Monutes of Broomhill Central Nether Edge Area Panel 7 April 2005

BROOMHILL, CENTRAL AND NETHER EDGE AREA PANEL


Meeting held 7th April, 2005, at St. Mary’s Community Centre, Bramall Lane


PRESENT:		Councillors Ali Qadar (Chair), Shaffaq Mohammed and Pat White.

		Also in attendance:-

		Dave Whitfield	-	Area Co-ordinator

		Richard Fowler	-	Activity Sheffield

		Ben Benest	-	Development Services

		Gary Collingwood	-	Community Safety Team

		Joanne Rutter	-	South West Primary Care Trust

		Marie May	-	Sheffield Hallam University

		Vernon Colleymore Phillip Ives - Owen	) )	Sheffield Futures

		Bev Nunn	-	Sharrow Community Forum

		Lindsay Taylor Auld	-	Sharrow Parents Action for Kids (SPARK)

		Don Lennox	-	Sharrow Citizen’s Advice Bureau

		Diane Tottle	-	Sheffield Black and Ethnic Environmental Network (SHEBEEN)

		John Turner	-	Committee Secretariat

		There were also approximately 25 local residents and representatives of local community organisations in attendance.

		………….


1.	APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE FROM MEMBERS OF THE PANEL
	Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Jillian Creasy, Jean Cromar, Andrew Sangar, Paul Scriven and Andrew White.



2.	A YOUTH STRATEGY FOR THE AREA
	Sharrow Youth Strategy Group
	Lindsay Taylor Auld and Bev Nunn gave a presentation on the establishment and work of the Sharrow Youth Strategy Group. Lindsay Taylor Auld reported the Sharrow Community Forum and Sharrow Parents Action for Kids (SPARK) had looked at how youth service provision in the area could be improved, particularly in light of the recent arson attacks on Highfield Playground, the Stables and play facilities at local schools. Bev Nunn reported that the first course of action involved a crisis meeting at Highfield Adventure Playground in September, 2004, to which representatives from various community groups and stakeholders in the area attended. A decision was made at the meeting to produce an area-wide youth strategy, with an emphasis on involving young people throughout. An outcome of the meeting was the establishment of the Sharrow Youth Strategy Group, which comprised representatives from local community groups and stakeholders, which includeda number of young people from Sharrow, Nether Edge and Broomhall. One of the first things the Group had identified was the apparent lack of consultation between the different providers of youth services in the area, therefore an exercise was undertaken to look at how such consultation could be improved. As part of this work, which included a number of themed meetings, the Group identified a number of key themes and issues and looked at how a strategy, including these key themes, could be formulated.
	Workshop meetings were held on a monthly basis to discuss the key themes, and in February 2005, funding was received from the Area Panel towards the production of a Youth Strategy. A meeting was to be held next week to discuss the best method of formulating the strategy.
	Ms Taylor Auld reported on the need to involve young people in the drafting of the strategy, indicating that young people not only needed to inform the strategy, but also assist in drafting it. In January 2005, a Youth Development Worker had been employed to work with young people in the Sharrow and Broomhall areas, with the aim of seeking their views with regard to youth provision, which could be included as part of the strategy. The Group had also started planning for the Youth Festival which was to be held in June 2005. Following this, the Group would be taking part in a Youth Residential, which had been organised as a team building exercise, and would give the young people an opportunity to relax and celebrate the work undertaken in connection with the strategy. A peer consultation event had also been arranged, at which the young people involved would talk to other young people in the area on the strategy.
	Ms Nunn concluded by referring to the achievements made in connection with the Youth Strategy Group, which included improved partnership working, increased and improved communication between the various youth providers in the area, a wider understanding of area provision, the identification of gaps in youth provision and an improvement in the co-ordination of provision of services.



	Sheffield Futures
	The Area Panel considered a paper submitted by Sheffield Futures containing details of the youth work being undertaken in the area. The paper made specific reference to the youth clubs at the Broomhall Centre in Broomhill and the Everyone Centre, The Stables and The Hub in Sharrow. The paper also included details of the project work being undertaken by Sheffield Futures, which included working with young women, and the Positive Activities for Young People programme, and contained the programme and routes in respect of the Camper Van for the period April to October 2005.
	Vernon Colleymore reported that over the next three weeks, Sheffield Futures would be working on their draft Annual Delivery Plan, which would contain details of the work they planned to undertake in connection with youth provision in the area throughout the forthcoming year. He added that it was also the aim of Sheffield Futures to meet with various partner organisations in the area as a means of consulting on the Delivery Plan, and to be more accountable to stakeholders in terms of the services they provided. This would include the submission of regular reports on progress of work undertaken to Area Panel meetings and invitations to local Councillors to visit some of the activities arranged.
	Members of the public questioned what plans Sheffield Futures had in respect of youth provision in Nether Edge on the basis that there was a lack of such provision at the present time
	In response to such concerns, Phillip Ives-Owen reported that Sheffield Futures accepted that there was a need for youth provision in Nether Edge and that officers would be looking on how this need could be met. He referred to the route of the Camper Van, indicating that it visited locations in Nether Edge as part of the route. Sheffield Futures aimed to install a hotline, to enable residents to ring and let them know where youth provision was required. It was also reported that Sheffield Futures would be organising activities at the Everyone Centre in Sharrow for two nights per week, and there were plans to provide some form of youth provision at the Centre on Sundays during the Summer. Local residents suggested that it would be useful if Sheffield Futures undertook outreach work and looked at the possibility of utilising the community facilities in the area, such as St. Andrew’s Church Hall and the former St. Peter’s Church Hall. It was also suggested that it may be useful if they could draft an article highlighting it’s work and containing contact telephone numbers, for inclusion in the Nether Edge News, which was distributed to approximately 800 households in the Nether Edge area.
	RESOLVED: That (a) the information now reported and the comments now made in respect of both the work of the Youth Strategy Group and Sheffield Futures, be noted; and
	(b) Bev Nunn, Lindsay Taylor Auld, Vernon Colleymore and Phillip Ives-Owen, be thanked for the presentations now made, and for the work being undertaken to improve youth provision in the area.

3.	SHARROW CITIZENS’ ADVICE BUREAU
	Don Lennox and Frances Potter reported on the work of the Sharrow Citizens’ Advice Bureau, referring to the information sheet circulated at the meeting which contained a number of key facts and features with regard to the Bureau, details of a number of key current issues and information on how the Bureau was funded, together with a number of key challenges for the Bureau for the future.
	Don Lennox reported that the Bureau, which had been established in the area for 30 years, and served the residents of Sharrow, Nether Edge, Broomhall and surrounding areas, provided impartial advice and assistance to residents on a number of matters, including housing and Council tax benefits, debt and bankruptcy and immigration. The Bureau was one of a few agencies across the City which provided specialist housing advice, including representation at Appeal Tribunals and County Court. As well as providing advice, staff also aimed to give vulnerable people confidence to enable them to deal with problems in the future.
	Mr Lennox made reference to the staff at the Bureau, indicating that there were 14 paid staff, of which the majority worked part-time, and 29 volunteers. The volunteers were drawn from local communities and were trained by the paid staff. Mr Lennox paid tribute to the valuable work undertaken by the volunteers in what, was sometimes a very stressful job. He also expressed his appreciation to the City Council for the funding provided to the Bureau to enable its continued operation.
	Mr Lennox concluded by stating that the Bureau was working in partnership with Sharrow Sure Start, and had representatives from a number of local community groups and organisations on its Management Board.
	Frances Potter reported that staff at the Bureau continued to concentrate on casework and make the services accessible to all residents. Residents could access the service on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, between 10.00 am and 3.00 pm or make appointments to meet with staff during these times. Home visits were made to housebound residents and outreach sessions were held at the Hanover Medical Centre, Porterbrook Medical Centre, Chinese Community Centre and Roshni Asian Women’s Resource Centre. The Bureau also had a number of paid staff and volunteers who spoke a number of different languages.
	The following questions were asked and responses given:-

	Q. What opportunities did the Bureau have for providing feedback to the Council in connection with the provision of Council services, following comments received from residents? Could the Council look at ways of improving service delivery, based on the information received?

	R. The Council had given the Bureau an opportunity to provide feedback on Council service provision based on comments from local residents in that Frances Potter had been invited to attend the Council’s Neighbourhoods Scrutiny Board to take part in a discussion on affordable housing. The Board looked at a model on how the level of affordable housing could be increased in the City, but no reference had been made to the lettings policy review which highlighted a serious shortage of social rented accommodation.

	Q. Had the Bureau been involved in any liaison on the Supporting People Sheffield Programme?

	R. Whilst the Bureau had received a number of referrals in respect of the Supporting People Programme, staff had not formally been invited to be involved in the Programme.

	Q. There was a lack of affordable housing in the area. There should be some form of requirement on housing developers to provide a certain amount of affordable housing as part of their developments. There had been a number of major housing developments in the area, often bringing in huge profits for developers. Could the Council request the developers, or impose some form of condition on them, as part of the planning permission, to provide a certain amount of affordable housing as part of their developments?

	R. If a housing development comprised 40 or more properties, there was a requirement on the developer to provide an element of affordable housing. In the case of Nether Edge, the majority of the recent housing developments comprised less than 40 dwellings.

	Q. In the light of the huge demand for social housing, how can the Council justify wholesale demolition of Council properties in some areas of the City.

	R. This was taken as a formal question to the Panel and an answer would be sought from appropriate officers.

	Q. Do the volunteers at the Bureau receive any training?

	R. All volunteers went on an approved training course and were required to give a commitment to work a minimum of one and a half days a week. The Bureau had independent quality checks on the standards of advice it provided, and the volunteers were included in these checks. The volunteers received very good management support and supervision.

	The following comments were also made:-

	C. There was a lack of three and four-bedroomed social properties across the City.

	C. In the light of the demand for three and four-bedroomed properties, housing developers should be made to set aside a small percentage of affordable housing as part of their developments.

	C. The Bureau was providing advice to residents on the policy with regard to choice-based lettings on a day-to-day basis.

	RESOLVED: That (a) the information now reported, together with the comments now made and the responses given to the questions, be noted;
	(b) the thanks of the Area Panel be conveyed to Don Lennox and Frances Potter for the presentations now made, and to the staff of the Bureau for the excellent work being undertaken in providing independent and impartial advice to local residents in the Sharrow, Nether Edge, Broomhall and surrounding areas; and
	(c) in the light of the concerns expressed with regard to the lack of affordable housing in the Panel’s area, (i) the Executive Directors, Development, Environment and Leisure and Neighbourhoods, be made aware of such concerns and (ii) the Area Co-ordinator be requested to obtain a report on the Council’s Lettings policy from the Head of Housing Strategy, for submission and consideration at a future Area Panel briefing meeting.

5.	STAVELEY ROAD COMMUNITY GARDEN
	Diana Tottle, Sheffield Black and Ethnic Environmental Network (SHEBEEN) and Charlie Armitage, local resident/volunteer, provided an update on the position with regard to the Staveley Road Community Garden. Ms. Tottle reported that representatives of SHEBEEN had visited the Asian Welfare Association, situated opposite the community garden, and had visited a number of local residents, asking how they would like to see the garden refurbished and developed, and seeking volunteers to help with any works required. A very positive response had been received and following this, during last year, SHEBEEN, in conjunction with local residents, organised a number of activities in the garden, which included litter picking, shrub clearing and a family fun day. As interest grew, a group known as the Friends of the Staveley Road Community Garden was established, which comprised representatives from SHEBEEN and other local community groups and local residents.
	Charlie Armitage reported that following consultation with local residents, a number of key issues had been identified. These included the need for the provision of a dog waste bin, the provision of a notice board, containing general information on the community garden, and information on future plans and events, the need for improved lighting in and around the garden area, and as a longer-term measure, the implementation of traffic calming measures in the area. It had been planned that further fun days and activities would be arranged, and that further plants and shrubs would be planted in the garden. There were also plans to incorporate some form of artwork, which had been designed by local children, in the garden. Ms. Armitage concluded by making a request for additional volunteers to help with the planned work.
	Members of the public, who were all in favour of the plans, stressed that it was important that dogs were kept off the site for health reasons and were of the view that there was a need for improved lighting on and around the garden area. One resident suggested that the Friends group should contact the Living Streets Initiative, which provided advice on future plans for the garden. Another resident indicated that as the area of land was situated near the new Mosque on Wolseley Road, the Friends group should contact the elders at the Mosque to see how they could become involved. Efforts should be made by the Council to look at increasing its maintenance budget in respect of this and other small open green spaces in the Panel’s area. It was also suggested that the Area Panel should look at providing funding for the development and future maintenance of this open space.
	The Area Co-ordinator reported that Section 106 funding amounting to just under £10,000 had been identified in connection with the proposed housing development at the junction of Staveley Road and Chippinghouse Road, and that further such funding could be available as there were proposals for a further housing development scheme in the area.
	Jillian Missen reported that under the Living Spaces Initiative, there was a possibility of attaining approximately £25,000 towards the future development of the community garden, and that it was hoped that this funding would be available before the end of this year.
	RESOLVED: That (a) the information now reported, together with the comments now made noted; and
	(b) the thanks of the Area Panel be conveyed to Diana Tottle and Charlie Armitage for the presentation now made and the excellent work being undertaken by SHEBEEN and the local volunteers in connection with the development of the Staveley Road Community Garden.

6.	AREA CO-ORDINATOR’S REPORT
	The Panel received a report of the Area Co-ordinator containing (a) responses to questions that had not been answered at previous meetings of the Panel and (b) details of developments in the area, which included (i) a report on the Sharrow Project, which had been submitted to, and approved by the Cabinet at its meeting held on 24th March, 2005, (ii) the appointment of a new Greenspace Caretaker, as part of the City Centre Management Unit, who would be responsible for looking after and improving the environment of the Devonshire Green, Gell Street and Broomspring areas, (iii) an update on the Sheffield University Residences Strategy, including information on the amended planning application for the student village in Endcliffe, the University property disposals as part of the Strategy and the distribution of the wheelie bin stickers which had taken place during the week commencing 14th March, 2005, (iv) the document “An Investigation into the Potential for Community Based Action to Improve Transport in Sharrow”, which had been produced by GD Transport Consultants for the Sharrow Community Forum, (v) the launch of a programme by the South West Primary Care Trust to increase activity and consequently, a healthier lifestyle for residents in Sharrow and Nether Edge and (vi) the Annual General Meeting of the Black Drugs Project, which was to take place on Tuesday 12th April, 2005 at St. Mary’s Community Centre.
	The Area Co-ordinator also referred to the receipt of a number of letters from pupils at Sharrow Junior School, complaining about the poor state of Mount Pleasant Park and other green, open spaces in the area and referring specifically to the amount of dog waste.
	Arising from the responses to the questions asked at previous meetings of the Panel, and the consequent discussions thereon, the following comments were made by members of the public:-

	§ The total of reported 44 traffic accidents, involving both vehicles and pedestrians, on Summerfield Street, was a high figure, particularly in the light of the fact that the figures recorded by the Council only included those accidents to which an emergency vehicle was called. This high number showed that there was an urgent need for the implementation of a pedestrian crossing on this road.

	§ A Planning officer at a meeting of the City Centre and East Planning and Highways Area Board at its meeting held on 7th March 2005, had confirmed that the Council had received a sum of money following the housing development on the site of the former Ward’s Brewery towards the implementation of road safety measures in the Cemetery Road/Summerfield Street/Napier Street area, and residents needed to know when this money was to be used towards such improvements.

	§ On the basis that the Council had very little funding in respect of the implementation of pedestrian crossings, more action was required to attempt to reduce the levels of traffic on the roads in Nether Edge. The side roads in Nether Edge were becoming increasingly dangerous due to rat-running. There was a need for discussions between all the relevant groups and organisations as to how such levels could be reduced.

	§ The problems of car parking in the Wostenholme Road/Cemetery Road/Summerfield Street area were getting worse. More efforts were needed to make people use public transport instead of using their cars.

	§ Despite promises made at a previous Area Panel meeting that bus services in the area would not be withdrawn, First South Yorkshire had announced that it would be withdrawing No. 22 service after 9pm. This would make it difficult for everyone, particularly the disabled, wishing to travel to and from Nether Edge.

	§ The Environment Agency had written to the Council, objecting to the development of the bridge over the River Porter, on a number of grounds, including the loss of habitat and trees and the effect on the channelling ability of the river. It was important that the developer took these comments into consideration, and, if necessary, for the Council to impose such conditions if required.

	In response to the above comments, it was reported that with regard to the No. 22 bus service, the service was not being withdrawn, but reduced on the basis that First South Yorkshire would only be operating an hourly service after 9pm.
	With regard to the construction of the bridge over the River Porter, it was reported that there would be no need for the developer to remove any trees from the site and that the plans in respect of the proposed bridge over the river would be discussed with all affected parties. Further, a member of the public indicated that the question in connection with this issue at the Panel meeting on 3rd February, 2005, had been raised by the Classical Porter Valley Trust.
	RESOLVED: That (a) the contents of the report now submitted, together with the comments now made, be noted; (b) the Area Co-ordinator be requested to draft a letter, to be signed by the Chair, to be sent to the pupils of Sharrow Junior School, containing a general response to their concerns, together with details of the proposed improvements to Mount Pleasant Park.

7.	MINUTES OF LAST MEETING
	The minutes of the meeting of the Area Panel held on 3rd March, 2005, were approved as a correct record, with the exception of the list of people in attendance, which was amended by the deletion of the name Frances Cunning – Sheffield South West Primary Care Trust from the list, and arising therefrom, the Area Co-ordinator reported that he had received a letter from the South West Primary Care Trust in connection with the closure of Dr. Alam’s surgery, the contents of which would be reported in detail at the next meeting.
	A member of the public referred to the development on the site of the former Ward’s Brewery, Ecclesall Road, which would be constructed over a stretch of the River Porter, commenting that as requested, the Area Panel’s objections were reported at the meeting of the City Centre and East Planning and Highways Area Board on 7th March, 2005, when the planning application had been determined, and that the application was granted following a show of hands by Councillors, indicating that six out of the eleven Councillors present were in favour.

8.	PUBLIC QUESTIONS AND PETITIONS
	The following questions were asked and responses given:-

	Q. Would it be possible for Councillors to speak to residents on Gatefield Road in connection with the proposed development of 31 apartments on the site of the former Gatefield Social Club. A recent survey undertaken by residents had indicated that all of the residents in the area were against the proposals, which, they believed would add to the traffic and car parking problems that already existed in the area.

	R. Members would be informed of this request.

	Q. Had there been any progress with regard to the proposed development of the open green space on Montague Street, next to the General Cemetery?

	R. A design brief had been drafted and officers were liaising with the Cemetery Road Action Group (CRAG), in connection with the proposals. Section 106 funding had been identified and an update report on the proposals would be submitted to the next Area Panel meeting.

	Q. During a presentation by Planning officers at a previous Area Panel meeting, on the proposed student housing development on the site of the former Dixons Dealership on London Road, it was reported that there would be a total of 800 flats. It had now been reported that there were to be 1,200 flats. Why was there discrepancy in the numbers?

	R. The presentation made at the Area Panel meeting was in respect of the second application for planning permission in respect of development on the site which comprised 800 flats. There had already been an application for development on a different part of the site, for 400 flats, making a total of 1,200.

9.	OUTSTANDING REPORTS
	The Panel noted that there were no outstanding reports required for submission to future meetings.

10.	DATE AND VENUE OF NEXT MEETING
	The Panel noted that due to the recent announcement of the General Election on 5th May 2005, the Area Panel’s meeting, which was due to be held on that day, had now been cancelled and that the next meeting would be held on Thursday 2nd June, 2005, from 7.00 pm to 9.00 pm, at the Salvation Army Citadel, Psalter Lane.

	(NOTE: Item 3 on the agenda – South Sheffield Partnership – Roles and Relationships, was withdrawn from consideration by the Panel on the grounds that Hannah Stevens was ill and not able to attend the meeting).

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