his vast experience of working with various community groups in order to reduce crime and reassure people in the Sutton Coldfield constituency. This will no doubt be of great benefit to the constituency

Interventions supporting our key Priorities

A wide range of interventions have been agreed and funded by the group. These include the following:

• Taxi Marshals – these are helping to ensure that late night revellers are using licensed taxis and arriving home safely. They also help to prevent disorder by managing to quickly help revellers disperse from the town centre. The marshals helped to reduce disorder by 94% over the Christmas and New Year periods in 2005
• CCTV in Sutton Park. This will help reassure park users and help to drive down crime and the fear of crime
• Drugs operations throughout the constituency. High visibility operations will take place throughout the year in order to apprehend and prosecute any offenders. It will also send out a strong message that drug use will not be tolerated
• Test purchase operations will take place in order to ensure that licensees are not selling alcohol to underage drinkers. Any being found to do so will be prosecuted

Further information may be obtained about the work of Sutton Coldfield Safer Stronger Communities Local Delivery Group by contacting Lewis O’Rourke, the Constituency Community Safety Coordinator on 0121 464 7575 or via e-mail at lewis.orourke@birmingham.gov.uk

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