Minutes of North Area Panel 23 May 2007

NORTH AREA PANEL


Meeting held 23rd May, 2007, at Bradfield School, Kirk Edge Road, Worrall

PRESENT:		Councillors Alan Hooper (Chair), Trevor Bagshaw, David Baker, Alison Brelsford, Kathleen Chadwick and Martin Davis.

		Representatives of Panel Partners:-
		Joanne Holt	-	Sheffield Futures
		Malcolm Glover	-	Bradfield Parish Council
		Inspector Phil Barraclough	-	South Yorkshire Police

		City Council Officers:-
		John Charlton	-	Lead Manager/Director of Street Force
		Anne Blantern	-	Area Co-ordinator
		Matthew Rush	-	Area Action Officer

		Approximately 4 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 Martin Brelsford, Patricia Fox and Graham Oxley.

2.	PUBLIC QUESTIONS AND PETITIONS
	A petition was received in relation to heavy vehicles using Dalroyd Lane, Stoney Road, Back Lane and Hollin House Lane. The lead petitioner, Mrs Bains, attended the meeting and addressed the Panel. Mrs Bains stated that there was local concern in relation to road safety and damage caused by heavy goods vehicles using highways that were inappropriate for the size and weight of the vehicle and this was thought to be caused by satellite navigation systems guiding vehicles through Holdworth on route to Oughtibridge. There had been a number of incidents in which damage had been caused to walls along the highway and one vehicle had to be removed by a local farmer after it became stuck.
	A second concern expressed by petitioners was in relation to vehicles, mainly from Europe, making deliveries to Rhinegold Garden Centre and needing to turn, causing damage to the area surrounding the highway (Hollin House Lane). Petitioners requested the erection of signs so as to notify vehicles that the roads were unsuitable for heavy vehicles.
	Inspector Phil Barraclough commented that there was no weight restriction on the highways referred to and therefore the Police were unable to take action with regards to enforcement. John Charlton, Lead Manager, stated that he would communicate the difficulties outlined by the petitioners to officers in the Council’s Transport and Highways Service and that consideration could be given to the use of the Panel’s small highways budget to help fund the signs if this was considered appropriate. The petition was referred to the North and West Planning and Highways Area Board.				John Charlton and Area Panel
	There were no further public questions.

3.	COMMUNITY SAFETY – NORTH WEST NEIGHBOURHOOD ACTION GROUP
	Inspector Phil Barraclough, South Yorkshire Police, addressed the Panel, informing them of the latest developments in relation to policing in the north area. In Deepcar there were two Police Constables and four Community Support Officers, which represented an increase of two Community Support Officers. He expressed the hope that Community Support Officers’ presence was noticed by members of the public, both in person and from press articles submitted to the Look Local newspaper. In addition, there was a 24 hour police response unit for emergencies.
	The Neighbourhood Action Group (NAG) covered the Hillsborough, Upperthorpe and Deepcar areas, which was considered a large area to manage, particularly as it had a rural and urban element and therefore a second NAG had been established for the rural villages and the Stocksbridge area, which would meet on a bi-monthly basis and included numerous partners such as the City Council and Town and Parish Councils, Street Force, Sheffield Homes and South Yorkshire Police. At meetings of the NAG, discussion would be held in relation to issues that each partner agency might wish to raise and with regards to specific individual cases of anti-social behaviour or problem tenants.
	In Stocksbridge, a community safety group was being established and there were also local Tenants and Residents Associations and Rural Village Forum at which concerns relating to community safety could be raised and passed through to the NAG meetings.
	Inspector Barraclough outlined policing activities in the north area which included test purchase operations in Stocksbridge and Oughtibridge. Such operations related to the sale of alcohol to young people under the age of 18 and retailers (and those with a licence to sell alcohol for consumption on the premises) had been encouraged to participate in the Challenge 21 scheme, through which they were required to ask young people for identification if they were considered to be under the age of 21. All ten premises tested, including off-licences and supermarkets, met the requirements of the test purchase operations and this represented a significant improvement from the previous operation, which was a result of significant publicity in relation to the requirements of the Licensing Act and improved communication with retailers and other licensed premises.
	Operations had also been undertaken in relation to outstanding warrants and recovery of fines. A particular problem was reported in relation to the theft of lead from a variety of premises in both the rural and urban areas, which had been made worse by the increasing value of scrap metal.
	Other operations included support for ABC funding in Stocksbridge, actions in Wharncliffe Side to reduce youth nuisance and action to decrease nuisance caused by off-road motorcycles.
	Particular attention was drawn to an increase in car thefts which often related to day visitors to rural areas and the theft of satellite navigation equipment and in car entertainment equipment. To combat this problem, a crime reduction and advice campaign was planned.
	Police Community Support Officers had undertaken patrols, particularly in the vicinity of Stocksbridge High Street.
	The Chair, Councillor Alan Hooper, thanked Inspector Barraclough for his report to the meeting.

4.	NORTH AREA PANEL – ANNUAL REPORT
	The Area Co-ordinator, Anne Blantern, reported in relation to the Panel’s activities during the past year and on progress against priorities within the one year action plan. A written report accompanying the presentation was circulated at the meeting.
	Anne Blantern drew particular attention to work undertaken by the Panel with its partners, including the North Area Regeneration Partnership, the Yorkshire Rural Community Council, Sheffield Futures and South Yorkshire Police.
	Fourteen public meetings of the Panel had been held during the year and a diverse range of subjects had been discussed.
	Progress in relation to the six key priorities of the Panel was outlined, the priorities being the environment, community safety, transport, traffic, support in communities and regeneration. There had been increased activity by communities in the north area in the In Bloom competitions and an increased level of youth work was being provided both on a detached basis and centre-based.
	The Panel had access to small amounts of funding to progress some of the priorities within the action plan and to assist partners and projects in obtaining additional funds. Such funds included the giving of small grants and funding from the small highway scheme budget, totalling £11,445.
	Ongoing issues for the Area Panel were identified within the context of limited resources to support the ten distinct communities in the north area.
	It was recognised that the north area had a large green space with considerable number of parks and designated open spaces, some of which fell outside the Council’s definition of district parks and consequently the level of resource available to address parks and countryside issues was limited.
	A continuing issue to address was anti-social behaviour and the Panel recognised the necessity of a fully resourced youth service to help tackle anti-social behaviour by young people.
	Councillor Alan Hooper expressed thanks on behalf of the Panel to Anne Blantern and Mathew Rush for their hard work during the past year.
	Councillor Kathleen Chadwick raised concern at the level of public attendance at Panel meetings, particularly when reports to the Panel were positive in nature and requesting that further attention be given to communications with members of the public.

	Councillor Trevor Bagshaw referred to the ongoing issues mentioned within the report now submitted, and in particular a deficit in resourcing in the north area, requirements to improve green spaces and to find a better communication strategy, whilst acknowledging there was a significant amount of work to do in this regard given a deep seated apathy and a generalised view of politics held by many members of the public.
	Councillor Alison Brelsford suggested that following meetings of the Panel a report or article be submitted to Look Local, highlighting positive news from meetings of the Panel.
	Councillor Trevor Bagshaw made reference to the proposed children’s centre at Stocksbridge, the application for planning permission in relation to which had been refused by the Council’s North and West Planning and Highways Board and concern was expressed at the resultant loss of resource to the area.

5.	PROPOSALS FOR WORTLEY ROAD, HIGH GREEN
	Anne Blantern reported that a number of proposals had been made in relation to traffic management on Wortley Road. Traffic regulations required to support the proposals would be advertised between 15th June and 6th July, 2007 and the matter would be taken to the Council’s Planning and Highways Board for a final decision. A special meeting of the Area Panel would be held in High Green to consider the proposals further.

6.	PARISH COUNCIL MATTERS
	Councillor Martin Davis reported that approaches had been made by three developers to construct a mixed use development on the Outo Kumpu site in Stocksbridge. Councillor Trevor Bagshaw added that the Area Panel would need to be involved as a focus for public discussion in relation to the proposals from developers for the site.
	The Chair, Councillor Alan Hooper, reported that new Parish and Town Council’s had been formed following the recent elections held on 3rd May, 2007.

7.	MINUTES
	The minutes of the meeting of the Panel held on 18th April, 2007 were agreed as a correct record and, arising therefrom, Joanne Holt, Sheffield Futures, provided information concerning youth work in the north area. Provision for young people was continuing in Wharncliffe Side, Lower Bradfield (at which a number of volunteers had been recruited from within the local community), Stannington and outreach work at Oughtibridge. It was envisaged that an additional evening could be arranged for young people from Oughtibridge, initially in Wharncliffe Side. At the time of reporting, no provision had been developed in the Loxley area as no suitable premises had been found.
	Councillor Trevor Bagshaw drew attention to the fact that funding for youth work projects would end in December 2007, which would impact upon provision in rural areas such as Ecclesfield and High Green and there was a need to find additional funds to enable the projects to continue. Councillor Malcolm Glover, Bradfield Parish Council, referred to considerable community support for the youth work projects, including from the Parish Council. He stated that the youth work projects established with the support of the Area Panel would be sustainable and potentially might be expanded.
	Also in relation to the minutes of the meeting held on 18th April, 2007, John Charlton reported in relation to Ewden Valley, concerning which environmental concerns were previously reported to the Panel. John Charlton stated that a meeting had been held with interested parties, including Yorkshire Water, Parks and Countryside, Environment and Regulatory Services, Street Force, community representatives, Stocksbridge Town Council and representatives of the Peak Park to consider long term and short term issues affecting the Valley. Such issues to be addressed included litter, dog fouling, abandoned vehicles, gale damage to trees and enforcement. There were also issues including debris left by builders and the selling off of farmland in small lots, which might have implications for the character of the Valley. It was recommended that further meetings be held with a view to establishing a Friends of Ewden Valley Group and developing a strategy to inform improvements to the Valley. Models for such organisations included the Rivelin Valley and Loxley Valley Groups.
	John Charlton requested that the minutes of the meeting held in relation to the Ewden Valley be attached to papers for the next North Area Panel.
	The minutes of the Special Meeting held on 25th April, 2007 were approved as a correct record and arising therefrom, Trevor Bagshaw informed the Panel that correspondence had been received from residents of Chapeltown in relation to issues surrounding renewable energy. At the meeting, other issues had also been raised, including traffic management, Hesley Wood and its use as green space or as a development site and he urged that a further meeting be held in Chapeltown in relation to these issues.

8.	CHAIR’S STATEMENT
	The Chair, Councillor Alan Hooper, expressed thanks to Councillor Trevor Bagshaw who had chaired the North Area Panel for a three year period and for his achievements during this time.

9.	DATE OF NEXT MEETING
	The Panel noted that the next meeting of the Area Panel would be held on 20th June, 2007, at 6.30 p.m. at Lound School, Lound Side, Chapeltown.

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