SOUTH EAST COMMUNITY ASSEMBLY Meeting Held 18Th March 2010, at the Mosborough
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SOUTH EAST COMMUNITY ASSEMBLY Meeting held 18th March 20 10 , at the Mosborough Methodist Church , Chapel Street, Mosborough PRESENT: Councillors Chris Rosling-Josephs (Chair), David Barker, Denise Fox, Bryan Lodge, Mike Pye, Mick Rooney, Ray Satur, Gail Smith and Chris Tutt. 1. WELCOME TO THE MEETING Councillor Chris Rosling-Josephs welcomed members of the public to the Community Assembly meeting. 2. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE FROM MEMBERS OF THE ASSEMBLY Apologies for absence were submitted from Councillors Marjorie Barker, Helen Mirfin-Boukouris and Ian Saunders. 3. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST Councillor Bryan Lodge declared a prejudicial interest in Item 8 on the agenda, Climate Change Fund, as a non-playing member of Hollinsend Cricket Club. 4. MINUTES The minutes of the meeting of the Assembly held on 10th December 2009, were approved as a correct record, subject to the words “working with the Sheffield Landscape Trust” being substituted for the words “working with the Parks and Countryside Service”, in the second paragraph on page 5 of the minutes. 5. PUBLIC QUESTIONS AND PETITIONS Public Questions Golden Keys Public House Eric Staniland, Hackenthorpe and Birley Tenants’ and Community Association (TACA), asked why residents had not been informed about the closure of the Golden Keys Public House on Westfield. In response, David Luck, Community Assembly Manager, stated that there was a proposal to purchase the Golden Keys, using Central Government funding, and use it as a youth facility. He stated that consultation had shown that people were afraid to use the Westfield Centre at night due to the anti-social activities taking place there. Mr. Luck stated that a petition had been submitted regarding the lack of facilities for young people in the Westfield area, and two years ago Councillors had been approached by the brewery who owned the Golden Keys to ask if they knew of a buyer who might be interested in the property. Meeting of the South East Community Assembly 18.03.2010 Page 2 David Luck informed Mr. Staniland that Assembly officers would be attending a meeting of the Westfield TARA to discuss the proposal for the Golden Keys, and added that it was an opportunity to provide something positive for young people in the Westfield area. Rainbow Fields Project Eric Staniland stated that the Hackenthorpe and Birley TACA had been working on the Rainbow Fields project for around four years. The land had been handed over for community use by the developer who had previously leased it and, following discussions with the Council, it was agreed that the land would return to Council ownership with a view to the TACA raising funds for the development of it. Despite several emails from the TACA to Andy McKie of Development Services, it had not been confirmed by the Council that this would happen. The funding stream of £5,000 from Trafford Hall National Communities Resource Centre had been withdrawn, and the TACA were now asking the Assembly for their assistance in resolving this issue. Councillor Bryan Lodge stated that he was not aware of the reason for the funding being withdrawn, but was trying to obtain information. The Chair informed Mr. Staniland that Assembly officers would investigate this matter and write to him when they had the necessary information. Moss Valley Wildlife Group Celia Jackson asked whether Councillor Gail Smith could supply her with dates when she would be available for a walkabout in the Moss Valley (Bridle Stile) area. Councillor Smith stated that she had no free dates in March but, if Ms. Jackson would like to speak to her after the meeting she would provide her with some dates when she would be available for the walkabout. Handsworth Sword Dancers Les Seaman enquired about the situation regarding the new community signs, showing the long sword logo, which had been requested in September 2009 by Handsworth Sword Dancers. He stated that no information had been made available at the previous two meetings of the Assembly, and added that Grenoside Sword Dancers had already been provided with their signs after making a request to the Northern Community Assembly in September 2009. David Luck stated that the Transport and Highways department had been asked to respond to the request for signs, adding that the Assembly had to choose which projects to fund and the signs were not a high priority item. He stated that he should have made the Handsworth Sword Dancers aware of “You Choose” funding, which they would be able to access later this year. Councillor Mick Rooney stated that it had originally been hoped that the signs could be funded from the Delivering for Sheffield budget, and a request had also been made to the Cabinet Member for Culture, Meeting of the South East Community Assembly 18.03.2010 Page 3 Sport and Tourism for funding through the Cultural budget, but unfortunately neither of these requests had been successful. He added that, in comparison to such things as road safety schemes, the signs were not a high priority for the Assembly. The Chair stated that a further request for the signs would be submitted to the Transport and Highways department. Development at Crystal Peaks Roger Marsh of Owlthorpe Community Forum asked for formal support from the South East Community Assembly, regarding the proposed development of the playing fields at Crystal Peaks. Roger Pateman, a resident of Waterthorpe, stated that an undertaking was required that neither the eastern or western playing fields would be developed. In response, Councillors David Barker and Gail Smith stated that the campaign to save the playing fields had their full support. Councillor Chris Tutt stated that, even though he was a member of the City Centre, South and East Planning and Highways Area Board, and thus had to be careful not to predetermine his views on any application relating to the playing fields, he appreciated the views of residents regarding such a large development. Councillor Bryan Lodge stated that, in view of the very strong feelings of residents, a consultation should take place, and whatever development was to take place should be undertaken with the full consent of the local community. He added that he and his colleagues from the major opposition party would not dispose of any of the land if they were in a position to do so. When asked for the views of herself and Councillor Tutt, Councillor Gail Smith stated that they considered it was out of the question to develop the two playing fields. Following a suggestion that Councillor Tutt should stand down from the Planning Board to enable him to represent the people in his Ward, it was pointed out that Councillor Tutt would have to leave the meeting of the Planning Board when the Crystal Peaks application was being discussed, if he had an interest in the item. Regarding the sites for the proposed Aldi store, the Chair stated that one was close to the Sam Jones Gym and the other was near the Milestone Public House, both sites being far enough away from local residents not to cause problems. The Chair stated that the community would be consulted regarding any proposals for the development of the playing fields, and the Assembly would facilitate this as much as possible. Petitions The Assembly received a petition from Eric Staniland, Hackenthorpe and Birley TACA, containing 834 signatures from residents requesting the Council to introduce a Child Safety Zone through Main Street and designated areas of Hackenthorpe; incorporating Birley Spa Lane, Springwater, Cotleigh and Delves areas, Beighton Road, Sheffield Road and Church Lane. The petition included Meeting of the South East Community Assembly 18.03.2010 Page 4 a map of the proposed area and a supporting letter from the secretary of Beighton Falcons Football Club. Mr. Staniland stated that there were schools, nurseries, a health clinic and elderly persons’ homes in the proposed area. He added that, in the summer of 2009, a house in the area was almost demolished after being hit by a speeding vehicle. Councillor Bryan Lodge stated that 20mph zones were expensive to install and the Police would only enforce the speed limit if road humps and signs were in place. He added that these engineering measures in the proposed area could cost as much as £250,000, when the Assembly only had a budget of £275,000 across all four of its Wards. Members agreed (a) to support the petitioners regarding the installation of a 20mph Child Safety Zone in the proposed area; and (b) to request that the petition be referred to the Cabinet Member for Sustainable Transport and Streetscene, the Executive Director, Place Portfolio, and the Head of the Transport and Highways department. 6. FUNDIN G AVAILABLE TO THE SOUTH EAST COMMUNITY ASSEMBLY IN 2010/2011 THROUGH ITS DISCRETIONARY BUDGET and THE SHEFFIELD FOOD FESTIVAL Members considered a report of the Community Assembly Manager on the funding available to the Assembly in 2010/2011, through its discretionary budget, and Sheffield Food Festival funding . Based on the four key priorities of the Assembly’s Community Plan, the report contained recommendations for the allocation of the funding to various projects in the Assembly area. In addition to the £289,000 discretionary budget, the Assembly had been allocated £3,000 from City-wide funds towards the Sheffield Food Festival, which would take place in June 2010. It was proposed that this funding be used to identify a suitable provider to deliver an event in the South East of Sheffield. Malcolm Green stated that the Assembly appeared to be doing a lot for young people but not much for older people in the area. He added that there had been no funding for equipment for older people through the Charnock Masterplan.