Parish Council Report 15th November 2021
Old Youth Club Building
National Parliament week has recently taken place and I was delighted to be invited into several of our Upton schools and to visit 1st Upton Rainbows to talk about my role as a Councillor. I faced some probing and incisive questioning. I am really impressed by the interest our young people have in what goes on in Upton and in particular I was asked if I knew what is happening with the old youth club building. I had to admit that I am not clear on this.
However, I did submit a question to the Cabinet member at Council in October. For clarity and information, you can read this and the answers below:
Question:
Upton Community is still being blighted by ASB at the eyesore which is the disused youth club building. It is now several months since the bidding process for the site was put on hold. Will the Cabinet member please tell my community and me when we will be informed of the progress being made with the application for SEND funding and when I can expect a reply to my emails asking this same question?
Answer:
‘A feasibility study has been underway over recent months, the findings of which are expected back by 22 October. The feasibility report will enable the Education service to formulate conclusions on the affordably and practicability of utilising the Youth Club building to support SEN need in the area. Upon receipt of the report, it is anticipated that a conclusion on the viability of this can be turned around quickly and shared within the next few weeks. Any proposals to expand numbers at a school may be subject to a period of consultation, clarification regarding this will be provided upon conclusion of the options.’
Supplementary Question:
At a recent Parish Council meeting the Cabinet Member told us that a bid for SEN funding had been made for £1million to be used for the project. Will the Cabinet member please confirm the bid has been made when it was made and whether it was successful?
Answer:
‘The SEND capital funding is not one that we have been required to bid for. There are no current bidding rounds for capital funding for SEND, however the DfE have allocated capital funding to LAs to support with their SEND priorities and I can confirm that there is Capital funding earmarked within the Education programme for a scheme at Dorin Park School.
The value of funding has not yet been set, this will be confirmed once the feasibility options have been confirmed and a proposal concluded upon.
The total value of funding available for SEND capital across the authority is £1.794m. There were a number of schemes identified as priorities during the SEND High Needs Review which are planned for delivery within this funding stream and so an allocation of £1m for any one scheme is highly unlikely.’
Members I am very disappointed by this information as I was, and I believe others are under the impression the £1million was to facilitate a new building in the community. May I ask that the Parish Council requests clarification?
Lodge Gardens and Grass Verges
The plans for planting on Lodge Gardens are still in progress and the £3,500 secure for the work in this financial year.
Residents who live near the Bridleway on Liverpool Road have been plagued by drivers using the verge as a car park while they walk on the PROW and Country Park. I'd like to thank our Streetscene manager for meeting me on site and for devising a planting plan to add colour and interest for residents and anyone using Liverpool Road. The corner by the poppy will be spruced up and some low growing trees and wildflowers added to the area.
Ward Budget
I have noticed that information about my ward budget has been published and some of it does not apply to what I have spent. So here is the most up to date version of what I have been supporting this year.
Because Covid has pushed back some projects we have been allowed to carry over funds from the previous years.
There are some requests for funding which I am waiting to approve. For example, litters picking equipment for 1st Upton Scouts and a couple of benches but below is my spend so far.
Members Budget Statement - 2021-22
Councillor:
J Houlbrook - £6,430
CW&C - Environment and Communities - Libraries
Summer Reading Challenge
£100.00
CW&C - Highways
Wealstone Lane Roundels
£400.00
Chester Pride - Chester Pride Café and Community Space
£300.00
Upton-by-Chester and District Parish Council
Upton - Community Speed Watch
£199.66
Upton-by-Chester and District Parish Council
Enhancing the local shopping areas – hanging baskets
£200.00
CW&C - Street Care Services
Lodge Gardens Environmental Improvements – Phase 2
£3,500.00
Remaining Budget:
£1,730.
Litter Picking and our Environment
Keeping Upton tidy will be easier now as litter picking kits are now available to borrow, for free, from all libraries in the Borough as libraries have teamed up with StreetCare colleagues to make litter picking kits available.
The adult and junior kits are made up of a litter picker, hi-vis vest and council litter bags. So, it’s now really easy for everyone to help clean up their local area, either as part of a larger group, a one-off event or as and when required around their neighbourhood. I am sure the work carried out by the Chester Wombles Group will have influenced this project.
Residents may also find all essential books about climate change in a new, dedicated reading list, available via the Libraries’ catalogue https://cheslive.koha-ptfs.co.uk/. Libraries have also added inspirational titles on sustainability and easy ways to reduce our carbon footprint.
If anyone in our community would like to organise a larger litter picking event, please contact yourstreets@cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk or email me for help.
Best Way of Contacting
May I politely remind everyone that the most effective way to contact me is by email or telephone? Sometimes questions are put in conversations on social media, but they are easily missed and that leads to frustration and people thinking they have been ignored.
So here's a reminder:
Jill.houlbrook@cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk
01244 344318
If I'm not free to take your call, please do leave me a message including your name and phone number and I will return your call.
I also of course monitor this account!
Thank you.
Overgrown Trees/CityFibre
At the request of residents, I reported the overgrown trees on the grass at Chirk Close/Bolesworth Road. It seems residents will receive no help from the council. I am in the process of contacting BT.
This is the response I received from CWaC:
‘It is the Council's policy is to only undertake work where trees pose a significant health and safety issue; for example, if they are dead, dying, diseased, structurally unsound, obstructing the highway or are proven to be damaging property. Tree works are generally not undertaken with issues of BT wires.
As statutory undertakers, BT have a right to prune where required to install their equipment satisfactorily, unfortunately with regards to the trees at Chirk Close this isn’t the case. If customers do not think the installation of the wires through the canopies is not satisfactory, they need to report this problem to BT.’
The case officer for nursing home on Wealstone Lane and I met with the residents. The planning application, with some changes, is being submitted which gives me the opportunity to again 'call in' to committee.
I think we can all appreciate there have been issues with the standard of work happening with the installation of the connective fibre in Upton. I have kept in contact with Julie Derbyshire, and she asked me to share this with our community.
'CityFibre can only apologise for the disruption and inconvenience caused to residents and businesses in Upton. We are totally aware that this is not acceptable and CityFibre and Telent are doing everything possible to ensure that this level or workmanship improves immediately. A full progress plan is underway to ensure that all improvements will be made on all streets and work areas before any further works commence.
By Christmas we will have connected 1400 homes in Upton, with the area fully connected by February 2022. Please bear with us and keep letting us know of any further issues'
Parking on Pavements
The project to address pavement parking in Upton is still ongoing and recently we have delivered the leaflets to several street. These are a reminder about being community minded. I will bring a sample to the meeting. I have received only one comment and have explained that this is an experiment and the first time this approach has been used in Chester.
Increased Dog Mess
Over the past couple of weeks residents have contacted me to report an increase in the amount of dog faeces on Weston Grove. Our wardens will be keeping a watchful eye on the area. There is no reason for a dog walker/owner not to carry a bag and pick up.
Street lighting on Caughall Road
Residents on and around Caughall Road have again complained about the level of street lighting. I have raised this with the Highways team, and it's been agreed that an assessment will be carried out. In the meantime, may I ask homeowners to check that trees on their properties are not obscuring the streetlights?