Agenda item

10.1

The Committee received the following questions from members of the public:

(a)  Paulene Collier (Ms Collier was not present, so Dan Whittaker read out her question)

In Parson Cross, we have no community space that can be used across all age groups. I would like to know why Adlington Community Centre has not been returned for community group use since the Parks and Gardens department used it for social distancing during COVID. What exactly have they been using it for since?

Councillor Fran Belbin responded, reading out a response supplied by Facilities Management:-

‘To confirm, our Parks staff are still using Adlington Community Centre as a community base. 

The council was reviewing several operational sites in 2020 that were in a severely dilapidated state. We were particularly concerned about the future of Concord depot, which had been subjected to weekly break-ins and was in an appalling condition. Initially, we had planned to relocate to Ecclesfield with the assistance of Amey. However, Amey had changed their operations and co-location was no longer a viable option. Adlington Road Community Centre had remained unused during the Covid-19 pandemic, therefore a decision was made to relocate our Parks staff to Adlington Community Centre.

Following concerns being raised, we have begun a review of Adlington Community Centre. We have gathered the requirements of the Parks and Youth Services, and we are currently in the process of evaluating the space to determine if it can become a multi-use area, including community space and what other community facilities the council or voluntary sector have within the area.

Upon reviewing our use of the building, it’s evident that there were shortcomings in communicating the plan to utilise Adlington Community Centre as an operational base. Our forthcoming review of community buildings will seek to engage with local Councillors and Community Groups in order to prevent this from happening again. We will provide an update on the review of Adlington Community Centre as it progresses. In the meantime, we will contact Ms Paulene Collier to review other facilities in the area.’

Councillor Belbin added that Councillors had been pursuing this matter for some time and would continue to do so. The space was a well-used community centre. She stated that there has been investment into the Parson Cross park pavilion, which may be available for use in the meantime.  

Mick Daniels asked who the building belonged to, and stated that the community should be able to use it.

Councillor Belbin replied that it belonged to Sheffield City Council. She added that the Flower Estate Tenants and Residents Association (TARA) had folded, but she hoped that it would be starting up again soon. She noted that Facilities Management had acknowledged in their answer that the situation could have been handled differently.  

(b)  Flower Estate Tenants and Residents Association (Councillor Talib Hussain read out the question)

Members of the Flower TARA are very concerned and disappointed about the Post Office issue at Firth Park.

The community were promised that the post office would be up and running last September 2023 and it is now February 2024.

Our members really need this post office and are struggling to access other post offices around the area, or they have to take a bus to town.

This isn’t acceptable for our community. We really need answers ASAP.

Councillor Abtisam Mohamed stated that, following a campaign to save the Firth Park Post Office by Councillor Fran Belbin, Councillor Abdul Kayum and herself, the Post Office had confirmed that there would be a post office in the area once a sub-postmaster had been found. A site had been secured in the library, and legal discussions were now underway between the Post Office and the Council. Councillor Mohamed hoped that this would soon be up and running.

Mick Daniels stated that he would relay this to the Flower Estate TARA. He added that there were similar issues for residents of the Flower, Stubbin and Brushes estates following the closure of the post office in Wilko’s in the city centre. He believed that Amey and Streets Ahead should attend Local Area Committee meetings. He was also concerned that Amey were being employed to cut grass verges even though much of the grass had been destroyed due to cars parking on them. He noted that council tenant rent had increased and wanted to know what he would get in return for this rise.

Councillor Hussain stated that he hoped Amey would be available to attend the next meeting.

Councillor Belbin confirmed that the Amey contract did not expire until 2037. She invited Mr Daniels to report any complaints to his local Councillor so this could be reported back to Amey. She added that the cost of living had risen for everyone, including the Council, resulting in a rent increase.

(c)   Joanne Bennett

Miss Bennett wanted to know why the fencing around the playground in Parson Cross park had not been replaced and stated that there were also no benches. She felt that the area had deteriorated, and that there were little or no facilities for young people.

Richard Dewsbury, Area Manager for Parks and Countryside, noted that there were still incidents of anti-social behaviour in the park, and when the fence had been replaced previously it had been vandalised again. He confirmed that a motion detection camera would be installed to facilitate the identification of offenders by South Yorkshire Police. He added that once anti-social behaviour had decreased, it was hoped to install a new fence in the same style as previously installed. Mr Dewsbury explained that he was currently looking into reinstalling benches and bins to the park, and encouraged views from members of the public. He added that a solution to the problem was needed before the fence and other furniture could be installed.

Councillor Belbin added that when the fence was last fitted, it was vandalised the same night. She described further vandalism and anti-social behaviour at the recently regenerated pavilion. She noted that a possible solution to the problem was to engage with the community, and added that a new housing was being built on the perimeter of the park, which might assist in deterring anti-social behaviour.

Joanne Bennett believed that problems would continue whilst there was so little provision for young people in the area.

Margaret Whelan from Friends of Concord Park stated that measures had been installed in Concord Park to prevent further anti-social behaviour. She noted that this had not stopped the activity, but had instead moved it to another area of the park. 

(d)   Christine Johnson – Halifax Road resident

Ms Johnson wished to address issues of anti-social behaviour on the service road to Halifax Road, locally known as the Cinder Path. She described nuisance vehicles and dangerous driving, drug use, dangerous motorbikes and abuse. Residents had requested the Council to build a wall across the footpath, allowing pedestrian access only, this did not initially happen. Residents had suggested a 20mph speed limit and/or CCTV.  A gabion wall was later erected by the Council. Damage was caused to the wall and stones were thrown around littering the area, and damage had been caused to vehicles. Amey was informed and the police have assisted. Ms Johnson requests that someone attends the road, inspects the wall, and that a more effective solution be put in place to help residents improve the area. Residents do not want another gabion wall as it will be further damaged.   

Councillor Hussain responded by reinforcing that liaison with South Yorkshire Police and Councillors was the right course of action.

Councillor Mike Chaplin added that he had been to the area with a local resident and had seen some of the problems caused and the damage to the gabion wall. He had noted that the gap in the wall needed to be narrower to exclude motorbikes from getting through.  He offered to contact council officers and Councillor Ben Miskell (Chair of the Transport, Regeneration and Climate Change Policy Committee) to find a solution to the problems, and confirmed that he had also invited officers to see the problems for themselves.  

(e)   Jim Fletcher, Scraithwood Drive resident

Mr Fletcher described the problems with parking on his road when Sheffield Wednesday football match took place at Hillsborough stadium. The police had told the residents that this was an issue for Parking Services.

Councillor Chaplin confirmed that the local TARA had organised a petition to request double yellow lines on the road. He added that Parking Services could only take action when an offence had occurred.