Agenda item

6.1

The Committee received the following questions from members of the public who attended the meeting to raise them:-

(a)  Louis Farrington

What plans do the LAC or Sheffield City Council have to further develop the Rivelin Playground according to the Masterplan?

Councillor Richard Williams advised that there were some exciting plans and funding opportunities that were being considered, and confirmed that Stannington Ward Councillors would be discussing this with Sheffield City Council officers in the next few weeks.

The Chair added that Ruth Bell, Head of Parks and Countryside, would be providing an update on parks later in the meeting.

(b)  Trevor Bagshaw and Simon Ogden

Mr Ogden explained that he had previously submitted questions regarding the consultation on the Stocksbridge Towns Fund Trails Project, and noted his dissatisfaction with the responses he had received. He had submitted the following questions in advance of the meeting:

We draw members of the NLAC to the brief and dismissive response from officers to the very real concerns raised at the last LAC and fully endorsed by all members present.

Whilst it is acknowledged that the STD Board has authority to make decisions about the allocation of funds, the City Council and its representatives and officers also have a responsibility as Accountable Body to ensure that the process is transparent, objective and underpinned by sound business cases as set out in the STF Governance document.

Contrary to the officer’s assertion we have seen no evidence or documentation from the STD to explain the decision to abandon the Trails Project in May or why they failed to consult stakeholders or public prior to it as they had explicitly committed to do. All we have seen is a short announcement that the decision has been made.

The STD has said repeatedly and publicly that it wishes other stakeholders well in seeking to complete the Upper Don Trail. In that case we ask again why are they withholding this essential technical information, including designs and costings from willing partners and local bodies who wish to progress it?

The Board have now also publicly branded this reasonable request 'vexatious', based on the false claim to have answered our requests and are refusing further engagement with those stakeholders who have made it as recorded in their September minutes .

This is unjustified and highly damaging to both the board and the council's reputations.

If members or officers of the NLAC have seen such evidence or documentation please share it with us so we can get on with the job.

If not we would request the NLAC to reject the response and continue to support our reasonable request.

The Chair advised that a written response would be provided to the questioners.

Mr Ogden expressed his disappointment that no discussion would take place regarding his question.

(c)   Mark Whittaker, Mayor of Stocksbridge

We have a very well-respected litter picking group in Stocksbridge who do really good work and they are getting quite fed up with the vast amount of litter on the bypass, particularly on the slip-road towards Deepcar. Different authorities have responsibility but there does not seem to be a systematic litter picking regime. Community groups are enthusiastic, but it is far too dangerous a task to litter pick in this area. Could the committee find a permanent solution for litter picking on the bypass?

Councillor Lewis Chinchen declared that he was employed by National Highways, although not in relation to this particular location. He was aware that the slip road was a particular issue, and confirmed that, although within the boundary of Sheffield, it was not currently covered by Amey’s network, and litter picking responsibility fell to the local authority. He agreed that there should be clear responsibility for clearing litter in this area, and confirmed that he had initiated discussions with Sheffield City Council to look at adding this site to Amey’s network.

(d)  Dorothy Whittaker, member of Friends of Fox Glen Park

For the last year we have been raising funds to get the park improved. We have managed to raise over £60,000 so far, with the help of three very dynamic women on the committee. We have been supported by Parks since the beginning of the project, but now that support has lessened and some of the funding has time limits on spending. We would like to know:

·       When will the equipment we have already paid for be installed?

·       When we will be able to provide further equipment?

·       When will a plan of the park will be received?

Ruth Bell, Head of Parks and Countryside, confirmed that a full set of written answers would be provided. She praised the Group for their fundraising efforts, and apologised that this information had not yet been provided.