MINUTES OF THAMES AREA PANEL MEETING – 19TH MAY 2009
Present:
Councillor Wynne (in the Chair)
Councillors
Lee
In attendance:
Mr D Pulford, Community Member
Mrs C Holmes, Community Member
Mr C Smith, Community Member
Mr A Barber, SouthShore Community Association
Mr M Alderson, Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service
SgtT Ball, Lancashire Constabulary
Ms W Swift and Ms J Moran, NHS Blackpool
Ms S Crouch, Assistant Director, Community and Inclusion, Blackpool Council
Mrs B Jarvis and Mr J Cunliffe, Business Services Directorate, Blackpool Council
1. APPOINTMENT OF CHAIRMAN
The AreaPanel agreed that CouncillorWynne be appointed as Chairman for the Municipal Year 2009-2010.
2. APPOINTMENT OF VICE-CHAIRMAN
The AreaPanel agreed that Mr Barber be appointed as Vice-Chairman for the Municipal Year 2009-2010.
3.DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
There were no declarations of interest on this occasion.
4. MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD ON 1st APRIL 2009
The Area Panel agreed that the minutes of the meeting held on 1st April 2009, be signed by the Chairman as a correct record.
5. ANNUAL REPORT
The Area Panel considered the Annual Report and agreed that it be noted and recommended to the Policy Overview and Scrutiny Committee for approval.
Background Papers: None
6. AREA PANEL FUNDING REQUESTS
Mrs Jarvis, Business Services Directorate advised the Panel that the amount remaining in the budget for the remainder of this financial year was £37,876.39. She added that no applications for funding had been received.
Councillor Fowler reported that various designs had been considered in relation to the scheme to install a zebra crossing on Lytham Road that the Area Panel had previously agreed to contribute towards. He advised the Panel that a meeting was due to take place to agree on the design. Responding to questions, he confirmed that the additional amount would be sourced through alternative funding streams.
Councillor Wynne advised the Panel of a potential funding application relating to the public area around St Mary’s Church and it was agreed that once the specific details were known, the appropriate application form would be submitted and if appropriate a Special Area Panel would be convened to consider the application.
Mr Cunliffe, Business Services Directorate suggested that the Panel might wish to consider contributing Area Panel funding towards the clearing of gulleys within the Area Panel boundary. Responding to questions from the Panel, he confirmed that he would provide information on the number of gulleys that this would involve and the cost.
The Area Panel agreed:
- To note the report and the funds remaining in the Area Panel budget.
- To consider applications for funding in relation to the public area around St Mary’s Church and the clearing of gulleys within the Area Forum on receipt of the appropriate applications forms.
Background Papers: None
7. FUTURE AREA FORUM MEETINGS
The Panel considered the potential themes for future Area Forums and agreed that the Arms Length Management Organisation and the parking issues in the area of BlackpoolAirport were no longer a priority. Members agreed that Transport, which would include general parking issues, could be considered as a theme for a future Area Forum.
Following a lengthy discussion, it was agreed that the themes for the July Area Forum would be facilities for young people, which would include an update on the Youth Hub and Fishers Field and an update from NHS Blackpool on the new Primary Care Centre which would incorporate information on the health of people within the Area Forum.
Responding to questions from the Panel, Ms Swift, Chief Executive NHS Blackpool confirmed that the demolition of South Shore Hospital was due to take place in June 2009 and that the new Primary Care Centre was due to be operational in November 2010. Following concerns raised by a Member of the Panel, Ms Swift reported that the current plans for the Primary Care Centre did not include St Margaret’s Church due to assurances that it was unavailable. However, should the Church become available there would be the opportunity to amend the plans accordingly.
Ms Crouch, Assistant Director Community and Inclusion advised the Panel that Revoe Area Panel had agreed to hold a Special Area Forum on the new Youth Hub due to be situated at Palatine on Tuesday 14th July 2009 and that the event would be extended to include the residents of Thames Area Forum.
Mr Alderson, Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service reported that the number of fires within the three wards were decreasing. He advised the Panel that the main issue within Waterloo ward was the number of cooking related fires that had occurred and that this was being addressed through Monitoring and Intervention in the Private Sector (MIPS). He reported that the main issue in Squires Gate ward was on the cooking related fires in sheltered accommodation and in Highfield ward it was electrical appliance failures.
Responding to concerns raised at a previous Area Panel meeting relating to the area around Clayton Crescent and Nesswood Avenue, Mr Alderson confirmed that the Council had an action plan to resolve the ongoing issue around Clayton Crescent and Nesswood Avenue.
Sgt Ball, Lancashire Constabulary reported that there had been a large increase in crime during March and early April. He advised the Panel that a key issue was anti-social behaviour and subsequent criminal damage in Squires Gate and Highfield wards. He added that prosecutions had taken place and vehicles seized in relation to boy racers on Squires Gate Lane. Responding to questions, Sgt Ball advised that residents could provide the Police with the registration numbers of speeding cars and that this could be used to gather intelligence.
Mr Barber advised the Panel of an ongoing issue relating to the payment of utility costs for the South Shore Community Centre. He reported that negotiations were ongoing with the Council to address this issue. Ms Crouch advised the Panel that she had raised the issue with Shirley Young, Assistant Director Neighbourhood and Communities.
Responding to concerns relating to the ramp at the entrance to HighfieldPark which was considered unsuitable for pushchairs and wheelchair users, Mr Cunliffe agreed to progress the issue with Mark Scrivens, Head of Parks and Green Environment Service.
The Panel agreed to note the report and that the theme for the July Area Forum would be facilities for young people, which would include an update on the Youth Hub and Fishers Field and an update from NHS Blackpool on the new Primary Care Centre which would incorporate information on the health of people within the Area Forum.
Background Papers: None
8. DATE OF NEXT MEETING
The Panel noted that the next meeting was scheduled to take place at 5.00pm onWednesday 21STSeptember2009 in the Town Hall.
Chairman
(The meeting ended at 5.45 pm)
Any queries regarding these minutes, please contact:
Bernadette Jarvis, Acting Senior Democratic Services Adviser
Tel:(01253) 477123
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