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Minutes of the Meeting of the Burngreave Area Panel held on 30th November 2006

BURNGREAVE AREA PANEL


Notes of a Meeting held 30th November, 2006 at The Cornerstone Building, Carwood Road/Grimesthorpe Road


PRESENT:		Councillor Ibrar Hussain (Chair).

		Also in attendance:-
		Andy Shallice	-	Area Co-ordinator
		Marilyn King	-	Area Action Officer
		Joe Horobin	-	Neighbourhood Renewal and Partnership Service
		Sara Bradley	-	Street Force
		Amanda James	-	Neighbourhoods and Community Care Directorate
		Jon Bradley	-	Sheffield Galleries and Museums Trust
		David Ayrton	-	Sheffield Homes
		Lisa Nortcliffe	-	Sheffield Safer Neighbourhood Team
		Jon Ekwubiri ) Simon Leake ) Steve Hazelhurst ) Kirk Andrews ) J. Tepper ) K. Swann )	-	South Yorkshire Police
		John Turner	-	Committee Secretariat

		There were approximately 32 local residents and representatives from local community groups in attendance.

……………….

1.	APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE FROM MEMBERS OF THE PANEL				Action
	Apologies for absence were received from The Lord Mayor (Councillor Jackie Drayton) and Councillor Steve Jones.

2.	SHEFFIELD GALLERIES AND MUSEUMS TRUST
	Jon Bradley, Communities Manager, reported on the various projects and events which had been organised in connection with "Burngreave Voices" a project aimed at highlighting the diversity of heritage and culture in the Burngreave area. He made reference to a display, as part of the project, at Weston Park Museum, and a short film "Corner Shop", which was shown at the meeting. Other activities included a wide-ranging programme of events involving local groups and schools, a textile design course contributing to the Palace and Mosque exhibition at the Millennium Galleries in Spring 2006, regular articles in the Burngreave Messenger, the "Museum in the Sun" Exhibition at Abbeyfield Park Multi-cultural Festival and the distribution of a local history resource pack for schools in the Burngreave area.
	Mr. Bradley reported on a number of planned activities as part of the project, which included the launch of the Burngreave Voices website in early 2007, exhibition display space in the Vestry Hall, and the "Whatever the Weather" and "Yemenis in Britain" “exhibitions at Weston Park Museum, from April to August, 2007 and September, 2007, to January, 2008, respectively.
	The meeting (a) noted the information now reported; and
	(b) thanked Jon Bradley for the presentation now made and for showing the film "Corner Shop".

3.	BURNGREAVE MIXED COMMUNITIES
	Joe Horobin provided a brief overview and reported on the progress of, and next steps in respect of the Burngreave Mixed Communities Project.
	She reported that Burngreave had been selected as a Mixed Communities pilot area and a prospectus had been submitted to the Department for Communities and Local Government (DfCLG) in September, 2006, and had received positive feedback. The aim of the prospectus was to outline Sheffield's approach to developing the Mixed Communities Project and identify the enabling measures required to facilitate it.
	Ms. Horobin reported on why Burngreave had been chosen as a pilot area, the aims of the project and how the area would benefit from this approach.
	Members of the public raised questions and made comments, and the following responses were provided:-

	· It was likely that with new housing developments, 80% of properties would be available for sale and 20% would be classed as affordable housing, and which would be either available for rent through a Registered Social Landlord or available for purchase through equity stake options or by existing owner occupiers who would be able to take out Relocation Assistance loans.

	· Whilst there was no direct funding from the Government in respect of the project, funding would be channelled into the area through the existing funding streams, such as Housing Market Renewal, New Deal and Decent Homes. The plan was to adopt a more joined up approach in terms of these existing regeneration schemes to ensure that they benefit the area in the best possible way.

	· Whilst it could not be confirmed exactly who had been consulted on the proposals, there had been consultation through Burngreave Community Action Forum.

	· It was accepted that there was a need for a supermarket in the area, but it was also important that the existing smaller retailers were retained and supported.

	· The project would refer to the whole of the Burngreave Ward.

	· In terms of the present position, the Council was awaiting a response from the DfCLG and in the meantime, all the existing regeneration projects would continue.

	· There was no end date in respect of the project and steps would be taken to ensure that all the existing regeneration schemes were completed to the benefit of the residents of Burngreave.

	The meeting (a) noted the information now reported, together with the responses to the questions raised; and
	(b) thanked Joe Horobin for the presentation now made and for responding to the questions raised.

4.	REFUGEE AND ASYLUM SEEKERS
	Jean Wildgoose, Burngreave Community Action Forum, reported on the difficulties facing refugees and asylum seekers, and particularly their inability to apply for work permits following rules imposed by the Government.
	The Chair reported that he would refer the concerns to Richard Caborn, M.P..				Councillor Ibrar Hussain

5.	PASSHOUSES ROAD AND FIRS HILL ROAD
	Jill Portman, Firs Hill Community Action Group, reported on proposals for the submission of a petition, organised by the Action Group, requesting the Council to implement road-calming measures on Passhouses Road and Firs Hill Road.
	Ms. Portman reported that the increase in the volume of traffic on these roads, which was believed to have been caused by drivers avoiding the road-calming measures on Scott Road and Abbeyfield Road, posed a danger to pedestrians and local residents. She made specific reference to problems of cars being driven along these roads at high speeds. Another resident of the area reported on the problems being caused by drug dealing in the area, which had resulted in a number of residents, who had reported problems to the Police, receiving threats.
	Inspector Jon Ekwubiri reported on Operation Gulliver, a high profile operation being undertaken by the Police up to 15th December, 2006, in the Burngreave area. The operation had specifically targeted drug dealers and a number of arrests had been made. With regard to the specific problems in the Passhouses Road/Firs Hill Road area, he indicated that the Police were aware of the problems and that if any residents wished to report any incidents or had any concerns, they should contact him on 2964444. He also made reference to the recent appointment of a number of Police Community Safety Officers who would be highly visible in the area and dealing with all issues regarding quality of life for residents as well as crime issues.
	The Chair reported that the problems of drug dealing in the Passhouses Road/Firs Hill Road area was a continuing problem and had been raised many times at previous Panel meetings.
	The meeting (a) noted the information now reported;
	(b) requested the Police to continue monitoring the problems of drug dealing in the Passhouses Road/Firs Hill Road area; and
	(c) welcomed the appointment of the Police Community Safety Officers and encouraged residents to comment on what they would like to see in terms of policing in the area.

6.	PUBLIC QUESTIONS AND PETITIONS
	In response to questions raised by members of the public, the following responses were provided:-

	· Street Force had not been made aware that a ceremony had been organised in respect of the official opening of the Boiler House on Carrwood Close, therefore had been unable to ensure that the area had been cleaned up and the highway swept.

	· Street Force were aware of the problems of fly-tipping on land on Grimesthorpe Road, but the land in question was privately owned, therefore the Council needed authority from the land owner before any action could be taken. Officers were working with the land owner with the aim of getting him to take action to clear the rubbish from his land. If the problems continued, the Council would consider enforcement action against the landowner.

	· The issue regarding the future of the trees fronting onto Grimesthorpe Road would be referred to relevant officers in Transport and Highways for a response.

	· The matter regarding branches of trees touching properties on Carwood Way would be referred to the relevant officer.

	· With regard to the allegations of the three destitute men being threatened and removed from an empty Council-owned flat by a number of workers employed by a construction firm, without being given the opportunity to take their belongings, it was reported that the Council had commenced legal proceedings to evict the three men and a court date had been set. The Council, however, was not aware of the allegations of threats made by the construction workers and was unaware of who had instructed the workers to remove the men from the flat. Sheffield Homes and City Council officers reported that the allegations would be investigated and the results of such investigations would be reported to a future meeting of the Area Panel.

	· The problems of car parking by the bus stop outside 145 Spital Hill would be referred to officers in Transport and Highways and Parking Services.

7.	NORTHERN GENERAL HOSPITAL - IMPACT OF PARKING POLICY CHANGES
	The Area Panel considered a report of the Area Co-ordinator, setting out the various issues relating to the impact of recent changes regarding the staff car parking policy at the Northern General Hospital, which had been considered by the Culture, Economy and Sustainability Scrutiny and Policy Development Board at its meeting held on 9th November, 2006.
	The Area Co-ordinator reported on the proceedings of the meeting, referring to the decision of the Board. One of the recommendations of the Scrutiny Board had been to agree to the establishment of a Working Group, to be led by the Area Panel, and comprising Members of this Panel, employees of the Northern General Hospital, representatives of local community groups in the area, the Passenger Transport Executive and South Yorkshire Police, to review the position with regard to car parking at the Hospital and on roads in the surrounding area.
	The first meeting of the Working Group had been arranged for Wednesday, 13th December, 2006, at Fir Vale School.
	Members of the public raised the following points:-

	· One of the main problems involved the congestion caused by the parking of vehicles on both sides of Herries Road.

	· Residents of Crabtree Close were experiencing traffic congestion as the number of cars parked on the road were making it difficult for buses to travel through the roads in that area.

	· Hospital employees were parking in the car park of Crabtree Grange sheltered housing complex, as well as on the urban clearway on Herries Road.

	The meeting (a) noted the contents of the report now submitted, together with the comments now made; and (b) encouraged residents to attend the Liaison Group meeting on 13th December, 2006, to put forward their views.


8.	TRAFFIC ISSUES
	The Chair reported that the implementation of the road-calming measures on Carwood Road and Grimesthorpe Road and the installation of the traffic bollards on Page Hall Road were planned to commence during the week commencing 11th December, 2006.

9.	DATES OF FUTURE MEETINGS
	It was noted that (a) the Area Panel New Year's Honours Ceremony will take place on Monday, 22nd January, 2007, at 6.30 p.m. in the Reception Rooms, Town Hall and (b) the next meeting of the Area Panel will be held on Thursday, 22nd February, 2007, from 6.00 p.m. to 8.00 p.m., at a venue to be arranged.

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