Minutes of South East Area Panel 19 December 2006

SOUTH EAST AREA PANEL


Meeting held 19th December, 2006 at Mosborough Methodist Church

PRESENT:		Councillors Marjorie Barker, Mike Peat and Ian Saunders.

		Also in attendance:- Ken Dunn, Kurt Sullivan, Chris Bentley, Jade Poole and Kaitlin Pinder (City School), Jean and Harry Holland (Mosborough Village Action Group and Joseph Stone Trust), Stella Longden and R. Flewitt (Woodhouse Forum), Amanda Sollitt and Graham Harris (Age Concern), Tony Green (Beighton Villages Development Trust), Richard Oxley and Inspector Colin Mcfarlane (South Yorkshire Police), Councillor Martin Lawton (Richmond Ward), Diane Elliott (Library Service), Jenny Macphail (Area Action Officer), Dave Luck (Area Co-ordinator), Sue Stones (Westfield Disabled Swimming Group), Jackie Ainsworth (Housing Independence Service), David Walton (South East Sheffield Forum), Peter Wolstenholm (Woodhouse Forum/Shirebrook Conservation), Andy Cain (Committee Secretariat) and approximately 12 members of the public.

……………..

1.	APPOINTMENT OF CHAIR		ACTION
	In the absence of the Chair of the Panel, Councillor Chris Rosling-Josephs, the Panel appointed Councillor Ian Saunders as Chair of the meeting.

2.	APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
	Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Chris Rosling-Josephs, David Barker, Bryan Lodge, Helen Mirfin-Boukouris, Mike Pye and Sam Wall.

3.	CITY SCHOOL - SUPPORTING MALEALEA PROJECT
	The Panel received a video, produced by City School, regarding the Supporting Malealea Project, which detailed a visit undertaken by staff and pupils from the School to the village of Malealea, in Lesotho.
	The video highlighted a number of severe problems being faced by the people of Malealea, which included a short life expectancy, AIDS, a high infant mortality rate, medical shortfalls, limited education, poor general health and poor nutrition. The video then went on to show how the children from City School had been involved in progressing various initiatives during their visit, which included tree planting to reduce soil erosion, the creation of allotments, filling up erosion scars, building and maintenance work and sharing experiences with the young people of Malealea.
	Ken Dunn indicated that City School, in conjunction with Royston School in Barnsley, had now built up a strong relationship with the people of Malealea and an effective communication link had been established through the supply of three computers to the village school, which had resulted in specialist advice being provided by professionals in Sheffield on such matters such as health and engineering issues. Four of the pupils involved in the visit, Kurt Sullivan, Chris Bentley, Jade Poole and Kaitlin Pinder, spoke in more detail of their experiences of the visit.
	Ken Dunn responded to questions and comments regarding how the visit had been funded, the plans for future visits by Year 10 students from the School, the development of the school and library in Malealea, the continuing involvement of engineers from ARUP in the Project and the support locally for the Project from organisations including the Woodthorpe Development Trust and Woodhouse Forum.
	Mr. Dunn indicated that fund raising for the Project continued and a number of items were available, which included the sponsorship of Acacia Trees and the purchase of calendars and other mementos.
	The Panel agreed that (a) the information be noted;
	(b) the work being undertaken by all those involved from City School be welcomed; and
	(c) Ken Dunn be requested to provide an update at a future meeting.		Ken Dunn

4.	MINUTES
	The minutes of the meeting of the Area Panel held on 17th October, 2006 were approved as a correct record, subject to (a) an amendment to reflect the fact that Pat Molloy was in attendance as a representative of the Westfield and Halfway Tenants’ and Residents’ Association (TARA) and not Woodhouse TARA, as stated in the list of those people in attendance and (b) a correction to the spelling of a name in item 4 on page 2 of the minutes to reflect the fact that Inspector Dick Dove had recently retired.

5.	ROLLING ACTION CHECKLIST
	The Rolling Action Checklist for meetings held up to 17th October, 2006, was approved as a correct record.

6.	MATTERS ARISING
	Arising from the minutes of the 17th October, 2006, and the Rolling Action Checklist for meetings up to 17th October, 2006, Dave Luck particularly referred to the responses received from (a) Philip Horton, regarding the Orgreave Lane junction, and (b) Ian Blakemore, regarding issues relating to access to the Woodhouse Bowling Green, both as set out in the revised Rolling Action Checklist circulated at the meeting.
	In response to a question regarding the re-opening of the Children’s Home on Stradbroke Drive Dave Luck indicated that he would check the age group of the children that would be placed there and report back to a future meeting.		Dave Luck
	The Panel noted this information.

7.	AREA CO-ORDINATORS REPORT
	The Chair introduced Dave Luck, who was on secondment until July, 2007, as the Panel’s new Area Co-ordinator, with effect from 1st November, 2006.
	Dave Luck provided details of his background in neighbourhood working and indicated that he was looking forward to a number of district walkabouts to familiarise himself with the area and its issues. He then went on to highlight a number of key issues which included the Woodhouse Community Facility Project and the Westfield Centre Project.
	In response to questions and comments regarding the Woodhouse Community Facility Project Dave Luck indicated that it was not now possible to proceed with the original proposals and that consultation with the wider Woodhouse community would need to be undertaken, which would include consultation with the Woodhouse Forum, amongst other organisations, but would also include other imaginative methods of consultation, such as well publicised events at the Co-operative Store, Library, and Health Centre.
	Dave Luck noted comments made regarding the efforts made by the Woodhouse Forum to engage effectively with local people and that the Project Group established regarding the Waterslacks Development had taken account of the views of local people in deciding not to pursue their original proposals. He further noted comments made regarding the Woodhouse Job Centre and the work being undertaken by the Steering Group in overseeing the initiative. He indicated that consideration would be given to the suggestion of a special Panel meeting for Woodhouse.		Dave Luck
	The Panel noted this information.

8.	WOODHOUSE (BRUNSWICK GARDENS) RETIREMENT VILLAGE
	Jackie Ainsworth circulated a report regarding the development of the Woodhouse (Brunswick Gardens) Retirement Village. The report set out details of the type of tenure available, the developer, management arrangements, viewings, eligibility and applications, sales and rentals events, meetings and allocations, all of which would lead up to the first residents being expected to move in around January, 2008.
	The report also provided details with regard to the sports facilities including the multi use games area, bowling green, football pitches and in the informal area. Discussions were continuing regarding the redevelopment of the library in Woodhouse.
	In response to questions and comments Jackie Ainsworth indicated that some environmental work, such as the seed and wild flower planting, associated with the planning condition for the development, had been carried out but other work would be discussed at a meeting with Environmental Planning Officers early in 2007.
	She indicated that it was intended for an Extra Care Housing Register to be established for those people interested in accessing this type of development and a core assessment of people’s needs would be undertaken, to be used when deciding who would be eligible for accessing this development, in order to take account of the need to ensure that there was a balanced demand for the varying types of care available. She confirmed that to be eligible for this development a person would have to require between no care and 30 hours care per week and if a person required more than 30 hours care they would not be eligible. The eligibility criteria would be made available on the City Council’s website.
	Jackie Ainsworth acknowledged an issue raised by Sue Stones regarding the 30 hours per week care eligibility criteria and indicated that she would clarify this issue and report back to Sue Stones.		Jackie Ainsworth
	She confirmed that it was hoped that the stone from the former Woodhouse Grange School would be used in the development and that the some of the latest technology would also be used to assist residents, particularly in respect of security and emergencies.
	With regard to the football pitches she indicated that whilst there were no changing facilities consideration may be given to utilising the Brunswick Primary School facilities and the School may manage these facilities.
	The Panel noted this information

9.	PUBLIC QUESTIONS AND PETITIONS
	In response to a question regarding the possible cessation of the successful Mountain Bike Police patrols Inspector Colin McFarlane indicated that there was no suggestion that the initiative would cease and in fact consideration was be given to rolling this initiative out further as vacancies in the Safer Neighbourhood Team were filled.
	Richard Oxley responded to concerns raised regarding the removal of barriers by Park Rangers, which had been installed to prevent access by motor vehicles, particularly to combat nuisance motorcycling, and, whilst acknowledging the problem he indicated that work was being undertaken to replace these barriers as a priority. Sue Stones commented that the replacement barriers would provide improved access for the disabled.
	With regard to nuisance motorcycling on the Beighton Tip Richard Oxley indicated that the Tip was to be capped and landscaped as part of the work being undertaken by the City Council’s Waste Management Service and that barriers would be installed and the site, to be known as Lindley Bank Meadows, would be incorporated into the Trans Pennine Way. He also referred to the success of reducing the levels of nuisance motorcycling around Woodhouse.
	Dave Luck indicated that he would investigate the concerns raised regarding the poor state of the area and toilet block at the top of Station Road, adjacent to the former Mosborough Miners Welfare Club, to establish ownership of the land and with a view to reporting back to the next meeting on a way forward to resolve this matter.		Dave Luck
	The Panel noted this information.

10.	AGE CONCERN
	Graham Harris provided details of an Age Concern service aimed at assisting the elderly residents of Woodhouse in regaining a social life that they may have lost for a variety of reasons. Volunteers were being sought to assist with this service, which would be delivered by holding a Day Centre at Tannery Lodge.
	<, div style="text-align:left;"> Mr. Harris requested that any person wishing to volunteer, or with information about a person who could possibly benefit from this service, to contact him on 0114 2502878.
	The Panel noted this information.

11.	WESTFIELD SCHOOL
	The Chair highlighted the fact that Westfield School would be re-opening on its new site on 3rd January, 2007, and referred particularly to the excellent new swimming pool and facilities.
	Sue Stones indicated that the new swimming pool, operated by Sheffield international Venues, was particularly impressive and very user friendly in terms of disabled access. A Leaflet providing details of the sessions organised by the Westfield Disabled Swimming Group, between 7.30 p.m. and 8.30 p.m. on Thursdays and Fridays, was circulated at the meeting.
	The Panel noted this information.

12.	NEXT MEETING
	The Panel noted that the next public meeting would be held on 13th February, 2007, at 1.30 p.m. at Handsworth Parish Centre.

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