Minutes for Southport Area Committee meeting, Jan 7 2009, 6.30PM official page

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Dodd, D.P. Rimmer, Sumner 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 Weavers

107 - Cycling Town Delivery

Personal - Chairman of Sefton Cycle Forum

Took no part in the discussion of the item.

Minutes of the meeting held on 3 December, 2008.

RESOLVED:

That the Minutes of the meeting held on 3 December 2008 be confirmed as a correct record.

Report of the Finance and Information Services Director

Further to Minute No. 89 of 3 December 2008, 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

10,427.83

Birkdale

21,031.68

Cambridge

  3,496.33

Dukes

18,719.78

Kew

19,729.29

Meols

  8,797.75

Norwood

18,870.34

                                    Total

101,073.00

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 £101,073 of the budget available for further allocation for the rest of the year be noted;

(2)       the following allocations be approved:

Scheme

Ward

Amount

£

Provision of a metal litter bin outside Birkdale Library to replace one damaged by a motor vehicle

Birkdale

380

Further contribution to Southport House Warmers Scheme

Birkdale

950;

(3)       the Director of Regeneration and Environmental Services be requested to submit a progress report on the Southport House Warmers Scheme; and

(4)       the decision by the Strategic Director, in consultation with Councillor Weavers, to approve a payment of £250 from the Kew Ward delegated budget to fund a trip to London by Sefton's Young Eco Champion 2008, be confirmed.

Report of the Leisure Director

The Committee considered the report of the Leisure Director on a request for funding the capital cost of a teenage meeting shelter in a corner of the Town Lane Play Area, Southport.

RESOLVED:   That

(1)       the report on progress with developing facilities for young people on the Town Lane Play Area be noted; and

(2)       an allocation of £9,232.50 from the Kew Ward share of the delegated budget, to fund the capital cost of the teenage meeting shelter, be approved.

Report of the Leisure Director

The Committee considered the report of the Leisure Director on a request for a contribution from the delegated budget towards the capital cost of installing floodlighting at the Sandbrook Road bowling green, Ainsdale.

RESOLVED:

That an allocation of £1,100 from the Ainsdale Ward share of the delegated budget, as a contribution to the capital cost of installing the floodlights, be approved.

Report of the Strategic Director of Regeneration and Environmental Services.

Further to Minute No. 77 of 1 October 2008, the Committee considered the report of the Director of Regeneration and Environmental Services on the development of the work programme and action plan for the delivery of the cycling town project.

RESOLVED:   That

(1)       the report be noted;

(2)            subject to the approval of the Urban Safety Management Programme by the Cabinet Member - Technical Services, the progression of the initial consultation on the Portland Street area Traffic Calming Scheme and associated East - West link, be approved;

(3)       the progression of the "Seafront Loop" and "Lakeside Loop", including the provision of Zebra Crossings on Marine Drive and Marine Parade and the creation of a two-way segregated cycle lane on Fairway, be approved; and

(4)       the widening of the existing cycle path on Town Lane, as shown in Annex D to the report, be approved.

Report of the Leisure Director

The Committee considered the report of the Leisure Director outlining the first phase of the £1,117,442 Play Builder Programme, involving proposed works at Liverpool Road Recreation Ground, Ainsdale, at a cost of approximately £50,000.

RESOLVED:

That the proposed works be noted and endorsed.

Report of the Planning and Economic Regeneration Director

The Committee considered the report of the Planning and Economic Regeneration Director on a proposed Traffic Regulation Order, the effect of which would introduce "No Waiting at Any Time" restrictions at the junction of Claremont Road and Everton Road.

RESOLVED:   That

(1)       the Traffic Regulation Order as set out in 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 a proposed Traffic Regulation Order, the effect of which would introduce "No Waiting at Any Time" restrictions at the junction of Court Road and Leyland Road.

RESOLVED:   That

(1)       the Traffic Regulation Order as set out in 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. 94 of 3 December 2008, the Committee considered the report of the Planning and Economic Regeneration Director on the outcome of discussions held at a site meeting on 12 December on the possible addition to "No Waiting at Any Time" restrictions at the junction of Hornby Road with Elswick Road and Garstang Road to include restrictions on Hornby Road at school opening times, Monday to Friday.

RESOLVED:   That

(1)       the Traffic Regulation Order as set out in 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.

Further to Minute No. 97 of 3 December 2008, the Police representatives reported the following progress in relation to issues previously raised:

·               two further volunteers had been identified for the Speedwatch scheme, making a total of 9, and the scheme would proceed once the appropriate vetting forms had been received

·               Inspector Arrowsmith would be meeting the Traffic Services Manager tomorrow to discuss the enforcement of bus lanes on Lord Street

·               Inspector Moss indicated that he had received no further information regarding complaints about dog fouling, but he would be willing to pursue this issue with colleagues in the Council's Environmental Protection Department if members of the public subsequently supplied specific information.

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

·        persons cycling without lights at night and people illegally using mobile phones whilst driving.  (Inspector Moss agreed to try to publicise these issues again in the local Press.)

·        the Police involvement with Southport beach.  (Inspector Moss indicated that the Police does monitor issues such as vehicles with no insurance.  Councillor Pearson stated that the Police had assisted in the past to deal with motorcycles doing "wheelies" and speeding cars on the beach.  The Traffic Services Manager added that the Parking Services Section managed parking on the beach on behalf of the Coast and Countryside Section of the Leisure Services Department.)

·        Mr. P. King referred to a serious dog fouling problem along Marshside Road and to vehicles parking half on and half off the footways, especially at school times in Larkfield Lane.  (Inspector Moss agreed to liaise with the Council's dog wardens concerning the dog fouling issue, but a certain amount of commonsense had to be applied in relation to vehicles causing a potential obstruction.

·        Mr. D. Cobham enquired about the "night-time economy" issues in Southport town centre and Inspector Arrowsmith stated that it was too soon to evaluate the effectiveness of the street pastors initiative.

·        the effectiveness of Police Community Support Officers.  (Inspector Arrowsmith indicated that figures relating to the effectiveness of PCSO's solving crimes could be obtained via a request under the Freedom of Information Act provisions.  She added that their core role was not crime enforcement but they were invaluable in providing a visible presence and in gathering information.  (Councillors and members of the public praised the value of the PCSO's in combating vandalism and other anti-social behavioiur.)

·        Mr. J. Lee referred to the danger to pedestrians caused by motor vehicles making illegal manoeuvres at the Southbank Road/Ash Street junction.  (Inspector Moss agreed to arrange for this issue to be monitored.)

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).

Prior to the consideration of questions, the Chair introduced 10 year old Jack Taylor, a pupil at Kew Woods Primary School, who was Sefton's Young Carbon Champion.  He had also recently been given a national award for his work in relation to the environment and energy saving at the National Energy Efficiency Awards in London.

RESOLVED:  

That Jack be congratulated on his award and be wished every success in the future.

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

(a)       Local Advisory Group Member Mrs. M. Pointon referred to the many disabled children who attended mainstream community schools and asked if it would be possible for each school to have a disabled parking bay.  This would enable parents to park safely and offload any equipment which might be needed.  It would also provide a facility for any Blue Badge holder who might be conveying children to school.

It was agreed that the Traffic Services Manager be requested to forward a written response to Mrs. Pointon.

(b)       Local Advisory Group Member Mr. J. Fairhurst asked about possible plans to re-organise Area Committees.  Councillor Brodie-Browne explained that the Council had established a governance review to examine the ways in which the Council conducts its business and this had been publicised in the local media.  A written response on this matter had been forwarded by the Legal Director to Mr. Fairhurst.

(c)        Mr. A. Donnellan asked to be advised of the footway cleansing schedule for Scarisbrick New Road (between the Kew roundabout and Everard Road) and he also asked when the promised repairs to the pavement would be started.  A reply in relation to the street cleansing aspect had been forwarded by the Cleansing Manager to Mr. Donnellan.

It was agreed that the Director of Regeneration and Environmental Services be requested to forward a written response on the pavement repairs issue to Mr. Donnellan.

(d)       Mrs. J. Huyton asked if double yellow lines could be painted at the junction of Southbank Road and Chestnut Street.  She stated that this was a very busy locality and that vehicles parking at this corner obstructed the view of oncoming traffic.

It was agreed that the Traffic Services Manager be requested to forward a written response to Mrs. Huyton.

(e)       Mrs. A. Fielding asked if the white lines on the pedestrian crossing in Scarisbrick New Road (opposite the old Infirmary) could be re-painted and if the belisha beacon lights could be made brighter.

It was agreed that the Traffic Services Manager be requested to forward a written response to Mrs. Fielding.

(f)         Mr. P. Sperrin stated that he was on the allotment waiting list for Southport and that he had been quoted a waiting period of approximately four years.  He asked when more land would be made available for allotments in Southport.

The Leisure Director had forwarded a written response to Mr. Sperrin.

(g)       Mr. J. Lee stated that Chapter 4 of the Traffic Signs Manual 2004 gave easily understood instructions on every imaginable aspect of British traffic signs.  Along Kensington Road, however, there were numerous infringements of these rules.  He felt that the entire road was a classic example of bad planning, ignorance of the regulations and failure of supervisors.  Bollards indicating a narrowing of the road should bear a red reflector on the nearside, a white reflector on the offside; the shape, size and height above the ground being quite specific.  Walking along the road recently he had difficulty identifying any bollard that was completely correct.  Some were also obscured by parked vehicles.  Many bollards were missing, many had the wrong colour reflector, many had no reflector at all and many of those reflectors that did exist were broken or pointing in the wrong direction.  He suspected that many bollards and reflectors were also of the wrong size or height.  At least one of the signs advising of the existence of the humps was incomplete or missing.  Presumably, the intention of these obstructions was to encourage drivers to use other roads instead.  The road hump nearest to the town centre extended the entire width of the road and therefore did not need any warning bollards at all.  He asked, therefore, why was it necessary to increase costs by narrowing the road at the other humps and raising road junctions when heavy commercial vehicles had no alternative than to negotiate some of them, especially at Hall Street.

It was agreed that the Traffic Services Manager be requested to forward a written response to Mr. Lee.

(h)        Mr. S. Taylor asked what the Council was doing to ensure a zero increase in rates this year.

It was agreed that the Legal Director be requested to forward a written response to Mr. Taylor.

(i)         Mrs. J. Naylor referred to many town centre shops having closed down, especially since Ocean Plaza opened and the pressure of out-of-town shopping attractions such as the Trafford Centre and Liverpool One.  She asked what the Council was doing to stem this severe decline in Southport's retail shopping trade.  She also referred to the economic pressure on retailers and felt that a more helpful rating system and more accessible parking provisions should be considered.  Councillor Bigley commented that he believed that the private sector would begin to invest more, but there were serious economic problems.  Councillor-Brodie Browne referred to similar problems in other areas such as Liverpool and the significant investment made by the Council in Southport.  Councillor Tattersall referred to the Council's success in increasing the Conference trade and to the recent private hotel investment of £7 million.  He also pointed out that the Council does not set business rates and that private landlords controlled commercial rents.  Councillor Shaw referred to the recommended refusal of a planning application by Tesco for the expansion of its Kew site.  Councillor Glover commented that he had recently visited several large towns in Yorkshire and retail shops there were facing similar difficulties.

(j)         Mrs. E. Culley asked if changes to, and the use of, sites/amenities such as the beach car park adjacent to Weld Road were approved by elected Councillors or solely at the discretion of paid Council staff and what criteria were used in deciding to close the car park recently.

It was agreed that the Leisure Director be requested to submit a full report on this matter to the Committee.

(k)        Mr. D. Culley asked whether unelected paid Council staff or elected Councillors were responsible for making environmental policy for the Council.

It was agreed that the Legal Director be requested to forward a written response to Mr. Culley.

(l)         Mr. J. Shawcroft asked if Birkdale beach was going to remain closed to car parking, which had been permitted for over 80 years.  He added that Southport's beaches were in a Site of Special Scientific Interest area, controlled by European Union directives, but even the E.U. had said that there had to be an equal balance between conservation and tourism.  He also asked if any of the Councillors had any intention of getting Southport's beaches back to their former glory.  Councillor Porter commented that the town was a seaside resort and the beaches should play their part in welcoming visitors from other areas.  Councillor Tattersall pointed out that Southport was no longer the "bucket and spade" resort as it was in the days when many thousands of visitors used to visit its beaches.  Councillor Pearson stated that neither he nor his Dukes Ward colleagues had been consulted about the closure of Birkdale beach to car parking.

It was agreed that the Leisure Director be requested to forward a written response to Mr. Shawcroft.

(m)      Mr. B. Naylor stated that for years, residents had complained about the poor state of Southport's beaches and now that the Birkdale car park entrance had been closed, it made it more difficult for people to visit the shoreline.  He felt that with the use of "managed decline", the area was now in an appalling state and a disgrace to the town, making the flag awards look foolish.  He asked, as the Council had spent millions of pounds on retaining the Gormley statues on Crosby beach, when a similar amount was going to be spent on upgrading the tourist beaches in front of the classic resort of Southport.  Councillor Brodie-Browne stated that the Council had not spent millions of pounds retaining the Gormley statues.

It was agreed that the Leisure Director be requested to forward a written response to Mr. Naylor.

(n)        Mr. D. Cobham stated that in the opinion of many people, the Council operated a very severe parking regime and a high proportion of law-abiding motorists fell foul of the system through honest mistakes, or failure of the system, although they grudgingly paid their fines.  He asked, therefore, with all the staff resources and vehicle tracking information at the Council's disposal, how one Ford Fiesta owner who had been issued with 100 penalty charge notices on and around Lord Street totalling £6000 had been allowed to carry on and get away without paying one fine (as reported in the Liverpool Daily Post on 3rd January.)  In particular, he asked why this vehicle had not been clamped.  Councillor Shaw commented that national statistics showed that the Council's parking enforcement regime was not severe, with a very large number of challenges to parking fines being dealt with internally without going to appeal.  The Traffic Services Manager stated that a vehicle clamping system was under consideration.  He agreed to investigate the circumstances of the particular case referred to by Mr. Cobham and to let him have a written response.

The Committee considered correspondence relating to the above.

RESOLVED:

That the correspondence be noted.

RESOLVED:   That

(1)       the Director of Regeneration and Environmental Services be requested to submit a report on all aspects of the winter gritting contract;

(2)       Mr. Jim Breen of Southport Business Enterprise be requested to submit a report on the possible re-establishment of the Birkdale Business Village Committee; and

(3)       the Traffic Services Manager be requested to submit a report on complaints regarding noise and vibration caused by vehicles driving over manhole covers protruding from carriageway surfaces.

In accordance with the agreed programme of meetings for this Area Committee, the next meeting will be held on Wednesday, 4 February, 2009 at the Town Hall, Lord Street, Southport, commencing at 6.30p.m.

RESOLVED:

That the next meeting be held on Wednesday, 4 February 2009 at Southport Town Hall, Lord Street, Southport, commencing at 6.30 p.m.