North Area Panel Minutes 18th January 2006

NORTH AREA PANEL

Meeting held on 18th January, 2006

PRESENT:		Councillors Trevor Bagshaw (Chair), David Baker, Kathleen Chadwick and Graham Oxley.

		Representatives of Panel Partners:-
		Nick Sellwood, Parks and Woodlands
		Fran Hill, Countryside Planning, Development Services
		Rachael Wileman, Sheffield First
		Councillor Norman Garratt, Ecclesfield Parish Council
		Lynne Hilson, Sheffield Futures
		Councillor Denise Fearnley, Ecclesfield Parish Council
		Lindsay Berry, High Green Community Forum
		Pam Horner, South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive

		Council Officers:-
		Anne Blantern, Area Co-ordinator
		Matthew Rush, Area Action
		Jason Dietsch - Committee Secretariat

		Approximately 22 members of the public, including representatives of Panel Partners attended the meeting.

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1.	APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE FROM MEMBERS OF THE PANEL
	Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Alison Brelsford, Martin Brelsford, Arthur Dunworth and Alan Hooper.

2.	WESTWOOD COUNTRY PARK
	The Panel received a presentation from Nick Sellwood, Woodlands Officer, Sheffield City Council, in relation to initiatives undertaken at Westwood Country Park to improve the park for local people and to restrict unauthorised access. A grant of £10,000 had been received from the Home Office to undertake access control work and in relation to an Education Project in partnership with Groundwork. Other partners included the Parish Council, High Green Community Forum, the Police, the Area Panel and North Sheffield Conservation Group.
	Nick Sellwood outlined the following measures which had been put in place. Firstly, that Greaves Lane entrance fencing had been replaced and a bridle stile had been installed so that no vehicles could gain access to the site. As a result there had been a reduction in incidents of fly tipping and vehicular access to the site and he reported one incident of a burnt out vehicle situated outside the park at the front of the entrance.
	Along the Trans-Pennine Trail a single 'K barrier' and gate had been installed which had secured the site in the area behind the PACES Centre where previously there had been evidence of use of the route by quad bikes and the PACES Centre had agreed to lock the gates during the night. To the side of the PACES Centre another 'K barrier' had been installed.
	Elsewhere in the park, boulders and additional fencing had been installed as had barriers which had all proved to decrease illegitimate access and use of the park.
	The Home Office grant had also been used to encourage people to use the park for legitimate purposes and an event was planned for 19th March, 2006, organised with Park Rangers, the Forum, Activity Sheffield and North Sheffield Conservation Group to encourage people for example families to use and enjoy the park. Publicity relating to this event would follow.
	Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council had also received funding to improve the woodland in the park under their jurisdiction.
	Panel Members and members of the public asked questions in relation to Westwood Country Park and responses were given as follows:-

	Q. When would work be undertaken at Grenoside Wood to remove fencing erected by a developer?

	A. Councillor Trevor Bagshaw informed the questioner that on 15th March, 2006, the Area Panel would hold a meeting at Grenoside and an item on the agenda for that meeting would relate to parks and woodlands and he hoped that action would be taken in relation to this matter to be reported at that meeting. Nick Sellwood added that fencing had been left in the wood although it was not impeding any right of way and was not considered to be damaging to the woodland. The buildings in the woodland were a matter for the Council's Planning Officers. Councillor Bagshaw informed the questioner that he had documentation for him in relation to this matter.

	Q. A question was asked in relation to the status of a particular by-way/footpath.

	A. Nick Sellwood responded that the highway was privately owned as it was routed from the Chapeltown direction and the gate would be re-welded and stone boulders would be placed on site. He emphasised that this was a right of way.

	Q. Councillor David Baker asked a question in relation to disabled access at Westwood Country Park main entrance.

	A. Nick Sellwood responded that all new barriers would be 'K barriers' which had been approved by the City's Access Forum, which included representatives of disabled people’s groups. Other barriers such as that on Greaves Lane were 'A frames' which could accommodate smaller wheelchairs only. Consideration could be given to replacing existing 'A frames' with 'K frames', although any such programme would be subject to costings.

	Q. What work was being done in relation to Charlton Brook and the Dam given that litter and debris in the water affected both leisure use and wildlife?

	A. Nick Sellwood agreed to respond to the questioner in relation to this site.

	Q. A question was asked in relation to the ownership of a path and land from the bottom of Greaves Lane to the A61.

	A. Nick Sellwood confirmed that the City Council owned and part of Westfield Country Park within the Sheffield boundary and the land the other side of the A61 was owned by Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council. It was confirmed by a member of the public that this land was formerly Coal Board land.

	Q. Did the Police have powers to confiscate quad bikes?

	A. Nick Sellwood stated that an increasing number of complaints were being received in relation to the use of quad bikes and the Police were able to warn offenders and then confiscate the bikes.

3.	THORNCLIFFE WOOD AND BLACKBURN VALLEY
	The Panel received a report from Fran Hill, Countryside Planning, Development Services in relation to environmental improvement works planned in the Blackburn Valley. Work had been undertaken with the local community to encourage care for the environment of north Sheffield over the past 15 years and from that work, the North Sheffield Conservation Group and Sheffield Countryside Conservation Trust had been established to carry out practical conservation work. A partnership had been established between the City Council, these groups and the Steel Valley Project called the Sheffield Landscape Trust. A lot of work by the Trust was carried out on green belt land and in relation to old industrial and mining sites which were now reverting back to nature. Work was also undertaken with the South Yorkshire Forest on environmental regeneration and in conjunction with the business community and schools. The Wood Lane Countryside Centre at Stannington was used as a base for this work. In addition, the Trust was looking to improve access into the Trans Pennine Trail from residential areas of the City.
	The Blackburn Valley was a priority area and funding had been received through Objective 1 to employ an additional staff member and to purchase materials to undertake community based environmental improvements on several sites in the Blackburn Valley including Parkin Wood, Hesley Wood, Thorncliffe Pond Site and the Trans Pennine Trail.
	Work at Thorncliffe Pond was outlined. The developers had undertaken to carry out safety improvements to the pond and weir. It was likely that site ownership will pass to the Green Belt Group who work with Sheffield Landscape Trust to improve access to the site, to reduce anti-social behaviour on the site and to improve it for people and wildlife.
	At Parkin Wood, a programme of woodland management and access improvements was being undertaken involving volunteers. Measures included barriers to stop unauthorised vehicles and the use of 'K frames' to ensure access for users, including disabled people. A programme of habitat management was also being undertaken. The partnership work with Ronseal in relation to the management of the Woodland was also acknowledged.
	Schools were involved in these initiatives both from High Green and Chapeltown.
	The North Sheffield Conservation Group also had a tree nursery in Ecclesfield and the community and local schools were involved various community and school tree planting projects in north Sheffield. The PACES school were involved with environmental projects including access improvements and had established a sensory garden and undertook arts projects. Several environmental arts projects involving Ci Arts had been organized, involving all High Green Primary schools, for example, as part of the Childrens Festival, in 2005, environmental poems were performed by children at Thorncliffe Wood.
	In response to a question from Councillor Norman Garratt, Ecclesfield Parish Council, in relation to Thorncliffe Pond, Fran Hill stated that progress had been made with the Developers in relation to the Pond and management would be passed to the Green Belt Company once the developers had completed initial engineering works. She affirmed that the Parish Council were included in discussions in relation to the Pond and stated that if progress were not made she would consent to the offer made via Councillor Bagshaw previously of support from both the Area Panel and Parish Councils.
	In response to a question relating to an application for a public right of way from Thorncliffe Road to Mafeking Place, Fran Hill stated that she would request the Rights of Way Team at the City Council to investigate the progress of this application.
	It was agreed to note the report, together with the questions and comments made.

4.	SHEFFIELD FIRST ENVIRONMENT STRATEGY
	The Panel received a presentation from Rachael Wileman, Sheffield First, in relation to the work of the Sheffield First for Environment Partnership and the development of the Environment Strategy 2006 to 2010.
	The Partnership included representatives of the Council, organisations such as Yorkshire Water and British Waterways, the Universities, the Environment Agency and locally based organisations such as Sheffield Wildlife Trust, Heeley City Farm and the Heeley Development Trust.
	The Partnership had identified key challenges which were:-

	· re-establish Sheffield as a recycling City and stimulate renewable resource use

	· to substantially reduce environmental impacts of travel and transportation

	· Clean attractive streets and neighbourhoods

	· to enhance and safeguard the City's distinctive, green and built heritage

	· provide high quality, sustainable urban design and construction

	· to engage the business sector with the environmental strategy.

	Task Groups had been established in relation to the identified key challenges and the achievements against each of the challenges were outlined.

	Q. Councillor Graham Oxley asked a question in relation to the measurement of air quality in the suburbs.

	A. Rachael Wileman stated that the Air Quality Team had monitoring stations in the City particularly on main highways, junctions and roundabouts. She could make further enquiries as to the situation of measuring stations and report this to the Ecclesfield Parish Council.

	Q. A question was asked in relation to Sheffield in Bloom and the possibility of locating flower boxes in High Green as had been done in Chapeltown in 2005.

	A. Rachael Wileman stated that businesses in Chapeltown had funded those flower boxes and Councillor Norman Garratt added that fund raising had been undertaken for the display and suggested that a group in High Green establish a similar fund raising body to resource their Sheffield in Bloom Project. He informed the questioner that on 25th January, 2006, a meeting would be held at the Town Hall, Sheffield, at 6.00 p.m. in relation to the In Bloom process.

	On behalf of High Green Community Forum, Lindsay Berry informed the Panel that the Forum wished to establish an Environment Theme Group, which might tackle key issues in the High Green area or could consider broader environmental themes. A display was available for Members to view at the Panel meeting and she requested that interested parties sign up to express their interest in participating.

	Q. The condition of Mortomley Park and the prevalence of dog litter in the vicinity of Wortley Road and a condition of the footpath through the Park were raising concerns.

	Concern was expressed in relation to bus services and, in particular, the lack of heating on buses in winter and litter on buses, which served to deter people from using services.

	A. Pam Horner, South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive, stated that she would take these comments to the Executive. In relation to litter, she said that this was primarily dropped by passengers and the cost of cleaning buses at Interchanges was particularly prohibitive although this had been tried. Most was dropped by young people in the form of bottles and cans. Schools were spoken to in relation to this problem and in Ecclesfield for example school children did use the service buses. The matter was difficult for bus drivers to police.

	In relation to litter at bus stops, the area surrounding the stops were cleaned by Street Force.

	Q. A further question was asked in relation to action against bus drivers who wore earpieces whilst driving and in response the Panel were informed that drivers had been disciplined in relation to this matter previously.

	The Chair, Councillor Trevor Bagshaw reported in relation to Charlton Brook, which had been raised previously by a questioner, that tree work had been undertaken to open up the area around the Brook and to improve safety. There were in addition, safety concerns in relation to a considerable drop along one pathway. Through the Section 106 process approximately £20,000 had been allocated to improve that part of Charlton Brook but this did require community involvement.
	The location was used for both fishing and the pond was also a wildlife habitat. Public discussion was needed to accommodate both of the benefits to users that of fishing and the wildlife habitat. Councillor Bagshaw stated that he would contact interested parties in relation to the allocation of Section 106 monies and encouraged local people to approach the Panel to make their views known. In addition, a meeting would be held at the beginning of February with the Director of Parks, and Countryside to discuss this issue amongst others of concern in the North area.

	Q. In relation to Charlton Brook there were a number of abandoned trolleys in the Brook and these would need to be cleared as part of any environmental improvement.

	Q. A question was asked to Rachael Wileman in relation to publicity materials produced by Sheffield First and its perceived lack of relevance to local issues and events in the City or environmental achievements such as the Entente Florale. The questioner had previously raised this issue with representatives of the City Council.

	A. Councillor Trevor Bagshaw undertook to request that Sheffield First and the Leader of the Council respond to the questioner in relation to this matter.

	Q. Concern was expressed at the lack of day-to-day maintenance in the City's parks from the point of view of friends groups of both Chapeltown and High Green parks.

	A. Such work as routine pruning and the maintenance of footpaths were not being attended to. The questioner requested that this be brought to the attention of the Director of Parks and Countryside.

	Q. Would the Council be distributing recycling bins for food stuffs, waste and garden waste.

	A. In response Rachael Wileman stated that other concerns had been expressed in relation to the amount of waste collection containers at residential properties and the Council together with ONYX were examining how any extension of the Recycling Initiative might be managed. She suggested that residents could take food waste to composting bins sited around the City and that wherever possible, people might attempt to compost their own waste in their gardens.

	Councillor Trevor Bagshaw asked whether the supply of fireproof bins could be considered given the number of arson attacks on bins.
	Councillor Bagshaw also outlined current and future developments in relation to the environment including the building of Grenoside School, which had been designed to be environmentally friendly. He also acknowledged the work undertaken by Councillor David Baker in relation to the In Bloom Initiative. Work was also planned in water corridors in the Upper Don Valley. Public discussion would be held in relation to the Sheffield Development Framework and the options relating to this document would be brought for further public consultation.
	Rachael Wileman stated that the Partnership was looking for examples of best practice across the City and made reference to the award scheme relating to environmental achievement. She requested that members of the public inform the Partnership of any such good practice.

5.	MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING
	The minutes of the meeting held on 14th December, 2005, were agreed as a true record and the Chair, Councillor Trevor Bagshaw, reported that the actions outlined in those minutes had been pursued.
	A question was asked in relation to Low Road, Oughtibridge, and the actions taken to repair pot holes in the carriageway, and the Chair, Councillor Trevor Bagshaw stated that he would request that a report be made to the questioner in relation to the condition of Low Road.

6.	PUBLIC QUESTIONS AND PETITIONS
	The Panel received a petition in relation to Wortley Road and Councillor Bagshaw stated that a response to this petition would be requested from the Director of Development Services and that the matter was to be discussed as a later agenda item.
	A public question was asked in relation to Chapel Green College and in response Councillor Bagshaw stated that the Area Panel had not been involved in this issue but undertook to request that the Council's Children and Young People’s Directorate provide a response to the questioner.

7.	PARISH COUNCIL MATTERS
	Councillor Kathleen Chadwick asked a question in relation to the removal of bollards at the top of Smith Street, High Green, and informed the Panel that she had reported this matter to Street Force.
	Councillor Norman Garratt expressed the Parish Council's concern in relation to safety on a crossing recently installed on Burncross Road, Chapeltown, citing difficulty for pedestrians wishing to cross safely on the crossing. The Parish Council requested the removal of the crossing. In response, Councillor Trevor Bagshaw stated that at the next meeting of the Panel the quarterly Highways update would be included as part of the agenda and this issue could be addressed as part of that item.
	Councillor Bagshaw also reported that a further meeting would be held in relation to the Plan4 Travel in Chapeltown and that the date for that meeting was yet to be arranged.
	The issue of congestion in the vicinity of the School Lane junction, Grenoside was raised and in response Councillor Bagshaw agreed to include this item on the agenda for the meeting in February at which Highways matters would be considered.

8.	ECCLESFIELD JOINT AGENCY ACTION PLAN
	The Panel considered ongoing activities and an Action Plan to address problems in the Ecclesfield area relating to youth nuisance and anti-social behaviour. An outline of the plan had been previously circulated to Panel Members and included partnership working between the City Council, the Police, Sheffield Futures and Sheffield Homes. The Plan had also been endorsed by the Community Safety Forum.
	It was agreed to (i) refer the report to Sheffield First for Safety and Sheffield Futures, (ii) to support the community of Ecclesfield in the development of a village plan and (iii) to request that the Project was the next transformational project for the North Area Panel.