Agenda and minutes

Councillor Gugnani was elected to chair the meeting.

There were no apologies for absence.

The first main item on the agenda 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.

Members are asked to declare any interests they may have in the business to be discussed.

There were no declarations of interest.

Members are asked to approve the minutes of the previous Knighton Community Meeting, held on 17 June 2013.

The minutes of the meeting held on 17 June 2013 were approved as a correct record.

Adrian Wills, Head of Libraries and Information Services, will make a short presentation explaining the nature and objectives of the review of Neighbourhood Services.

Adrian Wills, Head of Libraries and Information Services was in attendance to make a short presentation explaining the nature and objectives of the review of Neighbourhood Services.

Adrian explained that four wards in Leicester South (including Knighton) comprised a pilot area for a re-organisation of Neighbourhood Services.  There was need to conduct such a review, partly as a result of a loss in Central Government Funding.  In total, the services within the review were to experience a reduction of approximately 30% funding. 

A number of Council services were scoped into the review which included Library Services, Community Centres, Adult Skills and Learning and Customer Services.  Due to the significant reductions, a number of innovative practises for re-shaping services were to be explored.  Adrian cited a recent example whereby Aylestone Library was re-housed into Aylestone Leisure Centre, and as a result, the overall library usage rose significantly.  

It was explained that the purpose of the pilot was to work with residents to identify further solutions and to set priorities for service delivery within the pilot area.  A consultation leaflet was circulated to those present, seeking views on the proposals and requesting further suggestions.  It was noted that the consultation would close in December before analysing the results and identifying projects to take forward. 

It was noted that there was a shortage of Council owned community facilities in Knighton Ward, but that there were many alternative settings such as places of worship as well as schools which could be used more extensively to host community activity.    

An update will be given by Street Vibe on the outreach project supported at the last meeting.

Brian Quinn from Street Vibe was present to provide an update on the outreach project which received support from the Community Meeting Ward Budget at the last meeting.

Brian reported that there had been a poor level of take-up for the service, though it was acknowledged that there were very few reports of anti-social behaviour in Knighton during the Summer.  In total, it was reported that 7 young people engaged with Street Vibe activities. 

A number of residents questioned the methods of publicity for the Street Vibe service given the poor take-up.  Brian confirmed that a leafleting exercise was conducted and that fliers and posters were distributed throughout the Knighton area. In addition, there was also a social media campaign.

The Ward Councillors thanked Brian for delivering Street Vibe in Knighton during the Summer. 

Officers will be at the meeting to discuss the concerns raised at the last meeting about the nature, scale and timing of reductions to schools’ supported bus services.

Trevor Pringle, Director of Young People’s Services, was in attendance to discuss the concerns raised at the last meeting about the nature, scale and timing of reductions to schools’ supported bus services.

Trevor explained that the City Council spent between £4m-5m on home to school transport provision, and that approximately £500,000 of this was discretionary.  It was noted that the review of provision focussed solely on  identifying ways of using the discretionary elements more effectively.  In total, the City Council was looking to save roughly £320,000 of its discretionary allocation as a result of significant cuts in funding imposed by Central Government. 

Trevor reported that changes of this nature require a public consultation, and this took place during Spring 2013.  The consultation exercise was publicised widely, and the decisions which arose have already been embedded. 

Trevor explained that the proposals were subject of consideration by the Children, Young People and Schools Scrutiny Commission and one of the subsequent decisions taken was a withdrawal of some support provided to Voluntary Aided schools, a reduction in transport offered to those at Faith Schools and a reduction in post-16 provision.  In respect of families with a low disposable income, it was confirmed that the law required that some level of assistance be provided.  Trevor confirmed that whilst the proposals were widely viewed as unpopular, no significant challenge to any was lodged. 

The discussion centralised around the provision of transport to those studying at faith based schools.  It was noted that many other local authorities had taken similar steps in imposing a reduction in provision regarding faith based schools.  It was also noted that these particular changes would affect 700 children of the total 52,000 children in the schooling system.  Trevor acknowledged that the proposals regarding faith schools had been met with challenge by some parents during the consultation phase, predominantly in relation to the timescales from imposition and a feeling that faith school provision was being singled out. 

An update will be given on the community event held in Northcote Road during the summer.

An update was provided in relation to the community event held in Northcote Road on 3 September 2013. 

The event was very well attended and engaged with children from six local schools.  The organisers arranged for the road to be closed, and this was not met with any opposition from either motorists or residents. 

As a result of the successful event, it was noted that residents from other wards, including Evington, had expressed an interest in staging similar events.

There will be a Police update for the area.

An update on policing in Knighton was provided.

The following crime statistics for the recent quarter were reported:

-       2 thefts of motor vehicle.

-       2 thefts from motor vehicles.

-       20 house break-ins

-       3 ongoing anti-social behaviour reports in respect of homes on Pendlebury Avenue, Stoughton Road and Cainsforrd Road.

-        

The Police Officer present alerted those present to reports of a motorist wh had recently been stopping pedestrians and asking the for money.  A suspect had been arrested in connection with the incidents and had been released on bail.

The City Warden for Knighton Ward will be present to provide an update on environmental issues for the area.

Scott Clarke, City Warden for Knighton Ward was present to provide an update on environmental issues for the area.

Scott explained that he had recently been appointed as the Warden for Knighton though had worked in the City Warden Service for over 9 years.  He explained that he was still developing knowledge of the Knighton ward.

Councillor Moore commended Scott for his work to date, and thanked him for efficiently enforcing problems experienced with illegal parking. 

It was noted that parking was particularly problematic in the Queens Road area, and that the areas surrounding some religious buildings was especially a cause for concern.  Scott explained that eth Parking wardens team had earmarked Queens Road as apriority area for enforcement.

Councillor Grant explained that there was a need to look at establishing a school crossing patrol at St Thomas More.

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.

a)     A statement outlining the current budget position is attached to this agenda.

b)     The following grant applications are submitted for consideration:-

Application 1

Applicant:     Mr Denis Odwyer

Proposal:      Hawthornes Residents Group – Community Cohesion and Community Getting On Together

Amount:       

Residents will pay £5 per person for packed lunches

Summary:

Residents at the Hawthornes are elderly.  Some are on low incomes and can be trapped in their homes.  It is therefore proposed to hire a coach to take 50 people on a trip to Cleethorpes / Skegness.  The coach will cost a maximum of £500.

Places will be allocated on a first come first served basis.  Residents will be asked to pay £5 for a packed lunch (to include bottles water and soft drink).

Application 2

Applicant:     Stoneygate Shops Retailers’ Forum

Proposal:     Allandale Road / Francis Street Christmas Market

Amount:        £3,951

An application has also been made to Stoneygate Community Meeting for a grant

Summary:

It is proposed that a Christmas Market be held in Allandale Road / Francis Street from 11.00 am – 4.00 pm on Sunday 8 December.  The Market will consist of stalls that will be sold to existing retailers from the area and external stall holders.  It is envisaged that there will be approximately 50 stalls on the two streets, which will be closed to traffic for the day.

The event will be managed by Sketts, a reputable company that regularly organises markets in the Midlands region.  The Stoneygate Retailer Forum will secure the relevant licences from Leicester City Council.

The event will be marketed in both the Stoneygate and Knighton Wards, using a range of marketing materials and communication channels.

Entertainment will be provided during the event, including a local choir and brass band.  A children’s Christmas card competition will be with local schools to promote community involvement in the event.

Application 3

Applicant:     Mike Rowlinson, 63^rd Leicester Scout Group

Proposal:     Group Storage Facility

Amount:        £5,000

Summary:

The Scout Group which started in April 2012 has been growing fast and has built up large amounts of equipment,  ...  view the full agenda text for item 44.

The members Support Officer introduced the knighton Ward Budget and introduced the following applications:

a)     The following grant applications are submitted for consideration:-

Application 1

Applicant:     Mr Denis Odwyer

Proposal:      Hawthornes Residents Group – Community Cohesion and Community Getting On Together

Amount:       

It was noted that attendees would pay £5 per person for packed lunches

RESOLVED:

                        That the proposal be supported and that £500 be provided from the Community Meeting budget.

2.    Applicant:          Stoneygate Shops Retailers’ Forum

Proposal:     Allandale Road / Francis Street Christmas Market

Amount:        £3,951

An application has also been made to Stoneygate Community Meeting for a grant

A number of local traders were in attendance and explained tat they aimed for this event to build on the successes of the events last year.

In response to a question, it was confirmed that the traders did provide a contribution to the total cost, and have done so in previous years.

RESOLVED:

            That the application be supported and that £3,951 be provided from the Knighton Community Meeting Budget. 

Application 3

Applicant:     Mike Rowlinson, 63^rd Leicester Scout Group

Proposal:     Group Storage Facility

Amount:        £5,000

It was noted that the Scout Group  has been growing fast and has built up large amounts of equipment, (camping, sports, arts and crafts equipment). As the Group is based at St. Thomas More School and at the shared Church Parish Rooms, the meeting heard that there was little storage space available at these buildings. It is intended to build a good size brick storage facility that will be insulated and watertight to replace the existing inadequate metal shed. It is hoped that the money would provide a good basis to provide impetus to undertake further fund raising.

It was agreed that the full requested amount be supported but that given that it was a considerable sum, that the payments be split between the resent and the subsequent financial year.

RESOLVED:

            That the application be supported and that £5,000 be allocated from the Knighton Community Budget, with £3,000 provided from the current financial year and a further £2,000 to be provided from the 2014/15 ward budget. 

The meeting closed at 8:31pm.