DEARNE NORTH/DEARNE SOUTH AREA FORUM. Held at Dearne Playhouse. 1 st September 2008

Transcription

1 521 DEARNE NORTH/DEARNE SOUTH AREA FORUM Held at Dearne Playhouse 1 st September B(1) Present Councillors Brook (Chair), Gardiner, J Hancock, Noble and Worton Co-opted Member:- Mr G Horner Jeff Ennis MP (2) Declarations of Personal Interest (3) Minutes 40 members of the public were also present. No declarations of interest were made at the meeting. IT WAS AGREED that the minutes of the Forum meeting held on 14 th July 2008 be accepted as a correct record, subject to the addition of the following item in the public questions at (8):- A member of the public commented that Barnsley Town Centre already had a walk-in centre at the General Hospital. (4) Community Safety Issues Inspector Batty and Allan Sneddon, Tasking Officer, Safer Neighbourhood Team (SNT), attended the meeting to give an update on the work of the SNT in the Forum area. weeks:- The Tasking Officer gave an update of the work of the SNT in the previous six Police 24 Arrests 1 interview under caution (Pace 9) 14 intelligence sheets submitted 5 Fixed Penalties issued 4 Admin 171 s (warning notices to motor vehicle owners) 6 Admin 172 s (vehicles seized) PCSO s 28 anti-social behaviour letters 25 Admin 171 s (warning notices to motor vehicle owners) 8 Admin 172 s (vehicles seized) 2 Fixed Penalties issued 150 intelligence sheets submitted 5 CLE 28 s (no vehicle tax) 65 VVS (vulnerable vehicles) 65 GEN 164 (stop and search s)

2 522 Wardens 28 Anti-social behaviour incidents 22 youth incidents 10 community clean ups 12 off road bike and 4x4 incidents 34 joined Holiday Watch Scheme The following additional information was given in relation to other incidents which had occurred in the Forum area:- Officers at Bolton on Dearne had dealt with incidences of serious assault and criminal damage (race related). The summer holiday period had seen a rise on vehicle crime (bikes). Five bikes had been seized in one particular week and fines issued for other offences. An incident had been dealt with (an address in Hanover Street), where drugs growing kits had been found in every room in the house. An assault on a young girl had occurred when she had been asleep on a bus and two other girls cut off her hair Police were appealing for witnesses. There had been two offences of indecent exposure one on Carr Head Lane and one on a bus travelling from Barnburgh to Goldthorpe. Problems were being experienced at Saltersbrook Flats with theft of copper piping, wiring, etc. Officers were working with the contractors attempting to remove the high value materials out of the flats to deter thieves. The planned music event at Pheonix Park (Saturday previous), had not taken place as it had come to light that the original application for permission to the Local Authority had changed and, also, the Forestry Commission had not been approached for their comments on the application. The organiser of the event had been contacted and persuaded to cancel the event. At the Thurnscoe Crime and Safety Sub-Group, information had been received regarding a man handing out leaflets in the area. A lady had refused to accept a leaflet and he had pushed her over any information in relation to this would be appreciated (the only information available was that he may be sleeping rough in the area). The following questions/comments were raised:- Common Road/High Street (bend towards the bridge) after repeated requests for action, vehicles were continually double parking in this area causing serious problems for residents and other vehicles. The Tasking Officer would take up this matter in the short term. However, the Forum were informed that a report was due to be considered by the Cabinet with a view to parking restrictions in this area. This procedure would take time and until the recommendations of Cabinet were confirmed, the Police would continue to deal with obstructions and the Council Traffic Wardens would be able to deal with parking issues.

3 523 Thurnscoe crossing parking issues problems had already been referred to the Council s Traffic Warden Service. The Tasking Officer would make a further report. Grass cuttings problems were being experienced in some areas with grass being left behind after cutting had taken place by Council operatives. A report would be forwarded to Neighbourhood Pride. Problem areas in the Forum area the issue was raised regarding a Government initiative whereby a map could be produced, highlighting nuisance areas, in order that the public could be made aware and possibly be of assistance. The Police were not aware of this at the present time. Vehicles not displaying valid tax discs how long were they left without action? Vehicles without tax discs were reported to the DVLA at Swansea for them to deal with. (5) Green Bins and Recycling The Chair welcomed Graham Young, Customer Liaison Officer, and Debbie Bushby, Waste Recycling and Communications Officer, from the Waste Management Service, to the Forum meeting. Area. Officers gave a presentation on the background to the new initiative in the Forum Britain landfilled massive amounts of waste which caused environmental problems. This had to stop and so the EU Landfill Directive was introduced. Councils had to meet Government targets or heavy fines would be imposed on them, which would have significant impacts. Barnsley MBC looked at how they could comply with this new Legislation and consequently a pilot scheme was introduced in 2004 in some areas of the Borough whereby alternating fortnightly collections of domestic (grey bins) and garden waste and biodegradable cardboard (green bins). Alongside this, blue bags were provided for paper waste and a green box for glass. Since 2004, the scheme had been rolled out to other areas across the Borough and 97% of properties in Barnsley now had this system. The Dearne area was the last area left and it was intended to introduce this system throughout the Borough by People in the piloted areas were asked for their views and comments and it was found that the blue bags and green boxes were not big enough in some cases, so these had been replaced with blue and brown wheelie bins. In the first instance, vehicles which were on hire could not cope with the system. Barnsley had now purchased new vehicles to cope with the new systems. The red lorries had a split body so waste was not mixed up. As the Dearne area was unique, the Authority also had a small vehicle for use in areas where access was tight. Waste glass went to Redfearns for recycling, aluminium cans went to Alcan in Warrington, steel cans went to Corus and paper went to a mill in North Wales (which supplied the Barnsley Chronicle Group with recycled paper). Green waste and cardboard it was decided to include waste cardboard with garden waste as carbons made it a better compostable product. This waste was composted and used for land reclamation improvements. It was not a good enough product to be bagged and sold.

4 524 In the future taking food waste into green bins was being looked at. Officers were working alongside colleagues in Doncaster and Rotherham on this issue as a private investor would be needed to deal with this. Barnsley did not recycle plastics as it was known that 80% of waste plastic was shipped to the Far East for burying in landfill, and we had no control over this. Other Authorities did recycle plastics to generate energy. The following questions/comments were raised:- What could actually be placed in the green bin? Garden waste (small amounts of soil due to weight) Clean card that was not contaminated in any way by food, grease, paint, oil, etc Clean sawdust/straw which was not contaminated in any way by animals, etc Vegetable waste only if straight from the garden (nothing than had been into a kitchen area) Some residents were experiencing problems with new bins splitting or lids missing was there a problem? Officers were aware that there were problems. It was suspected there had been a problem with the manufacturer not allowing the bins to cool prior to them being stacked up ready for delivery on time. A list of people requiring new bins was being compiled and it was anticipated these would be available in October. Problems were being experienced with the tip at Highgate not accepting plastics. Officers were aware of this situation and it was explained that the current contractor running this facility had now lost the contract. It was hoped that the new company would be ready to take over by October. At the moment, this waste was hand sorted by Reclaim at Sheffield (by people with learning disabilities), and they could not cope with kerbside collections. The question was raised as to where to put ashes from solid fuel fires. Due to weight issues, ashes should be 50/50 in grey and green bins. Concern was raised at the amount of packaging used by companies. The Forum were informed that the current packaging legislation was being reviewed at the present time. The question was raised as to how households with large families would cope with domestic waste only being collected once a fortnight? Extra grey bins would be provided for such households, provided they were recycling everything as required. Reports of dumped rubbish, black bags, doors, etc, near to Cathill roundabout/brampton Road had still not been removed. It was felt that the fortnightly collections may lead to more instances of dumping.

5 525 A report would be forwarded to Neighbourhood Services to have the dumped rubbish removed. Much of the dumped rubbish was trade waste, as traders were not allowed to use tip. The Environmental Regulatory Unit issued large fixed penalty fines to traders if it could be proved dumped waste belonged to them. Reports of fly tipping could be made to Concern was expressed that at some terraced properties, most of their outside space would be taken up with bins. They already had problems with parking and it was a concern that if some people refused to have extra bins, they could easily use other people s. This could lead to the wrong types of waste being placed in bins and then householders being fined for this. Inspectors would always use discretion; they were not there to catch people out. If something was found in the wrong bin then an amber tag would be attached in the first instance. If there was a second instance, then a letter would be sent and, if the resident required, a visit could be made. So far there had not been many mistakes made. The question was raised as to whether revenue from recycling was put back into the service? Money from recycling went back into the Waste Management Service. An enquiry was made as to whether the Council still sold composting bins. Composting bins were no longer sold by the Council. Jeff Ennis, MP, informed the Forum that, in the Grimethorpe area, the waste collection system had now been operating for two years and was working well and residents were generally satisfied with the service. Every Local Authority in the country had its own recycling scheme and he would like to see more common recycling schemes. The Chair, on behalf of the Forum, thanked Graham Young and Debbie Bushby for their attendance and contribution to the meeting. (6) Area Forum Officers Report The Area Forum Officer provided a written report giving actions and updates from previous meetings on the following:- Soil at sure Start Road Items Reema Housing Update Village Caretakers Railway Embankment Clean-up at Goldthorpe Berneslai Homes Local Budget Post Office Closures South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Advisory Group Listed Status Wall at High Street The Future of Funding Meeting In relation to Road Items, complaints were still being received regarding the problems at Ringway and other locations.

6 526 IT WAS AGREED that Officers from the Highways and Engineering Section be invited to the next meeting of the Forum. (7) Community Support Fund The Area Forum Officer presented the following applications for Community Support Funding:- (i) Thurnscoe Institute Cricket Club Contribution towards boundary fencing (ii) Rugby League World Cup Final (November 2008) contribution to support two local girls to participate each IT WAS AGREED that, subject to the approval of the Borough Secretary, the above applications be approved. (8) Public Questions and Answer Session The following questions/comments were raised:- Concern was expressed about bags being left by refuse collectors and the fact that messages left with the office were not getting through. The question was raised with regard to funding to nurture young people talented in sports, etc There were many organisations involved in nurturing youngsters through schools etc. Sport England was the Government Agency responsible for developing a world-class community sports system to inspire young people to take part and succeed in sports. SportsAid was the charity for sports people, helping the next generation of young British sportsmen and women to succeed. Complaints were received regarding overgrown footpaths and bridleways in various locations, and also complaints about holes in the playing fields after the recent funfair had left. This would be brought to the attention of Neighbourhood Pride and the owner of the funfair would be contacted to remedy the situation in the playing fields. Thurnscoe East a request was made to have the speed humps removed from the road near to the Windsor Stores. These were breaking up and causing damage to cars and emergency vehicles were also reported as having difficulties. The Area Forum Officer would look into this matter and report back. The question of public toilets, which had been raised as an issue in past Forum meetings, was again highlighted, together with the provision of dog fouling bins. Working with youngsters on the subject of teenage pregnancies and sexual health was also raised. The Chair informed the meeting that there were no plans to replace public toilets anywhere in the Borough.

7 527 It was explained that the dog bin and litter bin programmes had been detailed at previous meetings. The Chair also informed the Forum of the Children s Services Scrutiny Commission s recent work on teenage pregnancy and sexual health. A report was nearing completion after many months work by Members and Officers. Railway embankment at Goldthorpe problems were being experienced with dumping and items being dropped off the top of the bridge and, more recently, fires being lit. The question was raised as to whether this area could be made into a walkway? It was agreed that this area was an eyesore and a nuisance. Negotiations were ongoing with a view to having this area filled in to try and alleviate problems and make the area look more attractive. Any information on dumping should be reported. (9) Next Meeting of the Forum/Appointment of Chairperson IT WAS AGREED that the next Area Forum meeting would be held on Monday 13 th October at a venue to be confirmed. Councillor Worton was appointed as Chairperson for the next meeting. Chairman