Agenda and minutes

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

Any apologies for 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 commenced the meeting explaining that the Chair Councillor Westley and Councillor Dempster had been delayed arriving.

There were no apologies for absence.

There were no declarations of interest.

The Action Log of the previous meeting held 17 July 2019 is attached for information and discussion.

The action log of the meeting held on 17^th July 2019 was agreed.

Progress against actions not elsewhere on the agenda were noted.

·         Confirmed that Councillors had responded directly to questions asked by E2.

·         Discussion had taken place around a Restorative Justice Scheme, this was a part of the City Mayor’s manifesto and Assistant City Mayor Patel had been appointed to liaise with the Police & Crime Commissioner to develop such a scheme.

·         Representatives from four housing associations had been invited to attend a ward meeting, unfortunately there had been no response to that request but efforts would continue to try and secure their attendance at a future meeting.

ACTION: LASALs officers to be asked to provide regular updates on developments to ward councillors.

6.08pm Councillor Westley joined the meeting.

·         Discussion had taken place with the Director of Delivery, Communications & Political Governance on options that might engage more residents to attend ward meetings. One of the suggestions considered was “skype” styled meetings however such a meeting would be resource intensive in terms of managing and to roll such a system out to the whole city would be challenging. Proposals were still being considered for alternative methods to ward meetings.

Councillors will provide an update on ward information.

Councillor Westley assumed the Chair for the meeting.

Councillors reported that:

·         Flytipping continued to be an enormous problem for the ward, residents were encouraged to report all incidents to the City Warden/Cleansing Service team.

·         Patchwalks would be conducted in several areas across the ward and publicised in due course.

·         Concerns about overgrown trees and the lack of maintenance of trees across the ward were ongoing. This had generated several complaints to Councillors from residents and there had been some tripping accidents due to tree roots coming through pavements.

·         Parking issues had been brought to Councillors attention around Strathern Road, Bradgate Heights. It was noted that the introduction of a permit scheme for residents had caused an overspill of parking onto the main road, there was further congested parking by hospital staff/others who parked on the road during the day. A patchwalk had been organised on 1^st November with the Head of Highways to look at the issues.

6.18pm Councillor Dempster joined the meeting.

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

Sgt Ian Parker gave an update on local policing matters and crime statistics were noted (as attached).

Comments included:

·         Operation Lionheart targeting drug lines and criminality across the City had now come to an end. Ten people from the ward had been convicted of several offences related to drugs and received substantial sentences. Police were taking steps to identify and divert anyone stepping up to fill those “criminal” gaps.

·         Several drug warrants had recently been executed in the Linney Road area successfully recovering drugs and weapons.

·         5 young people had been arrested following an incident on Rainbow Park in October involving 2 groups of young people that had come together to fight. This had been arranged through social media and attracted 85,000 hits. Babington School had engaged with the Police to tackle the issue and support those involved.

·         Investigations into a recent stabbing incident on Beauville Drive were ongoing, residents were assured that this was not a random incident against a member of the public. The incident involved 3 “friends” that had been together drinking and had then come to a disagreement.

·         Priorities included tackling a rise in vehicle crime, areas such as Beaumont Shopping Centre, Glenfield Hospital and the Premier Inn car park were being targeted.

·         There were also focused patrols around the Home Farm area to disrupt gang activity and prevent ASB.

·         At this seasonal time of year there tended to be an upsurge in burglaries. Residents were encouraged to be vigilant and secure their property. Operation Capture was aimed at tackling and preventing burglaries in the area.

·         Officers had been recognised for an award for problem management following their successful interventions at the Bradgate Unit which had led to a reduction in the number of incidents there.

ACTION: Sgt Parker to share details of the presentation in relation to the Bradgate Unit with Councillor Dempster.

All to Note: The police now had a new website where public could comment on issues in their area. People were encouraged to report all incidents and were assured that if they wished to make anonymous reports their anonymity would be maintained.

The Chair agreed to a change in the running order of the agenda to take an item on Trees and Woodlands next.

Alan Dalbe, Trees and Woodlands Manager was in attendance to respond to concerns raised at the previous meeting regarding overgrown trees and lack of maintenance of trees across the Beaumont Leys ward.

Councillors explained that details of several issues concerning trees in the ward had been forwarded to officers for a response, including and not limited to trees on Strasbourg Drive, Amadis Road and Lourdes Drive. Councillors were concerned at the lack of response or action from officers concerning serious issues that were affecting the residents of Beaumont Leys.

Councillors commented that Beaumont Leys was quite unique in that it had a large number of trees compared to many other estates/wards in the city and although it was nice to have trees there appeared to be no budget line to maintain the trees and the problems were now across the whole ward. Overgrown trees were badly affecting the quality of life of some residents making houses too dark, gardens that can’t be used, causing trip hazards because of roots on pavement and dropping large amounts of leaves at this time of year brought additional hazard of slipping. There had also been complaints that tree roots were causing structural issues to private properties and the council could be liable.

The Officer commented that one of the difficulties in addressing matters was inter-departmental as different teams dealt with different issues such as one team looking at pavement/surface problems whilst another would tackle overgrown bushes. It was suggested that officers were constrained by policy and budget – with a 40% cut in budget, the effect was to extend maintenance periods so where previously trees may have had maintenance every 4 years that was now extended to 6 years.

ACTION: Councillor Dempster to email Deputy City Mayor Clarke and John Leach, Director of Neighbourhoods and Environmental Services to seek a meeting with them to discuss issues further.

Housing Officers will give an update on housing issues in the ward.

Marie Murray, District Housing Manager gave an update on housing matters across the ward which included the following comments:

·         Most schemes this financial year had been completed, 2 projects were outstanding, 1 on Wymar Close and another on Collett Road,

·         Discussions had taken place with ward councillors regarding projects for the next financial year subject to approval with the Assistant City Mayor – suggestions included more parking bays across the ward and improving communal bin areas.

·         The average turnaround of “Voids” in the ward was 92.49 days, in the last quarter there were 103 properties. There were a lot of properties where asbestos works had to be carried out, this created delays getting other repair works carried out leading to longer waiting times on voids.

·         Evictions were low across the ward with just 1 eviction in July for rent arrears and 1 in August for an unlawful occupier.

Councillor Westley reported on plans to spend capital money on various housing improvements in the City to modernise older properties and improve bathrooms and kitchens.

Councillor Bhatia raised concerns about tenants housed in private properties through the Housing Options system and their perception of being council tenants when it came to getting issues addressed regarding their properties such as repairs or overgrown/untidy gardens. It was noted that there was a Private Sector Team who could take up queries relating to tenants in that position.

ACTION: Community Engagement Officer on behalf of the ward councillors to write to Chris Burgin, the Director of Housing to raise the issue of private lets and enquire what the remit of the private sector team was.

There was a general discussion around untidy gardens and the steps that could be taken to tackle that issue. It was explained that officers could write to tenants requesting they be cleared and could also offer to clear but that would be at a charge. The City Warden intervened to explain that there were powers to issue a community protection warning on properties asking them to clear rubbish. Residents were reminded that there was a bulky waste collection that could be requested from the council, full details of that were available on the Council website.

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

Rupert Bedder, Highways Network Asset Manager gave an update on Highways related matters affecting the ward. Points made during discussion included the following:

·         A TRO process had begun to look at introducing yellow lines on Croft Road to prevent parking.

·         H-markings in front of drop crossings – residents were advised that a H marking could be requested from the council to prevent people parking in front of a drop kerb. Full details are available on the council website.

·         Concerns had been reported that the speed bumps along Ashton Green Road were not standard and were damaging cars. It was noted that they were a standard traffic calming feature although it was possible that the profile of the road was having an effect. However, the speed bumps were a temporary measure until the housing/road development was finished, the completed road would have table top ramps instead as seen further along on the road towards Thurcaston.

·         Previous issues around 2 lanes being formed in a single lane area along Glenfrith Way continued to be a concern to Councillors, people continued to vie for space, and this was a road safety issue.  The Head of Highways had previously suggested that this area could be looked at within the ongoing Anstey Lane project. ACTION: Highways Officer to provide update on this issue to the next meeting.

·         Further to concerns raised at the last meeting regarding a taxi firm’s vehicles parking and blocking Littlewood Close, yellow lines would be introduced at the bottom of Littlewood Close and at the top end of Tilling Road which should prevent parking in those areas.

·         Beauville Drive -Badgers Close Obstructive Parking petition – issues raised had been looked at and measures were being considered.

·         Trees overhanging onto highway – the Highway Team were looking at trees obstructing highways and would write to property owners as appropriate. The team also had power to cut back trees that were obstructing the highway. ACTION: Highways Officers to investigate overgrown bushes obscuring bus stop on Tilling Road (near Health Centre).

·         Concerns were raised about a number of mini roundabouts where car accidents and near misses had occurred. ACTION: Highways Officers to investigate mini roundabout at junction of Strasbourg Drive/Heacham Drive and the mini roundabout on Bennion Road at Heatherbrook Road.

·         As part of the action plan to address speeding a vehicle activator sign had been installed on Anstey Lane. Residents asked if signs could be installed on Groby Road too. ACTION: Highways Officer to check if Groby Road included in plan.

·         The footpath outside Babington School had been widened as part of the School Run Parking Programme.

·         The Heathley Park area 20mph zone would come into force in December 2019.

·         Concerns raised regarding cars parking to rear of properties on Keepers Walk causing an obstruction. ACTION: Highways officer to investigate

·         In relation to proposals for a 20mph zone along Stokes Drive it was suggested that be extended to include Copeland Avenue and Birkenshaw Road.

The City Warden will give an update on issues in the Beaumont Leys Ward.

Charlotte Glover, City Warden gave an update on issues in the ward (see attached).

It was noted that:

·         PA Housing Association had been contacted regarding an ongoing issue with one of their tenants whose dog was fouling the area. The Housing Association had emailed to confirm they had spoken to the tenant concerned and they would be taking action through the tenancy agreement and sending an enforcement officer from there side to tackle the issue.

·         Barnsdale Road car park continued to have flytipping issues. The Housing Association had been contacted as it was the private landlord’s responsibility to clear. The City Wardens team were looking at options and whether notice could be served on the Housing Association to take action. ACTION: City Warden to keep ward councillors updated on this issue.

·         6 Fixed Penalty Notices had been issued against a window tinting company for flyposting in the ward.

There was a discussion around bulky waste collection and Councillors referred to the skip schemes that used to be in place across the city. Councillor Rae Bhatia suggested that there should be a large waste collection vehicle that followed the rubbish collection vehicles on their routes and removed large items left on streets.

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 Budget

The Community Engagement Officer gave an update on the ward community budget. Since the last meeting 4 applications had not been supported, 4 applications were supported, and 3 further applications were pending process.

Applications supported were as follows:

·         African Network Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland – Black History month project at Beaumont Leys school - £500 Supported

·         North West Unity Boxing Club – new flooring and safety mats - £1000 Supported

·         Dance Culturize – social/sporting activities for adults with learning difficulties - £500 Supported

·         The Nelson Mandela Community Programme – Nelson Mandela Day, Party in the Park - £1000 Supported.

Nick Wood from Stokes Wood Primary School addressed Councillors regarding the school’s application for funding to purchase tents to enable school children to be taken on overnight camping each year. Nick explained the benefits of this activity and confirmed that approx. 50% of the children attending this school lived in the Beaumont Leys Ward. The school would also be willing to work with other schools to share equipment if they wanted to. A feasibility study before and after to show the benefits of the activity would be completed. Councillors were supportive of the idea but felt that as a significant number of children were from Western Ward an approach to that ward for funding support should also be made.

AGREED to support bid to the amount of £1000. Applicant to work closely with CEO to process application and put through joint bid to other wards.

ACTION: CEO to request that the Public Health team engage with the applicant in terms of gathering data from the activity and analysing the benefits of the data.

The CEO advised that the deadline for the next round of funding was end January 2020. All applications should be made online. Any applications that provided limited information would be requested to provide further details and if not responded to within a month then the application would fail.

There being no other business the meeting closed at 8.26pm