North Area Panel Minutes 12th December 2007

NORTH AREA PANEL

 

 

Meeting held 12th December, 2007, The United Reformed Church, Manchester Road, Stocksbridge

 

PRESENT:

Councillors Alan Hooper (Chair), Trevor Bagshaw, Alison Brelsford, Martin Brelsford and Martin Davis.

 

 

 

Representatives of Panel Partners:-

 

Councillor Jack Clarkson

-

Stocksbridge Town Council

 

Councillor Marion Davis

-

Stocksbridge Town Council

 

Elaine Reilly

-

Police Community Support Officer, South Yorkshire Police

 

Joanne Holt

-

Sheffield Futures

 

Mark Dransfield

-

Dransfield Properties Limited

 

Gavin Ward

-

Dransfield Properties Limited

 

 

 

 

 

City Council Officers:-

 

 

 

Anne Blantern

-

Area Co-ordinator

 

Matthew Rush

-

Area Action Officer

 

Jill Beaumont

-

Neighbourhoods and Community Care

 

Ian Wright

-

Neighbourhoods and Community Care

 

Paul Gordon

-

Development Services

 

Liz Cook

-

Neighbourhoods and Community Care (Housing Strategy)

 

Mike Shaw

-

Street Force

 

Jason Dietsch

-

Committee Secretariat

 

 

 

 

                                    Approximately 12 members of the public and representatives of Panel Partners attended the meeting.

 

………………..

 

 

 

Action

1.

APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE FROM MEMBERS OF THE PANEL

 

 

            Apologies for absence were received from Councillors David Baker, Kathleen Chadwick, Patricia Fox, Graham Oxley and Vickie Priestley.

 

 

 

 

2.

PUBLIC QUESTIONS AND PETITIONS

 

 

            Councillor Marion Davis, Stocksbridge Town Council, expressed concern that Stocksbridge did not receive adequate and timely gritting in winter periods, particularly compared to other local authority areas.  She referred to the temperature difference between Stocksbridge and more southerly parts of Sheffield.  Mike Shaw, Street Force, responded that members of the Panel and Town Council would be informed of the location of temperature sensors on the highway network, which also informed the Winter Maintenance Team at Olive Grove.  The Council’s gritters had a response time of 3 hours from notification for precautionary grits and Councillor Alan Hooper referred to the decision to grit diversionary routes following the closure of a section of A6102 Middlewood Road.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mike Shaw/Street Force

 

            Reference was made to temporary traffic control on Worrall Road, near the Golf Club.  Councillor Trevor Bagshaw reported that he had spoken to Simon Botterill, Transport and Highways, who had informed him that the traffic control had been set up due to works planned to a blocked culvert.  However, these works would not now take place and the Council were seeking the removal of the traffic control and associated traffic lights.  Mike Shaw stated that he would obtain further information and liaise with Transport and Highways. Councillor Bagshaw referred to potential drainage difficulties on the corner at which the traffic lights referred to were located, due to the dip at that location.

 

 

            Councillor Jack Clarkson, Stocksbridge Town Council, asked whether the (A6102) diversion was considered to be a priority route for public transport and, in response, Mike Shaw stated that the diversion route had been added to the primary routes for gritting. 

 

 

            A resident of Whitwell Lane, Stocksbridge, asked questions in relation to blocked drains opposite her home, which had been reported to Street Force who had undertaken some works but following rain, water collected at the frontage to her property.  She also referred to the statement by Street Force that a land drain was required to alleviate drainage difficulties, although she had also been informed that resources were not currently available.  Reference was also made to the poor surface of the Lane, particularly since the flood in June 2007. 

 

 

            Councillor Jack Clarkson, Stocksbridge Town Council, stated that although culverts were sometimes cleared, the remaining debris was left on the highway and quickly blocked the drain once more.  Mike Shaw, Street Force, undertook to obtain further details from the questioner and to examine the issues raised further.  Councillor Martin Davis stated that he had contacted Street Force with regard to water runoff and the condition of the highway surface at that location and Street Force had patched the road in response.  Councillor Martin Brelsford added that many local roads were in poor condition following the June floods and had only been patched.  Although some highways had been resurfaced, local people were concerned that such maintenance and repair was being carried out at a relatively slow pace.  Councillor Alan Hooper suggested that a site meeting be held with the questioner, a representative of Street Force and local councillors and that an action plan be established following this meeting.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mike Shaw

 

            A question was asked in relation to the site previously identified for a Children’s Centre in Stocksbridge and reference made to the traffic survey undertaken as part of the planning application.  The questioner remarked on the results of this survey, which drew attention to problems with car parking, the width of pedestrian footways and a lack of dropped kerbs and enquired as to whether improvements identified in the planning application would be undertaken despite the application failing to obtain planning approval.  The questioner was informed that their concerns would be passed to the appropriate officers in Transport and Highways. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Area Panel/Transport and Highways

 

           

 

3.

PROPOSED REGENERATION SCHEME IN STOCKSBRIDGE FOLLOWING OUTO KUMPU’S DECISION TO RELOCATE ITS ANNEALING PLANT

 

 

Mark Dransfield, Dransfield Properties Limited, gave a presentation to the Panel in relation to the development of the Outo Kumpu site, which would include a food store and other retail elements.  He stated that previous consultation with members of the public had informed the developer’s approach to the design of elements of the site. The proposals for the site had subsequently been submitted to the Urban Design Panel and, in the light of comments made at that meeting, Dransfield Properties and the Scheme’s architect had sought to modify the proposals to include:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Members of the Panel were shown sketch elevations of the proposals and Mark Dransfield stated that one of the key considerations for the developer was to create a link to the existing town centre in Stocksbridge to enable pedestrian and vehicular movement and the new design paid greater attention to the character of the area and offered a more exciting scheme.

 

 

It was proposed that a planning application could be submitted in approximately February or March 2008.  Paul Gordon, Development Services, stated that Dransfield Properties had undertaken considerable changes to the Scheme to address the comments of the Urban Design Panel.  He confirmed that once a planning application had been submitted, it would take approximately 13 weeks for the application to be decided.  Major concerns for the developer had been to create linkages to Stocksbridge centre, to deal with the differing level of the site, which was some 12 metres below that of Manchester Road, and to consider the scheme layout.

 

 

Mark Dransfield confirmed that shopping impact and transport assessments had been undertaken, together with archaeological studies and the main issue remaining for Dransfield Properties as developer was the built form of the development.

 

 

It was also confirmed that due to the nature of flood risk, the site was to be raised by one metre.  Paul Gordon stated that notification would be made to statutory consultees and be placed along the highway to notify local people.  It was also likely that groups representing retailers and other businesses such as the Chamber of Trade and the Chamber of Commerce would be informed of the application.

 

 

Members of the public and the Panel commented upon the presentation and asked questions and responses were made as follows:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

·        Councillor Martin Brelsford commented that regeneration was a priority for Stocksbridge and considerations such as Urban Design should be secondary to this aim. Mark Dransfield stated that he wished for the site to have longevity and comprise attractive buildings, which would appeal to retailers.

 

 

 

 

 

·        Councillor Alison Brelsford expressed concern that the development should encourage and accommodate local businesses as well as national or international chains to locate in Stocksbridge, and in response the Panel were informed that multi-nationals were also required to recapture trade in Stocksbridge but this should be balanced with opportunities for local businesses to locate on the site and possibly relocate within Stocksbridge to the new site.  Councillor Brelsford also indicated her support for the fact that the new scheme was sympathetic to the area’s heritage.

 

 

 

 

 

·        Councillor Martin Davis commented that he hoped that similar attention was paid to the design and detail of housing which was to be developed on the former Corus site in Stocksbridge and that the developer was able to raise the levels within the site so as to enable access to the existing town centre.

 

 

 

 

 

·                    Councillor Jack Clarkson, Stocksbridge Town Council, commented that the Scheme would potentially create jobs and that it presented an opportunity for the existing former industrial fabric to be refurbished to a high standard.

 

 

 

 

 

Concern was expressed at vacancies among the existing shops on Manchester Road, at least 3 of which were empty and had been for some time, and the Panel were informed that retailers required certain facilities such as access for deliveries and customers required adequate car parking.

 

 

It was confirmed that the plans used as part of Dransfield Properties presentation would be displayed at the Town Council and that further consultation would take place in the future.

 

 

            The Chair, on behalf of the Panel, thanked Mark Dransfield for the presentation.

 

 

 

 

4.

OLDER PEOPLE’S HOUSING SOLUTIONS FOR STOCKSBRIDGE

 

 

Liz Cook, Sheffield City Council (Housing Strategy), addressed the Panel in relation to the provision of new housing options and choices for older people in Stocksbridge.  She introduced Jill Beaumont, Project Manager for Older People’s Housing in Stocksbridge, and Ian Wright, Assistant Manager, Housing Independence.

 

 

She stated that the Decent Homes programme intended to bring all public sector housing stock to a good standard and the programme would be implemented within a framework of the existing stock condition and value for money.

 

 

Sheltered schemes in Stocksbridge, including Sweeney House and Balfour House would be decommissioned and residents of these schemes had been consulted in relation to their needs and aspirations.  Possible developments in relation to housing for older people included supported housing and extra care housing.  Residents in sheltered schemes had also expressed a wish for independence and it was increasingly clear that a range of options would be required for older people’s housing.

 

 

Further consultation would be undertaken in the New Year and this would inform the development of a detailed proposal and project plan.  Liz Cook cautioned that the proposals would be constrained by such factors as finance, land availability and planning constraints.  Funding options were also being explored and new build for older people’s housing had been identified as a resource need in the Housing Corporation’s 2008/2011 forward programme.  Liz Cook also pointed to the Council’s good record in delivering extra care housing programmes and homes for older people.

 

 

Members of the public and members of the Panel made comments and asked questions in relation to housing options and choices for older people and responses were given as follows:

 

 

 

 

 

·        Councillor Martin Davis commented that a lot of older people wished to live independently.  He also referred to the plan proposed by Sheffield Homes in February 2007 to designate some housing blocks for people aged 40, 50 and 60 plus.  However this plan had not been realised and accommodation had been made available for general tenancy.  He also expressed concern that local Members should have been kept better informed of the plans relating to Newton Grange, Balfour House and Sweeney House.

 

 

 

 

 

·        Councillor Trevor Bagshaw referred to consultation regarding the development of housing on the Corus A site and substantial demand for extra care type housing and he also commented that there was significant amount of land available on the Corus site for such development.  Councillor Bagshaw asked to what extent private developers of such schemes could be influenced to address community needs in relation to older people’s housing.  In response, Liz Cook stated that there may be need for sites in addition to the three existing sheltered housing schemes owned by the City Council and a search would be undertaken with regard to the potential need to purchase another site.  It was also accepted that there was an ageing population, many of whom would wish to live independently and therefore suitable housing needed to be developed, which was likely to be mixed tenure so as to include housing for sale, shared equity housing and social rented accommodation.

 

 

 

 

 

·        A member of the public referred to difficulties in relation to leaseholders and to anti-social behaviour, which adversely affected older people in what had been retirement accommodation but was now increasingly used for general tenancies in Stocksbridge.  Liz Cook acknowledged that there were particular issues with regard to leaseholders and the issues raised by Councillor Martin Davis concerning age redesign were also of relevance.  She expressed the wish to discuss the options further with local Members.

 

 

 

 

 

·        Comment was made that Sheffield Homes had kept the local Tenants and Residents Association well informed in relation to changes to sheltered provision in Stocksbridge and that there were links between housing and appropriate health provision.

 

 

 

 

 

·        Councillor Marion Davis, Stocksbridge Town Council, requested that the Town Council be addressed in relation to the new housing options and choices for older people.

 

 

 

 

 

·        Councillor Jack Clarkson, Stocksbridge Town Council, commented that the lettings policy of the City Council allowed younger people to be housed in accommodation, which might be inappropriate so that their different lifestyles adversely affected the lives of older people living in the same accommodation block.  He expressed concern that housing officers did not always act in relation to anti-social behaviour contracts for particular individuals.  In response, Liz Cook stated that the vast majority of local authority tenants were older people and the next largest group were younger people.  The allocations policy of the Council favoured people in the greatest need, including those with children.  It was a challenge for the Council to appropriately allocate its stock of properties so as to provide for the two distinct groups, namely older people and younger people, who demanded local authority housing.

 

 

 

 

 

·        Councillor Martin Brelsford stated that there was a tradition of older people living among the community in Stocksbridge and it was now in some cases felt that older people were isolated in their own homes.  He stated that, in future, there would be increased demand for housing for older people.  Liz Cook stated that the Council required a high standard of accommodation to replace existing accommodation and also needed to consider the needs of older people, including support for carers.  She confirmed that community care services would also be represented on the project group considering housing options and choices for older people.

 

 

 

 

 

·        Liz Cook confirmed, following a question from Councillor Alan Hooper, that there were no firm closure dates for the sheltered accommodation at Sweeney House and Balfour House as there was still demand for places in these schemes, which were likely to remain open until new accommodation was available.

 

 

 

 

 

The Panel noted the report and the responses to questions and comments.

 

 

 

 

5.

AREA CO-ORDINATOR’S REPORT

 

 

 

 

 

North Area Action Plan 2007/08  -  Review

 

 

Anne Blantern, Area Co-ordinator, presented a report detailing the Area Panel’s activity in the last six months and illustrating progress made against the priorities set out in the Panel’s one-year action plan.

 

 

Areas of progress related to the environment, community safety, transport and traffic, supporting communities and regeneration.

 

 

Anne Blantern reported that the application submitted for Leader funding as part of the Rural Development Programme had been successful and the bid had now progressed to stage two. 

 

 

Members of the Panel and the public made comments and asked questions in relation to the report and responses were made as follows:

 

 

 

 

 

·        Councillor Marion Davis, Stocksbridge Town Council, expressed concern at the use of satellite navigation equipment and the increasing number of heavy goods vehicles using inappropriate roads, which was a safety concern.  There was also some concern that satellite navigation systems should be updated regularly so as to account for changes in routes or diversions such as that in place because of the closure of part of the A6102.

 

 

 

 

 

·        Councillor Jack Clarkson, Stocksbridge Town Council, raised an issue concerning the possibility of extending access to community safety meetings to all members of the public and possibly changing the time of the meetings to facilitate more members of the public being able to attend and Councillor Martin Davis stated that community safety meetings should be for the community to give them an opportunity to discuss community safety issues other than directly with their Town Councillor or the local Police Constable or Police Community Support Officer.  In response, members of the Panel were informed that other community safety forums were not open to the public.

 

 

 

Discretionary Grants

 

 

Anne Blantern informed the Panel and members of the public and community groups that approximately £4000 was available from the Panel’s Discretionary Budget in the form of small grants and guidance and application forms were available to local groups such as those involved in the In Bloom initiative and for projects such as small environmental works, local cleanups, community safety projects and new equipment.  Applications for grants were welcomed and it was likely that a ceiling would be put on each grant of approximately £400.  The deadline for applications for grants was 25 January 2008.

 

 

Councillor Alan Hooper informed Members of the Panel that the planning application submitted to the Council as planning authority in relation to the Children’s Centre in Stocksbridge was approved.

 

 

The Panel noted the report together with the comments made and answers to questions received.

 

 

 

 

6.

PARISH COUNCIL MATTERS

 

 

There were no additional matters raised by members of the Town Council.

 

 

 

 

7.

MINUTES

 

 

The minutes of the meeting of the North Area Panel held on 21 November 2007 were approved as a correct record and arising therefrom Anne Blantern reported that a meeting had been held between Kate Clark, Parks and Countryside, Sheffield City Council, and the Friends of Charlton Brook in relation to plans for the Charlton Brook Open Space.  Kate would be invited to the next meeting of the Area Panel to report on progress in relation to Charlton Brook.

 

 

In relation to the section of highway between Wharncliffe Side and Oughtibridge, Members of the Panel had observed conflicting and confusing signage in relation to the maximum speed limit and Street Force were requested to investigate this matter.

 

 

 

Mike Shaw

 

 

 

8.

ROLLING ACTION CHECK LIST

 

 

The Panel noted the rolling action checklist, which detailed actions identified by the Panel at meetings to the 21 November 2007.  A revised check list was circulated at the meeting, indicating additional areas of progress.  Comments were made as follows:

 

 

(Action No. 48)  Mike Shaw informed Members that the wall at the Bridge Inn public house, Hollow Gate, had been reported to the Dangerous Structures section for their attention.

 

 

Comments were made by Councillors Martin Brelsford and Martin Davis in relation to the proportion of affordable housing identified within the proposed Sheffield Development Framework.

 

 

 

 

9.

DATE OF NEXT MEETING

 

 

            It was noted that the next meeting of the Area Panel would take place on Wednesday, 16th January, 2008, at 6.30 p.m. at Grenoside Primary School.