Minutes for St. Oswald and Netherton and Orrell Area Committee meeting, Oct 1 2009, 6.30PM official page

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

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 27 August 2009.

RESOLVED:

That the Minutes of the Meeting of the Area Committee held on 27 August 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)       Local Advisory Group Member Ms. M. Elson raised concern regarding the overgrown vegetation outside of the Carcraft premises on Dunnings Bridge Road leading up to the Canal Bridge, and asked if the Council could clear the site and possibably invoice Carcraft (the site owners). Ms. Elson indicated that the previous site owners (Switch Cars) had always done this each year as part of the planning agreement, but Carcraft seem reluctant to fulfil their obligations and vegetation was starting to spread out across the pedestrian pathway.

Ms. Elson had been provided with a detailed response by the Principal Environmental Officer indicating that the request had been forwarded to the Public Health Team for investigation and that he would liaise with the Planning Department with regard to comments made about previous agreements. Ms Elson indicated that the area had now been cleared and thanked the officers concerned.

(b)       Councillor Brennan indicated that he had received a letter and a petition of 47 signatures from Mrs Anderson and Mrs Curran on behalf of Residents of Orchard Hey and Marl Road advising of unkempt and overgrown land behind the houses of Orchard Hey and Marl Road (opposite the Asda Superstore, Aintree) which had not been maintained for over five years, with the exception of the narrow pathway which ran through it. Local residents had themselves maintained the area as it overhung their properties.

Residents had raised the issue previously with local MP Joe Benton who had visited the site who agreed that this was unacceptable. An officer from the Highways Department also visited the area but nothing was actioned. Residents indicated that the area had become that bad that the area is subject to flytipping, teenage drinking, litter and felled trees which had not been removed.

Councillor Brennan indicated that he had spoken to Mrs Anderson and Mrs Curran and had visited the site and confirmed the area was in a poor state. Mrs Elson indicated that the area was previously cleared by the Payback Team about two years ago.

RESOLVED:

That the Assistant Director (Neighbourhoods) be requested to investigate the issues raised by Mrs Anderson and Mrs Curran and respond to them in writing.

(c)        Ms Gladys Kinder indicated that she had recently attended a meeting of the South Sefton Older Persons’ Forum in connection with the Older Persons’ Strategy, out of which came a request for the establishment of an Age Concern office in the Strand, Bootle. She indicated that Southport already had their own office set up, and funding was needed to set up a similar project in Bootle, and asked if the Area Committee would consider a £1000.00 contribution to establish an office. This would enable staff to assess the need for this project and look for additional funding to maintain the project.

Ms Kinder indicated that further concern had been raised at the meeting with regards to low attendance at the Area Committee and sought the Members’ views on the possibility of funding for the use of the Community Transport to bring people to the meetings as it was felt that some Area Committee venues were difficult to get to, due to there being no direct bus route.

In response to Ms Kinder’s request for the provision of Community Transport to people attending the Area Committee meetings, Councillor Brennan raised concern regarding this request as health and safety implications would have to be considered as it would involve staff escorting members of the public, this would involve obtaining CRB checks and undertaking risk assessment.

Ms Kinder concluded by asking for a contribution £1000 towards the purchase of new plants for the Urban Oasis as the Council Department dealing with the maintenance of the project did not have money to buy the plant bulbs etc.

RESOLVED:

That the Assistant Director (Neighbourhoods) be requested to investigate the requests raised by Ms Kinder and respond to her in writing.

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).

It was reported that Inspector Simon Thompson had now taken up the post of Neighbourhood Inspector, Inspector Thompson had worked within the area previously so had prior knowledge and would be bringing new ideas in relation to neighbourhood policing.

At present the neighbourhood team were able to be more proactive due to the officer resource available and it was reported that six warrants had been executed within the area as a result of community based intelligence, information from Police Community Support Officer and Community Housing Officers. It was hoped that Officers would be able to execute a warrant on a weekly basis.

It was indicated that funding was needed for additional quad bikes to be used in less inaccessible areas such as Rimrose Park, the allotments and the golf course.

In relation to the crime figures, it was reported that there had been a reduction in crime, and it was felt that offenders moving from the area or being on remand may have contributed to this reduction.

With regards to Mischief Night Officers would be undertaking “Operation Banger” and various diversionary activities had been put in place to include at  ‘sleepover’ at the Netherton Park Neighbourhood Centre and visits to Splashworld, it was hoped that this would alleviate anti-social behaviour.

Mrs M.Elson referred to a recent newspaper article regarding the task of tackling anti-social behaviour being the responsibility of the Council and Police Authority and asked Officers what their views were. In response it was felt that anti-social behaviour was the responsibility of all parties including residents, local agencies as well as the Police and Local Council. Officers indicated that the anti-social behaviour task force had assisted in reducing anti-social behaviour in the area which had enabled Officers to be able to do other tasks.

Councillor Bradshaw thanked Officers for their swift response in dealing with an incident involving an unattended vehicle outside of her property.

RESOLVED:

That Officers be thanked for their report.

Report of the Leisure Director

Further to Minute No. 37 (f) of the 27 August 2009, the Committee considered the report of the Leisure Director responding to a request from Members in relation to the provision of waste bins at Pinfold Cottage Woodland Park, Netherton.

RESOLVED: That

(1)       the report responding to a request from Members in relation to the provision of waste bins at Pinfold Cottage Woodland Park, Netherton be noted;

(2)       the amount of £900.00 for the installation of two bins at Pinfold Cottage Park , Netherton to be funded from the Area Committee’s devolved budget be approved; and

(3)       the Finance and Information Services Director be advised of the expenditure referred to in (2) above.

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 £35,023.29 and that the Strategic Director had received no requests for allocation since the last meeting.

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.

Ms. Kelly from the Neighbourhoods Division referred to Minute No. 30 of the 2 July 2009 and indicated that the survey regarding street signs had been undertaken by Capita and additional locations added to the original list agreed. The revised list had now an additional cost of £460.00, total amount would now be £2,460.00.

RESOLVED:   That

(1)       the balance of the Area Committee's budget of £35,023.29 available for allocation during 2009/10 be noted;

(2)       the additional street signs included in the revised list from Capital at a cost of £460.00 to funded from the Area Committee’s Devolved Budget be approved.

Copies of correspondence relating to questions which have been answered since the last meeting are attached for information only

The Area Committee considered correspondence relating to previous questions/issues raised in the Open Forum.

 RESOLVED:

That the correspondence be noted.

In accordance with the agreed programme of meetings for this Area Committee, the next meeting will be held on Thursday, 29 October 2009 at Bootle Day Centre, Linacre Lane, Bootle 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, 29 October 2009 at the Bootle Day Centre, commencing at 6.30 p.m.