South East Area Panel Minutes 20th July 2004
SOUTH EAST AREA PANEL | ||
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Meeting held 20th July, 2004 at | ||
Brook House School, School Road, Beighton | ||
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| PRESENT: | Councillors David Barker, Marjorie Barker, Terry Barrow, Bryan Lodge, Helen Mirfin-Boukouris, Mike Peat, Ian Saunders and Sam Wall |
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| Also in attendance: |
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| Bob Porter (Westfield School), Philip Ives-Owen (Sheffield Futures), Dianne Hurst (Area Co-ordinator) and 21 members of the public |
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1. | APPOINTMENT OF CHAIR | |
| RESOLVED: That, in the absence of the Chair (Councillor Chris Rosling-Josephs), Councillor Ian Saunders be appointed Chair of this meeting. | |
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2. | APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE | |
| Apologies for absence were received from the Chair (Councillor Chris Rosling-Josephs) and the Lord Mayor (Councillor Mike Pye) and Councillor Mick Rooney and the Lead Officer, Ken Matthews. | |
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3. | PUBLIC QUESTIONS AND PETITIONS | |
| Anti-Social Behaviour on the Scowerdons Estate | |
| A petition, containing 66 signatures from residents of the Scowerdons Estate, was submitted to the Area Panel. The petition stated that, over recent years, the problem of anti-social behaviour on the Scowerdons Estate had escalated to an unacceptable level and, in many instances, the Council was aware of who the perpetrators were but had appeared to have done little to improve the welfare and safety of residents living in this community. The petition stated that figures showed that, each year, the Council-owned houses on the Scowerdons Estate generated at least £3m in gross rent, while Council documents showed that little had been spent on maintaining the properties. The petitioners stated that it was now time that some of this money was ploughed back into the community on safeguards to protect the residents. Accordingly, the petitioners called on the Council to install Closed Circuit Television Cameras (CCTV), without further delay, at a number of strategic locations around the Scowerdons Estate to improve the quality of life and safety of residents living in this community and to take swift and appropriate action against perpetrators of anti-social behaviour to benefit the community. | |
| RESOLVED: That (a) the petition now submitted be noted; and | |
| (b) the Area Co-ordinator be requested to (i) refer the petition to Officers in the Neighbourhoods Directorate, Sheffield Homes and the Council’s Community Safety Team and urge that they investigate the concerns raised therein and (ii) report back to the Area Panel following such investigations. | |
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| Section 106 Monies | |
| In response to a question from a member of the public as to why the promised report on the allocation of Section 106 Planning Gain monies in the South East had not been included on this meeting’s agenda, the Area Co-ordinator stated that, because of the urgent need to consider the Area Plan in order to comply with the tight timescales that had been established for the formulation of the three year strategy, it had been decided to concentrate this meeting on determining the priorities for the South East area. | |
| RESOLVED: That the Area Co-ordinator be requested to (a) include a report on the allocation of Section 106 Planning Gain monies in the South East on the next agenda and (b) send a copy of the report that has been prepared to Elsie Smith. | |
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| Fishing in the Shire Brook Valley | |
| A member of the public asked what safety precautions had been taken following the recent accidental electrocution of a fisherman in the Shire Brook Valley. | |
| In response, the Area Co-ordinator stated that Officers from Parks, Woodlands and Countryside had carried out a risk assessment and examined health and safety issues. A meeting of relevant Officers of the Council to be held the following week, would decide whether to prohibit or restrict fishing in the Shire Brook based on those findings. As a consequence, an action plan would be put in place before the end of the month. | |
| The Area Panel noted this information. | |
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| Hackenthorpe Village Green | |
| A member of the public asked about the position relating to Hackenthorpe Village Green and the Area Co-ordinator reported that there was an agreement that the developer would restore the village green environment on completion of the building works. A Planning Officer had reported, on 15th July 2004, that the developer had commenced work on removing the builders’ rubble and restoring the area in accordance with the plan that had been reported to a previous meeting of the Area Panel. In response to a further question, the Area Co-ordinator confirmed that the developer would be responsible for the maintenance of the village green for the next five years. | |
| The Area Panel noted this information. | |
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| Footpath Improvements, Woodhouse | |
| A member of the public thanked the Area Panel for the work that had been undertaken in Woodhouse to drop certain kerbs, but asked whether it would be possible to also drop the kerb opposite the Co-op Shop. | |
| In response, the Area Co-ordinator stated that the work to drop this kerb had been assessed by Officers and it would be included in the Small Road Safety Scheme within the rolling programme. | |
| The Area Panel noted this information. | |
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| Public Toilets at Market Square, Woodhouse | |
| A member of the public asked about the provision of public toilets in Market Square, Woodhouse and was informed by the Area Co-ordinator that this would form part of a broader project plan for the Square which would be discussed at a meeting of the Woodhouse Forum on 21st July 2004. | |
| The Area Panel noted this information. | |
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4. | MINUTES | |
| The minutes of the meeting of the Area Panel held on 20th April 2004 were approved as a correct record. | |
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5. | AREA PLAN | |
| The Area Co-ordinator (a) submitted a report which reviewed the progress that had been made against the Area Plan since 2003 and (b) gave a presentation on proposals to develop a three year Area Plan to be published in November 2004. | |
| The Area Co-ordinator outlined the key aims since 2003 in the Area Panel development, work in relation to young people, older people, housing, transportation, leisure, recreation and the environment, education, employment and lifelong learning, crime and community safety, health and poverty and exclusion and the outputs that had been achieved. She stated that, where outcomes had been within the control of the Area Panel, they had generally exceeded the requirements. | |
| The Area Co-ordinator then turned to the proposals for the future Plan and stated that the Best Value Review of Area Action had recommended that an overarching strategic plan be adopted, with one year delivery plans and timescales tied to Service Area/Directorate plans within the Council. The Review had also recommended Panels to concentrate on fewer priority areas, identify issues with partners and produce a consultation document which could be signed off at a community conference. The Plan would then be published in November 2004. | |
| The Area Co-ordinator rehearsed the four priority areas as follows:- | |
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| Environment | |
| The environmental issues within the South East were to secure green corridors, improve the quality of open space and facilities, deal with fly tipping and provide safe walking routes. Funding from Section 106 Planning Gain monies had been put to good use and, in addition, there had been improvements to the Shire Brook Valley, Birley Spa, a number of road safety schemes and the Active Communities project. Environmental opportunities for the future were presented through the Woodhouse Retirement Village, the Westfield School site, the Birley open space masterplans, Owlthorpe Park and section plans to reflect the Area Panel’s priorities. | |
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| Crime and Community Safety | |
| The Crime and Community Safety issues in the area related to nuisance and anti-social behaviour, safe walking routes, combating motorcycle nuisance and dealing with crime “hot spots”. A number of safe walking routes had been established, a Community Safety Plan had been published, there had been effective use of the Small road Safety Scheme and community safety in Market Square at Woodhouse had been addressed. There were further opportunities to develop a motorcycle issues group and to continue the road safety programme. | |
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| Young People |
| There were issues around engagement with young people and giving them a voice in their community, education, employment and training opportunities, facilities, anti-social behaviour and early years opportunities. |
| Bob Porter, Head of Westfield School, spoke of vocational training leading on to employment under the Sheffield Apprenticeship Scheme and the Learning for Life agenda and stated that all of the schools in the South East quadrant were working together with Sheffield College and the Learning and Skills Council to develop training opportunities for 14/19 year olds. There was an issue about transport in the local area (he cited, for example, pupils travelling to the Norton College campus) and it had been agreed that there should be a detailed study to examine transport links for young people to access training opportunities. Bob Porter stated that Phase 3 of the development of the Peak Centre was being planned for completion in September 2005 and there were also plans to develop specialisms within individual schools and links with local employers. |
| A member of the public asked whether there would be any building trade apprenticeships and Bob Porter responded that in the 14/16 age range, Sheffield College was developing centres of excellence for vocational training and this would include the building and construction trade. He added that there would be a lot of opportunities to obtain apprenticeships in the local area. |
| A member of the public pleaded that, as a local employer, more attention should be paid in schools to ensuring that pupils were competent at spelling and writing and, in response, Bob Porter stated that literacy remained one of the key subjects. The Chair, Councillor Ian Saunders, added that the key stage results for schools in the area indicated that literacy was improving. |
| In response to questions from Councillor Mike Peat, Bob Porter stated that the Sheffield College Castle site would specialise in building and construction, the Norton site would concentrate on media studies and ICT and the Peaks Centre would specialise in “A” and “AS” level qualifications. The third phase of the development of the Peaks Centre would concentrate on retail and business courses. |
| Councillor Terry Barrow asked about the development of links between schools, college and the workplace and Bob Porter responded that plans were at the development stage, although links were being made with Yorkshire Forward and Renaissance South Yorkshire. Four schools in the South East area (Birley, Handsworth, City and Westfield) were involved in a project in association with the College and the Learning for Life team whereby a number of their students experienced vocational areas as “tasters” before they chose a specialism. It was also hoped to develop the Peak Centre retail specialism and link with the Crystal Peaks Centre. |
| The Area Co-ordinator referred to the success of the Active Communities Project and in response to a question from a member of the public about accidental liability, stated that the parents/guardians of the young people were required to sign a disclaimer should an accident occur during the young person’s participation in organised events. However, she stressed that every precaution would be taken to ensure that the activities were safe. |
| In response to further questions about Active Sport, Councillor Ian Saunders confirmed that discussions were taking place with Clive Betts, MP and others to identify a site that could be used by young people. |
| Philip Ives-Owen, Sheffield Futures, stated that courses would be made available within local communities for young people during the summer. |
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| Supporting People |
| The Area Panel aimed to support communities to obtain decent standards within the housing stock, nurture community aspirations and support the desire of elders for continued independent living. Access to health care services, the development of life long learning opportunities and building community strengths were also the aims of the Panel. The Area Co-ordinator cited the work that was being done on the development of the Woodhouse Retirement Village, the inclusive work of the South Sheffield Regeneration Team on the Scowerdons, Weaklands and Newstead Estates, the Local Investment Finance Trust (LIFT) project at Westfield and joint working with Officers from the South East Primary Care Trust and others to support health issues. The delivery of the Objective 1 programme in certain communities within the Area and the employment of Community Development Workers in Woodhouse and Birley would further promote these aims and the Area Co-ordinator paid tribute to the assistance they had given. |
| In conclusion, the Area Co-ordinator invited members of the public to comment on the proposals so that, wherever possible, suggestions could be incorporated into the future Area Plan. |
| The following comments were made:- |
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| · The aim of the Beighton residents was to make the village a “cleaner, greener place to live” and one of their key objectives was to tackle the problem of litter. |
| · The Area Co-ordinator stated that Officers in Street Force had been working in the schools within the area on an educational programme in regard to litter and associated concerns. She was also aware that Bob Porter and his staff at Westfield had been pursuing the same agenda. |
| · Bob Porter added that Westfield and other schools in the area were engaged in the Eco-Schools Project which promoted environmental issues, including littering. Pupils had also conducted a survey and had examined the proliferation of litter in the area and the location of litter and dog faeces bins. |
| · Councillor Ian Saunders stated that he was waiting for a response from Street Force on a request he had made for a clean up of Beighton Village. He would like this to be followed by a “zero tolerance” approach supported by Litter Wardens. |
| · The Area Co-ordinator stated that any requests for a lengthsman would have to be considered against other priorities for Area Panel funding which had to be allocated in accordance with the principles governing the Council’s “Closing the Gap” strategy. |
| · The Area Panel was providing £2,500 to extend the Eco-Schools Project referred to by Bob Porter to all schools within the South East area. |
| · Concerns were expressed that litter and detritus had not been removed since autumn last year and Councillor Terry Barrow stated that it was important for litter “hot spots” to be identified. She added that it would be helpful to obtain a programme of work from Street Force for the whole area, so that frequencies could be examined. |
| · Beighton residents stated that there was to be a meeting with Officers of Street Force on 24th August 2004 at St. Mary’s Church, Beighton to discuss the litter “hot spots” in the village. |
| · Philip Ives-Owen stated that Youth Clubs had been involved in recycling projects and he added that local shopkeepers should be encouraged to use paper bags, rather than plastic. |
| · Bob Porter stated that Sheffield was launching its Extended Schools Strategy in September 2004 which would link to other schemes, such as the LIFT project at Westfield and the Building Schools for the Future programme. These initiatives would help to promote “joined up” thinking and link to the aims being promoted in the Area Plan to bring the different elements together and avoid duplication. This would enable litter and other concerns to be dealt with strategically and provide the infrastructure, facilities and vision for the South East for the next 3/6 years. |
| RESOLVED: That (i) the report and presentation be noted; |
| (ii) Members of the public be requested to let the Area Co-ordinator have any comments on the Area Plan as soon as possible so that they could be incorporated in the draft document to be signed off at a Community Conference during early September, 2004; and |
| (iii) the Area Co-ordinator be requested to arrange for (A) an Officer from Environmental Health to attend the next meeting to report on fly tipping and (B) the street cleaning programme for the area to be submitted to the next meeting. |
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6. | DATES OF FUTURE MEETINGS |
| RESOLVED: That future public meetings of the Area Panel be held on 21st September 2004 at 7.00 p.m., 23rd November 2004 at 1.30 p.m., 25th January 2005 at 1.30 p.m., 22nd March, 2005 at 1.30 p.m. and 24th May 2005 at 7.00 p.m., with the venues to be announced nearer the date of the meeting. |
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7. | SOUTH EAST PRIMARY CARE TRUST |
| The Area Panel noted that the Annual General Meeting of the South East Primary Care Trust would be held on Tuesday, 7th September 2004 at 10.00 a.m. at the Megacentre, Bernard Road. |