Agenda and minutes

Councillor Bhavsar was elected Chair for the meeting.

An apology for absence was received from Kathleen Chantrill.

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 to be discussed.

Councillor Byrne declared an ODI (Other Disclosable Interest) as she regularly held a Councillor’s Surgery at the Quadrant, which was the subject of a budget application at Item 9 (Ward Community Budget).  As the interest was not considered to be a DPI (Direct Pecuniary Interest) it not preclude Councillor Byrne from discussing or voting on the application.

The minutes of the Abbey Community Meeting held on 11 June 2013 are attached and Members will be asked to confirm them as a correct record.

RESOLVED:

that the Minutes of the Abbey Ward Community Meeting held on 11 June 2013 be confirmed as a correct record.

Officers have been invited to the meeting to give an update on the city’s bid to be the 2017 UK City of Culture.

Kevan Grantham and Alison Colledge (Arts and Museums Service) updated the meeting on the City Council’s bid to become the UK City of Culture in 2017.  He reported on the background to the bid, advising that the first round submission had been made in April 2013 and that Leicester had been shortlisted with Hull, Swansea Bay and Dundee.  A more detailed second round bid was being prepared which was to be submitted by the end of September 2013.

It was reported that the success of the multi-agency and partnership approach, headed by the Assistant City Mayor for Culture, Heritage, Leisure and Sport, Councillor Piara Singh Clair, had led Leicester to a healthy position in the bidding process.

The second round of bidding involved an extensive consultation process and the ‘back the bid’ campaign was highlighted.  In this respect members of the community were encouraged to complete an online survey.  It was confirmed that the numbers of residents in support of the bid would be an important and significant factor in progressing Leicester’s bid up to the final decision being made.

Leaflets were distributed which advised of a series of roadshow events and publicity.  It was noted that the Councils support to community events would be increased and work was ongoing to measure their impact and describe how such events enhanced Leicester’s cultural identity.

In conclusion Kevan advised that the final decision would be made by the Secretary of State in November 2013.

Kevan was thanked for his report and update.

Ela Krychowska-Hall (Housing Area Manager) reported on current housing issues within the Ward.  She gave a breakdown of the types of properties in the Ward and reported that there were currently a total of 1,735 social housing properties in the ward, which included flats and bungalows.

In respect of the maintenance of those properties, Ela described the funding options for the Council and reported that many schemes were match funded.  She confirmed that the greatest spend on properties in terms of cost was for replacement kitchens and bathrooms, with 86 replacements having been undertaken in the current financial year.

Ela reported on the current initiative to consider environmental improvement projects where each of the Council’s six housing areas would receive funding for appropriate schemes based on the number of tenancies in each area.  She asked community members to put forward suggestions for projects that would benefit tenancies and the wider environment.  It was reported that consultation with residents’ groups and the Ward Councillors had commenced in order that projects could be identified and prioritised.

The list of projects currently being put forward for funding included the following:

• Thurcaston Road flats – courtyards
• Replacement of materials with energy efficient solutions
• Mowmacre path and pavement widening
• Kingslea Road railing refurbishment
• Painting of communal areas, including external bin storage areas

In response to questions it was confirmed that offenders working under the Community Payback scheme were used in appropriate cases.

Ela was thanked for her report.

An update on issues in the Ward will be given at the meeting.

Matt Davison (City Warden) reported on his recent environmental and enforcement activities in the Ward.

He commented that fly-tipping had caused a significant amount of recent complaints and although clear-ups had been undertaken without unreasonable delays, it had been difficult to identify offenders.

A joint initiative with railway operators had been undertaken to remove sleepers stored on railway land which had been identified as a concern following misuse by youngsters involved in anti-social behaviour.

Continued patrols had led to a reduction in littering and dog-fouling, although the concerns and complaints on and around the Stadium Estate were ongoing.

In response to questions Matt referred to the possible increase in bulk collections and litter picks to reduce fly-tips and advised that funding options were being considered with the Council’s partners.  The meeting discussed the educational aspects of the problems and issues being experienced and it was noted that many residents felt that following the clean-ups further items were fly-tipped as removal was normally undertaken in less than five days.  It was noted that in some instances the clean-ups gave the fly-tips a justification and work to increase education in respect of the responsibilities of residents and businesses was supported and encouraged.

Matt was thanked for his update.

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

Sergeant Michelle Zakoscielny (Leicestershire Police) updated the meeting on Police activities in the ward.

She referred to the approved funding for the mobile CCTV camera which had been ordered following clarification of its joint operation with Housing Services.  Consultation meetings were being arranged to agree the appropriate prioritised areas for siting the camera.

Sergeant Zakoscielny gave crime statistics for the Ward commenting that burglaries had increased in the summer months.  It was felt that despite an educational campaign, this had been due to residents leaving windows open.

It was reported that travellers had recently been evicted from an illegal site in the ward, but that a displacement issue had arisen.  The continued traveller liaison work was described, particularly involving youth workers, where it was considered that greater engagement would reduce problems.

The issue of illegal parking including parking on zig-zags at schools was highlighted and school visits and patrols were being increased to alleviate dangers.

In response to questions it was confirmed that the ‘Good Old Days’ Public House may be reopened as a licence application to operate the premises had recently been received.

Sergeant Zakoscielny was thanked for her report and update.

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.

a)        The Members Support Officer will present the latest position with regard to the Abbey Ward Community Budget.

b)        The following application has been approved under the Fast-Track procedure since the previous meeting:

Application 1           (1310)

Applicant:      Friends of Mowmacre

Amount:         £300

Proposal:       Army Cadet Force Recruitment Open Day

Summary:     Funding is requested for food and refreshments for an Army Cadet Force Open Day, which will run in conjunction with the Mowmacre Event Planning Partnership Fun Day being held on 24 August 2013.

c)         The following application was not supported under the Fast-Track procedure:

Application 2

Applicant:      Graeme Sutton

Amount:         £450

This is a joint application to Abbey Ward, Beaumont Leys Ward and New Parks Ward.  The total amount requested is £1,350, being £450 from each ward.

Proposal:       FC Britannia

Summary:     Funding was requested towards pitch and referee fees for 12 home games and towards 20 full kits and 4 showerproof tracksuits.

d)        Any further grant applications received before the meeting will be submitted for consideration.

It was reported that the following application had been approved under the Fast-Track procedure since the previous meeting:

Application 1          

Applicant:      Friends of Mowmacre

Amount:         £300

Proposal:       Army Cadet Force Recruitment Open Day

Summary:     Funding is requested for food and refreshments for an Army Cadet Force Open Day, which will run in conjunction with the Mowmacre Event Planning Partnership Fun Day being held on 24 August 2013.

It was reported that the following application had not been supported under the Fast-Track procedure:

Application 2          

Applicant:      Graeme Sutton

Amount:         £1350

Joint bid with Beaumont Leys and New Parks Wards.  (£450 to each ward)

Proposal:       FC Britannia

Summary:     Funding was requested towards pitch and referee fees for 12                       home games and towards 20 full kits and 4 showerproof                                tracksuits.

The following applications were received for consideration and were determined as indicated:

Application 3          

Applicant:      Quality of Life

Amount:         £1000

Joint bid with Castle Ward (£500 to each ward)

Proposal:       Reflections Community Film Project

Summary:     Film making project that will involve the participation of ‘hard to                   reach’ people to raise awareness of addiction.

AGREED:

                        that the application be supported in the sum of £500

Application 4          

Applicant:      Quadrant Resident’s Group

Amount:         £499.99

Proposal:       Outside storage facility

Summary:     A storage unit for tools and equipment used by the residents to                    maintain the communal garden area of the Quadrant bungalows.

AGREED:

                        that the application be supported in the sum of £499.99

The meeting then heard from The Square Mile Project at DeMontfort University, who were expecting to submit a Ward Community Funding application.  It was reported that following initial discussions, Members had indicated that they were minded to approve the funding under the Fast-Track procedure on receipt of the formal application.

The meeting closed at 7.15 pm.