Agenda and minutes

Councillor Dr. Rita Patel will chair the meeting..

Councillor Rita Patel was elected Chair for the meeting.

No apologies for absence were received.

Councillor Potter disclosed an ‘other disclosable interest’ in Minute 8 – Budget – Northfields Playbarn as one of her children occasionally attended the Playbarn.

The minutes of the previous Humberstone and Hamilton Community Meeting, held on 29^th February 2012, are attached and Members are asked to confirm them as a correct record.

RESOLVED:

that the Minutes of the meeting of the Humberstone and Hamilton Community Meeting held on 29^th February 2012 be agreed as a correct record.

Feedback and discussion will take place on the following issues:-

i)          Proposed new Housing Development – off Keyham Lane

Representatives from the developers of this site, located in Charnwood Borough Council, but adjoining the City boundary, will be attending the meeting.

ii)         ‘More Houses’ – newspaper article

Attached is a copy of a newspaper article written by John Burrows concerning the insistence by successive Governments for additional housing to be built across the country.

ii)         Other issues including:-

            Greenspace – City Council and Greenbelt Group

            Adoption of streets

            Contact details.

Copies of maps were distributed at the meeting that depicted the greenspace areas of Hamilton that were covered by Greenbelt and also by the City Council. A third map showed the streets that were the responsibility of the City Council and those that were yet to be adopted.

i)          Housing Development off Keyham Lane

Greg Mitchell, representing Framptons, agents for the developers of this site, attended the meeting and outlined the details of the planned development. The planning application was for 419 properties within the City Council boundaries and the proposals had been advertised locally.

A public meeting had been held during May 2012 at Hamilton Library where the proposals had been outlined in greater detail. 44 local residents had attended the meeting but Ward Councillors and the Right Hon. Keith Vaz M.P. had not been contacted and they had therefore been unaware of the meeting. The main issues raised at the meeting had been around transport issues and the extra traffic generated as well as the vehicular access onto Keyham Lane that had been identified as emergency access only onto Keyham Lane.

It was reported that the outline planning application was seeking to establish the principle of the proposed development for up to 419 new homes. There would be no overspill parking onto surrounding roads and it was stated that the previous planning application for this site had been for 550 units. Negotiations with the City Council were still ongoing.

The Chair stated that the local infrastructure had not kept pace with development in the area and sought assurances that this new development would not make things more difficult for local residents.

Members of the public stated that there were already serious traffic issues around Kestrels Field School and the new housing development would likely bring more children to the area.

Greg stated that the current Government policy was to build new houses and the developers of this site were endeavouring to make this site as sustainable as possible, as well as providing adequate car parking and roads as well as looking to make an off-site contribution to infrastructure. Greg stated that, regarding pressures to local infrastructure he was not able to advise his client to do something that was not within the guidance that currently existed.

A member of the public, who was a governor at Kestrels Field School, had been led to understand at a recent meeting at the school that any contribution from the developers to fund educational facilities would be directed to Charnwood rather than Kestrels Field. Greg responded by stating that he would be very surprised if Section 106 funding would go to Charnwood rather than Kestrels Field School.

Greg stated that it was anticipated that the outline planning application would be taken to the City Council’s Planning and Development Control Committee on 7th November for determination.

Mike Richardson, Acting Head of Planning at the City Council stated that the City Council sought developer contributions to benefit the infrastructure within the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

The Community Meeting to receive a local policing update.

Pc Katie Burnham attended the meeting and gave an update on local policing issues.

School parking was a continual issue and this was being tackled, although with limited resources and limited action that could be taken.

Due to recent changes to local policing in the City the former Neighbourhood Teams were now referred to as Safer Neighbourhood Teams that would include 2 Beacon Officers who would be the point of contact. From next year a larger team would be available.

The Chair of the Hamilton Residents Association (HRA) stated that there were issues around speeding cars on Sandhills Avenue racing between the traffic calming. This issue had already been raised with Community Speedwatch. The Chair suggested that it would be useful if a meeting could be arranged between the police and the HRA and discuss in greater detail the various issues around speeding traffic, decide what was wanted and report back to the Community Meeting.

RESOLVED:

                        that the information be noted.

The Community Meeting to receive an update from the City Warden.

Charlotte Glover, City Warden attended the meeting and had nothing to report, her contact details were posted outside the Library.

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 Community Meeting to receive an update on the Community Meeting Budget and of the budget applications received for consideration at this meeting. The following applications have been received: -

i)          Northfields Playbarn – 30^th Anniversary                                        £1696

An application received from Northfields Play Association to part fund a Fun Day celebrating 30 years since the opening of the Northfields Playbarn.

ii)         City Warden Service – Patrol Bike                                                £456.96

An application received from the City Warden to purchase a Patrol Bike enabling her to patrol the Ward more effectively.

Anita Patel, Scrutiny Support Officer presented the Community Meeting Budget and reported that the following applications had been received since the last meeting and the decisions are summarised: -

                                                                                                Amount applied for

i)          Northfields Playbarn – 30^th Anniversary                      £1696

An application had been received from Nothfields Play Association to part fund a Fun Day celebrating 30 years since the opening of the Nothfields Playbarn.

Resolved:

that this application be deferred to enable further information to be obtained from the applicant.

ii)         City Warden Service – Patrol Bike                                 £456.96

An application had been received from the City Warden to purchase a Patrol Bike to enable her to patrol Humberstone and Hamilton Ward more effectively.

Resolved:

                  that the application be supported in full - £456.96.

There were no items of urgent business.

It was reported that the next meeting of the Humberstone and Hamilton Community Meeting would be held at 6.00pm on Wednesday 5^th December 2012 at Netherhall Neighbourhood Centre, Armadale Drive.

The Chair declared the meeting closed at 8.47pm.