Darnall Area Panel Minutes 25th May 2006

DARNALL AREA PANEL

Meeting held on the 25th May, 2006, Tinsley Methodist Church, Ingfield Avenue, Tinsley

PRESENT:		Councillors Mazher Iqbal (Chair), Harry Harpham and Mary Lea

		Representatives of Panel Partners:-
		Helen Fentimen	-	South East Sheffield Primary Care Trust
		Nicky Warburton	-	Sheffield Homes

		Officers in attendance:-
		David Curtis	-	Lead Manager
		Stella Mekonnen	-	Area Co-ordinator
		Mark Swancott	-	Area Support Officer
		Sarah Thomson	-	Committee Secretariat

		34 members of the public and representatives from local community groups attended the meeting.

…………………..

1.	COUNCILLOR MARY LEA
	Councillor Mazher Iqbal, the newly appointed Chair of the Panel, thanked Councillor Mary Lea, the former Chair of the Panel, for the contribution she had made to the work of the Area Panel.

2.	APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE FROM PANEL MEMBERS
	There were no apologies for absence from Panel Members.

3.	MINUTES OF THE LAST MEETING
	The minutes of the meetings of the Panel held on the 30th March, 2006 were approved as a correct record.

4.	CURRENT PROPOSALS FOR G.P.’S SURGERIES IN THE DARNALL/TINSLEY AREAS
	Helen Fentimen, Chief Executive, South East Primary Care Trust, provided an update on the proposals for General Practioners Surgeries in the Darnall and Tinsley Areas.
	She commented on the headline changes in the National Health Service and how the panel area would be affected. Ms Fentimen indicated that there were a number of changes which had been implemented by Government including the introduction of Practice Based Commissioning which included opportunities for local GP’s to amalgamate and work in Partnership.
	In relation to local issues, Ms Fentimen reported that GP’s were being requested to work in partnership, in order to share their experiences and skills whilst, remaining in independent buildings but under the operation of one management team.
	Ms Fentimen referred to the proposed future reorganisation of the City’s four Primary Care Trusts to a single Primary Care Trust and which she anticipated would be in place by October, 2006.
	With regard to the Lift Project in Darnall, Ms Fentimen commented that it was intended that new premises would be constructed on the Corner of Prince of Wales Road and Station Road.
	In answer to questions regarding consultation with members of the public, Ms Fentimen commented that services would not be forced to move into the new premises of the Lift Project and that Lift would only be the provider of a building for people to rent room space. She added that discussions would take place with the community in relation to what services they would like to see in the Lift development.
	Chris Kearton, South East Primary Care Trust, commented that the PCT were currently working on a public consultation programme, in order to move the project forward.
	A local representative referred to the lack of community representation on the Lift Project and in response Ms Fentimen commented on the formal structure of the Board, which she stated was chaired independently and included an NHS Director in addition to a range of Strategic Partners. The Board would collate a Strategy to determine which services they wished to see in the new development. She added that local people could participate in local discussions as detailed planning had not yet been determined.
	In relation to the implementation of changes, Ms Fentimen stated that changes to practice working and alterations to the provision of funding would take place simultaneously adding that budgets to GP’s were based on their current service use and therefore GP’s would get better value for money if they worked in partnership.
	In response to questions as to whether there would be any changes in the Tinsley area, Ms Fentimen commented that there were no plans to relocate the Highgate Surgery and added that it was necessary to ensure that practices continued to operate as normal.
	A local resident expressed concerns with regard to residents who had been unable to attend the meeting as English was not their first language. In response Ms Fentimen commented that consultation would be undertaken with the black and minority ethnic community adding that she would ensure that appropriate interpreting measures were in place to allow the black and minority ethnic community to express their views.
	A local resident proposed that Ms Fentimen submit an article on the proposed changes to the Tinsley Tribute in order for black and minority ethnic communities and other members of the community to be updated on PCT issues.
	Dr Czandena, representative from Darnall Community Health Practice, commented that Darnall Community Health Practice, Highgate Surgery and Prince of Wales Road Surgery were holding discussions in relation to the merger. He added that they could see that there were a number of advantages arising from the amalgamation, but at the same time wanted assurances that this would be maintained by the PCT and that alternative procurement options would not be considered.
	Dr Czandena commented that staff from the three GP Surgeries intended to discuss the proposed amalgamation and to exchange ideas which he believed would improve their services.
	Chris Kearton, South East PCT referred to the staff concerned in the proposed amalgamation adding that staff were of mixed views and had expressed a number of concerns in relation to the proposed merger of the Surgeries and the long term future of their jobs, however, Mr Kearton indicated that there was no intention to make staff redundant.
	Ms Fentimen commented that £11.5 million was spent on the provision of healthcare for patients in the Darnall area, with individual budget allocations to practices based on their previous expenditure.
	In response to whether the PCT were responsible for the proposed savings to be made in the area, Ms Fentimen stated that the funding allocation to each GP Surgery would be reduced, but she envisaged that there would not necessarily be reductions to the service.
	In relation to the operational hours of the Surgeries, Ms Fentimen commented that discussions were being held in order to better co-ordinate staff holidays to ensure that holiday cover could be maintained, a process which she added would assist in the reduction of costs, with the continuation of an efficient service.
	The Chair thanked Ms Fentimen for her contribution to the meeting.

5.	SHEFFIELD HOMES UPDATE – AREA K DECENT HOMES
	Nicky Warburton provided an update on Sheffield Homes, Area K, which she commented had recently been renamed Area R. She reported that the Decent Homes Programme was due to start in Tinsley during the Summer 2006, and would include refurbishment packages to properties including replacement double glazed windows, new doors, rewiring to properties where necessary and replacement kitchens and bathrooms.
	Ms Warburton commented that letters would be sent to tenants informing them that work was due to commence in their area.
	She stated that Sheffield Homes representatives would be in attendance at the Tinsley Festival on the 17th June and the Darnall Festival on the 8th July, 2006 in order to display examples of kitchens and bathrooms for tenants to view.
	In relation to matters arising from the refurbishment works, Ms Warburton commented that it was intended to establish a project group in order to discuss any issues identified with regard to the refurbishment work. It was envisaged that the group would consist of officers and tenants.
	Councillor Mary Lea referred to the Darnall, Attercliffe and Tinsley Neighbourhood Development Framework and the proposed demolition of homes in the Panel area and added progress on the Decent Homes programme would depend on the final proposal of the development framework. She stressed that the Decent Homes Programme would be subject to the outcome of a feasibility study relating to the development of Tinsley.
	Councillor Harry Harpham stated that the two schemes would dovetail, therefore ensuring that no refurbishment work would be undertaken on those homes included in the proposed demolition programme.
	In response to questions as to which contractor had been awarded the refurbishment programme, Ms Warburton commented that Meers Contractors had been appointed as the contractor for the project adding that each property would take approximately 12 weeks to complete. Work would be completed in a methodical order with external works being completed first.
	In relation to the availability of respite facilities Ms Warburton commented that the contractor would provide a comfort caravan for tenants to use in order to escape the work being undertaken in their home.
	In answer to questions regarding the budget allocation for the refurbishment work to be undertaken in Tinsley, Ms Warburton stated that the budget allocation had not yet been agreed and added that property surveys were being undertaken in the area to determine what works was required.
	The Chair commented that an update on the HMR Project would be included on the agenda at the next meeting of the panel to be held on 20th July, 2006.
	Steven Makepeace, Darnall Fire Station, stated that he would like to ensure that tenants were provided with smoke alarms following the refurbishment of their homes. The Chair suggested that Mr Makepeace left his contact details for Ms Warburton in order to link the provision of smoke alarms with the Decent Homes Programme.
	The Chair thanked Ms Warburton for her contribution to the meeting.

6.	PROPOSAL FOR BIOMASS ETHANOL PLANT ON BLACKBURN MEADOWS
	The Chair reported that Tinsley Community Forum had received an email in relation to the presentation on the proposal for the construction of a Biomass Ethanol Plant on Blackburn Meadows, requesting that this item be deferred to a future Area Panel meeting.
	The Panel noted this information.

7.	PUBLIC QUESTIONS AND PETITIONS
	The following questions were raised by members of the public and responses were provided as follows:-
	A local resident referred to the box junction at Handsworth roundabout junction, and indicated that he had raised the same issue at an Area Panel meeting during April 2005, in relation to road markings to prevent drivers from parking across the junction. He expressed his concerns with regard to the work that had been implemented in order to resolve the issue where a box junction had been introduced although he felt that the box junction was approximately 20 metres short and still caused obstruction on the existing slip road. In response David Curtis commented that Dick Skelton, Transport Planning Team, had agreed to examine this matter further.
	In response to concerns regarding the City’s bid for a Super Casino, Mr Curtis commented that there were eight authorities on the shortlist in this region, adding that all bids would need to be examined in order to determine which location the Super Casino would be developed.

8.	DATE AND TIME OF NEXT MEETING
	It was noted that the next meeting of the Panel would be held on Thursday, 20th July, 2006, at 6.00 p.m., at a venue to be confirmed.

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