Agenda and minutes

Councillor Bhatti will be chairing the meeting.

It was noted that Councillor Bhatti was chairing the meeting.

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.

There were no declarations made at this time.

The minutes of the previous Rushey Mead Community Meeting, held on 20^th October 2009, are attached and Members are asked to confirm them as a correct record.

RESOLVED:

The minutes of the previous meeting of Rushey Mead Community Meeting, held on 21^st October 2009, as previously circulated, be confirmed as a correct record.

To receive an update on the development plans for Mellor Primary School that form part of the wider Building Schools for the Future programme. Feedback will also be given on the recent public consultation event.

Karen Hammond, Headteacher attended the meeting and outlined the development works proposed at Mellor Primary School.

Karen stated that the works were part of the Building Schools for the Future (BSF) programme although the proposals were submitted late on due to there being 2 buildings on the current site. The existing Key Stage 1 building had only 2 years left and was subject to subsidence. It was decided that it would not be possible to build just ½ a school so a new vision was drawn up and subsequently agreed.

The new school would be built on the grassed area at the back of the current school and the current buildings would be demolished in September 2011 and the area landscaped.

Access to the site would be via Clarke Street as well as a smaller minor access leading into Bellholme Close. An overspill car park would be created near the existing car park. The new school hall would be a 2-storey building capable of holding 500 people and would be popular for community use. The Woodbridge Childrens Centre was also on the site and would be linked closely with the school.

Several members of the public present expressed concerns about traffic problems at the current school and questioned whether any consideration had been given to alleviating problems for residents in the new proposals. It was stated that no formal decisions had yet been taken regarding entrances to the school for traffic and it was suggested that as soon as plans were available the Ward Councillors would get in touch with local residents and arrange a local meeting with planning and transport officers present to try and reach a satisfactory conclusion.

It was stated that the residents of Woodbridge Road would want to see the main entrance sited on Checketts Road, particularly during the construction phase, as there were continued problems with parking on Woodbridge Road, and this could be exacerbated by the extra traffic caused by extended use of the school at evenings and weekends.

RESOLVED:

                        that the information be noted.

Gwenda Brown, Area Manager, Children and Young Peoples Services will outline the facilities available at the new Woodbridge Children’s Centre that has recently opened next to Mellor Primary School.

Gwenda Brown, Manager outlined progress at Woodbridge Childrens Centre. Gwenda stated that the Centre, one of 18 across the City, had been open for 2 years and catered for children aged 0-5 in the Rushey Mead Ward. It was anticipated that children up to 12 would be catered for soon. Gwenda stated that some 150 people passed through the Centre each weekfrom North Belgrave and Rushey Mead and that certain services also operated out of Rushey Mead Recreation Centre.

RESOLVED:

                        that the information be noted.

Julie Chapaneri, Extended Services Co-ordinator, Children and Young Peoples Services will give an update on the first two rounds of funding allocated in respect of the extended programme of working with schools and community groups.

Julie Chapaneri, Extended Services Co-ordinator outlined funding that she was able to access to work with all schools in the area. Examples of projects could be Toy Libraries and Breakfast Clubs and Julie stated that some £25k was available in 2009/2010.

Julie stated that funding had been made available to the recent Community Day at Rushey Mead Library where a lot of information had been distributed. A similar event would be held in March.

RESOLVED:

                        that the information be noted.

Barbara Whitcombe, City Warden Manager, Regeneration and Culture will outline the roll-out of the City Warden programme into Rushey Mead Ward.

Members of the public will be asked at the meeting to identify any high profile ‘grot spots’ in the area (preferably accompanied with photographs), these will then be added to a priority list for action.

Barbara Whitcombe stated that the City Council had piloted the Wardens across 11 Wards in the City but now were to roll out City Wardens across all 22 Wards. Each ward would have its own dedicated City Warden from April 2010 to address issues around dog fouling, litter, bins on streets, fly-tipping etc.

A member of the public stated that a lot of rubbish had accumulated outside the former factory on the corner of Woodbridge and Melton Roads. Rbbish was also present on the corner of Payne Street. It was stated that details of sites to be cleared should be reported through the City Council hotline.

A member of the public stated that a number of people just dropped their litter on the street and Barbara stated that the ultimate action would be to take people to court, although this could be costly and time consuming.

A member of the public stated that foxes were regularly seen in the area and Barbara stated that this was partly down to people leaving food out that attracted vermin.

RESOLVED:

                        that the information be noted.

To receive an update on traffic issues in the area, and in particular the outcome of the following petition presented to the Council, at its meeting on 25^th November 2009, by Councillor Clair.

John Dowson, Highways and Transportation attended the meeting  to give feedback.

52 Bus Service

It was reported that a petition had been presented to the City Council complaining against the operation of the 52 Bus Service along Woodbridge Road, Berridge Lane and Lanesborough Road. John stated that the City Council were not able to instruct a bus company to cease operating part of a commercially operated route, rather to meet with them and inform them of the concerns. The provision of bus stops was requested by the bus operator but, following consultation these were not installed as the service is a hail and ride service. Should stops be requested by the bus company then these would be treated on their merit and not installed at places where there was deemed to be an obstruction or a danger. The principal complaint was that a bus service was not wanted in this particular area and it was suggested and agreed that the ward Councillors could meet with the bus company and assess the issues and see what could be done to address the petitioners concerns.

RESOLVED:

                        that the action proposed be noted.

Representatives from the Local Policing Unit will be in attendance to highlight any issues that are a cause for concern and to seek feedback.

A scheme to create a graffiti wall in Rushey Mead has been co-funded by the community meeting and police.

Rita, Local Policing Co-ordinator stated that her role was to bridge the gap between the public and the Local Policing Team. Local Policing priorities had been set for the next 3 month period and were published on the Police website. Since January 2010 the local policing beat areas had been linked to correspond with the City Council ward boundaries.

A member of the public stated that the main area of concern was the lack of perceived police presence on the streets in the area. Rita stated that there was regular police presence but that it might be a question of timing but that additional patrols of the Woodbridge Road area would be arranged to address concerns around the potential for burglaries during the daytime.

Car parking on certain streets and around the local school were also areas of concern and it was suggested that the police would liaise with the local residents and headteacher to try and find solutions.

RESOLVED:

                        that the information be noted.

To receive feedback from the recent successful community day at Rushey Mead Library.  

Rambha Odedra, Community Librarian outlined the activities that were taking place at Rushey Mead Library. A ‘Look Good and Feel Good’event was being planned for March where health checks would be available. Internet was now available at the library, together with ‘homework help’ sessions.

Local people were urged to visit the Library and become involved with the local community.

RESOLVED:

                        that the information be noted.

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.

Jerry Connolly, Members Support Officer will give an update on the current position regarding the Community Meeting Budget.

The following application for funding was received prior to the meeting and, as the amount requested fell within the amount allowed under the Community Meeting urgency rules, the Ward Councillors supported the application as a matter of urgency to allow work to proceed as soon as possible. The local Joint Action Group (JAG) has also allocated an additional £400 as match-funding towards the total cost of the project.

An update on the progress of the project will be given at the meeting.

Ward Community Fund

1)            Graffiti Wall – Rushey Park                                                   £400

            Local Policing Unit

The following applications have also been received: -

Ward Community Fund

2)            Creation of Play Area                                                               £4,000

            Woodbridge Children’s Centre

Jerry Connolly, Members Support Officer reported on the following applications for funding that had been received: -

            Ward Community Cohesion Fund

1)         Local Joint Action Group                                                                        £400

            Graffiti Wall

            RESOLVED:

that it be noted that this application had been approved in full by Ward Councillors under delegated powers.

            Ward Community Fund

2)            Woodbridge Children’s Centre                                                           £4,000

            Creation of Play Area

            RESOLVED:

that the application be funded by £2000 from the ward Community Fund, the balance of £2,000 to be referred to the City Council Extended Services Programme and Belgrave and Latimer Community Meeting.

3)            Community Fund

            The Friends of Watermead                                                   £1,820

            The Friends of Watermead Family Discovery Day

            RESOLVED:

that the application be funded in full as a one-off payment for 2009/2010.

4)            Community Fund

            Lighthouse Learning                                                                   £1,800

            Learning to Learn Family Day

            RESOLVED:

that the application be funded by 50% £900, the balance to be referred to the City Council Extended Services Programme.

5)         Ward Action Plan

            Play and Youth Development                                                           £7,000

            Play facilities fior Huggett Close area

It was reported that Ward Councillors had indicated that they wanted to ‘ring fence’ funding for play facilities in this area and Adrian Edge, Play and Youth Development Officer had suggested an approach: -

“There is however an alternative approach we could take and look at opportunities to oprovide some natural play equipment within the grassed areas at the other end of Huggett Close where the footpath links connect it with Shearer Close. There are several grassed areas here with existing trees with good natural surveillancefrom adjacent properties, these could be used to develop a natural play trail with some balancing items such as stepping stones, play mounds, balance beams and sensory planting.”

RESOLVED:

that the approach outlined above be adopted, and that £7,000 be earmarked for the project, subject to consultation with local residents.

Balances

Jerry Connolly, Members Support Officer reported that the following balances remained, subject to the applications set out above being approved: -

            Community Fund                        £93

            Ward Action Plan              £367

The Chair declared the meeting closed at 8.48 pm.