Little Lever and Darcy Lever Area Forum Informal
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LITTLE LEVER AND DARCY LEVER AREA FORUM INFORMAL MEETING – Monday 1ST October 2012 Present, 32 members of the public attended the meeting. Councillor David Evans Little Lever and Darcy Lever Ward Also in attendance Idris Jeewa Area Co-ordinator, Chief Executive’s Department Shelly Williams Business Support Officer, Chief Executive’s Department Sue Johnson Area Forum Chief Officer Chris Lloyd Environmental Services Ros Baxter Environmental Services Jason Molyneaux Environmental Services Christine O Reardon Environmental Services Marie Grady Bolton at Home Sgt. Steve Malone Greater Manchester Police and Team Apologies for absence were submitted on behalf of Yasmin Quereshi MP, Councillor Anthony Connell, Councillor Maureen Connell and John Rowlands Area Forum Chief Officer Councillor David Evans in the Chair 11. INTRODUCTIONS, WELCOME Councillor Evans welcomed everyone to the meeting and introduced the Officers in attendance. 12. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST FROM COUNCILLORS AND OFFICERS There were no Declarations of Interest. 13. MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING The minutes of the previous meeting held on 18th June 2012 were submitted and approved as a correct record. 14. GMP PRESENTATION – STOP AND SEARCH Sergeant Steve Malone introduced himself and updated members on the latest position in relation to policing in Little Lever and Darcy Lever ward. Sergeant Malone explained that the police were working on new Stop and Search procedures which had been rolled out at a national level. The main points were: New technology GMP Airwave Handset was used to record the Stop and Search procedure Every Stop and Search recording was automatically added to the Police database Stop and Search was used on individuals who were acting suspicious The procedure ensured offenders were located and arrested Each person who had been searched was issued with a receipt and had three months from the date of the search to obtain a copy of the search record Stop and Search was a great move forward in getting Police Officers back on the beat. A number of questions were raised and answered on the night. Resolved – That the presentation be noted. 15. PUBLIC CONSULTATION – ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES MANAGED WEEKLY COLLECTIONS Councillor Evans introduced Ros Baxter, Environmental Services who gave a presentation in relation to Bolton Council’s managed weekly waste collections. The main points were: The Council had to save £35.6 million between 2013-2015 Central and Local Government commitment to increase recycling in Bolton was falling behind Larger aim was for zero waste to landfill and more recycling through all the newly built facilities Transformation of services would ease the burden of budget cuts on vulnerable adults and children Significant rising costs for the disposal of residual waste £15.8m - £24.6m. Public consultation and returned questionnaires by 16th November 2012 All responses to the public consultation considered between November and December 2012 Final decision - January/February 2013 If approved, managed weekly collections would commence May 2013 If approved, food only collections would commence April 2013. A number of questions were raised and answered on the night Resolved – That the presentation be noted. 16. PRESENTATION – LOVE LITTLE LEVER AND DARCY LEVER, HATE LITTER CAMPAIGN Councillor Evans introduced Christine O’Reardon from Environmental Services who gave a behavioural change/anti-litter presentation to Members. The main points discussed were: Bolton Council spent £2.8 million per year in order that the streets of Bolton were kept clean 4559 streets were swept 822 pieces of graffiti were removed 1833 tons of fly-tipping cleaned up 5 bin bags of dog fouling removed per working day The role and responsibilities of the Enforcement Officers and their powers in relation to littering, bins, fouling and fixed penalties Big Bolton Tidy Up, Council staff worked with schools and community groups as part of the Behaviour Change Campaign. As part of the campaign work workshop would be undertaken with all primary schools in the area. A number of questions were raised and answered on the night Resolved - That the presentation be noted. 17. PRESENTATION – MECCANO BRIDGE Councillor Evans introduced Paul Hindle from Manchester, Bolton and Bury Canal Society who updated members in relation to the Meccano Bridge development. The main points raised were: The bridge looks like it is made from a giant Meccano set and would be built in a popular beauty spot The designer of the ironwork bridge was public artist Liam Curtin The ironwork bridge would link Little Lever with Moses Gate Country Park and would be built on the site of the old horse bridge, passing over Manchester, Bolton and Bury Canal at Nob End, Little Lever. The bridge would serve a function for the public and benefit the canal society. Manchester, Bolton and Bury Canal Society were carrying out improvements on the Nob End section of the canal and there were plans to turn it into a picnic area, with the bridge as its focal point The Canal Society had asked James May to open the bridge when completed. A number of questions were raised and answered on the night Resolved - That the presentation be noted 18. BUDGET UPDATE Area Co-ordinator, Idris Jeewa, gave a brief update on budgets available for 2012-2013. Mr Jeewa explained that at the end of the last meeting there were £4,102 left in the Neighbourhood Management budget and £10,898 in the Flat Rate budget Since the last meeting, the following schemes had been approved under the Council’s Scheme of Delegation Neighbourhood Management Budget St Stephen and all Martyrs School environmental project £450 Balance £3652 Flat Rate Budget Relocation of litter bin to High Street £150 Contribution to GMP Cadet Programme £125 Contribution to ZAC’s vehicle purchase £1250 Little Lever Resident Association start -up costs £1000 Little Lever Youth Club equipment £929 Environmental Projects Little Lever primary schools £2250 Balance £5194 As and when decisions were made on the remaining budgets they would be reported back to future area forum meetings. Resolved – That the report, together with those projects approved under the Council’s Scheme of Delegation, be noted. 19. QUESTION AND ANSWER SESSION Councillor Evans introduced this item on the agenda and invited residents to ask any questions or put forward any comments they had regarding issues and concerns in the Little Lever and Darcy Lever ward. Q1 To improve the health wellbeing and safety of our children a policy of 20mph around schools would enable many of them to walk or cycle to school. What is holding this improvement up in our ward? A The issue was raised at the last Area Forum meeting and although Ward Councillors in general were supportive of the 20mph zones, in reality it would be difficult to implement due to financial constraints and unenforceability. Q2 A resident asked if the York Avenue park area had been mowed at all this year? A Chris Lloyd, Environmental Services responded and advised that the York Avenue park area had been assessed as part of the savings and efficiencies programme. Unfortunately the area was identified as low maintenance therefore only scheduled for mowing annually. Q3 A resident stated that within the past few weeks Moses Gate was closed for three consecutive nights. What was the purpose/reason for this as there does not seem to be any marked improvement/change? A Idris Jeewa advised that the matter would be investigated and reported back at the next area forum meeting. Q4 A resident asked whether the pot holes on Wilby Avenue and Duxbury Avenue would be filled in and resurfaced? A Idris Jeewa Area Coordinator stated that the request would be passed on to Highways services. Q5 A resident asked if there was a possibility that Bentley Street, Darcy Lever would get any regeneration monies, similar to what had been awarded in the Haulgh area? A Idris Jeewa, Area Coordinator advised that the Haulgh had benefited from private sector renewal funds and this type of funding had come to an end. Q6 Tong Road had recently been resurfaced and was now in a worse condition than before. Was it possible for a site visit to ascertain the current situation? A Idris Jeewa, Area Coordinator advised that if the road had been resurfaced using micro asphalt, then this would take time to bed in. Mr Jeewa advised that the matter would be investigated and reported back at the next Area Forum meeting. Q7 It was asked what the progress was in relation to the Tesco superstore planning application? A Councillor Evans advised that planning permission had recently been given and Tesco had three years within which to implement it. 20. CHAIRS CLOSING REMARKS Councillor Evans advised that the date of the next Area Forum Meeting would take place on Tuesday 19th February 2013, 6.30pm drop-in, 7.00pm main meeting, at Masefield Primary School, Masefield Road, Little Lever, BL3 1NG. (The meeting started at 7.00pm and finished at 8.30pm) .