Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Brennan, P.Dowd and Maher.

The Clerk, Olaf Hansen, informed the Chair that Councillor Brennan could not be in attendance because his wife was having treatment at the Linda McCartney Centre.

RESOLVED:

That the Committee convey its best wishes and support to Councillor and Mrs.Brenan.

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 interest of was received:

Minutes of the meeting held on 19 January, 2012

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 19 January 2012 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 6.15 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

During the Public Forum the following matters were raised:-

(a)  Mr.Phil Place, on behalf of Copy Lane Residents’ Association, asked whether litter bins could be relocated from Copy Lane, between Old Roan Station and Dunningsbridge Road, to between Northern Perimeter Road and St.Benet’s Church. There were currently seven bins located on the 400 metre stretch of the former site, but no bins located on the latter site.

RESOLVED: that the Neighbourhood Coordinator be requested to investigate Mr.Place’s query.

(b)  A local resident asked whether the Killen Green Park bowling green could be re-opened for the benefit of the community’s older residents.

RESOLVED: that the Neighbourhood Coordinator be requested to investigate this query with Parks and Greenspace manager and elected Members.

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).

There are no items in Part B.

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).

Seargent Kolotorne gave the Committee an update on the latest crime statistics and police issues affecting the St. Oswald and Netherton and Orrell areas.

Netherton and Orrell

St.Oswald

To receive a presentation from Roy Williams, Chief Executive of One Vision Housing

Roy Williams, Chief Executive Officer of One Vision Housing (OVH), gave a presentation on the key areas of activities within the organisation.

The presentation covered:-

                        (I)          What we are doing in the area. This included:

i         King Avenue neighbourhood – “Keep Britain Tidy” Quality Mark;

ii        St.Augustine’s field – activities such as football and climbing wall;

iii      Youth fishing project at St.Monica’s Park

iv      Weekly work clubs at L30 Centre

v       Fortnightly work clubs at Netherton Park Centre and Netherton’s children’s centre

vi      Older people into Dance project at Netherton Activity Centre

vii    “Voice in the City” project with Netherton Moss School

                      (II)          Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB)

i         Action plan being drawn up in conjunction with Police, Sefton Council Safer Neighbourhoods and residents

ii        Anti-Social Behaviour Officers and Youth Engagement Officer attending weekly meetings at Copy Lane Police Station to identify youths causing ASB, criminal damage and vulnerable victims

iii      Working closely with the Police to tackle boiler thefts on the Pendle Estate

iv      On site with boundary walls and fencing on the Pendle and Hereford Drive Estates

                    (III)          Financial Inclusion – project being delivered to give advice on:

i         Fuel poverty – dedicated affordable warmth officer with vunerable tenants

ii        Energy efficiency in the home

iii      Grants and funding

iv      Switching energy providers

v       Referrals for income maximisation

                   (IV)          Energy efficiency works through area grant

i         Delivering a programme of energy efficiency works, involving 80 homes in the area

ii        The works include upgrading the external wall insulation to improve both energy efficiency and aesthetics

iii      Installation of high spec double glazing

iv      Upgrade of roof insulation

v       The assessment of a further 500 non-traditional properties in the area with a view to carrying out similar works

The Committee asked a questions about the activities mentioned in the presentation which were answered by Mr.Williams

RESOLVED:

That Mr.Williams be thanked for his informative presentation.

Ms Paula Simm, Community Safety Manager, One Vision Housing to give an update in relation to issues at Bowland Drive and the Pendle Estate and agree a way forward.

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).

The Committee received a verbal update from Paula Simm, Community Safety Manager, One Vision Housing (OVH) regarding the issues at Bowland Drive and Pendle Estate.

Ms.Simm indicated that following consultation with residents, a Section 30 Order had been applied for, for the Pendle Estate and weekly meetings with Corporate Commissioning and Neighbourhood Coordination Division were being held to monitor the situation.

A Councillor enquired about the future of Pendle Hall and specifically whether it was subject to a future application for planning permission. Councillor Mahon, as a member of the Planning Committee, declared that he could not stay in the room whilst this matter was discussed as it would prejudice any possible future planning application; consequently he left the room and took no part in the discussion.

With the withdrawal of Councillor Mahon, the meeting was inquorate and temporarily adjourned. In this time a brief discussion was had between the remaining Councillors and officers from One Vision Housing. After these discussions were concluded Councillor Mahon re-entered the room and the meeting resumed.

RESOLVED:

That Ms. Simm, One Vision Housing, be thanked for her presentation.

To receive a presentation from Rob Pritchard, Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service regarding work undertaken during the Mischief Night and Bonfire Night period.

Mr. Rob Pritchard, Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service, gave a presentation regarding work undertaken during the Mischief Night and Bonfire Night period. He explained that Sefton’s planning group recognised that the success of the previous 3 years in reducing incidents of youth related Anti Social Behaviour on so called “Mischief Night” (Sunday 30 October) was significantly in part to the successful execution of Operation StaySafe, supported by diversionary activities for young people in the known “hot spot” areas.

StaySafe was a Merseyside Police operation run in conjunction with the Council’s Youth Service and Corporate Commissioning and Neighbourhood Coordination Division, and was used to ensure that any young people, identified as being at risk of harm, were taken home or to a place of safety.  It sought pro-active policing in trying to eliminate the potential for young people to engage in Anti Social Behaviour, or prevent them becoming a victim of crime, and saw Police officers travelling throughout the known “hot spot” areas for Anti Social Behaviour, on the StaySafe bus.

Normally in this period, through a cocktail of funding for Community Safety Partnership, Merseyside Police, Local Authority and local RSLs (amongst others), the Local Authority (Leisure Services) had been able to organise four firework displays at hot spot locations in the Borough free to the public; accessed by over 20,000 local residents each year.  For 2011, the cost per display was quoted as £7,600 – with an overall cost for the four displays of £30,400.  However, the Sefton Council, in the last 12 months or so, had seen a lessening of resources, and made it impossible to find the required resources to fund all expected displays for 2011 from within existing Council resources.  A picture that was reflected by traditional partners – Merseyside Police, Fire and Rescue and RSLs. 

This led to discussions with Sefton Chamber of Commerce, who advised that sponsorship was not possible, and therefore an approach mentioned and agreed by senior officers in Leisure & Tourism and Sport & Recreation.  To try and offset any resident disappointment, a StreetGames initiative was organised for North Park, and Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service organised a “Cage Soccer” event in Netherton.

Other activities saw a joint Police and Local Authority letter distributed by PCSO/Police Partners week commencing 17 October asking local retailers of food particularly to responsibly sell items such as eggs, flour and glue in the run up to Mischief Night.  A separate letter, with an informative poster, was forwarded – on 11 October – to 50 supermarkets/food retailers across South Sefton asking them to publicise Bonfire/Combustible Materials removal service.  This was actively seen in many of the shops.

Results: Sixteen vulnerable young people were taken to places of safety, 15 youngsters were taken directly home, 68 attended the Brunswick Youth Club, 27 went to the Gordon Youth Centre, 12 attended Crosby Youth Centre, and 36 young people took part in street cage soccer, co-ordinated by Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service in Netherton.

Recorded incidents of  ...  view the full minutes text for item 42.

Report of the Director of Built Environment

The Committee considered the report of the Director of Built Environment which sought approval for the progression of a Traffic Regulation Order, the effect of which will provide a disabled resident with a parking place directly outside their place of residency.

RESOLVED: That

(1)            the Traffic Regulation Order to introduce a  Disabled Persons Parking Place as detailed within the report be approved; and

(2)      the necessary legal procedures, including those of public consultation and advertising the Council’s intention to implement the Order, be approved.   

Report of the Director of Corporate Commissioning

Update on area management issues resolved since the last meeting

The Committee considered the report of the Director of Corporate Commissioning on the area management activities that had taken place in St Oswald and Netherton and Orrell Wards since the last meeting.

RESOLVED: 

That the Area Management Update report be noted.

Report of the Director of Corporate Commissioning

The Committee considered the report of the Director of Corporate Commissioning that sought agreement for the revised guidelines for use of Area Committee budgets.

RESOLVED: That

(1)            the Area Committee Budget guidelines, as detailed within the report, be approved; and

(2)            the current mechanism for system for operating this Area Committee’s budget, as detailed within section 3 of the report, be retained.

Report of the Director of Corporate Commissioning

Update on Area Committee budget resources available

Further to Minute No. 33 of the meeting held on 19 January 2012, the Committee considered the report of the Director of Corporate Commissioning that provided information on available resources for the Committee and progress on those items approved at previous meetings.

RESOLVED:

That the report be noted.

The next meeting will be held on Thursday, 14 June 2012 at Netherton Activity Centre, Glovers Lane, Netherton commencing at 18:30.

RESOLVED:

That in accordance with the agreed programme of meetings for this Area Committee, the next meeting will be held on Thursday 14 June 2012, at Netherton Activity Centre, Glovers Lane, Netherton commencing at 6.30 p.m.