Agenda and minutes

Councillor Blower welcomed everyone to the meeting. She noted that some people were present to discuss the relocation of a bus stop on Sturdee Road, but that this was not on the formal part of the agenda. She offered to allow a few minutes to discus this, but this was not taken up.

The first main item on the programme is Declarations of Interest where Councillors have to say if there's anything in the programme they have a personal interest in.  For example if a Community Meeting wanted to talk about digging up a road and one of the Councillors lived on that road, he or she would have to say they had a personal interest in that.

Councillors are asked to declare any interests they may have in the business on the agenda, and/or indicate that Section 106 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 applies to them.

Councillors were asked to declare any interests in the business on the agenda. No declarations were made.

A brief update will be given following the consultation that was launched at the last meeting regarding the proposal to redevelop The Exchange.

Ian Stapleton, Housing Manager, gave an update on the consultation about the possible redevelopment of the Exchange. He made the following points:

• The consultation had now closed and 176 responses to the questionnaires were collected.
• Overall 75% or respondents wanted it redeveloped, 25% wanted to keep it as it was.
• He gave a detailed breakdown on the responses including location, how often people use the Exchange, age etc.
• Taking the results into account, the Council had decided to proceed to the next stage.
• Discussions were taking place with the owners of the Invincible to secure their co-operation in the project.
• Thought was to be given to what number of shops, parking spaces and number and type of housing were needed.
• Design plans would be done over the Summer, followed by public consultation on the plans.
• It was hoped that Cabinet approval would be given by the end of the year and then potential developers would be approached. It would still not be definite at this stage that it would go ahead, as it depended on the property market.

Members of the public asked what would happen if negotiations with the owners of the Invincible were unsuccessful. Ian said that he hoped this would not be the case and that it was unlikely that a compulsory purchase order could be used on this site. People discussed the existing Council services on the site and heard that these would be included in the future development.

Jerry Connolly, Member Support Officer will introduce and explain the different funds available to the Community Meeting.

Jerry Connolly gave a presentation on the budgets that were available to the Community Meeting. He made the following points:

• Councillors were legally responsible for making formal decisions on budget spending, but these would be discussed with the public in these meetings.
• Three funds were available
  • Ward Priority Fund £7000– to spend on the priorities identified in the Ward Action Plan.
  • Community Fund £3000 – to spend on small community-based projects.
  • Community Cohesion Fund £2000 – to bring people together in the community, build links with young people and build confidence and a sense of belonging.

• It was anticipated that the money available would increase next year by about £5000.
• Detailed guidelines and application forms were available for any groups who wished to apply.
• The Community Meeting would make recommendations on projects they wished to fund and this would be then agreed by Cabinet or the Cabinet Lead Member responsible for Community meetings to approve it.

Jerry pointed out that one project had already been submitted for £250 from the Community fund for a summer community gardening event for young people. The Councillors said they were delighted to support this and it was to be submitted to Cabinet for approval.

Adrian Russell, Service Director, Environmental Services, will invite members of the public to give suggestions on where they would like to see trees planted in their Ward.

Adrian Russell, Service Director, Environmental Services, explained the Council’s plan to plant 10,000 trees in the city over the next 3 years. He asked people to give their suggestions as to where they would like to see some of the trees planted and suggested that they may like to consider something like a community orchard.

Members of the public suggested that young people could have the opportunity to plant a tree themselves and have a plaque by them. Adrian welcomed this idea and encouraged people to submit any further ideas.

Jerry Connolly, Member Support Officer will present the findings from the Priority Cards that people were invited to fill in at the first meeting and will explain the next steps in producing the Ward Action Plan.  

Jerry Connolly, Member Support Officer, gave feedback on the Ward Priority Cards that people filled in at the last meeting.

• More than 40 cards were returned.
• These cads identified the main issues of concern in the area that were to be addressed in the Ward Action Plan.
• A lot of issues related to the Exchange, but as significant work was already being done on this, it was not included in the Action Plan.
• The three main items identified were graffiti, antisocial behaviour and vandalism.
• Creative ways of dealing with the issues were to be looked at.

Jerry said that more specific details were needed to identify exactly where problem spots were. He circulated a form for people to fill in.

The meeting discussed another issue that came out of the forms regarding there not  being enough facilities for young people. Local youth workers gave details of their activity programmes and youth clubs, plus activities over the summer holidays. They said that they would like to be involved in the Community Meetings.

The meeting closed at 7.35pm.