Agenda for Crosspool Forum Open Meeting, Thursday 28 July 2011

Open Meeting July 2011
Open Meeting July 2011

A reminder that you are invited to Crosspool Forum’s Open Meeting on Thursday 28 July at St Columba’s Church. It starts at 7pm.

A provisional agenda is below. Come along to give your concerns on local issues to local councillors, the police and council officials.

Agenda for Crosspool Forum Open Meeting, Thursday 28 July 2011 (Word document, 33KB)

Open Meeting, Thursday 28 July 2011, 7pm: provisional agenda

  1. Chairman’s welcome
  2. Apologies
  3. Minutes of last meeting to be approved
    Bullet points
  4. Matters arising:
  5. Chairman’s report:
    New computer course 
starts 9 Sept beginners, also a class for the advanced (spreadsheets)
    Car Boot Sale (10 Sept)
    Fayre/Festival
    Funding for next year’s Queens Jubilee & Olympics, Floral displays
    Clarion; Website
    Hagg Copse
    Hillside Harvest
  6. Treasurer’s report:
  7. Police Liaison: Police update on the area’s crime and concerns.
  8. Councillors: question time
  9. Planning and Highways
  10. Guest Speakers (approx. 7.30pm)
    Two magistrates, Andrew Bentley, Anthea Peers, accompanied by trainee magistrate Grant Laughton, have volunteered, under the “magistrates in the community” scheme, to attend our meeting to explain and enlighten us on the workings and judgments of a magistrates court.
 A number of attendees may be invited to take part in a mock trial.
  11. Any other business

Tapton academy deal could be signed by Monday

The front page of today's Sheffield Telegraph
School closer to academy move: the front page of today's Sheffield Telegraph

A funding deal to transform the status of a Crosspool school into an academy could be signed as early as Monday.

Today’s Sheffield Telegraph covers the story on its front page.

A meeting for parents only took place on Tuesday at the school. Concerns have been raised by parents, councillors and education officers over the consultation process.

Teachers at Tapton are against the move, fearing that becoming an academy will not raise educational standards.

Governors feel such a move would be in the school’s best interest, allowing them to balance the books by negotiating better value services.

Sheffield Telegraph: School closer to academy move

South West Community Assembly public meeting on Thursday

The next formal public meeting of the South West Community Assembly is on Thursday 23 June 2011 at Totley Primary School, starting at 7pm.

Agenda Items include:

  • Green and Open Space/ Community Project Officer Priorities
  • South West Community Assembly Highways Report

The meeting will be preceded by a presentation on the Forge Dam masterplan at 6pm. The main meeting starts at 7pm.

More information is about the meeting and South West Community Assembly available from:

Hanging baskets and planters installed in precinct

If you’ve passed Crosspool shops on Sandygate Road recently then you will have seen that new hanging baskets and planters have been installed around the precinct.

The new additions will support our Sheffield in Bloom competition entry for 2011.

A planter in Crosspool precinct
A planter in Crosspool precinct
Hanging baskets in Crosspool precinct
Hanging baskets in Crosspool precinct
Planters opposite Artisan restaurant in Crosspool precinct
Planters opposite Artisan restaurant in Crosspool precinct

Pedestrian crossing to be installed on Rivelin Valley Road

A new puffin and zebra crossing is to be installed on Rivelin Valley Road, near to the fire station.

Work will start on 20 June and temporary traffic signals will be in place so expect delays.

The crossing is one of a number of measures being installed over the coming weeks (up to the start of September) in Malin Bridge, on Stannington Road and along Rivelin Valley Road.

If you have any general queries regarding the design of the scheme you should contact Paul Johnson on 0114 273 6111. If you have urgent queries or problems regarding the construction work that cannot be dealt with by staff on site, please ring Andy Thirlwall on 0114 273 5261, or if he is not available, try the Street Force helpline on 0114 273 4567.

Download the Summer 2011 Crosspool Clarion now

The new edition of the Crosspool Clarion is going to press and will soon be falling on the doormats of all Crosspool households.

Crosspool Clarion Summer 2011
Download Crosspool Clarion Summer 2011 (PDF, 1.5MB)

The latest issue includes:

  • HGV Sat Navs
  • New local Councillor
  • Tapton Academy
  • Pupil wins award
  • Lydgate Lane closure
  • Centenary Walk
  • Spring Clean
  • Hallam FC anniversary match
  • Mobile Library Service Cut
  • Royal Wedding Street Parties in Crosspool
  • Computer Course
  • Neighbourhood Watch
  • Open Meeting Minutes

Download Crosspool Clarion Summer 2011 (PDF, 1.5MB)

Some back issues of past editions of the Crosspool Clarion are also available to download.

The Crosspool Clarion is the official newsletter of Crospool Forum. It is a free, quarterly publication, with over 2,500 copies delivered to local households.

If you are a local business then you may wish to consider advertising in the Clarion. It is a great way to reach over local households. Contact Clarion editor Ian Hague for more information.

To read PDFs on your computer, you may need to first download the free Adobe Acrobat Reader.

Mobile library service to be cut in Crosspool

Crosspool mobile library: the service is to be cut
Crosspool mobile library: the service is to be cut

In a bid to save £1.4 million from the budget, Sheffield City Council is to drastically cut back its mobile library service.

Currently the mobile library makes weekly visits in Crosspool to Benty Lane and Watt Lane (twice), plus monthly visits to Moorbank Road Flats and Tapton Hill Road.

Under the new proposals, the Crosspool service will be reduced to a single weekly visit to Watt Lane and a monthly visit to Moorbank Road Flats.

You can have your say on the cuts as part of a consultation exercise.

Sheffield Telegraph: Library van hit by cuts

Proposed reduced timetable

Update on recycling and garden waste issues

New Crookes Councillor Geoff Smith has been in touch and asked us to report back his findings on two waste management issues raised at Monday’s Open Meeting. Geoff writes:

1. Flexible use of blue bin and blue box

Blue box: from April can be used to recycle bottles
Blue box: flexible use now coming to Crosspool in September

As you know it has been agreed in principle that residents will be able to use these flexibly, deciding for themselves which one they use for glass etc and which for paper etc. The date 23 May was mentioned. This is not the date for Crookes ward. This is the date for the north west and the south east of the city. The rest, including Crosspool, will be some time in September (date to be announced). All residents will receive a letter of information/explanation before the September date.

2. Green sacks

Green sacks
Green sacks can be collected from libraries and the town hall

As explained at the meeting, these are in use again and can be collected from libraries and the town hall. When you have filled them they should be left (visibly) inside your property and you should ring Veolia to ask them to be collected. This will be done within 20 days. Reasonably someone suggested that it would be better if there was a set day for collection for everyone in an area. This is what happens at the moment in the south east on a four weekly cycle and this is about to be rolled out across the whole city. There should be an announcement shortly.

Bullet points from Crosspool Forum Open Meeting, Monday 9 May 2011

Download as a Word document (41KB)

Matters arising & Chairman’s report

  1. More scrap dealers cruising the area – Pc Louise Atha to be informed.
  2. Crookes/Whitham Rd junction traffic problems? The severe pollution caused at this junction is a serious issue that wants immediate attention. Cllr Holmes is awaiting a response from Pam Horner (PTES) and the newly-re-organized Planning Board decision.
  3. Crosspool is entering ‘Sheffield in Bloom’ again – look out for the tubs & baskets! The Forum will need to acquire funding next year if it is to pay for a 2012 display – for the Diamond Jubilee!
  4. Internet computer course – this started on Fri 6th (St Columbas; 9.30-2pm.) Some places are still available.
  5. Car Boot Sale (profits to Weston Park Hospital) – 11th June. (the ‘Tavern’ car park as usual).
  6. Darwin House Open Day – 18th June
  7. Motorworld site planning permission (Turner Investments)  – this has been refused  by the Planning Inspectorate.
  8. Crosspool Centenary Walk – starting at the Tavern 12 noon on 30th July. Please cheer the 3 walkers on (or join them!)in their huge walk for Weston Park.
  9. Mayfield Valley lorries – a resident there is starting a campaign to prevent satnavs allowing inappropriately  huge vehicles from trying to squeeze down the lanes.

Police issues

As Pc Atha was on leave there was no report, but residents made the following points to be passed on to her – as well as point 1 above.

  1. Drug dealers using the ginnel at the top of Delph House Rd – this is to stopped.
  2. ‘20s plenty’ local speed campaign progress? After the local elections this is waiting until the Planning Boards have been re-organized.
  3. Wooden verge bollards – are more needed at the top of Stephen Hill? There is still some verge parking on that very dangerous road.
  4. Stephen Hill/Manchester Rd/Benty Lane junction – survey conclusions? This junction must be sorted out.

Councillors’ Report (Brian Holmes and Geoff Smith)

New Cllr Geoff Cox was welcomed, & said he was still in a ‘listening mode’, but hopes to get his contact details out to the public ASAP .

Residents being able to choose for themselves what to use their recycling bin BLUE BINS & BLUE BOXES for may start on 23rd May – watch this space!

The proposed hessian bag GREEN GARDEN WASTE SCHEME is not now happening – green bags are available once more from eg the libraries for green waste. At the moment the ‘winter’ scheme of residents ‘phoning to arrange collection is still in force – this may take 21 days. Cllrs agreed that re-opening the Botanical Gardens cafe was a high priority.

Treasurer’s Report

There is sufficient in  the ‘kitty’ to cover this year’s flowers, but (see above) grants will be needed for future projects

Crosspool Festival

Rev Frances Eccleston reported that  the Festival will open with Crosspool Open Gardens on Sat 2nd July, a Street Market on Sun 3rd, and 0 after a range of day & evening events – end with the Summer Fayre on Sat 9th & Picnic in the Park (Lydgate Green) on Sun 10th. More volunteers still warmly welcomed!

Digital Switchover report

Carrie McKenzie (Voluntary Action Sheffield) said that all old TVs & aerials should work fine with the new digital signal. People receiving TV through SKY dishes or by cable will not be affected at all when the analogue signal is switched off, but if TV comes via an aerial some form of ‘digibox’ for the new freeview 15 channels will be needed.  If residents get  their TV signals from the Crookes transmitter then BBC2 will disappear on 10th Aug (& the other channels two weeks later) – if from Emley Moor BBC2 will go on 7th Sep (& the others on 21st) and if from Belmont (not very likely in this area) 3rd August (& 17th).  Residents over 75 will have received a letter already asking them whether they need an installer to call & tune their sets in – if they biined this by accidents further letters will be sent!  Video recorders will still work to play old videos, but not record any longer..

AOB

  1. Cold callers – (Pat of Neighbourhood Watch) said the digital switchover might mean scams with callers pretending new aerials are needed. The real switchover installers will have contacted households ahead & made an appointment.
  2. Guests for next Open Meeting – Ian Hague will try to get a Magistrate to attend (having been at a very interesting meeting re sentencing etc).
  3. Old ‘Threshers’ shop? No-one had any information on this site.
  4. Local King Edwards schoolgirl Alicia Cannon has been named as winner of the Big Challenge for her fund-raising work for Weston Park.
  5. Crosspool litter pick (2nd April) – thank you to everyone who attended, and helped pick up 9 bags of rubbish! A special thank you to a Tapton girl & her Essex friend for their assistance!
  6. School involvement in the Open Meetings? The Forum would like to hear from anyone in Tapton or King Edwards who would like to speak at the Meetings – to give their points of view on their community.

Next Open Meeting will be on Thursday 28 July 2011, at St Columba’s, 7pm.