Agenda and minutes

Councillors will elect a Chair for the meeting.

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

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

Councillor Singh in the Chair. 

The Chair introduced himself and Councillor Cank to the meeting and welcomed all present.

No interests were declared.

Jethro Swift, City Warden

The Action Log for the last meeting, held on 13 November 2018, is attached for information and discussion

Agreed as correct.

Item 51 “Local Policing Update”

Police to liaise with Ward Councillors about the best location(s) for the mobile CCTV camera and suitable signage to show that the camera is in use.

Item 56b) “Any Other Business – Craven Park Football Pitch”

All to note that work has not started yet on replacing the football pitch and providing new goal posts in Craven Park due to other projects over-running.

Ward Councillors will provide an update on local ward issues

All to note that two separate issues regarding private housing landlords not doing required work in timely fashion were reported to the Council’s Housing Options service and quickly resolved.

Ward Councillors to:

·           ascertain from Housing services that checks are made that private landlords letting to Council tenants have the correct buildings and/or other insurances in place; and

·           find out from Housing officers whether a registration scheme for private landlords has been considered for the city.

Leicestershire Police will be at the meeting to provide an update on police issues in the Ward

All to note:

·           Burglaries and thefts from vehicles have reduced since Christmas;

·           Anti-social behaviour remains a priority;

·           Incidences of tools being taken from vehicles have reduced, with none being reported recently; and

·           Anti-theft screws for use on car number plates will be made available through Police beat surgeries and Councillors’ surgeries.

Police to look in to reports of late night/early morning anti-social behaviour on Huggett Close by young people.

Police to find out whether kits for marking tools are available, (for example, equipment for stamping a postcode on the tools).

Thanks extended to the Police for the work done to stop anti-social behaviour on the Craven Recreation Ground.

To receive an update from the City Warden on issues in the Ward

All to note that, as the City Warden was unable to be at the meeting, a written update was tabled and is also attached at the end of this Action Log for information.

A Housing Officer will be at the meeting to provide an update on housing issues in the Ward

All to note:

·           Several young people from Hamilton Academy, some of whom are Council tenants, have received letters and Anti-Social Behaviour Orders, as a result of which problems with anti-social behaviour have reduced;

·           £5,000 is available to subsidise Council tenants installing drop kerbs and an application for match-funding from the Ward Community Budget will be made. To qualify for assistance tenants must not owe the Council any money and, if crossing the pavement to a parking area in the garden, that garden must be a minimum size;

·           A newsletter will be circulated to tenants to gauge interest in the funding for dropped kerbs.  Once a list of those eligible has been drawn up, an assessment will be made of how they can be assisted.  Any hardstanding will have to be provided by the tenant; and

·           The possibility of providing parking on the corner of Northfields Road has been considered, but is not feasible.  However, officers will look in to whether some parking can be provided further round the corner.

All invited to submit ideas for how underspent money at the end of the financial year can be used, (for example, painting or fencing at Council properties).  Ideas of initiatives for the 2020/21 financial year that can benefit tenants in the area also invited.

A Highways officer will be at the meeting to provide an update on highways issues in the Ward

All to note:

·           Funding has been approved from the Ward Community Budget for bollards to be installed at the junction of Herongate Road and Gypsy Lane to stop cars parking on the junction;

·           Speed cushions have been installed on Herongate Road as part of a new 20 miles per hour zone;

·           Consideration is being given to whether it will be possible to allow vehicles to park with two wheels on the pavement in parts of the Cromwell estate;

·           Bollards are not needed at the junction of Essex Road and Hampden Road, as there are metal “no entry” signs there;

·           It is hoped that double-yellow lines can be installed in Albermarle Close / Humberstone Drive as parked cars make it difficult for traffic turning on to Humberstone Drive to get a clear view;

·           Boulders will not now be provided in Huggett Close.  Instead, small metal gates will be installed across Longhurst Close and keys given to everyone who needs to park there;

·           Some design options have been drawn up for work to the underpass between Thurmaston Boulevard and Trevino Drive.  Funding from the Ward Community Budget has been approved for this work.  It is not known yet if the railway authorities will contribute, but they have given permission for the Council to do the work; and

·           The current traffic disruption on Humberstone Lane is due to works to gas and water supplies.  The Council has been advised that the works will finish soon.

Highways officers to:

o    approach the railway authorities to request that a financial contribution be made towards the work on the underpass between Thurmaston Boulevard and Trevino Drive;

o    consider what remedial measures can be taken to stop lorries blocking Swainson Road / Portishead Road and parking with two wheels on the pavement;

o    investigate reports of speeding traffic in Victoria Road East to determine what redial measures can be taken; and

o    liaise with the Council’s Legal services to see if signs can be put up to stop people parking on private land.

Thanks extended to the Highways officers for their work in the Ward.

An officer will be present to provide information on the Leicester Adult Skills and Learning Service

All to note:

·           The Leicester Adult Skills and Learning Service (LASALS) is based in Belvoir Street but runs courses across the community;

·           A lot of the courses to improve employment and computer skills are free to people with a three-year UK/EU/EEA residency;

·           Many Level 1 courses are free for people on low incomes (under £15,736.50 gross per year) or those claiming a range of out of work benefits;

·           Access to Higher Education courses are available for mature students wanting to go to university;

·           Digital skills sessions are held to help people with on-line Universal Credit applications;

·           If a course you want to try is not listed in the brochure, you can contact LASALS staff as they may be able to help; and

·           The LASALS website can be found at https://www.leicester.gov.uk/schools-and-learning/adult-skills-and-learning .  The service also has a Facebook page.

LASALS officers asked to consider sending posters advertising the service to as many establishments as possible, including schools.

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

An update will be given on the Ward Community Budget

All to note the following projects supported:

·           DarulArqam Trust – Arts and Crafts workshop - £110 (of £250)

·           DarulArqam Trust – Baking for Kids workshop - £394

·           DarulArqam Trust – Sports and Health workshop - £496

·           Sandfield Close Primary School – Year 6 Graduation - £1,500

·           8 Bollards at Herongate/Gypsy Lane near Falcons School - £3,200

·           Brightsparks Mental Health Project at the Willows - £1,500

All to note that £4,949 remains in the Budget for the 2018/19 financial year, although some applications remain to be assessed.  The deadline for spending the remaining funding in this year’s budget is 15 March 2019.

a)     Vote of Thanks

All to note that Councillor Singh is not standing for re-election in the Troon Ward in the May elections.  A vote of thanks for his work in the Ward was given by Councillor Cank and responded to by Councillor Singh, during which he also thanked Councillor Cank for her work.

Those present at the meeting thanked both Councillors and expressed the hope that Community Meetings would continue and would be held at the current venue.

b)     Ward Notice Boards

All to note that funding has been allocated for Ward notice boards.  The sizes, materials to be used and the locations for them also have been agreed.  They will be lockable and weather and vandal-proof.

The meeting closed at 7.28 pm