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 Cleaver as Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting and introductions were given.

Apologies were received from Tracey Inchley, Eyres Monsell Community Centre.

The Action Log of the meeting held on 28^th November 2018 is attached and Members will be asked to confirm them as an accurate record.

The Action Log of the previous meeting held on 28 November 2018 was agreed as correct.

An update will be given on:

·         20mph Zone

·         Hillsborough Road Signage

·         Mini Island

·         Children’s Play Area

Agenda item not taken.

A local housing officer will be present to provide an update on housing related issues in the Eyres Monsell Ward.

Agenda item not taken.

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

Agenda item not taken.

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

Agenda item not taken.

Local organisations will give a short presentation on local services and activities in the Ward.

1.    Representatives from Goldhill Adventure Playground: Dee Dixon (Playground Manager), Max Hiley and Josh Dixon (Senior Playworkers) were present at the meeting.

Josh began by explaining he started as an apprentice at Goldhill 10 years previously, and now had a senior role which he enjoyed. He had undertaken training, including sports courses. He also visited Marriott Primary School as a behaviour mentor. Goldhill provided a mentoring project to support schools and parents to keep pupils at risk of exclusion / those excluded, and people with learning or behavioural difficulties.

Goldhill was described as being more of a community hub, with open access play in the evening between 3.00 – 6.00pm, Stay and Play groups, and Breakfast Bingo with a mixture of age groups.

Dee informed those present that people with disabilities attended once a month to enable them to have an activity day out.

Goldhill also worked as a food bank in partnership with Fair Share and other agencies, and use of the food bank was increasing. Donations came from Tesco and other suppliers and were collected by Goldhill from areas such as Lutterworth every day. Mixed pallets were received from Giving World, and purchases made on products such as washing liquids, nappies and ladies sanitary wear. Also The Bridge sent sanitary wear as they had more men than women staying at the centre. Bread and fruit was received daily for distribution.

Parents could donate towards items from the food bank, but it wasn’t expected.

Dee explained that when it first started, it was for the children in the playground and their parents. Then workers started cooking a meal on Tuesday nights. Now there were 40-50 children plus parents eating on a Tuesday. The food bank was also expanding as Goldhill were receiving recommendations through resource centres, social services, Helping Hands and the Salvation Army. People were told to visit fortnightly to the Food Bank but would not be turned away if they visited more often. The Foodbank was open from 9am to 6pm weekdays. It was reported that grant funding from The Lottery was coming to an end which helped pay for collection costs, food, petrol etc.

Josh was one of five apprenticeships at Goldhill, all of who had moved on to full time jobs. Josh was also congratulated as he had won apprentice of the year.

Dee informed the meeting that it cost £320k to run Goldhill each year.

The Chair said it was a good service to have in the community and was inspirational and was part of the adventure playground that people did not see.

Further information on Goldhill Adventure Playground can be found online at http://www.goldhilladventureplayground.org/

2.    Louise Wylie and Zak Winstone were present from Eyres Monsell Club for Young People (EMCYP), and a short video of activities provided was shown.

Louise informed the meeting that EMCYP was a voluntary section youth centre for people aged 8-19 years, and that the majority of staff were locals from the estate, who also had an understanding of  ...  view the full minutes text for item 16.

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.

An update will be given on the Ward Community Meeting budget.

Members of the public to be encouraged to apply for Community Ward Funding via the Council’s website.

Councillor Cleaver was thanked for all of her work and support over the years as Ward Councillor.

Councillor Pantling was also congratulated on her involvement on Sunday 3^rd March where Leicester marked the 100 Years of Suffrage centenary.

It was suggested that future meetings of the Ward Community Meeting be held in the evening during summer months and held in the daytime during winter months to encourage attendance at the meetings.

There being no other items of business, the meeting closed at 7.20pm.