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Birley Ward Labour Interviews Councillor Karen McGowan

Continuing the Councillor interviews, today Councillor Karen McGowan has answered a few questions on her motivations for becoming a Councillor, what she’s most proud of achieving and how local people can get involved in community activities.

Karen McGowan
Birley Ward Labour Councillor

 

Growing up in the Birley area, Karen has been a Birley Ward Councillor since 2010. The first question we put to her was what motivated her to become a Councillor?

 

I’ve been a member of the Labour Party since the 1980’s and have been active within the community for as long as I can remember with things such as being a school governor at Birley Learning Community and a member of the Birley Health Centre Patient focus Group.

 

It was Councillor Bryan Lodge who suggested the idea of becoming a Councillor. I was hesitant at first, but after shadowing other Councillors I realised I had the passion to help make a positive difference, and if being a Councillor will help me in achieving this, then it was something I felt I should get involved in. Although if you had told me 10 years ago I’d be entering my 5th year as a Councillor I wouldn’t have believed you.

 

In you time as a Councillor, what have been your proudest moments?

 

Serving my local community is something I’m extremely proud of. I’m really passionate about making it the best place to live and work for everyone.

 

The development of the Hackenthorpe Skate Park was a great success. We listened to all the residents and came up with a solution that’s worked for everyone. It’s given the local youth something they wanted and has been extremely popular so far.

 

Working with local volunteers is also something I’m always proud of, especially recently with volunteers who are running both the Frecheville and Gleadless libraries. I’ve found it a real privilege to help support such dedicated and hardworking residents who are making our areas better.

 

Additionally, the amount of litter around is something I don’t like to see, and so in response to resident concerns, the Birley Blitz litter-picking events were organised and so far these have been brilliant. It’s been a great way to get others involved and really make an immediate difference to how our streets look and feel.

 

How do you fit all the council duties around your day-to-day job and family?

 

It is difficult to manage as I have responsibilities just like everyone else. As well as being a Councillor I have a husband and daughter and work for the University of Sheffield 3 days a week. I’m very lucky in that my family are hugely supportive, as it’s them that my Councillor duties impact upon most as I’m often out both evenings and weekends meeting residents, at council meetings, or getting involved in local events and activities.

 

How can members of the local community get involved?

 

They can let me, Bryan or Denise (fellow local Councillors) know of any issue that’s important to them in our community. Alternatively, they can get directly involved in any existing community group we have such as Friends of Charnock Recreation Ground, Friends of Frecheville Park & Pond, Friends of Dykes Vale Park, volunteering at Frecheville or Gleadless library or even by simply buying and donating books from the libraries. There are already a lot of local people making a huge difference to our local community and I’m always keen to help others the best I can.

 

And finally, what are your main hobbies outside of the council?

 

I enjoy swimming and also like to read whenever I can – I’m a big Nora Roberts fan.

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Birley Blitz Litter Picking Event near to Birley Spa Primary School

7 blitz2

 

Saturday 21st March saw the latest Birley Blitz litter picking event take place around Birley Spa Primary School. Organised by the Birley Ward Councillors, the open space outside the school was tidied with the help of several volunteers.

 

At the event Councillor Karen McGowan said “we are very grateful to both the Sheffield City Council Parks & Countryside and Sheffield Youth Justice Service for supporting all of these events, we definitely couldn’t do it without them”.

 

This Birley Blitz tied in with the ‘Spring into Action’ and ‘Help Clean up your Community events’ which are national initiatives aimed at helping improve local areas.

 

Afterwards, Councillor Denise Fox commented, “when we first looked at the area we didn’t know where to start but the difference when we’d finished was impressive, thank you to everyone for helping out”.

 

Councillor Bryan Lodge added that carpets, a flat screen TV, kids bike, shelving, and car parts were just some of the items removed “It amazed me as there’s no way of getting a vehicle near so people have been carrying this stuff to fly tip it. It took two people to carry the TV so someone must have seen them!”.

 

Check back on our website, or follow us on twitter for information on future events. Everyone is always welcome to come along and get involved!

 

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Hackenthorpe Tenants and Community Association- a Clairification

Please see below a combined statement from the Birley Ward Councillors, Beighton Ward Councillors and Clive Betts MP providing in response to an article published in The Star.

In a recent Viewpoint published in ‘The Star’,  concerns were expressed around the suspension of the Hackenthorpe Tenants and Community Association (HTACA). The piece finished by making an inference that local councillors from Beighton and Birley wards, plus Clive Betts MP, appear to be disinterested due to there being no elections this year. Nothing could be further from the truth. The councillors and MP have been working with the association for many years but have been more closely involved recently as the problems surrounding the TACA’s operation have unfolded.

For clarity, a number of facts regarding the association need to be understood:  HTACA, covering a vast area that spans both Beighton and Birley Wards, has been in a state of turmoil for a number of years. Over two years ago, following changes to the committee and officers of the association, an Independent Auditor was asked to conduct a review of the association’s previous year’s accounts and identified some discrepancies that required further investigation. This highlighted additional areas of concern including items of expenditure of the association, the commissioning and awarding of works conducted in the gardens of the association’s office, and around individual expense claims. Further instances of fraud were uncovered and police proceedings followed. After a period in which the committee and officers tried to stabilise and rebuild the TACA, the Chair, Secretary, Treasurer and some other committee members took the decision to resign. They cited problems within the committee, expressing concern that some committee members were making it difficult to conduct the functions and operation of the association. They effectively closed the association, returning the keys of the TACA premises and transferring the balance of the accounts to Sheffield Homes to hold in trust. Due to the difficulties the association had experienced, and a number of outstanding issues that had still to be resolved, the Local Area Board of Sheffield Homes (now Council Housing Service) concluded that a full and frank investigation in to the association was the best way to resolve the issues and plot a way forward. This course of action received the backing and support of the local councillors, Clive Betts MP, the Cabinet Member for Homes and Neighbourhoods and his Cabinet Assistant. Consequently, a panel made up of independent tenants that include the former Chair of Sheffield Homes, plus Cllr Tony Damns, Cabinet Assistant, and the Council Housing Service Area Manager, is currently conducting the investigation. As this complex investigation is still ongoing, and until the investigation is completed, the association remains suspended and the Council Housing Service holds tenant’s levies.

This is a difficult time for the TACA and everyone involved in trying to resolve the matter. Whilst we recognise the frustration experienced by the ongoing suspension of the TACA, we are disappointed with a piece that attempts to paint a picture of disinterest and apathy.  We are united in our desire to ensure that a properly constituted and well-run organisation emerges from this process; an organisation that is fit for purpose and is focused on its members.

In the meantime, tenants and residents across the Hackenthorpe, Birley, Frecheville and Scowerdons estates continue to receive support and assistance from their elected councillors and MP through regular surgeries or by contacting them directly.

Cllr Helen Mirfin-Boukouris, Cllr Ian Saunders, Cllr Chris Rosling-Joseph
Members for Beighton ward

Cllr Karen Mcgowan, Cllr Denise Fox, Cllr Bryan Lodge
Members for Birley ward

Clive Betts MP
Sheffield South East

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Councillors Visit Rother Valley Church in Hackenthorpe

Cllr Bryan Lodge, Cllr Denise Fox, Chris Jeavons (Senior Pastor) and Cllr Karen McGowan outside Rother Valley Church on Spa View Road
Cllr Bryan Lodge, Cllr Denise Fox, Chris Jeavons (Senior Pastor) and Cllr Karen McGowan outside Rother Valley Church on Spa View Road

Birley Ward Cllrs Karen McGowan, Denise Fox and Bryan Lodge took up the invitation to visit the Rother Valley Church on Spa View Road in Hackenthorpe and see for themselves the various activities that take place there. Most people will be aware of the building but not necessarily the range of events that the church supports. In addition to the regular Sunday Worship, the church hosts Toddler Groups, ‘Messy Church’ -(activities for families), Youth events, Craft Days and Coffee mornings. The church also provides a Drop-In Centre with toasties and hot drinks. “It was an interesting visit where we really got a feel for how the church works within the community” commented Cllr Lodge. The invitation came from Chris Jeavons, Senior Pastor, who saw it as an opportunity to seek the Councillors views on their ambitions plans to become a focal point for the community.  “Chris explained their aspirations on providing a community cafe, along with improved facilities for children and young people” said Cllr Fox,”I was pleasantly surprised by what we heard”. The church has occupied the site for around 17 years and the range of facilities is surprising. Cllr McGowan said “I’ve been past the church so many times but have never been inside. It’s a lot bigger than it seems from the outside. Before we went into the building, Chris spoke of their plans to install a soft play area and I envisaged it to be of a medium size. Having seen inside, I think it’ll be big enough for adults to enjoy it, not just children!”.

Further information about the church and it’s activities can be found on their website:  www.rothervalleychurch.co.uk

Your Councillors are always happy to visit community groups, schools, churches, etc within the Birley ward. If you would like to visit you, please don’t hesitate to get in touch

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Public event on Streets Ahead Improvement works in Hackenthorpe & Frecheville

Amey are holding public roadshow events to publicise the Streets Ahead improvement works to be carried out in the Hackenthorpe and Frecheville area starting this year.

The roadshow event will take place on the 16th April at the Hackenthorpe Community Centre on Four Wells Drive from 2.30-6.30pm. It is a drop-in session so residents and businesses can attend at any time between 2.30 and 6.30pm.

B74The roadshow dates will shortly be put on the Streets Ahead web pages on the Sheffield Council website at the link below

https://www.sheffield.gov.uk/roads/works/schemes/streetsaheadproject/works-schedules/roadshows.html

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Hackenthorpe Skate Park

imageIt was great to see the youths of all ages playing on the skate park today. There were up to 20 youths coming and going. It was great to see them admiring the skills of their peers and showing me what they had learnt and being courteous to each other.

They asked me if we could extend some of the equipment or add to it as it was used so much and it was the only skate park in the area. They said they were so pleased they did not have to travel so far any more and they could walk to this one.

One of the fears from the residents was that there would be more litter. I noticed the bin full and that the youths were cleaning up after themselves, when I commented on this one said “we clean up if there is any litter on the floor when we arrive. We want to keep it all nice and tidy.” I felt a great sense of pride hearing this as I realised they had taken ownership akready.

Councillor Karen Mcgowan said “I have never been so proud of anything, so many kids are using it and even my nephew has been down and they all say how great it is.”

 

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New Skate Park for Birley Ward

Birley Ward Skate Park Crossing Location
Birley Ward Skate Park Crossing Location

Following a lengthy consultation process, a new skate park has been approved for construction in Birley Ward. The skate park will be built on the car park for the playing fields at the bottom of Occupation Lane, and will provide a facility for local skateboarders to practice their sport in a place that is both safe and highly visible to the surrounding community.

The decision to give the go-ahead to the skate park was taken at the South-East Community Assembly meeting on Thursday October 11th. The decision took into account local views that were both for and against the proposal, and the impartial advice of Sheffield Council Officers, the local Safer Neighbourhood Team and the South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive.

The council officers’ report on the viability of the project and the canvassing of local opinion can be accessed here:

Report on Proposed Skate Park for Occupation Lane Playing Fields Car Park

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Regular Events at Hackenthorpe Community Centre

Hackenthorpe Community Centre has a programme of regular events, with something for all members of the community. For details, please see the following flyer, which also includes contact details. Those wishing to download a full copy of the flyer – which includes an order form allowing application for any of the activities listed – may do so from the link at the bottom of this post.

Hackenthorpe Community Centre Activities 1
Hackenthorpe Community Centre Activities 1

Download Hackenthorpe Flyer

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Birley Spa Lane / Springwater Avenue

Residents may be aware that a scheme had been put forward to improve pedestrian safety at the junction of the above roads. Consultation has taken place with local residents and schools close by and it was proposed that the scheme was implemented in the current year. Councillors Fox, McGowan and Lodge have continued to press the Highways service to ensure that this scheme does proceed.

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Easter Egg Hunt at Dyke Vale Road

Your local Labour Councillors support the Living with Nature programme at Dyke Vale Road and were joined today by over 75 people who took part in the Easter Egg Hunt. Councillor Karen McGowan said “it’s great to see so many young people and their families supporting this event and enjoying the area. Thank you to all those staff involved in organising today’s event”.

Living with Nature is a three year programme, funded by the Big Lottery, focussing on improvements to sites on Sheffield Homes land, which are all currently identified as Play Areas (although many have had old equipment removed in recent years). This is a partnership which involves Wildlife Trust for Sheffield & Rotherham, Sheffield City Council, the University of Sheffield, and Sheffield Homes.

The greenspace at the junction between Dyke Vale Road and Carr Forge Road is a designated play space, managed by Sheffield Homes. It is being re-developed to provide better and more exciting play opportunities, high quality public greenspace for all and improvements for wildlife and nature.

The aims of the programme are to improve the play value of the sites, and to increase their biodiversity and value to wildlife. This will be done through an intensive process of community engagement with local tenants and residents as well as existing community groups, to create a sense of local ownership of the completed facilities; increase social cohesion in the areas concerned; and to encourage people to be more involved in terms of the ongoing upkeep and positive use of their local community greenspace. For details of the site see http://www.wildsheffield.com/what-we-do/projects/living-with-nature