Housing and the Environment
Minutes of the meeting held on Thursday 18th May 2006 at Groundwork Creswell
NOTES OF THE LOCAL STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP
HOUSING AND ENVIRONMENT GROUP
GROUNDWORK CRESWELL OFFICES, CLOWNE
18TH MAY 2006
PRESENT
T Trafford (TT) AHEAG
D Row (DR) Clowne Wildlife Group
M Cox (MC) Involve CEN
J Neeve (JN) Involve CEN
D Kelly (DK) Pinxton Community Forum
S Roberts (SR) Fire Service
J Lewis (JL) Bolsover District Council
K Sharp (KS) Langwith Society
G Clarke (GC) Bolsover District Council
T Witts (TW) Groundwork Creswell
S Randolph (SRA) North East Derbyshire PCT
B Murray-Carr (BMC) Bolsover Community Safety Partnership
J Smalley (JS) Staveley Fire Station
A Heath (AH) BCP
J Sherwood (JWS) Bolsover District Council
J Leney (JL) Bolsover District Council
G Stokes (GS) SMVRA
T Oliver (TO) Bolsover District Council
1. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
J Derricott NED PCT
R Sowerby NED PCT
S Kekus Environment Agency
A Hill English Heritage
H Ward Bolsover District Council
2/3. NOTES OF MEETING HELD 6th APRIL 2006/MATTERS ARISING
The minutes were checked for accuracy and there were no matters arising.
4. COMMUNITY STRATEGY AND REVISED ACTION PLAN
The community strategy has been launched on the 25th April 2006 . The action group had looked at short term targets in the community strategy.
A number of targets were already on the agenda and are on-going.
Discussion took place on developing a combined fuel/micro generation/fire prevention scheme. A pilot scheme is to be run in the neighbourhood renewal area, which would involve all partners. TT proposed to draft the community strategy in terms of objectives which had been discussed.
5. PHASE 2 COMMISSIONING
GROT 2 GREEN
It was acknowledged that there was a sum of NRF monies which had been held back prior to the launch of the community strategy. It was agreed that the Grot 2 Green scheme could be expanded as this had been taken forward into its second year. MC and JM thought that there was capacity to continue and AH agreed with this. MC advised that she had more groups interested in taking part in the scheme. Discussion took place on the Newton/Westhouses project. Hodthorpe Community Association had already approached Involve in relation to a litter pick.
JWS spoke about involving community associations, Parish Councils and residents in the development of a charter so that all parties know what they are trying to achieve and deliver and their responsibilities in the community.
JL spoke about a clean-up day, which involved a local school and volunteers. This would be held in the Creswell area which would be followed up with an enforcement initiative in connection with littering and dog fouling, and which the CAN Rangers and Neighbourhood Wardens were involved.
DK moved that the proposal to expand Grot to Green go forward to the second year and the group agreed.
GC commented that untidy gardens could be dealt with under section 215 and he asked that any complaints be passed through to Planning Services.
COMBINED FUEL POVERTY/MICRO GENERATION/FIRE PREVENTION/
RENEWAL AREA PROJECT
JL has been invited to attend the meeting to discuss the above. He advised that BDC is a leader in the region in addressing fuel poverty. The definition of fuel poverty is where a household spends more than 10% of their disposable income on fuel. There is a national, regional and local strategy to reduce fuel poverty by 2010. JL gave some background on how fuel poverty had been addressed within the district. He explained that he was working with energy companies who funded energy efficient schemes.
In the private sector housing stock, some 9,000 properties had already been improved by efficiency measures; however there was another 6,000 approximately still in the area to do.
The criteria to gain 100% grant is that someone in the house must be over 60, on a low-income, or have children under 16. People who do not fall within that criteria, have to pay towards the cost of the energy efficiency works.
Long-term measures were discussed i.e. nuclear and renewable energy. One of the energy providers is seeking to run a national exemplar in the Bolsover area in regard to a bio-mass system sited on a disused colliery site at Whaley Thorns. This system would burn wood pellets and would require a supply of renewable fuel. £25 million would be needed to put the scheme into place, with the company supplying 50% of that cost. TT thought the exemplar scheme investment was very large and it would be more realistic to have a modest scheme including micro generation using a combination of wind generators, solar panels, ground heating etc, a pilot scheme is being considered.
Discussion took place on the ‘green houses’ scheme which is being developed on Church Drive at Shirebrook. This scheme is being developed in five vacant properties and involves ILM training and energy efficiency measures. TW offered to organise a trip to view the ongoing works.
It was agreed that there would be a small working party made up of JWS, TW, DK and JL. TT said he would attend wherever possible.
The installation of an aqua mist system would be part of fire prevention measures.
JL left the meeting at 1520hrs.
GREEN COMPOST
TT required the timescale for the third tranche as part of the commissioning briefs TT will liaise with AL and request further details for the for the second commissioning brief.
6. RESERVE COMMISSION PROJECTS
TT asked that some thought and consideration be given for the next meeting for reserve commissions. TO suggested that the bids from last year which had not been successful be resurrected. TT to speak to Pam Brown and see if we can update. AH to investigate Greenways bid again.
7. CROSS CUTTING ISSUES – CRIME AND DISORDER
Councillor Brian Murray-Carr had been invited to attend and he spoke about the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005 and the responsibilities of local authorities and agencies within that Act. Meetings have been held with the Environmental Health Department at BDC to look at a way forward in dealing with Environmental Crime. Section 215 could be used to deal with neglected areas and he cited problem areas which had been successfully targeted.
Councillor Murray Carr spoke about the Community Payback Scheme which allows any agency to identify problem areas and through the judicial system make use of the services of those people who are awarded community service. These individuals could be used to do improvement and restorative work and the only cost is materials and tools. The work is risk assessed and competent people are used.
The Action Group was asked to put forward some projects and these could be co-ordinated through the Probation Service and the Crime and Disorder Action Group.
JL confirmed that she had been using the Probation Service throughout the Neighbourhood Renewal areas and this had been a great success.
It was agreed that Councillor Murray-Carr provide a summary of Sections from the Act which are appropriate for consideration and this will be circulated with the minutes. AH spoke about two problem car-parks where anti-social behaviour is rife. He was looking for capital monies to re-design and improve the car-park. This issue would be considered by the Crime and Disorder Group.
8. REPORTS BACK ON BCP
The work programme had been developed and had commenced in January 2006. The Executive Support Group had agreed progress; these themes will include bio-diversity, rights of way, education and healthy action.
AH confirmed that DCC have now officially agreed to host the partnership up to 2008. AH will be putting a feasibility study report before Cabinet in October 2006 in regard to relocation of BCP, the Action Group suggested he considered premises at Pleasley Vale.
GROT 2 GREEN
The pilot project had been audited and was complete. The commissioning brief had been received and TT and TO have scored this. An offer letter should be received during the next week or so. TT advised that a commencement date should be held in abeyance until monies had been signed off.
9. ANY OTHER BUSINESS
KS asked for an up-date on Making Places. JWS confirmed that the process of transferring land at Whaley Thorns was under way and would be completed within the next few weeks.
Shirebrook - an offer had been made on the land which had not been acceptable and this would be offered again on the open market.
GC spoke about a Principal Enforcement Officer post within Planning Services which would filled in the next month. This officer will review the Section 215 process and would be invited to attend the meeting to discuss this in due course.
There were some changes in planning design coming in on the 10th August 2006 . Planning Services are reviewing design guidance. GC to circulate summary changes and the action group would be involved in the formal consultation process.
TT spoke about the self assessment exercise and thanked all parties who had supplied information. TT will co-ordinate responses and send the document off to the CEPT office. TT will circulate the completed form as soon as possible.
A query was raised about the liveability framework and baseline data.
It was agreed that where there was no information available this would be highlighted as part of the ‘TENS process’.
AH spoke about a Bolsover bio-diversity meeting and the requirement for a desktop study. He would seek to have an arrangement with Planning Services as part of the service level agreement and this would be discussed outside this meeting with GC.
10. DATE OF NEXT MEETING
Thursday 22nd June 2006 at 1430hrs, Groundwork Creswell Offices.