Minutes of the Meeting of Local Residents, Councillors, Council Officers & Other Agencies held at Tinsley Green on Thursday 12thJuly 2007, 7pm-9pm
Present: 11 residents
Chair: Tracy Calvert
Staff & Trustees: 10
Guest Speakers: John Keyworth & Debbie Merrill – Sheffield Development Framework
Dr Nilton Chan –E.ON UK
Inspector Adrian Fox – South Yorkshire Police
Roy Glease – Learn Direct at Tinsley Forum
Janet Thomas – Volunteer Recruitment Coordinator at Tinsley Forum
- Apologies for Absence:Graham Whitfield,Maxine Binge, Laura Selby, Laura Whittaker
- Minutes of the last Tinsley Forum Open Meeting (12th April 2007)
It was noted that Inspector Tony Dobson of South Yorkshire Police has not taken retirement.
The Minutes were agreed as a true record.
- Matters Arising
CCTV - At the last Open Meeting on 12th June 07’ concern was expressed over whether there was sufficient CCTV coverage in TinsleyPark. After undertaking a visit, Cllr Mary Lea reported she was satisfied there is adequate coverage. Officers at the CCTV monitoring centre have extended an invitation to members of Tinsley Forum and Tinsley Green to visit the monitoring centre based at SheffieldTown Hall.
Canal Fencing - Temporary fencing has now been erected alongside the canal bank in an attempt to deter fly-tipping.
Buses - Tinsley Forum are keeping a record of late / missing buses. Any residents experiencing problems with the buses were asked to inform Anne Saleh, Community Development Worker at Tinsley Forum, who will collate the information to pass onto First Buses.
- Sheffield Development Framework – Tinsley, Attercliffe and Darnall
Debbie Merrill of the SCC Forward and Area Planning Team in Development Services introduced herself and gave a presentation on the Sheffield Development Framework.
The Sheffield Development Framework (SDF) is the city’s forthcoming new set of plans and planning guidance. The development plan documents in the SDF will eventually replace the Unitary Development Plan.
The Core Strategy is the first of the new development plan documents, and will provide the overall spatial strategy for the city up to 2026. Once the Core Strategy has been adopted (a view to adoption at the beginning of 2009), then the more detailed planning documents in the SDF will need to conform to it. Government guidance requires the Council to involve communities in the development of options for the SDF.
The first stage of the process was consultation on Emerging Options for the Core Strategy, which took place in June-July 2005.
The second stage of the process involved the narrowing down of the Emerging Options to Preferred Options. This stage is now concluded and a draft plan has been completed.
SCC is consulting formally on the Preferred Options for the City Policies, City Sites and Proposals Map and associated Sustainability Appraisals. Debbie stressed the importance of public feedback in the influencing of these policies and proposals.
A Planning Newsletter was handed out. All the documents and map sheets can be viewed on the Council’s website at: They are also available to read at all Sheffield Library Branches. A consultation report is published in paper format for non-web users.
Representations can be posted via the website or discussed in person via appointment.
Tel: 0114 273 4212 / email: / write to: SDF Team, Development Services, Howden House, 1 Union Street, Sheffield, S1 2SH.
A short question & answer session followed.
- Proposed ‘Biomass to Ethanol’ Renewable Energy Plant at Blackburn Meadows
Dr Nilton Chan from E.ONUK introduced himself and gave a presentation on their plans to build a 25MW biomass plant on the site of the old Blackburn Meadows power station.
The carbon neutral ‘Biomass Waste to Ethanol Plant’ would burn a combination of recycled wood and specially grown crops such as willow and elephant grass. The plant intends to treat Biomass that will arise from municipal and other waste sources within the Sheffield-Rotherham area.
It is estimated that such a plant would produce enough energy for around 40,000 homes and reduce the emission of CO2 by approximately 80,000 tonnes annually.
It is proposed to bring the biomass waste to the site via local rail and canal connections and to transport the ethanol and other products away from the site by similar means.
The company anticipate lodging a planning application in October 07’, and if successful envisage full commercial operation by July 2010.
- Scoping Statement- July 07’
- Pre-appointment consultation & public exhibition- Aug/Sept 07
- Environmental Impact Assessment studies & report- Oct 07’
- Submission of Planning Application - Oct 07’
- Construction start- Jan 09’
- Operational start- July 09’
- Full commercial operation- July 10’
Approximately 25 full time jobs should be created should the plant go ahead.
E.ON UK would like the area surrounding the Power Station be as environmentally friendly as possible and are keen for the community to submit their ideas for this land. Community views on the Plant itself are also being sought.
A short question & answer session followed.
- South Yorkshire Police - Update
Inspector Adrian Fox of South Yorkshire Police introduced himself and gave an update on policing in the area.
The Safer Neighbourhood Area Team now has a full complement of Police Community Safety Officers (PCSO’s). Inspector Fox introduced Benita the new PCSO Supervisor, and Helen the Sergeant in post.
Inspector Fox spoke a little about the incident in TinsleyPark on Monday 2nd July 07, however stressed that due to an ongoing murder investigation, he was limited as to what information he could report.
An appeal was made for witnesses to the incident to come forward and posters have been produced to this effect in English, Urdu and Slovakian, to be posted throughout the area. Individuals possessing any other information that could be potentially relevant to the case were also urged to come forward, anonymously if required.
Alan Barrow stated that Tinsley Forum would fully support the police in their investigations, and agreed to display appeal posters in the One Stop Shop.
Inspector Fox agreed to a request for a speed survey to be carried out at the junction at the top of Bawtry Road.
- Learn Direct – UK Online at Tinsley One Stop Shop
Roy Glease introduced himself as the Basic Skills and IT Tutor for Learn Direct at Tinsley Forum.
Learn Direct at Tinsley Forum has run since October 05’ as a satellite centre to original hub provider Knowledgebase. In 2007 Tinsley Forum changed provider to Fir Vale based ICT4Life whohave provided increased levels of support.
Recent work with UK Online has proved beneficial. They support IT use, enabling people to use the internet for jobsearch, research, booking holidays etc.
Qualifications are available up to and including Level 2 (GCSE equivalent)
For the period October 05’ – January 07’ Learn Direct achieved:
- Over 170 enrolments
- Over 320 courses completed in Literacy / Numeracy / I.T.
- 44 Level 1 and Level 2 passes
- Over 3400 attendance hours
- Over 600 drop-in jobsearch / internet users
- A good mix of cultures and sexes – providing opportunity for social mixing.
Since January 07’ a further 54 learners have enrolled on courses.
From Thursday 28th June 07’ Learn Direct are opening on Thursday evenings until 8pm. It was stressed that this is for those who want to do Learn Direct courses or assessments only.
The Learn Direct Centre at Tinsley Forum is open Mon-Wed 9am-5pm, Thu 9am-8pm,
Fri 9am-2pm
Anyone interested in undertaking a Learn Direct course or requiring further information were asked to phone on: 0114 2444 887, or call in to make an appointment.
- Jobnet – new recruited staff member
Helen Murphy introduced herself as the newly appointed Jobnet Advisor for Jobnet@Tinsley, based at Tinsley Forum.
Jobnet is a free service, available for job-ready 16-60 year olds (not in employment or full-time education) living in the Tinsley area. Help is available with jobsearch, CV’s, letters, application forms and interview techniques. Jobnet also have access to an exclusive city-wide vacancy database.
Individuals interested in registering with Jobnet@Tinsleywere asked to contact Helen Murphy/ Vicky Allen on: 0114 244 5400 or call in to Tinsley One Stop Shop for further information.
It was noted that a Jobnet information leaflet had been distributed to all attendees prior to the
start of the meeting.
- Volunteer Recruitment Coordinator – new recruited staff member
Janet Thomas introduced herself as the newly appointed Volunteer Recruitment Coordinator for Tinsley Forum.
Over the next few weeks Janet will be contacting community groups to find out what volunteer opportunities are currently available in the local area and Sheffield wide. Janet will also be talking to potential volunteers and is currently putting together a handbook explaining the benefits of volunteering, training opportunities available and to answer frequently asked questions. A handbook is also being planned, specifically targeted at organisations interested in recruiting volunteers.
Janet asked that any interested members of the community or local groups requiring voluntary help,please contact her at Tinsley Forum on: 0114 244 887 for further discussions.
- Any Other Business
None
- Time and Date of the next meeting
Meeting of Residents Councillors, Council Officers and other Agencies:
Thursday 4th October 2007, 7pm – 9pm at TinsleyMethodistChurch
Actions
- Tinsley Forum to display appeal posters in the One Stop Shop
- Inspector Fox to arrange for a speed survey to be carried out on the Junction at the top of Bawtry Road.
Tinsley Forum – Working in Partnership with The Local Community and:
This project is part- financed by the European Union
European Regional Development Fund
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