NORTH AREA COMMITTEE

14th January 2010 at 8.00 p.m.

PRESENT: Councillors Garrett (Chair); Councillors Campbell, R. J. Davis, Foord, Hinkley, Pedersen, Simons, Titmuss and Worlding

1 APOLOGY FOR ABSENCE (REF: 1)

An apology for absence from the meeting was received on behalf of Councillor Bullock.

2 MINUTES (REF: 2.1)

The Committee were advised that an incorrect set of Minutes had been included with the Agenda. Therefore consideration of the Minutes of 29th September 2009 was deferred to the next meeting.

3 PETITION – CCTV BIRDSFOOT LANE (REF: 9.1)

The Committee were advised that neither the appropriate officer nor any of the petitioners was present at the meeting.

Resolved: That consideration of this petition (Ref: 9.1) be deferred to the next meeting.

4 PETITION – IMMEDIATE 20mph SPEED SIGNS AND IMPROVED TRAFFIC CONTROL IN WESTMORELAND AVENUE (REF: 9.2)

The Engineering Services Manager presented a report of the Head of Engineering and Transportation on the Council response to the petition containing 138 signatures.

A Ward Councillor commented that Lidl Supermarkets had received planning permission for a store in Marsh Road. She commented that local residents were concerned about increased congestion in the area when the store opened.

Members of the public raised the following points:

• Consultation was currently scheduled to start in January 2012. Residents were concerned that this might be delayed until after Lidl opened. • The road humps should be repainted. • Signs reminding motorists of the speed limit should be erected. • Westmoreland Avenue had a lightly constructed road surface, which was unsuitable for the heavy lorries that use Westmoreland Avenue and Coniston Road. • The junctions of Coniston Road/ Road and Neville Road/Westmoreland Road had restricted visibility exacerbated by parked vehicles.

In response to questions, the Engineering Services Manager advised that traffic-calming schemes were now designed to cover an area rather than individual roads. He advised that the process was to conduct an initial consultation, including a public exhibition. Feedback from the consultation was then included in the proposed scheme and a second consultation was conducted. A scheme only proceeded to implementation if a minimum of 50% of residents who responded were in favour. The Council would normally include modifications suggested by residents unless the modification would be illegal or create a safety hazard. Decisions must be evidence-based and so it is not possible to take into account potential events.

Resolved: (i) That the report (Ref: 9.2) and petition be noted.

(ii) That it be noted that Westmoreland Avenue falls within the Limbury area of the Area Studies Programme, that it is currently rated as fifth in order of priority and that, on the current rate of consultation progress, consultation should commence in January 2012 with implementation in the 2012/13 financial year.

5 PETITION – WESTMORELAND AVENUE PARK – REQUEST FOR NATURAL BARRIER (REF: 9.3)

The Parks and Cemeteries Manager presented a report of the Head of Street Services on the Council response to the petition signed by 21 residents of Westmoreland Avenue.

Resolved: (i) That the report (Ref: 9.3) be noted.

(ii) That the Committee supported the following actions:

(a) To plant a mixed native hedge to the rear of house numbers 159 Westmorland Avenue to 80 Hurst Way, planting to be completed before 15th March 2010, weather permitting.

(b) In association with the hedge planting, to establish a large area of conservation grass to be cut once a year in the late autumn.

(c) Officers to apply for Stewardship status on this and an adjacent area which would potentially generate a small income to cover the cost of the conservation cut.

(d) To encourage older children to use the alternative sports pitches at Icknield recreation ground.

6 COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT TRUST LEGACY ORGANISATION (REF: 10)

The Committee were advised that apologies for absence had been received from the Chief Executive of the Marsh Farm Community Development Trust (MFCDT) and that it was not possible for another member of MFCDT to attend to give a presentation.

Resolved: That this item (Ref: 10) be deferred to the next meeting.

7 CONSULTATION – THE ENVIRONMENT OF YOUNG PEOPLE (REF: 11)

Three representatives of the young people of Marsh Farm reported on the Marsh Farm Youth Forum: • The Forum was for young people aged between 11 and 24. • It met once a month. • It was now the largest Forum in the region and had engaged more than 200 young people over the last four years. • Demographically Marsh Farm had a large number of young people. • The Forum aimed to get young people off the streets and to increase their self-esteem. • There were problems with older people misunderstanding young people. • ‘Young advisors’ ran projects and focus groups or acted as project managers. • The Forum worked on engagement with young people from other estates to break down barriers and friction. • There would be a charity event on 11th February for the young advisors.

A Member commented that the Forum had a phenomenal record of achievement in engaging young people. Although the Forum was currently funded by MFCDT, there was a need to ensure that the work continued after MFCDT was wound up.

On behalf of the Committee, the Chair thanked and congratulated the representatives on their presentation.

Resolved: (i) That the representatives be thanked for their presentation.

(ii) That the Committee supported the work of the Marsh Farm Youth Forum.

8 REBUILDING (REF: 12)

The Building Schools for the Future (BSF) Project Manager advised the Committee on plans to rebuild and expand Icknield High School and relocate Woodlands Special School to the same site. The expansion of Icknield High School was necessary because a 30% increase in numbers of high school pupil numbers was projected over the next fifteen years. The proposal was to increase pupil numbers from 1,450 to 2,400. Icknield High School had been selected because the site was sufficiently large and the school was in an area of significant growth in children.

Currently there were no dedicated drop-off places within the school grounds. In the new school there would be 20-25 places to reduce traffic congestion. The drop-off area would be fenced off outside of start and finish times to avoid it being used by shoppers. The enlarged school would comprise of four ‘sub-schools’, which would allow start and finish times to be staggered.

To encourage healthy eating, there would be a choice of food outlets within the school.

Most of the pupils at Woodlands School arrived by bus. The new school would have a separate entrance from the High School.

The plan was to open the new schools in July 2014.

Members of the public raised concerns about traffic congestion in the area caused by the current school and expressed reservations that these problems would increase with an enlarged school. In addition to expansion at Icknield High School, Barnfield and the Sixth Form Colleges were also rebuilding and expanding.

A member of the public commented that in was to be refurbished but not expanded.

In response to a question, the BSF Project Director advised that if large-scale development took place north of Luton, this development would include new schools for the additional population.

He also advised that the new building would include a community space.

A Member commented that Woodlands School had been built for 80 pupils and now had 155 pupils. There was an increasing demand for places and pupils had increasing needs.

Resolved: (i) That the presentation be noted.

(ii) That officers be requested to arrange a public meeting, involving ward Councillors, representatives of BSF, planning officers and highways engineers to be held before the planning application for Icknield High School was considered by Development Control Committee.

(Note: Councillor Worlding declared a personal but not prejudicial interest in the above item in that he was a local authority representative on the governing body of Woodlands School and was Chair of Governors of the school. He remained in the meeting during discussion of this item.)

9 ‘FEAR OF CRIME’ SCRUTINY TASK AND FINISH GROUP (REF: 13)

The Chair advised that the Council had set up a sub-committee to investigate ways of reducing the fear of crime in Luton. He invited members of the public to write to him: Councillor Garrett, Town Hall, George Street, Luton LU1 2BQ

10 LUTON YOUTH SERVICE – BULLET POINT UPDATE (REF: 14)

The Committee were advised that because of the number of items on the Agenda for this meeting, the Youth Service report was being tabled.

Resolved: That the report (Ref: 14) be noted.

11 COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT – BULLET POINT UPDATE (REF: 15)

The Committee were advised that because of the number of items on the Agenda for this meeting, the Community Development report was being tabled.

Resolved: That the report (Ref: 15) be noted.

12 AREA REPORT (REF: 16)

The Area Committee Support Manager presented his report. He recommended that determination of project number SP 376 be deferred to the next meeting so that additional information could be obtained from the applicants. A deferment would also allow for further consultation with residents in the area.

He informed the Committee of the latest position in regard to the area projects budget.

The Committee considered the following applications under the Area Project Scheme:

Project Project Cost of Amount Number Project Requested/ Approved

NT 375 Marsh Farm Junior Community Wardens £3,000 £1,000/ To hold a week-long activity within the Jubilee £1,000 Centre whereby the children of Marsh Farm will all be welcome to come along and build a full-size Chinese Dragon to make the children aware of this cultural event. By encouraging the children to join in with the making of this, they will not only appreciate the amount of work that needs to go into this but they will also learn of another belief. To our knowledge, this has never been done in Marsh Farm or included the children of the estate.

SP 376 Gating Scheme rear of 99 to 169. Sundon Park £3,400 £1,700/ Road Defer To supply and install 2 Palisade gates both with short infill panels to the left hand side. The gates and panels to be 2.1 metres tall with tri-point tops, finished in galvanisation and PPC green.

Resolved: (i) That the report (Ref: 16) be noted.

(ii) That the application NT 375 be resolved as indicated in the table above.

(iii) That consideration of the application SP 376 be deferred until the next meeting to allow additional information to be provided to the Committee and further consultation to take place with local residents.

(Note: The meeting ended at 9.25 pm).