Agenda and minutes
PDF 160 KBVenue: Linwood Centre, Linwood Lane
Contact: Heather Kent
| No. | Item |
|---|---|
|
ELECTION OF CHAIR Councillors will elect a Chair for the meeting. Minutes: Councillor Shelton was elected Chair of the meeting. |
|
|
WELCOME Minutes: Councillor Shelton and Councillor Cutkelvin welcomed everyone to the meeting and gave thanks for support given. Councillor Cutkelvin introduced herself and noted that there would be four councillor surgeries a month in the Freemen Ward. |
|
|
APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE Minutes: Apologies were sent by Dave Budd, Neighbourhood Development Coordinator and Sarah Peel, Saffron Acres. |
|
|
DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST The first main item on theagenda is Declarations of Interest where Councillors have to say if there is anything on the agenda they have a personal interest in. For example if a meeting was due to discuss a budget application put forward by a community group and one of the Councillors was a member of that group, they would not be able to take part in the decision on that budget application.
Councillors are asked to declare any interest they may have in the business on the agenda, and/or indicate that Section 106 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 applies to them.
Minutes: Councillor Bill Shelton declared that in respect of the Community Meeting Budget, a funding application had been received from the Saffron Fete Community, and that he was Chair of the committee but would personally receive no financial benefit from the funding application. |
|
|
MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING The minutes of the previous Freemen Community Meeting, held on 16 March 2011, are attached and Members are asked to confirm them as a correct record.
Minutes: RESOLVED: the minutes of the last meeting were agreed as a correct record. |
|
|
AYLESTONE RECREATION GROUND FOOTBALL DEVELOPMENT Mark Laywood, Sports Project Manager, will give an update on progress with the football pitches development on Aylestone Recreation Ground. Minutes: Mark Laywood, Sports Project Manager, Leicester City Council, explained that there was a city wide sport investment strategy. There were eleven sites across the city allocated for football pitches. Mark explained the following points:
· There was to be changing facilities and community lounge at the sites. · The football foundation did not allow for exclusive use and therefore the site was open to other people. · There had been concerns raised at other locations regarding the use of the sites and the potential for vandalism. It was felt that ownership of the facilities was the best form of security. · At Aylestone Recreation Ground the perimeter fence would remain and the football pitch would be re-marked out. · The artificial pitch would have floodlights and there would be no overspill into gardens. The lights would be turned off by 10pm in the week and 6pm at the weekend. · Each facility would have a management group and most have representatives from community, police and schools. · There would be an opportunity for people to become involved. · Mark was happy to meet residents onsite and show them around. · There had been problems with the grass and the contractors were returning to reseed. · Mark could be e-mailed on Mark.Laywood@leicester.gov.uk if there were any problems.
A resident raised concerns that information about the works sign was placed on a side road and not on the main road where most people would see it. Mark noted that it had been agreed that information about the sites would be placed on the main entrance. At Aylestone Recreation Ground this was not on the main road. The Chair noted that when the planning application was made all residents in close proximity were sent letters and given the opportunity to submit objections.
In response to a question it was explained that there was a two tiered band charging system and a slight increase in fees and charges due to new facilities. It was anticipated that these pitches would be cheaper as it was through the local authority.
It was discussed that an officer could attend the Saffron Fete on 20 August to provide information to local residents.
It was queried if the maintenance of the perimeter fence was included in the sites development and noted that it needed attention. Mark agreed to enquire.
The use of the pitches would depend of demand with a spread of football sites across the city. |
|
|
SAFFRON ACRES COMMUNITY ALLOTMENTS PROJECT Representatives from the Saffron Acres Community Allotments Project will be present to introduce the work of the project to the Community Meeting. Minutes: A representative for Saffron Acres Community Allotment Project attended the meeting and explained the benefits of the project. This item was discussed further under ‘Community Meeting Budget’. |
|
|
POLICE UPDATE Police Sergeant Darren Little from Leicestershire Constabulary will give an update on policing in the Freemen Ward. Minutes: Police Sergeant Darren Little gave an update on crime in the area and provided details of the last sixty days crime figures for the Freemen Ward compared with the previous year. Overall there had been a reduction in crime and antisocial behaviour.
It was reported that Marriot Road had been removed from the priority list. More work had been carried out with housing agencies and at the last consultation no more problems were reported. Sergeant Little noted that there was availability for a new priority and asked for suggestions.
A resident queried if vacant housing properties were reported to the police and explained that the property could be vacant for a few months before new tenants were appointed. It was noted that the police were not informed in normal circumstances. Ian Stapleton, Housing Services, explained that only if the property was thought to be vulnerable would the police be informed. |
|
|
CITY WARDENS Scott Clarke, the Freemen City Warden, will give an update on issues in the Ward. Minutes: Scott Clarke, Freemen City Warden, distributed information detailing the key issues in the ward and new ways to contact the City Wardens. The City Wardens were carrying out work on the 100 days priorities and One Clean Leicester project.
A key target for the area was people smoking outside their work premises. The aim was to change perspectives for the mess to be cleaned away by the employer.
Scott explained that the City Wardens were able to distribute fix penalty notices as a deterrent.
In response to a question Scott noted that within the Freemen Ward there had not been much uptake with the Environmental Crime app and that the website identified the wards where the reported incidents happened. |
|
|
COMMUNITY MEETING BUDGET Councillors are reminded that they will need to declare any interest they may have in budget applications, and/or indicate that Section 106 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 applies to them.
Councillors are reminded that they will need to declare any interest they may have in budget applications, and/or indicate that Section 106 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 applies to them.
The following applications for grants are submitted for consideration:-
Application 1
Applicant: Lifestyle Focus – The Chill Out Group Amount: £1510 Description: (Please note that representatives will be present to explain the work of the group further.) To fund a local community group called The Chillout Group, who meet on a weekly basis for two hours in Saffron. The sessions held are ran by two adult tutors who introduce a flexible learning programme, such as art and craft activities, gardening, sampling complimentary therapies and Health and Wellbeing sessions. Some of the individuals need confidence and self esteem building, as the group is aimed at people who may feel isolated in the community. The local G.P Dr Kerbal now refers some of his patients that may suffer low level mental health issues, he has over the past 2 years had positive feedback from them due to accessing this group. Many have been given opportunities to engage and participate on other courses such as First Aid, Food and hygiene and gained a qualification. This group is an anchor for people to make the first stages of lifestyle changes, and many have gained employment after attending the group.
Evaluation of this proposal will be done through photographs, G.P feedback and NHS Mental Health workers. We will be introducing a Chillout Craft Sale which will give the group a chance to sell some of the products that are made during the sessions such as cards, Christmas gifts, plants etc. This will give the group a chance to understand the importance of sustaining and eventually working towards being a social enterprise, looking at putting a profit back into the group to fund materials as well as promoting business skills through financial literacy.
Application 2
Applicant: Saffron Fete community procession Amount: £2000 Description: The Saffron Arts Forum intend to provide an opportunity for local residents to get involved in the saffron fete by providing a number of artistic workshops from March to August throughout the estate which would include dance workshops, costume making workshops and art and design. They will work with existing groups to promote the saffron fete and get as many local people involved in the process as possible by promoting the benefits artistic programs can have on local communities as well as local people. The workshops would reduce isolation and bring the community together and provide the opportunity for different generations to work alongside each other. In addition there would be the opportunity for family learning in after school activities and summer workshops where parents and carers can work with their children.
Community Meeting funding would be ... view the full agenda text for item 10. Minutes: The Chair reported that the 2011/12 funding allocation was £15,000 and that the following applications were submitted.
Application 1
Applicant: Lifestyle Focus – The Chill Out Group Amount requested: £1510
Representatives from the group were in attendance at the meeting and described the purpose of the group. Two people who attended the group explained how beneficial it had been to them in building confidence and providing support towards employment. In future the group hoped to generate funding through selling products made during activities.
The Chair suggested that the meeting part fund the application and the remainder be sought from the Eyres Monsell Community Meeting, as people also attend from that ward. It was added that should the application be unsuccessful the Freemen Community Meeting could support the remainder.
RESOLVED: that the funding application be supported to the value of £755.
Application 2
Applicant: Saffron Fete community procession Amount requested: £2000
The applicant explained the project and that funding was based on 100 hours of work over the summer. Following discussions on the limited amount of Community Meeting funding it was noted that the project could be run on reduced funding. The meeting agreed to fund half the project.
RESOLVED: that the application be supported to the value of £1,000.
Application 3
Title: Carnival Procession Amount requested: £1400
The applicant explained that the funding was for closing the road and was a set amount.
RESOLVED: that the application be supported to the value of £1,400.
Application 4
Applicant: Saffron Acres Project Amount requested: £1821
A representative explained the role of the Saffron Acres Project and the benefit to the users of the allotment. In response to a question it was explained that the project was funded by the lottery and the application was for additional items. A member of the public praised the project and explained how useful it had been for her and other users. The meeting discussed the amount requested and the possibility of funding certain parts of the application to ensure funding remained available for later bids. The meeting agreed that the application would be supported for £1,000 and the remaining £821 would be forwarded to the next meeting.
RESOLVED: that the application be supported to the value of £1,000.
Applicant: Saffron Directory Amount requested: £2000
The applicant explained the directory and that it was already part funded by the Neighbourhood Management Board. The meeting discussed different possibilities for the directory such as joining with the housing office publication, using an internet version and applying to Eyres Monsell Community Meeting. The applicant was concerned that a collaboration with the housing office would double the costs and that the people who produced the directory were Saffron based. It was suggested that the date be removed from the front of the directory to prolong its use. The Chair suggested that the application be deferred and discussions take place outside the meeting
RESOLVED: that the application be deferred.
The Chair reported that three applications had been agreed through ... view the full minutes text for item 10. |
|
|
CLOSE OF MEETING Minutes: The meeting closed at 4.30pm. |