Agenda and minutes

The Chair will introduce those present and make any necessary announcements.

The Chair and any other Councillors who are present will make any declarations as required by the Councillors’ Code of Conduct.

Everyone welcomed and introductions given.

No interests were declared.

All to note apologies for absence from Mr and Mrs Jones, Malcolm Shaw (Knighton Society), and Hamish Whitehead.

Attached for information and discussion.

Ward Councillors to write to officers to find out why, despite reminders, advice still had not been received on how the money allocated for dealing with flooding issues could best be used, (item 14, “Update on Flooding Issues”, referred).

Officers from Leicestershire Police will be at the meeting to provide an update on police issues in Knighton Ward.

All to note that:-

·           Burglary was the main issue being reported in the Ward.  Historically, incidents increased over the Christmas / New Year period, but the number already had been increasing for several weeks, with seven being recorded since 29 November.  Extra patrols were being done and were visiting specific areas.

·           The Police service was going through a transformation, due to Home Office cuts.  As a result, there would be changers in how the Police responded to incidents.  For example, reports would be “triaged” and there was likely to be more contact by telephone.

·           Contact could be made with the Police via social media.  For example, if someone “tweeted”, the Police would “tweet” back.

·           Thefts reported from unattended motor vehicles had reduced by approximately 40%.

The City Warden will give an update on issues in Knighton Ward.

All to note the update attached.

Residents invited to pass concerns about rubbish on private land to the City Warden team.

All to note that:-

·           Information on dogs fouling in the area is being sought.

·           CCTV operators have been asked to look out for graffiti in the area in the hope that those doing it can be caught.

·           Checks are made to ensure that skips on roads are well lit, as well as having the required licence and insurance.

Councillors are reminded that under the Council’s Code of Conduct they should declare any interest they may have in budget applications

a)     An update will be given on the Ward Community budget; and

b)        A list of grant applications submitted for consideration at this meeting is attached.

An application for a grant of £2,000 to be considered at the next meeting, as it was received too late for consideration at this meeting.

All to note that:-

o    The following grants have been supported under the Council’s fast track procedure:

§  Start-up Costs (1244) – Grant of £208 to Knighton Wildlife Group

§  Open House Event (5061) – Grant of £500 to Sue Ryan

o    Approximately £1,800 of the Ward’s Community Budget for 2014/15 was uncommitted.

o    As Council elections were to be held in May 2015, none of the Ward’s Community Budget could be carried over to the 2015/16 financial year.

o    A grant had been given towards the Francis Street and Allandale Road Traders’ Association’s Christmas Market.  This had been very successful.  Various actions were being taken to reduce reliance on grants in the future.

o    A grant had been given towards a project to help disadvantaged people understand the benefit of growing food and help them develop life skills.  An allotment on Queens Road would be used.  Lottery funding also was being applied for. Volunteers would be sought when this was in place.

o    The new walkway enclosure at Stoneygate Baptist Church towards which a grant had been given had been provided and the church’s facilities were being widely used by the community.

o    The floor at Holbrook Hall, towards which a grant had been given, had been successfully replaced and events were being held there.

There will be an information update on the following:

a)    The Get Growing Campaign

b)    Boundary Changes

a)         The Get Growing Campaign

Residents invited to apply for grants of £1,000 for projects within the Ward encouraging people to grow their own food.

Applications for these grants to be made in the same way as applications for Ward Community Grants.

b)         Boundary Changes

All to note that:-

·           A boundary review for all electoral wards in the city had been undertaken, in order to equalise voter numbers in each ward.

·           Some properties in Soneygate Road and Holmfield Road would move in to a different ward, but a small number of roads to the west of Welford Road would move in to this ward.  As a result, the ward would stay about the same size as currently.

·           These changes would come in to force from the elections in May 2015.

An officer from the Leicester City Council Planning Department will be present to provide an overview of the Leicester Plan and explain how members of the community can get involved.

All to note that:-

·           The Council is required to produce a Local Plan, setting out the planning strategy for the city for the next 15 years.

·           The current consultation was on the first stage of the preparation of the Plan.  There would be other stages of consultation as preparation of the Plan progressed.

·           One difficult issue was how development could be funded in the current economic situation.  For example, the amount of developer contribution that could be requested was likely to be limited.

·           Discussions had been held with transport providers regarding the extension of bus services in order to encourage the city’s night-time economy.

·           The Council was the sixth best authority for housing delivery.  Much of this was through small-scale windfall sites.  Student accommodation was included, due to the strength of the universities in the city.

·           No allocation of student accommodation existed, but under the current Supplementary Planning Document developers had to justify why more was needed. 

·           Over the last six years, approximately 360 units of accommodation had been provided, mostly in the city centre.

·           The current consultation would close on 31 January 2015.  Responses could be made through the on-line consultation system, or by e-mailing or writing to the Council’s Planning Policy team.  Comments could be very general, or could focus on particular areas.

·           The Local Plan needed to be adopted by October 2016.  It would then be used for the 15 years following adoption.

A standing item on the development of the Local Plan to be included in the agenda of each Knighton Community Meeting.

A representative from Voluntary Action Leicester will provide an overview on Neighbourhood Planning. This will be followed by a question and answer session.

All to note that:-

·           The development of Neighbourhood Plans is optional.

·           They reflect the needs of a particular neighbourhood.  For example, preventing large developments or improving infrastructure.

·           There are five steps in preparing a Neighbourhood Plan

o    The Plan is written by the Council, but led by the community

o    Establish local priorities

o    Independent checking and examination of the Plan

o    The holding of a community referendum on the adoption of the Plan

o    Consideration of the Neighbourhood Plan against the Local Plan

·           The Council was legally required to support the group preparing the Neighbourhood Plan, but ownership remained with the community.

·           The community group leading the development of the Plan needed to be a large group of representatives of those living and working in that community.  The Council would work with this group to form a Neighbourhood Forum.

·           Over 50% of those entitled to vote in the community referendum needed to approve the Plan in order for it to be adopted.

·           Grants of up to approximately £7,000 were available to meet expenses incurred in the steps outlined above, (for example, room hire or other consultation expenses). 

·           The deadline for applications for funding under the current round was March 2015.  It was recommended that a group of at least 21 people be established to apply for a grant.

Those interested to contact Michael Broad, Neighbourhood Development Manager (Leicester City Council) as soon as possible, so that an initial meeting can be held in January 2015 to assess whether there is sufficient interest in developing a Neighbourhood Plan.  Michael Broad to contact those on the contact list for Knighton Community Meeting, to seek interest in the Plan and arrange a venue for the initial meeting.

The next Knighton Community Meeting will be held on Monday 9 March 2015 in a venue to be confirmed.

Monday 9 March 2015.  (Venue to be arranged)

·           Further to the grant to establish a wildlife group in Knighton, (see item 27 above), an initial meeting of the group would be held on 12 February 2015 at Knighton Parish Centre.  Further details were available from Simon Walter, Community Engagement Officer, (Leicester City Council).

·           All to note that residents in Stoneygate Road had submitted a petition to the Council asking that residents be allowed to park on the front of their properties, due to the problems experienced following the introduction of parking restrictions on Francis Street and Allandale Road. 

Ward Members to ask a Building Conservation Officer to visit the site to explain why this could not be allowed, even though residents have sourced railings with gates that appear to be in keeping with the area.

The meeting closed at 8.14 pm