Agenda and minutes

Councillors will elect a Chair for the meeting.

Councillor Bhavsar was elected as Chair.

No apologies for absence we received.

The first main item on the programme is Declarations of Interest where Councillors have to say if there is anything in the programme 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.

Members were asked to declare any interests that they may have had in the business to be discussed and/or indicate that Section 106 of the Local Government Finance Act applied to them.

No declarations of interest were received.

The minutes of the previous Abbey Community meeting, held 18 March 2009, are attached and Members are asked to confirm them as a correct record.

The minutes of the Abbey Community Meeting, dated 18 March 2009 and as circulated, were approved as a correct record.

Officers will be on hand to present information on Highways and Transport related issues in the local area.

Mark Wills, Head of Transport Strategy gave a brief presentation about the highways and transport department within Leicester City Council, the value of the transport assets within the City, and the highways and transport related issues in the area.

The following issues were covered:

·        Car parking in the area;

·        Speeding Traffic and the possibility of speeding surveys;

·        Traffic calming measures such as road humps, vehicle activated signage and safety cameras;

·        The condition of the roads and footways in the area;

·        Parking Enforcement;

·        Public Transport and the new city centre terminus, the Quality Bus Partnership between Leicester City Council and the Bus Companies, quality bus corridors and park and ride;

·        Population increases and the impact on the transport system;

·        The Transport Plan; and

·         Verge Hardening.

Councillor Bhavsar, in response to several spontaneous questions, requested that any further questions be saved until the end of the presentation.

In response to a residents question about funding for park and ride in the Birstall area and rumours that Morrisons may have been purchasing the land, Mark Wills, Head of Transport Strategy confirmed that Leicester City Council and Leicestershire County Council had applied to the Government for additional funding to allow the park and ride scheme to be developed. It was also clarified that there wasn’t a specific condition on the planning consent that required the builder, Jelson Homes, to develop the park and ride scheme. Further, the economic downturn has lead to Jelson Homes being unable to contribute to the development of the scheme at the time.

In response to residents concerns about the condition of the roads in the area, it was stated that road surveys were conducted on main roads and bus corridors first. Work was also reported to be planned for the Abbey Lane area. Further, a new Rapid Response team was in place to respond to reports of road disrepair.

Residents and Councillors also raised concerns about:

·         Abbey, being in the top 2% of nationally deprived areas, continued to be neglected and ignored;

·         What action was being taken on Halifax Drive to tackle speeding traffic and the inadequate crossing; and

·         The danger caused by cyclists using the pathways on Parker Drive.

In response to some of the issues raised, PC Simon Walters explained:

·         That as a partner the Police are required to get involved in such issues;

·         Two referrals had been received, one in relation to Halifax Drive and speeding traffic. Mobile speed detection devices had been used which had only led to 2 fixed penalty notices being issued. Feedback from residents had suggested the time of the speed surveys was not right, and in response the timing would be changed;

·         Strict guidelines on speeding checks were in place i.e. that Officers must wear a high visibility jacket and hat so that be identifiable to drivers;

·         That enforcement action was taken alongside educational activities by the Police Community Support Officers; and

·         That Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras would be used also.

In response to Councillor Marriott questioning whether the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 42.

Officers will be on hand to explain the Housing Capital Receipts Initiative.

Leo Daniels, Neighbourhood Housing Manager explained the background behind the Capital Receipts initiative. The following process was also explained:

1.                  Housing Manager/Councillors develop ideas for suggestion;

2.                  Ideas are then brought to the Community Meetings for comment;

3.                  The general views of the Community Meeting are recorded; and

4.                  The ideas, including comments, are submitted to the Performance Panel for final decision.

The following ideas were outlined to the meeting:

1.                  Hefford Gardens – knee high fencing to the cost of £7464.60.

Residents stated that local people should take ownership of an area, as it was suggested that this would increase their respect of the area through the engagement and responsibility allocated to them. 

2.                  Fencing off a planted area off Langley Walk to the cost of £5914.94.

3.                  Halifax Drive Parking Provision to the cost of £59,644.75.

Residents stated that the cost was too high, that it seemed that trees and green spaces were being removed to provide additional parking. One resident was amazed that we had that amount of money to spend on additional parking but that money for Highways and Transport related issues was limited. It was also stated that the bid should only be approved if the local residents agreed to provide their own hard standing.

Leo Daniels, Neighbourhood Housing Manager explained that the bids presented had not been approved and that the comments made at the meeting would be recorded.

A resident stated that the way lifting and financing of £5,000 to Kinlay Road flats had previously been approved. This should have been completed by March 2009 but had not yet been completed. Leo Daniels, Neighbourhood Housing Manager, explained that he would look into the matter. Councillors also agreed to follow this up with the relevant Officers.

Steve Letten, Members Support Officer, will provide an update on the Ward Action Plan.

This item was not discussed. An update on the Ward Action plan will be provided at the next Abbey Community meeting.

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

Steve Letten, Members Support Officer, will give an update on the Community Meeting Budget. The following applications have been received:

• Summer Soccer Academy, £2500 – Apppendix B1
• Group Outing Bid, £200 – Appendix B2

Steve Letten, Members Support Officer, provided an update on the Community Meeting budget for the previous year, and also explained the position for the 2009/2010 financial year. It was also confirmed that Appendix B2 was submitted in error and had already been funded by the Community Meeting budget, and was therefore to be disregarded.

Funding Application – Summer Soccer Academy (Appendix B1)

Residents raised concerns in relation to the cost of the application and that it looked as though Leicester City Council were submitting bids for funding to Community Meetings where they should be making the provision for it themselves.

Councillors discussed with Steve Letten, Members Support Officer, whether it would be more appropriate to approve part of the amount.

Residents were not supportive of this and suggested that the bid should be rejected on the basis that it was submitted too late and that the Council was running projects then requesting funding that should already be provided. At this point a vote was taken. 4 residents were in support of the application and 7 were against.

The meeting was adjourned at 8.23pm to allow Councillors to take advice and discuss further options.

The meeting reconvened at 8.30pm.

RESOLVED:

that the application not be supported on the grounds that not enough information was available and that future applications of the same or a similar nature require Officers to attend the Community Meeting to explain the proposals in more detail. 

Residents Questions

Residents raised the following questions at the end of the meeting:

1. Can we have a commitment from Councillor Connelly to authorise donations of end of stock library books from the main libraries to the Community Trust libraries, and in particular Children’s, Large Print and Audio books.

Councillors agreed to raise the matter with Councillor Connelly.

2. Could a street sign detailing the Stocking Farm Community Trust Library be erected on Packwood Road?

Councillors agreed to look into the matter with the relevant Council Officer, and that consideration would be given to supporting any funding requirements from the Community Meeting budget if possible.

3. Could the sinks be removed from the libraries in the Stocking Farm Healthy Living Centre and the Tudor Centre?

Councillors agreed to look into the matter with the relevant Council Officer.

4. Could additional Computer facilities/provision for public use be provided in the area, particularly in the Stocking Farm Healthy Living Centre or at the Library?

Councillors agreed to look into the matter with the relevant Council Officer.

5. Could consideration be given to providing a newsletter in the area so local news and facilities can be advertised.

Councillors agreed to look into the matter with the relevant Council Officer, and the distribution of the Leicester Link in response to further questions about this.

6. Residents questioned what action had been taken to recruit Community Partners to the Community Meeting.

In response, Steve Letten – Members Support Officer explained the process to the meeting.

7. Could and should the Council work with Biffa to create a Community Waste Recycling Centre at Hoods Close to replace the former Abbey Meadows facility?

In response, Steve Letten – Members Support Officer explained that Waste Management was subject to an ongoing Scrutiny review and that this question would be put to the Head of Waste Management and the task group concerned with the Scrutiny Waste Management review for consideration.

The meeting closed at 8.45pm.