Batley Birstall and Birkenshaw
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ACBBB1 Contact Officer: Vina Randhawa - Tel. 07976 194493. KIRKLEES COUNCIL AREA COMMITTEE – BATLEY BIRSTALL AND BIRKENSHAW Tuesday 26 June 2012 Present: Councillor Gwen Lowe (Chair) Councillors O’Neill, Mayet, Stubley, Pandor, Smaje and Akhtar Apologies: Councillors Light and Palfreeman Approximately 10 members of the public were in attendance 1 Welcomes and Introductions The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting and members of the Committee introduced themselves to the public. 2 Minutes of the previous meeting Minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on Wednesday 14th March 2012 were circulated and approved as a correct record. A report about the Introduction of Dog Control Orders will go to Cabinet on 3 July. 3 Interests Councillor Smaje declared a personal interest under item 9, Budget Report, with regard to Appendix D funding for Smithies Lane Environmental Improvements and Appendix E funding for the Rotary Club of Birstall Luddites. (a) Councillor Smaje declared a personal interest under item 7, Metro Consultation on Proposed changes (b) Councillor Lowe declared a personal interest under item 7, Metro Consultation on Proposed changes. (c) Councillor Stubley declared a personal interest under item 9, Budget Report, with regard to Appendix B, funding for Batley Baths and Recreation Centre and left the room during discussion for this item. 4 Admission of the Public It was agreed that all items on the agenda were to be taken in public. 1 5 Deputations and Petitions No deputations or petitions were received 6 Public Question Time A question was asked in relation to travellers that have settled on Carter’s Field. It was reported that damage has been done to Carter’s Field by 4x4s; horse and dog fouling and rubbish. It was also reported that men were exposing themselves in public. A representative from the Crossbank and Carlinghow Neighbourhood Watch group asked how soon the travellers would be evicted, how quickly the field would be cleared of rubbish and if there were any plans to build housing on this land which was donated by Mr Carter in 1928 for recreational use. Councillor Pandor confirmed that a County Court order was issued on Monday, notice of eviction would be issued on Wednesday and the travellers would be evicted on Friday morning. Councillors confirmed that the Environmental Protection team were checking the land regularly and once vacated will clean and put right the field. In addition the barriers would be reinforced. Councillor O’Neill stated that all actions had been undertaken and appropriate procedure had been followed. Councillors also stated there were not aware of any plans to develop housing on Carters Field. Batley West Councillors were thanked for their prompt response to address the issue straight away. 7 Metro Consultation on proposed Service Changes Neale Wallace, Bus Service Manager, Metro, gave a brief overview of proposed bus service changes. Neale explained that Metro is proposing these changes in order to reduce expenditure on bus services by 25%. Metro, the Integrated Transport Authority for West Yorkshire, has adopted the following principles for the review:- - High Frequency/Profitable services. These operate approximately every 15 minutes during the day and are the most profitable services. Metro will no longer support early morning, evening and weekend services, however there will be no impact on these services as profits made from the day time service will subsidise these services. - All Metro funded services must represent good value for money. This means that Metro will consider reducing poorly used services. Neale stated that evening services had seen a decline in users and would probably take the brunt of the cuts. 2 - Metro will consider a careful tendering process to make services more efficient and attract a greater number of bids from bus operators seeking to provide services for Metro. A number of questions were asked relating to bus route 254 and 255 and services in the Hunsworth, Whitehall Road and Birkenshaw to which Neale responded. An issue was raised about bus drivers not stopping at bus stops, not keeping to bus routes and the poor cleanliness of some buses. Councillor Stubley requested that Neale explore possibility of introducing a trial service from Batley to Cleckheaton. Neale also agreed to respond to an issue raised specifically about bus services from Birstall to New College. Neale emphasised that resident’s views will be listened to and asked residents to take part in the consultation either via their website www.wymetro.com/busreview or via email [email protected] by 2nd July 2012. 8 Budget The Batley, Birstall and Birkenshaw committee outlined its priorities and criteria in relation to spend from the committee’s budget for 2012-2013: RESOLVED – * The Committee will have a grants scheme. * The priorities for funding will be: - Community Health - Children and Young People - Regeneration and Transportation - Streetscene - Community Safety - Supporting our Communities * Each project will be assessed on merit. * Each group will only be funded once in any financial year. Additional funding maybe considered in exceptional circumstances at the discretion of the Area Committee. * A discretionary grant scheme will be available for grant applications up to £500 and where an application is time sensitive. There will be a ring fence allocation of £2,000 for discretionary grants in the Birstall and Birkenshaw ward. Otherwise no fixed grant or maximum budget set aside. 3 * Priority will be given to groups that have not previously had Committee funding. * Ward Members will be informed of any grant requests relating to their ward prior to report submission. * All members are accountable for decision making. 9 Budget Report The Batley, Birstall and Birkenshaw Committee outlined its devolved budget figures for 2012-2013. The revenue allocation per ward is £13,304 and capital allocation per ward is £33,173. Subject to rollover of underspend being approved at Full Council the Committee budget balance is as follows:- Batley Revenue £40,246.63 Batley Capital £80,723.05 Birstall and Birkenshaw revenue £13,054 Birstall and Birkenshaw £36,373 Members were asked to note underspend to return to budget as follows:- - £2,100 from the Birstall Xmas Lights to return to the Birstall and Birkenshaw budget - £1,100 from the installation festive lighting to return to the Birstall and Birkenshaw Budget - £14,393.62 from the Henry Street one way system to return to the Batley budget - £1,500 from the Batley Xmas Lights to return to the Batley budget. Members were asked to note approved discretionary grants as follows:- £400 (revenue) for Wilton TRA Diamond Jubilee Event £375 (revenue) for the Holy Trinity Church Food Parcels £250 (revenue) for Staincliffe park Veterans Bowling Club Revenue Projects Approved - £2,992 for Youth Futures Play Lab project with a condition that any underspend particularly in relation to venue hire costs be returned to budget - £1,117.20 for Gymnastic Sessions at Batley Baths and Recreation Centre. Vina to ask the group to provide the Area Committee with an end of project report. - £2,295 for the Dewsbury and District Ramblers Centenary Walk. This is subject to securing additional funding from the other Area Committees outlined in the report. - £1,214.50 for Smithies Lane Environmental Improvements Capital Projects Approved - £800 for the Rotary Club of Birstall Luddites (heritage sign) 4 - £750 for East Bierley Benches Spring 2012 - £2,000 for St Paul’s Church (Ramp and entrance modifications) - £1,785.15 for Birkenshaw Park Paths - £3,000 Batley Cricket Club re-profiled costs 10 Any Other Business Councillor O’Neill circulated information about a Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Event organised by the North Kirklees Interfaith Council and planned for Sunday 8th July at Wilton Park. 11 Meeting dates for 2011-2012 Tuesday 25th September 7pm, venue to be confirmed Tuesday 27th November, 7pm, venue to be confirmed Tuesday 5th March 2013, 7pm, venue to be confirmed 5 ACCV1 Contact Officer: Frances Wardley Tel. 01484 416268 KIRKLEES COUNCIL AREA COMMITTEE – COLNE VALLEY Thursday 19 July at Marsden Mechanics Hall Present: Councillor Paul Salveson (Chair) Councillors Donna Bellamy, David Ridgway, Andrew Marchington, Hilary Richards. Co- optees: Chris Woolnough, Michael Moores, Jean Margetts. Approximately 30 members of the public were present. Apologies: Councillor Nicola Turner. 1 Chair’s welcome and introduction The chair welcomed everyone and members of the Committee introduced themselves. The chair explained that this was the first meeting of the newly-reconvened Colne Valley Area Committee, and that he hoped as chair to encourage everyone to work together despite the range of political views represented in the committee. He paid tribute to Cllr Bellamy as the chair of the previous Valleys Area Committee, and to Christine Iredale, his predecessor in Golcar ward. Councillor Salveson also outlined the Committee’s approach to portfolio working: there would be portfolio groups on Young People, Older People, Transport and the Environment, and Supporting the Local Economy. In addition, the committee will participate in a joint tourism theme group with Holme Valley Area Committee, and will convene a meeting on inequalities issues as and when required. 2 Minutes of the public meeting The minutes of the Valleys Area Committee meeting on 22 March 2012 were approved. 3 Interests Councillor Andrew Marchington declared a personal interest in item 11 as his son is a member of the 4th Huddersfield Golcar Scouts. 4 Admission of the public The members agreed that all agenda items should be discussed in public. 5 Deputations and petitions There were no petitions. Representatives from the 4th Huddersfield Golcar Scout Group spoke about their group and about the issues of vandalism they were suffering at their premises, as background to their funding request (see Item 11). 6 Neighbourhood Policing Update The Committee heard a request for intelligence about the recent stabbings in Marsden from the West Yorkshire Police Homicide and Major Enquiries Team.