Minutes of previous meeting 17th November 2004

            Ten local schools had been supported through working with teachers and pupils to develop projects including the improvement of school grounds, planting trees and orchards, living willow sculptures and herb gardens as well as delivering lessons in the classroom and at sites managed by the project.

•  Matthew North outlined future projects which the Steel Valley project would be undertaking.  These included production of a website to give local people access to information collected concerning local green sites in order that they might have an input to taking care of the local environment.

• Development of the heritage trails project “Stone to Steel” working with the local community to explore and record what makes the area around Stocksbridge unique as well as improving the accessibility of local countryside

•  Setting up and managing a local nature reserve on Town End Common, Deepcar which contains rare habitats and species of wildlife important both nationally and regionally

• Working with local schools to explore opportunities and to provide support to deliver the National Curriculum using school grounds and sites managed by the Steel Valley Project

• Working with a local artist to put in place a series of sculptures on several sites managed by the project

• Working with Sheffield Housing to identify areas of land owned by them and to work with the local community to improve such sites for people and wildlife

• Continuing to work together with local land owners including Corus, Engineering Steel and Sheffield City Council to manage and improve sites for the benefit of local people and wildlife.

6.

MANAGEMENT OF COUNCIL OWNED WOODLAND IN NORTH SHEFFIELD

            Nick Sellwood, Parks, Woodlands and Countryside updated the Panel on the latest position regarding the management of Council owned woodland in particular focus on woods in the Peak District.  A twenty year plan for the woods was developed in 2000 with a large number of stakeholders, governing the management of coniferous woodlands including the felling, replacement and replanting regime to create an increasingly diverse environment.  Felling work had been undertaken to encourage younger trees to flourish and to improve the structure of the woodland which was thought more sustainable and improved wildlife habitats and provided a better setting for recreation.  In future care would be taken to avoid large scale felling of woodland and a mix of species would be planted with conifers being managed as a crop which could be felled to create income and fund other activities in woodlands including the laying of footpaths.  Some additional rights of way had been added in the last few years and signage would be improved to improve the environment for people using woodlands for walking and leisure.  In addition, a limited amount of education work was undertaken by the Ranger Service.

            The forestry work in the City’s woodlands was overseen by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) which undertook an annual audit of the Council’s performance. As such, the Council's woodland management approach was meeting international standards of sustainable forest management.

            In response to a question concerning the possible future adoption of the former Middlewood Hospital site Nick Sellwood stated that adoption of the area was likely and that Officers were currently in discussions with the developer, Bloors who it was hoped would secure the site boundary, clear fly-tipping, install footpaths, undertake health and safety work and pass over the site in a suitable condition for adoption by Parks, Woodlands and Countryside from where it could be maintained.

            A discussion was held on the situation as regards the fossil forest which had been re-exposed and mapped with some materials being taken to Weston Park Museum, and the rest of the site having reburied in an organised way and protected. It was intended that an information board, describing the site and its unique character be erected in due course

            A further question was raised regarding the status of trees on a number of new building developments which were damaged or knocked down during building work.  In response Nick Sellwood stated that such trees were overseen by enforcement officers within Planning Services and might be protected by Tree Preservation Orders.

            A question was raised regarding damage to iron railings at Yew Trees Lane and New Road to which Nick Sellwood responded that work was being undertaken to renew the fencing and posts which had perished with age. This work would be completed in the New Year

7.

LOCAL TRANSPORT SCHEMES

            The Chair outlined two Village Gateway and Signage schemes for which approval had been requested from the Area Panel at Midhopestones and another at Bolsterstone. These would be funded by the Area Panel's Local Transport Schemes, small schemes, budget. Members of the Panel agreed to support the schemes.

8.

PARISH COUNCIL MATTERS

            Malcolm Glover, Bradfield Parish Council raised concern at the limited funding available for dog waste bins.  Councillor Martin Brelsford commented that the costs of emptying bins, rather than the installation were significant and ongoing and, in addition, the Chair suggested that the Parish Council’s Environment Group should correspond with the Area Panel Co-ordinator.

            A question was raised concerning the speed limit signs on Worrall Road which indicated conflicting speed limits.  John Charlton stated that he would investigate this matter.  In addition, the Panel’s attention was brought to the condition of 4 Shaw Gardens.

9.

AREA CO-ORDINATOR’S REPORT

            Copies of the Area Panel Co-ordinator’s report were circulated at the meeting.  The report for November concerned regeneration activities supported by the Area Panel which included:

• A number of Area Panel meetings had been held to share information on proposals for the Corus site, Smithy Wood, Thorncliffe and Claywheels Lane and in the future on the Hesley Wood site

• The Area Panel supported the work of NARP (North Area Panel Regeneration Partnership) which took a lead in co-ordinating regeneration activity across the area and in the development of an action plan

• The Panel supported the work of the Yorkshire Rural Community Council (YRCC) and the NARP to continue the work of the village appraisal process and to develop a rural villages forum and in addition the Panel continued to support the development of the High Green Community Forum and worked with Stocksbridge Community Forum.

10.

DATE OF NEXT MEETING

            The Panel noted that the next meeting would take place on Wednesday 15th December 2004 at Stannington.  A special meeting on the draft brief for the Corus site would take place at Stocksbridge on Thursday 18th November 2004 stating at 6pm at the Stocksbridge Works and a further special meeting would take place on Monday 22nd November 2004 to consider the PFI funded school at Grenoside and starting at 6pm at Grenoside Primary School.