1. PACT's Planning & Environment Issues Sub-committee met on Thursday 29th April. Our next meeting will be arranged for a date in late June in time for PACT MCM of 6/7/04. 2. Review of Planning Obligation Strategy (S106), 2004. PACT submitted a written response as agreed. Glenys Malyon, Chair of PACT's Planning & Environment Sub-committee, spoke to this agenda item at Environment Scrutiny Committee on Tuesday, 27th April. The points she made were to: a) challenge the Committee to justify the way it is allocating S 106 monies, b) ask the Committee not to agree a further round of proposed projects until it was made clear which developments the contributions were to come from, and c) ask the Committee to resolve that remedial work to Ravensworth Gardens public open space be funded out of contingency funds, and not out of S106 monies, and to do all in their powers to secure restitution from the construction company concerned. Unfortunately, owing to a mistake, she was denied her right to reply on PACT's behalf to the response made by the Executive Councillor for the Environment, Nichola Harrison. Valerie Neal, as PACT Chair, wrote to protest at this and PACT received a witten apology from Simon Pugh, Head of Legal Services, and from Cllr Harrison. PACT has been offered the opportunity to meet with Cllr Harrison and put its case to her. 3. Station Area Revamp. There was a long discussion on this item at Environment Committee (no application yet received from developers). Glisson Road & Tenison Road Residents' Association, aided by Cllr Ben Bradnack, are commenting on this so there is no need for PACT involvement. Ben asked that all the open space entitlement should be in the form of land and not converted into commuted S106 sum. Also that additional land for open space should be purchased where possible (though as building land this is likely to be prohibitively expensive.) Some talk about foot/cycle route beyond station towards Hills Road. This had beeen suggested to go under Hills Road bridge (alongside railway line? sounds horribly dangerous!) Peter Studdert, Director of Environment & Planning, said that this had been investigated and found to be impractical. He suggested cycle lane up Station Road! Glenys has since spoken to Frank Gawthrop, of Glisson Road and Tenison Road Residents' Association, who thought that foot/cycle path in this direction was in place so we might be mistaken. 4. Midsummer Common - paths. Glenys did not get to exhibition and consultation at Wesley Church on 31st March but John Roebuck, Parks and Recreation Manager, says that comments can still be made to him. A PACT member reported to us that the worst damage is near the Fort St George public house where deliveries are made. ( So it's not Midsummer Fair or Strawberry Fair or even the Fireworks Display which is causing the main damage!!) Any work to put this right would come out of S106 money and would be a huge drain on these resources. On the other hand Midsummer Common might, in fairness, be considered as a genuinely citywide facility. 5. Newmarket Road/Harvest Way. a) PACT representatives had a good meeting with developers on Wednesday, 28th April. Richard Allen of PACT had re-designed the internal layout of the community centre and this was very well received. Neil Ruffles, architect, wants to know what we want to use the kitchen for as this will influence his final design. b) meeting with Victoria Watts, City Council Legal Offficer, has been arranged for Thursday, 6th May, at 4.00pm.To discuss issues of ownership of the community centre by Chartfront, and lease (at nominal rent) to PACT.  6. Safer City Grant application - for lighting in Rope Walk. Next deadline for receipt of applications is Monday, 7th June. Linda Kilkelly is the City Council Officer now dealing with this (as Deborah Agnes has left the City Council). 7. Philips site. Houses now being built behind Silverwood Close. Residents of Silverwood Close say the the houses are horribly high and close. But they are thankful that the amendment to flats was refused because these would have been even higher.   8. Abbey Walk - one-way system. A PACT member had received a reply from Graham Lowe, Highways Manager, to her response to the second round of consultation but no final decision yet as far as we know. Cllr Patricia Wright has been lobbying for re-routing of footpaths on St Matthew's Piece so that they can be used by motorised wheelchairs if Abbey Walk goes one-way. 9. Cafe Afrika, The Studio, Sturton Street. On Thursday, 22nd April, Licensing Committee refused to renew Cafe Afrika's public entertainment licence. Many complaints had been received from nearby residents about non-compliance with conditions re door controls, number of events per week and time of closing events. There were also adverse reports from Environmental Health and the Police. Glenys spoke afterwards to Khal Sene and Daisy Lees who operate Cafe Afrika and thought their ideas on community activity were interesting. She suggests that PACT invite them to attend a future PACT Management Committee meeting to discuss community access to the cafe/bar, which is housed in former Howard Mallett Centre, especially alcohol free events for young people.