Joint Meeting of the Darnall Area Panel and the Tinsley Forum Minutes 22nd November 2007

JOINT MEETING OF THE DARNALL AREA PANEL

AND THE TINSLEY FORUM

 

Meeting held on Thursday 22nd November 2007

at Tinsley Methodist Church, Ingfield Avenue, Tinsley

 

PRESENT:

Councillors Mazher Iqbal (Chair) and Mary Lea

 

 

 

Representatives of Panel Partners:-

 

 

 

 

 

Sylvia Hamilton

)

Darnall Forum

 

Neil Hamilton

)

Darnall Forum

 

Maurice Littlewood

-

Handsworth Forum

 

Barrie Lancaster

-

Sheffield Over 50s

 

Ally Mogg

-

South Yorkshire Police

 

Peter Tooher

-

E.ON

 

Sheila Sutherland

)

Tinsley Forum

 

Eric Finbow

)

 

 

Alan Burrows

)

 

 

Abid Rahim

-

Sheffield Futures

 

 

 

Officers in attendance:-

 

David Curtis

)

Development Services

 

Debbie Merrill

)

 

 

Fiona Champion

-

East Regeneration Team

 

Chris Neild

)

Sheffield Primary Care Trust

 

Lyn Brandon

)

 

 

Sarah Lucas

-

Area Coordinator

 

Gillian Capewell

-

Committee Secretariat

 

 

 

 

 

Approximately 20 members of the public and representatives from local community groups attended the meeting.

…………………..

 

 

 

Action

1.

APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE FROM MEMBERS OF THE PANEL

 

 

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Harry Harpham and Mick Rooney.

 

 

 

 

2.

MINUTES OF THE LAST MEETING

 

 

            The minutes of the Darnall Area Panel meeting held on 6th September 2007 were approved as a correct record.

 

 

 

 

3.

ENHANCED PUBLIC HEALTH PROGRAMME

 

 

            Chris Neild and Lyn Brandon delivered a presentation upon the Enhanced Public Health Programme which was being rolled out across Darnall and Tinsley. Lyn Brandon explained how life expectancies in Darnall and Tinsley were below the average for Sheffield, and that levels of heart and lung disease, stroke and infant mortality were all higher than the City average.

 

 

            She commented that the National Health Service (NHS) was trying to implement preventative measures to health care and disease, rather than tackling the problems once they had developed. These preventative measures had included a podiatry event to teach people about foot care, healthy eating clubs, Tinsley in Bloom festival, community allotment working groups and an East End quality of life event.

 

 

            She added that the Neighbourhood Renewal Funding, which supported the Programme, was due to end in March 2008 and that officials were working with the Sheffield Primary Care Trust (PCT) to source alternative funding via the submission of a business plan.  

 

 

            In response to a comment from a member of the public about the lack of green open space in Tinsley and subsequent impact on air quality, Chris Neild replied that the air quality in Tinsley was constantly monitored, and was not at the illegal threshold, adding that many proactive measures were in place to improve the air quality in Tinsley. However, a member of the public commented that they lived on Ferres Road, and the general air pollution, grit and dirt from the surrounding area was terrible.

 

 

            Maurice Littlewood added that the public were entitled to know details about a proposed new housing development and ‘township’ on the Waverley estate near Rotherham. It was agreed that this would be an agenda item for the next meeting of the Area Panel.

Sarah Lucas

 

            The Panel noted this information and the Chair thanked Chris Neild and Lyn Brandon for their presentation.

 

 

 

 

4.

HOUSING MARKET RENEWAL (HMR)

 

 

            Fiona Champion reported upon consultation which was taking place across Darnall and Tinsley via the creation of Neighbourhood Groups, which comprised local elected Members, representatives from community groups and members of the public.

 

 

            It was also noted that a Neighbourhood Centre Study was being carried out across Darnall and Tinsley to check the viability and sustainability of all the neighbourhood centres across the East Area Development Framework, with a report upon this due at the end of March 2008. She added that a funding bid had also been submitted to ‘Transform South Yorkshire’ for funding for the period 2008 to 2011 for HMR activity in the area. She added that it was unlikely that this funding announcement would come before March 2008.

 

 

 

 

5.

101 NON-EMERGENCY NUMBER

 

 

            Ally Mogg reported upon the 101 non-emergency number, which had been introduced across South Yorkshire in June 2006.  He commented that there was a great deal of evidence to suggest that the introduction of the number had made significant improvements to many communities across South Yorkshire, with the service having received approximately 90,000 contacts since its commencement. 

 

 

            However, he went on to explain that the 101 number had been a Home Office pilot scheme and that despite positive feedback and Home Office recognition of the success of the Service in South Yorkshire, funding had not been secured from the Home Office to continue providing the service, and current funding would run out in March 2008. He added that it would be difficult to secure further funding at present as the budget planning process for the 2008/09 financial year was nearing completion. 

 

 

            He explained that this situation left South Yorkshire Police with two options; either withdraw the service entirely or fund it themselves. He added that Cable and Wireless would continue to provide the phone line for the service if South Yorkshire Police wished them to do so.

 

 

            He added that many positive comments had been received from members of the public, and Mr. Mogg also thanked the Chair for the positive comments he had made on Radio Sheffield, and commented that Councillors Chris Weldon and Jan Wilson had both written to local Members of Parliament (MPs) about the situation.

 

 

            Sylvia Hamilton asked Mr. Mogg what he believed the savings made by the Police since the introduction of the 101 number to be, to which Mr. Mogg replied that the introduction of the number had definitely reduced the number of calls made to 999, allowing the emergency services to concentrate on 999 calls more effectively. He added that the Home Office had promised a certain amount of ‘exit’ money in March 2008. Alan Burrows added his thanks to Ally Mogg and his team for the delivery of the 101 number, commenting that it had made a positive impact on the off road illegal motorbike problem in the Tinsley area. He encouraged people to write to their local MPs and protest against the cut in funding for this valuable service. Maurice Littlewood echoed these comments by expressing thanks to Mr. Mogg on behalf of the Handsworth Forum, and the Chair recognised how valuable the service was through his role as Cabinet Advisor for Safety.

 

 

            The Panel noted this information and the Chair thanked Ally Mogg for his presentation.

 

 

 

 

6.

BIOMASS INSTALLATION

 

 

            Peter Tooher reported upon the proposed Biomass plant at the Blackburn Meadows site in Tinsley, commenting that a planning application was to be submitted on 17th December 2007. He added that the Government had an agenda for cutting carbon emissions, and that the proposed plant would provide renewable energy for Sheffield via the burning of biomass.

 

 

            He commented that E.ON had carefully considered all the potential factors that could impact on the area, such as air quality, odour emission, flood risk, landscaping issues, transport generation, visual appearance and noise from the incinerator and explained what E.ON were doing about each issue. He added that the estimated emissions from the chimney stack would be within the limitations set by the European Union. He also added that in light of the floods of June 25th 2007, the site had been carefully risk assessed for potential flood damage.

 

 

            He went on to explain that the chimney stack would be approximately 90 metres tall, with the existing cooling towers being 76 metres in height. He added that E.ON had considered importing the biomass materials via canal, but that this was not a viable option.

 

 

            He reported that three consultation events had been held in the surrounding area, and that 213 people had attended in total. Further to the submission of the planning application in December 2007, he added that a decision would be made in Spring 2008, with the appointment of a contractor to follow in Autumn 2008 should the application be successful.

 

 

            He added that the plant would employ 20 full time staff, with catering services to be outsourced. He also added that between three and four lorries would be transporting materials to the site every hour over a ten hour day. A member of the public expressed their concern over this, commenting that the pollution from the lorries would outweigh the benefits of the renewable energy produced by the plant.

 

 

            Another member of the public expressed concerns that the local community was not benefiting in any way, to which Mr. Tooher replied that the plant would provide jobs and energy for the area. A question was asked about how much consultation had taken place with local residents, to which Mr. Tooher replied that every affected household had received a questionnaire but there had been a low response. It was clarified that E.ON had chosen this particular site for the plant as the company already owned it, and it was close to the motorway network, with the biomass materials being imported from a 50 mile radius.

 

 

            A member of the public asked whether local residents would be eligible to receive a reduction in the price of their electricity and gas. In response, Mr. Tooher replied that this was not possible, but reported that E.ON would be providing resources through the Section 106 planning mechanism for allocation in the local area.

 

 

            The Panel noted this information and the Chair thanked Peter Tooher for his presentation.

 

 

 

 

7.

PUBLIC QUESTIONS AND PETITIONS

 

 

             A member of the public asked a question about a proposed ‘halfway house’ hostel to be built near to High Hazels Park, enquiring whether there would be a 24-hour warden on site. Councillor Mary Lea replied that a meeting was to be held about the proposed hostel on 27th November 2007 at 7.00 p.m. at the Church of Christ on Station Road, with South Yorkshire Housing to be in attendance, and it was agreed that the questioner would ask those questions at that meeting.

 

 

 

 

8.

PROGRESS OF SCHOOLS FOR TINSLEY

 

 

            It was noted that there was no progress to report on the issue of schools in Tinsley, and that the Government had not yet set out its funding allocations for schools for 2008/09.

 

 

 

 

9.

BAWTRY ROAD SPEED REDUCTION SCHEME

 

 

            The Area Coordinator distributed a report which had been requested upon a speed reduction scheme which was planned for Bawtry Road, with monies to be provided through the Small Highways budget. Neil Parry commented that the scheme had already been delayed a number of times, and in response, the Area Coordinator reiterated that accident statistics determined where resources were allocated to. 

 

 

            The Chair added that there were no further updates to report in relation to the Bawtry Road Feasibility Study. 

 

 

 

 

10.

ROLLING ACTION CHECKLIST

 

 

            The Panel gave consideration to the rolling action checklist, and with regard to the item on Page 5 relating to the installation of mosquito boxes, the Area Coordinator reported that they had not yet been installed.

 

 

 

 

11.

DATE AND TIME OF NEXT MEETING

 

 

            It was noted that the next meeting of the Panel would be held on Thursday 24th January 2008, at 6.30 p.m. at a venue in Handsworth to be confirmed.