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 Kitterick was invited to take the Chair and welcomed everyone present.

There were no declarations of interest as required by the Councillors’ Code of Conduct.

There were no apologies for absence.

The Action Log of the meeting held on 9 March 2015 is attached for information and discussion.

The Action Log of the meeting of the Castle Community Meeting held on 9 March 2015 was agreed and noted.

Festivals and Events will be present to provide information on any upcoming activities within the Ward.

Maggie Shutt (Festivals & Events Manager) and Simon Brown (Cultural programme Co coordinator) presented an update on the arrangements in place for the Rugby World Cup (RWC).

It was reported that three RWC matches were to be held at the King Power Stadium on 4, 6 and 11 October.

In addition to the matches at the stadium, a Fanzone area had been set up on Victoria Park, involving staging and screens showing other matches in the tournament.

The traffic management arrangements were confirmed and no road closures had been applied for.  Noise levels were to be monitored by the Council’s Noise Team.

Leaflets explaining the events and arrangements were made available for distribution to interested groups and individuals.

Simon also reported on additional supplementary events arising from the interest that would be experienced in the city due to the RWC matches.

In response to questions, the ‘park and walk’ initiative was clarified, and it was confirmed that the Fanzone area would not be fenced.  This reassured residents, as problems with poor access arrangements had been witnessed at a recently held Carnival event.

There will be an update on the Traffic Calming Scheme, 20 mile and hour zones and residents parking scheme in Clarendon Park.

a)         Wheatsheaf Way and Wordsworth Road Area – 20 mph zone

Harshad Solanki updated the meeting with details of a proposed traffic calming scheme and 20 mph zone in the roads adjacent to the Wheatsheaf Works (Wheatsheaf Way, Wordsworth Road, Lord Byron Street and Knighton Fields Road East).

The proposals were subject to a public consultation period which would expire on 1 October 2015.

It was confirmed that the plans had received general support and any works undertaken would be ‘developer funded’.

It was considered that the scheme should be extended to other roads in the vicinity, through Scott Street, to Shelley and Pope Street and that if this idea was supported, officers would investigate the feasibility following implementation of the existing scheme.  It was noted that this would require advertisement of the necessary legal notices.

b)         Residents Parking Schemes

Harshad Solanki updated the meeting with details of the ongoing consultation concerning the residents parking proposals in the Clarendon Park area.

Traffic surveys were also being undertaken to establish parking patterns and to determine whether there was a need.  Options for any schemes would then be suggested.  The likely timescale involved extensive survey work, exhibitions and wider consultation, and any options were not expected before February 2016.

It was also confirmed that the options being considered by Leicester University to close University Road would not be discussed before April 2016.

Information on the Lettings Board Policy will be provided.

Alan Beckett (Planner) updated the meeting with the progress with the Letting Boards Policy. 

It was reported that a voluntary scheme with landlords had been unsuccessful and that the Council had therefore begun a process which would allow enforcement action to be pursued under advertisement legislation.  An application to government had been submitted.

The update was noted and residents were encouraged to report any To-Let signs that were permanently fixed to property by using the ‘Love Leicester app’ or contacting planning@leciester.gov.uk

Representatives from Leicester University and De Montfort University will be present to talk about the new term and any fresher’s week activities.

Representatives of the Leicester University and the De Montfort University Students Unions (Welfare) informed the meeting of their arrangements for the forthcoming Fresher’s Week activities in the city.

It was accepted that the welfare officers and community engagement representatives had increased their engagement with the community with greater attendance at consultation events, however it was considered that more could be done to ensure that students were aware that the city centre included many residential properties.

Student Union  representatives agreed to meet separately with the City Warden, other relevant Council Officers, PCSOs and the local Councillors to discuss  options to improve behaviour and communication with students.

It was suggested that greater use of the ‘Love Leicester app’, the Clarendon Park community website and Facebook, and other social media should be used to assist the process of engagement with students.  This was considered to be particularly relevant as an option for informing students of the best walking routes from the city to the residential areas to avoid areas such as New Walk.

The Police will be present to provide an update on any policing matters in the Ward.

Sgt Andy Cooper (Leics Police) updated the meeting with crime statistics and commented on the recent review of the policing structures, whereby more time was available to officers to patrol the city centre area with the removal of a significant amount of desk-based investigative work.

He referred to issues of concern reported recently at New Walk Museum Gardens, where increased ASB was being experienced.

In relation to the previous item he advised that work with the Student Unions had been undertaken and was ongoing to mitigate problems during fresher’s week.

An update was provided on the licensing of the Grapevine PH in Belvoir Street, that had lost its licence on appeal due to public order offences.

An increase in burglaries in the Clarendon Park area had led to more patrols and residents were asked to ensure their homes were kept secure.

In response to questions Sgt Cooper informed the meeting that it was an offence to beg in the street and advised of the action that could be taken by officers when appropriate.

The local City Warden will be present to provide an update on environmental issues within the Ward.

Chris Bramley-Brown (City Warden) updated the meeting on environmental and enforcement activities in the Ward since the previous meeting.

He made particular reference to liaison with organisers of various events including the City Festival, the Rugby World Cup, and King Richard III reinterment.

The removal of unlawful hoardings, site clearances and graffiti was continuing, with some schemes being undertaken jointly with the colleagues in the Saffron Ward.

Chris referred to the problems caused by students vacating properties and leaving rubbish and bulky items on street.  He reported on educational work with landlords to help to alleviate the problem.

Areas of land that were identified for clean-up works, and alleyway clearances were also ongoing.  Use of the ‘Love Leicester app’ was encouraged.

In conclusion, and in response to a question it was reported that additional wheeled bins were not normally issued, as residents were encouraged to recycle and reduce waste.

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.

Councillors referred to the purpose of the ward Community Budget and advised that six local projects had been awarded funds.

It was reported that three projects had been refused funding, as it had not been demonstrated that the projects would specifically benefit residents of castle ward.

a)         Central Fire Station

It was reported that the Fire Authority intended to commence a public consultation on the closure of fire stations, which could include the Central Fire Station. It was clarified that the Fire Authority were yet to meet to confirm the basis of their proposals.

It was suggested that if this proposal was confirmed and made subject of the consultation following the Fire Authority’s forthcoming meeting, Councillors and residents would make their opposition heard at the appropriate time.

b)        ‘Art House’

Thanks were expressed by the organisers of ‘Art House’ for their recent funding, which had allowed the organisation to provide community events.

The meeting closed at 8.00 pm