Agenda and minutes

Councillors will elect a Chair for the meeting.

Councillor Marriott was elected as chair for the meeting.

No apologies for absence were received.

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.

Councillor Marriott declared a personal and prejudicial interest in budget item B2: Mowmacre Event Planning Partnership fireworks display as he was on the committee for this organisation.

The minutes of the previous Abbey Community Meeting, held on 15 September 2009, are attached and Members are asked to confirm them as a correct record.

The minutes of the previous Abbey Community Meeting held on 15 September 2009 as circulated were approved as a correct record.

In a change to the Agenda order the Chair stated that the Clockwise Credit Union would be brought forward as the representative had another meeting to attend.

Representatives from the Credit Union will be present to give details of the services which they can provide.

Veena James from the Clockwise Credit Union gave an overview of the services offered.

Veena stated the Clockwise Credit Union was a non-profit organisation that provided ethical savings and loans to the community, particularly to those who were financially excluded and without access to mainstream banking.   The Clockwise Credit Union aimed to provide a fairer alternative to doorstep sellers and loan sharks that provided fast cash at punitive interest rates. Research showed 70% of targeted customers that were struggling financially used doorstep sellers.

Veena explained that some of the services offered were as follows::

• The Clockwise Credit Union allowed the community to save and borrow from the same fund, wholly financed by members of the community

• The Credit Union in Leicester covered Leicestershire, Rutland and the City and had 4000 members (the largest in the East Midlands)

• Membership was available to anyone who lived and worked in the county

• Clockwise Credit Union offered savings accounts, trust funds, loans, mini-cash ISAs (3% interest rate, higher than most banks) and current accounts (including Direct Debit facility)

The following questions were asked by residents:

How is the Credit Union funded?

Veena replied that it was funded entirely by members of Clockwise

Do savings have to be deposited before a loan is available?

Veena stated that customers did not need a savings account to apply for a loan, they just needed to become a member.  Accounts can be left open with a token amount of £1 or closed completely at any time.

Why had a loan been refused?

Veena stated that loan applicants were credit checked and refused if a history of fraud was found.  The Credit Union did not refuse loans just on the basis of past County Court Judgements, how the applicant’s finances were currently managed was important in the decision.  If an applicant had a poor credit history the Credit Union will ask about the situation and if the applicant had made an effort to make repayments, requests were looked on favourably.  If past debts had not being paid back at all the risk was too large to grant the loan.  Veena also stated that requests for savings accounts were never declined, and any applicant who was refused a loan was welcome to apply again 3 months later.

Officers will provide an update on issues which have been raised at previous meetings.

Martin Fletcher – Acting Head of Highways Management provided an update on and summary of the responses given from the relevant Officers regarding issues raised at the previous meeting:

Langley Rd - One-way system request

Martin stated that proposals for one-way streets were not considered without appropriate traffic calming measures in place, as one-way streets tend to increase traffic speed.  As no recorded personal injury accidents in last 3 years had occurred and Langley Avenue is 106^th on the traffic calming priority list action would not be taken currently. 

Parker Drive - Options for parking restrictions for factory visitors

Martin explained that several visits had been made to Parker Drive in last 5 years by officers and every time parking and loading operations had been entirely reasonable and essential to the operation of businesses.  If restrictions were increased this would increase the speed of traffic on the road, creating additional risk of severe accidents.   Existing waiting restrictions were considered adequate and there were no plans to change them.

A resident asked why the factories do not have to provide their own parking facilities and residents receive a fine on the residential side of the road if a car is parked for more than a few minutes.   The chair suggested that the resident submit an enquiry form to get this looked into.

Parker Drive - VAS Pilot

Martin explained if the VAS pilot showed vehicles were still speeding alternate measures would be looked at. The results of the current study would be made available in the middle of 2010 as part of a study on road safety on main roads.

PC Ian Lovell stated the police had carried out checks with handheld speed guns on Parker Drive, more speeding had been detected at the Somerset drive end and some fixed penalty notices had been issued.  The traffic management section of the Police may install a “grey box” to record data about speeding soon.

Halifax Drive - Concrete bay removal

Martin explained that an officer had inspected the removal site. The tarmac had sunk slightly but was in a safe condition.  Halifax Drive was routinely inspected every six months, should a defect develop repair will be carried out.

Somerset Drive & Halifax Drive - Speeding issues

Martin explained that the VAS pilot study covers Halifax Drive. If it showed vehicles were still speeding alternate measures would be looked at. The results of the current study would be made available in the middle of 2010 as part of a study on road safety on main roads.

Martin also commented that Somerset Avenue is 62^nd in the traffic calming priority list and only one recorded personal injury has occurred in the last 3 years.  Given the low priority and low accident rate no immediate action was warranted.

Sudley Avenue - Request for yellow lines

Martin explained that no recorded road traffic accidents involving personal injury in the last 5 years had occurred and parking does not cause undue delays to through traffic, therefore  ...  view the full minutes text for item 65.

Anti Social Behaviour and Police Officers will be present to give an update of initiatives in the ward to tackle anti social behaviour and crime problems.

Ian Lovell - Police Constable, Mark Williamson – Community Support Officer and Jessica Essex Community Initiative Co-ordinator were present to discuss Anti-social behaviour and crime issues in the ward.

PC Lovell stated that the ward boundaries for police patrols would be changing as of 4 Januray to encompass a wider area as far as Abbey Park and Leicester College. 

PC Lovell stated that anti-social groups of youths outside the Tudor Centre and on Billington Close had been identified and would be tackled in the next 4 – 5 weeks.

Crime Figures Sept- Dec 2008/9

PC Lovell presented the crime figures for the ward:

House Burglaries

Outbuilding Burglaries (sheds and garages)

Unattended Motor Vehicles

Criminal Damage

Theft of Motor Vehicles

Damage to Motor Vehicles

Robberies

It was stated robberies are fairly rare and usually occur on isolated unlit stretches for example the bottom of Corporation Rd.

The following questions were asked by residents:

Would new area boundaries result in less of a police presence in the area? 

PC Lovell stated that there would be more police officers now covering the wider area: currently the area was covered by 4 officers, with the revised boundaries there would be an additional 2 CSOs, 2 beat officers and a neighbourhood Sergeant. 

When tackling anti-social behaviour among groups of youths, are groups just warned or moved on? 

CSO Williamson stated that officers engage with groups, and if no offence has been committed they cannot be moved on.  Typically the first time a group is encountered the group will be asked to move and if they are still there on a second encounter they will sent home.  A recent incident outside The Rocket pub where youths were throwing bricks and subsequently escorted back to their parent’s homes by police officers was cited. 

CSO Williamson remarked that intoxicated adults was also a problem, and they can only be asked to move, any further action depends on the committing of a public order offence. 

CSO Williamson also stated that problems with anti-social behaviour on motorbikes were hard  ...  view the full minutes text for item 66.

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.

Steve Letten, Member Support Officer will give the meeting on the current position with the Community Meeting Budgets.

The following budget requests will be considered by the meeting:-

B1) Senior Community Society – request for £1175 for supporting a celebration for Guru Nanak’s birthday.

B2) Mowmacre Event Planning Partnership – request for £2586 for supporting a bonfire party.

Steve Letten, Members’ Support Officer presented the Community Meeting Budget.and introduced three applications for funding:

B1 – Senior Community Society: Guru Nanak’s Birthday Celebration Event

Steve explained that the application was retrospective for an event that had already taken place on 22^nd October.  It was stated that retrospective applications were not usually considered but due to circumstances concerning the timing of the event and the fact that a previous application for a different event had been mislaid, Members had agreed to consider this application even though the event had already taken place.

Gurmal Singh, the event co-ordinator, explained the application was for £1175 for fireworks and food for the event, which was held on 22 October 2009 at the Holy Bones Centre.  Gurmal stated that the event was well attended and enjoyed by a cross-section of the community. Members of the public heard that the event was a multicultural rather than a religious event.

RESOLVED:

that the funding application for Guru Nanak’s Birthday Celebration be supported to the value of £1175.

Mr Singh was advised that if he wished to apply for funding for a similar event next year, he should submit it in plenty of time, for example in Spring 2010.

B2 – Mowmacre Community Bonfire and Firework Event.

Councillor Marriott, having declared a personal and prejudicial interest, left the room for the consideration of this item.

Steve explained that the application was another retrospective application for a fireworks display that was held on 5 November 2009. The event was organised by the Mowmacre Planning Partnership and the Outdoor Adventure Playground and £2586 had been requested to finance the event.

Steve stated that the application had been received too late for consideration before the event.

Councillor Byrne stated the event was well attended by over 500 people.

A resident questioned whether there had been any health and safety problems at the event and Councillor Byrne replied that there had been no concerns.  A resident commented that there had been fewer fireworks generally in the area this year around November, which was possible as a result of the fireworks event.

RESOLVED:

that the funding application for the Mowmacre Community Bonfire and Firework Event be supported to the value of £2586

The organisers were advised that if they wished to apply for funding for a similar event next year, they should submit their application in plenty of time.

Councillor Marriott returned to the meeting.

B3 – Community Boxing Club

Steve introduced a funding application for a Community Boxing Club that had been submitted by the North West Unity Boxing Club. Steve explained that the Boxing Club had received £600 from the Beaumont Leys Community Fund and was now applying for funds from the Abbey Ward.  Residents heard that this was because the club was currently based at the Home Farm Community Centre and was attended by residents of both wards.

The application was for £1600 for the purchase of a collapsible boxing ring that could be moved to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 67.

The next meeting will be held on 18 March 2010.

The next meeting will be held on 18^th March 2010 at Stocking Farm Healthy Living Centre.

A resident suggested that issues effecting residents over 50 regarding healthy living and day care need to be discussed.

The Chair stated that the resident is welcome to attend an upcoming coffee morning where these issues will be discussed.

A resident complained that not enough people are aware of the meeting in the area.

Carlyn Sandringham – Officer responsible for distributing the quarterly Community magazine explained that 13,000 copies had been printed and distributed.  This figure was based on a census which may be out of date so 14,000 copies of the next edition will be published to allow for any shortfall.

Carlym had only been made aware of the shortfall in the last delivery too late to print the extra copies needed.

A resident stated that other residents on Metcalfe Close were not aware of the meeting.

The Chair questioned whether the Community magazine goes out with the Link.

Officers replied it does not as the Link is bi-monthly and the Community Magazine quarterly.

The Chair thanked everyone for attending and wished everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

The meeting closed at 8:45pm

The meeting closed at 8:45pm.