Agenda and minutes

The Chair will introduce those present and make any necessary announcements.

Any apologies of absence will be noted.

The Chair and any other Councillors who are present will make any declarations as required by the Councillors’ Code of Conduct.

Councillor Rae Bhatia as Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting and led introductions.

There were no apologies for absence received.

Councillor Rae Bhatia declared that he had received representations regarding the Local Plan to be discussed, and that he lived near the area of one of the sites proposed for development.

Councillor Westley declared that he had been lobbied regarding the Local Plan proposed housing on Beauville Drive.  

The Action Log of the previous meeting held 26 February 2020 is attached for information and discussion.

The Action Log of the previous meeting held 26 February 2020 was confirmed as a correct record.

Matters arising included the following:

Item 23 ‘Housing Update’

It was noted that there still had not been an update from the Housing Officer regarding the Tenants and Leaseholders Forum.

Item 25 ‘City Warden Update’

It was noted that the Trees and Woodlands team had been in touch with Councillors and residents had not made any further complaints.

Item 26 ‘DMU Local Project’

It was noted that the De Montfort students who had presented at the previous meeting had sent a digital version of their plans.

Councillors will provide an update on ward information.

It was noted that

·         Work was ongoing to support local foodbanks; residents were encouraged to support foodbanks where they could.

·         The Health and Wellbeing Board was upcoming, where there would be a discussion of parity of esteem between physical and mental health.

·         The main issues that seemed to be coming up from residents were related to anti-social behaviour.

·         The Housing Scrutiny Commission Meeting was upcoming, a working party had been set up to look at overcrowded housing,

·         Work was ongoing with City Highways to look at road safety issues in the ward.

·         Work was ongoing with other departments on widening and refurbishment of walkways, specifically Beaumont Walk.

·         Representation had been made to the Council supporting a Shuttle Bus service from the Ashton Green area to Beaumont Shopping Centre.

·         Three new defibrillators would be installed in the ward for the public to use if necessary.

·         Work was ongoing liaising with Highways on Key Ward Priorities.

Officers from Leicestershire Police will be at the meeting to provide an update on police issues in the Beaumont Leys Ward.

PC Adam Woolman was present to give an update, he reported that;

·         Crime had decreased during the first Covid lockdown, but numbers had returned to normal in the summer.

·         The number of thefts of motor vehicles had not changed from last year.

·         The number of thefts from motor vehicles would have gone down significantly if not for one night where 18 incidents took place,

·         The number of robberies had gone up significantly, with knives sometimes involved. Police were prioritising this issue and had made a number of positive arrests.

·         Residents were reporting anti-social behaviour involving illegal use of motorbikes and drug dealing.

·         There had been a number of complaints about poor parking around Glebelands School. Several motorists were warned about this issue and there had since been a significant reduction of issues in the area.

A Highways Officer will give an update on highways issues in the ward.

Rupert Bedder, Highways Network Asset Manager, was present to give an update. It was noted that;

·         It was requested at the last meeting that the bus stop on Tilling Road be moved forward. The bus stops team would be doing a program of work on all bus stops starting in February 2021 for two years. It was thought that the bus stop could be brought forward one and a half meters.

·         Work had been done or was due to be done on Astill Lodge Roundabout and Collet Road.

·         A Traffic Regulation Order regarding Bennion Road and Croft Road had been advertised and there had been no objections. The plan was for those double yellow lines to be in place by Christmas.

·         Drainage works were taking place on Anstey Lane.

·         A visit to Beaumont Leys school was to take place to see what could be done regarding traffic issues there.

·         Plans were in place to introduce school run parking measures on Strasbourg Drive, they would take place early in the new year.

·         Virtual assemblies would be taking place to encourage children to walk and cycle.

·         As part of the Transforming Cities scheme, work would be done to widen and improve lighting and street furniture on Beaumont Walk and Lismore Walk. This work would be beginning in January 2021.

·          Anstey Lane corridor works and plans for a Park and Ride in the ward were also in early stages of development before consultation.

Councillors reported that bus stops on Strasbourg Drive and Tilling Road needed seating for elderly residents. Action: Rupert Bedder to take request to appropriate officers.

Councillors reported issues with the roundabout on Lomand Close and Heachem Drive. Action: Rupert Bedder to report to traffic safety team.

There will be an update on Housing issues in the ward.

Officers were unable to attend the meeting, so a report was summarised by the Ward Community Engagement Officer. The report is attached at the end of this log.

Police reported parking issues around Austwick Close and Bishopdale Road and that more parking spaces could be placed in that area which would relieve problems.

Councillors asked to receive the phone numbers of the new Housing Officers working in the area. Action: Ward Community Engagement Officer to pass request to relevant officers.

An update will be provided on the environmental issues that the City Warden has been dealing with in the Beaumont Leys Ward.

It was noted that Matt Davinson was the new City Warden for the ward. He was not present at the meeting, so the Ward Community Engagement Officer read the information provided. This update has been attached to the end of this log.

Councillors are reminded that under the Councillors’ Code of Conduct they should declare any interest they may have in budget applications.

An update will be given on the Ward Community Meeting budget.

The Ward Community Engagement Officer provided an update on the Ward Community Budget.

It was noted that since the last meeting the following applications had been received;

·         Bishopdale Learning Hub - £1500 for adult learning

·         Glebelands Primary School- £400 for a new defibrillator

·         Ndi Igbo Leicestershire- £500 bid not supported due to Covid rules.

·         Stokes Wood Allotment Society- £500 for purchase of timber sheds

·         Heathley Park Residents Association- £426 for Neighbourhood Watch, newsletter, and gravel

·         Women 4 Change- £500 for criminal justice education for young people

·         Lisa Orlovska in partnership with Buzzing Roots Cic- £500 not supported

·         The Curator Educator- £400 for creative afternoon

·         Pheonix Agenda Supplementary School- £400 for community monitoring

·         Boxercise4health- £315 for This Girl Can project

·         £6000 committed for three defibrillators in the ward

Beaumont Leys Ward Councillors noted that it had been agreed in principle to give £500 towards foodbanks for Christmas.

Officers from the Local Plan team will be present to give an update on the Local Plan.

Grant Butterworth, Head of Planning, gave a presentation on the Local Plan and its impact on Beaumont Leys ward. The slides presented are attached at the end of this log.

It was noted that;

·         The first stage of consultation for the Local Plan was in progress and would end on 7 December 2020.

·         The Plan covered the period from 2020 to 2036.

·         Four strategic development sites were proposed in the ward. These sites were to include housing as well as employment development as well as new schools if allocated.

·         Preserving open space would be a goal, whilst providing the need for housing and other development.

Residents asked how these sites had been selected and why there was no mention of them in previous Local Plans. Grant Butterworth reported that Government targets on new houses needed to be met for each Local plan period, so the previous Ashton Green allocation had been to meet earlier housing demand.  The new sites subject of this consultation were being considered for development to meet new needs looking forward 15 years but were not confirmed yet.

Residents asked what measures would be put in place to ensure that these proposed development sites would not have a negative impact on the environment, wildlife, health, and transport infrastructure. Grant Butterworth reported that more detailed plans about these issues would be considered and presented in the next version of the Local Plan which would also consider representations received at the current stage of consultation, and then in further detail at a planning application stage should allocations be progressed.

Residents asked why certain sites were being tested on site now if development on them wasn’t confirmed. Grant Butterworth reported that these sites were being surveyed to ensure that development on the site could be possible and investigation was ongoing on issues like archaeology and biodiversity on the sites, in line with Government policy.

Residents asked why the consultation process was going ahead when restrictions meant that physical signatures to petitions relating to the plan could not be collected. Grant Butterworth reported that consultation was meant to happen in March 2020 but had to be delayed due to the Covid lockdown, He reported that the Government had advised planning processes including consultation on Local plans should continue. He also encouraged residents to give detailed individual responses to the consultation which would be more helpful than a signature on a petition.

Councillors asked if paper copies of consultation response forms could be sent to schools to provide to parents who might not have access to the website. Grant Butterworth reported that schools had been engaged with and that they could distribute paper forms themselves. Action: Councillors to speak to local schools about distributing paper response forms.

Councillors reminded residents that this was the latest stage of an ongoing process and it was very important for residents to keep engaged with the process.

There being no further business, the meeting closed at 8.03pm.