Burngreave Area Panel Minutes 19th July 2007

BURNGREAVE AREA PANEL


Meeting held 19th July, 2007, at Fir Vale School, Owler Lane

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

		Representatives of Panel Partners:-
		Alan Hancock Simon Leake Dave Pinter	) ) )	South Yorkshire Police
		Zain Abdulla	-	Street Worx
		Vernon Collymore	-	Sheffield Futures
		Graham Wright	-	Sheffield Homes
		Bob Telfer	-	South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive

		City Council Officers:-
		Andy Shallice	-	Area Co-ordinator
		Marilyn King	-	Area Action Officer
		Sheila Slingsby Keith Bradley	) )	Emergency Planning Team
		Nick Hetherington Sara Bradley	) )	Street Force
		Patricia Slater	-	Children and Young People’s Directorate
		Nigel Robson Tony Lawery Susie Leigh Vicky Penn Laura Stephens	) ) ) ) )	Development Services
		Amanda James	-	Neighbourhoods and Community Care Directorate
		John Turner	-	Committee Secretariat

		There were approximately 90 local residents and representatives from local community groups in attendance.

……………..

1.	APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE FROM MEMBERS OF THE PANEL				Action
	No apologies for absence were received.

2.	FLOOD RESPONSE
	Sheila Slingsby and Keith Bradley reported on the operation of the Emergency Planning Team, focusing specifically on the Team’s response to the recent floods.
	Nick Hetherington reported on the operation of Street Force, both during and after the recent flooding in the City, and referring specifically to work carried out in the Burngreave/Fir vale area. He stated that his Service had been involved in the delivery of a number of sandbags to residents and business owners, as well as dealing with the road closures in the area and clearing up damage caused by a collapsed bridge and a number of land slips. He stated that constant rain during June, followed by persistent rainfall on 25th June, 2007, during which nearly 90mm fell during the day, caused rivers to overflow, which consequently resulted in flooding in the area. He referred specifically to problems faced by residents of Bolsover Road where water had seeped into a number of cellars. Street Force were reacting by using cameras to assess whether there were any blockages in the sewers and the culvert in the Bolsover Road area.
	Members of the public raised and questions and made comments, and the following responses were provided:-

	· As far as Street Force were concerned, they were unaware of any problems with regard to blocked sewers and work was being undertaken to assess the pipework using cameras. Even if all the gullies and sewers had been clear, due to the unprecedented levels of rainfall, there would still have been water running down roads and pavements in the area.
	· It was believed that the gullies in the area had been cleaned on 26th June, 2007 to remove the dirt and other debris which would have collected following the floods.
	· Following complaints from residents that the flooding in the Bolsover Road area had been caused as a result of problems with drainage in the area following the development of the flats at the top of Bolsover Road, a Planning Officer had confirmed that an adequate drainage system had been constructed as part of this development.
	· Investigations would be undertaken into the culverting of Bagley Dyke, which had been undertaken some years ago to allow for development on that piece of land, to see if this was a contributory cause of the flooding.
	· The Emergency Planning Team would be looking into complaints made by those residents of Bolsover Road who had been forced to evacuate their properties, and who had stayed with family and friends, as opposed to being looked after by the Council, and who had not been informed when it was safe to go back to their homes.

	Simon Leake, on behalf of South Yorkshire Police, wished to acknowledge the brave efforts of, and hard work undertaken by residents, Council officers and representatives of other agencies, including the Emergency Services, both during and after the recent floods.
	Councillor Ibrar Hussain reported that he was making investigations into whether the Council could obtain EU funding to be used as grants for people who had been affected by the floods, and was also discussing with Richard Caborn, MP, the possibility of the Council obtaining Government funding for the same purpose.
	Members (a) noted the information now reported, together with the responses provided to the questions and comments; and
	(b) requested the Director of Street Force to undertake checks, as a matter of urgency, of the sewage and drainage system in the Burngreave/Fir Vale area in order to minimise any potential of similar problems occurring in the future.				Nick Hetherington/Sara Bradley

3.	BURNGREAVE LOCAL LINKS – BUS SERVICE NOS. B1, B2 AND D1
	Bob Telfer, Bus Development Manager, South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive (SYPTE), reported on the cessation of bus Service Nos. B1 and B2 (Burngreave) and D1 (Waverley) with effect from 28th July, 2007.
	Mr. Telfer reported that the SYPTE had commenced the services in July, 2004, with funding from Burngreave New Deal for Communities and Objective 1. The services had only been funded for three years and all attempts to secure the necessary funding to allow the services to continue after this time had been unsuccessful.
	Members of the public raised questions and made comments, and the following responses were provided:-

	· The SYPTE appreciated that the cessation of the services would have an adverse effect on the quality of lives of residents in Burngreave, particularly older people and the disabled.
	· Whilst appreciating the fact that some pensioners, who were entitled to free bus travel, would be willing to pay to use the services if they were retained, the SYPTE were bound by Government regulations which would not allow for this. As part of SYPTE’s criteria, it aimed to provide a bus stop within 400 metres of every property, and following an analysis of properties in the Burngreave area, in the light of the decision to withdraw the services, it had been found that only around 130 households in the area would not meet this criteria. It was accepted that the topography of the area made it difficult for people to get to the bus stops, but the criteria did not take gradient into consideration. Whilst it was accepted that the withdrawal of the services would be inconvenient for a number of people, there were other bus services in the area which people could use. It had never been the intention for the SYPTE to fund the services after the end of the three-year contract.

	The Area Panel (a) noted the information now reported, together with the responses to the questions and comments; and
	(b) considered the decision to cease the bus Service Nos. B1, B2 and D1 as unacceptable, and expressed particular concern at the short notice given to residents regarding the cessation of the services, and in the light of this, requested that an urgent meeting be held between local Councillors, SYPTE, Sheffield Community Transport and Burngreave New Deal for Communities to investigate the possibilities of allowing the services to continue.				Area Co-ordinator

4.	PRIMARY SCHOOL PLACES – PROGRESS OF CONSULTATION
&#, 160;	Tricia Slater reported on the proposals for the expansion of primary schools in Burngreave and Fir Vale in order to meet the demand for additional places in those areas, and provided an update on the progress of the consultation undertaken.
	The proposals included the expansion of Pye Bank CE and St. Catherine’s RC Primary Schools by an additional 210 places and the conversion of Owler Brook Infant and Whiteways Junior Schools into separate Reception to Y6 Schools, increasing the number of places from 90 to 120 in each year group.
	Ms. Slater reported that following the initial consultation, concerns had been raised regarding potential traffic and transport issues, together with the effects of the education of existing pupils, particularly at St. Catherine’s School. Further consultation would be held with parents, carers and residents living near the schools once plans had been drawn up after the initial round of consultation.
	Members of the public raised questions and made comments, and the following responses were provided:-

	· Whilst the initial consultation on the proposals for St. Catherine’s had been held with parents, Governors and staff, once the application for planning permission for the expansion works had been submitted to the City Council, arrangements would be made for local residents living near the schools to be consulted.
	· The decision not to refurbish the former Pye Bank School had been taken because the old school was seriously run down and not suitable, particularly as the preferred model was now for Reception to Y6, and this site would not be big enough to accommodate this model.
	· Consideration had been given to building two new schools, but a detailed option appraisal of the area had not resulted in any suitable sites being identified.
	· Whilst some or all of the existing playing fields at St. Catherine’s may be lost as part of the expansion plans, it was likely that the playing fields would be compensated with all-weather pitches, which could be used all year round. The existing playing fields were presently out of use due to being waterlogged.

	The Area Panel (a) noted the information now reported, together with the responses to the questions and comments;
	(b) welcomed the investment being made in the primary schools in Burngreave and Fir Vale; and
	(c) requested that parents of children at the schools and residents living near the schools be consulted fully throughout the process.				Tricia Slater

5.	FIRTH PARK SOUTH CHILD SAFETY ZONE - UPDATE
	Nigel Robson reported on the progress of the proposed implementation of a 20mph Child Safety Zone in the Firth Park South area, referring specifically to the consultation with local residents. He reported that approximately 1,300 leaflets and copies of the plans had been delivered to households in the area, and the responses received to date had indicated a preference for Option 1, which comprised the provision of road humps and speed cushions only.
	Tony Lawery reported on the three options which residents had been consulted on, providing statistical information on the number of responses received. It was hoped that a proposed scheme could be submitted to the West and North Planning and Highways Area Board shortly, and the scheme completed sometime in January/February, 2008.
	The following comments were received from members of the public:-

	· There was no real need for traffic-calming measures on the smaller roads in the area as the majority of accidents occurred on the bigger roads bordering the proposed zone, such as Barnsley Road and Firth Park Road.
	· The proposed measures would add to the problems of car parking for residents on Vivian Road. There were already problems, which had been made worse recently by visitors to and staff of the Northern General Hospital parking on the road.
	· It would help if any proposed Parking Permit Scheme could be implemented at the same time as the Child Safety Zone proposals.
	· There was disagreement between residents in the area as several of them did not want road humps on their roads.
	· It would be preferable to have the No Entry onto Idsworth Road from Firth Park Road instead of Barnsley Road. · Residents of Horndean Road were not in favour of any of the three proposed options, and would prefer a one-way system on Idsworth Road or Bolsover Road for a trial period.
	· The Council should improve the poor condition of the roads in the area before any traffic-calming measures were implemented.
	· There are problems of rat running along Idsworth and Bolsover Roads which could be stopped by permitting a right turn onto Barnsley Road.

	The following responses were provided:-

	· With the implementation of Child Safety Zones, the Police have to be sure that the measures implemented will result in a reduction of traffic speeds to 20mph.
	· Whilst the Council appreciated the problems of car parking on Vivian Road, it was unable to regulate car ownership and therefore could not be held responsible for this. The proposed treatment on this road involved a small stretch of double yellow lines which would not have a major impact on car parking. Residents would have an opportunity to formally object to the proposed measures as and when the Council advertised the relevant Traffic Regulation Orders.
	· If the Council implemented a No Entry onto Idsworth Road, from Firth Park Road, this would affect access for residents onto Idsworth Road more significantly than the suggested restrictions at the Barnsley Road end.
	· It was accepted that the proposed measures may not reduce the level of traffic, but they would reduce traffic speeds.
	· Whilst it was accepted that street repairs were required in the area, the Council had a limited budget for this work and, regardless of this, the funding for the proposed Child Safety Zone only included the implementation of traffic-calming measures.
	· Whilst a number of residents were proposing a fourth option in terms of traffic-calming measures, it was considered that the three options consulted on would help to reduce traffic speeds in the area. Residents also had the opportunity of making any other comments on the form sent out as part of the consultation.

	The Area Panel (a) noted the information now reported, together with the comments and responses; and
	(b) approved the implementation of traffic-calming measures, as set out in Option 1 (provision of road humps and speed cushions), with arrangements being made for a further consultation meeting with residents in the area in order to seek their views on the detailed proposals.				Area Co-ordinator

6.	NORTHERN GENERAL HOSPITAL – PROGRESS ON TRAVEL AND TRANSPORT
	The Area Co-ordinator submitted a report containing an update on the action taken to deal with the travel and parking problems around the Northern General Hospital. The report contained details of the recommendations made by the Culture, Economy and Sustainability Scrutiny and Policy Development Board, the work of the Northern General Hospital/Residents’ Liaison Group, proposals regarding the implementation of a Parking Permit Scheme, and the proposed implementation of H-bar markings for drive entrances on Norwood Road and other affected roads.
	Members of the public considered that a multi-storey car park should be constructed at the bottom of the Northern General Hospital site and that the Hospital Trust should have a responsibility to find their employees alternative car parking as local residents would ultimately pay for the privilege of parking outside their own homes if they are forced to purchase parking permits following the implementation of a Parking Permit Scheme.
	In response to questions from members of the public, the Area Co-ordinator stated that a request would be made to the Hospital Trust to see if they would be willing to provide any funding towards the continuation of the B1 and B2 services as they were the only services that served the Hospital campus by travelling round the site. He added that proposals regarding the construction of a multi-storey car park on the Hospital site were being progressed, with the Hospital Trust looking to work in partnership with another body in order to raise the necessary finance.