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Minutes of Area Panel 19 June 2007
SOUTH EAST AREA PANEL
Meeting held 19th June, 2007 at Woodhouse West School, Coisley Hill, Woodhouse, Sheffield
PRESENT: Councillors Marjorie Barker, Bryan Lodge and Mike Peat.
Representatives of Panel Partners:-
Mike Nuttall - South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive
Kathryn Taylor - Woodhouse Development Worker
Also in attendance:-
Councillor Martin Lawton - Richmond Ward
Pete Marshall )- Development Services
Trevor Thorn )
Dave Luck - Area Co-ordinator
Sarah Thomson - Committee Secretariat
20 members of the public and representatives from local community groups attended the meeting.
…………………..
1. APPOINTMENT OF CHAIR ACTION
In the absence of the Chair, (Councillor Chris Rosling-Josephs), Councillor Marjorie Barker was appointed as Chair.
2. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
Apologies for absence were received from Councillors David Barker, Liz Naylor, Helen Mirfin-Boukouris, Mike Pye, Chris Rosling-Josephs, Ray Satur, Ian Saunders and Sam Wall.
3. MINUTES OF THE LAST MEETING
The minutes of the meeting of the Area Panel held on 24th April, 2007 were approved as a correct record.
4. ROLLING ACTION CHECKLIST
The Rolling Action Checklist for meetings held up to 24th April, 2007 was approved as a correct record and, arising therefrom, Councillor Mike Peat reported that fencing had been erected around the perimeter of the toilet block at the top of Station Road, adjacent to the former Mosborough Miners Welfare Club and indicated that the site developer would shortly be on site.
Councillor Bryan Lodge referred to the speed cushions on Hartland Avenue and Willingham Gardens and commented that, although a site meeting had now taken place, an alternative solution had not been agreed.
In answer to questions as to whether there was a possibility that the bench on Chapel Street could be removed as it was frequently used by members of the public who were perceived as intimidating. The Chair reported that she had also made enquiries at Trinity Chapel to discuss the removal of the bench opposite and indicated that she would raise the matter with South Yorkshire Police to see if they could disperse the people congregating in this area. Cllr Marjorie Barker
The Panel noted the information reported.
5. AREA CO-ORDINATOR UPDATE
Area Plan
The Area Co-ordinator reported that the Panel’s plan for 2007/2008 was being finalised and copies would be posted on the South East Area Panel web pages at www.sheffield.gov.uk/seareaaction. A summary of the plan would be presented at the next area panel public meeting.
He indicated that the four key priority areas as defined by the Panel’s three year plan 2005-2008 were (i) the environment (ii) community safety (iii) children and young people and (iv) supporting communities
Panel Survey
The Area Co-ordinator referred to a survey which was undertaken at a panel meeting at Birley Spa last year which had indicated that the majority of people were satisfied with the arrangements of the Panel meetings, although several issues were raised in relation to parking provision, opportunities to raise issues and the spread of meeting times and places. The Area Co-ordinator indicated that the Panel sought to resolve the issues raised. Dave Luck
Community Chest
With regard to the South East Area Panel Community Chest, the Area Co-ordinator reported that the first round of grants had been allocated to:-
SwaN Junior Football Club for equipment;·
Handsworth Community Forum for summer activities;·
Ballifield School for an environmental project;
Beighton in Bloom for planters;
and·Handsworth Nursery Multicultural Open Day
Roll of Honour
The South East Area Panel Roll of Honour took place on May 8th, 2007, at St Mary’s Church, Bramall Lane. 24 local people were honoured and received certificates from the Lord Mayor.
Community Cohesion
The Area Co-ordinator reported that the Council was leading on a piece of consultation within the City on what it means to be a ‘Sheffielder’ in the 21st Century.
A city debate on ‘what it means to be a Sheffielder would commence in ‘The Star’ with residents being invited to comment on the values, and on what they feel makes a Sheffielder. This would be rolled out to other media, such as community radio stations and the Council’s website to provide a broad base response.
The Panel noted the information reported.
6. SOUTH YORKSHIRE PASSENGER TRANSPORT EXECUTIVE (SYPTE)
Mike Nuttall, South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive (SYPTE) provided an update on travel and transport issues across the City.
Mr Nuttall indicated that the Transport Executive was established in 1996 and was responsible for the transport infrastructure across South Yorkshire. He commented that the SYPTE did not own or operate bus services across South Yorkshire but were involved in the network and operation provided by independent partners.
A question was raised and comments made:-
· Would the bus routes 723 and 732 be reinstated?
– The contract for the 723 and 732 bus service expired at the end of January, 2007, at which point the tender to contract the service was re-opened and alternative prices were submitted. No alternative solution had been determined, although the 732, service had been replaced, by the 123, service. He indicated that the 123, service did cover part of the previous 732, service, but there were some parts of the route, which were not covered by this service. Mr Nuttall added that there were issues in respect of budgets, which had impacted on some services. Councillor Bryan Lodge, Cabinet Member for Transport and Streetscene, commented that it was difficult to accommodate bus services across all areas of the City but added that, where services were losing money and were not attracting sufficient passengers, then inevitably these services would be removed from the timetable. Councillor Lodge stated that he would liaise with Mr Nuttall in order to attempt to resolve the issue raised. Cllr Bryan Lodge/Mike Nuttall (SYPTE)
The Panel, thanked Mr Nuttall for his contribution to the meeting and noted the information reported.
7. WOODHOUSE FORUM AND DEVELOPMENT WORKER UPDATE
Kathryn Taylor, Woodhouse Development Worker, provided an update on activities in the Panel area and commented on events, which had been undertaken by local Community Groups.
She referred to the provision of a Community Resource Centre in the Woodhouse area and indicated that Woodhouse Library had been unsuccessful in gaining the nomination as Sheffield City Council’s Library for the Lottery Community Libraries Programme. However, the Southern Light Community Church had contacted the Area Co-ordinator with regard to the possibility of refurbishing the church with the addition of a second floor. Ms Taylor commented that Woodhouse Forum were against this option and were revisiting the possibility of utilising an existing community building. She stated that the Forum would meet again with Councillors and Trustees to discuss the options available at the end of June in order to identify a suitable location for the proposed community facility in the Woodhouse area.
A number of questions were raised and comments made:-
· Would any financial contribution be available towards the Community Resource Centre? - The Area Co-ordinator reported that £450,000, receipts from the sale of the Retirement Village land was earmarked to refurbish an existing community building.
· Would the proposed Community Resource Centre qualify for Coalfields Regeneration Trust funding? –Woodhouse was not eligible for funding, as the project was not based within a coalfield community.
The Panel thanked Ms Taylor and noted the information reported.
8. SHEFFIELD DEVELOPMENT FRAMEWORK
Pete Marshall, Development Services, gave a presentation on the latest developments in terms of the Sheffield Development Framework (SDF) in the South East area. He stated that the SDF comprised of a portfolio of different documents including the Core Strategy, Cities Policies, City Sites and Proposals Map.
The SDF would be a plan for the long-term development of the City, and deal with land use, the design, density and distribution of development, the environment and resources and the development aspects of transport.
Mr Marshall commented that consultation had been undertaken on the Core Strategy on three occasions and would be submitted to Government during September 2007, when public comments could be made. He reported that the main purpose of this presentation was to explain the contents of the SDF City Policies, City Sites and Proposals Map, and encourage members of the public to comment on them , before the deadline on 20th July, 2007.
He indicated that the City Policies set out detailed criteria that would guide land use, ensure good design and promote sustainability.
Mr Marshall stated that an important new feature of the City Policies was the emphasis on achieving high standards of design and sustainability in all new developments. The City Policies proposed a wide variety of transport policies that, taken as a whole, would support the creation of a more sustainable transport network better suited to meet Sheffield’s growing travel needs. The City Sites document contained details of site allocations that required specific types of development on over 260 sites and would ensure that Sheffield had enough land available to cater for future development needs. Mr Marshall referred to 18 sites in the South East area, 10 of which had been allocated for business and industry, 7 for housing, and another for educational provision. The Proposals Map highlighted a variety of policy areas, for each of which a different menu of preferred and acceptable uses was identified in the City Policies. It also showed the site allocations.
Mr Marshall indicated that the Unitary Development Plan (UDP), along with the current Regional Spatial Strategy, remained the statutory development plan for the City, but the UDPs site allocations were largely out of date and many of its policies did not reflect latest government policy. Mr Marshall concluded his presentation by reporting that if there was significant support in the consultation, no opposition or no significant planning arguments against any of the preferred options, they could be used to inform planning decisions in the period before the adoption of the SDF documents.
A number of questions were raised and comments made:-
· What parking provision had been made at Woodhouse market square? – Parking provision would be examined when the planning application was submitted.
· What is the cost of affordable housing? – The current affordable housing price for purchasing a dwelling is assumed to be £70,000, although this figure would increase annually in line with the level of income.
· Could a restriction be placed on the number of new three bedroom houses on the proposed new developments? – Every development site would be subject to the new City Policies, which would seek to promote a range of housing tenure.
· Friends of Richmond Park asked whether the Panel could clarify the location of land defined as Richmond Park – Councillor Martin Lawton commented that he would investigate the matter raised and would respond to the Friends of Richmond Park. Cllr Martin Lawton
The Panel thanked Mr Marshall for his contribution to the meeting and noted the information reported.
9. PUBLIC QUESTIONS AND PETITIONS
In response to a question as to where the Section 106 monies arising from the Normanton Springs development had been spent, the Area Co-ordinator commented that the monies had been spent in the Shirebrook Valley area. The decision had been approved by the Area Panel for allocation in an area where tangible results would be seen.
A representative from the Friends of Richmond Park requested clarification as to where the proposed site of the new City School would be. He added that the Friends Group had approached Councillor Martin Lawton and requested a response to this matter. In response, Councillor Martin Lawton stated that he had contacted Development Services regarding this issue and indicated that he would contact the Friends of Richmond Park with a response to this matter. Cllr Martin Lawton
The Panel noted this information.
10. NEXT MEETING
The Panel noted that the next public meeting would be held on Tuesday 9th October, 2007 at 1.30 p.m., at a venue to be confirmed.
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