and BRADFORD MDC SHIPLEY AREA COMMITTEE
Minutes of Neighbourhood Forum Meeting held 21 April 2005
1. Apologies: Gladys and Ron Dawes; Hazel and John Gundry; Cllr Dale Smith; Monsignor A Boylan; Judith and Brian Sayer; Bruce Speed; Margaret and Dennis Warwick; Sue Whelan; Mary Wood.
2. Chairman’s welcome. In the absence of Bruce Speed the Chair was taken by Mike Harris (MH). Chris Flecknoe took the Chair for items 8,11,12 and 13. MH welcomed all present including Chris Flecknoe, District Cllrs Matt Palmer and Chris Greaves, Parish Cllrs, people attending to speak to specific items, and residents of the village who had not previously attended a Forum meeting.
78 people attended the meeting.
In his introductory remarks MH reported:
3. Approval of the Minutes of the January Forum
These were accepted as a correct record and were signed.
4. Police Matters. PC Stuart Hudson
PC Hudson introduced Selina Akhtar who has been working in Wharfedale for a year as a Community Support Officer and she was welcomed to the meeting.
He then provided a local update:
There was a now a box in the Post Office where residents could post any information for the Police.
Crime figures: In the period from 21/01/05 to 21/04.05 figures overall in Burley were down from 65 to 58 incidents. Areas of concern were:
Burglary to dwellings – from 5 up to 6. He reminded residents of the importance of locking patio doors and keeping car keys out of view.
Vehicle crime: from 9 down to 4. These had included forcing of door locks and removal of radios. It was good practice to remove radios from cars when not in use.
Violence against persons: 4 down to 2. These incidents include domestic violence.
General damage to: motor vehicles – 13 down to 8
property - 8 up to 10.
Warning: one elderly man had been targeted by bogus officials claiming that his roof needed repairing and demanding £300 in advance.
PC Hudson and CSO Selina Akhtar were thanked for coming along to the meeting and for their work in the village.
PC Hudson can be contacted by mobile on: 07968 605387
5. Village Handbook: corrections and updates.
MH reported that all residents should now have received a copy of the revised Burley Handbook. Thanks were expressed to all the advertisers – mainly village traders - but also some from outside the village. There had been general praise for the Handbook. However there was one specific error for which apologies were offered. Errata stickers could be picked up at the meeting. The website version of the handbook had been corrected. MH reminded people that the website version was kept up to date. If any changes in the names reported in the printed version are notified to MH an update would go on the website. When new residents move into the village they will receive a free copy of the handbook. We also have 500 to sell. They can be ordered through the website or bought at James Richards, Estate Agents in the village.
6.Youth Forum Achievements: a look back at the aims that were set, how they have been achieved and thoughts about the future – Bob Jones.
BJ said that many members of the Forum were now moving on and he would be resigning as Chair in June. The Forum was now looking for new blood to continue its activities. BJ then gave a summary of the Forum activities from when he took over from Paul Evans in 1999. In 1999 the Forum went to the young people of the village to find out what they would like to have and offering help and support in achieving goals. The young people came up with 4 things:
Together with the young people the Youth Forum raised monies and the shelter in the park and the basket ball court were built. The Queen’s Hall renovation supported by funds from the sale of the youth club provides the meeting place and the final project, the skateboard park, is currently being completed.
Richard Thompson was then asked to describe the young people’s contribution to these activities. They had:
Bob Jones offered his thanks to the young people and then to many others who have contributed to the work of the Youth Forum: Shirley Overend, Marie Kilvington, Tom Powell (treasurer), Kim Chambers (secretary), Angus McIntosh, John Taylor, Barbara Holden, Elaine Thompson – for all her work on the Queen’s Hall, Mike Walker, Nick Gadsby, Cllr Matt Palmer, Alison Sutcliffe, Caroline Jones and all ward councillors, BMDC officers, BCC and IPC and all the many others who had played a part in achieving the successes of the Youth Forum and, not least, the whole Burley community for its support to the various projects. BJ emphasized that he did not want this to be the end of the Forum. Anyone interested in taking the work forward should contact him. There are still lots of things to be done. If no one has come forward by June the Forum will be left in the hands of BCC.
MH Thanked Bob Jones for all his work for the Youth Forum
7. Parish Plan: results of the analysis of the consultation questionnaires etc. What are the most popular aspirations of residents: Caroline Jones
C J said that the final report will be available in June and will go on the village website. A small number of printed copies of the full report will be produced and every household will receive a summary with the June Burley Bulletin. The Parish Plan is intended to be a working document and a guide to the work of the future parish council and the BMDC. New issues will arise and will be incorporated –for example the issue of mobile phone masts has arisen since the consultation and will be added on. At the January Jamboree the top concerns in the village on the basis of the ‘dots’ exercise were:
increased opening of the library;
drain cleaning
parking issues
bridge over river
greater police presence
employment of a road sweeper.
These were the top single items that came out of the ‘dots’ exercise. However if the issues are grouped , traffic, speeding and parking together had the most dots.
MH thanked all those who had worked on the Parish Plan
8. Area Plan- how local plans fit in to the Area Plan. What is the role of ward councillors on the Area Committee: Chris Flecknoe.
CF congratulated the people who had worked on the Parish Plan and then described how such plans fit into the Area Committee Action Plan. BMDC had sought to encourage the development of locality action plans across the District. These include:
Parish plans
Urban village plans
Neighbourhood action plans
Partnership plans.
Cullingworth has completed a parish plan and Burley is well on the way to having a parish plan. Baildon has produced an urban village plan and there are a number of partnerships – Shipley Sure Start, Saltaire project team, Shipley Anti-Crime, Shipley Community Development Team, Shipley Healthy Living etc. In all cases actions of taking stock of the current position and identifying priorities had taken place.
The Area Committee had been asked to produce a plan for the whole area and an Area Conference was held in October 2004. This pulled people together who looked for common themes to focus on over the next 18 months. These main issues have been brought together in an Area Committee Action Plan.
For the benefit of those who might not be familiar with the work of the Area Committee CF provided a brief account. It is a committee of Bradford Council. It has 9 councillors drawn from the 6 wards in the Shipley Area (including Wharfedale ward) and the membership is proportional to party representation within the Shipley area. It meets in public with an Advisory Group (sometimes referred to as SCAPAG) made up of representatives from each Neighbourhood Forum area – Bruce Speed and Christine Hill attend from Burley. The Committee has delegated budgets for: Traffic and Highways; Community Chest; Cleansing eg for community clean-ups; Small Parks and Recreation Grounds. It also has a number of devolved powers to consult local residents and act as an advocate for the well-being of the Shipley Area.
The various plans from localities feed up into the Area Action Plans and on up into the overall Bradford Community Strategy.
CF invited questions. She was asked if there was a common format for developing action plans. In reply she said that most groups/communities in Shipley followed a fairly similar approach in seeking to identify priorities and setting targets to address them but this was not rigidly prescribed.
MH thanked CF and said that the presentation had been most helpful. Although the system was a complex one it did seem to work well.
9. Future of the Lawn: latest progress on the conversion scheme. Carol Bridges.
Cllr Chris Greaves withdrew for this item.
Carol Bridges (CB) said that the posters brought to the January meeting were also at this meeting and would be available at the end although it should be noted that the plans have moved on since January. For those who had not been at the previous meeting CB introduced herself as the Executive Director of the Aire-Wharfe Community Housing Trust, part of the Bradford Community Housing Trust. The Trust is a private, not for profit company. CB - joined by John Rukin (architect) gave a presentation of the current proposals for the Lawn. She began by reminding those present that the Lawn was closed down a year ago. It had presented a number of Health and Safety issues and was in a decaying state. It had not taken as long to find alternative accommodation for the residents as had been expected. John Rukin has met with the Planning Officer and discussed initial proposals for the Lawn site. The general site layout has been agreed. He emphasized that he was very aware of the visual impact of the Lawn when entering the village. In the plans the main elements on the site are to remain as they are. Copies of the black and white version of the plans were available at the meeting. The side and rear elevations of the Lawn building are currently rendered and these will be improved. The Lawn is to be converted into 10 two bedroom ( some may have a 3rd bedroom in the roof space) and 4 one bedroom apartments. There will also be new build on the site to provide 10 two bedroom apartments. In order not to detract from the current amount of green space one, rather than 1.5 spaces per dwelling, has been accepted together with two visitor parking spaces. In total there will be 24 dwellings and 26 parking spaces on the site. The majority of trees will remain (two small trees will need to go). The parking areas will be of a grass type and will have hedging around them. The access to the site will be from the rear as this leads to less loss of green space. There will be a foot path across the current frontage
CB explained that the computer images of the layout really only provided an initial impression . She invited questions to the architect.
Q With the proposed rear entry for cars have pedestrian considerations been addressed?. This was on a busy pedestrian route to two nurseries.
A There had not yet been discussion with Highways but safety issues would be considered before the plans went in.
Q Will there be any public access?
A People have crossed the site for a long time. It will still be possible to go through
Q Can you say a bit more about the new build ?
A It will be mainly 2 floors and 2 and a half floors at one point. It can’t be an exact match with the current building but a good match will be looked for.
Q What is the time scale?
A. To submit the planning application by the end of May, to have the new build completed by October/November 2006 and the conversions in the Lawn building by March 2007.
Q What ownership was conceived for the dwellings.
CB explained some of the thinking on this. There was a need in the Wharfe valley for accommodation for young singles/couples, over 50s and affordable housing. The scheme will cost around £2 million so the finances have to stack up The Housing Trust was looking at shared ownership schemes which CB explained briefly. It would be necessary to consider if local people can have first choice in acquiring the new dwellings.
Q. We still see elderly people as a priority. How will the development respond to this need?
A This won’t be a sheltered housing scheme. The Aire-Wharfe has sheltered housing although it was not necessarily in Burley. Burley has sheltered housing in Wharfe Court and Hanover Way. If the Housing Trust can make a surplus out of current schemes there are some garages in Burley which could be replaced by bungalows.
Q What precise material will be used for the new build?
A We will try to match the stone. There are a couple of proposals for the new build.
Q Can the cobbles in the yard be incorporated?
A We will look at that.
Q How is the Lawn being protected at the present time – it is vulnerable to vandalism.
A. The warden is no longer there but checks the building on a daily basis. Lights and heating are kept on. Unfortunately it had not been possible to prevent the theft of roof slates from the garages.
Q.Cllr Matt Palmer emphasized the high costs of housing in the Wharfe Valley and the housing needs in Burley. Would Burley people have priority in securing the new accommodation?
A We are looking at options. In a development in Addingham there had been a quota for local people. The conversion costs of the Lawn are very high but there may be new build savings which could be passed down. There will be a better idea of costings by July.
Q Cllr Palmer reminded the meeting of the £400,000 commuted sum for affordable housing from the Scalebor development. He was interested to know what has happened to this money and whether it could be used for the Lawns development.
A. We will look into this.
Mike Harris thanked Carol Bridges and the team for their consultation which was much appreciated.
10. Projects
Tom Sumner (TS) reported on:
Water feature: this was started in September 04 with a break in November /December when work on the Christmas lights was taking place. Work has recommenced and is progressing well. There have been some hold ups in connection with the electrical supply to the site. The paving has been completed and the three natural stones – one, one and a half and two tons - over which the water will flow -have been ordered and the holes drilled to receive them. The stream work is currently underway. The water feature should be ready during May.
Duck race: this takes place this year on Sunday June 19th. Tickets have been printed. Volunteers to help with the selling of tickets are urgently needed – either on Saturday mornings in the village or through other opportunities. Anyone willing to give help should contact the BCC Secretary on 01943.863218.
MH reported on:
Burley House Field. Under the previous UDP half the field was assigned to housing. The current UDP has designated all of the field as recreational space. This only holds up for the time of the UDP. John Gundry has led the campaign to get the space designated as village green which would offer permanent protection. We are awaiting the result of the second Public Inquiry. A recent ruling in a village green application in Oxford cannot help our case . If the Inspector finds in our favour it will be a great victory and will preserve the field in perpetuity. If he finds against us the field is classed under the UDP as village greenspace and recreation open space. Once the result is known we need to quickly and actively address the question of how best to use the Burley House Field so that as wide a spectrum of people as possible can enjoy the amenity. BCC has accumulated a list of ideas over the years. These, and new ideas need to b reviewed. This will be an item on the AGM agenda on June.
Current issue- mobile telephone masts.
Copies of a summary of the Regulations for Telephone Masts, produced by Bruce Speed, were available for people at the meeting. Masts were a current issue. While people want to use mobile phones they don’t always want the necessary masts on their doorsteps. Telephone companies are public utilities and it is useful in considering any objections to the siting of masts to be clear about the grounds under which opposition can be made. Cllr Chris Greaves said that he was impressed with BS’s summary. He reported that there have been pre-planning discussions on potential sites in Burley and our preference is for sharing of facilities with the current mast on Otley Road. The current development of 3G facilities requires more, but smaller masts, and the task will be to mitigate the harm of these. If they are less that 15m in height planning permission is not required. We will need to be vigilant in noting proposals for masts, go for sharing whenever we can but also be prepared to accept the siting that does the least harm. Every approval will go through Planning Committee.
11. Feedback from the January Forum: Chris Flecknoe
CF produced copies of her routine and very useful summary of responses to the matters raised in January. She drew attention specifically to:
CF also took item 13 at this point in the meeting.
12. Open Forum
CF began by asking for help. The Area Committee likes to know how well the Neighbourhood Forum meets people’s needs. Previously people have been asked to respond to a postal survey. This year a smaller exercise is being undertaken in which people present at the meetings are asked to rate their satisfaction with the Forums by circling an appropriate facial picture. Boards with these on were passed around during the meeting for people’s responses.
The following questions were raised from the floor
Q We’re encouraged not to use cars and to walk using pavements and ginnels. Trees and bushes on residents’ land reduce the pavements. Can we encourage people to cut them back?
A. Where there is a significant problem and ownership can be identified Highways can ask for this problem to be addressed. BCC has looked at this issue. You can ring 01274 431000 – and report specifically where the vegetation is. This will then be reported to the Highways officers.
Q Is the Council responsible for policing of parking regulations?
A The police are still responsible for enforcement although in the city centre Street Wardens are also getting involved. There are problems of enforcement of double yellow lines. Traffic issues are not a main police priority. Councillors are aware of this problem .
Q. Whenever it rains there is a large pool of water outside the Post Office. It appears to be that there is a blocked gulley
A. I have noted this.
Q Provision has been made for disabled parking near the chemist on Main Street. Will this be 24 hours or only during the opening hours of the chemist?
A: Cllr Palmer replied that it was his understanding that such bays were 24 hour bays but he would make enquiries.
Q Further to the recycling item what is grey cardboard?.
A It is thinner cardboard as in cereal boxes. Currently BMDC cannot recycle thick brown cardboard.
Q Cereal boxes have glue in them. We are asked not to put envelopes in the bins because they have glue.
A. It seems that the cereal box glue is not a problem.
Q Langford Lane – part of this is an unadopted lane. Currently renovation of properties was going on but the actual road is full of potholes. Does the Council have plans to resurface this?
A. Unadopted roads are not the Council’s responsibility.
CB added that the Community Housing Trust own the nearby houses and may have some responsibility in relation to the roads. She will inquire and get back to CF
Q. I’m concerned about the state of repair of the stepping stones over the river – it’s not possible to get across even when the river is low. The Ben Rhydding ones are maintained.
A. MH replied that the stones are not actually stepping stones but actually a breakwater. The actual right of way across the river is via the ford although this is not safe. Apparently the stones need to be maintained at their current level to manage the flow of water. CF will talk to the Council’s Rights of Way Service about this issue to see if anything can be done.
13. Recycling- what can and can’t be recycled by BCC Chris Flecknoe
CF suggested that the Council’s Recyling Officer could attend a future meeting of the Forum, if this would be helpful. As reported under Item 3 in the feedback sheet, CF explained that it was possible to have additional bins for recycling of paper, plastic and tins and there are also bins outside the Queen’s Hall. She encouraged residents to share bins. It is also hoped to initiate recycling of garden waste for compost. There are different grades of plastic and only some can be recycled which creates frustrations for residents. While grey cardboard can be recycled thicker brown cardboard cannot be accepted at present.
14. Any other business. None
15. Date of the next meeting: Annual General Meeting on 16th June
The meeting ended at 9.30
Sylvia Tilford, BCC Hon Secretary. s.tilford@btinternet.com.