North Area Panel Minutes 14th December 2005

NORTH AREA PANEL

Meeting held on 14th December, 2005 at Lomas Hall, Stannington

PRESENT:		Councillors Trevor Bagshaw (Chair), David Baker, Kathleen Chadwick, Arthur Dunworth and Alan Hooper.

		Council Officers:-
		John Charlton, Lead Manager, North Area
		Anne Blantern, Area Co-ordinator
		Matthew Rush, Area Action
		Jason Dietsch - Committee Secretariat

		Representatives of Panel Partners:-
		Councillor Vickie Priestley, Bradfield Parish Council, Mick Bancroft, Bradfield Parish Council, Councillor John Bailey, Bradfield Parish Council, Anne Shelton, Action for Stannington and Freda Vessey, Action for Stannington.

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

…………

1.	APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE FROM MEMBERS OF THE PANEL
	Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Graham Oxley.

2.	LITTLE MATLOCK WOOD
	The Chair reported that due to the absence of Jon Dallow, Woodlands Officer, the item on Little Matlock Wood would be withdrawn and considered at a future meeting.

3.	STANNINGTON IN BLOOM/ACTION FOR STANNINGTON
	The Panel received a presentation from Anne Shelton and Freda Vessey, Action for Stannington, in relation to Stannington in Bloom. Action for Stannington had launched a campaign to involve more local residents in taking care of the local area and up until the Summer of 2006, were planning to start a series of initiatives focusing on flower displays, the planting of shrubs, repairs to grass verges and generally enhancing the visual look of Stannington.
	A Task Day had been held to work on the Village and young people, including groups of Cubs, Scouts, Brownies and students from the University of Sheffield had been involved in planting and work towards Stannington in Bloom. It was hoped to further involve schools and other groups in the Village.
	John Charlton recalled that, in 2005, Stannington had not entered the Yorkshire in Bloom Competition but had received an award for its recycling project. He informed the Panel that an event would be held on 25th January, 2006, in the Town Hall, Sheffield, for prospective participants in the In Bloom process and he hoped that at that event people would share their experiences of participating in the In Bloom event previously. He added that judging took place both in the Spring and the Summer and that Street Force would work with the community to provide guidance and a clean up of areas to be judged. He stated that Street Force supported the work of Action for Stannington in relation to environmental improvements to the Village, which was in the spirit of the In Bloom, involving the community and increase environmental standards.
	Councillor Arthur Dunworth stated that Action for Stanington were seeking to locate hanging baskets outside of the shops in the Village, but had concerns regarding potential liabilities and John Charlton responded that a guide had been produced, to help local groups, which stated that the City Council would have no objections, providing that baskets were properly secured.
	Following comments concerning the division of Stannington between two Area Panels namely the North Area and Netherthorpe, Hillsborough and Walkley the Chair, Councillor Trevor Bagshaw, requested the Area Co-ordinator to speak to her counterpart for the Netherthorpe, Walkley and Hillsborough Area Panel and Anne Blantern, Area Co-ordinator confirmed that a considerable amount of cross-boundary work had been carried out in Stannington although it was the case that the Lower Stannington area was able to attract funding from certain sources, for which the North Area would not qualify.
	The Chair informed Members of Action for Stannington that the Panel had a small amount of money available for communities to bid for in relation to the In Bloom initiative and Anne Blantern confirmed that information regarding the bidding process for grants would be made available in the New Year and that grants would be made, up to approximately £300.
	Anne Shelton informed the Panel that work had been done in the school and pre-school to raise awareness of recycling. Freda Vessey expressed concern that people in Stannington did not, if they lived for example in the Marchwood area, feel that they had ownership of facilities such as the park at Stannington.
	In response, Councillor Arthur Dunworth stated that the Park was for all people in the Village and surrounding area and that, in addition, local Members wished to ensure that any future developments, such as at the site of the former Loxley College, would safeguard an amount of community recreational facility. He stated that local people needed to work together and comment on proposals as they were put forward for example if more resources were to be directed at the bottom of the Rivelin Valley.
	Councillor Alan Hooper informed the Panel that, for 2006, the judges for the In Bloom Competition would use new judging criteria and that there were wider issues to consider within the In Bloom process such as community and business involvement.
	Councillor Trevor Bagshaw stated that Action for Stannington were an example of good practice in that they were engaged with environmental issues and could set an example in other Area Panel areas in the City.
	John Bailey, Bradfield Parish Council, asked a question in relation to the clean up of litter in relation to which he believed that Bradfield had in 2005 received criticism.
	John Charlton responded that, prior to judging, Street Force had cleared litter and weeds from the area the previous day and confirmed that Street Force were not involved in the judging for the competition.
	Alan Hooper stated that in the case of Grenoside the verges and gutter areas were cleared on the judging route during the morning of judging and community teams had been organised to clear litter, including representatives of the Women’s’ Institute.
	Councillor Arthur Dunworth asked whether the Panel could obtain greater information as to the performance of the City in relation to the amount of litter, stating that (according to recent performance information) 83% of Sheffield had achieved standards for cleanliness but he wished to know the location of the remaining 17% which was not considered met the standard set nationally.
	In response, John Charlton stated that the Best Value Performance Indicator for litter had been designed so that the Government could identify trends nationally and regionally as well as at a City level as to whether a particular location was getting cleaner in terms of the Streetscene. He stated that it was not statistically valid to look in greater detail for example at a Village level using these performance indicators, and to obtain more local knowledge the Council would use local intelligence and other information such as the level of complaints or comments received. Litter was likely to be greater in shopping areas and on routes to school and for example in some areas in the North such as Bradfield, tourism might contribute to litter problems.
	John Bailey, Bradfield Parish Council, commented that, if people took greater care regarding the disposal of their litter, the cleanliness on the streetscene would improve and Councillor David Baker stated that whilst elected Members could argue for resources in the North Area it was necessary for a cultural change to occur for members of the community to recognise that litter was their responsibility.
	A member of the public commented on the success of Bring Out Your Rubbish Days and asked a question in relation to the disposal of large items from Sheffield Homes properties.
	In response John Charlton stated that Sheffield Homes organised the disposal of large items from flats and Councillor Arthur Dunworth advised that the Local (Area A) Homes Board be contacted.
	Councillor Trevor Bagshaw informed the questioner that help was also available on the corporate Litter Line, which was Sheffield 0114 2734567.
	The Chair, Councillor Trevor Bagshaw on behalf of the Panel thanked the representatives of Action for Stannington for their contribution to the meeting.

4.	MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETINGS
	The Panel noted the minutes of the meeting held on 7th November, 2005, and the minutes of the meeting held on 16th November, 2005, were approved as a true record, subject to the addition of Councillor Joyce Wright, Ecclesfield Parish Council in the list of those in attendance; and in relation to the quarterly highways update (Item P) it being clarified that the proposal to construct a traffic signal arrangement for the junction near the Chapeltown railway bridge referred to Cowley Lane.
	Arising from the minutes of the meeting held on 16th November, 2005, Councillor Trevor Bagshaw stated that he had spoken with the Head of Highways, John Bann, in relation to the plan for travel in Chapeltown and the future options for Hesley Wood and a meeting to consider these proposals would be held towards the end of January, 2006.

5.	PUBLIC QUESTIONS AND PETITIONS
	Questions were raised by Members of the public and responses given as follows:-

	Q. Could the speed limit on the highway between Stocksbridge and the City Centre be made more consistent as, at present, the speed restrictions varied.

	A. The Chair stated that Road Traffic Orders were likely to govern the speed restrictions on the highway.

	Q. Had progress been made in relation to the repair of Low Road at Oughtibridge near to where a residential development was being constructed.

	A. Councillor Trevor Bagshaw stated that there was a highway scheme for the Low Road area of Oughtibridge, which was likely to become a single lane carriageway.

	In general response to the questioner, Councillor Arthur Dunworth stated that such matters had been discussed at the Council's Planning and Highways Area Boards and Officers had informed Members that variances in speed restrictions increased concentration of car drivers and overall were thought to increase drivers’ safety. Similarly, if traffic was parked on the highway, drivers were more aware of safety and concentration was also higher. Thirdly, the level of accidents causing injury or fatality had remained largely unchanged, which suggested that there were a core of motorists who did not adhere to speed restrictions.

	Q. John Bailey, Bradfield Parish Council referred to a question he had asked previously at a Panel meeting in relation to the installation of digital signs, which would warn people if they were driving faster than the speed limit for a particular highway and he requested that such a sign be constructed at Long Lane, Loxley, in relation to the 30 mph limit there. He also stated that in South Yorkshire and Nationally there were many areas using such signs.

	He also requested that the speeds on some highways within Loxley Village be lowered so that the speed limit became 20 miles per hour, as had been done elsewhere in South Yorkshire.

	A. Councillor Trevor Bagshaw stated that he would request that the Council's policy on the installation of such signs be passed to Bradfield Parish Council and informed the Panel that the trial of such a sign was taking place on the Hathersage Road near to the Door Moor Inn.

	Q. What was the procedure for unblocking drains on the highway, in particular a drain in the vicinity of Greaves Lane outside of number 158?

	A. John Charlton stated that he would request that this be investigated and that the questioner be contacted with the results of the investigation.

	Q. A question was asked in relation to progress regarding Little Matlock Wood.

	A. Councillor Arthur Dunworth stated that local groups had been invited to attend a meeting in relation to the allocation of funding in the Loxley Valley, to agree local priorities and it had been considered beneficial that, for Jon Dallow, the Woodlands Officer, to attend this meeting of the Panel.

	Anne Blantern stated that the contact information for Jon Dallow's office together with a note of the situation in relation to Matlock Wood would be circulated.

	Q. Which agency was responsible for the clearing of rubbish in the Hillsborough Corner area of the river?

	A. John Charlton responded that the Environment Agency were responsible for the river, although the person owning the adjacent land might also be responsible through riparian ownership.

	John Charlton stated that under the Cleaner Neighbourhoods and Environment Legislation due to come into force in April, 2006, the Council had the power to ask whoever was responsible for items of litter, for example shopping trolleys in the river, to clear these items or to charge them if the Council was to remove the items on their behalf and an Enforcement Strategy was to be developed, to support the legislation.

	Councillor Trevor Bagshaw suggested that the Manager for Hillsborough Shopping Centre be the appropriate central point of contact for complaints or concerns in relation to litter or debris in the river area. It was agreed that this matter be referred to the Netherthorpe, Walkley and Hillsborough Area Panel and that a request be made that the appropriate Officer contacts the questioner.

	Q. A comment was made in support of the rural bus service, which had been supported by the Area Panel.

	A. Councillor Arthur Dunworth stated that, through negotiations with the Passenger Transport Executive, it had been assured that the service would run via Wood Lane for the benefit of elderly residents.

	C. Compliments were also passed to Street Force for the clearing out of grates in the Stocksbridge area.

6.	PARISH COUNCIL MATTERS
	A question was asked by Councillor Mike Bancroft, Bradfield Parish Council in relation to the Hillsborough Tramgate and, in response, Anne Blantern stated that this information would be circulated and the Parish Council would be informed.

7.	SHEFFIELD IN BLOOM
	Anne Blantern reported that a meeting would be held in relation to the In Bloom Competition for 2006 on 25th January, 2006, at 6.30 p.m. at the Town Hall, Sheffield.

8.	BRING OUT YOUR RUBBISH DAYS
	Anne Blantern reported the success of the four Bring Out Your Rubbish Days and that the following amounts of refuse had been collected: at Cinder Hill (Grenoside), 7.46 tons; at Foster Way, High Green, 5.52 tons; at Beechwood Road, 3.4 tones; and at Greaves Lane, 11.4 tons. Two more Bring Out Your Rubbish Days were planned in the current financial year, one possibly being held in Chapeltown.

9.	DATE OF NEXT MEETING
	The Panel noted that the next meeting would be held on Wednesday, 18th January, 2006, at 6.30 p.m. at High Green Miners Welfare.

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