THE “CALL IN” PERIOD FOR THIS SET OF MINUTES ENDS AT 12 NOON ON THURSDAY, 15TH APRIL, 2004. MINUTE NOS. 81, 83, 84, 85, 86 AND 87 ARE NOT SUBJECT TO “CALL IN” ST. OSWALD AND NETHERTON AND ORRELL AREA COMMITTEE Meeting held at the Netherton Park Primary School, Netherton on 18th March, 2004 Present:- Councillor Mahon (in the Chair); Councillors Brennan, P. Dowd and Martin. Local Advisory Group Member - Ms. M. Elson. Plus 30 members of the public and a member of Merseyside Police. (An apology for absence was received from Councillor Maher). 78. MINUTES The Minutes of the meeting held on 19th February, 2004 were approved. 79. COUNCILLOR BILL BURKE The Chair referred, with great regret, to the recent death of Councillor Bill Burke, a Member of the Council since 1978 and a member of this Committee since its inception. Those present then stood in silence as a mark of respect to his memory. 80. PROPOSED NEW IKEA STORE - DUNNINGS BRIDGE ROAD, NETHERTON Representatives of Ikea outlined plans by that company for a new store on a site adjacent to Dunnings Bridge Road, Netherton. The representatives answered questions from members of the public. In addition, Mr. Jeff Gibbons, the Planning and Economic Regeneration Director, indicated that he would be arranging local “surgeries” where members of his staff would be available to answer detailed questions from members of the public on the company’s planning application. 61 ST. OSWALD AND NETHERTON AND ORRELL AREA COMMITTEE - 18/3/2004 RESOLVED :- That the representatives of Ikea be thanked for their presentation. 81. OPEN FORUM During the Open Forum the following questions/comments were submitted:- (a) Netherton resident Mrs. G. Kinder stated that, following a three week delay in the collection of recycling items in the Louis Pasteur Avenue, Edinburgh Close and Swifts Lane areas, she had been informed that the Green Bee recycling company had been taken over by a Cheshire-based company using the Green Bee name. She said that the original scheme was established using local members of the community with the intention of employing local people and helping small community groups. She complained that no-one had been officially informed of the change and she asked if she could be given full details. Mrs. Kinder also asked if any consultation had been undertaken on the three radio masts which had been installed near the Cabbage Inn, Netherton. The Chair indicated that he understood that the radio masts had been erected after the appropriate consultation. He added that permission had been granted despite opposition from the Labour Group. It was agreed that the Environmental Protection Director be requested to send a written response to Mrs. Kinder in respect of the recycling service. (b) Bootle resident Mr. P. Cooke asked for clarification on a statement made by Mr. Alan Moore, the Director of Regeneration and Environmental Services, at a previous meeting in 2002 that the acquisition of the site of the former “Secrets” nightclub in Litherland would be of benefit to the residents of the Captains Green, Bootle area. It was agreed to request the Director to send a written response to Mr. Cooke. 62 ST. OSWALD AND NETHERTON AND ORRELL AREA COMMITTEE - 18/3/2004 (c) Bootle resident Mr. L. Whitehead stated that nothing appeared to have been done in relation to a petition presented to the Committee approximately 6 months ago requesting speed restriction measures along Fernhill Road, between Aintree Road and Linacre Lane. Councillor Martin commented that the Committee had given consideration to this matter and had asked for sources of funding to implement road safety measures to be investigated. He agreed to send a written response to Mr. Whitehead. (d) Bootle resident Mrs. Jones asked when local Councillors in the Fernhill Road area of Bootle were going to arrange for improvements to be made to Council rented accommodation in Fernhill Road and also provide speed humps on Fernhill Road. Councillor Martin stated that he had visited this area and spoken to residents about these issues on a number of occasions. He added that he would endeavour to assist Mrs. Jones if she contacted him direct. (e) Bootle resident Mrs. G. Whitehead asked when Council homes in Fernhill Road, between Linacre Lane and Aintree Road were going to be upgraded. She said that these properties always seemed to be last on the list for improvements. She gave examples of improvements to other local properties, including insulation, new front and rear gardens, new driveways and front walls and new rear fencing. She asked when local Councillors were going to help her. Councillor Brennan commented that ward Councillors held regular surgeries locally for the benefit of residents. Councillor Martin added that if residents attended surgeries they would be aware that Neighbourhood Regeneration Funding had been agreed to address the kind of issues referred to by Mrs. Whitehead. As a Councillor, he was, of course, willing to investigate such problems at any time. 63 ST. OSWALD AND NETHERTON AND ORRELL AREA COMMITTEE - 18/3/2004 82. POLICE ISSUES Ms. M. Elson, on behalf of the Old Roan Residents Association, asked if the Police had any long term initiatives planned for dealing with the gangs of youths that persistently congregated in the Bus Interchange at the Old Roan, especially at week-ends. She said that it must be a drain on police manpower when they have to deploy several mobile units and mounted police each week to deal with the problem. She added that many residents were reluctant to use public transport, especially trains, because of the gangs of youths which travel up and down the line. However, at week-ends they were even more reluctant because they felt intimidated by the sheer size of these gangs. She also asked if the parents of these youths were made aware of what was happening. Neighbourhood Inspector Dave Formby explained that the Police were aware of the problem and because of the site of the Interchange, a joint operation had been undertaken between Officers from Netherton, Maghull and the British Transport Police. He stated that the Police had obtained powers to search anyone in the vicinity and last weekend had arrested three people who were found to be in possession of offensive weapons. He added that the Police do write to the parents of youths who have been found to misbehave, but rarely get any response from them. He also indicated that many of the youths were not local. The Police were aware of the problem and were doing their best to tackle it effectively. 83. HIGHWAYS MAINTENANCE PROGRAMME 2004/05 The Committee considered the report of the Technical Services Director on the schemes identified for programmed maintenance works in 2004/05, the cost of which would be contained within the limitations of the highways maintenance budget, with particular reference to schemes in this Committee’s area; and which sought comments on the Programme for submission to the Cabinet Member - Technical Services at his meeting to be held on 7th April, 2004. RESOLVED :- (i) That the Highways Maintenance Programme 2004/05, be noted; 64 ST. OSWALD AND NETHERTON AND ORRELL AREA COMMITTEE - 18/3/2004 (ii) that the Technical Services Director be requested:- (a) to provide Councillor Martin with information as to why the proposed street lighting work in Thackeray Gardens, Bootle has been deferred; (b) to investigate the possible need for traffic lights at the Gorsey Lane/Sterrix Lane junction, Litherland; (c) to investigate the inadequate turning arc for vehicles turning into Harris Drive from Hawthorne Road, Bootle; (d) to investigate the possible need for no-waiting restrictions at the junction of Netherton Grange (eastern end) and Copy Lane, Old Roan; (e) to investigate the condition of the road surface at the junction of Alexandra Drive and Albert Drive, Bootle; (f) to investigate potholes in the pavement along Dunnings Bridge Road, Netherton near the “Switch Car” premises; (g) to investigate a large, previously-reported pothole outside the former Hugh Baird College premises, Church Road, Litherland. 84. APPLICATION FOR AREA COMMITTEE FUNDING The Committee considered the report of the Director of Regeneration and Environmental Services on a request from the Netherton Activity Centre Management Board for funding of £4,000 to £5,000 per year from the Committee’s delegated budget in order to effect improvements to the annual fireworks display at the Centre each November. RESOLVED :- That consideration of this matter be deferred. 65 ST. OSWALD AND NETHERTON AND ORRELL AREA COMMITTEE - 18/3/2004 85. PROPOSED TRAFFIC REGULATION ORDER - BRIDLE ROAD, NETHERTON The Committee considered the report of the Technical Services Director on a proposed Traffic Regulation Order to prohibit the waiting of vehicles at all times on both sides of Bridle Road, Netherton, adjacent to the entrance to the former Vesty Site, and on both sides of the proposed access road into the site. It was also proposed to introduce individual Orders for the roads incorporating all the existing restrictions, together with the above. RESOLVED :- That the Legal Director be authorised:- (a) to commence the necessary consultation procedures and advertise the intention of the Council to make a Traffic Regulation Order under the provisions of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984, the effect of which would be to introduce single Traffic Regulation Orders, incorporating all the existing restrictions and adding the additional restrictions referred to above, as indicated in the report and the Annexes to the report, for Bridle Road and the proposed access road to the former Vesty site, Netherton; (b) to take all necessary action in connection with the making of the Order. 86. BROWNS LANE BRIDGE, NETHERTON - PROPOSED WEIGHT RESTRICTION EXEMPTION FOR EMERGENCY SERVICE VEHICLES The Committee considered the report of the Technical Services Director on a proposed Traffic Regulation Order to provide an exemption from an existing two ton weight restriction order for emergency vehicles using the Browns Lane bridge over the Leeds and Liverpool canal, Netherton.