Agenda item

To receive updates from ward councillors from Brinsworth and Catcliffe, Hoober and Keppel on the activities supporting Thriving Neighbourhoods across the Borough.

Councillors Buckley, Carter and Simpson, on behalf of the Brinsworth and Catcliffe Ward, gave an update on their Ward priorities as follows:-

-               Funding received by The Centre, Brinsworth, to run the Hot Food Projects serving 2 course meals twice a week to elderly and vulnerable residents.

-               Purchase of gazebos and portable equipment by the Brinsworth Arts Group to allow the Group to meet outside safely

-               ‘Brighten up Brinsworth’ at Christmas with funding provided to install Christmas lights, hold virtual Christmas events, donate prizes and support the illumination of the life-size nativity scene in Catcliffe Kiln

-               In conjunction with the Housing Hub, funding provided to install security lighting outside several ground floor flats at Fortway Road and Roman Crescent

-               Replacement of fence panel on Victoria Street had helped to reduce incident of anti-social behaviour

-               Parking buddies provided at Waverley Junior Academy to help promote road safety outside schools

-               In partnership with Catcliffe Parish Council match funding provided for a fly-tipping camera which would be monitored by the Council.  Deployment of the camera would be decided by the Parish Council and local residents

-               Casting Innovations commissioned to work with Neighbourhood staff and local schools to provide 30 bird boxes and 20 bat boxes to encourage wildlife across the Ward and 2 apple trees to be planted in Catcliffe which will hopefully be the start of a planting programme

-               Funding provided to Friends of St George’s Churchyard to clean and clear the graveyard

-               Community Chest grants to Catcliffe and Brinsworth Parish Councils to help refurbish play areas and purchase an inclusive swing and a Cobra swing

-               Community Chest funding for new outdoor shelters/equipment to maintain the bowling greens at Catcliffe and Brinsworth Bowling Clubs

-               Friends of Howarth supported with an outdoor classroom and play equipment providing additional space for pupils to safely learn and play outside

-               Funding provided to Crafty Talk to make 70 ‘craftolation’ packs and given to those shielding/isolating during lockdown helping their mental health and wellbeing

-               RUCST, misconception of youth, was a virtual Journalism programme that taught young people skills and equip them with the tools to become keen journalists 

-               Friends of Brinsworth Manor purchased two outdoor clocks for the playground to help with outdoor play and education

Councillors Lelliott, Steele and Roche, on behalf of the Hoober Ward, gave an update on its Ward priorities as follows:-

-               Tackled social isolation amongst the elderly by working with the communities and Neighbourhood Team to reach out to as many groups as possible

-               Supported the newly formed Brampton Community Gardeners by providing funding for plants and gardening equipment

-               A celebration event held to thank all the local groups who worked tirelessly to make the area a better place to live

-               West Melton Park had received additional equipment including a MUGA area, exercise equipment, benches and tables and the planting of trees.  Residents had been consulted throughout the whole process and gave their full support

-               Outdoor summer activities had taken place in a Covid safe manner

-               Assisted the community with the delivery of food parcels or hot meals for those who were shielding or vulnerable.  Food shopping,  prescription collections and a befriending service was also available

-               Covid safe Halloween activities and a Winter Wonderland had taken place

-               Unfortunately Christmas 2020 had been much quieter due to the Covid restrictions but the West Melton Christmas tree had been lit

-               Funding provided for redundant telephone kiosks to now house 2 defibrillator kiosks around the Ward together with one situated on the wall of a primary school and one on the wall of a local public house

-               Plant pot holders and plants provided to the Brampton Volunteer Gardens for a small group of residents to brighten their village up in both the Brampton and West Melton areas

-               Reinstatement of a public footpath that had been closed off separating 2 communities and stopping school children easy access to the school.  Together with the people of the parish and local community group, the Parish Council had been challenged to re-open the footpath and the fencing removed to allow access

-               Other groups funded included Brampton Junior FC, Brampton Youth Group, Brampton Volunteer Gardeners, Cortonwood Comeback Food Bank, Harley in Bloom, Harley Junior FC, Wath, West Melton and Brampton Litterpickers,  Cortonwood Luncheon Club, Cortonwood Comeback, Harley Mission Rooms Trust, Wentworth Village Community Association, Men in Sheds, West Melton Allotment Society, Christmas Tree Barriers and Brampton Parish Council

The Ward Members thanked officers for their support during the last 12 difficult months.

Councillors Clark, D. Cutts and Hague, on behalf of the Keppel Ward, gave an update on its Ward priorities as follows:-

-        Following complaints, funding provided for a barrier to the Sough Hall Road Surgery Car Park entrance to prevent the out of hours anti-social behaviour/littering

-        Housing had provided security packs to the over 70’s Council housing tenants; Ward Members had used extra funding to purchase the same pack for those private rented or owned their own properties

-        Cacti fencing to 2 garage sites at Kimberworth Park following reports of anti-social behaviour

-        St. John’s Green lighting project to help people feel safe and continue to support local shops

-        Together with the Rotherham West Ward, match funded the purchase of CCTV to record any criminal activities Droppingwell

-        Consultation with Green Spaces regarding the style and the positioning of the rustic benches funded by the Ward on Keppels Field giving views of Wentworth, Wentworth Woodhouse, the follies, Keppels Column, Greasbrough and beyond

-        Working with Public Rights of Way, enhancement/renewal of the horse hops on entry to Keppels Field and Scholes Coppice to make it safer and prevent off road motorcycles

-        Joint funding to remove hedges/replaced with fencing on Kimberworth Park Road

-        A request submitted to the Road Safety Fund for enhanced safety improvements near the junction of Oaks Lane and Upper Wortley Road.  This had been agreed and would be carried out shortly

-        Operation Slowdowns had taken place in various areas within the Ward

-        Traffic measures including traffic surveys had been undertaken on some of the more problematic routes in the Ward.  The information had been used to purchase and position an illuminated street sign in Thorpe Hesley and new traffic signing on Thorpe Street

-        Parking buddies installed outside Thorpe Hesley Primary School

-        Unfortunately to Covid unable to do a similar Christmas event as in 2019

-        Supported Wingfield Academy’s OAP Christmas Party

-        Funded new fishing tackle damaged during the flooding for Fishermen’s Friends

-        Provided funding for Kimberworth Park Community Partnership for food hampers for families at Christmas time

-        Christmas trees provided for Kimberworth Park and Thorpe Hesley

-        Kimberworth Park Community Partnership’s Food Pantry was hoped to be operational in late spring where residents from the local area would be able to purchase food for a small contribution

Members thanked the Neighbourhood Team and all the partners they had worked with for all their work during the last 12 months.