Minutes for Southport Area Committee meeting, Apr 22 2009, 6.30PM official page

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Brodie-Browne, Byrom, Dodd, Lord Fearn, McGuire, Pearson and Sir Ron Watson and Advisory Group Member Mrs. M. Pointon.

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 No.

Interest

Action

Councillor Hands

160 - Section 106 Planning Agreements

Personal - Member of Friends of Bedford Park

Took no part in the discussion of the item

Minutes of the meeting held on 1 April , 2009

RESOLVED:

That the Minutes of the meeting held on 1 April 2009 be confirmed as a correct record.

Report of the Legal Director

The Committee considered the report of the Legal Director indicating that the term of office of the Local Advisory Group Members had technically expired at the end of the 2007/08 Municipal Year, but they had continued to serve in the light of uncertainty about possible revisions to the structure of the Area Committees.  In addition, Reverend A. Galbraith and Mrs. M. Jepson had indicated that they were unable to serve for a further term, but Mr. I. Goley, a Southport representative on the U.K. Youth Parliament, had been nominated to serve as an Advisory Group Member.

RESOLVED:            That

(1)       Mr. J. Fairhurst, Mr. I. Goley, Mrs. M. Pointon and Mr. S. Sugden be appointed as Local Advisory Group Members for 2009/10;

(2)       the appreciation of the Committee for the previous service rendered by Reverend Galbraith and Mrs. Jepson be recorded; and

(3)            consideration be given to possible further appointments to the Local Advisory Group, subject to scrutiny of the agreed Constitution of Local Advisory Groups in the Central and Southern areas of the borough.

Report of the Finance and Information Services Director

Further to Minute No. 137 of 1 April 2009, the Committee considered the report of the Finance and Information Services Director indicating that the balance of the budget available for allocation during 2008/09 was as follows:-

Ward

Available Funds

£

Ainsdale

         6,641.08

Birkdale

       17,956.68

Cambridge

         2,746.33

Dukes

       14,369.78

Kew

         9,671.79

Meols

         5,207.75

Norwood

       16,390.34

            Total

       72,983.75

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 £72,983.75 of the budget available for further allocation for the rest of the year be noted;

(2)       the following allocations be approved:

Scheme

Ward

Amount

£

Merseyside Police/Sefton Youth Service Big Bonza BBQ

Meols

100

“No Ball Games” sign in Torcross Close, Southport

Cambridge

110

Concrete bollard at north corner of Walton Street/Court Road junction

Cambridge

110

Eco Green Warriors Group - Ainsdale St. John’s C.E. Primary School

Ainsdale

500

Standard Litter Bin at Claremont Road/St. Peter’s Road, Birkdale

Birkdale

210

Contribution to Birkdale Village Traders

Birkdale

995

Contribution to Birkdale Village Traders

Dukes

995

Town Lane Allotment Association - Provision of Shredder

Kew

150

Hanging Baskets for Bispham Road

Norwood

995

Report of the Leisure Director

The Committee considered the report of the Leisure Director on a proposal to assist with a project to develop a "community garden" on land adjoining the United Reformed Church, Station Road, Ainsdale.

RESOLVED:  

That the sum of £3,000 from the Ainsdale Ward share of the delegated budget be allocated to the overall costs of the project.

Joint report of the Planning and Economic Regeneration Director and the Leisure Director

Further to Minute No. 91 of 3 December 2008, the Committee considered the report of the Planning and Economic Regeneration Director outlining the recent spending of monies received through Section 106 Planning Agreements made under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 for the provision of tree planting and green space in Southport and setting out details of further similar schemes.

RESOLVED:   That

(1)       the progress on the recent spending on tree planting and public open space and information on the forthcoming schemes which will generate further funds for this purpose, as set out in the report, be noted;

(2)       the recommendations for tree planting and public green space, as set out in the report, be approved; and

(3)       the detailed list of new tree planting in Southport, as set out in the report, be noted.

Report of the Planning and Economic Regeneration Director

Further to Minute No. 152(1) of 1 April 2009, the Committee considered the report of the Planning and Economic Regeneration Director on proposals to amend the above bus route.

RESOLVED:   That

(1)       the route for the buses serving the Kew Park and Ride site be amended to Foul Lane, New Foul Lane, Scarisbrick New Road, Ash Street, Sussex Road, Derby Road, London Street, Lord Street, Eastbank Street and return; and

(2)       the Traffic Services Manager be requested to submit a report to a future meeting detailing the costs of running the scheme; confirming that appropriate signage is in place to direct traffic from the Ormskirk direction; and updating on the progress of discussions with the Southport Hospital Trust about signage etc. on the hospital site.

Report of the Planning and Economic Regeneration Director

The Committee considered the report of the Planning and Economic Regeneration Director setting out details of the above cycle race which would be held in Southport town centre on the evening of Thursday, 11 June 2009.

RESOLVED:  

That the report be noted.

Report of the Strategic Director of Regeneration and Environmental Services.

Further to Minute No. 130(c) of 4 February 2009, the Committee considered the report of the Strategic Director of Regeneration and Environmental Services setting out details of the latest three-year (1 January 2006 to 31 December 2008) road traffic accident figures for Lord Street, Southport.

RESOLVED:   That

(1)       the report be noted;

(2)       the Traffic Services Manager be requested to examine the relative speed of traffic in the bus lane and at night time; and

(3)       the Traffic Services Manager be requested to submit future road safety reviews of Lord Street to this Committee.

Report of the Planning and Economic Regeneration Director

Further to Minute No. 6(2) of 7 June 2006, and Minute No. 127(2) of 4 February 2009, the Committee considered the report of the Planning and Economic Regeneration Director setting out details of current Traffic Regulation Orders in the Southport area which had been approved for implementation.  The report also indicated that the Annual Service Contract for lining works was currently being re-tendered and outlined details of proposed new procedures which should lead to a significant improvement in the delivery of outstanding works.

RESOLVED:  

That the report be noted.

Further to Minute No. 149 of 1 April 2009, the Police representatives reported the following progress in relation to issues previously raised:

·                  Inspector McLoughlin indicated that the vehicle which had been causing an obstruction by parking on the footway in Guildford Road had twice been issued with fixed penalty notices and he requested any member of the public who witnessed any re-occurrence of this offence to provide the Police with details of registration, time and date etc.

·                  in relation to graffiti, Inspector Fairbrother explained that there was an ongoing action plan, that prosecutions had occurred; and that full details would be submitted to a future meeting once they had been through the Courts system

·                  a request had been made for statistics on offenders identified following surveillance of vehicles in Cambridge Ward and in relation to serious road accident figures for the Lord Street area, but these had not yet been received.

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

·                  whether the recent fire at Pleasureland was the result of any criminal activity (Inspector Fairbrother stated that it was too early to say, since the matter had only just been referred to his C.I.D. colleagues)

·                  the danger resulting from cyclists riding their bicycles on the footway along Lord Street (the Police representatives stated that this was one of the local neighbourhood priorities being targeted by fixed penalties and that statistics on these would be submitted to the next meeting)

·                  the number of vehicle drivers prosecuted earlier this year for illegally parking their vehicles in the Portland Street/Hill Street area (the Police representatives agreed to submit the relevant statistics to the next meeting)

·                  the continuing problem of dog fouling, particularly in the Linacre Street/Portland Street and Milton Street/Newton Street areas (Inspector Moss stated that he would be meeting Mr. Rob Monks of the Environmental Protection Department to discuss "hotspots" for this problem and ways of educating the public, although he believed that there was less fouling locally than there used to be; Inspector Fairbrother confirmed that reducing dog fouling would be a local priority for the next three months and that the Community Payback Scheme would be utilised to help to clean areas up)

·                  the Police were thanked for their prompt action in respect of one particular licensed establishment which was giving cause for concern and they were urged to maintain vigilance especially in relation to licensed premises which persisted in selling alcoholic drinks to patrons who were already drunk

·                  concern was expressed about people of both sexes urinating in the passageway between Lord Street and Stanley Street (not only at night time), where "Lombards " used to be (Inspector Fairbrother indicated that this issue was given priority in relation to the night time economy, but he was not aware that it had occurred during the day time and he agreed to arrange for his officers to address the matter)

·                  vehicles speeding along Sussex Road was reported to be a problem (Inspector Moss agreed to investigate this issue).

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).

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

(a)       Ms. T. Wright submitted a petition containing approximately 180 names, calling on the Council to provide a safe pedestrian access place to cross Ash Street at its junction with Scarisbrick New Road, Southport.  Ms. Wright explained that there was no time delay on the traffic lights and it was particularly hazardous for pedestrians to cross Ash Street at this point, particularly since vehicles sometimes "jumped" the red light at this junction.  Inspector Moss agreed to check if anyone had been prosecuted for this offence.  It was agreed to refer the petition to the Cabinet Member - Technical Services, with a view to a report on the outcome being submitted to this Committee and Ms. Wright being kept informed.

(b)       Mr. P. Powell indicated that street lamps were renewed in Lonsdale Road, Southport some time ago.  They had been replaced close to the walls of properties in the road, making it impossible to widen entrances to the houses.  The reason given for this was "to help blind people".  He added that lamp posts had been renewed in Selworthy Road and other roads in their original positions close to the roadway.  He asked why there appeared to be a double standard applying to this situation.

It was agreed that the Strategic Director of Regeneration and Environmental Services be requested to forward a written response to Mr. Powell.

(c)        Mr. S. Taylor asked if the Council would be objecting to the £700 million retail development scheme planned for Preston.  He felt that with Lord Street having so many empty shops and a disaster area in Chapel Street, the Council should object to this development so close to Southport.  He believed that the development was closer to Southport than the one in Kirkby.  He added that Blackburn Council had also expressed reservations about the Preston scheme.

Mr. Jim Alford of the Planning Department had commented that this Council had been consulted by Preston City Council on the proposals for the Tithebarn Street area of the city centre in the normal way last year.  The Planning and Economic Regeneration Director referred the proposal to the Council's retained specialist retail consultant.  The consultant's conclusions were that the proposals would not have a material impact on the future vitality and viability of Southport Town Centre.  A report was submitted to the Planning Committee on 17 December 2008 with that advice and the consultant's recommendations were agreed.  A copy of the relevant report was available on the Council's website at item 7 on the agenda pack starting on page 161.

(d)       Ms. L. Gunn-Russo referred to Lord Street and Chapel Street looking and sounding tacky and that some people had commented that the children's roundabout on Chapel Street would be better placed somewhere in front of the Arts Centre.  She also referred to one, two and sometimes three people playing very loud and out-of-tune wind instruments and piano accordions on Chapel Street and Lord Street.  (She was excluding the two guitar players on Chapel Street from this criticism).  She asked if the Councillors could have the out-of-tune players removed from the streets.  Councillors indicated that the buskers helped with the ambiance of the pedestrianised areas and that if their playing was so poor, they would not make sufficient money to make it worthwhile returning to the same areas. 

It was agreed that the Legal Director be requested to forward a written response to Ms. Gunn-Russo.

The Committee considered correspondence relating to the above.

RESOLVED:  

That the correspondence be noted.

RESOLVED:   That

(1)       Mr. Graham Lymbery of the Technical Services Department be requested to submit a presentation concerning Southport Beach to a future meeting;

(2)       further to Minute No. 64 of 3 September 2008 and Minute No. 150(d) of 1 April 2009, the Strategic Director of Regeneration and Environmental Services be requested to submit a report to the next meeting setting out a response to the Committee's request for a review of the moratorium on the siting of telecommunications masts on Council-owned land and Mr. Alan Moore be requested to attend the meeting; and

(3)       the Planning and Economic Regeneration Director be requested to submit an update report into planned major new housing in Kew whenever the current situation which was reported to the Planning Committee recently changes significantly.

In accordance with the agreed programme of meetings for this Area Committee, the next meeting will be held on Wednesday, 20 May 2009  at the Town Hall, Lord Street, Southport, commencing at 6.30p.m.

RESOLVED:  

That the next meeting be held on Wednesday, 20 May 2009 at Southport Town Hall, Lord Street, Southport, commencing at 6.30 p.m.