Minutes of Joint Meeting 20 March 2008

 

Present

           

Owlerton/Southey Green Area Panel

Councillors Gill Furniss (Joint Chair) and Alan Law.

           

Independent Directors

Ellie Brown, Lynne Hilson and Jon Bradley.

           

Community Directors

Janet Bagshaw, Louise Nield (Joint Chair), Cyril Olsen, D. Pollard, Nick Slater, Richard Wildgoose and Mick Ibbotson.

           

City Council Officers

Stuart Bolton and Lindsay Smith (Joint Area Co-ordinators), Gill Ellis (Lead Manager), Matthew Rush (Area Support Officer), Valerie Cotter (Neighbourhood Renewal and Partnership Service), Andy Cain (Committee Secretariat) and Jenny Longden and Gemma Carl (Transport Planning).

           

Also in attendance

Ian Drayton, Lois Downes, Ian Cambe and Guy Weston (Southey/Owlerton Area Regeneration (SOAR) Team), John and Joan Crowther (Sheffield 50+ Group), Debbie Nicholson (Southey Forum) and Sheryl Roberts (Shirecliffe Neighbourhood Worker).

4 Members of the public attended the meeting.

………………

           

                                                                                                                        Action

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Leigh Bramall, Vic Bowden, Steve Jones and Chris Weldon (Owlerton/Southey Green Area Panel) and Sharon Ashton, Winnie Cartwright, Richard Thorpe and Ian Smith (SOAR Board).          

                       

There were no declarations of interest.     

                       

20th December, 2007  

The minutes of the Joint Meeting held on 20th December, 2007, were approved as a correct record.           

                       

21st February, 2008  

The notes of the inquorate meeting held on 21st February, 2008, were received and arising therefrom Janet Bagshaw provided details of a vehicle accident which had occurred in the area of the fallen tree on Crowder Avenue, allegedly as a result of the road surface not being filled in sufficiently, and she believed that legal action was now being considered against the City Council with regard to this matter. Subsequent to the accident, she was aware that Street Force had now filled the road surface.

                       

The Rolling Action Checklist for meetings up to 21st February, 2008, was noted and, arising therefrom, the following additional issues were raised:-          

                       

Issues 2, 3, 4, 8 and 11 – Highway Issues

Stuart Bolton circulated a written update on each of the outstanding highway issues, and indicated that Philip Horton would attend a future meeting to provide a further progress report.

                       

Issue 1 – Safety Barrier at Longley Bowling Green

The Joint Meeting noted a concern raised that the request for a safety barrier to be erected, adjacent to the bowling green in Longley Park, had not yet been actioned, but also noted that the request was on a list of potential improvements which were dependent on Neighbourhood Renewal Funding availability at the year end. 

                       

In response to a question regarding the need for traffic calming measures in the vicinity of the new Watercliffe Meadows School, and a request for a pedestrian crossing on Herries Road, the Chair indicated that a full traffic impact assessment would have been undertaken to establish where traffic calming would be most beneficial and any sites identified would be added to the extensive list of prioritised sites for final consideration. Stuart Bolton commented that he would take details of the request and refer it onto the relevant section of the City Council, for them to provide a response directly to the individual who raised it.            Stuart Bolton

In response to a question regarding the need for improved provision for older people, and particularly a request for funding for the upgrade of a second bowling green at Longley Bowling Club, the Joint Meeting noted the request and also the comments received from other members relating to the closure of the bowling green at Parson Cross Park due to a lack of demand for it and that Longley Bowling Club could also seek funding from other sources, such as the Groundwork organisation.

In response to a question regarding a suggestion for Watermead School to be used as a community or learning facility, when it closed in July, 2008, Stuart Bolton indicated that he would take details of the suggestion and refer it on to the relevant section of the City Council for them to provide a response direct to the individual who raised it.            Stuart Bolton

                       

Jenny Longden and Gemma Carl submitted a joint report, which provided an update on the Southey Owlerton Accessibility Strategy and which sought approval for amendments to Action Points 1 and 10, in light of suggestions received from the City Council’s Disability Access Officer, and endorsement of both the Strategy’s Detailed Implementation Plan 2008/2009 and Overarching Implementation Plan until 2011/2012. The report also provided details of progress made during 2007/2008, funding opportunities and the input from the Environment and Liveability Theme Group.           

In response to a reference to an initiative being undertaken by Leicester City Council regarding extending the bus pass for the elderly to include other modes of transport such as taxis and community transport, and a suggestion that this should be operated in Sheffield, Jenny Longden indicated that the South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive were responsible for the bus pass scheme and that she would forward the comment on to them for consideration.           Jenny Longden

In response to an issue raised regarding the need for improved car parking availability, to overcome the problem of parking on grass verges, Gemma Carl indicated that this issue was something being considered through the Strategy but that there was no easy solution.         

The Joint Meeting agreed that (a) the report be noted; and           

(b) approval be given to (i) the proposed amendments to Action Points 1 and 10 and (ii) the Strategy’s Detailed Implementation Plan 2008/2009 and Overarching Implementation Plan until 2011/2012.   

                       

Debbie Nicholson gave a presentation regarding the work of the Southey Development Forum, who were based at the Southey Library Community Rooms, Moonshine Lane. She circulated handouts which provided detailed information and referred particularly to the Neighbourhood Strategy and related this to the existing projects and the priorities established for the forthcoming year in order to address aspects of that Strategy. She continued by outlining how the Forum was addressing its sustainability issue, how they engaged and communicated with local people and the issues which were of most concern to local people, which included the lack of youth facilities in the area, the Southey Hill Bus Gate and parking outside the Southey Green Road Shopping Parade. She concluded by highlighting some of the barriers being faced by the Forum, such as the Library being closed to the public for 2 days per week, and requested the Joint Meeting to give consideration to identifying and securing funding to enable the Forum and project workers to continue with their work.     

In response to a question regarding the Forum’s Print Shop, Debbie Nicholson indicated that they did have the expertise to produce quality material and were also looking to assist people in printing off pictures taken using mobile phones.         

In response to information provided by Ian Drayton regarding Jobnet moving into Southey Hill from June, 2008, a request for consideration for Jobnet to be sited in the Library was noted and Ian Drayton indicated he would look into this issue further.             Ian Drayton

The Joint Meeting thanked Debbie Nicholson and noted the presentation. 

                       

Lois Downes and Sheryl Roberts submitted a joint report in response to concerns raised at previous meetings regarding a lack of youth provision in Shirecliffe. The report highlighted that the Shirecliffe Community Project (SCP) had felt unable to agree to a youth club being operated from the Shirecliffe Community Centre due to concerns regarding supervision and funding but that, following recent discussions, it had been agreed that a youth club could be formed and that it would be based at Parkwood High School. 

In response to concerns raised that it was believed that the youth club at Parkwood High School would only be for children attending the School, it was understood that this was just as part of a trial period and a view would be taken later as to whether it could be extended wider if it were successful.    

Sheryl Roberts and Lynne Hilson acknowledged that this was the best compromise agreement available and provided further details of the provision at Parkwood High School where Sheffield Futures would provide 3 youth workers to deliver the provision.      

Cyril Olsen expressed concern that no-one from SCP was in attendance at the meeting to answer questions regarding the refusal to allow the youth club at the Community Centre. However, as a member of the Shirecliffe Forum he was aware that SCP had concerns regarding damage caused and poor supervision in the past and would not cater for the 13-18 year age group although they were willing to accommodate the 8-13 age group. It was highlighted that the previous youth club was operated by Pioneer from the voluntary sector.           

Further concerns were raised by the Joint Meeting regarding this issue and it was proposed that Ian Drayton arrange for a SOAR Team officer to attend the next meeting of the SCP to clarify the situation further and report back to a future meeting.        

The Joint Meeting (a) noted the report; and    

(b) requested Ian Drayton to take the matter forward, as discussed, and report back to a future meeting.            Ian Drayton

                       

Stuart Bolton submitted Issue 16 of the Owlerton/Southey Green Area Panel E-briefing which contained Area Panel news up to the week ending 8th March, 2008, including information regarding Working Neighbourhoods Fund guidance and the Barratt’s Planning Application. Details of the Parson Cross ‘Dead Ernest’ theatre project were circulated at the meeting.  

Ellie Brown commented that the Parson Cross/Ecclesfield Service District event planned for earlier in the day regarding the Parenting Matters Strategy had been cancelled, apparently due to a lack of expressed interest, and she believed that it would be beneficial if a Service District representative were able to attend a future SOAR/Panel meeting to report on this matter.           

Ellie Brown highlighted an NHS celebration event to be held on 12th April, 2008, at 11.00 am at the Shirecliffe Community Centre.          

The Joint Meeting (a) noted the report; and(b) requested Stuart Bolton to follow up the Parenting Matters Strategy issue with the Service District Manager.            Stuart Bolton

                       

Ian Drayton, SOAR Partnership Manager, submitted a report containing an overview of key activities and initiatives being pursued by the SOAR Team and the Neighbourhoods.    

Members noted that Alan Chapman from SPELL had recently retired and requested that a letter be sent by the Joint Chairs thanking him for the valuable work he had undertaken.             Lois Downes

Ian Drayton particularly highlighted the fact that the SOAR Team would be moving into its new premises on Southey Hill shortly and he provided further details of the lease arrangements for that building.         

The Joint Meeting noted the report.

                       

The Joint Meeting Forward Plan was received and noted.     

Ellie Brown suggested future agenda items regarding a possible ‘Fun Run’ and a smoking cessation campaign.     

                       

It was noted that the Joint Meeting pilot had now ended and it was agreed that the next meeting would be a SOAR Board meeting only, to be held on 17th April, 2008, at 7.00 p.m. at the Shirecliffe Community Centre.