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WESTHOUGHTON WITH CHEW MOOR AREA FORUM
MEETING, 9th March 2010
Present – 106 members of the public attended the meeting.
Councillor Christine Wild - Westhoughton North and (Chair) Chew Moor Councillor Julia Silvester - Westhoughton South Councillor Pat Allen (Vice - Westhoughton North and Chair Chew Moor Councillor David Wilkinson - Westhoughton North and Chew Moor Councillor J Higson - Westhoughton North and Chew Moor
Also in attendance
Anne Boles - Area Co-ordinator Roy Newton - Forum Chief Officer Jeanette Pemberton-Billing - Area Working Support Officer Kevin Dowd - Principal Officer, Asset Manager, Environmental Services, Ged Kelly - BSF, Bolton Metro Phil Hart - Westhoughton High School Headteacher Ian Robinson - BSF co-ordinator for Westhoughton High School Tim Lauren Balfour Beatty Rachel Blagg Balfour Beatty Sharon Pendlebury - Safer Communities Officer, Bolton at Home Ian Davies - Community Sports Outreach Worker, Children’s Services Neil Hart - Community Sports Outreach Worker, Children’s Services Rabia Chohan - Westhoughton Children’s Page 1 of 9
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Centre PC John Nicol - Greater Manchester Police PC Paul Griffiths - Greater Manchester Police PCSO Keith Atherton - Greater Manchester Police PC Andrew Haleswood - Greater Manchester Police
Apologies were submitted on behalf of Ruth Kelly, MP.
Councillor Christine Wild in the Chair.
23. DROP IN SESSION
There was a drop in session which started at 3.30 when Westhoughton High School finished which was aimed at encouraging feedback from the students and young people, as to how they wanted the new school build to progress and what they wanted to see happen.
The meeting was introduced to a Samba band called Westhoughton Urban Beats which used the new instruments that they had been able to buy using the Positive Contributions Budget money that they had been awarded from the Westhoughton Area Forum’s budget. The band was made up of students from Westhoughton High School who practised after school and promoted themselves as a band who would turn up and play at football and rugby matches to encourage more people to attend.
Round table discussions were used to facilitate involving the young people’s thoughts, ideas and suggestions. These were all added to a chart which served to establish a well thought out and meaningful set of bullet points. The suggestions were then collated and used when the Area Forum started properly at 7pm after the drop in session had finished.
24. INTRODUCTION Page 2 of 9
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Councillor Christine Wild welcomed everyone to the meeting and introduced herself, fellow Councillors from the Westhoughton wards, Bolton Council officers and partners.
25. MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING
The minutes of the previous meeting held on 9th November 2009 were submitted and approved as a correct record.
26. BUILDING SCHOOLS FOR THE FUTURE
Westhoughton High School Headteacher, Phil Hart, gave a presentation on what was happening in Westhoughton regarding the Building Schools for the Future initiative.
Ian Robinson introduced himself and explained about the 10 students from the school, who were on the Panel and had compiled and drawn the organograms depicting the needs, wants and aspirations of students for the new school.
The following questions were submitted during the question and answer section:-
Q.1. When will there be a A.1. The Balfour Beatty physical change to the representative responded that school? the planned programme would start in May/June 2010.
Q.2. What was the cost? A. 2. It was confirmed that it would cost £25 million.
Q.3.Would there would be A.3. It was confirmed that community and learning there would be and this would facilities for the wider be known as “Heart Space”. community?
Q.4. Will there be a youth A.4. Phil Hart confirmed that centre and resource centre? there would be and that there would be outdoor education Page 3 of 9
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involvement with the facility.
Q. 5. Would there still be two Q.5. Ged Kelly confirmed that swimming pools on the site? they would remain on the site of the new school.
Q.6. Would there still be City Q.6. It was stated that the and Guilds qualifications pupils would still be able to provided at the new school? acquire these qualifications.
Q.7. Councillor David Q.7. Ged Kelly reassured the Wilkinson asked if lessons had Councillors and members of been learned from the lack of the public that early consultation that had taken consultation had proved to be place with the building of successful. previous schools in the past?
Resolved – That the report be noted.
27. UPDATE ON BUDGETS
Area Based Grant – Allocation £9,680 - used to support projects aimed at tackling deprivation in the Forum area. Projects funded included:
Hindley & Clough Farm Residents Association – office equipment £ 750.00
Part funded Lighting Scheme - Hornby Drive, Hunger Hill £3,640.00
Lighting Scheme – Higher Southfield Bungalows £1,000.00
Market Street – Road Closure (WACO) £ 830.00 Page 4 of 9
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Carnegie Hall – Contribution to refurbishment £ 3,460.00
New Balance: £0
Area Forum Budget – Allocation £57,226 - - used to support projects identified as part of the wards local priorities. Projects funded included:
Highway enforcement schemes – (lining out) on Church Street £ 1,000.00 – Manchester Road £ 500.00 Pathway improvement on Wigan Road (Hart Common area) £ 1,500.00 Fencing to protect woodland – Hazeldene £ 4,410.00 Community Bench for Hunger Hill estate £ 800.00 Redesign of greenspace to plan out of the area £ 1,175.00 Anti-social behaviour and crime Part funded Lighting Scheme – Hornby Drive, Hunger Hill £ 6,160.00 Lighting Schemes - Alexandria Drive (off Park Road - – 1 side only) £14,500.00 - Dobb Brow & Old Lane £ 8,248.00 - Footpath from Barn Hill to King Street £ 1,248.00 - Barn Hill Terrace £ 1,900.00 - Fairhaven Avenue £ 9,700.00 Carnegie Hall – Contribution to refurbishment £ 5,393.00 Andrew’s Terrace – Keep Clear sign £ 201.00 Positive Contributions Budget Page 5 of 9
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addition cost £ 491.00
New Balance: £0
Highways Maintenance – Allocation £21,104 - used to support small highways projects identified in the Forum area. Projects funded included: Lighting Schemes - Cemetery Street £ 5,500.00 - Footpath - Barn Hill Terrace to King Street £ 5,052.00 - Water’s Nook Road £ 7,400.00 - Dobb Brow and Old Lane £ 3,152.00 - New Balance: £0
Voluntary Sector Grant – Allocation £4,275 – used for locally-based initiatives led by local voluntary or community not-for-profit groups. Grants included:
Westhoughton Childminder Drop in - toys, books & instruments £ 500.00 Daisyhill Festival - to contribute to entertainers & festival £ 480.00 magazine Wingates Tenants & Residents Group - to contribute to trip to Fleetwood £ 320.00 White Horse Action Group - to contribute to two trips during the year £ 500.00 St James Tiny Tot’s - to purchase a shed for storage £ 500.00 Lostock & Chew Moor Senior Citizens - to rent a room on a weekly basis for dancing £ 250.00 Red Lion Tuesday Club – to contribute to weekly bingo and a Christmas Party £ 500.00 Page 6 of 9
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Millers Nook Riding School – contribution to publicity £ 500.00 Baby Babble – contribution to a Christmas event and equipment £ 441.00
New Balance is £284
Positive Contributions - Allocations £20,000 – used to support projects brought forward for consideration by local Councillors from young people in the area. Projects funded included:
Basket Ball Team – equipment and transport £ 991.00 Community Awards Evening £ 3,000.00
University Progression Scheme £ 1,000.00
Washacre Parent and Child Group - dressing up clothes etc. £ 610.00 Westhoughton Cricket Club - equipment £ 400.00 Westhoughton Urban Beats - instruments £ 805.00 Westhoughton Rangers Under 11s FC – football stripe £ 830.00 John Holt Junior Club - CD’s games, arts & crafts £ 910.00 Eatock Primary School – Wildlife project £ 950.00 Eatock Primary School – Planters project £ 995.00 Washacre Primary School – greenhouse & equipment £ 800.00 Page 7 of 9
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St James Primary School – garden club £ 1,000.00 Fishing Project £ 2,655.00
Westhoughton Lions Rugby League Club – Professional instructors £ 3,015.00 Westhoughton Saturday Club – Professional instructors £ 2,530.00
This represented an overspend on the Positive Contributions Budget of £491, which had been covered by the Area Forum Budget
Area Co-ordinator Anne Boles, advised residents present at the meeting that a full budget update sheet for spending in 2009-10 was attached to the information packs they had received on their arrival to the meeting.
Resolved – That the report be noted.
28. QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS SESSION
Councillor Wild introduced this agenda item and advised that this was an opportunity for residents to ask any questions or put forward any comments relevant to the Westhoughton and Chew Moor area.
The following questions and comments were put forward:-
1. There was an issue A. Anne Boles said that she with dog fouling in the needed to know the Chew Moor Area which times, dates and names needed enforcement of people who were action. deliberately allowing their dogs to foul the Page 8 of 9
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area, and that the EET (Education Enforcement Team) would step up their visits.
2. Tempest Road was in a A. It was reported that the bad state of repair. repair works were programmed to be done in the very near future.
3. Complaints were A. The matter would be received regarding the raised with the relevant number of car sales department and businesses who responded back to the insisted on parking cars next Area Forum in due that were for sale, in course. front of residents homes, which caused problems with overparking and conjestion at road junctions.
Resolved – That the questions be noted and the questions that had not been answered at the meeting be directed to the appropriate Council Department or external agency.
29. CHAIR’S CLOSING REMARKS
Councillor Wild concluded the meeting by thanking everyone for their attendance and contributions and announced that the next Westhoughton Area Forum would be held after the Elections.
(The meeting started at 3.30pm and finished at 9:30pm)
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