CITY CENTRE, SOUTH AND EAST PLANNING AND HIGHWAYS AREA BOARD

Meeting held 14th April, 2009

PRESENT:

Councillors John Hesketh (Chair), Marjorie Barker, Alan Law, Peter Price, Mike Pye, Denise Reaney, Frank Taylor, Chris Tutt and Alan Whitehouse.

……………….

1.

APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE FROM MEMBERS OF THE BOARD

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Brian Holmes and Tim Rippon. Councillors Frank Taylor and Mike Pye attended the meeting as the duly appointed substitutes.

2.

DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

There were no declarations of interest.

3.

MINUTES OF LAST MEETING

The minutes of the meeting held on 30th March, 2009, were approved as a correct record.

4.

SITE VISIT

RESOLVED: That the Director of Development Services, in liaison with the Chair, be authorised to make arrangements for a site visit in connection with any planning applications requiring a visit by Members prior to the next meeting of the Area Board.

5.

APPLICATIONS UNDER VARIOUS ACTS/REGULATIONS

RESOLVED: That (a) the applications now submitted for permission to develop land under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 and the Regulations made thereunder and for consent under the Town and Country Planning (Control of Advertisements) Regulations 1989 be decided, granted or refused as stated in the Schedule contained in the minute book of this Area Board for this date and the requisite notices issued; the granting of any permission or consent shall not constitute approval, permission or consent by this Area Board or the Council for any purpose other than that mentioned in such Schedule;

(b) following consideration of additional representations in objection to the application, and a response from the applicant to the additional representations, as contained within a supplementary report circulated at the meeting, an application for planning permission for the erection of detached 4-bedroom dwellinghouse (amended resubmission of application no. 05/.03625/FUL) (as per amended plans received 23.03.09) at the curtilage of 16 Rutland Park (Case No. 09/00511/FUL) be granted, conditionally;

(c) subject to the inclusion of an additional condition limiting the occupancy of the development to no more than 6 persons, an application for planning permission for alterations to form 1 x 6 bedroom flat with letting office at ground floor, including alterations to rear ground floor window (as per amended plans received 26.03.2009) at 136 Whitham Road (Case No. 09/00585/FUL) be granted, conditionally;

(Note 1. Councillor Alan Whitehouse indicated that he wished to vote against the decision to grant, conditionally, planning permission for the erection of detached 4-bedroom dwellinghouse (amended resubmission of application no. 05/.03625/FUL) (as per amended plans received 23.03.09) at the curtilage of 16 Rutland Park (Case No. 09/00511/FUL) as it was his view that the application failed to comply with Core Strategy Policy CS74 which expects high quality development which would `respect, take advantage of and enhance the distinctive features of the City, its districts and neighbourhoods, including the distinctive heritage of the City, particularly the buildings and settlement forms associated with Victorian, Edwardian and Garden City suburbs' and asked for his vote to be recorded;

2. In connection with the decision to grant, conditionally, planning permission for alterations to form 1 x 6 bedroom flat with letting office at ground floor, including alterations to rear ground floor window (as per amended plans received 26.03.2009) at 136 Whitham Road (Case No. 09/00585/FUL), Councillor John Hesketh indicated that he wished to vote against the application and Councillor Alan Whitehouse indicated that he would be abstaining from voting on the application and asked for their views to be recorded.)

6.

PLANNING BRIEF FOR KING EDWARD VII EDWARD UPPER SCHOOL

The Director of Development Services submitted a report informing Members about the outcome of public consultations on the draft planning brief for the scheme to refurbish and extend the King Edward VII Secondary School on Glossop Road, Broomhill and seeking formal adoption of the final version of the Brief as one of the material considerations in determining planning applications for the site.

Consultation on the draft Brief was carried out from 18^th February to 13^th March, 2009. A copy of the draft Brief and information about the consultation arrangements (including a public meeting on the 25^th February) were posted on the Sheffield City Council website. Hard copies of the draft Brief were made available to view at Broomhill library, King Edward V11 Upper School reception and First Point during the consultation period. Members of the public were invited to comment on the draft Brief either by attending the public meeting or by sending comments to the planning team by email or post by 13^th March.

Members of the Broomhill, Central and Nether Edge Area Panel were briefed at a Members' briefing on 12^th February and 2 Broomhill Ward Members took up the offer of individual briefings. A public meeting sponsored by the Area Panel took place on the evening of 25^th February at King Edward VII School. The event was publicised in the Sheffield Telegraph and flyers were circulated through the Area Panel mailing list, posting into letter boxes and through the school and library. The event was attended by nine members of the public. A brief presentation by officers on the Building Schools for the Future programme and the content of the Brief was followed by a discussion and question and answer session.

All of the commentators at the public meeting were supportive of the proposed developments at the school, viewing them as opportunities to improve on the 20^th century extensions and temporary classrooms. Parking issues were a concern and the new development needed to make convincing proposals to manage the problem. Support had been expressed for the Brief's requirements for the new building/extensions to be in keeping with the historic character of the school. For sustainable design solutions and for the school's greenspace to be enhanced.

RESOLVED: That (a) the Brief be adopted as a material consideration in determining planning applications within the King Edward VII Upper Secondary School site; and

(b) the Brief be approved as informing development proposals for the site.

7.

ENFORCEMENT OF PLANNING CONTROL

(a) 62 to 64 High Street, Mosborough

The Director of Development Services submitted a report informing Members of a breach of advertisement regulations in relation to the display of two unauthorised signs and the unauthorised erection of a roller shutter at 62-64 High Street, Mosborough.

It was reported that 62-64 High Street was a two storey terraced commercial property located within a Local Shopping Centre as defined in the Sheffield Unitary Development Plan. Planning consent was granted for the use of the buildings as a Solicitors Office (Class A2) on 26 June, 2007.

It was further reported that a written complaint had been received regarding the signage that had been erected at first floor level and on the shop front without consent. A site visit was made by an officer and it was also noted that a roller shutter had been erected on the front of the property without planning consent.

The occupier was informed of this and two separate retrospective advertisement consent applications for the non illuminated sign at first floor level and the illuminated sign at shop floor were submitted on 17th December 2008 and 25th February 2009 respectively. A planning application for the roller shutter was also received on 17^th December 2009; however all the retrospective applications remained invalid due to insufficient information. Several assurances had been given by the applicant that the information would be provided to validate the applications. However, to date no information had been received.

RESOLVED: That (a) authority be given to the Assistant Chief Executive, Legal and Governance to take all necessary steps, including enforcement action and the institution of legal proceedings, if necessary, to secure the removal of the roller shutter at 62-64 High Street, Mosborough; and

(b) the Director of Development Services be requested to submit a report to a future meeting of the Board providing information on all the signs on the shop fronts from 38A to 66 High Street, Mosborough, including information on any breaches of planning control from any of the signs, in order to ensure a consistent approach to enforcement against unauthorised signs in this parade of shops.

(b) 341 City Road

The Director of Development Services submitted a report informing Members about the failure of the land owner of the former Manor Lodge School Building and Caretakers House, 341 City Road, served with a Section 215 notice, to comply with its requirements, and makes recommendations on any further action required.

It was reported that a Listed Building Urgent Works Notice was served on the land owner on 17^th April, 2008 requiring urgent repair works to the building. None of the work was carried out. A notice under Section 215 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 was served on the 24^th October, 2008 giving the owner 12 weeks from the effective date to carry out the work.

Although no work had been carried out, on 9^th February, 2009 a written request was received from the land owner's representative asking for extra time to carry out the works. An extra six weeks was granted to enable completion of the works. The new deadline was the 26^th March, 2009. An inspection was carried out on 26^th March, 2009 and it was found that some but not all of the work had been completed.

Although some co-operation had been shown, at the present time the works required by the notice had still not been fully completed. This was considered to be a breach of the notice.

RESOLVED: That the Assistant Chief Executive, Legal and Governance, be authorised to take all necessary steps to institute legal proceedings for prosecution for non-compliance with the notice.

8.

APPEALS

The Board noted that the Secretary of State had dismissed appeals against the decision of the City Council to refuse advertisement consent, under delegated powers, for (a) a 48 sheet hoarding at Bushbury House, St Mary's Gate (Case No. 08/04025/HOARD), and (b) for a 96 sheet hoarding adjacent to the bridge over Sheffield Parkway/Bernard Road (Case No. 08/04807/HOARD)

9.

PETITIONS

Outstanding Petitions

The Board received and noted a report of the Director of Development Services setting out the current position on outstanding petitions that were being investigated.

Petition concerning Lighting at Ballifield Drive Shopping Area

The Director of Street Force submitted a report informing Members of the receipt of a 192 signature petition expressing concerns about the street lighting in the Ballifield Drive shopping area, advising Members of the current situation regarding the street lighting units in the area and seeking approval of the proposals in the report which were in accordance with the Council's Street Lighting Policy, Standards and Strategy Statement.

The report stated that the petition was received on 2^nd March, 2009 concerning the street lighting in the area of the shopping area. Ballifield Drive and the service road to the shop frontages were adopted residential roads and the Council were responsible for the lighting.

The existing lighting on Ballifield Drive was a mixture of low pressure and high pressure lighting which, due to the age of the units, did not meet current lighting design standards.

The service road to the shops did not have any lighting units along its length and depended on the spill lighting from Ballifield Drive to illuminate the highway.

The Police had been involved in numerous incidents in the area and supported the request to improve the lighting, to allay crime and the fear of crime in the area.

The level of lighting to the shopping area had been assessed and it had been concluded that the street lighting in the area was insufficient to illuminate the service road to acceptable standards.

RESOLVED: That approval be given to improve the ineffective lighting on Ballifield Drive and consequently improve the lighting to the shop frontages, within the constraints of financial budgets, in accordance with the Council's Street Maintenance Policy Standards and Strategy Statement.

Petition requesting the creation of a public footpath between Glade Lea and Definitive Footpath 340 off Ridgeway Road

The Director of Development Services submitted a report informing Members of a petition received from Members of the public requesting the creation of a public footpath between Glade Lea and definitive footpath 340, off Ridgeway Road, Gleadless.

The report stated that, at the request of the petitioners, an investigation into the possibility of creating a footpath across private land between Glade Lea and Definitive Footpath 340 (between Gleadless Common and Ridgeway Road) had been carried out by officers in the Highway Client and Records Group, Transport and Highways Division.

Although this was a complex issue, with local people expressing their views, the landowners had made it clear that they had no intention of allowing their private driveway to be used as a public footpath. Furthermore the Board had recommended that Definitive Footpath 340 be closed. Consequently, there would be no onward footpath route available to Ridgeway Road, thus rendering it unnecessary to create a new footpath link over the private driveway.

The order to legally close Footpath 340 was due to be processed shortly. If that Order was confirmed, the Highway Authority would ensure that the footpath was physically closed at either end. The adjoining landowners would be duly notified and they would have the opportunity to manage the area of closed highway to their advantage and personal requirements.

RESOLVED: That the Board (a) does not support the petition requesting the creation of public footpath rights across private land; and

(b) requests that the lead petitioner and local residents who had contacted the Council be informed of the Board's decision.

10.

REPRESENTATIONS REGARDING A TRAFFIC REGULATION ORDER: ENDCLIFFE VALE ROAD AND RIVERDALE ROAD

The Director of Development Services submitted a report informing the Board of representations received in respect of a traffic regulation order on Endcliffe Vale Road and Riverdale Road.

It was reported that in order to ensure that traffic could safely negotiate the lengths of highway affected by the proposals, it was necessary to introduce parking restrictions at certain locations. These were proposed to be double yellow lines (No Waiting at any time) and single yellow lines (No waiting 08.00 to 16.30 Monday to Saturday), as shown on the plan included in the report as Appendix `A' and on drawing no TM/BR198/BR219/P02. In addition to regulating parking to address safe and efficient movement of traffic, the restrictions at the junctions would improve the visibility for pedestrians crossing the road at these locations.

The report highlighted a number of representations received in respect of the Traffic Regulation Order and request that the restrictions in the vicinity of the pedestrian access to the new flats on Riverdale Road be omitted.

A local resident attended the meeting to make representations to the Board in respect of the Traffic Regulation Order and request that the junctions remain as they were.

RESOLVED: That (a) the objections be overruled in part and upheld in part in relation to the proposed 40m length of single yellow line on Riverdale Road adjacent to the pedestrian access to the new development. This length of lining would not be introduced for a period of up to 12 months, subject to a report back to the Board highlighting the need for the lining to be implemented but that the Traffic Regulation Order be made in accordance with the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984; and

(b) The objectors be informed accordingly.

(Note: The votes on the above resolution were ordered to be recorded and were as follows:-

For the resolution (7)

-

Councillors John Hesketh, Marjorie Barker, Alan Law, Denise Reaney, Frank Taylor, Chris Tutt and Alan Whitehouse

Abstentions (0)

-

Nil

Against the resolution (2)

-

Councillors Peter Price and Mike Pye).

11.

UPDATE ON ROAD SAFETY AT HATHERSAGE ROAD/CROSS LANE/LONG LINE JUNCTION

The Director of Development Services submitted a report outlining a review of the accident rate at the above junction and reporting on discussions with South Yorkshire Local Transport Plan (LTP) Partners and South Yorkshire Police regarding the implementation of Traffic Regulation Orders (TROs) at remote locations.

It was reported that during the three year period from January 2000 to December 2002, there were 11 reported injury accidents at the junction, causing 16 casualties, including 1 fatality.

During the public consultation on road safety proposals for the problem, a local resident suggested a Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) prohibiting general traffic from turning into Long Line from Sheephill Road in order to address the accidents at the Hathersage Road/Long Line junction. The TRO restriction was in a remote location, where it would not receive regular enforcement by the Police. The TRO therefore relied on drivers' compliance with the law. Road Safety officers and South Yorkshire Police had concerns that it may suffer abuse.

In May 2006 the Board determined to trial the proposal and in February 2007 the TRO was implemented as an experiment and monitored closely. Only about half the drivers complied with it, and about 5000 vehicles broke the law driving through the restriction each week.

In November 2007 the Board decided that the trial be removed and that officers monitor the accident rate and report back after a year. Members wished to assess the impact of the road safety improvements which had been carried out on the extended length of Hathersage Road between July 2005 and November 2006, these being carriageway resurfacing, reduced speed limit, speed indicating device (SID), road markings and warning signs.

During the most recent three year period for which accident data was available (January 2006 to December 2008) there had been no injury accidents recorded at the junction - currently the junction had been accident-free for a three year period. The junction would not now feature on the priority list for action and consequently no further road safety action would be considered there at the present time.

RESOLVED: That (a) the Board notes that the junction of Hathersage Road and Long Line does not now feature on the priority list for action;

(b) no further road safety action be considered at the junction at the present time; and

(c) TROs not generally be implemented in isolated locations unless they are supported by the enforcement agency or are self-enforcing.

12.

FURNIVAL SQUARE SCHEME APPROVAL

The Director of Development Services submitted a report requesting the approval of the Board for the preliminary layout for the proposed Furnival Square scheme and to carry out public consultation based on this layout.

The proposal included a reduction in the size and the scale of the central island which would be preserved as green space. The reduction in the overall scale of the junction allowed the existing footways to be widened. Direct signalised crossing facilities were proposed around each arm of the junction and these facilities were of the “call ahead type”. In other words, pedestrian demand would be registered in both halves of the crossing when the crossing button was activated.

The remodelling of this junction also provided an opportunity to upgrade the quality of the public realm in this area to promote the profile of the New Business District South and also to act as a gateway to the redevelopment of the Moor and the Sevenstone development. The high quality finishes would be extended in later schemes to eventually achieve the overall enhancement of the streetscape between Furnival Square and Charter Square.

The limit of the scheme would be extended along Furnival Road as far as the recently completed Sheffield Hallam development in Arundel Street to emphasise the connection between these locations and the heart of the City.

RESOLVED: That (a) approval be given to the preliminary alignment for the Furnival Square scheme;

(b) approval be given to the detailed design for the scheme; and

(c) approval be given to the commencement of public consultation in connection with the scheme.

13.

SHARROW VALE PERMIT PARKING SCHEME REVIEW

The Director of Development Services circulated a report on the findings of a re-examination of the Sharrow Vale permit parking scheme initiated by the Board, responding to comments received following a consultation questionnaire and meeting with local residents and businesses as part of reviewing the Sharrow Vale Permit Parking Scheme and seeking approval to progress with the development of detailed proposals to address the issues raised during the consultation and external challenge processes.

Members then heard a number of representations in relation to the scheme. The following comments were made:-

(i) A resident of Cemetry Road requested that the number of bays on Cemetry Road be extended as it was difficult to park and commented that the use of the bays were being abused by a local garage on Cemetry Road.

(ii) Councillor Colin France, speaking on behalf of local residents, commented that he welcomed the review of the scheme and the work undertaken by officers. There was a need for small revisions to the scheme. For example, he had been contacted by a resident of Meadow Terrace who had been experiencing hostility from local residents as a result of her parking bay.

(iii) James Brown, representing 198 business owners/staff along Ecclesall Road, Hickmott and Sharrowvale Road, a good proportion of the last remaining house owning residents in the locality, including the Sharrow Vale working group, and 42 out of the 44 businesses around the Hickmott/Sharrowvale junction area, made the following comments:-

Members then asked a number of questions and made comments, including:-

RESOLVED: That (a) the initial findings and comments received as part of the Sharrow Vale parking scheme review process be noted;

(b) local residents and businesses be consulted with proposed boundaries for a larger number of smaller zones within the scheme including a new 10 hour zone around Napier Street;

(c) the Council continues not to mark and sign unrestricted parking areas within the Peripheral Parking Zone;

(d) officers continue to develop proposals for changes to the scheme based on the information received during the review process (including parking surveys) and that this shall be the subject of a further report to this Board in June 2009;

(e) a 6 month trial of 15 minutes free parking is undertaken in the Sharrow Vale local shopping area;

(f) proposals to include streets in the Hunter House area within the permit parking scheme be developed and consulted on and the lead petitioner be informed of this decision;

(g) the section of Cowlishaw Road already within the permit parking scheme be retained within the scheme, and proposals to include the rest of Cowlishaw Road within the scheme be developed and consulted on and the lead petitioner be informed of this decision;

(h) the introduction of an evening scheme along the full length of the Ecclesall Road area not be progressed at this time, but that smaller schemes around Endcliffe, Botanical and Porterbrook be progressed and consulted on;

(i) the introduction of a Sunday scheme within the Ecclesall Road area not be progressed at this time;

(j) proposals to include Psalter Lane in the parking scheme be developed and consulted on; and

(k) occupants in properties numbered 677 Ecclesall Road to 719 Ecclesall Road be allowed to purchase (at full cost and subject to the schemes standard terms and conditions) permits within the Sharrow Vale permit parking scheme.