Minutes of Area Panel 24 May 2007

 

 

 

            PRESENT:    Councillors Ibrar Hussain (Chair) and Steve Jones.

           

            Representatives of Panel Partners:-

            Insp. Jon Ekwubiri         ) 

            Sgt. Jo Reynolds            )          South Yorkshire Police

 

            Vernon Collymore          )

            Zain Abdullah                )          Sheffield Futures

 

            Amanda Boughton-Brown -  Sure Start

            Alex Cordock -   Sheffield Homes

                                   

            City Council Officers:-                      

            Andy Shallice -  Area Co-ordinator

            David Shepherd - Lead Manager

            Marilyn King   -  Area Action Officer

            Amie Rowland -  Parks and Countryside

           

            Chris Birks                    )

            Tony Lawery                )          Development Services

            Imran Ali  - Activity Sheffield

            Amanda James - Neighbourhoods and Community Care Directorate

            Sara Bradley -  Street Force

            John Turner - Committee Secretariat

                                   

            There were approximately 45 local residents and representatives from local community groups in attendance.

           

……………..

                       

1.         APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE FROM MEMBERS OF THE PANEL                              Action

                        An apology for absence was received from Councillor Jackie Drayton.           

                       

2.         MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETINGS     

                        The minutes of meetings of the Area Panel held on 3rd October, 2006, and 22nd February, 2007, were approved as correct records. 

                       

3.         IMPROVEMENTS FOR BURNGREAVE'S PARKS AND OPEN SPACES – UPDATE       

                        Amie Rowland submitted a report and gave a presentation on the planned improvements for Burngreave's parks and open spaces, which included Burngreave Recreation Ground, Abbeyfield Park, Devon Gardens, Parkwood Springs, Nottingham Street Recreation Ground and the Burngreave Heritage Project.          

                        Members of the public raised questions and made comments, and the following responses were provided:-        

                       

            ·           Subject to funding and staff resources, the Council would look to develop plans similar to those for Burngreave Recreation Ground, at a suitable location in the Carwood area.         

            ·           Whilst there was a small group of interested local residents who were working to develop the plans for Burngreave Recreation Ground with the Council, it was hoped that a Friends Group could be formally established, which in turn, would assist in attracting further funding.   

            ·           Funding has been secured from the Cricket Board of England and Wales to develop a cricket specific facility on the old tennis courts in Abbeyfield Park.  This is in response to an identified need and demand for cricket provision in the area.  

            ·           Whilst there was no requirement from the English Cricket Board for the installation of floodlighting as part of the proposals to develop a cricket specific multi-use games area in Abbeyfield Park, cables may be laid as part of the works, which would enable floodlighting to be installed at a later date. Any proposals to install floodlighting would have to be discussed with those local residents living near the park.  There would also be a need to install some form of screening at the borders of the park where the games area was to the sited.          

            ·           There had been no mention of any plans to develop the open space on Catherine Street as officers were awaiting the completion of the adjacent housing renewal programme and at such time, it was hoped that the Council could enter into a Section 106 Agreement with regard to developing the open space.  Local residents will be consulted on how they would like to see the open space developed.

            ·           The problems of hyperdermic needles and fly-tipping on Nottingham Street Recreation Ground would be referred to Environmental Health and Regulatory Services and Street Force, respectively.          

            ·           The Sheffield Wildlife Trust have developed option plans which suggest alternative plans for improving the open space at Ellesmere Park, near Earldom Street, but no real progress had been made. It was hoped that officers in Parks and Countryside would be able to re-visit plans for developing this open space and move the project forward as soon as staff capacity increases.       

                       

                        The Area Panel (a) noted the contents of the report now submitted, together with the information now reported and the responses given to the questions and comments; and      

                        (b) requested that (i) arrangements be made, at the request of the Parkwood Springs Steering Group, for a site visit, comprising local  Councillors and relevant Council Officers, to Parkwood Springs, to discuss the proposals contained in the Masterplan and (ii) Amie Rowland attend a meeting of the Area Panel in six months' time to provide a further update on the proposed improvements to Burngreave's parks and open spaces.

                       

4.         OSGATHORPE PARK PAVILION 

                        Andy Shallice submitted a report containing background information regarding the position on Osgathorpe Park Pavilion, details of a question from the Area Co-ordinator to Street Worx, a statement from Amie Rowland, an edited statement from the Friends of Osgathorpe Park (FoOP) and a statement from the Fir Vale Youth Project to the former Lord Mayor (Councillor Jackie Drayton), relating to proposals for the future of the pavilion.

                        The Area Co-ordinator reported that the Council's Landscape Architects had been requested to draw up plans as part of the proposed improvements to Osgathorpe Park, and as part of this process, they had raised the question about the future of the pavilion on the basis that it has a major impact on the future design of this area.  It was decided that, on the basis that the pavilion was predominantly used by young people, to refer the issue to the Burngreave Youth Council, for consideration at its meeting on 1st May, 2007.           

                        Amie Rowland reported on the proposed improvements for Osgathorpe Park, which included the provision of improved facilities for cricket and other sports, a climbing boulder, terraced seating and possibly, an item of challenging play equipment for teenagers.  In response to a question on when the decision had been taken regarding the pavilion, Ms. Rowland stated that Parks and Countryside had started looking at how improvements could be made to Osgathorpe Park in December, 2006, and the issue of demolition had come to light following comments made by the Landscape Architects who had been requested to draw up a proposed scheme in respect of the development of the Park.  She stressed that there had never been a decision made to demolish the pavilion, but that its future was a necessary discussion to have, in light of the improvements that will hopefully be made to this area.       

                        The Area Panel received representations in favour of retaining the pavilion from the Fir Vale Youth Project and the Burngreave Youth Council.  As well as putting forward their views on how important the pavilion was in terms of providing a valuable amenity to young people in the area, both groups stated that they objected strongly to the comments raised by the FoOP.  The Fir Vale Youth Project showed a short film highlighting the various activities that took place in the pavilion, and which also showed that the pavilion was in a good structural condition and the Burngreave Youth Council circulated a paper containing their views on why they considered that the pavilion should remain open, and also responding to the comments made by FoOP.

                        The Area Panel also received representations from Zain Abdulla, Sheffield Futures, who stressed the need for everyone to work together to make the best use of the resources in the area.  Local residents and users of the pavilion indicated that several young people in the area went to the Youth Club at the pavilion, and considered that money should be spent on improving the facility.  A representative from Sheffield Futures stated that from his experience of working in the area, he did not believe that issues regarding anti-social behaviour in and around the pavilion was any worse than in any other area of the City.  Inspector Jon Ekwubiri added that apart from some evidence of drug dealing and the use of mini-motorbikes in Osgathorpe Park, the Police did not consider this area to be a problem.    

                        In response to a number of questions raised by the Burngreave Youth Council, it was reported that this issue had been raised at the last meeting of the Fir Vale Friday Forum on 4th May, 2007, and that despite being invited to attend this Area Panel meeting, no representatives of FoOP had attended.          

                        In addition to the issue regarding the pavilion, a local resident referred to the dangerous condition of the wall at the top entrance to Osgathorpe Park, on Gayton Road, which linked to a private property on this road, and which needed repairing as a matter of urgency.     

                        The Area Panel (a) noted the contents of the report of the Area Co-ordinator now submitted and the paper now circulated by the Burngreave Youth Council, together with all the comments and representations made in connection with the Osgathorpe Park Pavilion;         

                        (b) agreed with the comments now made by the Fir Vale Youth Project and the Burngreave Youth Project, together with the other representations made regarding the need to keep the pavilion in Osgathorpe Park open for use by all representatives of the local community; and      

                        (c) requested that (i) detailed consultation be undertaken with all local residents and interested groups regarding future development plans for Osgathorpe Park and (ii) consideration be given, as part of the development proposals, for the installation of improved lighting and CCTV in the Park.  

                       

5.         PLANS FOR ELLESMERE GREEN        

                        Chris Birks submitted a report and gave a presentation on the latest position regarding the plans for Ellesmere Green, exhibiting revised plans following a further round of consultation with members of the public, local traders and other interested parties.      

                        Mr. Birks reported that following a presentation on the proposals for Ellesmere Green at the Area Panel's meeting held on 22nd February, 2007, further consultation had been held and a number of issues raised, relating specifically to the removal of the public toilets, traffic circulation, servicing arrangements for shops and businesses and parking.  He reported on the revised proposals for each of these elements of the scheme.       

                        Members of the public raised questions and made comments, and the following responses were provided:-        

                       

            ·           Bus stops would be relocated at Gower Street.   

            ·           It was appreciated that the nearest bus stop from the Post Office was situated some distance away.  However, in order to allay potential safety fears from older persons visiting the Post Office, there were plans to improve the CCTV in the area.    

            ·           The initial plans were for the markets to operate once a week, preferably on a Friday, with a view to this increasing to twice weekly, subject to demand.  There were also plans to have a specialist market once a month.  It was proposed that existing traders would staff the stalls initially, then other traders would be encouraged to staff stalls.   

            ·           The plans to remove the existing public toilets had raised a number of concerns, but following consideration of the proposals regarding toilet facilities, it was recommended that, on balance, the replacement of the toilets with facilities in Sorby House would be the best option.     

            ·           The issue of providing a number of free parking spaces had been discussed, but such provision would be difficult to enforce and as such, it had been decided that providing a mix of new pay and display parking spaces and short-stay parking on-street would be the best option.  It had also been accepted that the free parking provided at the new Tesco Store could be an issue.        

            ·           Regarding the potential closure of Carlisle Street, as part of the Tesco development, Tesco had commissioned consultants to carry out a traffic management survey in respect of the surrounding area.  The results had indicated that the closure of Carlisle Street would be the most suitable course of action.   

                       

                        Councillor Steve Jones stated that the proposals so far for Ellesmere Green, as now reported, formed a good basis for future plans for the area, and that the Spital Hill Project Group would continue to look into the particular areas of concern, regarding traffic and toilet facilities.         

                        The Area Panel (a) noted the contents of the report now submitted, together with the information now reported, including the responses to the questions and comments;  

                        (b) approved the revised plans now exhibited, as the basis for applying for planning permission, to include the provision of further car parking at Spital Street; and           

                        (c) referred the issues regarding traffic circulation and toilet facilities to the Spital Hill Project Group for further discussion.           

                       

                        At this stage in the proceedings, Councillor Steve Jones left the meeting, and the meeting was declared inquorate.