Venue: Middleton Library, Long Street, Middleton M24 1AF
Contact: Lauren Mason - Tel. 01706 923124
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Welcome and Introductions Minutes: All were welcomed to the meeting by the Chair of the meeting, Councillor Sue Smith, who advised that she was covering this meeting on behalf of Councillor Donna Williams. Introductions were announced. It was requested that mobile phones were switched off and put on to silent. Lauren gave a reminder for everyone to ensure they had signed in. |
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Apologies Minutes: Apologies were noted as above. |
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Minutes of the last meeting and matters arising Minutes: Any Other Business – No Entry
Signage |
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Street Cleaning, Waste, Clean and Green Minutes: Lauren
advised that Nick O’Neill hadn’t been able to make the
meeting, and as such he has provided a written update. · After a recent recruitment drive, the service now have fully staffed crews apart from holidays and sickness, so the use of agency staff has reduced from approx. 35-40 per day to 6-10, with the majority of staff being from within the borough. · The service has invested heavily in new vehicles which are more fuel efficient with less emissions and a greater carrying capacity.
Street Cleansing · A new dedicated Supervisor, Peter McCallion, is in post and the service has also recruited to vacant positions in this area. Peter is looking at mapping the area for schedules of cleansing to be implemented.
Grounds Maintenance · Middleton in Bloom judging is on 24 July 2018 so there is a big push on this work as we get nearer the date. The recent dry spell has hampered efforts in watering but they are trying to get an additional bowser in to assist the present two. As the date gets nearer, they will be flooding the route with resources from Street Cleansing, Grounds, Clean and Green and the Hit Teams. · In the months March, April, March and June, the Clean and Green Team carried out 216 jobs.
Hit Teams · The Hit Teams attended 3,368 jobs across the borough in 12 months collecting 685 tonnes of waste, 657 tonnes from Council land and 28 tonnes from private land. The cost of this provision including vehicles, staff and tipping charges is £450k per year (not including enforcement officers’ costs).
Sharron Stevens advised that the bins on Springfield
Road and in Jubilee Park are still not being emptied on a regular
basis, and in the current hot weather conditions they are becoming
increasingly smelly. (Action: Lauren to contact Nick O’Neill and Gerard
Proudman and request that bins are emptied on a more regular
basis) |
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Link4Life Update Minutes: Unfortunately, Andrew Entwistle was unable to attend the meeting and due to staffing had no representative available to attend on his behalf. He sent a written update, which was read out by Lauren: · Andy King, Chief Executive of Link4Life, is meeting with Councillors over the coming months to present the update on Link4life and future plans at Middleton. · Link4life are working on the Events building and a dedicated Events Team that will oversee the programme and improve services. · Summer Holiday Programme is out and Link4life are running a two week summer holiday camp. · A number of improvements have been completed over last few months on long standing and essential building works. Roof domes have been repaired to prevent leaks, drains in all changing rooms have been upgraded. Boilers and the hot water system is currently being upgraded due to be completed at the end of the month. This work was undertaken in partnership with Rochdale Borough Council and investment will be around £500k when all completed. |
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Public Realm Officers Minutes: A discussion took place concerning the issue raised at the last meeting about a person known to Officers feeding the pigeons. Victoria advised that she has contacted the Public Realm Inspectors regarding this matter and other issues but hasn’t managed to arrange a meeting with them. It was agreed that the email sent by Victoria will be passed to Lauren to raise with Stephen Pyke. (Action: Victoria to send a copy of the email trail to Lauren and she will raise the concerns with Stephen Pyke and arrange a meeting/site visit) |
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Transport Issues Minutes: Mike White reported that there are some local direction signs on Manchester New Road opposite the petrol station which have become covered by overgrown trees/branches. It was agreed that Lauren would raise this issue with colleagues in Environmental Management. (Action: Lauren to liaise with colleagues in Environmental Management to request that the branches are trimmed) |
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Updates a) Middleton Town Centre Management b) Friends ofMiddleton View c) Friends ofJubilee Park d) Friends ofWince Brook e) Green Volunteers f) Friends ofAlkringtonWoods g) Friends ofBoarshawCemetery h) Friends ofHopwood WoodsNature Reserve i) Absolute Angling j) Friends of Bowlee Community Park k) Friends of Mellalieu Street l) Status4All m) Middleton Lads & Girls Football Club n) Middleton Civic Association o) Middleton Roundtable p) Middleton Cricket Club q) Middleton In Bloom r) Any othergroups/events Minutes: Middleton Town Centre Management
Company · Broken promises from colleagues in Environmental Management, such as when the old plants were stolen it has taken over 12 months to get new plants ordered and they still haven’t been put in. · The new pathway that was installed is still not finished. There were also concerns raised about this due to the lack of consultation with the Friends of group from Environmental Management Officers. · The shrubbery from the sides of the Exedra was removed earlier this year, and despite requests this has still not been replaced. Howard advised that when it rains the earth around the structure is just running off and as such in the long term this could affect the stability of the Exedra. · Volunteers from the Friends of Group feel they are not supported by Environmental Management Officers with excuses being given continuously whenever work is requested.
Following the above conversation it was agreed that Councillor
Nolan will arrange to meet with the Friends of Group to support
them and liaise with Environmental Management colleagues regarding
the requests from the group. (Action: Councillor Nolan to meet with the Friends of Jubilee
Park) No
representative present to provide an update. |
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Any other business (not already discussed on the agenda) Minutes: · David Lappin advised that there is a leak at the sunken roundabout outside the Asheton Arms which has been ongoing for many months. He stated that he has reported this previously, and Lauren confirmed that she has also previously reported this issue and agreed that she would again make contact with United Utilities to chase up the repair. · David Lappin advised that as previously discussed coaches are still parking in the ‘bus stop’ area outside Weatherspoon’s on match days. Lauren advised that she did report this to GMP, who visited and asked the landlord of the pub to ask coach drivers to stop parking at this location. (Action: Lauren to report the issue to PC Tracey Lowe and ask that this be raised as a concern via the Pub Watch Scheme) |
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Dates of future meetings Minutes:
31 October 2018 |