Councillor Neghat Khan, Leader of Nottingham City Council, has today launched the new Respect for Nottingham Board, bringing together key partners to tackle issues affecting the city centre and improve the experience for residents, businesses and visitors.
The Board has been established to provide clear leadership, oversight and accountability for a coordinated, multi-agency approach to addressing crime, anti-social behaviour and environmental issues across Nottingham. It will focus on delivering visible improvements to the city centre, including tackling anti-social behaviour, begging, rough sleeping, environmental issues, litter, graffiti and fly-tipping, while improving public confidence in the city environment.
Unlike traditional partnership meetings, the Respect for Nottingham Board will conduct its work on the streets of the city centre. Members will meet monthly and undertake walkabouts informed by data and local intelligence, enabling partners to identify issues first-hand and coordinate swift action where it is needed most.
Led by Councillor Neghat Khan, Leader of Nottingham City Council, the Board includes senior representatives from the council, Nottinghamshire Police, community safety and enforcement services, and voluntary and community organisations.
The first walkabout took place in Hockley today, giving partners an opportunity to see issues first-hand, speak to local businesses and agree actions to improve the area. Progress against these actions will be monitored and communicated as part of the campaign.
Councillor Neghat Khan, Leader of Nottingham City Council, said: “People rightly expect Nottingham to be safe, clean and welcoming. That is what the first phase is about, safe and clean – and once we’ve raised the standards, we want to keep them there. The Respect for Nottingham Board is about bringing partners together, getting out into our communities and taking coordinated action on the issues affecting residents, businesses and visitors.
“Our first walkabout in Hockley allowed us to hear directly from local businesses, see the issues affecting the area and agree what needs to happen next. We will continue these walkabouts in different parts of the city and make sure the actions identified are followed through.
“We will take a firm approach to tackling anti-social behaviour and environmental crime, while also ensuring that people who need support can access it. This is about restoring respect and civic pride for Nottingham, improving the experience of everyone who spends time in our city centre and demonstrating that Nottingham will not tolerate behaviour that makes life harder for others.
“Over the past year, Nottingham City Council has invested an additional £25 million in frontline services, including enhanced street cleaning, free bulky waste collections, community support and neighbourhood improvements, helping to deliver cleaner, safer and more attractive communities across the city.”
“This is only the beginning. Making Nottingham safer, cleaner and more welcoming is one of my key priorities as Leader, and I am determined that residents, businesses and visitors see tangible improvements in the months ahead.”
The campaign builds on work already taking place across Nottingham, including the new city centre Public Spaces Protection Order, multi-agency Days of Action, Operation Reclaim and further investment in neighbourhood safety.
Regular updates will show what action has been taken, the results being achieved and how residents and businesses can report concerns and help shape future priorities.
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