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.

Councillors Clayton, Kitterick and Senior introduced themselves and Councillor Kitterick indicated that he would Chair the meeting.

There were no apologies received.

Councillor Senior declared that her partner was employed by the Council and that his role involved advice on transport matters when planning applications were being considered. She advised that she would therefore not make any comments at the Community Meeting on relevant current or imminent planning applications if these were discussed.

The Minutes of the previous Castle Community Meeting held on 3^RD February 2014 are attached, and Members will be asked to confirm them as a correct record.

Councillor Senior requested that her declaration in the minutes of 3^rd February required amendment to read as above. She also requested she be included in the previous minutes’ declaration on the organisation of the Summer Arts and Crafts Fair being the subject of a bid for grant funding.

Subject to the above amendments, the minutes of the previous Castle Ward Community Meeting held on 3^rd February 2014 were approved.

Officers from the Festivals and Events Team, and Transport Team will be present at the meeting for residents of Castle and Stoneygate Wards for questions to be asked about the effects of the concert on residents.

Present at the meeting were representatives from the Festivals Team and Traffic Team at Leicester City Council, and Live Nation, organisers of the event.

It was established that:

• Letters with contact details during the course of the event would be given to households in the area;
• A letter would be given to residents 7-10 days before the event outlining parking controls in the area, and details of road closures. Roads would be kept clear for emergency access, and there would be a larger number of traffic wardens in the area;
• Traffic permits would be issued on request to residents, but the number of permits would be limited to one per household. A compelling case could be made for care providers;
• Fencing would be installed by the organisers around the wildlife area on the park and the war memorial to prevent damage, and as much of the park would be made available to the community as possible;
• There would be around 450 staff and additional resources from the Police, paid for by Live Nation. A Community Response Team and hotline number would be in place on the night;
• Crowds leaving en masse from the event would be managed with the closure of London Road down to Waterloo Way from 21.00 – 23.45 hours. Residents requested a letter to this effect be sent to residents on London Road;
• Public transport had increased the number of late buses from the city centre;
• One-way streets would temporarily become two-way to allow resident access, and roads would be stewarded at all times;

·         Ward Councillors would be in the area on the night, and would act as advocates for residents.

Representatives from Leicester and De Montfort Universities will be present at the meeting to answer residents questions.

Representatives from Leicester University Students Union were present, and provided the following information:

• The Students Union was the port of call for student behaviour problems;

• An initiative on identifying a student in houses of multiple occupation (HMOs) to become ‘House Champions’, an identified contact for the police and for other student to resolve issues was being planned;
• The Police gave inductions to students each year with regards to respect for others amongst other topics;
• An email was sent every term reminding students of their responsibilities in the community;
• Community liaison meetings were held with the University, residents and security services to discuss local issues:
• New Walk residents requested they be invited to the meetings to discuss local issues;
• Details of community voluntary schemes could be forwarded to the students careers service;

·         The Student’s Union worked with City Wardens to inform students of the bulky collection scheme for large items when leaving residencies.

An update will be given on the recently developed Lettings Board policy.

No update was received, and the agenda item would be brought to the next meeting.

Details of this year’s fair will be given at the meeting.

The Queens Road Summer Fair would take place on Sunday 15^th June. Up to 50 stalls, shops and bars on Queens Road would take part.

The Chair was handed to Councillor Clayton. Councillor Kitterick left the meeting at this point.

An update will be given on recent Police developments and successes. A discussion will also take place on the burglary reduction scheme in Castle Ward.

An update by Sergeant Millward was noted. 

• 50 properties in Clarendon Park had received new locks, bolts and window alarms. If residents wanted to take advantage of the scheme, they should contact the police for information.
• There had been 12 requests for alleygates in Castle Ward.
• There had been an increase in burglary based on the same period for 2013.
• Burglaries other than dwelling had seen a slight reduction.
• Theft from persons had increased, and the police were working with universities and residents to inform them of safety. The Police requested that residents report anything they believed was suspicious on telephone number 101, and not assume that other people had reported issues.
• The police would ensure resources were invested in the right place and measures were in place for each type of crime.

Councillors are reminded that they will need to 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.

Noted that the following grant applications had been approved by Councillors under the fast-track procedure )grants of £500 or less) since the last meeting:

Application 1830 for grant of £75.00. Robert Perrin, renovation of hanging baskets handed out to Edward Road residents.

Application 1831 for grant of £489.50. Vicky Hudson, Parks Services, Leicester City Council, Victoria Park.

Applications considered at the meeting:

Application 0017 for a grant of £1,000. Shama Womens Centre, computers to help local women aim higher. The application was supported for the amount of £1,000

Application 1832 for grant of £740. Peter White, Tuesday Group, Wild Honey Project. The application was supported for the amount of £740.

Applications deferred pending further information:

0019 Matchpoint Management, Leicester Parks Tennis Programmes 2014 - £1,100

1839 Manpreet Kaur, Indian Dance Fitness for All - £360

Applications not supported:

1013 David Parkin, Bradgate Mental Health Unit – the bid was not considered to be specific for Castle residents.

0024 Highfields Play Action, Highfields Rangers Community Family Fun Day.

City Warden Update

Projects monitoring waste disposal in Newport Place had been successful. One resident had not been compliant and was awaiting prosecution.

Bins on Streets – 90% of bins were now removed following waste collection in Walnut Street area. City Wardens would now target students and landlords n the Clarendon park area

Some residents on Thirlmere Street had received fines for not removing bins.

City Wardens were involved on the day Leicester City Football Club paraded through the city centre on an open top bus, and would be involved in the visit of th Queen’s Baton to the city on 10^th June 2014.

There were ongoing cases for flyposting.

Powers had been given to City Wardens to clear alleyways.

In conjunction with the Handy Person service, an alleyway gate in Filbert Street had been fixed.

The new number to call for environmental issues was 0116 454 1001.

Bee Project

A project between Leicester City Council, Friends of the Earth, Local Wildlife Trust and Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland Bee Project had been successful on Troon Way. Permission was being sought to use St Mary’s Triangle for the same project in September 2014, to sow bee-friendly flowers to attract bees, which were in massive decline. The only cost to the council would be the initial digging of the site. Provisional permission had been given by Victoria Hudson, Leicester City Council Parks Services for the project

Councillor Clayton advised he would also look at using the banks on Waterloo Way for the same project.

Date of Future Meeting

The next meeting will take place on 4^th September 2014.

The meeting closed at 8.15 pm.