Agenda item

6.1

Diane Owens, South LAC Area Manager, gave a presentation which provided an update on the South LAC Community Plan.   She highlighted the six key themes of the Plan which were based on community engagement and data received and the work that had been carried out so far. She advised that each LAC had been allocated £100,000 to support projects identified in its Community Plan; and that so far the South LAC had allocated £60,000 of this budget.  She said that each LAC had also been allocated £57,000 to focus on preventative projects around fly tipping and graffiti hotspots.  Ms. Owens said that the initial focus had been on fly tipping hot spots and that a short list of key sites had been submitted and that the LAC was now awaiting quotes for the projects. Each LAC had also been allocated £10,000 for youth activities.

Diane Owens said that from the £100,000 budget, £10,000 had been allocated towards clearing up of The Lumb in Gleadless Valley and she gave an update on work carried out so far with the aim of improving community use of the site.  With regard to crime and community safety, £40,000 had been allocated to support community capacity building projects, including responding to the cost-of-living crisis.  This funding was heavily oversubscribed and had now been fully allocated.

Diane Owens said that a speed indication device had been installed in each of the four Wards (and would be rotated around priority locations) and that work with local Police Teams and partners, including the community and voluntary sector, was continuing to support the work of three Neighbourhood Action Groups (NAGs) for priority areas, to reduced levels of crime and anti-social behaviour and increase feelings of safety.

With regard to Children, Young People and Families, Diane Owens said that a group of Councillors from the South LAC had met with young people from the South LAC Youth Cabinet to hear about priorities for young people and to increase engagement with young people.  She referred to grants that were available to help fund youth activities, with a total of £30,000 being allocated through the South LAC. 

Finally, she gave a progress update on the Ward Pots and Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL).  She said that 39 small grants had been given out so far this year through Ward Pot funding which was allocated by local Ward Councillors and had funded a wide range of activities, including community events, equipment for local sports groups, walking clubs, social clubs for older people and family activities and trips.  23 projects had been supported to date through CILfunding, which was also allocated by local Ward Councillors, the projects had included new equipment for playgrounds and highways improvements.

6.2

A number of questions were asked, and responses given as follows:-.  A resident asked whether to which.

Question What was the cost of fly tipping in Sheffield per annum? 

Response  Councillor Alexi Dimond said that under the contract the Council had with Amey, if fly tipping was on the highways, Amey had a responsibility to clear it up, so there was no cost to the Council. Councillor Simon Clement-Jones said he would request a written response to this question.

Question  Would CCTV would be effective in catching fly tippers?

Response  Diane Owens said that each LAC did have some budget to focus on preventing fly tipping at key hot spot locations.  The LAC had been working with Environment Protection Officers, who go to sites and assess how fly tipping could be prevented. In some cases, CCTV could be effective at capturing vehicular fly tipping, but that it was less effective at catching individuals – in part due to the burden of proof required for a conviction. Diane Owens advised that other less costly measures could also be effective, such as concrete boulders to stop vehicles entering sites.

Questions  With regard to CIL monies, how much Section 106 money was raised by the Council per annum?  How much was allocated to LACs? How much had been spent and on what?  Does the money have to be spent on highways infrastructure?

Response  Councillor Simon Clement-Jones said that the issue of funding through CIL and Section 106 money  was complex, including politically.  In terms of CIL funding, two weeks ago a meeting had been held with all LAC Chairs and the Leader of the City Council, Councillor Terry Fox and one of the issues raised was fairness in the distribution of the CIL money, as only 15% was under the control of LACs, whilst the bulk of the money was spent on priorities decided upon centrally.  Councillor Clement-Jones said he felt there were also issues in terms of the inflexibility of the Council and the bureaucratic process.  Councillor Clement-Jones said that something needed to be done to change the current approach.  Councillor Peter Garbutt said the amount of CIL allocated  changed year on year.  He said the amount of the money depended on what had been generated by developments carried out within the city and the income received from them. He said the amount of money spent was fluid and varied by wards as it was also in part linked to deprivation levels.  Councillor Clement-Jones said he would request a written response to these questions.

Question  Mobile speed cameras, has it been decided where they will be sited.  An example would be around Greenhill School, where there was a rat-run.

Response  Councillor Simon Clement-Jones said that in his ward (Beauchief and Greenhill) there were three SIDs already in the area, so the LAC one had made it four.  Part of the deal with the SIDs, was that the LAC would inform the locations that would be prioritised; and that each Ward had identified six locations, based on feedback from communities and local intelligence.  After 12 months, an assessment would be carried out to see if there were any other sites that could be used. Councillor Clement-Jones gave details of the six rotation sites currently being used in the Beauchief and Greenhill area.