Agenda and minutes

Councillors will elect a Chair for the meeting.

Councillor Russell was elected as Chair for the meeting.

The first main item on theagenda 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.

No interests were declared.

The minutes of the Westcotes Community Meeting held on 10 March 2010 are attached and Members are asked to confirm them as a correct record.

a)      Residents’ Parking Scheme

In response to a question, the Chair apologised that it had not yet been possible to produce a newsletter regarding the residents’ parking scheme, (minute 13, “Minutes of Previous Meeting”, referred).

The possibility of including an article in the City Council’s Link magazine would be considered.  If it was not possible to include an article in the next edition, information on the following would be included on the agenda for the next meeting:-

i)              the outcome of the vote on whether the parking scheme should be introduced; and

ii)            how the success, or otherwise, of the scheme would be judged.

In the meantime, the Council continued to work with the police on parking issues in the Ward and residents living in the area in which the residents’ parking scheme would operate would be sent a leaflet before the next meeting.

It was noted that the next Westcotes Community Meeting would focus on issues in Bede Park.

b)     Graffiti

It was noted that the Halifax bank had not refused to have the graffiti on the side of its building removed, (minute 15, “Environmental Issues”, referred).

c)      Bins on Streets

A member of the community reported that further bins had appeared on the streets.  The Chair reminded the meeting that it was useful if such things also could be reported between meetings, so that they could be dealt with as quickly as possible.  (Minute 15, “Environmental Issues”, referred)

d)     Dog Waste Bins

It was noted that the dog waste bins for Great Central Way had been ordered, (minute 17, “Ward Community Budget 2009/10”, referred).   

Consideration would be given to how the bin with which problems were being experienced in Bede Park could be prevented from becoming over full.

Ann Habens, Director Safer & Stronger Communities, will be present to discuss the current situation regarding the Manor House Neighbourhood Centre.

The Chair advised the meeting that no decision had been taken to date on the future of the Manor House Neighbourhood Centre, stating that she was aware that a petition was circulating, although she had not seen it yet.  The Chair then advised the meeting that she wanted to hear the views of as many people as possible, including views on what they would like to see happen to the Centre.

Ann Habens, Director of Safer and Stronger Communities with Leicester City Council, and Steve Goddard, Head of Community Services with Leicester City Council, were present to answer any queries relating to Manor House Neighbourhood Centre.

Ann Habens stressed that no decisions had been taken about the Centre, as options for its use were still being explored.  Ann Habens displayed a map at the meeting that showed other facilities in the area and where services in the area currently were being delivered.

Residents suggested that a lunch club and bowls sessions could be held at the Centre, as they would provide something for older people to go to.  The Evergreens Group, a social club for older people, also used to meet at the Centre on a Tuesday afternoon, after the lunch club.

Ann Habens advised the meeting that, in considering services that could be offered at the Centre, account had to be taken of the fact that this was an old building, which needed considerable investment to bring it up to standard, in particular in relation to health and safety issues.  This was one reason why there had been fairly low usage of the building before its current closure. 

In addition, community facilities were available at a number of other venues in the area, but it was recognised that they could be some way from where people lived and that people liked using the Manor House.  It also was noted that the lunch club that previously had been held there had been run by the Community Services Officer, as this was not the sort of activity that these Centres usually offered.

Members of the community suggested that:-

·              The Council had used the death of the Community Services Officer to close the Centre and keep it closed, despite the need in the area for a community centre.  There had been no problems with the operation of the Centre before the Community Services Officer died;

·              The Manor House had been used by older people and youth groups throughout the year, with the green at the front providing an ideal place for young people to play safely;

·              Equipment in the Centre could be used elsewhere while the future of the Centre was decided;

·              The green area could be developed for youth use;

·              The front of the building stated that it was a young people’s centre, but the young were actively discouraged from using the Centre by a lot of users.  A change in management style and culture therefore was needed;

·              If the Centre had been advertised more widely, more people would have  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

Graham Smith, the City Warden, will be present at the meeting to give an update on issues in the area.

Graham Smith, City Warden with Leicester City Council, presented the six-month action plan for the Ward.

The meeting noted the following:-

·              The City Warden had started making regular patrols with the local Police beat team, varying the days and times that he was with them;

·              A priority for all Wards over the next two years was the removal of domestic bins from streets;

·              The dog waste bins for which a grant had been approved had been purchased and would be installed shortly, (minute 17, “Ward Community Budget 2009/10”, 10 March 2010 referred);

·              It was hoped that the police, some in uniform and some in plain clothes, could patrol the area from the De Montfort University to Aylestone, to make sure that dog fouling was kept to a minimum;

·              The City Warden was working with the Police to visit fast-food outlets, to ask the occupiers to ensure that the fronts of their premises were kept clear of litter.  Funding for litter pick kits that could be offered to local businesses had been requested, (see minute 7 below);

·              Nuisance parking around the Upperton Road area would be targeted.  Members of the community were invited to report any incidences of this, (for example, people working on vehicles on the road), so they could be investigated;

·              The City Warden service was willing to attend any events such as fetes and to have a stand there to explain the work done by the service;

·              Although the situation was improving, Bede Park currently looked untidy, due to there being a lot of litter there.  The City Warden spent time in the Park talking to people, to encourage them to keep the Park looking tidy;

·              The City Council shortly would be starting a City-wide anti-graffiti campaign; and

·              Leaflets were available at the meeting setting out the services provided by the City Warden.

The meeting welcomed the work being done to stop litter being dropped in Bede Park.  In particular, the area between the business park and footpath was in a bad condition, but would be a good place to put picnic tables and possibly some kind of fire pits.

It was noted that most litter in Bede Park currently came from Tesco and Sainsbury’s.  The Council was holding on-going talks with both stores about the types of items they sold, (for example, glass bottles with removable tops).

The meeting felt that, although the number of rubbish bins provided was improving, they were not large enough.  It was noted that, when large bins had been installed previously, they had been stolen.  Another aspect of the problem was litter dropped by people eating fast food, (particularly at weekends).

It also was noted that the City Wardens could issue on-the-spot fines to people caught littering.  Although the Police had powers to stop people littering, it had been agreed that their resources should be focussed on more serious crimes.  As such, it had been agreed in partnership with the Police that the Council’s civil powers would be used.

The Police  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

PC Sam Perry, from Leicestershire Constabulary, will be present to discuss policing matters in the Westcotes Ward.

Sergeant David Shields, Neighbourhood Sergeant for Westcotes with Leicestershire Constabulary, advised the meeting that there had been a significant reduction in the number of robberies in the area and the use of a double crew in the Police anti-social behaviour vehicle was working well.

With regard to the anti-social behaviour vehicle, it was noted that, if members of the public let the Police know about anti-social behaviour when it was occurring, the Police vehicle would visit the location if possible and deal with the incident.  This service was available every day of the week, usually between 5.00 pm and 11.00 pm, and had already proved to be very effective.

PC Sam Perry, Neighbourhood Officer for Westcotes with Leicestershire Constabulary, introduced himself to the meeting, explaining that he was based at the Hinckley Road Local Policing Unit.  He advised the meeting that:-

·              Reported crime in the area was down on last year;

·              At the last community meeting he had reported an increase in robberies along the canal towpath.  Since then, some suspects had been arrested and, although investigations were ongoing, the number of robberies there had decreased significantly; and

·              A meeting had been held with Probation Service representatives to discuss the Justice See Justice Done scheme.  This involved offenders clearing “hot spots” of litter, cutting back hedges and improving the appearance of the area.  A further report on this would be made in due course.  In the meantime, it was hoped that there could be some high profile media coverage of the scheme.

A resident reported that a lot of damage recently had been done to cars in the area around Lancaster Road.  Sergeant Shields advised that the Police were aware of a spate of damage that appeared to be random.  Patrols in the area had been increased, but it had not been possible to identify any culprits.  The amount of damage had now reduced.

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.

Peter Cozens, Members Support Officer, will give an update on the latest position with the Community Meeting budget.

The following application for funding has been received:-

Appendix B1:

Westcotes Library –£572.10 for play mats and tub chairs for a children’s area

The meeting was reminded that an application for funding, (from Westcotes Library), had been circulated with the agenda. 

It was noted that, since the agenda had been circulated, a joint application for funding had been received from the Leicester City Council City Warden service and Leicestershire Constabulary.  This requested £355 for the purchase of 50 litter pickers.  The application was tabled at the meeting and a copy is attached at the end of these minutes for information.

RECOMMENDED:

1)           that funding of £572.10 from the Ward Community Fund be supported for the purchase of play mats and tub chairs by Westcotes Library for use in a children’s area in that Library; and

2)           that funding of £355.00 from the Ward Community Fund be supported for the purchase of 50 litter pickers by the Leicester City Council City Warden service and Leicestershire Constabulary for use by local businesses.

Arrangements for Next Meeting

It was noted that the main topic for the next meeting would be Bede Park.  Areas for discussion included the possibility of erecting a fence around the play area and the future of the land at the back of Tesco. 

With regard to the latter, the land currently was owned by Everards brewery, but it was boarded off and not used.  The current legal covenants on the land were being reviewed, with a view to either changing or removing them.  The Ward Members had asked the Leader of the City Council to consider buying this land for community use and officers had been instructed to approach Everards for this purpose.  A further report on this would be made at the next meeting.

The meeting closed at 9.38 pm