ECCLES COMMUNITY COMMITTEE
Eccles Library
Church Street
Eccles
26th March, 2002
Meeting commenced: 7.00 p.m.
"
ended: 8.40 p.m.
PRESENT: J. Matthews (Westwood Park Community Association) - in the Chair
Councillors Clarke, Eglin and Memory
J. Evans - Salford Pensioners
R. Sharpe - Southway Residents' Association
B. Thompson - Ellesmere Park Residents' Association
J. Rickman - Eccles Park Joint Bowling Association
J. Rahman - Salford Link Project
H. Barker - Monton Village Community Association
G. Hearn - Park Residents' Association
G. Hunt - Brookhouse Residents' Association
J. Wheelton - Salford Disabled Motorists and Access
OTHER INTERESTED PARTIES:
I. Pickworth - Member of the Public
S. Dutson - Member of the Public
S. Finkill - Southway Residents' Association
H. Yanney - Ellesmere Park Residents' Association
A. Cranna - The Advertiser
J. Grieves
} Mather Road Residents' Association
C. Pasiero }
B. Holmes - Eccles Townswomens Guild
J. Phillips
} Park Residents' Association
H. Williams }
A. Walters - Winton Festival Committee
ALSO IN ATTENDANCE:
M. Smith - Area Co-ordinator
C. Skinkis - Neighbourhood Co-ordinator
M. Relph - Corporate Services
F. Ahmed - Eccles Town Centre Manager
C. Kelsall
} Salford Youth Service
J. Burns
}
S. Scorah - Salford Citizens Advice Bureau
83.
APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
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Eccles Community Committee - 26th March, 2002
Apologies for absence were submitted on behalf of Councillors Carter, Johnson,
Lancaster and Sheehy and Simon Bunce (Greater Manchester Police).
84.
COUNCILLORS ERNIE JOHNSON AND BRIAN CARTER
John Matthews reported that at the local election, to be held on 2 nd May, 2002,
Councillors Brian Carter and Ernie Johnson will be retiring as Councillors for the Barton
and Eccles wards respectively. He continued by paying tribute to their work and
commitment to the Committee, the Eccles Service Delivery Area and the City of Salford
and wished them a long and happy retirement.
85.
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
The minutes of the meeting held on 22nd January, 2002, were signed by the Chairman
as a correct record.
86.
MATTERS ARISING
(a)
Eccles Town Centre - Traffic Issues
(Previous Minute 72 - 21st January, 2002)
Gilbert Hearn expressed concern that a great deal of traffic was still entering the
recently pedestrianised area of Eccles Town Centre. Ron Sharpe agreed that vehicles
driving through the pedestrianised area, as well as illegal parking within it, were a
serious problem, which the police and the traffic wardens appeared to take little action
on. Joyce Evans added that there still remained a need for a designated crossing point,
across what was Church Street, between the Post Office and the former Morrisons
store.
Farida Ahmed reported that these issues had already been brought to the attention of
the Development Services Directorate Transport Management Unit (TMU), which was
currently monitoring them. She added that the pedestrianised scheme was at present
the subject of a six month pilot, after which its operation would be reviewed.
Martin Smith said that he would invite Steven Lee the TMU Manager to the next
meeting of the Eccles Link Officers to be held on 9th April, 2002, with a view to advising
him of the issues raised so that he could take the appropriate action. He added it would
be beneficial if any issues arising from the operation of the pedestrianised area were
forwarded to the appropriate persons, whether this was City Council or Greater
Manchester Police, as they occur, rather than waiting for up to two months, to report
them to the Committee.
(b)
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Planning Applications
(Previous Minute 78 - 22nd January, 2002)
Eccles Community Committee - 26th March, 2002
Martin Smith reported that at the last meeting, the Committee had requested that the
possibility of developing procedures for the reporting of non routine planning
applications in the Eccles Service Delivery Area, to future meetings. He said that the
planning process was strictly controlled with regard to timescales, which were difficult to
fit in with the meetings of this and the other Community Committees throughout the
City. He added that currently all planning applications were published on a weekly
basis, and available for public inspection and suggested that this practice be continued
with, but if any application arose which was seen as being extraordinary, arrangements
would be made to bring it to the attention of the Committee.
87.
WELFARE BENEFIT FOCUS CAMPAIGN
The Committee received a presentation from Steve Scorah of the Salford Citizens
Advice Bureau on a current initiative designed to raise awareness of key benefits
available to people throughout the City of Salford. It was reported that the Citizens
Advice Bureau in partnership with the Community Legal Service had identified that
many persons of pensionable age were not receiving the advice/legal help which other
community members received, and as a consequence an initiative had been
established to target persons aged 60 years and over to assess their eligibility for
benefits and complete the necessary applications for them. The Committee were
advised that to date over 200 persons throughout the City had received advice as part
of the campaign, and on average had received financial gains of approximately £4,600
each, primarily through the receipt of attendance allowance awards. Steve Scorah
concluded the presentation by encouraging Members of the Committee to bring the
campaign and the services it offered to the attention of persons of a pensionable age
within their own communities.
RESOLVED: THAT Steve Scorah be thanked for his interesting and informative
presentation the contents of which were noted.
88.
COMMUNITY CAFE
This matter was withdrawn.
89.
ECCLES COMMUNITY ACTION PLAN 2002/03
Chris Skinkis reported that it was necessary to undertake the annual review of the
Eccles Community Action Plan, and sought the views of the Committee as to how best
to achieve this. He commented that in other Service Delivery Areas, Community Action
Plans had been developed to cover a three year period, and suggested that
consideration be given to adopting this style with regard to the plan for Eccles. He also
suggested the distribution of questionnaires to community groups throughout Eccles
which would enable the identification of the key issues for the Eccles Services Delivery
Area, these in turn could be fed into an event, possibly to half days, to which interested
Members would be invited which would be aimed at formulating the plan for the
forthcoming year or years. The draft plan itself would then be submitted to the July
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Eccles Community Committee - 26th March, 2002
meeting of the Community Committee for consideration.
RESOLVED: THAT approval be given to the proposal for the review of the Eccles
Community Action Plan 2002/03 as detailed above; and that Chris Skinkis be requested
to determine suitable dates for the proposed two half day sessions to undertake the
preliminary review.
90.
POLICING ISSUES
Councillor David Eglin requested that it be recorded that he had concerns that there
were no representatives from Greater Manchester Police present at the meeting.
John Rickman referred to vandalism committed by young people in Eccles Park
particularly the damage which had been caused to the bowling facilities there. Ron
Sharpe referred to the delay in installing the security features at Eccles Bowling Club,
which had been partially funded by this Committee, which in turn had resulted in
damage being caused to the greens, which would require further money to repair.
Councillor Neville Clarke reported that both he and Councillor David Lancaster had
been contacted by a number of young people complaining that there were no facilities
for them in Eccles Park, particularly as the grassed area suffered from dog fouling. As
a consequence the feasibility of fencing off a recreational area, from which dogs would
be prohibited was being considered. In addition the possibility of involving young
people in the activities of the Eccles Bowling Club was also being looked at. Councillor
Neville Clarke concluded by commenting that hopefully both these proposals could go
some way to alleviating the vandalism problems.
Chris Skinkis commented that it was recognised that the anti-social behaviour of a
certain element of young people was a growing problem. He added that Salford City
Council, Greater Manchester Police and other appropriate agencies were working to
reduce the problem, particularly through the possibility of introducing Anti-Social
Behaviour Orders (ASBO's).
91.
YOUTH ISSUES - UPDATE
Chris Kelsall submitted a report providing an update with regard to recent youth
activities in the Eccles Services Delivery Area, which focused on the following key
issues:






Eccles Youth Centre.
Youth Development Plan.
Brook Advisory Project.
Testicular Cancer Awareness for Young Men.
Development Project for Young Asian Men.
Shelter Development Project.
Youth Worker Activity in the Quaker Bridge Area.
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Eccles Community Committee - 26th March, 2002
In addition the Committee received a brief update from John Burns, on current
proposals with regard to mobile youth provision. He reported that the Youth Service
were currently moving away from the traditional youth centre concept, and were looking
to fit out a van that would provide a space for approximately 15 young people to
undertake a variety of activities. He said that as the facility was mobile, it allowed it to
move from area to area, so it could be focused where a specific need was recognised.
RESOLVED: THAT the report be noted.
92.
NEIGHBOURHOOD CO-ORDINATOR UPDATE
Chris Skinkis submitted a report providing the Committee with an update with regard to
the following issues:


Environmental Task Group.
Newsletter Sub-Group.
Community Sector Team.
RESOLVED: THAT the report be noted.
93.
ECCLES COMMUNITY COMMITTEE BUDGET GROUP
The Committee received details of the financial position statement 2001/02 in respect of
(i) its devolved budgets, (ii) SRB Budget and (iii) Primary Care Group West Budget. In
addition the Director of Corporate Services submitted a report indicating that the Budget
Sub-Group had met on 15th March, 2002, and recommended the action indicted for the
following applications for grant, from the devolved funding allocated to the Eccles
Service Delivery Area:Applicant
Purpose
(i)
Monton
Amateurs
Football Club
Towards provision of a
second football pitch, as
first stage of football
centre sports area
(ii)
Education and
Leisure
Directorate
Sponsorship of two adult
learner award prices as
part of events to mark
'Adult Learners Week' to
be held during 11th to
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Amount
Requested
£3,500
£100
Decision
Deferred pending a
decision regarding
planning
permission and the
application to the
Football
Foundation
£100 agreed from
Devolved Budget
2001/02
Eccles Community Committee - 26th March, 2002
(iii) City of Salford
Schools FA
(iv) Salford/
Narbonne
Twinning
Association
(v) Education and
Leisure
Directorate
17th May, 2002
Contribution towards
£1,600
costs incurred by boys
taking part in the Salford
Boys exchange visit to
the United States of
America in Summer
2002
Contribution towards a
£2,000
visit of young people
from Narbonne to Eccles
To provide art and craft
materials for children
and young persons
information day
£1,500
Refused and that
the applicant be
advised to apply to
the Community
Empowerment
Fund
£2,000 agreed
from SRB Budget
2002/03
£1,500 agreed
from Devolved
Budget 2001/02
The Budget Committee were also requested to approve the payment of £150 to be vired
from the monies of £17,239 allocated to Youth Villages to undertake the structural
repairs which were required to Ellesmere Park Youth Shelter.
Chris Skinkis referred to the previous decision of the Committee which had been taken
at their meeting held on 27th November, 2001, (Previous Minute 62(2)) with regard to
the application received from Brookhouse Residents Association for security measures,
to be held in abeyance until negotiations had taken place with the owners of the
premises adjacent to the Brookhouse Community Centre, who shared a common roof
space, and confirmation being received that all parties concerned were agreeable to the
proposed security measures. It was reported that this grant had been inadvertently paid
to the applicant but had subsequently been returned, pending a satisfactory outcome to
the issue. Councillor David Eglin asked that it be made clear that he had no objections
to the proposals, or the activities of the Community Centre, but said there was a need
for all parties to be consulted with regards to the proposals before they progressed.
RESOLVED: THAT the recommendations of the Budget Sub-Group as detailed above
be endorsed.
94.
THE WALKING HEALTH INITIATIVE (WHI) SCHEME
A report was submitted providing information with regard to the Walking Health Initiative
(WHI), a scheme organised by the British Heart Foundation and the Countryside
Agency, and aimed at improving the health and fitness of people, particularly those who
did little exercise or who lived in areas of poor health, through participation in organised
walking activities, either on an individual or group basis.
RESOLVED: THAT the report be noted.
95.
SALFORD - GAME ON FOR 2002 - INFORMATION ORGANISING
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Eccles Community Committee - 26th March, 2002
A QUEEN'S JUBILEE STREET PARTY
The Director of Corporate Services submitted a report indicating that the
Commonwealth Games Office at Salford City Council had responsibility in co-ordinating
Commonwealth Games and The Queen's Jubilee events in the City of Salford, and had
produced a booklet providing information on organising a Jubilee street party, copies of
which were available for anybody interested in staging such event.
RESOLVED: THAT the report be noted.
96.
STRATEGIC REVIEW OF PRIMARY SCHOOL PLACES
The Director of Corporate Services submitted a report indicating that the City Council
was currently undertaking a strategic review of primary schools places, details of which
were also submitted. Members were advised that if they had any comments on the
review they should forward them to the Director of Education and Leisure by no later
than Friday, 5th April, 2002.
RESOLVED: THAT the matter be noted.
97.
WESTWOOD PARK PARTICIPATORY APPRAISAL PROJECT
Submitted a report of the Eccles Link Officers Group providing a response of the
Directorates of the City Council together with other appropriate agencies, on the
findings and recommendations of the Westwood Park Participatory Appraisal Project.
RESOLVED: THAT the report be noted.
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