Agenda and minutes

Councillor Palmer was elected Chair for the meeting.

Apologies were received from Joan Dutfield, Valerie Cresswell and Terry Cresswell.

The first main item on the agenda is Declarations of Interest where Councillors have to say if there is anything on the agenda they have a personal interest in. For example if a meeting was due to discuss a budget application put forward by a community group and one of the Councillors was a member of that group, they would not be able to take part in the decision on that budget application.

Councillors are asked to declare any interest 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.

There were no declarations of interest.

The minutes of the previous Eyres Monsell Community Meeting, held on 11^th January 2012, have been previously circulated and Members are asked to confirm them as a correct record.

RESOLVED:

that the minutes of the Eyres Monsell Community Meeting, held on 11 January 2012, were confirmed as a correct record.

Councillors agreed to hear agenda items out of order and heard the following item next.

An update will be given on the new play equipment installed at Goldhill.

The meeting was informed that an update on new equipment at the playground would be taken at the next meeting.

Gemma Pearce and Jordan Lutchman from the Princes Trust presented information on a two-week programme for personal development for young people not in employment, which was run in partnership with the Job Centre, and Connexions Young Offenders teams.

The programme included work experience and work in the community, and training on job interview skills. The programme had resulted in some young people gaining employment by raising skills and confidence.

It was generally agreed at the meeting that the work of the Princes Trust was very good and valuable for the young people and communities where work had been undertaken.

Your Ward Councillors will report on things they have been invoved in within the ward and there will be an opportunity to ask questions.

Ward Councillors reported on the following:

·         The Housing Task Force was ensuring the Council was doing all it could in relation to sheltered accommodation (4/5 months project).

·         A South Neighbourhood Management Meeting had been held to announce a 12 month project to raise the awareness of breast feeding, the Stop Smoking campaign, and issues of obesity in young children.

·         Patch walks had been held in the ward to assess the numbers of people attending education classes.

·         Events had been attended at Rupert House, local theatre groups, a production at Curve, and attendance at walking classes in the ward.

·         Councillors had attended the Best School Attendance awards, which recognised students who had achieved 100% attendance. As a reward, students had visited the Great Central Railway.

·         Councillors thanked residents for suggesting grit bin location in the ward. Residents wished to know how may had been installed in Eyres Monsell. Requests were made to ask for grit coverage for internal pathways in bungalow complexes.

·         Councillors were coordinating a conference on 25^th May 2012 on Child Poverty, which would bring together health organisations, schools and parents.

·         Councillors were seeking a volunteer to attend the Bus User Panel – one resident volunteered to attend.

The Police will discuss problems surrounding cold callers / rogue traders, and provide information for residents on how to deal with this issue.

The Police were present to discuss issues around rogues traders and cold callers. The main message to residents was don’t answer the door unless it was checked who was there. The Police stated that most distraction burglaries seemed to occur from people pretending to represent the main utilities companies, for example, gas, water and electric. Memory minders were provided to remind residents to ask for identification of the caller before they answered the door.

The Police also informed resident about an nominated neighbour scheme. Vulnerable people could nominate a neighbour to receive visitors on their behalf to verify the visitors’ authenticity. Also a ‘No Cold Caller’ zone could be set up, but would require the majority of residents to agree to this.

Councillor Palmer pointed out that charity collectors were getting more aggressive, and that issues regarding bogus clothes collectors was raised. Residents also raised the issue of leaflet drops from fast food outlets, as leaflets left in letter boxes clearly showed that no-one was at home, and provided an opportunity for burglaries.

The Police highlighted that there was a new Community Police Office located in the Eyres Monsell Community Centre, should residents require assistance.

The Police then reported that there was a significant increase in anti-social behaviour around the area of the Exchange. In the main, youths were not from the local area and could be down to a lack of youth facilities. Police work was on-going to deal with the issue. The Police also reported that generally crime was ‘level’ within the ward.

The Police informed the meeting that there was a change to the Police structure was introduced at the meeting and a larger team would be supporting the area. The team would be more focused on local issues, and revised shifts would be in operation after the Olympics.

Residents asked if they would access crime statistics for the area. The Police response was residents could log into the Police website which gave crime statistics for areas.

Scott Clarke, City Warden, will give an update on his work and environmental issues in the ward.

City Wardens informed residents that the project was on-going to deal with dog fouling and that shifts were in place to patrol early morning and late evening. A resident asked who checked and emptied the dog bins. The City Warden replied that it was the responsibility of City Cleansing. Residents were provided a hand-out relating to priorities for City wardens for the next six months.

Residents raised the issue of car parking on grass verges and asked what the City Warden could do to address the problem. The City Wardens informed the meeting that they could issues a notice to have any cars obstructing the highway to be removed within seven days.

Officers from the Housing Team will provide project updates on:

1.    Raised flower beds

2.    The Dropped Kerb scheme.

Ben Manners, Housing, was present to inform residents of the project for installing raised planters in bungalow complexes. He reported that consultation was still on-going with residents on Packhorse Road, asking if residents wished to have the raised planters. A condition on installing the planters was that residents must agree to maintain them once installed, therefore, consideration must be given to resident’s mobility issues to be able to participate in the scheme.

Ben also reported on the ‘Dropped Kerb’ scheme, and installing parking bays for local residents to deal with on-road parking issues in the ward. The scheme would be undertaken in partnership with residents to create off-street parking. It was established that Housing Office funds would be used for work to drop the kerb, but residents would pay for the hard-standing driveway. The project also helped with improving safety on long pavements. The meeting was informed that 35 properties had benefitted from the scheme so far.

Councillors are reminded that they will need to declare any interest they may have in budget applications, and/or indicate that Section 106 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 applies to them.

The meeting is asked to note that the following items have been agreed by Councillors since the last meeting:

Saffron Community Enterprises Ltd – Safta’s Volunteer Awards Ceremony £300

To deliver a volunteer award ceremony for Saffron Volunteers.

Catch22 – ‘Urban Arts’ media project £250

After school activities for children and young people 7-13 years of age.

St Christopher’s Friendship Group – Social Leisure Inclusion £250 (also supported by Freemen Community Meeting)

To socially stimulate elderly and vulnerable people through outings and events.

The following items are for consideration at the meeting:

Application 1

Applicant:      Christianne Flavin

Amount:         £100.00

Proposal:       An evening of fun, food and fund raising

Summary:     A fundraising event to be held at St Hugh’s Church Hall. The event is open to all members of the community, and the aim is to improve community cohesion.

Application 2

Applicant:      Dee Dixon

Amount:         £2,000.00

Proposal:       Goldhill Adventure Playground

Summary:     For soft surfacing around the newly ordered disabled play equipment. An application for funding had also been made to Freemen Ward.

Application 3

Applicant:      Pink Lizard developing youth / community / Magpie

Amount:         £3,225

Proposal:       Pink Lizard cohesion project (bringing people together)

Summary:     To deliver a community cohesion arts project, working with young people from three different communities. An application for funding had also been made to Freemen and Evington Wards.

Application 4

Applicant:      Audrey Mather

Amount:         £1,000

Proposal:       Saffron Support for Elderly People

Summary:     To assist one employee to obtain a PCV licence to enable the organisation to cut down on costs for days out and annual residential holidays. The employee would also be available for other groups to utilise.

Application 1

ChristianneFlavin – an evening of fun, food and fund raising, £100

A fundraising event to be held at St Hugh’s Church Hall. The event is open to all members of the community, and the aim is to improve community cohesion.

RESOLVED:

that the application be supported to the value of £100.00.

Application 2

Goldhill Adventure Playground - £2,000.00

For soft surfacing around the newly ordered disabled play equipment. An application for funding was also made to Freemen Ward.

RESOLVED:

that the application be supported to the value of £2,000.00.

Application 3

Pink Lizard – Cohesion Project (bringing people together), £3,225

To deliver a community cohesion arts project, working with young people from three different communities. An application for funding had also been made to Freemen and Evington Wards.

RESOLVED:

that the application be supported to the value of £1,025.00, depending on match funding from Freemen and Evington Wards.

Application 4

Audrey Mather – Saffron Support for the Elderly, £1,000

To assist one employee to obtain a PCV licence to enable the organisation to cut down on costs for days out and annual residential holidays. The employee would also be available for other groups to utilise.

RESOLVED:

that the application be supported to the value of £1,000.00.

Rejected Applications

1. Application from Shri Guru Ranidass Temple

The application was rejected as it was considered to be a city-wide bid.

Matter Approved Under the Fast Track Procedure

1. Saffron Community Enterprises Ltd – Safta’s Volunteer Awards Ceremony £300

To deliver a volunteer award ceremony for Saffron Volunteers.

RESOLVED:

that the previously agreed funding be noted.

2. Catch22 – ‘Urban Arts’ media project £250

After school activities for children and young people 7-13 years of age.

RESOLVED:

that the previously agreed funding be noted.

3. St Christopher’s Friendship Group – Social Leisure Inclusion £250 (also supported by Freemen Community Meeting)

To socially stimulate elderly and vulnerable people through outings and events.

RESOLVED:

that the previously agreed funding be noted.

Late Bid

A late application was received from Communities Big Fish Little Fish and would be addressed at the next meeting.

Remaining Funds

It was agreed that remaining Community Meeting funds for 2011/12 be committed to the Housing Drop Kerb Scheme.

The meeting closed at 7.30pm.