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.

Councillor Moore, Chair for the meeting, welcomed everyone and led the introductions.

Received from Chris Bramley-Brown (City Warden – not invited), and Peter Carr and John Jones (Residents).

Attached for information and discussion.

The Action Log from the meeting held on 1 March 2016 was received and noted.

The Chair announced the agenda for the meeting would be taken out of order.

All to note:

·         The Leicester Mercury news article (9/8/2016) on Knighton Fun Day was reported as being inaccurate. Friends of Knighton Park, as fund holders, stated the doubt over the future of the fun day was not due to funding.

·         Council staffing cuts had seen the removal of officer support for the event.

·         Residents were concerned there was no lead officer to organise the fun day. They stressed volunteers did not have the capacity to organise such a large event.

·         Councillors to meet with Friends of Knighton Park to discuss a way forward, prior to meeting with parks officers in November 2016.

·         Councillors assured residents they would work hard to find a solution to keep the event.

Simon Bennett, Chair, Knighton Neighbourhood Forum, provided an update.

All to note:

·         Following a consultation exercise, the designated area was agreed by Leicester City Council.

·         A second application for funding had been submitted to Locality, the national network for community led organisations. The Forum would look at setting up a Community Interest Company in Knighton to hold the money. Ward funding would also be sought.

·         The next meeting would be on Tuesday 20^th September 2016, 7.45pm, Knighton Parish Centre, to discuss:

·         How the Neighbourhood Plan fitted with the Council’s Local Plan.

·         The vision for the Knighton Neighbourhood Plan.

·         Publicity for the meeting had been circulated.

·         A working group would be set up – first meeting expected October 2016.

·         Consultants to be commissioned to analyse data for Knighton to compare with the Local Plan and other cities.

·         An event to be organised to allow residents to engage with the consultants.

Martin Fletcher, Head of Highways, delivered a presentation on Hol Brook and flooding issues in the area (attached for information).

All to note:

·         The weather conditions on 14 June 2016were a one-in-75 year storm event;

·         Water from Oadby filtered down to Carisbrooke;

·         Hol Brook arose from the botanical gardens at the University, and received high volumes from highway run off;

·         There was a complicated mixture of sewers and watercourse going into a tight restriction on Carisbrooke Road, with more water coming in than going out;

·         The source of water, and ways of managing its pathway (for example, diversion) would be looked at. Options would be appraised for feasibility;

·         Property level protection was a last resort. Flash flooding required the owners of the property to be available to deploy flood defences;

·         Agreement had been reached with Severn Trent to work as a joint task group;

·         Severn Trent also had statutory responsibilities, though they were able to analyse issues better to find a solution;

·         The long term aim was trying to improve the drainage systems, and manage water at source;

·         Knighton Park had four reservoirs storing flood water. Any scheme that would increase the water levels at Saffron Brook, the Environment Agency would need to be involved;

·         The City Council sought to maintain the watercourses, and informed the Environment Agency of any issues;

·         Brook ownership – some owned by the city council, some by landowners;

·         Residents who needed to report issues could contact the Ward Councillors for assistance or use the Love Leicester App;

·         Planning took into account flooding issues. There were control measures for run off in new developments;

·         Responsibility:

o   Drains on the side of road and connection to sewers - Highways.

o   The Sewers – Severn Trent

o   Culverts – City Council

o   Brook – Environment Agency

·         If a watercourse collapsed it was the responsibility of the landowner to repair;

·         It was acknowledged there were no obvious solutions. Residents affected by flooding requested short term options to be introduced. Ward Councillors noted that in 2012, £1,500 Ward Funding had been allocated to be used to assist with short term measures, for example, sand bags. Further funding could be given, and in addition city council money would also be used to assist with preventative measures.

ACTION:

·         The Head of Highways to be invited to the next Knighton Community meeting to provide an update.

·         Previously allocated £1,500 Ward Funding to be used to assist with short term measures. 

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

The City Warden was asked not to attend due to a late agenda change. A full update will be given at the next meeting.

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

The Police were asked not to attend due to a late agenda change. A full update will be given at the next meeting.

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.

Outcomes from the Knighton Ward Funding Budget, 1^st and 2^nd round of applications, is attached for information.

·         Residents asked if there had been any applications for Free Schools in Leicester. Councillors responded that they were not aware of any applications, but would make enquiries.

ACTION:

The Chair would feedback information at the next Knighton Community Meeting.

·         The meeting was informed of an appeal by the Deputy City Mayor for residents to sign the petition to protect Children’s Cardiac Heart Services at Glenfield Hospital.

·         Residents were disappointed there was no representation from the police at the meeting. They believed some areas of Knighton had seen an increase in crime, with cars being particularly targeted.

The meeting closed at 8.14pm.