Agenda and minutes

The Committee Administrator to call for nominations.

RESOLVED: That

The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting, in particular, Councillor Catie Page, who had recently been elected to serve as a Councillor for Ravenmeols Ward.

Congratulations were also extended to Councillor Gillian Cuthbertson on her recent re-election as Councillor for Harington Ward.

No apologies for absence were received

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 declarations of interest were received:

Minutes of the meeting held on 17 March 2011

These items are for general discussion.  Anybody attending the meeting is welcome to speak (subject to the Chair’s discretion)

RESOLVED: 

That the Minutes of the meeting held on 17 March 2011 be confirmed as a correct record.

A period of 20 minutes (or longer at the discretion of the Chair) will be set aside for a Public Forum.

Members of the public can ask questions, raise matters, or present petitions on issues that are relevant to Sefton Council.  The person asking a question will be allowed one supplementary question.

A question form indicating the person’s name and address must be completed and submitted to the Committee Administrator as soon as possible and by no later than 15 minutes before the meeting starts i.e. before 6.45 p.m. or by 3.00 p.m. for faxed (0151 934 2034) or on-line submissions http://forms.sefton.gov.uk/openforumquestion/

Question forms can be obtained from the Committee Administrator prior to the meeting.

(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 cannot be provided at the meeting, the Neighbourhoods Division will contact the relevant department for a formal response and the resident will be contacted directly in writing

The following items had been submitted for consideration during the Public Forum:

Report of the Neighbourhood Inspector

Update on crime statistics and area interventions since the last meeting

These items are for consultation or information of interest to the local community.  Anybody attending the meeting is welcome to speak (subject to the Chair’s discretion)

Referring to the crime statistics circulated at the meeting, Inspector Atherton provided an update on crime and policing in the Formby Area between April and May 2011, comparing the current crime figures for the same period in 2009 and 2010.

Inspector Atherton then reported and answered questions on the following matters:

• He introduced Sergeant Nigel Stewart, who had recently joined the Formby Neighbourhood Police Team as Desk Sergeant at Formby Police Station, having previously worked in the Custody Suite. He indicated that Constable Karl Turner had recently returned following an operation on his shoulder and was undertaking restricted duties as Station Keeper between 8.00 a.m. and 4.00 p.m. until he was fully recovered.

• Thanks were extended to Councillor Griffiths for his prompt action in relation to racist graffiti at the Powerhouse.  By the time the Police were made aware of this, plans had already been put in place to have it removed.

• April had proven to be a busy period for the Neighbourhood Team, with the potentially volatile combination of young people being off school and the good weather.

• the quad bikes were now back in operation following a review of usage/ risk assessments.

• Operation Beachsafe had commenced on 1 April 2011, which was earlier than in previous years and was proving very effective with over 550 alcohol seizures having taken place so far.

• Operation Beachsafe was led by Acting Sergeant Moorcroft who was supported by Constable Keating and assisted by the British Transport Police. The Police also worked in partnership with other local bodies, which included National Trust and Sefton Council and this partnership work was one of the main reasons for its excellent success rate.  Also at the end of June, 4 additional Officers were being deployed to help in the Formby area.

• Operation Beachsafe was planned and organised at regular Beachsafe Meetings, the next meeting being on 11 July 2011; and following a request by Members, Inspector Atherton indicated that he would invite the Formby Area Committee Members to the next Beachsafe meeting.

• One of the Committee members felt that the BTP had not recently been as helpful in supporting Operation Beachsafe, as might have been hoped; and as such had contacted Mersey Travel’s Chief Executive and Director General, who had subsequently received a letter from the Chief Superintendent Area Commander of British Transport Police, which provided reassurance of BTP’s previous and ongoing commitment to Operation Beachsafe in Formby.

·         Inspector Atherton indicated that a new Sergeant from the BTP – aptly named Sergeant Lawman, had recently been deployed to assist local police – with particular  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.

Presentation by Mr. Steve Matthews, Local Planning Manager and Mr. Alan Young, Strategy and Information Officer, on the Core Strategy options for Formby.

N.B. The Council is also holding drop-in event at Formby Pool, 2.00 to 8.00 pm, on 16 June 2011, to give people the opportunity to make comments and discuss issues with the Core Strategy Team.

Further information on the Core Strategy can be accessed via the Council’s website at http://www.sefton.gov.uk/Default.aspx?page=7763

Further to Minute No. 42 of 18 November 2011, the Committee received a presentation by Mr. Matthews, Local Planning Manager and Mr Alan Young, Strategic Planning and Information Manager, on the core strategy options for Formby.

Mr Matthews and Mr Young explained that:

1. The purpose of the Core Strategy was to help to shape the future of Sefton’s towns, villages, coast and countryside, setting out the priorities for investment and helping make decisions on planning applications until at least 2028.

2. In forming the Core Strategy extensive consultation was being undertaken with everyone who lived and worked in Sefton and that this meeting of Formby Area Committee and the consultation at Formby Pool, also held today, formed a part.

3. In respect of Sefton’s housing and employment needs it was important to note that:

Ø      Sefton’s population was declining;

Ø      the average household size was getting smaller and more people were living alone;

Ø      the population was ageing – by 2012 there would be more people over 65 than under 20 and the workforce was reducing;

Ø      there was a need to provide more homes and homes that were affordable for residents; and

Ø      in the longer term there would be a need to provide more opportunities for new jobs

4. There was a need to provide new homes to meet the changing needs of Sefton’s population; in addition, in the medium to longer term, to help Sefton’s economy, there was a need for new sites for employment and businesses. In these respects three options had been set out:

Option One –  Urban Containment - new development focussed in existing towns and villages

Option Two –  Meeting Sefton’s identified needs, namely, homes and jobs

Option Three –  Stabilising the population

5. The Core Strategy would also include retail, climate change policies; making sure that new developments made it easier to access important services and facilities; protecting and improving open spaces and other recreation areas; protecting and improving the environment, including important nature conservation areas; and design issues.

6. a Green Belt Study had been carried out to identify where development could go ahead should the Core Strategy determine the need to use green belt land to meet housing and employment needs. This study had ruled out:

Ø      land that formed an important gap or space between towns or villages;

Ø      areas that were not immediately next to any of Sefton’s towns and villages;

Ø      land that was part of an international or national nature site; and

Ø      land that was classed as being at high risk from flooding;

7        the draft Green Belt Study had concluded that there were a number of potential Green Belt sites around most of the towns and large villages that, if developed would still allow us to retain a strong Green Belt and any planned use of the Green Belt would represent only a very small percentage of the total Green Belt in Sefton.

8        the period for comments to be made on the Core Strategy Options, the Green Belt  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8.

Councillor Griffiths to provide a verbal report.

These are formal decisions to be taken by the Members of the Council.  Only in exceptional cases will the Chair allow contributions from the public (Advisory Group Members may speak but not vote)

In view of his declaration of interest indicated in Minute No. 4 above, Councillor Doran vacated the Chair and left the room during consideration of this item, and Councillor Griffiths, Vice Chair, took the Chair.

The Committee received a verbal report from Councillor Griffiths on proposals to develop the role of Formby Pool in meeting community needs and becoming the ‘heart of the community’.

Councillor Griffiths explained that Formby Pool Trust was inviting Formby residents and businesses for input on how the Formby Pool buildings and surrounding parkland could be better utilised to help fulfil its ambitions of becoming the ‘heart of the community.

He listed the following ideas as potential uses for the site:

• The Formby Show
• ‘Churches Together’
• Edwardian Day
• ‘Formby Live’ for the encouragement of local talent
• Annual food and wine fayre
• Formby Rose Queen event/parade
• Installation of a duck/wildlife pond
• Hog roasts and barbeques
• Picnics in the park
• Wedding ceremonies (would need a Licence)
• Fountains and sculptures
• A Maypole
• Children’s play area
• Wildlife garden
• Open air theatre
• Scots pines for squirrels
• Annual Viking Festival
• Village green
• Art and photography exhibitions
• Car boot sales
• Birds of prey demonstrations
• Marquee with various exhibits (flowers, fruit and vegetables, handicrafts
• Signposts to Formby Pool and signposts from the pool to other facilities in Formby

Councillor Griffiths concluded that consultation forms would be available at the end of meeting for anyone who wished to submit their ideas and that responses could either be handed in to him or placed in the ‘Formby Times’ box at the Formby Pool reception area.

RESOLVED:

That Councillor Griffiths be thanked for his interesting and encouraging report on how to make Formby ‘an even better place to live’.

Report of the Network Manager

Further to Minute No. 71 (2) of 17 March 2011, the Committee considered the report of the Network Manager on the receipt of a petition from local residents about the condition of Freshfield Road, Formby, requesting that it be given priority in the Highways Maintenance Programme for 2011/12.   A copy of the petition, which had been sponsored by Councillor Dutton and supported by Formby Parish Councillors, was attached as an Appendix to the report. The petition contained 71 names, 58 of which were residents of Freshfield Road.

The report indicated that following recommendation by the Area Committee on 17 March, (Minute No. 71 (2) refers, Freshfield Road had been added to the bottom of the programme at position 29 and that Capita Symonds, who provided professional engineering services to the authority, had identified the section between Coppice Hey and St George’s Road as warranting a plane and inlay treatment, which involved removal and replacement of the existing surface course. The revised Highway Maintenance Programme had been approved by the Cabinet Member – Technical Services on 6 April 2011 (Minute No. 157 refers).

Mr MConkey explained that at the time the programme had been prepared, a process of re-tendering highway maintenance contracts had been underway, the results of which were not then known. This meant that based on available budgets and without the knowledge of the successful tendered rates, it had not been possible to state whether the section of Freshfield Road included in the programme would be undertaken or not. He also indicated that as part of the Transformation process and prioritisation of services, £1,000,000 had been taken from the highway management budget for 2011/12.

He indicated that the Cabinet Member - Street Scene and Transportation had been advised of the petition and that Capita Symonds had been asked to establish whether there was sufficient funding to undertake the resurfacing of the section of Freshfield Road identified on the programme; to re-analyse their findings and confirm their reasons for including the section they had, at the expense of the other sections; comment on their original findings that only the section identified should be treated, rather than the whole of the remaining section as requested by the petitioners; and support their findings with the appropriate technical data.

Section 3 of the report contained the findings provided by Capita Symonds in partnership with Sefton Council, indicating that isolated settlement in some reinstatements was evident and could have been a contributing factor to the poor running profile of the road surface and possible links to ground borne vibrations; and that the section between (Coppice Hey to St Georges Road) had been identified as the worst section and was consequently recommended for carriageway resurfacing. The report indicated that the remaining sections of Freshfield Road contained similar defects, but the extent and nature of the defects present did not warrant wholesale resurfacing works being undertaken at the time of assessment.

Mr McConkey indicated that following consultation with the Area Committee and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 10.

Report of the Strategic Director - Place

The Committee considered the report of the Strategic Director – Place, which provided evidence for and against the existence of a public right of way between Wicks Lane and Greenloons Drive, Formby and the said route being recorded as a public footpath on the Definitive Rights of Way Map and Statement following an application under Section 53(2) of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. 

Appendix 1 to the report showed the proposed public right of way as a pecked line A-G on the Definitive Right of Way Map (DC0745) and Appendices 2–5 provided Ordnance Survey maps, historical photographs and aerial views of the route.

The report indicated that an application had been made to the Council on 15 February 2010, for a route between Wicks Lane and (St Jerome’s Presbytery) Greenloons Drive, passing through the grounds of St Jerome’s Church. This application had been prompted after the landowner erected fence and gates around the church, the church Hall and the Presbytery preventing through access in July 2009. 

Mr. Marrin, Traffic Services Manager, presented the report and indicated that the application had been supported by 48 evidence forms and a map showing the claimed route; and that the evidence forms alleged that the route had been known and used by many people in excess of 20 years and that 37 people had used the route as a through route.

A summary of the evidence for and against the route was summarised in sections 1.5 and 2 of the report and the legal issues were detailed in section 3.

The report concluded by indicating that a public right of objection would exist if the Order were made and there would be a right of appeal for the applicant in the event of a refusal.

RESOLVED: That

(1)       the Head of Corporate Legal Services be authorised to:

(2)       Mr. Marrin be commended for the excellent report from his team, which presented the issues in a very readable, comprehensible form.

Report of the Director of Corporate Commissioning

Update on Area Committee budget resources available

The Committee considered the report of the Director of Corporate Commissioning that indicated that the balance available for the allocation of the 2011/12 budget and progress to date on items previously agreed was as follows:

Allocations made during 2011/12:

Harington Ward

Ravenmeols Ward

Allocations made during 2010/11:

Arising from discussion, the Committee indicated that the play area on Barkfield Road was badly in need of refurbishment and it was suggested that the Director of Street Scene be requested to provide costs for this.

RESOLVED: That

(1)       the Ward budgets for 2011/12 be noted;

(2)       the progress to date on items previously agreed by the Area Committee be noted; and

(3)       the Director of Street Scene be requested to ascertain the costs for refurbishing the playground on Barkfield Road, Formby.

The next meeting will be held on Thursday, 15 September 2011, at the Formby Professional Development Centre, Park Road, Formby commencing at 7:00pm

RESOLVED:

That the next meeting be held at 7.00 p.m. on Thursday 15 September 2011, at the Formby Professional Development Centre, Park Road, Formby.