Agenda and minutes

To appoint the Chair and Vice-Chair of the Area Committee for the 2010/11 Municipal Year.

RESOLVED:   That

(1)            Councillor Mahon be appointed Chair of the Area Committee for the Municipal Year 2010/11; and

(2)            Councillor Brennan be appointed Vice-Chair of the Area Committee for the Municipal Year 2010/11.

An apology for absence was received from Councillor Bradshaw.

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 18 March 2010

RESOLVED:

That the Minutes of the meeting of the Area Committee held on 18 March 2010 be confirmed as a correct record.

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 questions/comments/petitions were submitted:

(a)          Councillor M. Dowd, on behalf of residents of Reapers Way, complained about cars and heavy goods vehicles inadvertently travelling down Copy Lane from the Northern Perimeter Road; that the problem was caused by inadequate signage directing traffic; and that a traffic sign at the location directing traffic to Crosby and Southport along the Northern Perimeter Road would greatly reduce the problem.  Councillor M. Dowd concluded that the Assistant Director (Transport and Spatial Planning) had been requested to install such signage but that the request had not been complied with.

Mr. M. Kilpatrick, Neighbourhoods Division, indicated that two signs had been ordered for the location but stated “Road not suitable for HGV’s”.

Members expressed concern about the non-compliance with the request; also complained that approval had been given to install street signs at Heysham Road and in various other locations in the St. Oswald and Netherton and Orrell Wards many months ago; and that although funding had been allocated via the devolved budget for the street signs, they had not yet been installed.

RESOLVED:          That

(1)      the Assistant Director (Transport and Spatial Planning):

          (i)       be advised of the concerns of the Area Committee relating to the inactions in erecting traffic directional signage at the Northern Perimeter Road; and

          (ii)      arrange for the installation of a directional traffic sign for Crosby and Southport on the Northern Perimeter Road before the next meeting of the Area Committee to be held on 1 July 2010; and

(2)      the Neighbourhoods Area Co-ordinator be requested to pursue with Capita Symonds the installation of the outstanding street signs; and if the outstanding signs are not installed within a month then the matter be referred to the Neighbourhoods and Investment Programmes Director.

(b)      Mrs. D. Frostick, referred to Marian Square and its lack of cafés and places to eat; and indicated that she did not know of any other square without such facilities.  Mrs. Frostick concluded by asking would the Council help in facilitating the opening of a café in Marian Square.

A local resident in attendance at the meeting also complained about the lack of public conveniences in the Marian Square vicinity.

RESOLVED:          That

(1)      the Chief Executive be requested to investigate what action can be taken by the Council to facilitate café provision at the Marian Square; and

(2)      the Operational Services Director be requested to investigate and advise the Area Committee what public convenience provision was available in the Marian Square area and the potential for the provision of new provision.

(c)      Local Advisory Group Member Ms. M. Elson asked whether the Traffic Services Manager could check out the car parking in Netherton Grange by the shops.  She indicated that double yellow lines were in place part way up one side of the road which caused all vehicles to park on the opposite side; and that the parked cars impeded the full vision of traffic coming down the road, which may  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

To receive a presentation from Mr. P. Jenner, Development Officer, Sefton Benefits Section, on the work of the Benefits Take-Up Team in promoting Housing/Council Tax Benefit and other benefits in Sefton.

The Committee received a presentation from Mr. P. Jenner, Development Officer, Sefton Benefits Section, on the work of the Benefits Take-Up Team in promoting Housing/Council Tax Benefit and other benefits in Sefton.

Mr. Jenner detailed the Housing Benefit (HB) and Council Tax Benefit (CBT) take-up in the St. Oswald and Netherton and Orrell Wards; that there had been increase of 167 HB and 363 CTB awards made for the period April 2009 - December 2009, resulting in a total annual benefit increase of £1,671,135; and that in St. Oswald Ward, 2185 properties (40.46%) were in receipt of benefit whilst in Netherton and Orrell the figure was 1732 (32.76%);

Mr. Jenner also indicated that an Assistant Take-Up Officer had been appointed and that from November 2009 205 visits had been made to vulnerable claimants; detailed campaigns relating to child benefit awareness and low paid workers awareness and the production of a credit crunch leaflet; and concluded that the Take-Up team had recently worked with Shop Direct (Littlewoods) and Ladbrokes following the decision to make staff redundant; had visited Walton Prison for a meeting with NACRO; and had held talks with many groups in Sefton.

Mr. Jenner sought suggestions from Members on locations to hold benefit take-up surgeries within the Area Committee’s boundary.

RESOLVED:            That

(1)       Mr. Jenner be thanked for his informative presentation;

(2)       the following locations be considered for benefit take-up surgeries/information distribution:

            (a)            post offices

            (b)       the Netherton Feelgood Factory as an outreach office for ½ day per week; and

(3)            Members be requested to contact Mr. Jenner direct with any further suggestions.

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).

Sergeant C. Barnes reported on the following issues:

• anti-social behaviour contracts issued to youths who committed offences in the Marian Square area; this had reduced the number of complaints received from residents and business owners

• the shop watch operation undertaken in Marian Square

• problems experienced by local residents caused by youths congregating in the Orrell Mount Pavilion area; and that positive feedback was received from residents for the Police operation to tackle the problem

• that he would request his colleagues to investigate the traffic/parking problems being experienced in the Johnson Avenue area

Members referred to:

• the increasing frequency of youths hanging around the shops on Orrell Road.  A representative of the Youth Service advised that she had been working closely with Inspector Thompson on dispersal tactics to resolve such problems at this and other locations in the area

• the phone box at Moss Lane/Crescent being used for drug dealing purposes; and that there was also general anti-social behaviour occurring in the area

• a break-in in Gardner Avenue to obtain the keys to the owners car that was subsequently stolen.  Sergeant Barnes stated that this was the work of opportunist thieves and was a current problem

• disturbance being caused to residents by youths using motorcycles/quad bikes on the field at the back of Lunar Drive, Netherton.  What was the Police enforcement position?

Sergeant Barnes advised that the Police had similar vehicles to use in the apprehension of offenders who were dealt with severely; and that numerous motorcycles had been confiscated and crushed.  Sergeant Barnes concluded that the more calls that were logged, the easier it was to prioritise hot spots and target resources to resolve the problems experienced.

• Neighbourhood Watch Schemes/local community groups and how it was important that the Police responded to any issues raised by them.

RESOLVED:

That Sergeant Barnes be thanked for his attendance at the meeting.

Report of the Neighbourhoods and Investment Programmes Director

The Committee considered the report of the Neighbourhoods and Investment Programmes Director which advised that the balance of its budget available to allocate during 2010/11, including amounts set aside for litterbins and street signs was £51,203.80 and that no requests for allocation had been received since the last meeting; and detailing the progress made to date on allocations agreed during 2009/10.

RESOLVED:   That

(1)       the balance of the Area Committee's budget of £51,203.80 available for allocation during 2010/11 be noted; and

(2)       the progress made on allocations agreed during 2009/10 be noted.

Report of the Planning and Economic Development Director

Further to Minute No. 71 of the meeting held on 11 February 2010, the Committee considered the report of the Planning and Economic Development Director advising of the results of the recent consultation exercise undertaken with residents of 77-85 Park Lane West and 2 and 4 Pinetree Close, Netherton, on a proposal to introduce a pedestrian refuge on Park Lane West adjacent to properties numbered 79-81.

The report detailed the comments of the respondents to the consultation exercise, of which 66.7% were in favour and 33.3% were opposed; concluded that the refuge was one of seven proposed throughout Sefton as a result of the 2009/10 pedestrian crossing review; and that it was prioritised in the review as the site showed significant conflict between pedestrians and vehicles.

RESOLVED:

That the introduction of the pedestrian refuge scheme at Park Lane West, Netherton, and incorporating minor highway amendments as detailed in the report be approved.

In accordance with agreed programme of meetings for this Area Committee, the next meeting will be held on Thursday 1 July 2010 at the Bootle Day Centre, Linacre Lane, Bootle, 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, 1 July 2010 at the Bootle Day Centre, Linacre Lane, Bootle, commencing at 6.30 p.m.