Agenda, decisions and draft minutes

Venue: Gleadless Valley Methodist Church, Blackstock Road, S14 1FT

Contact: Jennie Skiba, Democratic Services  Email: jennie.skiba@sheffield.gov.uk

Items
No. Item

1.

Welcome and Introductions

Minutes:

1.1

Councillor Simon Clement-Jones, Chair of the Local Area Committee (LAC) introduced himself and outlined his vision for the LAC.  He referred to the work that had been ongoing since May, 2021 and welcomed everyone to the first public meeting of the South LAC.  He then invited officers and Ward Councillors to introduce themselves.  Councillor Clement-Jones said he proposed to take written questions he had received in advance and move the public questions item further down the agenda, after the formal business and presentation on LAC’s, as he felt that this could answer some of the questions members of the public might have.

 

 

1.2

Various Members gave a brief detail of initiatives that had been undertaken in each of the four Wards i.e. specific donations to food banks, work to ensure digital inclusion for all, the Terminus Initiative at Lowedges, work with TARAs, the Double Six Club at Woodseats, improvements to playgrounds.

 

 

1.3

The Committee received the following questions from members of the public who had submitted the questions prior to the meeting, and who were in attendance to raise them: -

 

 

1.3.1

Martin Lawton

 

I wish to ask questions firstly on the Ward pots. How much does each Ward have in their Ward pots.  I have been given the impression that most of the money depends on the index of deprivation. If this is correct how are Councillors going to make sure the spend is mainly allocated to those areas and targets lifting those residents out of poverty?

 

 

 

In response, the Chair gave an overview in terms of the Ward Pot allocations for the South LAC area (this includes a small amount of funding rolled over from the 2020-21 budget as follows:-

 

 

 

Ward Pot Allocations 2021-22

 

 

 

Beauchief & Greenhill

£22,381.71

 

Gleadless Valley

£22,138.26

 

Graves Park

£10,367.28

 

Nether Edge

£18,263.60

 

Total

£73,150.85

 

 

 

Indices of Multiple Deprivation (the following additional information had been provided to Martin Lawton by email)

The total agreed Ward Pot for the city for 2021-22 is £460,000. From this each of the 28 wards in the city has been allocated a standard budget of £4,000, leaving £348,000 which is then allocated based on the Index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD).

 

 

 

The greater the IMD score means the greater the levels of deprivation in an area.  The IMD for Sheffield is currently 736.00 – as an example the IMD score for Beauchief and Greenhill is 33.9.   So to determine the percentage allocation to be made to be added to the standard budget of £4,000, 33.9 / 736 equals 4.6% of the IMD for Sheffield.

 

 

 

The IMD is historically updated every 4-5 years and is produced by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government – and can be found via this linkhttps://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/english-indices-of-deprivation-2019

 

 

 

How are these meeting communicated to all the residents of the four wards?

 

 

 

In response, the Chair stated that public meetings will be promoted using a range of approaches to reach out to local people across all 4 wards.  We’re also very aware that a  ...  view the full minutes text for item 1.

2.

Apologies for Absence

Minutes:

2.1

An apology for absence was received from Councillor Sophie Thornton.

 

 

 

3.

Exclusion of the Press and Public

To identify items where resolutions may be moved to exclude the press and public.

Minutes:

3.1

No items were identified where resolutions may be passed to exclude the public and press.

 

 

 

4.

Declarations of Interest pdf icon PDF 129 KB

Members to declare any interests they have in the business to be considered at the meeting.

Minutes:

4.1

There were no declarations of interest.

 

 

 

5.

Minutes of Previous Meeting pdf icon PDF 9 KB

To approve the minutes of the meeting of the Committee meetings held on 19 May 2021 and 7 July 2021.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

5.1

The minutes of the meetings of the Local Area Committee held on 19th May and 7th July, 2021 were approved as correct records.

 

 

 

6.

Authorisation of the Community Services Manager to take decisions on behalf of the Committee pdf icon PDF 351 KB

Report of Nik Hamilton, Interim Head of Service, Communities.

Decision:

7.1

The Community Services Manager, submitted a report setting out the mechanism for the Local Area Committee to enable decisions to be taken quickly and to respond to emerging issues by authorising the Community Services Manager to make decisions on expenditure between Committee meetings, subject to certain conditions.

 

 

7.2

RESOLVED: That the South Local Area Committee authorises the Community Services Manager to make decisions on expenditure from any budgets allocated to the Local Area Committee provided that:

 

·       The decision is taken in consultation with the Local Area Committee Chair

·       Spending is in line with any specific purposes of the allocated budget

·       The decision may not approve expenditure of more than £5,000

·       A report detailing the delegated spending decisions taken by the Community Services Manager is presented to the next Local Area Committee meeting.

 

7.3

Reasons for Decision

 

 

The proposal to authorise decisions on any budgets allocated to the Committee can be discharged, in part, by the Community Services Manager will ensure the Committees can respond quickly to emerging local issues.

 

 

7.4

Alternatives Considered and Rejected

 

 

All decisions relating to budgets allocated to the Local Area Committee

could be decided at Formal Committee Meetings only. Whilst this approach would ensure the involvement of all members of the committee, it would mean that decisions to allocate spending for emerging and urgent local issues may not be made in a timely fashion.

 

7.5

Any Interest Declared or Dispensation Granted

 

 

None

 

7.6

Reason for Exemption if Public/Press Excluded During Consideration

 

 

None

 

7.7

Respective Director Responsible for Implementation

 

Executive Director People Services

 

 

7.8

Relevant Scrutiny and Policy Development Committee If Decision Called In

 

 

 

Overview and Scrutiny Management Committee

 

 

 

Minutes:

6.1

Nik Hamilton, Interim Head of Communities, submitted a report setting out the mechanism for the South Local Area Committee to enable decisions to be taken quickly and to respond to emerging issues by authorising the Community Services Manager, in discussion with the Chair, to make decisions on expenditure between Committee meetings, subject to certain conditions.

 

 

6.2

RESOLVED: That the South Local Area Committee authorises the Community Services Manager to make decisions on expenditure from any budgets allocated to the Local Area Committee provided that:

 

·       The decision is taken in consultation with the Local Area Committee Chair

·       Spending is in line with any specific purposes of the allocated budget

·       The decision may not approve expenditure of more than £5,000

·       A report detailing the delegated spending decisions taken by the Community Services Manager is presented to the next Local Area Committee meeting.

 

6.3

Reasons for Decision

 

 

The proposal to authorise decisions on any budgets allocated to the Committee can be discharged, in part, by the Community Services Manager will ensure the Committees can respond quickly to emerging local issues.

 

 

6.4

Alternatives Considered and Rejected

 

 

All decisions relating to budgets allocated to the Local Area Committee

could be decided at Formal Committee Meetings only. Whilst this approach would ensure the involvement of all members of the committee, it would mean that decisions to allocate spending for emerging and urgent local issues may not be made in a timely fashion.

 

6.5

Any Interest Declared or Dispensation Granted

 

 

None

 

6.6

Reason for Exemption if Public/Press Excluded During Consideration

 

 

None

 

6.7

Respective Director Responsible for Implementation

 

Executive Director People Services

 

 

6.8

Relevant Scrutiny and Policy Development Committee If Decision Called In

 

 

 

Overview and Scrutiny Management Committee

 

 

 

7.

Local Area Committees

Presentation by Diane Owens, Local Area Manager.

Minutes:

7.1

The Committee received a presentation from the Community Services Manager on Local Area Committees (LACs).

 

 

7.2

Diane Owens reported on the operation and role of the LAC, the initial funding allocation for the Committees, engagement activity, how the public could get involved, details of the Members of the Committee and the South Local Area Committee Team and contact details relating to the LAC.  She outlined the role of Local Area Committees and the ability for residents to input into decision making on a local level, adding that the Committee’s main role was to include the voice of local residents and that communicating the voice of the people could be heard digitally through Facebook, Twitter, via email etc. or by contacting their local Ward Councillor in person.  The South LAC wanted to hear from residents about things that matter to them and their local area, so that their input, along with those of the voluntary, community and faith sectors could be included in the development of the Local Community Plan. Diane Owens said that residents would have an increased ability to influence decision making and the LACs would work with key services within the Council and their partners to address and deal with any issues that might arise.

 

 

7.3

Diane Owens stated that there were seven LACs across the city, all having been allocated £100,000 and also have been allocated a share of the City-wide fly-tipping and graffiti budget.  This funding was in addition to existing Ward pots, which had doubled this year.

 

 

7.4

Finally, Diane Owens referred to the booklets that had been placed around the room and invited residents to provide their feedback by completing the short survey, she shared contact details for the LAC and invited attendees to add their details to the LAC’s mailing list and encouraged them to tell their colleagues, friends and neighbours about the LAC.

 

 

7.5

The Committee noted the information now reported as part of the presentation.

 

 

 

8.

Public Questions and Petitions

To receive any questions or petitions from members of the public.

Minutes:

8.1

The Committee received the following questions from members of the public in attendance at the meeting.

 

 

 

Q1.     Sharrow/Nether Edge – A petition had been organised regarding the work to the road and pavement on Sheldon Road.  This road hadn’t been included as part of the StreetsAhead scheme and not been repaired at all during the past 20 years.  The resident asked what could be done to get the works carried out?

 

 

 

The Chair stated that through LACs a number of senior Link Officers would be identified from Council services, who could support with addressing priority issues.  The Chair felt that some of the work and influence of the LACs should lead to some policy influence / change in areas.   However, it was stated that the LACs have no control over the work carried out by Amey in prioritising roads in disrepair.  Some Members said they felt that Amey had let the people of Sheffield down and felt it was now up to Councillors to hold Amey and the StreetsAhead project to account.

 

 

 

Q2.     Whilst welcoming the introduction of LACs and it was felt that they could be a real voice in democracy, how are you going to make sure that the process was working and the £100,000 spend would make difference to the areas it was needed the most and the make sure the result of the Our City Referendum takes place?

 

 

 

In response, the Chair stated  that through the LAC, there would be a direct link to an officer in Amey to help resolve any issues and the focus of the LACs was how to work with communities to respond to local priorities.  There was a new Council governance structure emerging and it was hoped that the LACs could have an input into the structure to make the right decisions to make things better locally and act upon what we have heard from people in the community.  Councillor Cate McDonald, Executive Member for Finance and Resources, advised that she felt the Administration had made a further recent commitment to the LACs by signing off funding for webcasting local meetings.

 

 

 

Q3.     How ambitious were the plans for this area?  Have they been as a red herring rather than look at the big issues?

 

 

 

In response, the Chair stated that he wanted the area to be the best it can be, and that hopefully the power of the LACs would influence higher level strategic issues.

 

 

 

Q4.     What has happened to the Gleadless Valley Masterplan?

 

 

 

In response, it was acknowledged that due to the pandemic, things had been put on hold but it was felt that the wheels were now in motion and Members were optimistic that the Masterplan was now starting to pull together.  It was hoped that there would be more detail on this at the next meeting to be held in January.

 

 

 

Q5.     What is the Council planning to do with the boarded up public house across the road from these premises?  The premises could be used as  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8.

9.

Understanding Community Priorities - feedback session

At the close of the formal meeting, there will be an opportunity to take part in some informal discussions about area priorities with Elected Members and the South LAC Team.

Minutes:

9.1

The meeting then moved into an informal feedback session on community priorities which included members of the public being able to talk to Ward Councillors and the staff of the South Local Area Committee Team.

 

 

 

10.

Date of Next Meeting

The date of the next meeting is to be confirmed.

Minutes:

10.1

The date of the next meeting will be on a date to be arranged.