THE “CALL IN” PERIOD FOR THIS SET OF MINUTES ENDS AT 12 NOON ON TUESDAY, 29TH NOVEMBER, 2005. MINUTE NOS. 51 TO 65 ARE NOT SUBJECT TO “CALL IN ITEM NO. 19e CROSBY AREA COMMITTEE Meeting held at Waterloo Primary School, Crosby Road North, Waterloo on 9th November, 2005 Present:- Councillor Jones (in the Chair); Councillors Barber, Douglas, Hill, Johnson, J. Murray, Parry and Roberts. Parish Councillor B. Draper (Representing Sefton Parish Council). Parish Councillor K. Hounsell (Representing Thornton Parish Council). Parish Councillor T. West (Representing Hightown Parish Council). Advisory Group Member - Mr. B. Wright. (Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Firth, S. Murray and Walker). Also present: 24 members of the public and 1 member of Merseyside Police. 51. MINUTES The Minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 12th October, 2005 were approved. The Chair introduced Mr. Frank Egerton, who had recently been appointed as Area Manager for the Committee in connection with the Decentralisation of Services pilot proposal on ‘street scene’ activity and Sgt. Paul Riding who was deputising for Inspector Oade. 52. POLICE ISSUES Sgt. Riding reported on (a) the crime statistics for the area for October which indicated an increase in criminal damage to property and motor vehicles and also several incidents at Coronation Park (a total of 118 incidents); (b) anti-social behaviour initiatives involving the Police, British Transport Police and the Force’s Mounted Section; (c) discussions 40 CROSBY AREA COMMITTEE - 9/11/2005 ITEM NO. 19e which Inspector Oade had with representatives of the Council regarding environmental improvements for Coronation Park to improve the security and safety of the Park; (d) the proposals for Police reorganisation on Merseyside as part of the national review of Police Services in England; (e) the current position in relation to applications for licensed premises in the Committee’s area under the provisions of the new Licensing Act. Sgt. Riding reported that, in relation to the item on the agenda for this meeting concerning Dibb Lane (see Minute No. 58 below), the Police had a record of two incidents in May this year of burnt out vehicles at that location. Inspector Oade had also confirmed that historically, the location had been used to abandon stolen vehicles and that he was supportive of the introduction of access controls for Dibb Lane. Sgt. Riding indicated that he would refer the representations made by Parish Councillor West concerning the policing arrangements for Hightown coming under the control of Crosby, to the Area Commander, Chief Superintendent David Lewis. Sgt. Riding confirmed that the powers of Police Community Support Officers were currently under review by the Chief Constable. RESOLVED :- That Sgt. Riding be thanked for his attendance. 53. OPEN FORUM (a) Mrs. J. Jones on behalf of the Brook Vale Residents’ Association submitted five questions relating to the traffic management arrangements and condition of the highways in the area of the Brook Vale estate and also requesting the provision of speed cameras on Crosby Road North and South. The Area Manager reported that the Technical Services Director had sent a detailed reply to Mrs. Jones in relation to the traffic management issues and that he had also requested the Highway Maintenance Section to respond to the issues relating to the condition of the highway which had been reported by Mrs. Jones. The Area Manager read out the response and indicated that a copy would be reported to the next meeting. (b) Mr. J. Gibson asked the Committee to consider placing appropriate highway signs in Hightown warning motorists of slow moving military vehicles and also warning drivers of horse riders. The Area 41 CROSBY AREA COMMITTEE - 9/11/2005 ITEM NO. 19e Manager reported that the Technical Services Director had responded to Mr. Gibson indicating that the warning signage requested by him would be investigated and suitable signage provided if considered necessary. (c) Ms. J. Gordon asked the Committee to support residents in the Christ Church Conservation Area who were objecting to an application for Conservation Area Consent to demolish 17 Waterloo Road and 2 Victoria Road, Waterloo. The Area Manager reported the response of the Planning and Economic Regeneration Director indicating that planning permission for the redevelopment of the site had been allowed on appeal despite the Council’s objections and that the Conservation Area Consent to demolish the buildings was under consideration. RESOLVED :- That this Committee believes that the presence of the above-mentioned properties enhances the Christ Church Conservation Area and that it supports the preservation of the properties 17 Waterloo Road and 2 Victoria Road, Waterloo. (Councillor Jones declared a personal interest in the above matter in relation to her membership of the Planning Committee and neither spoke nor voted thereon). (d) Mrs. E. Owens asked why there was no Conservation Area Management Plan for the Christ Church Conservation Area despite the designation date being 25th August 2004. The Area Manager reported the response of the Planning and Economic Regeneration Director indicating that the Christ Church Conservation Area afforded protection of the area by way of development control procedures for properties within the area, this included any demolition of properties which were assessed against Policy HC1 and HC2 of the UDP. Therefore the area was not more vulnerable to development if there was no Conservation Area Management Plan. There were 25 Conservation Areas within Sefton and it had been estimated in the departmental work programme that five areas would be 42 CROSBY AREA COMMITTEE - 9/11/2005 ITEM NO. 19e completed by March 2006, so far only one Conservation Area Appraisal had been published, two others were at a draft stage, one of these was Christ Church Conservation Area which was only designated in 2004. (e) Ms. J. Irvine asked why local people were being refused repairs and being told it was due to the recent ballot decisions and asked was there a budget allocation at the beginning of the 2005/06 financial year. It was agreed to request the Housing Director to reply in writing to Ms. Irvine. (f) Miss P. Oliphant asked if the footpath between Sherwood Road and Sherwood Avenue could be swept and weeded and regularly maintained rather than on a one off basis when she complained. It was agreed to request the Cleansing Manager to reply in writing to Miss Oliphant. (g) Mr. C. Creed indicated that his grandmother had been informed that work already allocated for her Council flat had been stopped. He wished to know:- (a) what Sefton’s £8.7m funding on improvements to Council properties consisted of; (b) was the agreed amount to be spent during the 2005/06 financial year; (c) had such works stopped, and if so, why; and (d) where had the allocation gone and how much was left. It was agreed to request the Housing Director to send a written reply to Mr. McCreed. It was also agreed to request the Housing Director to arrange for a representative of the Housing Department to attend the next meeting to answer Members’ questions relating to the recent No Vote in respect of the housing stock transfer. (h) Mr. W. Wilson on behalf of the Seafront Residents Action Group asked if the Environmental Protection Director would confirm the condition of the Crosby Marine Lake based on the samples taken on a weekly basis from April to July 2005. The Chair indicated that there was a written response from the Environmental Protection Director later on in the agenda which, among other things, indicated that the Environment Agency 43 CROSBY AREA COMMITTEE - 9/11/2005 ITEM NO. 19e algae sampling in Crosby Marine Lake had commenced in July 2005, when observations of algal blooms were first made. (i) Ms. B. Murray on behalf of Friends of Old Christ Church, Waterloo asked when would Potter’s Barn refurbishment be started as there were holes in the roof and the two buildings needed re-pointing. Ms. Murray also stated that in 2004 the buildings would be occupied by Leisure Services, but this had not been done. It was agreed that the Leisure Director be requested to report on the matter to the next meeting and that a Member of the Leisure Services Department attend the meeting to answer Members’ questions. (j) Ms. S. Griffiths thanked the Chair and the Committee Clerk for their assistance in facilitating her complaints relating to cleansing and associated matters in Lydiate Lane. 54. CONSULTATION ON MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES ACROSS NORTH MERSEYSIDE The Committee heard a presentation by Mr. B. Robinson, South Sefton P.C.T. and Ms. K. Mitchell of Mersey Care NHS Trust on a consultation on mental health services in North Merseyside undertaken by the South Sefton Primary Care Trust (PCT). The consultation was asking local people and organisations for opinions, comments and suggestions on possible changes to mental health services in North Merseyside. These changes may include:- ● Changes to the way some types of mental health services are provided in future; ● Changes to the location of the sites from which these services are provided. The changes would affect people using inpatient or day hospital mental health services in Liverpool, Sefton and the Kirkby area of Knowsley. The six NHS Primary Care Trusts responsible for buying NHS 44 CROSBY AREA COMMITTEE - 9/11/2005 ITEM NO. 19e care for people in these areas were undertaking a formal consultation process to invite views on the proposed changes. Ms. Mitchell indicated that the Mersey Care NHS Trust, which provided NHS impatient and day hospital mental health services across Liverpool, Sefton and the Kirkby area of Knowsley had developed a 'preferred option' for developing these services in the future.