Agenda and minutes

Councillors will elect a Chair for the meeting.

The Chair will introduce those present and make any necessary announcements.

The Chair and any other Councillors who are present will make any declarations as required by the Councillors’ Code of Conduct.

Councillor Riyait – Chair for the meeting, led introduction and welcomed everyone to the meeting.

There were no declarations of interest.

Received and accepted from Councillor Bhavsar.

The Action Log of the meeting held on 16^th November 2015 is attached and Members will be asked to confirm it as an accurate record.

Received and agreed as an accurate record.

The Chair agreed a change to the agenda to take this item.

A representative of Wastecycle was present to address the meeting and explained that the company was a recycling facility that took a range of waste from the area, recycled that and turned it into products. The business was landlocked on three sides and issues had been reported concerning the vehicles that had access to and from the site.

The meeting were informed that the business was keen to be a good neighbour in the area and wanted to work with residents towards finding a solution to the issues that had been raised.

During the ensuing discussion the following suggestions and comments were made:

·       Re: introducing double yellow lines on the roads around Wesley Street and Beaumanor Road – it was recognised this might conflict with residents parking outside their homes in the evenings/overnight.

·       The road needed to be repaired to its original state.

·       The road was constructed as a street not a road and therefore needed to be reconstructed.

·       There should be a consultation regarding the junction of Wesley Street, Beaumanor Road, Thurcaston Road to fully consider issues of access and nuisance parking.

·       Issues were not just related to Wastecycle – there were a number of small businesses breaching their terms causing a range of difficulties, such as cars being stored in parking spaces.

·       An holistic view needed to be taken of the area, residents wanted to be able to come home and park their vehicles.

·       There was support in the area for a residents parking scheme.

·       Wastecycle had agreed to trial parking cones outside one resident’s house in particular to see if this improved the flow of traffic.

·       There were issues with lorries leaving and entering premises as early as 6am causing disruption and noise to residents, this was occurring 6 days a week.

The Chair concluded that highways would be able to consider the matters raised and comment on some of the points at a future meeting.

An officer from the Highways team will provide an update on issues relevant to the Abbey Ward.

Barry Pritchard, Group Manager, Transport Strategy & Projects addressed the meeting and agreed to look into some of the matters raised under the last item, in particular regarding:

·       Wesley Street condition – these points would be taken back, road condition should be something that could have some quick remedial works done but if the condition was very poor highways would look at scheduling in reconstruction.

·       Residents parking – there was a programme in the city looking at resident parking schemes across the city and this could be added into that programme.

·       Traffic management – this could be looked at quickly, there was a proposal to introduce a cycling facility and look at ideas for the junction. This could be enlarged to take a more holistic view including a traffic study. Single yellow lines might be a compromise that could address the issue of parking in day and allowing residents parking in evenings.

Barry agreed to provide an update to the next meeting.

Councillor Riyait advised that local councillors would be meeting with the City Mayor to look at local priorities and they would raise these concerns too.

There will be an update and information on the latest changes to Universal Credit and how it will impact on those affected.

An officer was not available to present on this matter, however information on changes to Universal Credit was provided and circulated to those present.

The City Warden will provide an update on issues in the Ward.

Matt Davinson, City Warden for Abbey ward provided an update which included the following points:

·       Flytipping on the highway and on private land – 20 issues had been reported 3 of those through the “One Clean Leicester” app.

·       Untidy Land – 5 reports had been made concerning Parker Drive, that was currently being dealt with but had been delayed as it was private land and landlords/owners needed to be traced. Matt agreed to provide Councillor Byrne with a regular update on this matter.

·       Dog fouling – Border Drive was a particular issue. 2 dog bins had been installed in Derry Walk and Pamela Place leading to improvements and both bins were being used.

·       Car sales – a recent report relating to Bretton Walk was under investigation.

Everyone was reminded to report incidents to the city warden service either by telephone or using the Love Leicester App.

The Police will be present to provide an update on local policing issues in the Ward.

Sgt Julie Strong addressed the meeting:

·       Thurcaston Road bridge/speeding along Abbey Lane – following concerns raised at the last meeting police had carried out traffic ops on 2 days during which 2 vehicles were seized and 5 tickets issues. Police were now planning a larger scale operation on Abbey Road which would include full vehicle checking.

·       Residents said that the speeding vehicles continued to be a particular issue late evening from 10pm along Abbey Lane.

·       Dwelling burglaries had increased over and since December 2015, a number of significant arrests and convictions had been made with substantial sentences issued. There had also been a slight increase in burglary from shops and businesses.

·       Problem Solving Plans – these could be viewed for the area on the police website.

·       Local Policing – police were now using shared facilities in the Tudor Centre, Bewcastle Grove, Mowmacre Hill and also at the Healthy Living Centre, Marwood Road, Stocking Farm.

·       There had been 2 incidents where young boys had been approached by a man in suspicious circumstances, both incidents were being investigated and officers were patrolling in the area.

A local Housing Officer will provide an update on Housing issues in the Ward.

No-one from the Housing team was present at the meeting.

An update on Neighbourhood Housing issues to be provided to the next meeting.

Councillors are reminded that under the Council’s Code of Conduct they should declare any interest they may have in budget applications.

An update will be given on the Ward Community Budget. A summary of grant applications submitted for consideration since the last meeting is attached.

The Community Engagement Officer reported that following the last meeting the community budget balance was £9152.

Applications supported since the last meeting:

Leicestershire Police - Never 2 late project (1649): Application for £3000. Grant of £3000 Supported.

Leicester City Council Housing - Abbey Safety Day (1659): Application for £3000. Grant of £3000 Supported.

Applications considered at the meeting:

Belgrave Allotment Society – Eco toilet & installation (5141): Application for £400. Grant of £400 Supported.

Shree Sanatan Mandir Community Centre – Holi Celebration (5144): Application for £1000. Grant of £1000 Supported.

Signing Network CIC – Video Relay Access Project (5145): Application for £500. Grant of £500 Supported.

Neighbourhood Watch – set up Neighbourhood Watch schemes in Abbey Ward (1651): Application for £500. Grant of £500 Supported.

AFC Leicester Girls & Ladies – develop girls in football and summer tournament (5147): Application Deferred until next financial year.

Leicester Anti-Social Behaviour Unit – Barsby Walk Goal Posts (1672): Application for £702. Grant of £702 Supported.

Spring Education Centre – Computers for children (1500): Application Deferred until next financial year.

Thursday Bingo Group – Cooker/Microwave for group (1678): Application Deferred until next financial year.

Quadrant Residents Association – Queens 90^th Birthday Street Party (1703): Application Deferred until next financial year.

The balance of £50 in the community budget to be carried over to the next financial year.

Councillors advised that any future applications should be submitted online and those for £500 or less could be fast tracked in the next financial year.

The meeting closed at 7.35pm