Minutes of Area Panel 4 October 2007

BURNGREAVE AREA PANEL

 

 

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

                                                                    

Representatives of Panel Partners:-

Jo Reynolds                                                )

Lynsey Cutler                                              )                             South Yorkshire Police

 

Adele Preece                                             -                                              Age Concern

 

Wendy Barlow                                            )

Simon Senior                                             )                                        Sheffield Homes

 

Annabel Kennedy                                      -                              Sheffield Wildlife Trust

                                                                                                                                               

City Council Officers:-                                                                                                    

Andy Shallice                                             -                                     Area Co-ordinator

Marilyn King                                                -                                    Area Action Officer

Sara Bradley                                              -                                               Street Force

Nick Silvani                                                 -                             Development Services

John Gilpin                                                  -                             Parks and Countryside

Amanda James                                         -         East Sheffield Regeneration Team

John Turner                                                 -                             Committee Secretariat

                                                                                                                                               

Also in attendance:-                                                                                                       

Mo McManus                                              -                                                     Sustrans

                                                                                                                                               

There were approximately 25 local residents and representatives from local community groups in attendance.

……………..

                                                                                                                                Action

1.        APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE FROM MEMBERS OF THE PANEL          

No apologies for absence were received.                                                                  

                                                                                                                                          

2.     SHEFFIELD HOMES – AREA UPDATE                                                           

The Area Panel received a presentation from Wendy Barlow on the work undertaken by Sheffield Homes in connection with the management of Council properties in the east area of the City.  She reported on the high demand for properties in the area, a review of its services, details of the services provided and proposals for the future.                                                    

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

                                                                                                                                          

· Sheffield Homes were looking at the provision of alternative rent payment options following the recent changes whereby tenants no longer had the option of paying at their local Area Housing Office.         

· Whilst there had been a reduction in the number of Council properties, this did not mean that there was a surplus of staff within Sheffield Homes.  Every effort was being made to ensure that there was the correct number of staff in each service to allow them to operate efficiently.                         

· Wendy Barlow would report back to the Firshill TARA, following discussions with Sheffield Homes’ Consolidated Debt Recovery Manager, providing details of the numbers of tenants who had asked for their rent to be paid through Standing Order.         

· In terms of the measurement of Sheffield Homes’ sustainability index, a reduction in the number of properties could be viewed as bad on one hand, as it reduced the level of the Council’s stock, making rehousing even more difficult, and good on the other hand, as it proved how desirable the properties and estates were.    

                                                                                                                                          

Simon Senior, Project Manager, East Investment Team, reported on Sheffield Homes’ Decent Homes Programme, indicating that when the company became an Arms Length Management Organisation (ALMO) in 2004, it received a substantial amount of funding to bring all Council properties up to the Government’s Decent Homes standard by the end of the 2010 financial year. The Programme included works to bathrooms and kitchens, and where necessary, installing double-glazing, new doors and central heating, and it was proposed that works would commence in the Burngreave area during the 2009/10 financial year.  An independent survey of tenants who had had works undertaken to date had revealed around a 90% satisfaction rate.  Mr. Senior concluded by stating that Sheffield Homes were in the process of drafting a priority list on what and where environmental works would be undertaken, which tenants would be consulted on.      

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

                                                                                                                                          

· There had been delays in the programme for the Burngreave area, and this was the reason why the works would not commence in the area until the 2009/10 financial year.  In the meantime, Sheffield Homes would make every possible effort to bring the programme back on schedule.  It was accepted that residents had been informed that the programme of works in the area would commence in April/May 2008, and Sheffield Homes would apologise to residents and confirm that the programme for the following year had not been agreed, but details would be available at the Decent Homes initiative.                                       

· There had never been a designated fund within the overall capital allocation under the programme specifically for undertaking environmental works.  The funding identified for such works was up to 5% of the total figure for the whole programme.                              

· A Decent Homes Exhibition had been arranged at the Vestry Hall on 7th November, 2007, where residents would be able to ask questions of Sheffield Homes staff and the designated contractors on all aspects of the Decent Homes Programme.  Efforts will be made to advertise the event as widely as possible.      

· Any efficiency savings made by Sheffield Homes would be diverted into a central budget and used as part of the overall aim to ensure that all Council properties in the City were brought up to a Decent Homes standard.                                                                    

· As part of the environmental works, Sheffield Homes would be looking at all green spaces in the area and part of such works would include the erection of fencing to stop rat running and improvements to lighting to improve safety.  Whilst grants for the carrying out of environmental improvements to residents’ gardens were only available for tenants over the age of 75, Sheffield Homes were looking to assist those residents who were unable to manage their own gardens.  They would also look into assisting residents with their gardens, with help from the local tenants’ and residents’ associations, where the loan of equipment may be available. There was also a Tree Planting Officer, funded by Sheffield Homes and based at Parks and Woodlands, who would be able to provide advice, or arrange for the planting of trees in gardens or green spaces in the area.      

· The East Area Local Board would make recommendations on the nature of the environmental works in the area, with the ALMO making the final decision.                                                          

                                                                                                                                          

The Area Panel also considered a report of the Area Co-ordinator focusing on the changing nature of Council housing in the Burngreave area, and containing statistical information regarding the sustainability index, vacancy rankings and demand for properties on estates in Burngreave, together with details of the total numbers of Council properties in the area.                                                                 

The Area Panel noted the information reported as part of the presentation, the contents of the report now submitted and the responses to the questions and comments.                                

                                                                                                                                          

3.      DIY STREETS PROJECT – FIRSHILL ROAD AND PASSHOUSES ROAD     

Mo McManus reported on the plans in respect of the proposed DIY Streets Project for Firshill Road and Passhouses Road, which was an innovative approach whereby Sustrans, a sustainable transport charity, would work with the local community with the aim of developing low-cost capital works that would make their streets safer and more attractive, whilst aiming to find simple interventions and materials which could be both effective and durable.                                               

Ms. McManus reported on the plans and timescales in respect of the project, which was one of only 10 pilots in the country, emphasising the important role of the local community.  In addition to the £20,000/£30,000 per street to be provided by Sustrans, residents’ groups would be encouraged to bid for other funding to implement additional measures.                                

In response to a question by a member of the public regarding whether the measures to be implemented as part of the project would help to reduce anti-social behaviour in the areas, Ms. McManus stated that whilst there were no guarantees that it would stop anti-social behaviour, such measures could help to reduce it.  Certain measures, such as breaking up a long street by building out the pavement, could assist in reducing traffic speeds, and there was evidence from other projects to support this.                      

The Area Panel (a) noted the information now reported, welcoming the initiative and requesting that its appreciation be forwarded to Sustrans for selecting Burngreave as a pilot area for the project; and            Area Co-ordinator

(b) thanked Mo McManus for attending the meeting.                                                 

                                                                                                                                          

4.                     MANAGEMENT OF CRABTREE POND – UPDATE                       

Annabel Kennedy reported on the work carried out by the Sheffield Wildlife Trust with regard to the management of Crabtree Pond over the past few years.                                          

Ms. Kennedy reported that there had been major problems with silt building up in the pond, which was not ideal for wildlife and which had resulted in the water becoming discoloured.  Using funding raised by the Local Reserve Advisory Group, the Trust had drained the pond and dredged out all the silt. The pond had been allowed to refill naturally and in order to encourage wildlife to the area, particularly to create a sanctuary for ducks and moorhens, an island had been created in the middle of the pond. Other works in the area had included the carrying out of general maintenance, such as improving the fencing and paths.  There were also a number of new signs and an information board in the area.                                      

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

                                                                                                                                          

· Whilst thinning works had been undertaken to open up the area around the main entrance, further works were planned which would hopefully make the area more visible.                                     

· In terms of a schedule of works, the Trust organised a maintenance day each week and undertook works to the urban reserves every two weeks.      

· Whilst Green City Action had undertaken some works to link the site in with the Burngreave Round Walk, the area was not way marked.                       

· The area had been designated as a local nature reserve, and both people and wildlife were encouraged to use the site.                                                

· The times when ducks visited the pond fluctuated.  The ducks were also deterred by dogs.            

· A Community Wildlife Ranger had been employed, with funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund, who organised visits for groups of children to the pond and undertook various nature-related activities.  Unfortunately, this funding had now expired and efforts were being made to bid for further funding. 

· Police Community Safety Officers visit the area on a daily basis and to date, had identified very few problems of anti-social behaviour.                           

                                                                                                                                          

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

(b) requested (i) that the necessary works be undertaken to make the area more visible in order to encourage more people to visit the site and to make it more safe and (ii) Annabel Kennedy to attend a meeting of the Area Panel in six months’ time to provide a further update on the management of the pond. Sheffield Wildlife Trust

                                                                                                                                          

5.     MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETINGS                                                               

The minutes of (a) the meeting of the Area Panel held on 19th July, 2007 and (b) the special meeting of the Area Panel held on 31st July, 2007 were approved as a correct record, with the exception of Item 10 – Proposed Extension to the Mosque on Osgathorpe Road in the minutes of the meeting on 19th July, 2007, which was amended by the addition of the words, as part of the comments from members of the public, “A number of people who had signed the petition in favour of the proposed extension did not live in the area, therefore little weight should be given to the petition”.                                                

                                                                                                                                          

6.     MANAGEMENT OF ROE WOODS – UPDATE                                                

John Gilpin provided an update on the management of Roe Woods, indicating that as part of a Heritage Lottery Fund Project over the last five years, a number of improvements had been made, including various security measures such as the erection of metal gates and A frames, and fencing to stop vehicles accessing the site.  Other works had included upgrading and resurfacing footpaths, woodland thinning and coppice works.  Whilst the HLF Project had ended in March, 2007, Parks and Countryside had a commitment towards the future management of the site, and had identified £3,000 per annum specifically for the maintenance of the site.  Following the security works, there had been very few problems regarding access to the site by motor bikes, and the main problems were now fly-tipping.  Recent works had included an assessment of the flood damage to bridges, culverts and paths and the clearance of litter, with a major clearance planned to the rear of the properties along Fairbank Avenue and Longley Avenue West.                          

Mr. Gilpin stated that the Council had commenced a Tree Risk Assessment across the City, and following an inspection of the trees in Roe Woods, works were to commence in the next two weeks.  In terms of publicity, Parks and Countryside had produced a new leaflet of Ranger events from October, 2007 to April, 2008, which contained details of more than 100 events organised by the Rangers, partners and local communities within Sheffield’s Parks and Green Spaces, and which was available in libraries, the Tourist Information Office and schools. Mr. Gilpin referred to the work undertaken with schools, which included the organisation of a number of school visits and events held in parks and green spaces.  He concluded by referring to the need to establish a Friends of Roe Woods Group, who could work with Parks and Countryside on the future maintenance of the site.                                                             

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

                                                                                                                                          

· Any problems or dangers with the trees, including falling branches, should have been covered as part of the Tree Risk Assessment, and would be dealt with accordingly.  This would include the trees in Roe Wood Allotments.  Any future problems should be reported direct to John Gilpin, who contact details were left at the meeting.                                                     

·   Whilst it was believed that the area was way-marked, this would be checked.   

· Whilst it was difficult to ensure that the pond in the woods was clear of branches and other debris, Parks and Countryside made checks and cleared the pond on a regular basis.                      

                                                                                                                                          

The Area Panel (a) noted the information now reported, together with the responses provided to the questions and comments;                                          

(b) thanked John Gilpin for attending the meeting and responding to the questions and comments; and    

(c) requested (i) John Gilpin to attend a future meeting of the Area Panel in six months’ time to provide a further update on the maintenance of Roe Woods and (ii) local residents to consider volunteering to join a Friends of Roe Woods Group to work with Parks and Countryside regarding future maintenance of the site.    John Gilpin

                                                                                                                                          

7.     PUBLIC QUESTIONS AND PETITIONS                                                             

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

                                                                                                                                          

· The Cabinet had granted authority for the preparation of detailed design plans for St. Catherine’s Catholic Primary School at its meeting held on 26th September, 2007.  All traffic issues would be discussed as part of the planning stage and it had been requested that officers work with local residents to address any concerns.  With regard to the issue of play space, the Cabinet had requested that there be sufficient play space as part of the expansion proposals.                         

· Street Force would investigate the complaints of graffiti on the wall at the back of Firshill Infant Junior School and on the utility boxes in the area.  Street Force was working with the utility companies to look at repainting the boxes using a special coating to make any future marking more difficult. Sara Bradley

                                                                                                                                          

8.     ROLLING ACTION CHECKLIST     

The Area Panel received and noted the Rolling Action Checklist from meetings held up to 31st July, 2007.                                                                    

                                                                                                                                          

9.     DATE OF NEXT MEETING             

            It was noted that the next meeting of the Area Panel would be held on Thursday, 22nd November, 2007, from 6.00 p.m. to 8.00 p.m., at Shiloh Church, Gower Street.