Agenda and minutes

Councillor Meghani was elected as Chair for the meeting.

Councillor Dempster submitted apologies for the first part of the meeting as she was attending another Community Meeting in Rushey Mead Ward. Councillor Dempster arrived in time for Item 18 – Patchwalk Update.

Apologies were also received from Haldene Broomes (Youth Services).

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.

There were no declarations of interest made at this time.

The minutes of the previous Beaumont Leys Community Meeting held on 18^th June 2013 have been circulated, and Members will be asked to confirm them as a correct record.

RESOLVED:

                        that the minutes of the last meeting of the Beaumont Leys                            Community Meeting held on 18^th June 2013 be agreed as a                                   correct record.

Officers will be present to discuss local transport and highways issues for the following:

a)    Thurcaston Park

b)    Heathley Park

c)    Bradgate Heights

d)    Barleycroft

e)    No. 55 Bus (Centre Bus)

John Dowson, Team Leader Sustainable Transport and Ed Kocik, Team Leader Traffic Operations attended the meeting to address several concerns raised around various traffic issues and the 55 bus service at the last meeting.

i)          55 Bus Service

            John reported that the City Council supported a number of bus services    whilst the remainder were commercially operated services.

In 2011/12 severe funding cuts were imposed on the City Council by the Government and it was necessary to review a number of areas funded by the City Council and these included supported bus services.

However, the 55 service, operated by Centrebus was proposed to remain an hourly service between the City Centre and Beaumont Centre only (no longer to Thurcaston Park) and operate on Mons-Sats. An alternative bus service (No. 154) would continue to serve Thurcaston Park. This cut would save some £280k over the course of 1 year. It was reported that some 100-150 people used the 55 service each day during the working day. The final decision would be made by the City Mayor. The cut proposed was the only bus service affected in the Beaumont Leys area.

Councillor Westley stated that Council budgets had been severely cut and savings were being made across a wide range of City Council provided services. From meetings of the Bus Users Panel that met regularly in the City it was apparent that the major bus companies operating within the City received a lot of subsidy and it was widely felt that they needed to review their operations as the City Council could no longer continue to provide the same level of subsidies.

ii)         Heathley Park

Ed Kocik stated that he had been asked to produce a mini scheme to alleviate parking problems in the vicinity of the Sunlight Bakery on Heathley Park Drive.

It was reported that the most practical solution was re-introduce some car parking, on one side of the road, near the Bakery and also extend no-parking into some of the side roads. It was also apparent that some of the existing road markings had eroded and these would now be re-painted. The aim was to keep the problems of parking in the vicinity of the Heathley Park public house and the Sunlight Bakery in that area of Heathley Park Drive. Sunlight Bakery had however indicated that they were looking to implement different ways of parking within their site in an effort to ease the current problems. In concluding it was stated that the existing shrubbery, sited opposite Dunscombe Road, would be removed to improve sight lines for motorists using this part of Heathley Park Drive.

Councillor Meghani stated that he had made a request that the City Council traffic Enforcement Officers undertake random checks on roads in Heathley Park.

The community meeting to receive an update from the City Warden.

Matthew Davinson, City Warden attended the meeting and gave the following update: -

Fly-Tipping

Incidences of fly-tipping on the following streets: -

Astill Lodge – Pankhurst Road, Pitchens Close, Halley Close, Astill Lodge Road.

Bradgate Heights – Lady Hay Road.

Heathley Park – Edgeley Close

Heacham Drive – Beaumont Walk, Blakesley Walk.

Nuisance Parking

Beaumont Walk

Litter

Bishopdale Road

Fly-Posting

Laithwaite Road

Dog Fouling

Bishopdale Road, Martinshaw Close.

Overall Complaints

18

Events:

Dog Fouling Stencils on Heathley Park and Glovers Walk.

Clean-Up – Blue Gates Road and Pitchens Close – 5 trucks filled.

RESOLVED:

                        that the information be noted.

The Community Meeting to receive an update on Local Policing.

Pc. Adam Woolman attended the meeting and gave an update on local policing since the last meeting. The following recorded crimes were reported for the period 19/06/13 – 04/09/13, compared for the similar period in 2012: -

                                                                                                  2013               2012

            Burglary – Non dwelling                                              12                    11  

            Burglary – Dwelling                                                     15                    15

            Robbery                                                                           2                       4

            Theft of Motor Vehicles                                                 5                       6

            Theft from Motor Vehicles                                           18                     12

            Drugs                                                                              11                     22

            Indecency                                                                      12                      9

            Damage                                                                          64                     51

It was reported that there was 1 Problem Solving Plan in place at present, covering problems with motorbikes. 1 person had been dealt with and there had been others that had been cautioned and had not been seen with motorbikes since.

It was reported that the Police did not have specific powers to deal with car parking on double yellow lines at Heathley Park, or indeed at other locations. Should a vehicle be causing an obstruction then the Police could prosecute. The City Council Traffic Enforcement officers did not patrol Heathley Park very often and Police would not be averse to re-gaining these powers.

RESOLVED:

                        that the information be noted.

An introduction of the local representative for the Young People’s Council and their role will be given.

This item was deferred.

Members will provide an update on patch-walks in the Beaumont Leys.

Councillor Westley reported that litter problems and parking problems had been observed on Bishopdale Road and an Action Plan had been drawn up.

A resident highlighted the car parking problems on Heathley Park Drive and also the issues around youths damaging cars and of the seeming lack of police presence. PC Woolman stated that the Government cuts had seriously reduced the numbers of police across the County and further cuts were planned.

Members of the public were reminded that the City Council collected, free of charge, up to 5 items of bulky waste per household. It was suggested that maybe a notice could be displayed outside the communal bin areas highlighting the phone numbers of the City Council Bulky Waste Collection Service.

Due to incidences of fly-tipping at Castle Hill Park some £20k had to be spent on clearing out ditches. There was a need to highlight that littering such facilities could lead to large amounts of expenditure to clear up.

It was reported that work was underway to integrate the current Parking Enforcement Officers into the City Warden Service. As a direct result it was also planned that City Wardens would then be undertaking enforcement of vehicle parking on double yellow lines across the City.

The Chair reported that a new Pet Shop was due to open in The Centre very soon.

The Council was looking to alleviate car parking problems in the vicinity of local businesses such as the Hospital, Sunlight Bakery and Samworth Bros.

Travellers were also a problem in the area, relating to unauthorised encampments and officers were working to address the problems. The City Mayor was putting forward planning applications for 2 travellers sites (Redhill and Beaumont Leys), the local community and Ward Councillors were strongly opposing these applications. It was stated that Ward Councillors could facilitate discussions around objecting to the planning applications and represent local residents at the Planning and Development Control Committee but would not be able to offer legal advice. The aim was to be able to achieve the maximum impact and to maximise the effect when the objections were submitted to the City Council.

Councillor Dempster reported that the Community Meeting had recently granted funding to the Heathley Park Residents Group to stage a Bank Holiday event. The event had taken place and had been well attended.

Councillor Dempster stated that there were problems of street drinkers that tended to gather around the Barleycroft Centre and were putting off several groups that wanted to use the Centre, to the extent that these groups had opted to go elsewhere. It was stated that the area referred to was not the subject of a ‘no drinking zone’ like the City Centre. It was generally agreed that the local shops selling alcohol should be taking a more responsible attitude. Councillor Westley stated that he would be taking this issue up with Licensing Officers with a request that they look more closely at the Barleycroft shops and street drinking in that area.Councillor Dempster  ...  view the full minutes text for item 19.

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 Community Meeting to consider applications for funding received from the Community Meeting Budget (Opening Balance £18,000), and summarised below:

Applications for consideration and received since the last meeting

i)          Ur Choice Young Peoples Project                                            £4,750.00

            Application received for funding for drop-in sessions and running costs for the youth project at Home Farm shopping square.

ii)         Key Roots Formation                                                                    £1,601.81

THIS APPLICATION HAS BEEN WITHDRAWN.

iii)        Ur Choice Young People’s Project                                           £470.00

Application received to provide support to a group of disadvantaged young men, to develop a constitution and support to enable them to run a football group themselves.

iv)        Somali Advice and Information Services (SOMINFOS)        £4,186.00

Application received to part fund a project to empower Somali males and females.

v)         Graeme Sutton                                                                                £1,066

Application received for support for the FC Brittania Football Club.

The Members support Officer introduced the budget applications that had been submitted since the last meeting. Following the introduction discussion took place on each application and, following the completion of the discussion there was a short recess to enable Ward Councillors to reach their decision on each application.

Members stated that, in future, applications received requesting more than £500, should be submitted with more detail to include information on what the funding was to be spent on, numbers of participants and the time scale of the activity to be funded.

The following applications were withdrawn by the applicants prior to the meeting

i)          Drop-in sessions and running costs                                        £4,750.00

            Application received from Ur Choice Young Peoples Project.

ii)         Building a caring community project                                       £1601.81

            Application received from Key Roots Formation.

The Following applications were considered by the Community Meeting

iii)        Ur Choice Young People Project                                              £470.00

            Application received for funding to provide support to a group of      disadvantaged young men to develop a constitution and support to      enable them to run a football group themselves.

            Members agreed to support the application in full.

            RESOLVED:

                                    that the application be supported in full - £470.

iv)        Empowering unexperienced and unemployed Somalis     £4,186.00

Application received from SOMINFOS (Joint with Spinney Hills and Stoneygate Wards) to part fund a project to empower Somali males and females.

 RESOLVED:

that the application be refused  on the grounds that the  applicant has previously been funded by this Community Meeting and the project that the funding was allocated to had not yet started.

v)         Football Activity                                                                              £450.00

            Application received from FC Brittania to fund football activity. The applicant did not attend the meeting.

            RESOLVED:

that the application be refused on the grounds that the applicant has previously been advised to contact the NHS.        

vi)        Shoot 2 the Future Basketball Sessions                                 £992.00

Application received from Leicester Basketball Developments CIC to part fundBasketball Sessions.

RESOLVED:

                        that the application be supported in full - £992.00                                                          

Alderman

The Chair reported that former Ward Councillor Keith Lloyd-Harris had recently been made an Alderman of the City of Leicester. This was an ancient order bestowed to individuals who have given a lot to the City.

The Chair declared the meeting closed at 8.13pm.