Items
No. |
Item |
1. |
Welcome and Introductions
Minutes:
1.1
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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.
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1.2
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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.
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1.3
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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: -
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1.3.1
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Martin
Lawton
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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?
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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:-
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Ward Pot Allocations 2021-22
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Beauchief
& Greenhill
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£22,381.71
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Gleadless Valley
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£22,138.26
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Graves Park
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£10,367.28
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Nether Edge
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£18,263.60
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Total
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£73,150.85
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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).
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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.
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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
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How
are these meeting communicated to all the residents of the four
wards?
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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.
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2. |
Apologies for Absence
Minutes:
2.1
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An apology for absence was received from
Councillor Sophie Thornton.
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3. |
Exclusion of the Press and Public
To identify items where resolutions may be
moved to exclude the press and public.
Minutes:
3.1
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No items were identified where resolutions may
be passed to exclude the public and press.
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4. |
Declarations of Interest PDF 129 KB
Members to declare any interests they have in
the business to be considered at the meeting.
Minutes:
4.1
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There were no declarations of interest.
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5. |
Minutes of Previous Meeting 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
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The minutes of the meetings of the Local Area
Committee held on 19th May and 7th July, 2021
were approved as correct records.
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6. |
Authorisation of the Community Services Manager to take decisions on behalf of the Committee PDF 351 KB
Report of Nik Hamilton, Interim
Head of Service, Communities.
Decision:
7.1
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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.
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7.2
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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:
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The decision is taken in consultation with the Local Area Committee
Chair
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Spending is in line with any specific purposes of the allocated
budget
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The decision may not approve expenditure of more than
£5,000
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A report detailing the delegated spending decisions taken by the
Community Services Manager is presented to the next Local Area
Committee meeting.
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7.3
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Reasons for
Decision
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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.
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7.4
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Alternatives
Considered and Rejected
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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.
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7.5
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Any Interest
Declared or Dispensation Granted
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None
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7.6
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Reason for Exemption
if Public/Press Excluded During Consideration
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None
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7.7
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Respective Director
Responsible for Implementation
Executive Director People Services
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7.8
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Relevant Scrutiny
and Policy Development Committee If Decision Called In
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Overview and Scrutiny Management Committee
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Minutes:
6.1
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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.
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6.2
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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.
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6.3
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Reasons for
Decision
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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.
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6.4
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Alternatives
Considered and Rejected
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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.
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6.5
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Any Interest
Declared or Dispensation Granted
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None
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6.6
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Reason for Exemption
if Public/Press Excluded During Consideration
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None
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6.7
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Respective Director
Responsible for Implementation
Executive Director People Services
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6.8
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Relevant Scrutiny
and Policy Development Committee If Decision Called In
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Overview and Scrutiny Management Committee
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7. |
Local Area Committees
Presentation by Diane Owens, Local Area
Manager.
Minutes:
7.1
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The Committee received a
presentation from the Community Services Manager on Local Area
Committees (LACs).
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7.2
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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.
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7.3
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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.
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7.4
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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.
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7.5
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The Committee noted the
information now reported as part of the presentation.
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8. |
Public Questions and Petitions
To receive any questions or petitions from
members of the public.
Minutes:
8.1
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The Committee received the
following questions from members of the public in attendance at the
meeting.
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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?
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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.
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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?
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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.
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Q3. How ambitious
were the plans for this area? Have they
been as a red herring rather than look at the big issues?
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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.
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Q4. What has happened
to the Gleadless Valley Masterplan?
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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.
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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.
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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
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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.
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10. |
Date of Next Meeting
The date of the next meeting is to be
confirmed.
Minutes:
10.1
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The date of the next meeting will be on a date
to be arranged.
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