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 Dr Moore in the Chair. 

The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting and, at her invitation, all present introduced themselves.

No interests were declared.

Apologies for absence were received from Mr Geoff Whittle (Knighton Neighbourhood Forum) and from Mr John Jones.

Attached for information and discussion.

Agreed as correct.

Shanklin Drive

Further to item 88, “Ward Councillors Feedback – Shanklin Drive”, all to note:

·           The response rate to the consultation on the installation of bollards on Shanklin Drive had been approximately 50%, which was higher than usually occurred in this type of consultation;

·           Approximately 75% of respondents favoured implementing the scheme, so its implementation would be recommended to the City Mayor;

·           The installation of the scheme would be programmed once approval was received; and

·           Suggested alternatives included a one-way scheme and average speed cameras, but funding for these was not available.

Speed Camera Update

Further to item 88, “Ward Councillors Feedback – Speed Camera Update”, all to note that, following the allocation of Ward Community Budget funding, portable speed cameras would be available for use in the Ward, but details of this, (including when they would be installed), were not known yet.

Speeding traffic

All to note:

·           Concerns about speeding traffic need to be reported to the Highways officers.  It is useful if as many people as possible can report concerns;

·           Highways officers will take the required measurements of factors such as traffic flows and speeds; and

·           Pressure on resources mean that work in relation to speeding traffic is unlikely to be undertaken at particular locations unless the number of accidents at those locations is sufficient to meet thresholds.

Public Meeting on Crime

All to note:

·           Approximately 60 people had attended the public meeting held in St Johns Hall in July to discuss crime in the area;

·           The meeting felt that landlords letting to students were not always as open with residents as they could be, so a meeting would be held between the Ward Councillors, members of the community and representatives of the universities and landlords to discuss how security could be improved.  It was proposed to advertise this meeting on social media and

·           It was anticipated that a further meeting would be held before Christmas 2018.

Officers will be present to provide an update on developments.

Apologies for absence were received from the Highways officers.

All to note:

·           Following concerns received by Ward Councillors, residents have been encouraged to start a petition about traffic issues in Guildford Road;

·           Guidance on submitting petitions can be found on the City Council’s website via the following link: https://www.leicester.gov.uk/your-council/decisions-meetings-and-minutes/presenting-a-petition/ ;

·           Anyone who has not has a response to any petition submitted to the Council is asked to let the Ward Members know and to let them know when the petitions were submitted to the Council.  This includes the petitions discussed at the meeting relating to the removal of a bus stop in Lamborne Road, the removal of a bus route from the Ward and the Local Plan; and

·           In response to concerns raised at the meeting, Councillor Grant clarified that he had not petitioned to have any bus stops removed, the only one he was involved in being one in Carisbrooke Road that had been relocated at the request of a householder to make it more accessible.  Highways services have been asked to paint ‘Bus Stop’ on the road, to emphasise that it was a bus stop.

A discussion will take place on ways forward in the Ward.

Item deferred to the next meeting

Updates will be provided.

Ward and Community Engagement Officer to determine whether the funding previously approved for secure bike stands has been incorporated in to the plan for stands throughout the whole Ward and keep the applicant appraised of progress.

Updates will be provided by the group.

All to note that this item will be considered at a future Community Meeting, as a proposal to create a pocket park on an area by the Scout Hut is still being developed.

Feedback on events will be provided by the group.

All to note the update attached at the end of this action log

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

All to note:

·           There recently has been an increase in burglaries, so an operation will begin in the Oadby / Knighton area in mid-September to increase awareness of crime prevention.  In the meantime, everyone is encouraged to report any suspicious activities, (for example, suspicious vehicles).  Contact details for local Police officers are on the Leicestershire Police website;

·           Fire services recently have been called to activity at the gardener’s hut at St Mary Magdalene Church, but no-one has been seen;

·           People should be vigilant about anyone knocking on their door claiming to need assistance of some sort.  Such incidents should be reported to the Police immediately and householders should not leave their property;

·           All incidents reported to the Police are logged, so even if it appears that no action is being taken they will be on record.

Officers will be present to provide an update.

All to note:

·           31 incidents of anti-social behaviour have been reported to the Police and City Council since April 2018, which is very low for an area the size of this Ward.  These have included problems with quad bikes, noise and obstructions caused by parking;

·           Problems caused by pavement parking can be difficult to resolve, as there is no specific order or legislation prohibiting it and some pavements are wide enough to accommodate it.  However, emergency vehicles would not be able to access some roads if vehicles did not park on the pavement; and

·           Any concerns about anti-social behaviour need to be reported, as it is easier to take action if a complaint has been received.

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

Apologies for absence were received from the City Warden.

City Warden to arrange for the rubbish from the care homes in Elms Road to be cleaned up and for the gutter adjacent to the filling station on London Road to be cleared.

City Warden to investigate whether the clothing bank outside the shops in Allandale Road can be emptied more regularly and what action can be taken regarding the broken surfaces caused by trucks from the car parts business driving across the pavements to park outside the shops.

Information will be provided at the meeting.

All to note:

·           Leicester and Leicestershire Healthwatch is part of a national network;

·           It is an independent body that champion’s the consumer interests of those using health and social care services across the city and county and helps them receive the best possible health services;

·           The small team of staff goes out in to the community to identify issues of concern, (although it is unable to individual complaints);

·           Healthwatch undertakes its own reviews of services, such as that recently done on access to dental services, which had led to the establishment of urgent care dental centres in the city and county;

·           A survey currently was being undertaken on access to appointments at GP practices and alternative health care professionals based at surgeries, (for example, practice nurses or paramedics); and

·           Further information can be found on the Healthwatch website.

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.

All to note:

·           £5,489.50 has been allocated from this year’s Ward Community Budget to date, leaving £14,310.50 to be spent;

·           The rules governing Ward Community funding do not allow funds to be carried forward in an election year.  As a result, no funds can be carried forward in to the 2019/20 financial year; and

·           Applications for funding can be made at any time, but applications for grants over £500 will be considered at the end of October 2018 and the end of January 2019.

a)     Lunch Club

All to note that a lunch club is held on the second Thursday of each month.  All are welcome to attend.

b)   Ward Clean-Up Initiative

All to note that the Ward Councillors are considering organising a clean-up initiative in the Ward, possibly to include groups going out at certain times to clear particular areas.  Ideas on how this can be promoted are welcome.

c)    First World War Week of Remembrance

All to note that a week of events is planned to commemorate the end of the First World War, culminating in a theatrical act of remembrance on the evening of 11 November.

The meeting closed at 7.53 pm