Minutes for St. Oswald and Netherton and Orrell Area Committee meeting, Feb 11 2010, 6.30PM official page

An apology for absence was received from Councillor Mahon.

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 29 October 2009

RESOLVED:

That the Minutes of the meeting of the Area Committee held on 29 October 2009 be confirmed as a correct record.

In relation to Minute No. 57(2) (Overview of Youth Provision Across Sefton), Mr. R. Clappison of the Leisure Services Department had confirmed that the Orrell Mount Steering Group no longer existed, but that discussion had commenced with a view to the establishment of a Friends of Orrell Mount group.

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 matter was raised:-

Local Advisory Group Member Mrs. M. Elson asked if further work to deal with dog fouling and litter on Copy Lane and Browns Lane, Netherton could be arranged under the provisions of the Community Payback Scheme.

Ms. Christine Kelly, Policy and Performance Officer, agreed to pursue this request.

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).

Inspector Thompson reported on a number of issues including:

• co-operative efforts undertaken with One Vision Housing, the Anti-Social Behaviour Unit and other agencies to address drug-dealing, thefts and burglaries at churches and schools in the Netherton area which were largely as a result of the activities of a particular family in the Westminster Avenue area

• Police initiatives to introduce a “Shopwatch” scheme and occasional mobile Police Station deployments in the Marian Square, Netherton shopping precinct

• work undertaken by Police Community Support Officers (PCSO’s) including security assessments of residential properties, informing neighbours in areas where burglaries have occurred, pointing out insecure doors to residents and organising talks and breakfast clubs in local schools

• security screws issued to motorists to combat thefts of vehicle number plates

• increased patrols in local parks and in the Marian Square shopping precinct

• action to deal with arson attacks on four vehicles and the illegal riding of quad bikes and scrambler bikes

• incidences of vehicle thefts where the thieves had obtained keys via burglaries.

Inspector Thompson agreed to arrange to investigate the use of a phone kiosk near the kidney-shaped traffic island at the junction of Southport Road/Moss Lane/Linacre Lane for drugs-related activity and to continue to liaise with Liverpool Police to address anti-social behaviour taking place on the playing fields to the rear of King Avenue, Bootle which are actually located within Liverpool’s boundary.

RESOLVED:

That the Committee’s appreciation of the work of the Police and P.C.S.O.’s be placed on record.

To receive a presentation from Roy Williams, Chief Executive of One Vision Housing

The Committee considered a presentation on the above matter by Mr. Mike Coyne, Neighbourhood Manager of One Vision Housing (O.V.H.).  Mr. Coyne referred to:-

• flats and garages which had already been demolished in Bowland Drive, Fulwood Way and Pendle Drive and work to demolish garages on Glovers Lane Mews and Parkway which had started on 8 February 2010

• total expenditure to date of £19,942,808 on the Decent Homes programme.

RESOLVED:-

That Mr. Coyne be thanked for his presentation.

Report of the Neighbourhoods and Investment Programmes Director

The Committee considered the report of the Planning and Economic Development Director which advised that the balance of its budget available to allocate during 2009/10 was £35,201.16 and that no requests for allocation had been received since the last meeting.  Ms. Christine Kelly, Policy and Performance Officer, indicated that a moratorium had been imposed on the provision of any further litter bins by Area Committees because of the cost of the maintenance implications.

RESOLVED:

That the balance of the Area Committee’s budget of £35,201.16 available for allocation during 2009/10 be noted.

Report of the Planning and Economic Regeneration Director

The Committee considered the report of the Planning and Economic Development Director on a proposed Traffic Regulation Order, the effect of which would ensure the free movement of traffic in the vicinity of a new pedestrian refuge, to be provided as part of an upgrade of the former Everton Football Club Youth Academy on Park Lane, Netherton.

All costs relating to the advertising and implementation of the Order would be met by the developer.

RESOLVED:  That

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

(2)       the Planning and Economic Development Director 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 Development Director on the outcome of a review by the Cabinet Member - Technical Services of requested pedestrian crossing locations.  The report indicated that the review had identified a number of sites where refuges could be funded within the 2009/10 Capital Programme, including one on Park Lane West, adjacent to Leonard Cheshire Drive, Netherton and one on Gorsey Lane, adjacent to St. Mark’s Grove, Netherton.

RESOLVED:  That

(1)            consultation with frontagers in the vicinity of the proposed refuges be carried out as soon as possible; and

(2)            subject to a positive outcome from the public consultation, the design and implementation of the pedestrian refuges on Park Lane West and Gorsey Lane be progressed, as soon as possible.

Report of the Planning and Economic Regeneration Director

The Committee considered the report of the Planning and Economic Development Director on proposals to proceed with Gating Orders for the provision of alleygates which had been prepared following requests from Community Safety and Police representatives.

Ms. Christine Kelly, Policy and Performance Officer, advised that the scheme for Watts Lane, Bootle (plan numbered DC0507) had been withdrawn from those recommended in the report.

RESOLVED:  That

(1)       the Planning and Economic Development Director, in conjunction with the Legal Director, be authorised to process Gating Order applications pursuant to section 129a of the Highways Act 1980 by advertising the Council's intention to install gates, the effect of which would be to restrict access to the passageways at Clemmey Drive and Turner Avenue, Bootle, as highlighted in the report and shown on plans numbered DC0518 and DC0519; and

(2)            subject to there being no objections during the statutory advertising period, the Legal Director be authorised to confirm the respective Orders.

Report of the Strategic Director of Regeneration and Environmental Services

The Committee considered the report of the Strategic Director of Regeneration and Environmental Services regarding progress in relation to the development of the proposed Thornton to Switch Island Link and the public consultation and exhibition planned for February 2010; indicating that the Thornton Switch Island Link Road Scheme was granted ‘Programme Entry’ into the Department for Transport’s programme of major transport schemes, (i.e. schemes costing in excess of £5.0m) in September 2008; that the planning application for the scheme was proposed to be submitted at the beginning of April 2010; that Cabinet approved the proposal to hold a public exhibition of the proposals in advance of the submission of the application at St. Frideswyde’s Church, Thornton and St. Benet’s Parish Club, Netherton; that members of the project team had been made available to explain the scheme and answer questions; and that Members had been invited to attend the exhibition, which had also been publicised as widely as possible in the local area.

The report also indicated that in addition to the public exhibitions, it was proposed to offer individual discussions and consultations to the residents most affected by the scheme proposals (i.e. on Chapel Lane, Rothwells Lane and Holgate) and that individual discussions would also be offered to the local landowners and farmers who would be affected. Reports would be presented to all the relevant Area Committees and offers would be made to the Parish Councils for one of the project officers to attend their meetings and explain the scheme proposals.

RESOLVED:

That the report be noted.

In accordance with agreed programme of meetings for this Area Committee, the next meeting will be held on Thursday 18 March 2010 at the Bootle Day Centre, Linacre Lane commencing at 6.30p.m.

RESOLVED:

That, in accordance with the agreed programme of meetings for this Area Committee, the next meeting be held on Thursday, 18 March 2010 at the Bootle Day Centre, Linacre Lane, Bootle commencing at 6.30 p.m.