Agenda and draft minutes

1.1

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Denise Fox, Bryan Lodge and Karen McGowan and Paul Wood.

2.1

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

3.1

No declaration of interests were made.

4.1

RESOLVED: The minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 5 October were approved as a correct record due to typographical error at 9.3 of the minutes, as ‘Councillor Tony Damms’ was written instead of Councillor Tony Downing.

5.1

The Committee received the following question from a member of the public, in advance of the meeting.

5.2

David Cronshaw

With regards to The Scowerden Centre on Wickfield Grove, S12, Can I ask who actually runs the building as I called down yesterday and it looks under used as a Community Asset plus there’s no notice board outside advertising what’s on:

The Chair (Councillor Kurtis Crossland) responded explaining the building is owned and run by Sheffield City Council Housing Department. The Centre is used and the frequency of use is increasing, new and existing groups are contacting the LAC and the Housing service regarding bookings. The current user groups cover a variety of age ranges. The user group have been in discussions regarding a new board outside the centre which has been ordered.  

Councillor Ann Woolhouse explained there was a group using the Scowerden Centre on Tuesday mornings between 10am and 12pm. It was a warm space and open to members of the public.

Councillor Tony Downing added there was other warm spaces available in Mosborough to members of the public. He mentioned there was the Methodist Church and The Westfield Community Centre available. He asked if there were any community groups that needed support. to please come forward.

Can you let me know how many groups use it and what do they get charged for the year.

The Chair stated there were currently 3 user groups that deliver 5/6 different types of activities each week. The general charge for the hire of the room is £36 per hour.

With regards to The Economic Recovery Fund money why has Woodhouse had £120,000 of Economic Recovery Fund money over the 2 rounds compared to only £50,000 for Hackenthorpe in the Birley Ward and when will the £50,000 to be spent in Hackenthorpe and can you tell me who put the bid in.

The Chair confirmed that the Economic Recovery Fund was an open fund across the city and the successful applicants were determined by an Independent Panel. The Chair stated that the Economic Recovery Fund team would provide a more detailed response to this question.

Can you confirm what the 4 Wards (Beighton, Birley, Mosborough and Woodhouse) in The South East Area are getting in 2023/2024 from The Councils Shared Prosperity Fund.

The South East received £44 918.  Half of this £22 459 has been allocated to Citizen Advice Bureau to help support its city wide freephone advice line. The offer half has been advertised within the area for community groups who are helping to support the people in the South East of Sheffield with cost of living related issues. To date we have allocated £10k to such groups.

5.3

Roger Marsh

On what date was Owlthorpe Grassland Grazing Project Phase 2 (Sheffield Plan, Owlthorpe F) put under Natural England’s Higher Level Stewardship Agreement? When will the Agreement terminate? Will the Agreement be extended? If not, why not?

The  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

6.1

The Committee received a presentation from the Council’s Parks and Countryside Service. Stuart Turner was in attendance to give that presentation.

6.2

The presentation was delivered to Councillors and members of the public in attendance at the meeting. The presentation will be published alongside the minutes.

6.3

Following the presentation. The Chair referred to the hard work carried out in communities and how their ideas played a part in some of those community sites and projects mentioned. He encouraged members of public to come forward if they had any ideas.

6.4

Councillor Tony Downing referred to the park at Westfield and how appreciated that was by people in that area. Therefore, commended the people who often used and respected that park.

6.5

Councillor Gail Smith stated that the park at Westfield would not have happened without the local people. She emphasised the importance of having places where young people can go therefore encouraged people to come forward with ideas. She mentioned that the Council was looking to put some funding into the park at Waterthorpe.

6.6

Councillor Ann Woolhouse referred to the Friends of Rolling Acres group who were formed by local parents. This was a great example of what can be achieved when people in the community came together.

6.7

The Committee received a presentation from the Council’s Housing Team.  Simon Griffiths and David May was in attendance to give that presentation.

6.8

The presentation was delivered to Councillors and members of the public in attendance at the meeting. The presentation will be published alongside the minutes.

6.9

Following the presentation, Councillor Mick Rooney referred to a previous service ‘bring out your rubbish days’ and wondered whether it would be beneficial to use some funding to bring that service back, rather than paying to dispose all the excess waste referred to.

6.10

Councillor Glynis Chapman stated how it was difficult to dispose waste at tip sites for those who do not have vehicles.

6.11

Councillor Tony Downing mentioned that the Council should look at pursuing the ‘bring out your rubbish day’ service.

An officer from Amey mentioned that this was previously asked of Veolia and that the cost was substantial.

6.12

Councillor Gail Smith referred to a service that was available for Council tenants, in which they could pay for a certain number of items to be removed. She stated that this needed to be advertised better as it was likely to be cheaper than paying for items to be removed privately.

6.13

The Chair stated that something Members of the LAC could take away was looking at how Local Area Committees feed into Policy Committees, so that services such as the ‘bring out your rubbish day’ can be re-visited.

6.14

A member of the public asked whether the Council should be looking to put pressure on supermarkets in reducing packaging in order to mitigate littering.

6.15

Councillor Mick Rooney mentioned how it was not fair for residents having to use their electricity in  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

7.1

Members of the committee and attendees were given the opportunity to network with different services within the council.