Minutes for St. Oswald and Netherton and Orrell Area Committee meeting, Aug 27 2009, 6.30PM official page

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Bradshaw, P. Dowd and Maher.

Members indicated that both Councillors Bradshaw and Maher were currently suffering from health problems.

RESOLVED:

That the best wishes of the Area Committee be extended to both Councillors Bradshaw and Maher and that they be wished a speedy recovery.

Members and Officers are requested to give notice of any personal or prejudicial interest and the nature of that interest, relating to any item on the agenda in accordance with the relevant Code of Conduct.

No declarations of interest were received.

Minutes of the meeting held on *

RESOLVED:

That the Minutes of the Meeting of the Area Committee held on 2 July 2009 be confirmed as a correct record.

Members of the public are invited to ask questions, raise matters, or present petitions on issues which are relevant to Sefton Council.  The person asking a question will be allowed one supplementary question.

(If a response to a question is required which cannot be provided at the meeting or if the question is not reached within the 45 minute period, the Chair will either refer the matter to the appropriate Service Department for a written answer or to the appropriate Cabinet Member for further consideration).

Part “A”

These items are for general discussion.  Anybody attending the meeting is welcome to speak (subject to the Chair’s discretion).

During the Open Forum, the following matters were raised:

(a)       Ms. M. Hollis requested help in obtaining approval for the erection of a "No Ball Games" sign on a grassed area in Burnie Avenue, Bootle.  Ms. Hollis indicated that children regularly played football on the grassed area and that their footballs hit cars, windows and people;  that residents were verbally abused when they asked the children to stop playing football;  and that on occasions, the Police had been called to resolve the problems.

            The Area Committee was advised that the Network Manager, Planning and Economic Regeneration Department, was currently undertaking a survey of local residents to ascertain their views on the erection of a "No Ball Games" sign in the area.

RESOLVED:   That

(1)       if the result of the survey of residents indicates support for the "No Ball Games" sign, then approval be granted for the erection of the sign in Burnie Avenue; and

(2)       the funding for the erection of the sign be made from the Area Committee's devolved budget.

(b)       Mr. M. Connolly requested help in obtaining approval for the erection of a "No Ball Games" sign in Witham Close, Netherton.  Mr. Connolly indicated that children played football and tennis in the road;  that this had become a great nuisance for residents and affected their quality of life;  that it was a health and safety issue as children could be involved in accidents;  and concluded that there were two large grassed areas nearby where children could play ball games.

RESOLVED:   That

(1)       the Network Manager, Planning and Economic Regeneration Department be requested to undertake a survey of local residents to ascertain the views on the erection of a "No Ball Games" sign in Witham Close;

(2)       if the result of the survey of residents indicates support, then approval be granted for the erection of the sign; and

(3)       the funding for the erection of the sign be made from the Area Committee's devolved budget.

(c) (i)            Ms.Foley requested the siting of a litter bin by the bus stop outside 59-61 Copy Lane, Netherton; and

    (ii)    Local Advisory Group Member Ms. M. Elson indicated that the plastic litter bin by the bus stop near 59-61 Copy Lane, Netherton was burnt out on 17 August 2009.  Ms Elson requested funding for a replacement metal bin at the location as the bin, and all others on Copy Lane were very well used.

            Councillor Brennan indicated that Ward Members had received complaints about youths who congregated at the bus stop at this location; and asked whether the bus stop could be relocated to alleviate the problems being caused.

            Councillor M. Dowd (Chair of Merseytravel) indicated that he would investigate this matter and report back to the next meeting of the Committee.

RESOLVED:

That the request for a robust litter bin to be sited outside 59/61 Copy Lane be approved and funded from the Area Committee's devolved budget.

(d)       Mrs. Wagner referred to the recent incident whereby youths set fire to the litter bin outside 59-61 Copy Lane, Netherton.  Mrs. Wagner indicated that the youths congregated under the cover of the vegetation near to the entry to Homestead Avenue and alleged that they drank alcohol and awaited for drug deliveries;  and asked whether the Police could monitor this area to stop such activity.

RESOLVED:

That Inspector N. Thompson, Merseyside Police, be requested to investigate the points raised by Mrs. Wagner and respond to her in writing and provide a copy of such response to the Area Committee.

(e)       Mrs. J. Lindsay, Mrs. M. Livingstone and Ms. J. Doyle requested the erection of an alleygate at the passageway at the rear of their homes in Marmion Avenue, Bootle.  They indicated that the passageway was used by youths as a quick "get away" and that they climbed over a fence to escape into Sprakeling Place;  referred to incidents where youths threw apples at vehicles on Bailey Drive and one incident whereby youths climbed onto the roof of a parked car and damaged the roof;  and concluded that the provision of an alleygate would stop such anti-social behaviour and alleviate the concerns of local residents.

            Ms. C. Kelly, South Sefton Area Regeneration Manager informed the Committee that she was preparing a programme of alleygating works in this area;  and that the above location could be included in such programme.

RESOLVED:

That subject to the site in Marmion Avenue meeting the appropriate conditions for the erection of an alleygate, approval be granted for the alleygate and funding be made available from the Area Committee's devolved budget to implement the scheme.

(f)         Mr. J. O'Reilly requested the provision of waste bins in Pinfold Cottage Park, Northern Perimeter Road.  Mr. O'Reilly indicated that the provision of such bins would support the Council's policy 'Bag It, Tie It, Bin It' relating to dog fouling;  and concluded by asking why bins were not provided at Pinfold Cottage Park whilst they were provided at Joseph Killen Park in Netherton and at Burbobank in Crosby.

RESOLVED:  

That the Environmental Protection Director and Leisure Director:-

(1)       be requested to submit a joint report to the Area Committee on the most appropriate locations within the Park for the siting of litter bins;  and

(2)       be advised that the Area Committee approves funding, in principle, for up to four litter bins in the Park.

(g)       Mr. G. Regan indicated that the area by the stile in the Netherton Lane/Brickwall Lane area had become overgrown and dangerous to walk through and that fly-tipping in the area was a problem.  Mr. Regan concluded by asking whether the area could be cleared up and vegetation cut back.

RESOLVED:

That the Leisure Director and the Environmental Protection Director be requested to investigate the points raised by Mr. Regan and submit a report to the Area Committee.

Part “B”

These are formal decisions to be taken by Members of the Council.  Only in exceptional cases will the Chair allow contributions from the public (Advisory Group Members may speak but not vote).

No Police representatives were in attendance at the meeting.

Report of the Planning and Economic Regeneration Director

The Committee considered the report of the Planning and Economic Regeneration Director that outlined a research proposal to be conducted by the Young Advisors on the involvement of young people in Area Committees.

The report indicated that the involvement and engagement of young people in Area Committees had been a longstanding priority for Elected Members;  however, without knowing the best method for doing this most reserved spaces for young people at Area Committees remained unfilled;  and that some Area Committees were now looking at ways to address this.

Young Advisors who were established in Sefton in 2007, were trained professionals aged 15-21 who were paid to work with decision making groups on how to actively engage with young people and also to consult young people to gain their views on various proposals;  they were originally funded in the south of the borough through Neighbourhood Renewal Funding as a pilot project and the team had since expanded to cover the whole of the borough with grant support from the Working Neighbourhoods Fund and the Children's Services Department.

The report also indicated that the key purpose of carrying out this research was to develop an individual set of proposals on engaging and involving young people for each Area Committee;  that Elected Members would be a key component in developing the ideas in conjunction with the Young Advisors, who were currently meeting with each of the Area Committees to initially establish how each meeting worked and what involvement young people currently had in the Area Committee process.  Elected Members could then decide how they would like to be involved in developing the proposals and how to take these forward.

The report concluded by requesting suggestions as to how Members would wish to be engaged in the process or on any changes they would like to see.

RESOLVED:

That the report on the involvement of young people in Area Committees be noted.

Report of the Leisure Director

Further to Minute No. 82 of 12 February 2009, the Committee considered the report of the Leisure Director advising of the Partnership approach adopted to tackle ongoing issues relating to anti-social behaviour from young people in the south of the borough.

The report indicated that Street Games was a new national charity aimed at promoting sport for young people living in the most disadvantaged communities with tried and tested ways of engaging young people who were currently not involved in sport;  detailed the Street Games community sessions in South Sefton and that with respect to the St. Oswald and Netherton and Orrell Wards, sessions were held at the Netherton Activity Centre on Fridays between 6.00 p.m. and 8.00 p.m.

Mr. S. Burnett, Leisure Services Department and Mr. M. Hanrahan, Community Safety, provided an update to the Committee that detailed the Street Games launch event;  the current activity in the St. Oswald and Netherton and Orrell Wards;  the related activity and programmes in the area;  outputs of the programme that included 144 hours of activity and related activity involving 3991 young people;  the outcomes of the programme and the next steps to be taken.

Mr. Hanrahan concluded that further work on Street Games would be undertaken to target those areas where high levels of youth related rowdy or inconsiderate behaviour was taking place.

RESOLVED:   That

(1)       it be noted that quarterly reports will be submitted to the Area Committee to demonstrate the success of the Street Games project; and

(2)       the locations of the Street Games sports activities be noted.

Report of the Leisure Director

Further to Minute No. 27 of 2 July, 2009, the Committee considered the report of the Leisure Director updating on progress regarding Bootle Cemetery improvements;  seeking a contribution towards a programme of works at the cemetery;  and seeking a view on the proposed demolition of the Chapel in the cemetery.

The report indicated that following a request made at the last meeting of the Committee, the Cabinet Member - Leisure and Tourism was unable to prioritise funding to Bootle cemetery;  that a costed overall masterplan / improvement plan for the cemetery had been prepared;  that it was recommended that work should initially concentrate on improving the Menai Raod entrance, some signage, the worst pathways and boundaries and the demolition of the Chapel;  and that such works would cost approximately £90,000.

The report concluded that the improvement works referred to would be carried out over coming years, however, an injection of funding would accelerate the work for the benefit of cemetery users and the local community.

RESOLVED:   That

(1)       the varied community use of the cemetery and its importance as a recreational open space for the community be noted;

(2)(i)            bearing in mind the anticipated cost of £600,000 to bring the Cemetery Chapel back into use;

    (ii)    noting that unfortunately all avenues have been explored to obtain external grants to refurbish the Chapel but that no grants are available;

    (iii)            mindful of the anti-social behaviour activity taking place at the Chapel, the potential health and safety implications and that a serious injury may occur; and

    (iv)            mindful of the fact that the building has not been used since 1989;

the intention to demolish the Chapel to remove risk of injury be very reluctantly noted;

(3)       the overall master plan for the cemetery, and the prioritisation of the proposed improvement works be approved;

(4)       the Planning Committee when it next receives the Planning and Economic Regeneration Director's S106 monitoring report be recommended to reallocate £40k from S106 monies previously earmarked for recreational open space improvements elsewhere within the St. Oswald and Netherton and Orrell boundary;

(5)       a contribution of £10,000 from the Area Committee's devolved budget be approved in 2009/10 for improvement works at Bootle cemetery;

(6)            Litherland and Ford and Linacre and Derby Area Committees be requested to each make a £5,000 contribution from their devolved budgets in 2009/10 for improvement works at the cemetery; and

(7)       it be noted that a further requirement for funding was needed to deliver the long term issues for the cemetery and accordingly the Leisure Director be requested to submit a further report to the Area Committee in 2010/11

Report of the Planning and Economic Regeneration Director

The Committee considered the report of the Planning and Economic Regeneration Director which advised that the balance of its budget available to allocate during 2009/10 was £47,943.29 and that the Strategic Director had received the following requests for allocation since the last meeting:

Requested By

Description of Project

Amount Requested

Ms. M. Murphy

Contribution towards the provision of fencing round the Crescent Bowling Club bowling green.

£750

The report concluded by proposing that the remaining balance available be allocated to the Neighbourhoods Division to be used in accordance with Ward priorities as defined through area management approaches;  and that any approvals made against this amount would be subject to agreement by all six Area Committee Members.  This would enable the budget to be used in a responsive way to tackle any pertinent Ward issues.

RESOLVED:   That

(1)       the balance of the Area Committee's budget of £47,943.29 available for allocation during 2009/10 be noted;

(2)       the request for an allocation from the Area Committee's devolved             budget from Ms. M. Murphy, as referred to above, be approved;

(3)       the allocation of the St. Oswald and Netherton and Orrell Area Committee budget to the Neighbourhoods Division, to be used against the Wards' area management priorities and as detailed in paragraph 2.2 of the report, be approved; and

(4)       the Planning and Economic Regeneration Director be requested to submit a report reviewing the operation of the new policy in 12 months.

In accordance with the agreed programme of meetings for this Area Committee, the next meeting will be held on Thursday, 1 October 2009 at the Netherton Park Neighbourhood Centre, Chester Avenue, Netherton commencing at 6.30 p.m.

RESOLVED:

That in accordance with the agreed programme of meetings for this Area Committee, the next meeting will be held on Thursday, 1 October 2009 at the Netherton Park Neighbourhood Centre, Chester Avenue, Netherton commencing at 6.30 p.m.