Northowram & Shelf Ward Forum For more information, go to www.halifaxnorthandeast.com; email team@halifaxnorthandeast.com; or ring 01422 255402 M e e t i n g N o t e Date: Tuesday 10 March 2014 Venue: Northowram Community Sports and Activity Club, Northowram Present: Cliff Organ (Chair), Councillor Stephen Baines; Councillor Peter Caffrey; PC Andrew Bingham and PCSO Amy Fuller (West Yorkshire Police); Vicky McGhee and Heather Stout (North and East Halifax Neighbourhood Team). 37 Residents Apologies: Councillor Roger Taylor 1 Welcome and introductions 1.1 Cliff Organ welcomed everyone to the meeting. 1.2 Cliff asked residents how they had heard of the meeting. Responses varied from the Friday Flyer to Northowram Historical Society to flyers through doors 2 5k Ward Forum Budgets 2.1 Applications have exceeded the 5000 available by 725. Vicky McGhee read out the list of applications 2.2 The panel, made up of N & S councillors, PC Andy Bingham and officers from the N & E Halifax Neighbourhood Team, will meet next week to look at the applications 2.3 Discussions were held as to how the next tranche of grants of 5000 will be distributed. No final decision was made and it was agreed to wait until the June Ward Forum and discuss again and see what applications are coming in. 2.4 Vicky confirmed that the grants are flexible and it is up to the community how the money is spent 2.5 PC Bingham confirmed that POCA money can be used for community projects too 3 Shelf Allotments 3.1 Cllr Caffrey informed the meeting about the allotment meeting held on 23 February. Approx. 35 residents turned up and 26 people had so far applied for a plot. Councillor Caffrey confirmed that an application had been to the Ward Forum Grants panel for 500 to draw up plans for the allotments to make things clearer for residents. He added that some residents had voiced their concerns over traffic levels if the allotments went ahead as planned 3.2 Some residents voiced their concerns over rumours that housing will go on that land if allotments are not built and feel this may be misleading. Councillors confirmed that housing cannot be done on land that is allocated for allotments, but Cllr Caffrey added that the allotments were at the suggestion of local people and would have to
go through the normal planning application process. He also said that soil testing needs to be done before any final decision can be made 3.3 Councillor Caffrey also confirmed that any allotments would be self-managed and that way group members can apply for a lot more grants. 3.4 Councillor Caffrey said that anyone from Northowram or Shelf can apply for an allotment, although to date all of the 26 applicants lived within ½ a mile of the site 4 Police updates PC Andy Bingham 4.1 Andy confirmed that traffic issues were still a problem for residents and that initiatives are being carried out to combat this. He then read out a list of various traffic offense reports that had been submitted. Andy also confirmed that patrols had been carried out around primary schools in the area and inconsiderate parking was dealt with as well as pavement parking issues at Shibden Park and Northowram Village, although only 2 warning notices were issued for this. 4.2 Andy also confirmed that SID had been out at Salterlee Primary School. No speeding issues were found 4.3 In reply to a question from residents, Andy confirmed that the Accident Reduction Unit do not publish prosecution figures, only casualty reduction figures. All the details are listed on the Accident Reduction website. He also confirmed that police warning notices can be given to drivers who park at night facing the wrong way 4.4 Discussions were then held regarding traffic obstructions at Lydgate, especially around 22 The Square at weekends. Andy confirmed that the police can only deal with parking issues if they are causing an obstruction, as for fading yellow lines, these have to be dealt with by the council. Another resident reported that the yellow lines at the bottom of The Hough are fading too. Councillor Cllr Caffrey responded that he is now on the Highways Committee and he is aware of the issues at 22 The Square and has put a report in to the committee. He added that the Highways budget was underspent because of labour shortages. Another resident enquired about traffic lights at Lydgate. Councillor Baines replied that councillors and the police have put pressure on the council for these in the past, adding that even a pelican crossing would be a help, but he has been told that until the area is an accident blackspot nothing can be done. All previous applications have been rejected. Action Councillor Caffrey to report issues to the council 4.5 A resident reported speeding at Towngate and on Northowram Green. PC Bingham confirmed that surveys have not shown this. He asked the resident to speak to him after the meeting for more details 4.6 Recent statistics show a slight increase in crime, apart from house burglaries, which are down: House burglary 3 Other burglary 3 Damage 2 MOWP 4 Domestics 4 Vehicle crime 11 Theft 6 Page 2
Drink Driving 1 Robbery 1 Drugs 1 4.7 PC Bingham advised all residents to lock away their valuables if left in their cars. He added that VW and Audi integrated sat navs were regularly stolen. Also, new Ford Transit vans and tippers are particularly vulnerable as thieves do not needs keys to steal them. Trackers on them are disabled making them hard to trace. Andy added that this is a massive problem all over Calderdale and is probably being done by an organised crime group. If anyone sees a new Ford Transit parked up and you think it might be stolen, ring the police, as thieves steal them, park them up for a few days and if the police do not turn up, they drive them away 5 Local Updates and forthcoming events Northowram Historical Society and Northowram Village Society Mike Beecham Mike began by informing the meeting of the sad death of Alan Petford, a founding member of the Historical Society. Mike said that almost all the 750 books produced by the society had now been sold. There are now just 10 left History research sessions have begun again and meets are held on Wednesday evenings at Heywood Church. All are welcome to attend The Historical Society is holdings it AGM on Thursday 19 March at Northowram Methodist church, where David Glover will give a talk on the slave trade in Halifax Mike also talked about wanting to encourage younger people to join the group and the committee has suggested producing a booklet to deliver to all homes in Northowram to try and encourage membership. The group would also like think about setting up a Neighbourhood Development Plan Group but it needs at least 21 people to sit on the committee. The group wants new sites to put up posters advertising the group and its events Northowram Village Society - Mike informed the meeting that a new planning application had been put in for the Queen Victoria site again. This time the area of access to the store had been changed to the back of the building, with parking at the front. An application has also been put in for another house to be built on Upper Lane. The Society felt that this was a better option, to have a few bigger houses on the site rather than Persimmon building an estate, especially because of issues over parking restrictions. Following a refusal of a single large wind turbine on Swales Moor Road site, Leo Group has now put in an application for 2 smaller ones instead. Page 3
Cliff Organ suggested Northowram Historical Society and Shelf and District Community Group should merge, especially when opposing applications Shelf and District Community Group Eileen Hoare Eileen began by saying that most of the efforts of the group had recently been focused on the upcoming Shelf LAFF day at St. Michael and All Angels CE Primary School on Saturday 21 March, more of which later. The group had set up a contact list of Friends of Shelf Hall Park, and so far there were 25 names on it. A new notice board had been put up in the entrance to the park by Mark Brazil. This will now enable the group to advertise its upcoming activities. Shelf LAFF Laughter, Activities, Friendship and Fun - Family Fun Day event at St. Michael and All Angels CE Primary School on Saturday 21 March, 12-4pm. The event will be opened by Coronation Street star, Joe Duttine who has lived in Shelf. Events on the day will include the following: Have your photo taken in fancy dress Power your own smoothie Learn how to decorate cupcakes Make your very own Robot Try safe caving in the Cave Bus Enjoy Easter crafting Win a Trophy in the Football Competition Meet players from Halifax RLFC Enter the Great Shelf Bake Off Residents voiced their concerns over being denied access to the bowling green at Shelf Hall Park. The gate has been closed since travellers accessed the park via this route, and only council officers and club officials can open it. There is a pathway but because of steps it is difficult to access without a handrail. Residents also commented that there is another right of way access route to the club but the pathway is being blocked by a householder who apparently has no right to do so. It was suggested that by attending the Shelf Park consultation being conducted at the Shelf LAFF on 21 st March, this point could be discussed. Shibden Valley Society Gianina Akers Gianina said most of the society s updates were the same as the other groups. The only other issue was the street lighting out at Shibden on Brow Lane Page 4
6 Council Updates 6.1 Councillor Caffrey said, with regards to street lighting, that there have been some issues with sub-contractors not communicating with each other. The council is currently replacing all bulbs with new LED ones and they have employed subcontractors to do various parts of the job and this is where the issues have arisen. He apologised for all the inconvenience caused and said the council are aware of the issues and are trying to get this streamlined. Councillor Baines confirmed that the most dangerous lights are being attended to first. Councillors advised residents to contact them directly with any issues. 6.2 Councillor Baines also confirmed that there would be no council tax increase again this year. This will allow the Council to qualify for the Government s Council Tax Freeze Grant. He added that the council needs to make further savings of 9.5m in 2017/18 and are planning to do a detailed consultation over the summer for 3 months, whereby residents will have the facility to have their say over how savings can be made and the effect certain situations have when cutback are made. The council will be encouraging everyone in Calderdale to complete the survey. Ideally the council would like these to be done online but they appreciate not everyone has, or wants this facility, and therefore a paper version will be available too. 6.3 Residents wanted to mention the fact that there is now only one post-box in Northowram. Councillor Baines confirmed that the council has no control over this or Royal Mail. Councillor Baines will contact the post office to question this and he advised residents to also contact Royal Mail. 6.4 Residents asked for a clean-up of the village before the Scarecrow Festival in May. Councillor Caffrey confirmed that a clean-up date before the festival has already been set. 7 Anything Else? 7.1 Vicky reminded the meeting that community groups are more than welcome to advertise their events in the Your Community flyer and on the weekly Friday Flyer emagazine 7.2 Cliff Organ suggested that Rebecca Finch be invited to the next meeting to talk about Scams and Frauds education. PC Andy Bingham confirmed that he has invited her to do a workshop at Greenfield Close too. Agreed. Action Heather Stout to contact 7.3 Hayley Conlon from Calderdale Neighbourhood Schemes informed the meeting about what her department does and how she helps people who need support get involved in healthy activities within their community. If residents know anyone who could with some support, please call her on the number on the Your Community leaflet 8 Date of next meetings 8.1 Northowram & Shelf Ward Forum Wednesday 17 June, Salterlee Primary School, Kell Lane, Shibden HX3 7AJ. 6pm for 6.30pm start Page 5
Actions for next meeting Responsible 4.4 Report all traffic issues reported at the meeting to the council Councillor Caffrey 6.3 7.2 Contact the post office to question only having one post-box in Northowram Invite Rebecca Finch to give a talk on Scams and Frauds to next meeting Councillor Baines Heather Stout Follow us on Twitter @hxnorthandeast finds us on Facebook! Hxnorthandeast Page 6