Minutes for St. Oswald and Netherton and Orrell Area Committee meeting, Mar 18 2010, 6.30PM official page

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

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 11 February 2010.

RESOLVED:

That the Minutes of the meeting of the Area Committee held on 11 February 2010 be confirmed as a correct record.

Ms. Christine Kelly, Policy and Performance Officer circulated an update in relation to previous matters raised during the last meeting;-

(a)       Minute 66 – A request to clear dog fouling on Copy Lane and Browns Lane had now been placed on the Community Payback Probation schedule to be carried out every seven weeks.

A request for a replacement metal litter bin outside Switch Car site, Dunningsbridge Road – A plastic bin had been installed due to a long waiting list for ordering of metal bins which would have taken several weeks. 

A request for further information on the development of the ‘Friends of Orrell Mount’ Group - little progress had been made with this group due to the designated officer leaving their post, an information pack on how to establish a ‘friends of’ group was provided to the group members and officers from the Leisure Department had tried to contact representatives to progress this issue, but to date no reply.

(b)       Minute 73 – Further information requested on what the distance would be from the new road and the houses on the other side of Northern Perimeter Road. A response from Mr S.Birch, Strategic Transportation Planning Unit was provided to Councillor M.Dowd.

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:

(1)       Mr. A. McCourt sought advice regarding a neighbour who regularly parked a commercial van outside of his property house on the road overnight and asked if the Council could inform him if this was legal, and if there was anything he could do about it.

Miss.L.Roberts, Committee Administrator advised that an email response had been sent to Mr McCourt by the Team Leader, Traffic Management & Road Safety. The response indicated that the parking of commercial vehicles in residential areas may be prohibited, depending on the weight of the vehicle.

All vehicles over 7.5 tonnes were required to have an Operators licence ('O' licence) which required the owner to stipulate where the vehicle would be parked overnight. This is to stop large HGVs being operated from private properties. 'O' licences would only be issued if the vehicle was parked in a suitable depot or HGV car park overnight.

This, however, only applied to HGVs over 7.5 tonnes, and most large box vans weigh less than 3.5 tonnes. If it is this lighter type of vehicle which is being parked in Emerald Close, provided that it is taxed and insured, and is not parked on yellow lines, there is nothing Sefton Council can do to prevent it. If you feel that it is causing an obstruction, and is actually blocking other vehicles in, then Merseyside Police may be able to issue a Penalty Charge Notice for obstruction.

(2)       Ms.A.Roberts asked for advice and possible assistance to help bridge the gap between young and older people by establishment of a community based centre called the YouthOap Centre, to be opened five days a week. It was hoped that the centre would be made available to older people during the day offering advice on care, social and personal issues run by young people under the guidance of professionals who would be on hand to tend to queries. The centre would then be made available in the evenings to young people run by older people advising them on education, drugs, sexual health, abuse and other related matters.

Ms. Roberts indicated that she hoped to set up this centre in the nearby Hub Nub Centre, Linacre Lane. In response, Members advised that the Venus Resource Centre, Hawthorne Road was expected to move into the Hub-Nub Centre in the near future, so therefore would not be available to other organisations, so she would need to identify other possible sites.

Mr.Graham Parry, Sefton’s Safer, Stronger Communities Partnership indicated that this was raised at a recent partnership meeting and joint theatre trips for both young and older people had been arranged to try and bridge this generation gap and break down the barriers. Mr.Parry agreed to contact Ms. Roberts to discuss the issue and the plans of the partnership group.

Ms.C.Kelly, Policy and Performance Officer further agreed to contact Ms. Roberts with advice, guidance and useful contacts.

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:

• Work undertaken with local partners including One Vision Housing to tackle burglaries in the Netherton area which was proving successful and burglaries  were now on the decrease

• Work undertaken in Orrell by Police Community Support Officers (PCSO’s) including security assessments of residential properties, informing neighbours in areas where burglaries had occurred, pointing out insecure doors to residents. Burglaries were also showing a decrease but may see an increase in good weather periods due to unsecured doors and windows.   

• Operation Hatfield to alleviate incidents of anti-social behaviour and criminal damage running each weekend through the Summer

• Continual liaison with Liverpool Police to address anti-social behaviour on the playing fields to the rear of King Avenue, Bootle

Members raised concern regarding vandalism and anti-social behaviour on the Sefton estate, in response, Inspector Thompson indicated that Officers had attended this area and PSCO’s had been designated to try and alleviate the issues.

Councillor Dowd indicated that the Pendle View car park had an outstanding planning application for development of housing on a large proportion of the car park reducing car park access to the local shops and asked if Inspector Thompson would be able to provide information regarding crime statistics and current issues in relation the area. Inspector Thompson agreed to contact Cllr Dowd with a report.

Mr Graham Parry, Strategy Support Officer, Safer, Stronger Communities Division indicated that in relation to anti-social behavior he had undertaken a site visit with One Vision Housing to ?? and was currently obtaining a quote to install bollards to stop drivers accessing the site.

Mr. Parry indicated that part of his role within the Safer, Stronger, and Communities Partnership was to set priorities using various methods and liaising with local agencies in relation to ward areas. A group meets regularly in Bootle to discuss these priorities. He indicated that these meetings were not open to the public due to the restricted information discussed but if members of the public required information they could contact him or access the website for updates.

In relation to the Community Payback Scheme, Mr. Parry outlined schemes being undertaken in the St Oswald, Netherton and Orrell areas including Marian Square, Westminster Avenue and St Bennett’s, Chapel Lane which had been cordoned off by Environmental Protection Department to allow cleansing of the area.

Ms.M.Elson, Advisory Group Member asked about the B & Q retail site which had been a former site cleared by the Community Payback Scheme and asked if a request could be made to clear the site on a regular basis. Mr.Parry indicated that requests could be made to clear former sites but there was no capacity at present to maintain all sites cleared.

Members asked if the former St. Augustine’s School Field could be cleared as it was in a poor state. Ms.C.Kelly indicated that she was speaking to Liverpool City Council’s Environmental Protection Department to clear this site as it was within their boundary.

RESOLVED:

That Inspector Thompson and Mr Parry be thanked for their updates.

Report of the Head of Technical Services.

The Committee considered the report of the Head of Technical Services advising of those locations which had been identified for inclusion in the Highways Maintenance Programme 2010/11.

The report indicated that following the format adopted in previous years, the 2010/11 Highways Maintenance and Street Lighting Renewals/Refurbishment Programme was being shared with Area Committees for comment, prior to it being referred to the Cabinet Member - Technical Services for formal approval on 7 April 2010;  and that following a request by Members, the Highways Maintenance Programme also included an indicative list of locations, which currently justified consideration for inclusion in a three year rolling programme for specific highway treatments, namely Major Reconstructions, Carriageway Resurfacing, Micro-Asphalt Carriageway Surface Treatments and Footway Reconstruction/Relay.

In each category of treatment identified in the annex to the report, the initial thick black line denoted the extent to which the Programmes were likely to be completed during 2010/11, based upon anticipated budget allocations and preliminary cost estimates; and that the following areas within the Area Committee's boundaries were likely to be completed during 2010/11.

Footway Reconstruction Programme:

None

Footway Surface Treatment:

Durham Avenue

Durham Avenue West

Ripon Close

Lichfield Close

Quigley Avenue

Pennington Avenue

Durham Mews East & West

Brecon Avenue

Durham Way

Edinburgh Close

St Asaph Grove

Rochester Avenue

Salisbury Avenue

Chester Avenue

Hereford Drive

Carriageway Resurfacing:

Hermitage Grove

Edinburgh Close

Carriageway Surface Treatment:

None

Carriageway Surface Dressing:

None

Carriageway Reconstruction:

None

Carriageway Anti-skid Surface Treatment:

Data still being analysed

Street Lighting:

Almonds Turn

The report concluded by requesting examination of the Programme and comments, if any, for submission to the Cabinet Member - Technical Services.

Members expressed concern about the following matters:

·                  Marina Crescent – Several complaints from residents had been received in relation to the condition of the road. Technical Services Department had undertook a site visit and reported that it was felt the condition of the road did not warrant inclusion in the Highway Maintenance Programme at present.

·                  Manor Drive – despite its poor condition was not included on the schedule  

Mr.A.Hogan indicated that due to the ‘Winter Freeze’ some roads throughout the Borough had needed emergency repairs, which had impacted on the budget provision. He reported that the Cabinet Member – Technical Services had indicated that he would like an overall improvement of all roads throughout Sefton.

Councillor Maher indicated that some of the roads identified within the programme were within the Housing Market Renewal areas and contacted should be made with the Housing market Renewal Department to ascertain their plans for the areas to ensure work on the highways would still be needed.

RESOLVED:  

That the Highways Maintenance Programme for 2010/11 be noted.

Report of the Neighbourhood and Investment Programmes Director

The Committee considered the report of the Neighbourhood & Investment Programmes Director which advised that the balance of its budget available to allocate during 2009/10 was £30,075.16 and that no requests for allocation had been received since the last meeting.   

Ms.C.Kelly indicated that the requests for the contribution towards the cost of flooring repairs at the sports hall at Sefton Stars and Bootle Junior Football League had now been agreed.

Councillor Maher asked about the requests for street signage that were still outstanding. Ms.C.Kelly agreed to check on progress of these and report back.

Further to Minute No. 82 of 12 February 2009, Ms.Kelly indicated that a further request had been received for a contribution of £5,000 towards the Street Games Project. Members agreed to this request, subject to it being a ‘one-off’ payment.

Ms.M.Elson, Advisory Group Member on behalf of the Old Roan Residents Association asked for a contribution towards the cost of gardening equipment and plants to help maintain the gardens.

RESOLVED: That

(1)       the balance of the Area Committee’s budget of £30,075.16 available for allocation during 2009/10 be noted;

(2)       the Asstant Director – Neighbourhoods be requested to investigate Members requests outstanding for street signage in various locations;  

(3)       a contribution of £5,000 from the Area Committee’s devolved budget to the Street Games Project as a ‘one-off’ contribution , be approved; and   

(4)       Ms.M.Elson, Advisory Group Member be requested to submit her request for funding in writing via a Budget Request Allocation Form.

In accordance with agreed programme of meetings for this Area Committee, the next meeting will be held on Thursday 27 May 2010 at the Netherton Activity Centre, Glovers Lane, Netherton, commencing at 6.30 p.m.

RESOLVED:

That, in accordance with the agreed programme of meetings for this Area Committee, the next meeting be held on Thursday, 27 May 2010 at the Netherton Activity Centre, Glovers Lane, Netherton commencing at 6.30 p.m.