Next meeting: Tuesday 6th July

Representatives from the Residents association recently met with council officers and Councillors from the three wards to form a working group with the aim of finding a solution to the current parking situation. The progress to date will be discussed at tomorrows meeting and a summary will be posted here shortly.

Notes from Junes meeting follow:

Amanda opened the meeting by welcoming John Lowther and Dave Campbell from the Green Party. Asked to introduce themselves, Mr Lowther said he lives in Pallion on a street near shops and regularly had problems with car parking; plus he thought it was good to take a keen interest in the community. Mr Campbell said he too is from Pallion and although he is not affected by parking, his wife works at the hospital and needs to find a parking space. He would like to help in finding a happy solution for everyone.
Amanda also welcomed the councillors present: Cllr O'Connor (Millfield), Cllr Essl (Barnes) and Cllr Dixon (Millfield).

Meetings
The Minutes of the meeting held on 4th May were circulated together with Notes of a meeting held with representatives of the Council on 25th May in Ewesley Road Methodist Church Hall.

Linda reported that on Thursday, 27th May, a sub-committee consisting of Amanda, Susan and herself had met Councillor Martin (Barnes) at his request. She began by reporting that Cllr Martin had said the 400 permits to be issued by the hospital would be allocated to 6 zones and that the Council would not withdraw those permits. Cllr Essl disputed this opening statement, saying that following the meeting of the 25th May the Sunderland West area group were looking at the Residents' Association plans for two short 1 hour parking restrictions under which the hospital do not get any permits and that Cllr Martin's statements would appear to refer to the previous rejected consultations. Cllr Dixon too felt that Cllr Martin was confusing the issue because last week the Council had agreed to form a sub-group to take our proposals forward, albeit possibly with a bit of tweaking. To resolve the confusion thus created, it was agreed that we write to Cllr Watson seeking clarification of the situation.

Susan reminded the meeting that this is not a political issue; it is a community issue. We will accept help from wherever it comes. Linda also pointed out that we have to listen to all councillors and we expect them to work for us, not against us.

The proposals submitted to the Council at the meeting of 25th May were discussed. At this stage nothing has been decided except that there will be some cost involved.

Cllr O'Connor advised that a meeting of the Council's Task and Finish Group is to be held on 15th June and that the Council will carry out door-to-door consultations (not leaflets) in selected areas soon. The exercise should be completed by the school holidays this year. He agreed with Elizabeth that prior notice of the consultation date should be given to enable residents to be available to present their views.

Discussion ensued regarding the format and timing of the consultation exercise. Cllr Dixon recalled that Cllr Watson had said the Council will work with the Residents' Association from the outset (Notes of Meeting, page 2). This now appears to have changed as the Council is to carry out its own consultations first, after which they will present their proposals to the Association for comment. Our own working group is set up ready to work with the Council's Task Force and Dave Campbell accepted Amanda's invitation to join our working group.
Amanda will ask Cllr Watson when the working group is to start working, pressing for it to be before the summer recess and Cllr O'Connor offered to help by getting dates for them to get together.

Due to the confusion created by tonight's reports, which conflict with our understanding of what should be happening, members voted in favour of Elizabeth/Linda's proposal that the Association should move forward on the basis of statements made at the meeting of 25th May and recorded in the Notes. As Ian Pearson had been unable to attend that meeting, Amanda will advise him of what was agreed.

Amanda reported that she, Michael Essl, Beryl Smith and Tom Hall had met Julie Elliott, MP for Sunderland Central, the first MP to try and help us. Essentially the parking problem is not a matter for her; it is a Council matter. However, she is taking a keen interest and is arranging to introduce herself to the hospital's Chief Executive, Ken Bremner, and the parking matter will probably be raised. Julie will be trying to push for a solution.

AGM - Election of Officers
Everyone is to receive a voting form for nomination/election of officers at the AGM.

Recap
Cllr Dixon requested a recap of the next steps:
• Amanda to speak to Paul Watson tomorrow informing him we have formed a working group and asking when can we have a meeting.
• Cllr O'Connor is getting a couple of dates for meetings, preferably early evening, and will advise Amanda.

Next Meeting – Annual General Meeting
7.00 pm Tuesday, 6th July, 2010 in St Joseph's Parish Centre

The meeting closed at 8.10 pm