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SMITHILLS AREA FORUM

MEETING, 15th March 2012

Present, 35 members of the public attended the meeting.

Councillor Hayes - Ward Councillor Radlett - Smithills Ward Councillor Swarbrick - Smithills Ward

Also in attendance

Idris Jeewa - Area Co-ordinator, Chief Executive’s Department Stephen Rowson - Business Support Officer, Chief Executive’s Department Sue Johnson - Forum Chief Officer John Kelly - Head of Service, Environmental Services Anne Burns - Neighbourhood Manager, at Home James Hall - Wildlife Trust Rick Parker - Chairman, Bolton Conservation Volunteers John Taylor - Bolton NHS Foundation Trust Alec Cottrill - Head Teacher, Smithills School PCSO Phil Clough - Police PCSO Bhavinee Makwana - Greater Manchester Police W M Boyle and colleagues - Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service

Apologies for absence were submitted on behalf of Julie Hilling MP, Wayne Thomasson (Bolton at Home) and Joan Cooper (Bolton Magistrates Court).

Councillor Radlett in the Chair. Page 1 of 5

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20. WELCOME, INTRODUCTIONS AND DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST BY MEMBERS AND OFFICERS

Councillor Radlett welcomed everyone and introduced Councillors Hayes and Swarbrick. He also introduced Idris Jeewa, Area Coordinator and other Council and partner officers present. No declarations of interest were given.

21. MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING

The minutes of the meeting held on 19th January 2012 were submitted and approved as a correct record subject to the inclusion of Alec Cottrill, Head teacher at Smithills School in the list of officers.

22. DOFFCOCKER LODGE PRESENTATION

Rick Parker (Bolton Conservation Volunteers) and James Hall (Lancashire Wildlife Trust) gave a presentation on the history of work, progress so far and future plans for Doffcocker Lodge.

The main points were:  Work to prevent the land going to forest.  Improve the wildlife.  Attempts to rescue the islands from erosion.  The Mud to Muscle project. o Key objectives o Practical activities o Five ways to wellbeing  Other sites where they were working.  A landscape approach to the River Croal.  Major challenges.  Links with other landscapes.  Taking the project forward and key action points.

A number of questions were asked which were answered on the night.

Resolved – That the presentations be noted.

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23. PRESENTATION, BOLTON 2012 – YEAR OF SPORT

Idris Jeewa the Area Coordinator stated that 2012 had been dedicated as the Year of Sport and details of what was to happen in and around Bolton were available.

A packed programme of activities were planned including:  Competitions for elite athletes.  Taster sessions for beginners.  Talent development and schools events.  As well as a cultural programme, including Bolton’s Food and Drink Festival.

There would also be a national programme of events including:  Olympic torch route and evening celebrations as the torch would stay in Bolton overnight before progressing on its route.  Queen’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations, including; street parties, beacon celebrations and civic celebrations.

Resolved – That the presentation be noted.

24. BUDGET UPDATE

Area Co-ordinator, Idris Jeewa, gave an update on budgets devolved to the Area Forum for the 2011-12 financial year noting:

 That the balance of the forum budget at the last meeting had been £25,225.  Four further projects listed below had been allocated funding.  There now remained £17,452.  That when decisions on how to allocate the remaining funds had been made, it would be reported back to future area forum meetings.  Anne Burns Neighbourhood Manager, Bolton at Home then provided an update on funds allocated to tackle deprivation. Resolved – (i) That the report be noted.

(ii) That the following projects have been approved under the Council’s Scheme of Delegation: Page 3 of 5

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The installation of a 20mph zone around Doffcocker Lane £6,500 and Church Rd The installation of white ‘H’ markings near Delph Hill £473 Methodist Church Installation of a road safety sign on Smithills Croft Rd £200 Continuation of disabled dropped kerbs along Church Rd £600

25. QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS SESSION

Councillor Radlett introduced this item on the agenda and invited all forum attendees to ask any questions or voice any concerns they may have regarding issues in the Ward.

Q1 Regarding the planned resurfacing of the road through Moss Bank Park could attention be given to the drainage before work starts, especially the gully outside the rock garden as it was solidly blocked? A Environmental services confirmed that they had the gulley’s along Lightbounds Road cleaned and the drains checked before the re- surfacing work was to be carried out.

Q2 The rails and steps at Boland Drive and Montserrat Road are really unsafe despite the report from whoever inspected them. A This would be taken back again to the department for further investigation.

Q3 Regarding the bins around Doffcocker Lodge, these are close to highways, could money not be saved by them being emptied as part of regular bin waggon routes rather than a dedicated caged vehicle as currently happens? A This would be passed to the relevant department for consideration.

Q4 The Church Road traffic scheme, was anything being investigated and could speeding signs not be used to calm the traffic? A Until the work is completed the scheme cannot be properly assessed. This was planned to be done by an external agency once work has been completed. All comments and petitions already

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submitted would be taken into account and if residents had further comments they could write in and these would also be considered.

Q5 A number of further questions relating to Church Road were also asked including the scope of the consultation. A Three hundred and seventy three letters were sent out to addresses in Church Street, Elgin Street and some side streets off these. Ward councillors also stated that they had distributed over one thousand two hundred leaflets around the local area to highlight the consultation. The cost of a set of traffic lights was in excess of £150,000 and would not have been suitable at the Bennetts Lane junction.

Q6 Dog fouling was still a big on-going issue on Church Road. A This would be passed to enforcement to investigate further.

Q7 Would the pelican crossing be finished off? A Yes this was due to be completed shortly.

Q8 The work being done at animal world was praised and it was asked how the charging scheme was working along with suggested improvements to this. A The work and charging scheme were in development and representatives would be invited to attend a future Area Forum to provide an update on their work so far.

Resolved – That the questions that have not been answered at the meeting be directed to the appropriate Council Department or external agency.

26. CHAIR’S CLOSING REMARKS

Councillor Radlett then concluded the meeting by thanking everyone for attending and announced that as dates for the next round of area forums had not yet been set, people would be informed through the usual channels once a date had been arranged.

(The meeting started at 7pm and finished at 8.34pm) Page 5 of 5