Minutes for Southport Area Committee meeting, Sep 2 2009, 6.30PM official page

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Lord Fearn, T. Jones, Pearson, Preston and Tattersall.

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.

The following declaration of interest was received:

Member

Minute

Reason

Action

Councillor Booth

47 - Southport Beach

Personal - Member of the RSPB

Took part in the consideration of the item.

Minutes of the meeting held on 1 July, 2009

RESOLVED:  

That, subject to the inclusion of a reference to an allocation of £300 from the Norwood Ward budget to the establishment costs of the "Salisbury and Friends of Canning Road Home Watch" organisation in Minute No. 23(2),  the Minutes of the meeting held on 1 July 2009 be confirmed as a correct record.

Presentation by Mr. Graham Lymbery (Project Leader – Coastal Defence)

The Committee received a presentation by Mr. Graham Lymbery (Project Leader - Coastal Defence) on the salt marshes at Marshside, Southport.

The presentation was based on a report on the evolution of the Ribble Estuary with particular reference to the north Sefton coast and on the results from a recently completed Ph.D. by Vanessa Holden.

RESOLVED:  

That Mr. Lymbery be thanked for his informative presentation.

Report of the Planning and Economic Regeneration Director

Further to Minute No. 23 of 1 July 2009, the Committee considered the report of the Planning and Economic Regeneration Director indicating that the balance of the budget available for allocation during 2009/10, including sums set aside for the provision of litterbins, was as follows:

Ward

Available Funds

£

Ainsdale

         9,850.58

Birkdale

       16,171.18

Cambridge

         8,945.83

Dukes

       16,570.28

Kew

         4,441.29

Meols

       12,027.25

Norwood

       20,514.84

Town-wide

         2,812.50

Total

       91,333.75

Details of the allocations made by each ward against the general provision in the current year were set out in annexes A to G of the report.

RESOLVED:   That

(1)       the remaining balance of £91,333.75 of the budget available for further allocation for the rest of the year be noted; and

(2)       the following allocations be approved:

Scheme

Ward

Amount

£

Erection of a "No Ball Games" sign in Nolan Street, Southport

Kew

110

Standard Litterbin at junction of Seacroft Crescent and Glencoyne Drive (at corner of the green)

Meols

210

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; that, 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 and 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 Planning and Economic Regeneration Director

Further to Minute No. 8 of 20 May 2009, the Committee considered the report of the Planning and Economic Regeneration Director updating on the current situation regarding the former Sandwinning compound at Marine Drive, Southport, following a visit by Members to the site on 10 July 2009.

The report indicated that reasonable progress was being made regarding the removal of sand from the site, particularly given the current economic climate; and that it was proposed that a further update report be submitted in six months.

RESOLVED:   That

(1)       the report on the current position at the former Sandwinning site be noted; and

(2)       the Planning and Economic Regeneration Director be requested to report back to the Committee in a further six months.

Joint report of the Strategic Director of Regeneration and Environmental Services, the Planning and Economic Regeneration Director and the Head of Technical Services

The Committee considered the joint report of the Strategic Director of Regeneration and Environmental Services, the Planning and Economic Regeneration Director and the Head of Regeneration and Technical Services updating on progress on the Kew redevelopment, Town Lane, Southport.

The report provided information on the issues associated with the legal agreements to be entered into with the developer David Wilson Homes; contamination and remediation issues on the site; and the programme of development; and indicated that it was anticipated that the first properties would be available for occupation by July 2012.

RESOLVED:   That

(1)       the progress being made, including a proposed legal agreement with David Wilson Homes, who are part of Barratts Developments Plc, be noted;

(2)       the preparation and agreement of the scoping report for the site investigation, be noted;

(3)       the decisions made by the Homes and Communities Agency relating to the funding of site investigations, be noted; and

(4)       the requirement for further reports to update the Area Committee in due course, be noted.

Report of the Strategic Director of Regeneration and Environmental Services.

Further to Minute No. 9 of 20 May 2009, the Committee considered the report of the Strategic Director of Regeneration and Environmental Services advising of progress on the Wesley Street environmental improvements scheme; and seeking a contribution from the Area Committee's Dukes Ward and Town-wide devolved budget to complete the remaining environmental improvement proposals.

RESOLVED:   That

(1)       the report on progress on the Wesley Street environmental improvements be noted;

(2)       the Wesley Street traders be congratulated on the commendable improvements that they have made to their premises; and

(3)       the £1,650 cost of the additional sign at 43 Tulketh Street be funded from the Dukes Ward delegated budget.

Report of the Planning and Economic Regeneration Director

Further to Minute No. 33 of 1 July 2009, the Committee considered the report of the Planning and Economic Regeneration Director advising of the results of the recent consultation exercise undertaken with local residents/business owners fronting Scarisbrick New Road on a proposed local safety scheme for the road, which included pedestrian refuges and a traffic island.

The report advised that of the 44 questionnaires returned, 38 (86.4%) were in favour of the scheme, whilst 6 (13.6%) were not.

RESOLVED:   That

(1)       the progression of the Scarisbrick New Road local safety scheme within the 2009/10 financial year, be approved;

(2)       the Traffic Regulation Orders associated with the scheme, as detailed in paragraph 3.4 of the report, be approved;

(3)       the necessary legal procedures, including those of public consultation and advertising the Council's intention to implement the Orders, be approved; and

(4)       the objectors to the scheme be advised of the Committee's decision.

Report of the Planning and Economic Regeneration Director

Further to Minute No. 107 of 7 January 2009, the Committee considered the report of the Planning and Economic Regeneration Director advising of the proposed east-west cycle link along Portland Street; and seeking approval to undertake consultation with frontagers on the scheme as detailed in paragraph 4 of the report.

RESOLVED:   That

(1)       the details of the east-west cycle link scheme on Portland Street be approved for consultation; and

(2)       the Planning and Economic Regeneration Director be instructed to carry out all necessary consultation with frontagers and thereafter report back to a future meeting of this Committee.

Report of the Planning and Economic Regeneration Director

The Committee considered the report of the Planning and Economic Regeneration Director on the proposed amendment of an existing Traffic Regulation Order, the effect of which would amend the existing disabled persons’ parking bays and loading bays on London Street, Southport as follows:

• the removal of 10m of disabled parking bay outside numbers 65 and 63 London Street and its replacement with 10m of loading bay; and

• the removal of 10m of loading bay outside numbers 53 and 55 London Street and its replacement with 10m of disabled parking bay.

RESOLVED:   That

(1)       the Traffic Regulation Order, as shown on the plan at Annex A and as detailed in the report, be approved; and

(2)       the Traffic Services Manager be authorised to undertake the necessary legal procedures, including those of public consultation and advertising the Council's intention to implement the Order.

Report of the Planning and Economic Regeneration Director

Further to Minute No. 186 of 2 April 2008, the Committee considered the report of the Planning and Economic Regeneration Director on the proposed introduction of a Traffic Regulation Order, the effect of which would reduce the length of an existing section of "At Any Time" waiting restrictions on Slaidburn Crescent, Southport.

RESOLVED:   That

(1)       the Traffic Regulation Order, as shown on the plan at Annex A and as detailed in the report, be approved; and

(2)       the Traffic Services Manager be authorised to undertake the necessary legal procedures, including those of public consultation and advertising the Council's intention to implement the Order.

Report of the Planning and Economic Regeneration Director

The Committee considered the report of the Planning and Economic Regeneration Director on the proposed introduction of a Traffic Regulation Order, the effect of which would introduce disabled persons’ parking places on Sunny Road and St. Cuthbert's Road, Churchtown for the sole use of pupils of Churchtown Primary School.

RESOLVED:   That

(1)       the Traffic Regulation Order, as shown on the plan at Annex A and as detailed in the report, be approved; and

(2)       the Traffic Services Manager be authorised to undertake the necessary legal procedures, including those of public consultation and advertising the Council's intention to implement the Order.

Report of the Planning and Economic Regeneration Director

The Committee considered the report of the Planning and Economic Regeneration Director on the proposed introduction of a Traffic Regulation Order, the effect of which would extend the existing "At Any Time" parking restrictions on Roe Lane, Southport.

RESOLVED:   That

(1)       the Traffic Regulation Order, as shown on the plan at Annex A and as detailed in the report, be approved; and

(2)       the Traffic Services Manager be authorised to undertake the necessary legal procedures, including those of public consultation and advertising the Council's intention to implement the Order.

Inspector Fairbrother indicated that the Police continued to liaise closely with the Council's graffiti squad in getting affected areas cleaned up.  However, he pointed out that the squad's priorities were to remove any racist or offensive graffiti first (usually within 10 days) before dealing with other sites.  Local Advisory Group Member Mr. J. Fairhurst referred to a number of examples of graffiti in Southport town centre which had not been dealt with, in some cases, for many months and he expressed the view that the Police should devote greater attention to this issue with a view to apprehending the perpetrators.

Members of the public/Councillors also raised the following issues:-

·             the continuing problem of vehicles parking on the footway in the vicinity of numbers 39-41 Hoghton Street, near the junction with Hill Street.  (Inspector Fairbrother agreed to give this matter further attention and to refer to the outcome in the local Police newsletter)

·             vehicles parking almost completely across the footway on Scarisbrick New Road near Haig Avenue (Inspector Fairbrother explained that parking on the footway in itself was not an offence, but driving a vehicle onto it from the highway was.  However, where double yellow line parking restrictions applied on the adjacent highway, the Council's parking enforcement officers had a responsibility to deal with vehicles which were parked on the footway)

·             whether local problems of speeding vehicles should be reported to Police Neighbourhood Inspectors (Inspector McLoughlin confirmed that this was the case and he indicated that more speed "guns" had been provided and more volunteers from the public had been trained to assist with their deployment.  He added that the number of people killed and seriously injured in Sefton was too high and he had set aside each Wednesday as an "enforcement day" to prioritise this issue)

·             "boy racers" and wagons speeding in the Sussex Road/Crowland Street area and also motorised vehicles being driven by children during evenings and at weekends at the Russell Road/Cobden Road junction (Inspector McLoughlin agreed to liaise with Inspector Moss to investigate these issues)

·             the continuing problem of cycling on footways in the Chapel Street/London Street area (Inspector Fairbrother indicated that the great majority of people who rode cycles on footways in this area were young.  Over 40 fixed penalties had been issued recently and he did not think that the offence was as prevalent as it used to be.  Cyclists under the age of 17 could not be "named and shamed" by the Police, but they were given "words of advice")

·             rowdy behaviour and criminal damage to property and vehicles by groups of people in Larkfield Lane, Southport on Friday and Saturday evenings

·             thanks to the Police for the way they have kept Councillors informed about recent well-publicised attacks on properties in the Birkdale area (Inspector McLoughlin indicated that he would be circulating updates to Members and the community)

·             the reported withdrawal of funding for Community Support Officers (Inspector McLoughlin stated that he was not aware how this would affect the situation in Southport, but he agreed to try to update the Committee at its next meeting.  As a Member of the Police Authority, Councillor Shaw stated that he understood that as a result of the termination of a two year period of funding, potentially 18 posts would be lost in Sefton as a whole.  However, he also understood that the Chief Constable would be reporting to the Police Authority about whether Sefton received a fair funding deal in relation to the other Merseyside areas, quite apart from the Community Support Officers issue).

During the Open Forum the following questions/comments/petitions were submitted:

(a)       Advisory Group Member Mr. J. Fairhurst stated that the Council imposed a charge of £50 for removing graffiti from Council premises, which would again be payable if further graffiti appeared after the original had been removed.  He considered that it would be far better if the Police increased their efforts to catch offenders so that they could be put to work removing graffiti under the Community Payback Scheme.  He asked if his proposal could be implemented.

Mr. J. Black, the Assistant Environmental Protection Director, had forwarded a written response to Mr. Fairhurst.  Mr. Black assumed that the Police took action against people applying graffiti to property, but that their ability to do this was governed by the resources and time available to deal with all criminal activity in the area.  He confirmed that the Council did charge £50 per hour for removing graffiti from private property, which helped to offset the cost of graffiti removal generally. If this service was offered free of charge to private property owners, Mr. Black was sure that demand would increase and could not be sustained within the level of funding currently provided.  He added that graffiti was an anti-social crime which affected many areas within the borough and that all property owners, including the Council, were responsible for dealing with graffiti when it affected their property. He agreed that it would be appropriate for the courts to impose a community service order on anyone found guilty of this offence and for that time to be spent on the community payback scheme.  Offenders had also, on occasions, been ordered to pay the costs associated with removing their graffiti such as when graffiti was removed from the Millennium Bridge in Southport in 2008.  He concluded that the public could help the Police, and indirectly property owners, by reporting anyone they observed carrying out graffiti activity.

Members noted a suggestion by Mr. Fairhurst that delegated budget funds could be used to pay for the removal of graffiti from private property.

(b)       Advisory Group Member Mrs. M. Pointon congratulated the Tourism Department for two fabulous concerts at Victoria Park in August, when she was pleased to see everyone on both nights enjoying themselves.

She requested that, in future, on the Friday evening's concert, when it is generally more a pop concert, security is deployed outside and not just inside the park.  She added that on the Friday evening, a situation arose because of people wanting to push into the queue without waiting for their turn to enter the park.  Many people had been waiting for over an hour and when the gates opened, there was a dreadful surge caused by people pushing.  There were threats made and somebody said they would call the Police.  She asked, therefore, if in future there could be security outside the gates and two lines: one for ticket holders and one for non-ticket holders.  In addition, if there was to be a large anticipated turnout, she asked for consideration to be given to more toilet facilities.  She stated that there were not enough facilities on the Friday evening and by 8 o'clock, the brick-built block needed servicing.

Mrs. Pointon also congratulated the parks and gardens on their wonderful floral displays in the town and on their award at the recent Southport Flower Show.

It was agreed that the Head of Tourism be requested to forward a written response to Mrs. Pointon.

(c)        Ms. F. Barker-Baskerville indicated that there had been no mention in recent Press articles about provision to be made for computer facilities whilst the Southport Arts Centre and library complex refurbishment takes place.  She felt that having town centre access to free computers was essential and must not be lost during the 30 months or longer when the refurbishment was due to take place.  She asked if the Council had considered the cost of hiring premises to house the central library and computers in the scheme's original financial equation.

It was agreed that the Leisure Director be requested to forward a written response to Ms. Barker-Baskerville.

(d)       Ms. L. Gunn-Russo stated that for many months she had observed the high volume of litter, more so at weekends on Eastbank Street (close to Chapel Street) most of which had come from the food outlets.  She believed that some of the litter was being thrown out from the flats above the shops.  She felt that bins were needed at the bus-stop (on the outward-bound side from the town centre) close to the fish and chip shop.  She asked when the bins would be in situ and if residents could have night-time cleaning of Eastbank Street.

Dukes Ward Councillors Byrom and Sir Ron Watson indicated that they would be considering Ms. Gunn-Russo's representations.

(e)       Mr. S. Taylor asked if the Committee and the separate party groups considered that the consultation about the possibility of having an elected Mayor had been a success.  He also asked what the Committee was proposing to do to try to engage people in the future.  Councillor Byrom explained that it was a legal requirement for local authorities to consult and this Council had fulfilled the consultation requirement, although the consultation had not been a success in terms of the number of people who had responded.  Councillor Brodie-Browne stated that the Council had been obliged to consult on an issue that had never excited people.  Councillor Porter added that the consultation could not be regarded as a success if there were only 22 responses.  In relation to engaging people, Councillor Weavers pointed out that there was a 58% response rate to a recent consultation exercise on the Kew Estate.

(f)         Mr. P. King stated that he had been interested to learn that less than thirty residents of Sefton replied to the question on how they wanted to see the Borough run in the future.  He believed that the Council should be concerned at the lack of interest in what is an important matter for the future of the communities that make up Sefton.  He suggested that the Council should ask the Press to assist, since many residents read the printed word and it was important to them.  In addition, the Press were very much involved these days in presenting computerised news coverage.  He felt that, in this way, Councillors, Officers and the Press could achieve an improved opinion before the closure date at the end of October and he asked if the Chair agreed.

The Chair indicated that she did not agree, since this matter had already been publicised in the local Press and the relevant deadline had now expired.        

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 and, provided the questioner is present or represented, any interested members of the public will be permitted to ask supplementary questions, provided the total time on each issue does not exceed five minutes.

(If the questioner does not attend the meeting or nominate a representative to attend (at the discretion of the Chair), the question will not be read out, but a written response will be forwarded to the questioner.  If a response to a question is required which cannot be provided at the meeting or if the question is not reached within the 1 hour 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).

The Committee considered correspondence relating to the above.

RESOLVED:

That the correspondence be noted.

RESOLVED:  That

(1)       the Head of Regeneration and Technical Services be requested to submit a report on the condition of the road surface in Henley Drive, Southport; and

(2)       the Planning and Economic Regeneration Director be requested to submit a report on the numbers of people attending the Southport Area Committee compared to the numbers who attended the former Southport South, North Southport and East Southport Area Committees, together with possible ways of improving the attendance by the public at the Committee’s meetings.

In accordance with the agreed programme of meetings for this Area Committee, the next meeting will be held on Wednesday, 30 September, 2009 at the Town Hall, Lord Street, Southport, commencing at 6.30p.m.

RESOLVED:  

That the next meeting be held on Wednesday, 30 September 2009 at Southport Town Hall, Lord Street, Southport, commencing at 6.30 p.m.