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Minutes of Area Panel 19 September 2007
NORTH AREA PANEL
Meeting held 19th September, 2007, at Angram Bank Primary School, Kinsey Road, High Green
PRESENT: Councillors Alan Hooper (Chair), Trevor Bagshaw and David Baker.
Representatives of Panel Partners:-
Councillor Jonathan Jones - Ecclesfield Parish Council
Councillor Howard House - Ecclesfield Parish Council
Councillor Denise Fearnley - Ecclesfield Parish Council
Lynne Hilson - Sheffield Futures
Jill Lancaster - Sheffield Primary Care Trust
City Council Officers:-
John Charlton - Lead Manager and Director of Street Force
Anne Blantern - Area Co-ordinator
Matthew Rush - Area Action Officer
Cate Jockel - Transport Planning
Ashley Carnall - Road Safety Team
Andy McKie - Transport Planning Team and Link Officer (North Area)
Jason Dietsch - Committee Secretariat
26 members of the public and representatives of Panel Partners attended the meeting.
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Action
1. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE FROM MEMBERS OF THE PANEL
Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Kathleen Chadwick, Martin Davis, Patricia Fox, Graham Oxley and Vickie Priestley.
2. PUBLIC QUESTIONS AND PETITIONS
Kieran and Matthew Bond presented a letter to the Panel in relation to recreation and play facilities for young people in the Burncross area and requesting in particular the installation of facilities such as bike jumps and football posts. The Chair, Councillor Alan Hooper, thanked Kieran and Matthew for their letter and presentation and requested that a response be made to their letter. Area Panel
3. HIGH GREEN CONSULTATION EVENT
A report produced by Jill Lancaster, Sheffield Primary Care Trust and Anne Blantern, North Area Co-ordinator, was circulated at the meeting in relation to a consultation workshop held in July, 2007. Anne Blantern informed the Panel that a workshop had been held in July, 2007, which brought together approximately 30 partners working in the High Green community. The workshop followed a similar format to a successful event held in February, 2007 in Wharncliffe Side, the results of which had informed the development of the Area Plan. The purpose of the event in High Green was to inform priorities for action and develop a plan for the High Green area and subsequently to contribute to the Area Plan for 2008/09.
A variety of points arose from the event and these included a greater focus on engagement and community involvement; to build the capacity of community organisations to increase sustainability; partnership to develop a strategy and targets and to secure funding; problems to be overcome of access to services and isolation, particularly for older people; addressing public transport needs and reducing congestion; improving facilities and to deliver training and adult learning; co-ordination and promotion of health services; more local delivery of health services; more activities for younger people; long term funding to ensure sustainability of activities; building upon community safety meetings; and to promote what was available and successes.
It was proposed that a newsletter be produced and delivered to all households in the High Green area, the responses to which would inform priorities and, in addition, meetings could be held with any groups in the area to discuss the priorities and development of a plan.
A wider consultation would inform a draft plan produced jointly with partners working in High Green, which it was intended would be agreed early in the New Year.
The Chair, Councillor Alan Hooper, referred to inequalities in the High Green area and to the need for improved service provision. He also referred to arrangements for an event, which, it was hoped, would be held in January, 2008 (entitled the Healthy, Wealthy and Warm Event). Jill Lancaster stated that in February, 2008 in partnership with the City Council, the Primary Care Trust would be arranging an event focusing upon young people to ascertain the views of young people and an event was planned in the New Year to promote smoking cessation.
Councillor Alan Hooper also made reference to the importance of partners in developing plans for the area, including the High Green Forum and Ecclesfield Parish Council.
The report was noted and it was requested that a further progress report be made to a meeting of the Area Panel in December, 2007. Area Co-ordinator
4. WORTLEY ROAD – HIGHWAY PROPOSALS
A presentation was made by Cate Jockel, Transport Planning Team, who addressed the Panel together with Ashley Carnall, Road Safety Team and Andy McKie, Transport Planning Team, in relation to proposals for Wortley Road.
It was likely that proposals would be taken to a meeting of the North and West Planning and Highways Board on 9th October, 2007 and these had been informed by a consultation with local residents, facilitated by a meeting of the North Area Panel on 5th July, 2007. The primary issues raised as part of the consultation included parking, High Green School, buses and bus stops.
Parking
Officers had agreed to consider reducing the number of double yellow lines and single yellow lines where possible and the operational times of single yellow lines, giving priority to residents at times when there were less buses. Particular factors which were taken into consideration included road widths and numbers of buses at different times of the week. The changes that had been proposed were to reduce the desired clear road width outside of the times when there were a high frequency of large vehicles and this would reduce the extent of proposed parking restrictions. It was also proposed that single yellow lines be in force when bus numbers were high (i.e. Monday to Saturday 0800 to 1830 hours). It was to be recommended to the Planning and Highways Board that the draft Traffic Regulation Order be approved and would only be implemented for Monday to Friday. This would be reviewed after several months and the outcome of this review would be reported to the Area Panel.
High Green School
Officers had agreed to consider safety issues at the school in greater detail and to confirm what was feasible. A wider footway would be constructed outside of the school, which would include a barrier/bollards. A zebra crossing had also been investigated but there was insufficient road and pavement width to accommodate one.
Buses and Bus Stops
Residents had expressed concerns during consultation in relation to the number of buses on Wortley Road and had asked officers to approach the Traffic Commissioner.
Officers had decided not to make an approach to the Traffic Commissioner as it was not felt appropriate to promote a traffic regulation condition on Wortley Road. The volume of buses was an issue across the City, with several roads in a similar position. It was the view of officers that the best way forward was to seek additional regulatory powers.
A number of consultation responses had requested that the into city bus stop be moved, rather than the out of city bus stop, as this would mean less distance to walk uphill to the shops. A site visit was required by representatives of the City Council, the Passenger Transport Executive and South Yorkshire Police to confirm that a safe location was available and the outcome of this visit would be reported to the Planning and Highways Board.
Members of the public were requested to notify the Committee Secretary at the West and North Planning and Highways Area Board on 9th October, 2007 at 2.00 p.m. if they wished to make spoken representations at the meeting. Letters would be sent to residents confirming the Board date and informing the public of how to access the full report, which will be made to the Board.
Members of the Area Panel and the public in attendance at the meeting made comments and asked questions in relation to the presentation now made and responses were given as follows:-
· Widening of the path outside of the School would serve to obstruct and hold up vehicles using the road. It was confirmed that the width of the carriageway would still allow for two vehicles to pass outside of the school.
· An alternative was suggested whereby the gate be set back further in the school entrance and the questioner referred to discussion held with the headteacher regarding this proposal. It was suggested that the questioner approach the Head of Property in the Children and Young People’s Directorate, Mark Peat.
· Restricted waiting along the highway would be enforced by Parking Enforcement Officers and this would be most prominent in the early period after the completion of the scheme and subsequently enforcement would be according to how the scheme was used.
· A resident of Wortley Court expressed concern that the keep clear sign at the entrance to the Court was ignored and asked whether double yellow lines would apply to the entrance to Wortley Court which was frequently blocked by large vehicles parking. In response, the public were informed that double yellow lines could only apply to highway and in relation to enforcement the police had powers to remove vehicles causing obstruction whilst the officers of the City Council could take enforcement in relation to vehicles parked in breach of waiting restrictions.
· It was considered that moving the bus stop would be beneficial as this reduced the walking time between certain stops.
· It was felt that the measures did not address the problem of buses mounting the footway on Wortley Road, endangering pedestrians.
· The plan might increase the speed of traffic on Wortley Road and reference was made to the possibility of establishing a 20mph zone to make the road safer.
· John Charlton, Director of Street Force, stated that City Council Car Parking Enforcement Officers would, initially, oversee the behaviour of people parking on Wortley Road and after that initial period, the area might become a “hot spot” with officers attending at random to patrol the road. A telephone number was available for the City Council’s Parking Enforcement Service.
· The main difficulty on Wortley Road was that of parked cars and buses and it was considered by one member of the public that the plans would make little difference to difficulties experienced in the past for residents of Wortley Road. The questioner noted a number of buses with very few passengers on board and expressed concern that the City Council had not taken issues up with the Traffic Commissioner. He felt that congestion was the primary issue rather than road safety.
· Because buses were not regulated, this complicated and limited the extent to which the Council could influence operators. Damage to road surfaces caused by buses was also highlighted.
· Cate Jockel responded, stating that officers would monitor speed of vehicles using Wortley Road following the implementation of the proposed changes, although the view was that the traffic speeds would not increase. In relation to buses mounting the footway on Wortley Road, that was one of the primary areas of concern, which the scheme wished to address, whilst meeting other requirements. Council officers would review the scheme, once implemented. In relation to the implementation of a 20mph limit on Wortley Road, Andy McKie stated that such zones were primarily for residential areas. Similarly, if the road were to be made a one-way route, speeds were likely to increase. One-way bus operation had been put to the bus operators and the Passenger Transport Executive, which had indicated that they did not accept this for operational reasons. There were also no plans to reduce the number of buses using Wortley Road.
· It was clarified that some evening bus services using Wortley Road were subsidised, but daytime services were run commercially.
· Councillor Trevor Bagshaw asked whether the feasibility of erecting a barrier along one side of the entire length of Wortley Road had been considered so as to stop vehicles mounting the pavement and the Panel were informed that it was considered that waiting restrictions as proposed were adequate to allow enough room along Wortley Road for vehicles to pass safely without needing to mount the pavement.
The presentation by members of the Transport Planning Team was noted and Cate Jockel, Andy McKie and Ashley Carnall were thanked for their contribution to the meeting.
(A plan of proposed changes to Wortley Road was displayed at the meeting and copies were also available for members of the public to take away. It was suggested that copies should also be placed in the Parish Council offices and at High Green School).
(NOTE: Councillor Alan Hooper declared an interest in the above item as he was a member of the West and North Planning and Highways Board and took no part in the discussion thereon).
5. PARISH COUNCIL MATTERS
There were no matters raised by Members of the Parish Councils.
6. MINUTES
The minutes of the meetings of the Panel held on 3rd July, 2007, 18th July, 2007 and 24th July, 2007 were agreed as true records. The minutes of the meeting held on 5th July, 2007 were agreed as a true record, subject to the addition that Councillor David Baker took the Chair for item 2 because Councillor Alan Hooper had declared an interest in that item which related to proposals for Wortley Road and Councillor Alan Hooper was a member of the West and North Planning Board.
Matters Arising from the minutes of the meeting held on 18th July, 2007
Anne Blantern reported that a planning application for the development of a Children’s Centre at Stocksbridge had been submitted in relation to the site at the former Victory Club.
In relation to storm damage and highways matters addressed by John Charlton, Director of Street Force at the meeting on 18th July, John Charlton now briefed the Panel in relation to the A6102 and A61.
Despite hopes that the A61 would be restored to full use and re-opened by the end of the school holidays, the damage and failure of the road surface was deeper than had been initiailly thought and the highway would require a contiguous piled wall to strengthen the road and make sure that it did not fail in future. A geotechnical survey had been undertaken and expressions of interest had been requested from specialist contractors. Throughout this process, it was intended that one side of the highway be kept open, although at some point the road would need to be closed and it was intended this would be for a minimal period of time. It was also intended that tenders for the work be returned before the end of October, 2007 and that work could start on site before Christmas and be completed, weather dependent, early in 2008. John Charlton expressed gratitude for the tolerance of local people and those using the highway and stated that the City Council wished to implement a lasting and permanent solution to the highway.
Following a question from a member of the public, John Charlton stated that the bend section of the A61 would remain, because funding from the Department of Transport for restoration of highways following the flood damage would not include highway improvement and if the bend in the road were to be straightened the City Council would need to fund this itself, which it did not have the resources to undertake.
Concern was expressed by a member of the public that large vehicles might be routed along Wortley Road when the A61 was closed and a member of the public also stated that a weight restriction on Wortley Road, which had been signed, had been removed. John Charlton undertook to investigate this matter. John Charlton
Councillor Alan Hooper stated that an update on the A6102 and A61 would be included in a future meeting of the Area Panel.
John Charlton stated that, in relation to the A6102, the costs of repair and restoration were thought to be in excess of £4m due to the scale of engineering works and it could not be said with certainty when works to the highway would commence. It was also recognised that the diversion through Worrall (due to the closure of the A6102) was not a satisfactory situation and it was intended that the highways used for the diversion would be resurfaced and, prior to this, the road safety options included within the resurfacing work would be consulted upon.
7. ROLLING ACTION CHECKLIST
The Panel received further information in relation to the Rolling Action Checklist, which recorded matters raised at previous meetings of the Area Panel and action taken as a result.
The following points were noted:-
(Reference number 1) It was clarified that the airey type homes on School Lane were to be refurbished as part of the Decent Homes Programme.
Ref. No.3. In relation to resurfacing at the brow of Lound Hill a notice detailing the dates for resurfacing had been released and it was hoped that this would commence in November.
Ref No.29. Councillor Alan Hopper confirmed that bids had been submitted by Bradfield Parish Council and Sheffield City Council in relation to the restoration of Coronation Park, following damage caused by the flooding in June, 2007.
Reference Nos. 30 and 31: It was clarified that those matters relating to the A6102 and A61 concerning the route of HGVs and diversion routes avoiding minor roads were transport and highways matters.
8. IN BLOOM COMPETITION RESULTS
Councillor Alan Hooper outlined the results of the In Bloom competition and expressed congratulations to communities in the north area for their participation in the competition and achievement and gave thanks to Parks and Countryside and Street Force for their assistance. The results for the Panel area were:
Small Village Category - Bolsterstone (Silver) and Bradfield (Silver)Large Village - Burncross (Silver) and Grenoside (Silver)Urban Community - Stannington (Silver) Small Town - Stocksbridge (Silver Gilt).
Councillor Hooper also stated that it was hoped that a Working Party could be established so that High Green might enter the In Bloom Competition in 2008 and that bulbs had been ordered for High Green. It was also noted that Sheffield Homes were to undertake planting of mature trees in High Green.
John Charlton stated that Street Force staff would be available to assist in the establishment of an In Bloom entry for High Green. He also noted that Sheffield City had achieved a Gold award in the In Bloom competition and that they would represent Yorkshire and the Humber in Britain in Bloom. He noted that the competition judges had been overwhelmed by the community support and improvements to environmental quality.
Councillor Alan Hooper stated that an award ceremony had been held for the In Bloom competition in Hull and a further ceremony would be held in Sheffield on 24th September, 2007. Councillor David Baker’s role in initiating the In Bloom process during his time as Lord Mayor of Sheffield was also recognised.
9. DATE OF NEXT MEETING
It was noted that the next meeting of the Area Panel would be held on Wednesday, 17th October, 2007 at 6.30 p.m. at a place and venue to be confirmed.
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