Minutes of Burngreave Area Panel 22 February 2007

BURNGREAVE AREA PANEL


Meeting held 22nd February, 2007, at Burngreave Library, Spital Hill

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

		Representatives of Panel Partners:-
		Nigel Cussen	)	Design Development Partnership
		Mark Aylward	)
		Jarrod Smith	-	Highways Consultancy
		Max Curtis	-	Tesco
		Chris Walker	-	Pitsmoor Citizens Advice Bureau
		Jon Ekwubiri	)
		Joanne Reynolds	)	South Yorkshire Police
		Brigitt Westran	-	Sheffield Homes
		Vernon Collymore	-	Sheffield Futures

		City Council Officers:-
		Andy Shallice	-	Area Co-ordinator
		David Shepherd	-	Lead Manager
		Marilyn King	-	Area Action Officer
		Chris Birks	)
		Richard Watts	)	Development Services
		Duncan Bradbury
		Tony Tingle	-	Children and Young People’s Directorate
		Laura Bell	)
		Rashid Ahmad	)	Libraries and Information Services
		Sam Sykes	-	East End Sheffield Regeneration Team
		Sara Bradley	-	Street Force
		John Turner	-	Committee Secretariat

		There were approximately 28 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 The Lord Mayor (Councillor Jackie Drayton).

2.	NEIGHBOURHOOD RENEWAL FUNDING (NRF) – LOCAL ACTION PLAN
	The Area Co-ordinator submitted a report containing details of progress of the Area Panel’s 2006/08 NRF Local Action Plan spend, together with proposals for further spend.
	RESOLVED: That (a) the contents of the report now submitted be noted; and (b) approval be given for the allocation of further NRF Local Action Plan spend of (i) £5,000 for repair works to Abbeyfield House, (ii) 5,000 for urgent remedial measures at Pitsmoor Adventure Playground and (iii) a minimum of £10,000 for the core runnings costs at Verdon Street Recreation Centre.

3.	NOTES OF LAST MEETING
	The Area Panel received and noted the notes of the meeting held on 30th November, 2006, which was declared inquorate, and arising therefrom, it was noted that (a) the meeting’s concerns regarding difficulties facing refugees and asylum seekers, particularly their inability to apply for work permits following rules imposed by the Government, had been referred to Richard Caborn, MP., (b) the Police were monitoring the problems of drug dealing in the Passhouses Road/Firs Hill Road area, (c) the queries regarding the future of the trees fronting onto Grimesthorpe Road had been referred to the relevant Link Officer, (d) the issue regarding problems caused by tree branches touching properties on Carwood Way had been referred to the relevant Link Officer, (e) a publicly available report presented by Sam Sykes, East Sheffield Regeneration Team, and compiled in accordance with the Council’s Corporate Complaints Procedure, into the investigations following allegations of the unlawful eviction of squatters from a property on Catherine Road, had been completed, (f) the problems of car parking by the bus stop outside 145 Spital Hill had been referred to Car Parking Services, (g) a further meeting of the Working Group, established to discuss the problems of car parking in the area surrounding the Northern General Hospital, would be held on 5th March, 2007 and (h) works had commenced on the implementation of the traffic calming measures on Carwood Road and Grimesthorpe Road and the installation of the traffic bollards on Page Hall Road.

4.	BURNGREAVE NEW YEAR’S HONOURS 2006
	The Area Panel received a report containing details of the recipients of awards under the Burngreave New Year’s Honours 2006, and which included Sheffield 186th (Rainbow, Brownies and Guides Group), Abtisan Mohammed (Adult Learning Manager for the Yemeni Community Association), Amin Kassim (Specialist Personal Adviser with Yemeni/ Somali Young People, Sheffield Futures), Basharat Hussain (owner of the Kashmir Curry Centre), Burngreave Young People’s Group, Christine Grainger (Member of the Social Inclusion Team at Firshill School), Diane Haimeed (Co-ordinator of the Burngreave After School Study Support Programme), Friends of Osgathorpe Park, Gladys Newbolt (Secretary of Wensley Tenants and Residents Association), Grace Vincent (Burngreave Ashram Café), Gwen Askham-Clarke (Carwood Estate), Halwo Hassan (Parent Governor at Parkwood School), Inderjit Bhogal (Volunteer Worker), Jackie Edley (School Administrator, Whiteways School), Rob Smith (Volunteer Worker), Tim Shortland (Community Forester for Burngreave), Tony Hall (New Deal Board Member – Community Representative) and Winifred Bentley (Volunteer – Abbeyfield Park Bowling Green).
	RESOLVED: That (a) the contents of the report now submitted be noted; and
	(b) the thanks and congratulations of the Area Panel be conveyed to all the recipients of awards as part of the Burngreave New Year’s Honours 2006, for the valuable work undertaken by them in the area.

5.	ELLESMERE GREEN – INITIAL PLAN
	The Area Panel received a presentation on the design of the proposed public realm works to improve and create a high quality focus around Ellesmere Green. The proposed works would form part of the first phase of the regeneration of Spital Hill, which would also result in an improved streetscape from the Green to Caborn’s Corner and Spital Street.
	The proposed improvements would include the conversion of the space into a town garden, with planting, public art and areas to sit, play and relax. The majority of the existing trees would be retained and the amount of seating would be increased, with the combination of seats with backs, sitting walls and raised beds. The Green will be bounded by an attractive railing and a pedestrian link would connect the Green to the Vestry Hall. Details of the proposed highway changes and re-routing of bus services were also reported.
	Following a positive response to the consultation carried out on the proposals in December, 2006, an open market on part of the site had been incorporated into the plans. It had been suggested that the market, which would comprise 26 stalls, would operate initially, on a weekday basis, with a potential for an occasional Saturday/ Sunday opening.
	In terms of the next steps, it was reported that the plans displayed at this meeting would be used for informing the public of the proposals, and would remain exhibited at the Library for at least a further four weeks. Members of the public would be encouraged to view the plans and complete comment sheets which were also available in the Library. Further design work would be carried out with a view to an application for planning permission in respect of this phase of the scheme being submitted by May, 2007. The majority of the funding had been secured and discussions were ongoing in terms of further funding required. It was anticipated that works could commence on site in early 2008.
	Members of the public raised questions and made comments, and the following responses were provided:-

	· Subject to funding, there were plans, as part of the overall proposals, to replace some of the damaged cobbles on Earsham Street and to carry out improvements to the footway along the length of Spital Hill.
	· In terms of access for public transport, discussions had been held with City Council Highways Officers and operators of the services operating in the area. Disruption to existing bus services would be minimised.
	· Funding for the proposed works had been provided by Burngreave New Deal and through Housing Market Renewal, and discussions were being held with Yorkshire Forward regarding the funding which had not yet been secured. Even if the total amount of funding required for the proposed works was not secured, officers were confident that works could commence on a scheme in 2008.
	· As part of the consultation, discussions had been held with the existing traders to seek their views on the proposals, with further consultations as the plans develop.
	· The Council would be working with Business Link and Burngreave New Deal in order to provide support for local people wishing to establish a market trade.

	Councillor Steve Jones expressed his thanks and appreciation to those local people who had assisted in the development of the plans for Ellesmere Green, indicating that such hard work, together with the efforts of Council officers, would result in a much needed high quality, open space in the heart of Burngreave. He stated that the Green would provide a meeting place for local people and would provide a number of market stalls which had been requested by the local community. The proposals would also compliment the redevelopment of the Vestry Hall and plans could be made to hold community events in the area in the future.

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

How useful is this page?

[ Comment On This Page? ]

Browsealoud |