Minutes of Area Panel 25 September 2007

OWLERTON/SOUTHEY GREEN AREA PANEL

 

Meeting held 25th September, 2007, at the Longley Hub

 

PRESENT:            Councillors Leigh Bramall, Alan Law and Vic Bowden.

           

Also in attendance:- 

Bob Bridge            -            LOCAL

Richard Wildgoose  -            Southey/Owlerton Regeneration

Gemma Stothard     -            Southey/Owlerton Regeneration

John Crowther        -            POPPS & Sheffield 50+

Jane Machin            -            Sheffield Libraries

Alison Rayner          -            Liveability Team

Phillip Horton          -            Sheffield City Council – Highways

Lynne Hilson           -            Sheffield Futures

Lucy Miles               -            Age Concern

Deb Nicholson         -            Southey Forum

Angela Greenwood -            Joint Area Co-ordinator

Stuart Bolton          -            Joint Area Co-ordinator

Matthew Rush        -            Area Support Officer

Andy Cain               -            Committee Secretariat

           

            5 members of the public and other community organisations attended the meeting.

           

……………..

                       

1.            APPOINTMENT OF CHAIR            ACTION

                        In the absence of the Chair of the Panel, Councillor Gill Furniss, the Panel appointed Councillor Leigh Bramall as Chair of the meeting.  

                       

2.            APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE    

                        Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Gill Furniss, Tony Damms, Steve Jones and Chris Weldon.         

                       

3.            LONGLEY HUB       

                        Bob Bridge welcomed the Panel to the Longley Hub, which had been officially opened at a ceremony held on 21st September, 2007, attended by the Rt. Hon. David Blunkett, MP for Brightside, Brendan Ingle and the Lord Mayor. He indicated that the facilities, which included a community café, would be available for hire and he provided details of how it could be booked.         

                        The Panel thanked Bob Bridge and noted the information given. 

                       

4.            MINUTES      

                        The minutes of the meeting of the Area Panel held on 27th March, 2007, and the notes from the inquorate meeting held on 22nd May, 2007, were approved as a correct record.           

                       

5.            SECTION 106 FUNDING      

                        Alison Raynor submitted a report regarding the Panel’s Section 106 funding arising from developments across the area. The report included a list of priority sites identified for play, sport and landscape improvements and details of the funding generated from recent development sites and where it was proposed to utilise that funding, namely Tongue Gutter, Foxhill Recreation Ground and Parson Cross Park, all in accordance with Masterplans being developed for each site.      

                        Alison Rayner responded to questions and comments regarding work undertaken in Longley Park and noted a suggestion for the installation of a safety barrier adjacent to the bowling green, which she would refer through for Neighbourhood Renewal Funding consideration. With regard to the Wooden Park at Colley Crescent she noted a suggestion by Councillor Vic Bowden for consideration to be given to establishing a Friends Group. She indicated that she would be visiting Bagley Dyke to see what improvements could be made. Alison Rayner

                        The Panel agreed the revised list of open space priority sites and allocation of Section 106 finance, as set out in the report submitted.     

                       

6.            DRIVEWAY LOANS FUND PROGRAMME AND ALLOCATIONS 2007/2008    

                        Alison Rayner submitted a report which set out background information regarding the Driveways Loans Scheme, which operated between 2002-2006, and proposals for spending £7,000 of the repayment fund, which totalled £17,000, on environmental improvements and community safety measures. The funding was being managed on behalf of the Panel by the Liveability Team within the Neighbourhoods and Community Care Directorate.   

                        In response to questions and comments Lynne Hilson provided further details regarding the proposed allocation of £3,000 to the Blast Off Project, which was to be used on diversionary activity for young people as part of Operation Mischief. With regard to the proposed projects for the installation of the Margetson Christmas Lights Power Units and the erection of a Notice Board at the Shirecliffe Centre, Councillor Alan Law suggested to Richard Wildgoose that he give consideration to submitting similar project proposals for Longley.            Richard Wildgoose

                        The Panel agreed that the Driveways Loans Fund Programme and Allocations for 2007/2008, as set out in the report submitted, be approved.      

                       

                       

7.            SMALL HIGHWAY SCHEMES PROGRAMME 2007/2008

                        Philip Horton submitted a report which provided background information regarding the Panel’s £10,000 Small Highways Schemes budget for 2007/2008, which included a proposed programme of improvement work at Keats Road, Carrill Drive, Wordsworth Avenue, Monteney Crescent and Knutton Road. 

                        In response to questions and comments Philip Horton provided more detail regarding the improvement work to be undertaken and also commented on other highway work in the Panel area. With regard to the installation of a Puffin Crossing on Herries Road, near the junction of Scraithwood Road, to be carried out in Spring 2008 at a cost of approximately £200,000, Philip Horton noted concerns raised about possible increased difficulties in accessing Herries Road from Wordsworth Avenue and the size of the proposed central refuge island and indicated that he would check on these matters and report back to a future meeting.            Philip Horton

                        Philip Horton then commented on the Southey Green Road safety scheme, which had been completed in December, 2006, and reported that, following a recent survey, overall speeds along that stretch of road had been reduced by approximately 5 m.p.h. Consultation was now being undertaken to extend the measures along Elm Lane, including consideration of how best to alleviate the rat running along Hereward Road, and he noted a suggestion that warning lights be erected in the vicinity of the Elm Lane Fire Station, in the event of an emergency, to enable fire vehicles to exit the site quickly. He also noted concerns regarding the bollards which had been erected for parking safety reasons outside the Southey Green Road Shopping Precinct, which were proving ineffective, and the location of the bus stop and indicated that he would review the situation at that location, taking into account a suggestion for angled parking.            Philip Horton

                        The Panel agreed that (a) the Small Highways Programme for 2007/2008 be approved; and     

                        (b) Philip Horton be requested to submit a report to a future meeting regarding his review of the parking safety measures and bus stop location at the Southey Green Shopping Precinct.             Philip Horton

                       

8.         AREA PANEL AND SOUTHEY OWLERTON REGENERATION BOARD (SOAR) JOINT WORKING    

                        Stuart Bolton submitted a report which set out proposals to pilot a year long schedule of joint public meetings between the Panel and SOAR Board with a view to increasing public engagement and making more effective use of time by reducing the number of meetings that community representatives and elected members were expected to attend.           

                        The report included a summary sheet which outlined the joint meeting approach, a proposed schedule of meetings and a provisional forward plan of agenda items. The pilot would be reviewed after 6 months and recommendations made for the remaining period of the pilot.   

                        In response to questions and comments Stuart Bolton indicated that meetings would be held in each of the five neighbourhoods that made up the Panel area and that whilst undertaking a joint working approach both the Panel and SOAR Board would continue to operate as separate entities.          

                        The Panel agreed that (a) the pilot approach of monthly joint public meetings and bi-monthly briefing meetings, (b) the provisional 12-month forward plan for joint public meetings and (c) the proposed first meeting date of Thursday 15th November, 2007, be approved, subject to the pilot being reviewed after 6 months and recommendations made for the remaining period of the pilot.   

                       

9.            PUBLIC QUESTIONS AND PETITIONS   

                        In response to a question regarding pedestrian road safety concerns on Shirecliffe Road, Alison Rayner indicated that work was planned for Spring 2008, which included designated crossing points, and that further discussions would be undertaken through the Liveability Theme Group. She also noted requests for remedial work to the pavement on Herries Drive and the clearing of grates in Crowder Road and Piper Road.            Alison Rayner

                        In response to a request for the speed limit on Herries Road to be reduced from 40 m.p.h. to 30 m.p.h. Councillor Leigh Bramall acknowledged that this was a long standing issue which South Yorkshire Police had previously indicated wouldn’t be possible due to the status of the road. However, he indicated that he would seek further clarification regarding this matter and report back to a future meeting.            Councillor Leigh Bramall

                        The Panel noted a request for a Bring Out Your Rubbish Day in the Galsworthy area.   Stuart Bolton/Angela Greenwood

                       

10.            SOUTHEY GREEN LIBRARY       

                        The Panel noted information provided by Jane Machin with regard to new initiatives being undertaken at Southey Library, which included Information Technology support sessions and a coffee morning, for which leaflets were circulated at the meeting.  

                       

11.            ROLLING ACTION CHECKLIST 

                        The Rolling Action Checklist for meetings held up to May, 2007, was received and approved as a correct record and arising therefrom the following items were discussed further:-          

                       

            Sheffield Homes Renovation Work  

                        Stuart Bolton indicated that further work would be required with regard to the Sheffield Homes policy for compensating tenants for damage caused during renovation work.   Stuart Bolton

                       

            Crosslink Steering Group

                        Stuart Bolton indicated that he would follow up the situation with regard to the work of the Crosslink Steering Group and report back to a future meeting.            Stuart Bolton

                       

12.       NEXT MEETING      

                        The Panel noted that the next meeting would be the first Area Panel/SOAR Board joint meeting to be held on Thursday, 15th November, 2007, at 7 p.m. at a venue to be determined.