Agenda item

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 Chair explained that the following response had been provided by the Councils’ Planning Service.

‘The HLS agreement began in March 2013 and ended on 31 March 2023. Agri Environment Schemes such as the Higher-Level Stewardship Scheme are transitioning out as other Environmental Land Management Schemes (ELMS) are being phased in. Over the last 10 years the way we manage our land and the resources available have changed significantly, and with new obligations such as the Environment Act 2021 and notably Biodiversity Net Gain, the way we manage our land and the agreements they are entered into has to be considered fully and holistically alongside other council priorities. We still have a small grazing herd and will continue to graze across the city, we also looking to expand grazing opportunities in the city.’

Councillor Ian Horner added that Councillors were unable to make further recommendation to the planning inspector until they gave their initial view.

Roger Marsh explained that he currently had a petition on this matter which he would be submitting to the Council shortly. Therefore, anyone was welcome to sign the petition.

Councillor Alison Norris mentioned there would always be parts of a Local Plan that would not be popular to everyone. She stated that the Council had done a good job in ensuring that brownfield sites in the city would be used to look at developing new affordable housing.

5.4

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

5.5

Gill Green (attended remotely)

Please could Amey explain why they do not litter pick on open spaces and grass verges immediately prior to grass cutting? The grass cutters frequently shred litter including plastics, paper and metal cans which is then left to pollute the environment and endanger wildlife. It also makes any litter picking much more difficult if it has been shredded by the grass cutters.

The Chair mentioned that he had spoken to an officer from Amey prior to the meeting, and they confirmed they did send litter pickers out before they cut the grass although appreciated that I can be difficult if people were littering immediately before the grass was scheduled to be cut.

Councillor Gail smith explained that one solution might be to look at whether we needed more litter bins in this area.

Councillor Mick Rooney stated that Amey was contracted to cut the grass verges, and that all other grass cutting in the city was the responsibility of the Council’s Parks and Countryside Service.

An officer from Amey, in attendance at the meeting, explained that they could provide further information to Gill Green, if she wanted to provide them with the location in which she was referring to.

A member of public, in attendance at the meeting, mentioned they were part of a fly-tipping group and shared their concerns with the amount of litter they were having to pick up in this area.

Councillor Mick Rooney explained that each Local Area Committee (LAC) had a budget to address fly-tipping and graffiti in their area. He asked the member of public to contact the Council regarding the area in which she litter picked so the LAC could look to use some of that budget to tackle that area.

Councillor Glynis Chapman also encouraged the member of public to contact their local Councillor so they could pick up this issue with Environmental Services.

Councillor Ian Horner explained that he had looked at whether litter cameras could be introduced to littering hot spot areas so that people who were littering could be penalised.

The Chair thanked all the community fly-tipping and litter picking groups in the area for all their hard work.

I understand that there was a policy of no grass-cutting in certain areas this year during ‘no mow May’. That is a welcome policy to encourage wild flora and fauna. It did, however, make a green space adjacent to Moss Way (100 yds down from the police station roundabout) unusable. Many local children and dog walkers use this green space for football, and general activities, so please would it be possible to leave it out of the ‘no mow May’ schedule next year please?

The Chair asked Gill Green to provide further information on where the location was, and then the Council could provide her with a written response.

5.6

Mr Baker

Raised concerns around the amount of litter on Stradbroke Road near the Schools. He asked if Schools had a role in encouraging their students to not drop litter.

The chair mentioned there was a Wicked Waste scheme for some Schools in the area, where pupils went out picking up litter.

An officer from Amey, in attendance at the meeting, explained that Amey had an Environmental Education Officer who was willing to attend primary and secondary schools, delivering environmental assemblies to pupils. 

5.7

Public Questioner 5

Informed the LAC of an area in Birley ward where people tended to drop their garden waste. They asked if there was anything the LAC could do about this issue.

Councillor Tony Downing stated there was a green bin collection service that used to be free. It would be good to get that service back as people did not want to pay for their waste to be collected therefore, leading to fly-tipping.

Now in Birley spa, thanks to the Council, we can fundraise to get a stone faced giant in the hope that we can engage with younger people in the area to take ownership and be proud of the area in which they were living. She asked if it was worth asking the LAC for some funding to help this cause. 

Members of the LAC encouraged the member of public to apply for funding.

5.8

Public Questioner 6 (representing Springwell Panel)

Asked if there was any development on the issue of vehicle nuisance at Drakehouse Retail Park.

Councillor Ian Horner explained that Councillors and the Member of Parliament for this area had been involved with this issue. He explained that it was the businesses of Drakehouse Retail Park that did not want to close the car park gate, therefore leaving it open for vehicle users to cause nuisance in that car park. He mentioned there was one business that worked late evenings in order to re-stock therefore the business stated the car park needed to remain open for the employees.

Sargent John Revill of Woodhouse and Westfield added that he had attended meetings to discuss this issue. He explained that he had contacted the Road Policing Inspectors asking them to carry out regular sweeps of that area. He encouraged members of the public to report the issue if was to continue.

5.9

Maurice Birch

In regard to the Woodhouse West End Bowling Club, Mr Birch explained that the Bowling Green needed refurbishing and the cost to do that would be approximately £60,000. He asked the LAC for their support and advice on this.

Members of the LAC explained that they would discuss this with Mr Birch once the meeting had concluded.

Councillor Mick Rooney praised Mr Birch for everything he had done for the West End Bowling Club and they he would happily talk with Mr Birch after the meeting.

5.10

Christine Titmuss

Explained there was an Orchid at Rainbow Park. The Orchid produced fruit in which local families came to pick. This year the Orchid produced a lot of blossom and when I returned to the park the lower branches had been cut down leaving it extremely difficult to pick from the higher branches. Can the LAC ensure that the lower branches will not be cut in the future.

The Chair mentioned that a written response will be provided.