North Area Panel Minutes

	NORTH AREA PANEL


	Meeting held 17th September, 2003 at Stannington School, Nook Lane, Stannington

			PRESENT:		Councillors David Baker (Chair), Victoria Bowden and Kathleen Chadwick.

			Representatives of Panel Partners:-
			Alan Hooper			-	Ecclesfield Parish Council
			Janet Linton
			Lynette Jackson			-	Bradfield Parish Council
			Ruth Saffrey			-	Sheffield West Primary Care Trust

			City Council Officers:-
			John Charlton			-	North Area Lead Manager
			Anne Blantern			-	North Area Co-ordinator
			Jane Harrison			-	North Area Support Officer
			Vicki Savage			-	Partnership Development Officer
			John Challenger			-	Committee Secretariat
			Sarah Thomson

			28 members of the public attended the meeting.
		……………

1.		WELCOME TO ENVIRONMENT GROUPS
		At the commencement of the meeting the Chair welcomed members of the Environment Groups working in the North area and expressed his gratitude for the work undertaken by them on behalf of the community.

2.		WORK OF ENVIRONMENT GROUPS
		John Charlton, gave a presentation on the work of the Environment Groups. He stated that the Environment Groups meet on a quarterly basis to share their experiences and overcome problems and indicated that the work carried out by the Groups which commenced annually in the Spring now extended to all year round, whether it be a litter pick with one or two people or in larger groups. The City Council provided the Groups with equipment such as protective gloves and bags in order to assist them in their clean up process. John Charlton also reported that the Council provided the Groups with bulbs for planting each year, and added that a number of community Groups including scouts, guides, churches, local Post Offices, Stannington Action Group, etc., participated in the planting process. He stressed that the work undertaken was carried out on a voluntary basis, by those who wished to help in making the area more enjoyable in terms of environmental amenity.

		The Panel noted this information.

3.		PRESENTATION OF CERTIFICATES TO NORTH AREA ENVIRONMENT GROUPS
		The Chair welcomed and introduced the Lord Mayor, Councillor Diane Leek, to the meeting and stated that the Lord Mayor would present certificates to the Environment Groups in recognition of the hard work and dedication they had shown in improving the environment of the area. The Lord Mayor then thanked the Panel for inviting her to the meeting and presented certificates to the following Environment Groups and congratulated them on their work:- Ø Loxley Valley Protection Society Ø Action for Stannington Ø Friends of Chapeltown and High Green Parks Ø Stocksbridge, Steel Valley and Upper Don Project Ø Oughtibridge Environment Group Ø Grenoside Conservation Society Ø Friends of Ecclesfield Ø Friends of Foxfield Springwood Ø Friends of Glen Howe Park Ø Worrall Environment Group
4.		APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
		Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Arthur Dunworth, Patricia Fox and Graham Oxley.

5.		REGENERATION IN THE NORTH AREA
		Update on the North Area Regeneration Partnership
		The Area Co-ordinator reported on the progress of the North Area Regeneration Partnership. She welcomed to the meeting Ms Vicki Savage who had been appointed as the Partnership Development Officer and had been in post since mid August. She stated that Ms Savage was meeting with all the partners and getting to know the area and the issues affecting it. She added that the Partnership had held a meeting on the 17th September, 2003, and it had been agreed that the partners would sign the final version of the Partnership constitution at the meeting scheduled for 19th November, 2003. The official launch of the North Area Regeneration Partnership (NARP) would be held in November with a training day being organised for Board members in order to support the Partnership Development Officer and establish the aims of the Partnership. The Area Co-ordinator suggested if anyone wished to meet with the Partnership Development Officer she could be contacted at Grenoside Council offices on telephone number 203 7153. A local resident requested that the Area Co-ordinator provide further details on the boundaries of the Partnership. In response the Area Co-ordinator explained that the Partnership covered the North Area Panel area. This included Stocksbridge, Chapel-Green and South Wortley Wards which also include the Parish Councils within the area.

		The Loxley Valley
		A local resident enquired as to whether the City Council could encourage private business/commercial developers to relocate to already established developments in the Loxley Valley, utilising Objective 1, Priority 4 money.
		Another local resident stated that the North Area Panel Regeneration Board should be in a position to assist developments within the community. He added that the Loxley Valley Protection Society produced a document indicating what in the Society's view should be developed in the Valley and stated that it was important for the community to work together to protect the environment.
		It was agreed that the Area Co-ordinator would report back to a future meeting of the Panel on the matter, including the role of the community and the Loxley Valley Protection Society.

		The Environment Network
		A local resident enquired as to whether the Environment Network still met and in response the Area Co-ordinator stated that the last meeting of the Environment Network was held in July. She added that prior to the Area Support Officer leaving the North Area Panel, he had sent out questionnaires to members of the Group requesting details of specific topics with which to schedule future meetings around .
		It was agreed that the Area-Co-ordinator would seek to re-establish Environment Network meetings and provide further details to a future meeting of the Panel.

6.		MINUTES
		Meeting held 16th July, 2003
		The Panel received and approved the minutes of the meeting held on 16th July, 2003 and arising from consideration of the Action Checklist from that meeting the following issues were discussed:- (a) Progress made in implementing small highways works funded by the £10,000 budget allocated to the Area Panels for the City Council's Local Transport Plan budget At the meeting on 16th July, 2003, a question concerning the allocation of funding for minor highway works was raised and the Chair had stated that a written response would be provided to the questioner. The original questioner indicated that a response had not yet been received and asked why this was so. The Chair stated that he would endeavour to investigate the question raised and provide a written response prior to the next meeting. It was agreed that an officer from the Development, Environment and Leisure Directorate would report to the next meeting of the Panel on this issue. (b) Additional Taxis to make the departure of members of the public from Scandals more efficient Councillor Kathleen Chadwick indicated that she had spoken with Inspector Clarkson who had made contact with a further number of taxi firms in the City who had indicated that they were unable, for business reasons, to maintain a continual taxi availability outside the Scandals Club. (c) Bring Out Your Rubbish Day A local resident reported that the recent 'Bring Out Your Rubbish Day' in Grenoside had been a great success. He added that leaflets for the High Green 'Bring Out Your Rubbish Day' were scheduled to go out on Monday 22nd September, 2003.

		(d) First Quarter Statistics from the Highways Agency John Charlton, Lead Officer reported that he had been unsuccessful in contacting the Highways Agency with regard to being provided with various statistics although he would continue to pursue the matter further and report back to a future meeting of the Area Panel. A local resident enquired as to what statistics were requested as he was interested in identifying the number of people prosecuted for speeding. John Charlton stated that it would be the Police who would provide details of people prosecuted for speeding and not the City Council and added that the statistics required were to determine whether the number of accidents on the Stocksbridge By-Pass had reduced.

		(e) Refurbishment of Mortomley and Thorncliffe Parks
		A local resident indicated that he had attended two recent meetings of the City Council at which he had asked questions regarding the progress of the refurbishment of Mortomley and Thorncliffe Parks and sought clarification on the progress of these two issues.
		The Chair responded that the contracts for the Project had now been issued.

7.		PUBLIC QUESTIONS AND PETITIONS
		The following questions were raised by members of the public and responses were provided as follows:-

		Q.		Had planned improvements to the road crossing outside Stannington Infants School at the top of Nook Lane progressed?

		R.		John Charlton reported that the Road Safety Scheme near Stannington Lane School would be issued for construction during March/April 2004.

				It was agreed that the Chair would investigate and report back to a future meeting of the Panel on the matter.

		Q.		A local resident enquired whether the Area Panel could make a contribution towards a litter bin on the Woodfarm Estate?

		R.		The Area Co-ordinator stated that there was sufficient Neighbourhood Renewal Funding monies available to site litter bins in the area, although she would have to identify whether or not there were resources available to empty additional litter bins, but that she would investigate the matter and report back to a future meeting of the Panel.

		Q.		A local resident enquired whether the Area Panel could invest additional funding into Chapeltown and High Green Parks?

		R.		John Charlton, reported that a Best Value Review had been undertaken into Parks, Woodlands and Countryside, in 2002/03. The Best Value Review recognised that the City Council needed to invest additional monies, although the City Council needed to identify the source of such investment during 2004/05. He added that additional funding was dependent on a range of issues but particularly on the level of income received by the City Council through the Council Tax, Government funding etc.

		Q.		A resident enquired as to the availability of funding for Stannington Park and stated that the only investment they had received was from a local group. She added that the Deer Park Playground had received additional funding this year and when she enquired as to where the funding had originated from, it was alleged that the monies had been received from the City Council in order for them to purchase new play equipment. The resident enquired as to whether it would be possible to provide the previous questioner with details of other sources of funding?

		R.		The Chair responded that it was possible that the funding received was probably Section 106 money (relating to Section 106 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990) and which was provided by housing developers under an agreement with the City Council for spending to upgrade or provide open spaces, children's play facilities, etc. He believed that in many cases the most appropriate solution is to improve existing public open spaces rather than create new spaces. It was usual for developers to ask the Council to design, construct and adopt these as public open spaces. Consequently, Planning Obligation money (Section 106 Agreements) were required to transparently and openly describe how and why sums of money are paid to the Council for these purposes. Supplementary Planning Guidance "Open Space Provision In New Housing Development" explained when and why contributions needed to be made and provided a method for calculating the amount of the contribution.
				The Chair stated that he would investigate the matter and report back to a future meeting of the Panel.

		Q.		A local resident, enquired as to whether the allocation of parks funding could be a future agenda item?

		R.		The Area Co-ordinator indicated that she would examine the request in the context of the Panel's Work Programme.

8.		PARISH COUNCIL MATTERS
		Refurbishment of Thorncliffe and Mortomley Parks and obstruction to public footpath at Queensgate Ecclesfield Parish Councillor Alan Hooper expressed concern regarding a number of issues including delay in the commencement of a scheme of refurbishment to Thorncliffe and Mortomley Parks, High Green and the progress of a petition submitted to the Council in July, 2003 concerning the subject of any action which had, so far, not been taken in relation to the private fence obstructing a public footpath in Queensgate. He also added that a number of Council officers had previously visited the site, although no further action had been taken.

		Little Matlock Lane
		Bradfield Parish Councillor Lynette Jackson expressed concern regarding work carried out on Little Matlock Lane during February/March 2003 to clear woodland so as to create a car park and also fell trees and drain the fishing dam causing damage to wildlife and loss of amenity to local residents. The organisation which had carried out the work submitted a Planning Application at the end of March 2003 which had been discussed by the Bradfield Parish Council on the 7th April 2003. She enquired as to when the application would be considered by the Council's North and West Planning and Highways Area Board and added that the Environment Agency were seeking to prosecute the organisation for the effect on wildlife arising from the draining of the Dam. She sought the support of the Panel for the planning application to be considered by the Board. The Chair stated that he would make enquiries and report back to Bradfield Parish Council on the matter.

		Oughtibridge Danger Reduction Scheme
		Bradfield Parish Councillor Lynette Jackson also enquired as to when danger reduction measures outside Coronation Park, Oughtibridge, would be completed? The Chair reported that he had asked a similar question that morning and would write to Highways Officers on behalf of the Area Panel to establish a completion date for the works.

		Car Parking in Oughtibridge
		A local resident enquired as to whether the City Council were proposing to provide additional parking at Oughtibridge, as there was an alleged loss in car parking as a result of the Danger Reduction Scheme and why there had been a delay in carrying out street lighting improvement works in Oughtibridge? John Charlton stated that he would investigate the matters raised and report back to a future meeting of the Panel.

		Improvement of Pedestrian Access on Oughtibridge Lane
		A local resident commented that he was pleased with the restrictions on Oughtibridge Lane and enquired as to whether the City Council proposed to provide safe access for pedestrians across the railway line in Oughtibridge adjacent to Station Lane. The Chair stated that, this was a rural lane and in view of this it would be difficult to provide safe access on the highway in the prevailing circumstances. A local resident expressed concern and stated that in this case he felt the City Council should examine in detail pedestrian safety measures, as consent for a footpath to go alongside the highway had been granted. John Charlton stated that he would pursue the matter further and provide details of any potential costings for the provision of a pedestrian footbridge across the railway bridge at Oughtibridge Lane to the questioner.

9.		LOCAL ACCESS FORUM
		Trevor Bagshaw, Chairman of the Local Access Forum, addressed the Panel. He provided information on the establishment of the Local Access Forum under the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 and added that the Forum was independent of the local authority and its responsibilities included seeking improvements in the quality and appropriateness of public access for recreation to open country in the Sheffield Highway Authority Area. Mr Bagshaw commented that the Local Access Forum had a significant role in the development of the Rights of Way Improvement Plan which Sheffield was required to prepare and publish by 2007 he went on to draw attention to the Countryside Agency's recently published draft map showing areas of land within the City that they believe meet the criteria for designation as 'open access' under the act. He concluded by informing members of the Panel that the closing date for public comments, was the 2nd December, 2003. The map on public access was currently on display at Howden House, Union Street, Sheffield. He also invited members of the Panel and members of the public to the next meeting of the Forum to be held at the Wood Lane Countryside Centre, 2pm on Friday 19th September, 2003.

10.		DATE OF NEXT MEETING
		It was noted that the next meeting of the Panel would be held on Wednesday, 15th October, 2003 at 7.00 p.m. at the Unity Gardens Meeting Room, Renville Crescent, Ecclesfield.

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