Minutes of Burngreave Area Panel 30 June 2005

BURNGREAVE AREA PANEL


Meeting held 30th June, 2005, at Pitsmoor Methodist Church

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

		Also in attendance:-

		Andy Shallice	-	Area Co-ordinator

		David Shepherd	-	Lead Manager

		Marilyn King	-	Area Support Officer

		Shanza Hussain ) Maria Duffy )	-	Development Services

		Gary McCulloch	-	North Sheffield Primary Care Trust

		Amie Rowland	-	Parks, Woodlands and Countryside

		Acting Chief Inspector Jon Ekwubiri	-	South Yorkshire Police

		Jane Haigh	-	Burngreave Green Environment Programme

		Daniel Massey	-	Private Sector Housing

		John Turner	-	Committee Secretariat

		There were approximately 10 local residents and representatives of local community groups in attendance.

…………….

1.	APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE FROM MEMBERS OF THE PANEL
	An apology for absence was received from Councillor Steve Jones.

2.	POLICING ISSUES IN BURNGREAVE
	Acting Chief Inspector Jon Ekwubiri reported on the recent action taken by the Police, using new anti-social behaviour legislation, to instruct tenants of a property in Burngreave to leave the property on the grounds of allegations that it was being used for drugs dealing. The Police, working with Council officers, and following the receipt of intelligence from local residents, had monitored the property for some time, and had gathered information on the occupants' actions, which had culminated in an application to the District Judge for a Closure Order. The Order had been signed by the Judge, which gave the Police the necessary powers to remove the occupants and board up the property to stop them returning. Following the execution of a search warrant a few weeks ago, Police had discovered large amounts of drugs and cash at the property and had made an arrest. The occupants had also been served with Anti-Social Behaviour Orders (ASBOs), which would stop them being able to live in Burngreave for a specified time period. The Police were attempting to arrange for the ASBOs to be effective for 10 years.
	Mr. Ekwubiri also referred to recent problems experienced in the area in connection with a conflict between groups of Iraqi Kurds and Afro-Caribbeans. The Police had dealt with an incident where the groups had clashed, but following talks with representatives of the community groups, and with the involvement of the Council's Community Safety Officers, it was hoped that the problems had been resolved.
	RESOLVED: That (a) the information now reported be noted; and (b) in the case of the action taken to remove the occupants of a property allegedly being used for drug dealing, the thanks of the Panel be conveyed to the Police and other agencies who had been involved, for the actions they had taken in removing who they considered to be a major drug dealer from the area.

3.	IMPROVING HEALTH FOR ALL IN BURNGREAVE AND FIR VALE
	Gary McCulloch gave a presentation on an initiative being undertaken by the North Sheffield Primary Care Trust, in implementing various plans and promotional activities in order to improve the health of residents in Burngreave and Fir Vale. The initiative had been undertaken as a result of the Government's White Paper "Choosing Health - Making Healthier Choices Easier", which set out a number of targets for Primary Care Trusts to achieve in terms of improving people's health.
	The targets included:-

	· Tackling health inequalities.

	· Reducing the numbers of people who smoke.

	· Tackling obesity.

	· Improving sexual health.

	· Improving mental health and well-being.

	· Reducing harm and encouraging sensible drinking.

	· Helping children and young people to lead healthy lives.

	· Promoting healthy and active life amongst older people.

	Mr. McCulloch referred specifically to health issues in Burngreave and Fir Vale, indicating that the area had high rates of teenage pregnancy, low birth weight babies and high hospital emergency admissions for a range of health problems. Asthma, emergency long-term diseases and emergency heart disease admissions to hospital were also higher in the area than the City average. Admissions to hospital for mental health were also double the City rate and mental health out-patient attendances were a third higher compared to the City average. Mr. McCulloch provided further health statistics, which he termed as "unacceptable", indicating that people who lived in Burngreave or Fir Vale were likely to die three years younger than in other parts of the City, and that this increased to a five-year difference for women. Life expectancy at birth was 74.6 years, compared to 78 years across the City and female life expectancy was 75.1 years, as compared to 81 years across the City.
	Mr. McCulloch reported on how the Primary Care Trust could improve people's health, which included increased investment in health services, improved working with the Local Authority and other agencies, the production of Public Health Plans as part of Local Area Agreements, closer working with existing health projects and programmes and encouraging the public to become more aware of their health problems. Reference was made to the health projects and programmes that were already operating in the area, and which included the various projects funded by New Deal, the establishment of Specialist Development Nurses and an Intermediate Care Team, the Healthy Schools Programme, the Active Burngreave Programme and the work being undertaken by Burngreave and Fir Vale Surestart.
	He referred to the main killer diseases, which included diabetes, heart disease and stroke, lung disease, mental ill health and cancer, and reported on the action required to beat these diseases. Such action included stopping smoking, being more active, whilst not over stretching, eating five portions of fruit and vegetables a day, safe sex, sensible drinking and generally getting involved in the various health projects and programmes. The Primary Care Trust had provided various different means of support in order to assist people in the above actions, which included funding a number of Health Advisors to provide the public with basic health advice, providing support to train local people in connection with health issues so they could pass their knowledge on to others, providing extra and better information on health issues, funding and continually monitoring prevention methods and continuing to consult with all the relevant agencies on health issues.
	The following questions were asked and responses given:-

	Q. Was the PCT aware of the high rate of diabetes within the black and minority ethnic (BME) communities in the area and were resources targeted accordingly?

	R. Yes.

	Q. Had the PCT and other agencies given consideration to the fact that, whilst people were encouraged to lead active lifestyles, gym membership fees were often quite high, and unaffordable for many residents in this area?

	R. When encouraging people to take more exercise, this did not mean that they had to join a gym or undertake strenuous exercise. For many people, simple exercise, such as walking and gardening, or partaking in less strenuous sporting activities, such as swimming and bowling, were just as beneficial. Local residents should also be encouraged to use the numerous parks and green spaces in the area.

	Q. Could the PCT do more to encourage more people to give blood?

	R. The NHS was always trying to encourage more people to give blood. It was accepted that people needed more information on why it was important to give blood, and how easy it was to do so.

	Q. Is it possible for people to visit their general practitioners (GPs) to have general health checks to see if they are healthy?

	R. Early detection of diseases and other health problems was very important in terms of prevention. There were various services people could access to check on their health, such as having free blood tests at their local pharmacy, or cholesterol tests at their GP.

	Q. Do GPs call people at a certain age to their surgeries to check for specific illnesses or diseases?

	R. GPs do target certain people, such as if there was a history of illness in their family or if they were aware of any other signs of illness.

	Q. With regard to the five year difference in terms of life expectancy for women in Burngreave and Fir Vale, as compared to Sheffield as a whole, was there any evidence that other areas of the City, having similar poverty levels, had better life expectancy figures?

	R. There was a similar pattern across the City which indicated that people in areas with higher poverty levels had lower life expectancy, but Burngreave appeared to be one of the worst.

	The following comments were also made:-

	· GPs made specific appointments for people over 75 to have an annual health check.

	· The Burngreave Ramblers’ Association organised walks in Derbyshire and the Peak District, which would be a very useful form of exercise for those people not wishing to undertake anything too strenuous.

	· Consideration should be given to the fact that failed asylum seekers were not allowed to access health services.

	RESOLVED: That (a) the information now reported, together with the responses given to the questions, be noted; and
	(b) the thanks of the Panel be conveyed to Gary McCulloch for the presentation now made.


4.	THE SHEFFIELD DEVELOPMENT FRAMEWORK
	Shanza Hussain gave a presentation on the Sheffield Development Framework (SDF) which would comprise a portfolio of a number of different documents, developed over a period of time, and would replace the Unitary Development Plan (UDP) as Sheffield's Statutory Development Plan in three years' time. She focused on the special features of the SDF, the Core Strategy document, the Emerging Options and how local residents, local community groups and other stakeholders could gain access to the documents and become involved in the process.
	Ms. Hussain reported that the main documents in the SDF were the Core Strategy, City Policies and City Sites and a Proposals Map. The SDF would also include Supplementary Planning Documents and other accompanying documentation, including a Statement of Community Involvement (SCI), monitoring information and a Local Development Scheme. The special features of the new system involved the framework being spatial, sustainable, having community involvement, being credible, comprehensive and robust, and would involve a more simplified process, quicker adoption and would be easier to update and add to in the future.
	Reference was made to the Core Strategy, which was the first document to be produced as part of the SDF, and which all subsequent planning documents produced under the framework would need to comply with. The Core Strategy was intended to provide answers, at a strategic level, to what was going to happen in terms of future planning and development in the City, and how it was going to happen. It would contain the SDF’s aims and high level policies and would set out the main changes to Sheffield over the next 15 years.
	The five overall aims of the SDF were to achieve economic transformation and balanced communities, protect and improve the environment, increase accessibility and enhance the quality of life for residents. Ms. Hussain reported on the Emerging Options, which were ideas at this stage, referring to what kind of City would be most ideal, such as whether people wanted to see more mobile or self-contained communities or if they wished to have a spacious or a compact City. She also referred to other Emerging Options relating to jobs, and shops, housing and transport. She made particular reference to the Emerging Options specific to Burngreave and Fir Vale, indicating that most planning and development issues in the Panel's area had been consulted on and addressed as part of the Burngreave and Fir Vale Masterplanning Process. Some of the issues that were part of the Emerging Options consultation included access to employment for residents of Burngreave and Fir Vale, the future development of the Parkwood Springs Business Area and the future of the Woodside Employment Area on Oakham Drive/Rutland Road. It was proposed that there would be five components as part of the Emerging Options consultation programme, which would include publicising the SDF, presentations to the Area Panels and other selected bodies, the SDF City Conference on 8th July, 2005, placing material on the Council's website and placing documents on deposit at the three City Council First Point locations at Howden House, Chapeltown and Hillsborough and at various libraries across the City.
	Ms. Hussain reported on how residents, community groups and other stakeholders could become involved in the consultation process, indicating that comments on the Emerging Options could be made through the Council's website, via e-mail (sdf@sheffield.gov.uk) or in writing, to Development Services. She encouraged people to register with Development Services as a contact, indicating that this would guarantee their being consulted on future stages of the Core Strategy and all future SDF documents. She concluded by stating that the deadline for comments on the Emerging Options was 22nd July, 2005, but there would be a further opportunity to comment again when the preferred options were published in February, 2006.
	The following questions were asked and responses given:-

	Q. Will there be some form of guidance in the SDF to limit the number of planning applications to change what were once large residential properties into Houses in Multiple Occupation (HIMO) or other changes of use, such as Pupil Referral Units, if there were already a number of such establishments in the area?

	R. Similar concerns had been raised as part of other consultation events, such as the review of the UDP and the Burngreave and Fir Vale Masterplanning. One of the five overall aims for the SDF was an aim to achieve balanced communities and ensure that neighbourhoods were not saturated with certain types of establishments. This issue would have to be raised as part of the consultation on the Emerging Options.

	Q. Was there an overview of the long-term strategy for Sheffield, such as the establishment of high-tech industries in the City?

	R. This was an issue for the Core Strategy.

	Q. Were there any plans for development of Handley Street?

	R. This area had been identified as an employment zone in the Burngreave and Fir Vale Masterplan and there was a likelihood of redevelopment on the site.

	Q. Would it be possible for the B1 and B2 Burngreave Bus to transport older people or young mothers with pushchairs to GPs’ surgeries in Burngreave or Pitsmoor?

	R. The route in respect of the Burngreave Bus was reviewed each quarter and consideration would be given to this request.

	Q. As part of the proposed development around the Inner Relief Road, will Brunswick Street be cut off?

	R. Brunswick Road was already closed at its junction with Spital Fields Street, and as part of the Inner Relief Road proposals, the pedestrian access will be improved with the provision of new lights and streetscape improvements at the junction. Therefore, there will be a link to the surgery.

	The following comments were also made:-

	· It was important that the issues that had arisen from the consultation on the Burngreave and Fir Vale Masterplan were fed into the discussions on the SDF.

	· It was important that the local shopping centres at Spital Hill, Owler Lane and Page Hall Road were vibrant and well-used.

	RESOLVED: That (a) the information now reported, together with the responses given to the questions, be noted; and
	(b) the thanks of the Panel be conveyed to Shanza Hussain for the presentation now made.

5.	AREA CO-ORDINATOR'S REPORT
	The Area Co-ordinator submitted a report (a) containing details relating to (i) future action required to combat the problems caused by the use of off-road vehicles in the Panel's area and (ii) targeting those drivers, guilty of improper or illegal parking in the area, by warning that their actions may result in enforcement action, (b) setting out details of the Panel's Neighbourhood Renewal Funding (NRF) allocation and (c) on the proposed endorsement of the Action Plan produced in connection with the Burngreave Green Environment Programme.
	RESOLVED: That (a) the information contained in the report now submitted be noted;
	(b) in the light of the problems being experienced in connection with the use of off-road vehicles on green and open spaces in the Panel's area, as well as in other areas of the City, (i) a request be made to the Chair of the Culture, Economy and Sustainability Scrutiny and Policy Development (Councillor Peter Price) for the Board to give consideration to the range of issues associated with the unauthorised use of off-road vehicles, as set out in the report now submitted and (ii) approval be given for the expenditure of £1,200 from the Area Panel's Streetscape Theme of the Neighbourhood Renewal Fund, as a contribution towards the installation of signage around Parkwood Springs informing the users of off-road vehicles that their presence on the site is prohibited;
	(c) approval be given to the initiative by Parking Services which would, as part of the Council's efforts to reduce incidents of improper and illegal parking in Burngreave and Fir Vale, involve mobile patrol staff from Parking Services placing leaflets on the vehicles of those motorists who parked illegally, warning of enforcement action when the mobile patrols operate in the area; and
	(d) the Action Plan, as part of the Burngreave Green Environment Programme, which set out a vision for Burngreave's environment, including proposed plans for the improvement of individual parks and green spaces, be endorsed.

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

	Q. When will residents be getting green bins for garden waste?

	R. The bins were being piloted in some areas of the City, but it was not known if and when the residents of Burngreave and Fir Vale would be getting the bins.

	Q. Could action be taken to cut back shrubs and bushes on Grimesthorpe Road as they were overhanging onto the pavement and causing problems for pedestrians?

	R. This matter would be referred to Street Force.

	Q. Could the Police and the Council investigate problems of drug dealing in the Earl Marshal Road area?

	R. This matter would be referred to the Police and relevant Council officers.

	Q. Could action be taken in connection with the problems being caused by children playing football on Torbay Road, which was resulting in a menace to local residents?

	R. This was something that would be better resolved by the residents themselves.

	Q. Could dog bins be provided on the green space opposite Torbay Road?

	R. This was something that could be investigated via New Deal funding.

7.	NOTES/MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETINGS
	RESOLVED: That the minutes of the meeting of the Area Panel held on 25th November, 2004, the special joint meeting of the Burngreave and Owlerton/Southey Green Area Panels held on 12th April, 2005, the special meetings of the Area Panel held on 17th April and 3rd May, 2005 and the note of a meeting of the Area Panel held on 28th April, 2005, be approved as correct records, with the substitution of the words "Cabinet Adviser for Education and Training" for the words "Shadow Cabinet Member for Education and Training" in the reference to Councillor Robert MacDonald's title in the minutes of the meeting of the Area Panel held on 25th November, 2004.
	Arising from the note of a meeting of the Area Panel held on 28th April, 2005, Amie Rowland reported on plans for the refurbishment of Burngreave Recreation Ground. She stated that the necessary funding had now been obtained in order to commence a masterplanning exercise and officers were in the process of contacting all the relevant groups and organisations in the area in order to seek their views on what they would like to see in terms of the refurbishment. Following this, a design brief would be produced, containing a programme of works.
	The Area Panel noted this information.

8.	DATE AND VENUE OF NEXT MEETING
	It was noted that the next meeting of the Area Panel would be held on Thursday, 29th September, 2005, from 6.00 p.m. to 8.00 p.m., at a venue to be confirmed.

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