Minutes of Owlerton Southey Green Area Panel 15 November 2005

OWLERTON/SOUTHEY GREEN AREA PANEL


Meeting held 15th November, 2005, at St. Bernard’s Church Hall, Southey Hill

PRESENT:		Councillors Gill Furniss (Chair) and Alan Law.

		Also in attendance:-
		Helen Wright	-	North Regeneration Team
		Chris Spafford	-	Street Force
		Lee Storey	-	Sheffield Homes
		Sarah Norton	-	Sheffield Homes
		Simon Young	-	Sheffield Homes
		Vicky Taylor	-	Forward and Area Planning
		Andy Wier	-	Area Co-ordinator
		Helen Lomas	-	Sure Start/Sheffield Homes
		Matthew Rush	-	Area Support Officer
		Andy Cain	-	Committee Secretariat

		8 other members of the public attended the meeting, including representatives of community organisations, 50+ and Panel partners.

………………….

1.	APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE FROM MEMBERS OF THE BOARD
	Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Vic Bowden, Leigh Bramall, Steve Jones and Chris Weldon.

2.	SHEFFIELD DEVELOPMENT FRAMEWORK – STATEMENT OF COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
	Vicky Taylor gave a presentation regarding the consultation that was being undertaken on the Sheffield Development Framework; Statement of Community Involvement (SCI), which was a document that explained how the public (a) could get involved in preparing the Sheffield Development Framework planning documents and (b) would be consulted on planning applications for new developments or changes of use.
	She indicated that a summary of the draft SCI would be sent to people on the Panel’s mailing list as part of the formal consultation being undertaken between 31st October, 2005, and 12th December, 2005. A copy of the full draft SCI was available on the City Council’s website, at all library branches and the First Point enquiry centres at Howden House, Hillsborough Barracks and Chapeltown.
	The Panel thanked Vicky Taylor and noted the information reported.

3.	DECENT HOMES INVESTMENT PROGRAMME
	Simon Young gave a presentation upon the delivery of the Decent Homes Investment Programme in the City and particularly in the Area P Housing Area.
	Mr. Young indicated that a general definition of a decent home was one which was wind and weather tight, warm and had modern facilities. In order to set a national target a common definition needed to be agreed to enable all social landlords work towards achieving the decent homes standard. To be classified as decent a home would need to meet the statutory minimum standard for housing, be in a reasonable state of repair, have reasonable facilities and services and provide a reasonable degree of thermal comfort.
	The Programme was starting to have a positive effect on the quality of homes as the numbers of homes failing to achieve a decency level had fallen from 74.9% in Quarter 4 of 2004/2005 to 72.3% in Quarter 2 of 2005/2006. The Programme aimed to have reduced this further to 68.3% in Quarter 4 of 2005/2006.
	With regard to Area P there was to be a total of £117 million invested from 2005/2006 to 2010/2011 on the decent homes programme with work being undertaken including the provision of new kitchens, bathrooms, double glazed windows, smoke alarms and rendering, an electrical upgrade to kitchens, including a new fuse board and environmental works linked to the Housing Market Renewal initiative.
	Keepmoat PLC were the chosen contractor to deliver the work programme and were working in partnership with Sheffield Homes under a joint vision to provide excellent homes and services in order to create clean and attractive neighbourhoods for communities. Details of the Partnership Charter were provided and examples given as to how this was working. Twenty four jobs had been created for local people by Keepmoat PLC and a community event had also been held recently.
	Andy Wier invited members of the public to participate in two working groups, led by an elected Member and a representative of Sheffield Homes. He asked each working group to assess what was good about the Programme, what needed to be improved and what could be done about it. Each working group was required to agree on three positive comments, three areas for improvement and three suggested actions.
	The main outcomes of the working groups were noted as follows:-

	What’s good about the Programme?
	· There was a good choice being offered with regard to the materials being used e.g. tiles
	· There was an effective monitoring system through the local meetings, the Area Investment Working Group and the Local Partnership Board.
	· The Programme was good for the community in that it raised people’s spirits.
	· Effective communication had been established between Sheffield Homes, the community and Keepmoat PLC
	· The quality of work carried out had been good.
	· The Black and Minority Ethnic Community were being effectively engaged and involved.

	What needed to be improved about the Programme and what could be done about it?

	Action				Responsible

·	The timescale for completing the work on an individual property was too long and more than the suggested 8-10 weeks.				Gary Lund, Sheffield Homes Project Manager.

·	In some instances the workmanship could be better, there was a need for improved customer care and the contractor needed to be more accountable.				Sheffield Homes and Keepmoat PLC.

·	The contractors needed to ensure that the property was left in a safe condition at the end of each day.				Health and Safety Officers. Their telephone numbers should be advertised widely to encourage the reporting of any concerns.

·	Better communication was required regarding any proposed changes as there were concerns raised regarding changes to door designs and wall thicknesses. Clarification was sought regarding a rumour about a possible 3-year delay for improving properties on Parson Cross.				Sheffield Homes, Local Partnership Board, Keepmoat PLC, Tenant’s and Residents’ Associations.

·	Improve the communication link with Social Services with regard to the requirements of the elderly, for example, in respect of walk in showers.				Sheffield Homes, Local Partnership Board and Keepmoat PLC.

·	Action needed to be taken against those people who did not maintain their gardens or parked their cars on grass verges.				Sheffield Homes Tenancy Enforcement Team

·	There appeared to be too much wastage as many of the items beings discarded could be re-used.				Sheffield Homes and the Local Partnership Board to challenge Keepmoat PLC.

	The Panel noted this information.

4.	PUBLIC QUESTIONS AND PETITIONS
	There were no public questions asked or petitions presented.


5.	MINUTES
	The minutes of the Panel meeting held on 20th September, 2005, and Rolling Action Checklist, were received and approved as a correct record and arising therefrom Andy Wier circulated a report, submitted by James Barnes, which provided a response to the issues raised at the meeting about the Liveability Programme.
	A representative of the Dryden and Kyle Tenants’ and Residents’ Association asked for a progress report on the issues relating to the Southey Bus Gate, in light of the petition being organised by residents in the Adlington area, about the problems they were encountering as a consequence of the bus gate. Councillor Gill Furniss noted the issues raised and believed that the long-term solution would be linked to the Chaucer development.

6.	COUNCILLOR LEIGH BRAMALL
	The Panel agreed that their best wishes be conveyed to Councillor Leigh Bramall, and his partner, on the birth of their son.

7.	NEW YEAR’S HONOURS AWARDS
	The Panel noted that the New Year’s Honours Awards presentation, sponsored jointly by the Area Panel, SOAR Board and Sheffield Homes, would take place on the evening of 10th February, 2006, and that nomination forms were available for submission by 24th December, 2005.

8.	NEXT MEETING
	The Panel noted that the next meeting would be held on Tuesday, 17th January, 2006, at 6.00 p.m. at the St. Leonard’s Church, Longley.

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