Agenda and minutes

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 Rae Bhatia, Chair welcomed everyone and led introductions.

There were no declarations of interest.

The Chair agreed to a change in the order of the agenda to take items of other business at this point.

AOB1 Glenfield Hospital Children’s Heart Unit

A representative from Glenfield Hospital briefly explained that in July 2016 NHS England had announced a decision to close the Glenfield Hospital Children’s Heart Unit.

This decision was being contested as the closure of the unit would have a knock on effect on many other services such as children’s intensive care and other children’s services.

Residents were encouraged to sign the petitions against the closure of the unit. Details available on line at:

https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/160455

Residents were invited to take part in a protest march organised on Saturday 29^th October 2016, meeting at Victoria Park at 11am marching at midday to Jubilee Square for a rally and speeches at 1pm.

Councillors expressed their support for the Glenfield Hospital Children’s Heart Unit remaining open.

AOB 2 Ward Councillors Feedback

Councillor Rae Bhatia reported that Councillors had:

·       Produced a Beaumont Leys ward community newsletter (circulated) which provided details of ward funding for the past year,

·       Carried out 15 patch walks over the last 12 months,

·       Secured approval and funding for a number of major projects including:

Double Lanes along Glenfrith Way

A50 resurfacing

Extension of double yellow lines where needed and other parking/traffic improvements

Refurbishment of shops in the Barleycroft area

·       Input residents’ concerns relating to the Ashton Green development

·       Challenged the plans by Barratt Homes for a new development of 300+ houses behind Beaumont Leys Schools

·       Worked closely to set up Neighbourhood Watch schemes across the ward

·       Secured 2 outdoor gyms for the ward – one to be installed behind Beaumont Shopping Centre near NSPCC and the other on Astill Lodge Park.

Apologies were received from Leicestershire Police who were unable to attend due to a pre-arranged training event.

The Action Log is attached for information and discussion.

The action log of 13 July 2016 was circulated and confirmed as an accurate record.

Update on Actions

Council Tax Consultation

As a result of funding cuts from government the Council had conducted a consultation exercise during August and September to review the Council Tax Reduction Scheme and people were asked for their views on how best to make savings in the scheme.

·       The scheme currently paid a maximum of 80% towards the council tax for people of working age who qualified,

·       The council tax reduction scheme helped people on a low income pay their council tax and was a means tested discount,

The council had consulted on 3 options:

·       No changes to current scheme,

·       Change maximum reduction from 80% to 75% so everyone paid at least 25% towards their bill,

·       Change maximum reduction from 80% to 70% so everyone paid at least 30% towards their bill,

The council had also invited other suggestions for ways that savings could be made.

The consultation responses were now being collated and would be considered in a report by the City Mayor before a final decision was made.

Castle Hill Park update

·       Noticeboards in the Beaumont Shopping area were owned by Tesco and had been taken down following vandalism. It was agreed that Tesco should be asked to display information on the improvements and archaeological events taking place at Castle Hill Park.

ACTION: CEO to contact Tesco.

Housing Issues

·       John Calvert Court and “The Leys” – both buildings remained unoccupied. The CEO was in continued talks with police/ASRA housing and had left messages with Sanctuary the building owners about John Calvert Court to address issues. In relation to The Leys a planning application had been submitted to develop the property into 2 bedroom flats.

ACTION: CEO to arrange patch walk in area and Sanctuary to be invited to attend.

An officer will be present to talk about up-coming works within the Ward.

Bob Mullins, Head of Standards & Development gave a presentation and explained that the council was looking to develop Community Action Plans.

·       The aim was to establish the main priorities of each ward by gathering evidence then producing a framework based on that evidence

·       Councillors, officers and the community were being engaged to highlight the issues that mattered most to them

·       Using the information gathered an action plan would be produced to tackle, monitor and review the issues.

Residents were invited to take part in an interactive session using tokens to vote for the titles that they felt affect the ward i.e. flytipping, littering, illegal parking.

Councillor Rae Bhatia suggested that a similar exercise could be created online using a voting mechanism that people could respond to by email. This might generate a larger sample of responses.

ACTION: Bob Mullins to investigate feasibility of an online voting exercise for the Community Action Plan.

During discussion residents raised a number of concerns which included:

·       The costs of cleaning up flytipping and littering

·       Rental properties in the area – left empty or not maintained to a decent standard

·       Untidy gardens and littering in gardens

·       Milton Crescent and Campion Walk were particularly bad with rubbish outside the houses.

ACTION: City Warden to note concerns raised and investigate.

Bob Mullins agreed to bring feedback on the results of the Community Action Plan exercise to the next meeting.

There will be an update on the Transforming Neighbourhood Services Programme.

Lee Warner, Senior Project Manager, Neighbourhood & Environmental Services provided an update on the Transforming Neighbourhood Services programme.

·       Beaumont Leys Library was due to temporarily close for refurbishment on 14^th November 2016 reopening on 9^th January 2016. Shortly thereafter Neighbourhood Housing services and staff from the STAR office on Marwood Road would move into the Library sharing facilities and providing more services under one roof. A number of self-service facilities would also be introduced including customer service telephones.

·       During the closure of the library Toddler Time would continue at the Bewcastle Surestart centre on Mowmacre Hill.

·       Library users were encouraged to take out the maximum number of books available to them before closure and the period of lending would be extended until the library re-opened.

·       Home Farm Community Centre had been advertised for community asset transfer and 45 people had attended an event to express an interest in acquiring 1 of 3 buildings in the area being advertised.  Support was being given to any groups taking on buildings and the next step was for those interested to complete and lodge a business plan by 25/11/16.

·       Home Farm Housing Office would be advertised for commercial sale at the end of January once housing services had relocated to the library. Concerns were expressed that once the building was empty if vacant for a period of time it would deteriorate and become expensive to maintain and/or sell. It was suggested that the advertisement for sale should take place before it was empty

ACTION: Lee Warner to note comments.

During discussion residents raised concerns with regard to the condition of the area around Barleycroft shops, anti-social behaviour and street drinkers. Councillors reminded residents that an assurance had been given that the shopping area around Barleycroft would be refurbished.

ACTION: CEO to invite Police and Crime Commissioner to a future meeting and/or patch walk of the area.

The Chair thanked Lee for his update.

The City Warden will be present to provide an update on any environmental works within the Ward.

Charlotte Glover, City Warden advised that she had only recently taken on the Beaumont Leys ward and had noted the issues raised during the meeting under item 18 concerning littering, rubbish etc especially around Milton Crescent/Campion Walk.

Concerns were raised about dog bins not being emptied in the ward.

ACTION: City Warden to liaise with Cleansing Services.

ACTION: City Warden to a full report to the next meeting.

Residents were encouraged to download and use the “Love Leicester” app to report incidents to the City Warden service. Issues could also be reported to the City Warden service as follows:

Leicester City Council website: http://www.leicester.gov.uk/contact-us/report-something/ OR https://www.leicester.gov.uk/your-environment/city-wardens/

Telephone: 0116 4541001

The Housing Team will be present to provide an update on any housing related work within the Ward.

Ramila Dhobi, Team Leader Housing gave an update on housing issues within the Beaumont Leys Ward.

·       Lime Grove improvements were underway, the first pathway had been re-laid and the improvements should be complete by the end of March 2017

·       Portmore Close external improvements completed

·       There were currently 31 voids in the area, it was noted that although empty these properties were in the process of being repaired for occupation and had been allocated to applicants on waiting lists

·       There were 23 live cases of anti-social behaviour and there had been 1 eviction due to ASB.

·       The Repairs service would soon become a separate service to Housing following a recent review.

The Local Police Team will provide an update.

Leicestershire Police were not present at the meeting.

The CEO read a brief written update which included the following:

·       Crime statistics were noted (available on the police website)

·       Problem solving plans had been implemented for Oronsay Road and the alleyway on Thatchers Close to address issues raised.

·       Issues with people riding motor bikes on Castle Hill Park continued to be investigated.

Residents were reminded to keep their homes and sheds secure, lock doors and windows especially with the approach to Christmas.

Residents were also reminded to be vigilant when out and about and to keep

valuables out of sight and secure vehicles.

ACTION: Police to give a full update on issues in the ward to the next meeting.

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

An update will be given on the Community Ward budget. The budget report for Beaumont Leys is attached in Appendix B.

DATE DATETo note the following application had been considered since the last meeting:

Beaumont Lodge Neighbourhood Association – To hold a family fun day, amount requested £500. Supported in full.

Leicestershire Police – To assist with training British Sign Language for a police officer, amount requested £425. Supported in full.

The Banks Social Fund – Christmas party, amount requested from Beaumont Leys Ward £500. Not Supported.

Bennion Pools Angling Club – to create pathways for disabled access, amount requested £500. Supported in full.

Leicestershire Online – to develop and increase membership and coffee mornings, joint bid - amount requested from Beaumont Leys Ward £300. Awaiting outcome of decision from other wards.

Bradgate Heights Table Tennis Club – to establish a table tennis club and promote fitness, amount requested £250. Supported to the amount of £500.

Barley Croft – after school club, amount requested £2500. Supported to the amount of £2000.

Story Café Writers Group – Write Now project, amount requested £500. Supported in full.

Leicester City Council Highways – Install roadside bench Astill Lodge Road, amount requested £1,200. Supported in full.

Applicants were reminded that all applications should be submitted online and those for £500 or less would continue to be fast tracked.

To note the next meeting will take place on Wednesday 8^th March 2017 with an information fair at 5.30pm and the main meeting starting at 6.00pm.

There being no further business the meeting closed at 7.40pm.