Agenda and minutes

Councillor Willmott was elected as Chair

Apologies were received from Rt Hon Keith Vaz MP.

No declarations were received.

The minutes of the previous Rushey Mead Community Meeting, held on 29 September 2011, are attached and Members are asked to confirm them as a correct record.

RESOLVED:

the minutes of the last meeting were agreed as a correct record.

An officer from Leicestershire Constabulary will give an update on their priorities and actions in the Rushey Mead Ward.

PC Rob Puntney, Leicestershire Constabulary, provided an update on policing in the Rushey Mead Ward. The crime figures for the last three months were compared with the previous year. Crime was down by around 6%, although there had been an increase in burglaries. To tackle the increase window alarms had been distributed and were having an impact as numbers had dropped since October. In addition theft from unattended vehicles had increased and robbery had increased from four to six. Rob noted that thefts from young people, such as the taking of mobile phones, were often carried out by someone known to the victim. He asked that victims come forward to report the incident.

A resident queried if certain areas in Rushey Mead had seen an increase. Rob explained that Upperton Park and Lockerby Shops had incidents of phones been taken from young people. He noted that arrests had been made.

A representative will be in attendance to discuss proposals for a new Sainsbury’s store on Melton Road at the former GE lighting site.

Bob Keys and Tim Watkins, Sainsbury’s, attended the meeting to discuss the proposal of a new Sainsbury’s store on Melton Road. It was reported that in addition to this store the existing store on Belgrave Road was being redeveloped. Sainsbury’s were in attendance at the meeting to gain feedback from the local residents regarding the proposal and noted no planning application had been submitted. There was to be a public exhibitions on 20 January (1pm-7pm) and 21 January (9am-1pm) at St Theodore’s Church. Suggestions and views through the consultation process could influence the final plans to be submitted.

The Chair explained that Sainsbury’s would need to make a financial contribution (section 106 agreement) to the area if their planning application was approved. Where the funding was allocated it would be influenced through the planning process and community input was needed. Sainsbury’s requested that suggestions for what was needed in the area be passed to the ward councillors.

The following was discussed at the meeting:

Section 106 agreement

·         Sainsbury’s indicated that as part of the overall redevelopment of the site and the current store site on Belgrave Road they would be prepared to fund the demolition of the Belgrave Road flyover.

·         Residents considered that priorities in the Rushey Mead ward were:

•              The provision of community facilities (possibly a community centre)

•              Improvements to the Troon Way-Melton Road junction to take into account current safety issues and future increased traffic flows.

·         Residents expressed concern that the impression was given that the Council needed the Section 106 funding for projects in the area and that this need for funds would drive the application rather than local need for a new store. Members explained that the section 106 agreement was part of any large planning application as provision would need to be made for the local community and would not influence other planning considerations.

Traffic issues

·         Concern was raised regarding existing traffic problems and road safety at the Troon Way junction, as well as traffic access and volumes once the store was open.

·         It was requested that the Council’s and applicant’s traffic studies be made available to local residents and groups, which should not be based on surveys taken in holiday periods or other low traffic volume times.

Development phase

·         Following the disturbance to residents neighbouring the site during the demolition of the GE lighting building concern was expressed that traffic, noise, dust and disruption would have an impact during construction. It was requested that the Council be involved in the needs of the local residents.

·         There was concern about the impact of parked cars around the site, whether on grass verges or in side streets and the need to enforce parking and obstruction of traffic regulations.

·         It was suggested that a pedestrian crossing might be needed in Jacklin Drive during construction.           

Operational phase

·         Concern was expressed that the store would attract anti-social and criminal behaviour. PC Puntney commented that security needed to be built into the design and consultation was needed at  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

The City Wardens will give an update on their work in the Rushey Mead Ward.

Kerry Wellington, City Warden, reported on the work of the City Wardens in the Rushey Mead ward.

Kerry explained that she could work with residents during the development of the GE site to help it run as smoothly as possible for them. It was the role of the wardens to improve the city environment.

The flower beds designed by the school children at Sandfield School had been planted and would make an improvement to the area. It was also suggested that the children could create a mural to make the area look better.

It was reported that there had been prosecutions on people who had carried out fly tipping. If residents were to identify any problems they should contact the City Wardens.

A resident queried the cars parking on the grass verge on Jacklin Drive and asked if the area could be paved. Kerry noted that there were no parking restrictions and as long as there was no obstruction there were no powers to stop the drivers. It was noted that the grass vergers were there to absorb water.

The meeting discussed problems of traffic accidents due to parked cars on Wyvern School, where cars had demolished brick walls. PC Puntney explained that cameras were unlikely to be placed at the location as there were other areas of higher number of crime. Kerry suggested that an awareness event could take place at the school. Councillor Bhatti reported that the issue had been passed to officers following a resident contacting him.

Councillor Clair will provide a briefing on the Council budget for 2012/13.

The Chair reported that the Council had published the Council budget consultation. The consultation was available on the Council website and the deadline was 31 January 2012.

Concern was expressed that the 20 mile hour zones were not included for consideration. It was noted that this was to be investigated by scrutiny.

A resident queried why the Council would reject the funding from the Government to freeze council tax. It was explained that the amount was only for one year which would cause a short fall in funding the following year and a possible significant increase in council tax.

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 meeting will receive an update on funding given by the Community Meeting and the budget for 2011/12.

The following budget applications will be considered:-

Application 1

Applicant: RUSHEY MEAD LIBRARY

Amount: £ 500

Proposal: BHANGRA EXERCISE STEPS

Summary: This application is to continue the current Bhangra Step exercise workshop. This runs at the Rushey Mead recreation centre on alternative Saturdays.

The course, for adults, has been running since February 2011and more than 40 members are registered with the group whose services are open to men and women within the Rushey Mead community.

The group is working with cluster schools and other community groups to promote community cohesion and leisure/recreation in a safe environment close to their homes.

The dance itself promotes healthy living and other fitness and well-being aspects which relate to wider Council policy.

Application 2

Applicant: Wyvern Primary School

Amount: £ 1,200

Proposal: Ceremony for achievement of children of English and Maths

Summary: Wyvern primary school would like to make sure that children do as well as they can during the year. They want to motivate the children to make good/ outstanding progress and celebrate their achievements with Award Ceremonies for each year group. Foundation stage will have a graduation ceremony for children moving into keystage 1. Each year group (year 1 – year 6) will have award ceremonies for children that have made 2+ sub level progress in a subject (or a special prize if they achieve it in all three areas of reading, writing and maths). They would like to use the grant to pay some way towards to awards for the children which the children will be proud of and provide refreshments for parents and the community. Each year group will have an award ceremony. They feel it is important for parents to celebrate their child’s achievement.

Application 3

Applicant: LADIES’ SOCIAL GROUP

Amount: £ 150

Proposal: FUNDING OF ROOM RENTAL

Summary: The funding is to be used to stabilise and allow to continue the use of the Ladies’ Social Group rental at the Rushey Mead Community Centre. 

Around 20 members are involved in the event which takes place on Friday evenings

The meeting helps to increase social interaction within a group which might otherwise continue to be more isolated. 

The Chair introduced applications for funding that had been received as detailed on the agenda and they were considered as follows:

BHANGRA EXERCISE STEPS

Submitted by Rushey Mead Library

AGREED: that the request for funding of £500 be supported.

CEREMONY FOR ACHIEVEMENT OF CHILDREN

Submitted by Wyvern Primary School

AGREED: that the request for funding of £1,200 be supported.

FUNDING OF ROOM RENTAL

Submitted by Ladies Social Group

AGREED: that the request for funding of £150 be supported.

Congratulations were given to Winston Nurse who had been awarded an MBE.

The meeting closed at 8.45pm.