Minutes
of the Meeting held on Tuesday 4th September 2012 at 7.00 pm
in St Mary Magdalene's
Church Community Hall
1.
Welcome and Apologies: Susan
welcomed those attending for the first time.
Apologies were received
from: J Hickman and P Pike.
2.
Matters arising from the Minutes: Minutes
of the meeting held on 7th August 2012 were agreed.
(a) Traffic congestion –Barnes area junctions: Susan reported that Street Scene are
monitoring the problems.
(b) Bus stops: The subject of
build-outs or build-ins to comply with the Disability Discrimination Acts is
still under discussion.
(b) Residents' issues: Cllr Scanlan
has followed up various items raised at the last meeting.
Pallion Inn –
no-one knows anything about it becoming a Tesco Express.
Brookland Road tree
roots – Highways Dept are unable to locate the problem. Resident will supply location details.
Bexley Street – a bin
has been replaced and the subsidence rectified
Percival Street –
Building Control are contacting landlord about potentially dangerous property.
Millfield Walk and
Talk: - Friday 14th September at 2 pm starting at Chester's car
park, to see if any improvements can be made on a small budget. Will look at problem of bins during the walk. Residents' suggestions are welcome.
3.
Crime/Anti-Social Behaviour Reports:
PC Kevin Hood, Beat
Manager for Millfield, Pallion and Deptford area, presented his report for the
period 17th July to 14th August 2012. In 2 areas there were no crimes reported but
there have been a number of reports of anti-social behaviour around the Pendle
Green area. The problems are not gang
related. David Lynn, Anti-social
Behaviour Officer for Sunderland West, advised that a lot of work is being done
in the area where youths are gathering. He's
working in partnership with the police. Cllr
Essl confirmed that initiatives are being investigated to provide places for
youngsters to get together.
·
David Lynn asked anyone wishing to report
any anti-social behaviour causing harassment, alarm or distress to ring the
24-hour help line 0300 1000 101.
Dedicated officers
attend to reports. The helpline also
deals with issues such as dog fouling, litter, dumped cars, graffiti, street
lighting and empty properties.
A resident reported
a mattress and wardrobe being left in Kayll Rd back lane and was advised to
contact the help line.
Empty
Properties: A
problem relating to Ancona Street was raised by a resident. David Lynn advised that the Empty Property
Officer is currently dealing with this.
The Officer is actively seeking to bring empty properties back into
use. Also, the landlord of another
property has asked them to vet a prospective tenant using the Council's free Landlord
Accreditation Scheme.
Cllr Kay reported that
Millfield has the 2nd highest number of empty properties in the
city. He and his colleagues are working
to try to bring them back into use and up to date. He referred to changes in government rates
for housing benefit which could leave residents unable to pay their rent. He thinks this could result in more even
empty properties because people can't afford them, or that 'informal' tenants
could move in to help pay the rent.
4. Parking Management Scheme – Introduction of
Phase 2
Susan
reported that she and Linda met with Council officers 2 weeks ago and the
Working Group are to meet on 5th September.
Proposed Hospital Multi-Storey Car
Park: The Hospital's
Planning Officer has advised there will be a public consultation held in the
Education Building on Tuesday, 18th September from 8am-8pm. Plans will be on view. Susan added that cars displaced while
building goes on will be in our streets until it's finished. Also, Cllr Watson told our last meeting it may
be politic to delay Ph.2 until after the multi-storey is built. We don't want that, nor do the traffic
officers. We're considering reducing the
size of the area to cover those streets surrounding the hospital. A smaller scheme should get a better response.
Cllr
Essl said that:
o
the Residents Association was formed to
alleviate parking problems.
o
the Parking Management Scheme was a tool
picked to do that job, but now the hospital are to build a multi-storey car
park which will solve the problem.
o
people in the proposed streets didn't vote
for the PMS last time.
o
the hospital cannot be rendered incapable
of functioning.
Residents
responded that:
·
the Council, not the residents, proposed the
original Parking Management Scheme. Thatr
scheme would have taken in the whole blue area shown on the map, totally
blocking out the hospital. Residents had
objected to that scheme.
·
the Residents Association was formed and
campaigned to find a solution and had empathy for the visitors. They asked the hospital to provide safe
parking for their staff.
·
at the last vote, residents didn't understand
the scheme.
·
without the PMS in place the multi-storey
would not be being built.
·
Ph.2 is needed to cope with the cars
displaced while the build is in progress.
·
Ph.2 has been reduced in size as a
concession to the hospital. Hospital
staff parking in the streets will have just an extra 5 minute walk. Council officers have paced it.
·
there are parking places available at 7 am
but staff still choose to park in the streets.
They won't pay to park in the multi-storey.
·
at no time has anyone from the hospital
told us the PMS is causing a problem.
·
at no time has anyone from the hospital
said the extension of the PMS will cause a problem and asked for a delay.
·
Councillors are trying to appease the
hospital.
·
the Residents Association have never
antagonised the hospital.
·
the recent extension was built with Ph.1 already
in place.
·
the multi-storey will not be built in 6
months.
Cllr
Atkinson asked if the revised scheme will extend to the ABC streets. Many of the residents there have made
representations to her. Susan advised
the ABC streets will not be covered by the reduced scheme.
Cllr
Kay said the hospital are in a weak position and cannot be trusted; the
multi-storey it is still a plan at the moment.
We need to put pressure on them.
Susan
advised that the Council, the working group and the hospital will meet together
this month. This will be the first time
in 3 years that the hospital have agreed to come along. In fact they have requested it.
A Sorley
Street resident showed contrasting photos of parking in her street, one half of
the street being within the PMS, the other outside. She wondered if there would be concessions
available for a 2-car family should the scheme be extended. Susan advised discussing her individual needs
with Council officers.
Cllr
Price was concerned that parking will migrate if the PMS is extended.
Mark
Greenfield thanked the Residents Association and the Working Group for
progressing the scheme so far. He added
that, given the problems, they should not procrastinate now and should stick to
their guns.
Linda
asked that everyone back each other. It
would be heartbreaking if the ward councillors let us down now.
Alan
moved that the meeting move on to the next item on the Agenda.
5. Transport Users Issue
Cllr
Price reported there are teething problems with the new ticketing machines at
the Metro stations. They are eating your
money.
6.
Treasurers Report Elizabeth
reported we are holding our own at the moment.
7.
Blog Update Kate
has items to upload and would welcome photos etc to show what is going on.
8.
Any Other Business
Annual
Newsletter circulation Sue
reported that there are still some streets to be done.
Abstentions: A resident asked what will happen with
abstentions in the forthcoming ballot.
Susan explained that streets with a narrow margin of Yes/No votes will
be reviewed by a panel who will take empty properties into account.
Charge
for 2nd Parking Permit: A resident queried why the Council charges
for a 2nd car, feeling that the hospital should pay. Susan explained that this pays for the
traffic warden and the costs involved in setting up and running the scheme.
Police
PACT meetings: PC
Hood reported that his attendance at our meetings will cease at the end of this
year. Residents can attend the Pallion
Partners
and Community Together (PACT) meetings. The next is on 1st October at:
- Pallion
Action Group 3-4pm
- Deptford
Community Centre 6-7pm
Kevin asked anyone wishing to contact him to
v telephone:
101 69191 or
v email:
Kevin.hood.2580@northumbria.pnn.police.uk
Susan expressed disappointment that PC
Hood would no longer be in attendance to answer residents' concerns.
9.
Date of Next Meeting
Tuesday, 2nd October at
7.00 pm in St Mary Magdalene's Church & Community Hall.
The meeting closed at 8.40 pm.
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