Minutes of Owlerton/Southey Green Area Panel 27 March 2007

OWLERTON/SOUTHEY GREEN AREA PANEL Meeting held 27th March, 2007, at Shirecliffe Community Centre

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

		Also in attendance:-
		Councillor Joan Barton	-	Sheffield City Council
		Dave Wright	-	Parks and Countryside
		Darryl Dawson	-	Street Force
		Lesley Gregg	-	Sheffield Homes
		Nicola Somerset	-	Sheffield Homes
		Jane Hutchinson	-	South Yorkshire Police
		Mick Flanaghan	-	South Yorkshire Police
		Philip Horton	-	Highways
		Marlene Porritt	-	Children and Young People's Directorate
		Gillian Payne	-	Children and Young People's Directorate
		Dave Sandilands	-	Children and Young People's Directorate
		Richard Wildgoose	-	Southey/Owlerton Regeneration
		Steve Rundell	-	Southey/Owlerton Regeneration
		Gemma Stothard	-	Southey/Owlerton Regeneration
		Dawn Young	-	Activity Sheffield
		Jo Willis	-	Activity Sheffield
		Wendy Saynor	-	Sheffield Primary Care Trust
		Paige Simpson	-	Sheffield Primary Care Trust
		Ellie Brown	-	Sheffield Primary Care Trust
		Marika Puglisi	-	Neighbourhood Management Pilot Manager
		Jane Stuart	-	Sure Start
		John Crowther	-	Sheffield 50+
		Cyril Olsen	-	Shirecliffe Forum
		Andy Wier	-	Joint Area Co-ordinator
		Stuart Bolton	-	Joint Area Co-ordinator
		Matthew Rush	-	Area Support Officer
		Harry Clarke	-	Committee Secretariat

		Approximately 20 members of the public and other community organisations attended the meeting.

……………..

1.	APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE				ACTION
	Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Leigh Bramall and Steve Jones.


2.	SERVICE PROVIDERS
	Representatives from Parks and Countryside, Street Force, the Children and Young People's Directorate, Highways, Sheffield Homes and South Yorkshire Police introduced themselves and gave a brief outline of their work.

3.	GROUP DISCUSSION
	The meeting then split into four groups which respectively focused on Parks and Streets, Housing and Police, Transport and Activities for Children and Parents. Each group discussed what people liked best about the area and what was required to improve the area, and reported back to the meeting.
	The Parks and Streets group reported favourably in relation to Busk Park and Parson Cross Park, but identified issues in relation to the churning up of grass verges, problems with traffic and parking in Parson Cross Park and vehicles travelling at excessive speeds along Southey Green Road, despite the traffic calming measures which had been undertaken. Suggested improvements were the provision of concrete with grass growing through on the verges, the locking of the park gates at Parson Cross Park and the provision of a pedestrian crossing on Southey Green Road.
	The Housing and Police group considered that the area was a good place to live in, with one resident having lived there for over 40 years. It was felt that it was a safe area in which to live and there was a noticeable return of community spirit. The Busk Meadow Park was also cited as a good feature of the area. Issues such as youths congregating around shops, youth discipline, parking on Herries Road and damage to grass verges were mentioned as being problems in the area. The one main improvement required in the area was the completion of work on the walls and railings.
	The group which discussed Transport issues, reported on the improved appearance of the area, particularly in relation to housing, parks and environmental works and generally felt that good progress was being made with the area's regeneration. Improvements were required to the damaged grass verges and in relation to parking facilities in the area. In addition, a pedestrian crossing was required outside the Shirecliffe Community Centre on Shirecliffe Road.
	The group discussing Activities for Children and Parents referred to the new Centre in terms of the people who would be using it, the activities which would operate from it and what it would called. The group also commented on the provision of after school and out of school activities for young people, which could be provided at the new Centre and in the adjacent park. The provision of courses and learning opportunities for parents, with appropriate support, was something which the group wanted to see implemented. The group also emphasised the importance of keeping people informed of events at the new Centre and suggested the provision of a notice board.
	Following on from the final group report, Sheryl Roberts, Development Worker at the new Centre, informed the meeting that the Centre was to be known as the Shirecliffe Community Centre and would be officially opened by the Lord Mayor (Councillor Jackie Drayton), on 14th April. She added that it was intended to hold an open day every few weeks in order to find out what facilities people required and referred to adult learning, children’s activities, the judo club and junior youth club.
	In response to a question, she stated that the contractors working on the Centre had laid the adjacent grass verges but these had subsequently become damaged due to vehicles parking or driving over them.
	The Panel thanked the groups for their contribution and noted the information provided.

4.	MINUTES/MATTERS ARISING
	The minutes of the meeting of the Area Panel held on 23rd January, 2007, were approved as a correct record and Andy Wier referred the meeting to the associated Rolling Action Checklist. There were no matters arising.

5.	PUBLIC QUESTIONS AND PETITIONS
	In response to a question from Cyril Olsen, Shirecliffe Forum, the Chair stated that she would make enquiries with representatives of Sheffield Homes, on the operation of their policy for compensating tenants for damage to their property, during renovation works, and would report back to a future Area Panel meeting.				Councillor Gill Furniss

6.	CONCLUDING REMARKS
	Andy Wier thanked Sheryl Roberts for the use of the facilities at the Centre and asked people to complete the circulated feedback forms, particularly in relation to the meeting format, crèche provision and venue. He also referred the meeting to the 5Alive community magazine, copies of which were available, and the slip which was included in it which provided the opportunity to put questions to the Rt. Hon. David Blunkett, M.P. for Brightside.

7.	NEXT MEETING
	The Panel noted that the next meeting would be held on Tuesday, 22nd May, 2007, at a time and venue to be arranged.

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