Agenda and minutes

Councillor Byrne was elected as Chair for the meeting.

There were no apologies for absence.

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.

Councillors were asked to declare any interests they may have in the business on the agenda and/or declare if Section 106 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 applied to them.

Simon Brown, Festival and Events Office, Leicester City Council, will be present to discuss proposed changes to the City Council’s events and festivals programme, which includes projects relating to Abbey Park.

Simon Brown from the Arts and Museum Service was in attendance to discuss proposed changes to the City Council’s events and festivals programme. 

It was explained that a consultation in relation to city-wide festivals and events was on-going and was due to close on 27 July 2012. 

In relation to festivals which took place locally, Simon reported that the most predominant one was the Abbey Park Annual Bonfire.  In terms of how the event was financed, it was reported that the entire event cost roughly £90,000 with the City Council allocating £14,000.  It was made clear that the majority of the remainder was funded via ticket sales. 

Simon encouraged this present to complete the questionnaire online at http://www.leicester.gov.uk/your-council-services/council-and-democracy/consultations-homepage/.

Carlym Quantrill will provide a presentation on Community First; a new source of community action and funding which has recently been established within the Abbey Ward.

Carlym Quantrill provided a short overview in relation to Community First; a new source of community action and funding which had recently been established within the Abbey Ward.

Carlym explained that at this stage, the full details of the initiative were not known.  However, she did explain that the Government were to provide roughly £80m nationally towards which aimed to bring communities together.  She reported that £50,000 was to be specifically allocated to the Abbey Ward.

It was stated that a steering group of local stakeholders and residents had been formed to facilitate how this money would be allocated.  Carlym announced that there was a vacant space which could be filled by any interested local resident or by somebody who had worked in the ward for at least four years. 

A key point highlighted by Carlym is that all projects awarded money had to be match-funded by other bodies, such as the Ward Community Meeting. 

Sergeant Michelle Zakoscielny will be in attendance to provide an overview of current policing priorities in the Abbey Ward. 

Sergeant Michelle Zakoscielny was in attendance to provide an overview of current policing priorities in the Abbey Ward. 

Sergeant Zakoscielny explained that the Beaumont Leys PU had experienced the largest reduction of crime incidents in the City.  In particular, it was stated that the burglary rate had fallen by 26%.

Those present were warned to be vigilant in protecting personal equipment such as mobile phones entering the summer months, where thefts of such devices were often more frequent.

It was also explained that a new system of managing cases of anti-social behaviour had been established which would allow these to be managed more efficiently.

Queries were raised by residents in relation to problems of double parking of vehicles on Parker Drive and the dangers that this posed to pedestrians.  It was felt that the problems were particularly rife during mid-mornings.  Sergeant Zakoscielny was of the understanding that the mater had been referred to the Council’s Highways team, and agreed to obtain further information for the next meeting. 

An update of the work of the City Wardens in Abbey will be provided. 

The Abbey Ward City Warden explained that he covered both the Abbey and Beauomont Leys wards.

It was acknowledged that amongst the most commonly reported incidents, cases of dog fouling were particularly high.  It was stated that the problem occurred frequently in the alleyways surrounding Kinley Road. 

It was reported that a number of motor vehicles had been illegally sold in the area surrounding Abbey Lane.  The City Warden responded by stating that it was often difficult to produce sufficient evidence to prosecute such offenders.

At the request of the Chair, the City Warden agreed to supply a stock of ‘stubbies’ for cigarette ends to the TARA office.

Norman Rochester will provide an update of his recent work as the Community Partner for Abbey.

This item was withdrawn.

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 Members Support Officer will present the latest position of the Abbey Ward budget.

The following applications for grants have been submitted for consideration:

Application 1          

Applicant:      Tudor pre-School.

Amount:         £800

Proposal:       Pre-school trip

Summary:     We would like the opportunity to take the children who attend our setting on a trip to Twycross Zoo.  As well as being a fun day for the children, it will provide an educational opportunity to gain knowledge of the living world our children may not otherwise get as many of them do not often get to leave the local area due to economic factors affecting families. 

                        We hope that the trip will have many positive outcomes for families.  It will continue to build on our partnership with parents.  It will encourage communication and give quality time between parents and children helping to strengthen families.  It will also give parents a chance to get to know each other, building relationships within the community. 

Application 2          

Applicant:      Mrs Cathy Boyes

Amount:         £500

Proposal:       Somerset Avenue Diamond jubilee Street Party

Summary:     We are applying for funding towards a Jubilee Street Party to be held in the service road of Somerset Avenue on 2 June 2012.  It is for all residents of Somerset Avenue and Parker Drive.  This will include approximately 150 residents from various backgrounds and social groups, who will get together for a party.  This will be part funded by residents.  As part of this, we wish to buy a ‘keep sake’ for all of the children to commemorate the Queens’ Diamond Jubilee and provide food and entertainment.

Application 3          

Applicant:      Mrs Cathy Boyes

Amount:         £1,050

Proposal:       Diamond jubilee Street Party

Summary:     residents of Somerset Avenue and Parker Drive are organising a street party for the diverse local community for the Queen's Diamond Jubilee.  We intend to provide food and entertainment and buy a jubilee gift for all children who attend.  The community will also provide some of the funding themselves.

Application 4          

Applicant:      Cornerstone PCC

Amount:         £500

Proposal:       Community Fun Day

Summary:     The event will take place on Saturday 15 September 2012 between 1330 and 1630 at Richard Hallam School.  The event aims to build on the events held over the previous five years.  It will generally be similar to the extended event successfully held in 2011 thanks to generous funding from the three council wards.

                        The event is free – no charge will be imposed on those who attend other than refreshments.

Application 5          

Applicant:      Leicester Multi-Cultural Association

Amount:         £500

Proposal:       Queens Diamond Jubilee Celebration

Summary:     We would like to celebrate the Queen’s Diamond Jubillee, by organising a street party at the Guru Nanak Community Centre.  People of Leicester multi-cultural communities will attend the event.  We have celebrated various functions before and these have been very successful.

Francis Connolly provided the meeting with an update on the latest position with the Abbey Community Meeting budget.

Francis introduced the following applications:

1.    Tudor Pre-School – Pre-School Trip Amount requested:  £800

RESOLVED:

                        That a sum of £800 be supported towards this                                                  application.

2.    Mrs Cathy Boyes – Somerset Avenue Diamond Jubilee Street Party

Amount Requested:  £500

RESOLVED:

That a sum of £500 be supported towards this                          application.

3.    Mrs Cathy Boyes – Diamond Jubilee Street Party

Amount Requested: £1,050

RESOLVED:

That this application be withdrawn.

4.    Cornerstone PCC– Community Fun Day

Amount Requested: £500

RESOLVED:

                                    That a sum of £500 be supported towards this                                                  application.

5.    Leicester Multi-Cultural Association – Queens Diamond Jubilee Celebration

Amount requested: £500

RESOLVED:

                        That the application be deferred.

Please note the following dates for future Abbey Community Meetings:

21 August 2012

20 November 2012

19 February 2013

All meetings to commence at 6pm.

It was noted that Abbey Ward Community Meetings were scheduled to take place on the following dates:

21 August 2012

20 November 2012

19 February 2013

The meeting closed at 7:25pm.