Agenda item

Question 1

Rob Adamson submitted a number of questions around the following topics:-

·         Air Pollution

·         Drainage/Accumulation of Silt/Mud

·         Walkley Bridge Restoration

·         Supertram Concrete Bed on Holme Lane Middlewood Road/Langsett Road

·         Dog Fouling of Pavement/Grass Areas

·         Injuries to pedestrians on Hillsborough Road by Uneven/Broken Pavement

·         Illegal Right Turns from Hillsborough Place/Walkley Lane Bridge onto Holme Lane

·         Litter

Answer 1

Councillor Jayne Dunn, Cabinet Member for Environment, Recycling and Streetscene commented that a written response would be provided to Mr Adamson’s questions. She was investigating a new policy on dog fouling.

Question 2

Gina McLennan commented on the lack of publicity and advanced notice for the meeting. If more notice had been given more people would have been able to attend. Despite this it was a good opportunity to meet Cabinet Members in the local community. She had not wanted the Community Assemblies to stop and would like to see more of these events with notice given well in advance.

Answer 2

Councillor Mazher Iqbal, Cabinet Member for Communities and Public Health apologised if Ms McLennan believed there had been a lack of notice for the meeting. However, members of the public did not have to wait for the meetings to speak to Cabinet Members. They could approach them directly or through Ward Councillors. There had been no choice but to disband the Community Assemblies as a result of the cuts to the Council’s budget.

Question 3

Eileen Poore and Marika Puglisi, representing the Botanical Area Community Association stated that they were acting on responses from many local residents who were concerned about the number of restaurants and bars opening along Ecclesall Road. The character of the road was changing with a move away from the variety of shops for which the road was known. There were also increasing problems with parking, late night noise and traffic circulation.

Answer 3

The Council had to strike the right balance and wanted a wide variety of offers to attract people. Ecclesall Road had been identified as one of the key shopping and leisure areas which was attractive to businesses. She accepted that this could cause a problem and the Council wanted a balance between a vibrant shopping area and one where residents could feel safe and have peace.

The Council was looking at a Local Plan for the area. The major problem was that the Council had little control over planning legislation and what could be approved and rejected. Based on past experience a number of applications which had been refused were overturned on appeal. Devolving powers related to planning to a local level was a key wish for the Council in the devolution deal.

The Council had very little control over rents charged by landlords for shops. The Council was confident that through the New Retail Quarter Plan it could deliver a successful retail offer in the City Centre. To compliment this, however, other successful areas were needed and Ecclesall Road was seen as one of them.

There had been support offered by the Council for independent shops and schemes such as pop up shops and the Council wanted people to have the desire to set up businesses in the City. In conclusion, Councillor Dore was aware of the issue raised and wanted to work with residents to achieve the right balance.

Councillor Isobel Bowler, Cabinet Member for Culture, Sport and Leisure acknowledged that the situation in respect of taxis on Ecclesall Road was difficult. Some ranking space has been provided but taxi drivers would like more. Licensing officers have asked them not to rank other than in official ranking spaces and instead drive up and down Ecclesall Road looking for fares. The cost of diesel and difficult market conditions make taxis seek ranking spaces rather than driving. She would speak to Licensing Officers to ask them to raise issues of illegal ranking and the resulting noise and nuisance in the meetings hold with the licenced taxi trade.

Responding to an additional question regarding problems caused by private hire cars, Councillor Bowler informed the questioner that a complaint could be made to the Council about a private hire driver and action could be taken provided they had a license in Sheffield. If they did any complaint which was proven would go on the drivers’ record. She encouraged those who believed they had had a bad experience with a driver to report this to the Council. In terms of those drivers parking on double yellow lines this was a police issue and she would raise this with them.

Councillor Neale Gibson commented that there would be a follow up meeting arranged to the meeting held at the Town Hall regarding Planning and Licensing issues and he would ensure all those present would be invited to that meeting.

Question 4

A member of the public asked a question on behalf of residents on Brocco Bank in relation to the visitors parking scheme. Recent information had been issued which stated that it was a requirement to put the registration of the car and address on the permit. There had been discussions previously held with the Council where it had been agreed by all that this wasn’t a requirement. As a result of residents contacting the Council regarding the error, Parking Services had agreed to send a letter out to state that this wasn’t a requirement and would inform local traffic wardens. However, she had spoken to wardens who stated had not been informed of this and would still issue tickets if the registration had not been written on the permit.

The issue of 20mph zones was also raised and difficulties in enforcing this. The example of Bristol was highlighted where the policy of 20mph was in place across the whole City and it was asked whether Sheffield could follow this policy?

Councillor Jayne Dunn acknowledged it would be easier to enforce 20mph if there was a blanket policy across the whole City but the finances were not available for this. She would liaise with Parking Services to ensure that wardens were aware that there was not a requirement for the registration of the car to be written on the parking permit.