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 Waddington, Chair for the meeting welcomed everyone and led introductions.

There were no declarations of interest.

Apologies for absence were received from Ramila Dhobi, Neighbourhood Housing Team and Charlotte Glover, City Warden.

The Action Log of the meeting held on 7 March 2018 is attached and Members will be asked to confirm it as an accurate record.

Agreed as an accurate record.

Progress on Actions:

John Calvert Court – Sanctuary Housing had been written to and still awaiting response.

Councillors will provide an update on ward related matters.

Councillors reported that:

·       Several Patchwalks had been undertaken since the last meeting and issues identified had been reported to relevant services, it was noted there was a need for more play areas for children in the ward.

·       There was an increasing need for Councillors surgeries to listen to concerns of residents and further surgeries were being held as follows:

Beaumont Leys Library, Beaumont Way, LE4 1DS – 1^st Saturday of each month 10.30am to 11.30am. All councillors in rotation – June Councillor Rae Bhatia, July Councillor Waddington, August Councillor Westley etc,

E2 Training Centre, 2-4 Home Farm Close LE4 0RU – each Friday 11am to 12 noon. Councillor Waddington – NB. No surgery 29 December 2018.

Barleycroft Community Centre, Malham Close, LE4 0UT – each Friday 9am to 10am. Councillors Rae Bhatia and Westley – NB: No surgery 29 December 2018.

·       Food banks had been started across the ward at Barleycroft Community Centre, St Luke’s Church and Christ the King Church.

·       Councillors were in discussion to look at ways to tackle the issue of motorbikes across the ward.

·       A community cohesion event had been arranged at Home Farm Neighbourhood Centre on 27^th June 2018 at 6.30pm.

·       Pupil Place numbers were increasing across the city and several secondary schools were being expanded including English Martyrs. Councillors were involved in discussions to mitigate the impact of school expansion on existing parking and traffic issues.

Leicestershire Police will be at the meeting to provide an update on local policing issues across the Beaumont Leys Ward.

PCSO Pankhurst gave a brief update on local policing issues around the ward.

It was noted that:

·       Operation Viceroy had taken place in May targeting knife crime.

·       Operation Lotus had also taken place in May targeting organised crime gangs, leading to several arrests and recovery of 8 vehicles.

·       647 offences had been recorded across the Beaumont Leys Ward so far this year although overall figures were down compared to other areas of Leicester.

·       Issues of begging, loitering and street drinking around Oronsay Road Shops had been tackled and there was a reduction in the number of reports of ASB

·       Safety talks were being conducted in local schools dealing with issues such as knife crime, road safety and internet safety,

·       Motorbikes – residents were encouraged to report all incidents of ASB arising from motorbikes being used in pedestrian areas/parks,

·       An Emergency Services day was being planned to take place in the Beaumont Shopping Centre in August.

ACTION: Police to provide breakdown of hate crime figures to next meeting.

The City Warden will give an update on issues in the Beaumont Leys Ward.

In the absence of the City Warden a written update was circulated and noted as attached.

ACTION: City Warden/Cleansing Service to investigate and clear large amount of litter in hedges and yard area behind shops at Oronsay Road.

An officer from the Planning and Transportation department will provide an update on section 106 funding and how that might impact on the ward.

Grant Butterworth, Head of Planning, Planning Development and Transportation dept. gave a brief overview of section 106 funding, what it was and how that was allocated.(see detailed note appended to minutes of previous meeting)

Adrian Edge, Landscape Development Manager, Neighbourhood & Environmental Services addressed the meeting and gave an update on Play Area improvements in the Beaumont Walk (photos attached).

It was noted that a contribution from Holmwood Drive was still to be allocated to a project. It was suggested that a 5 a side area and seating be created in the Layman Road area (Western Ward) which was the closest open space in proximity to the development.

ACTION: Adrian to arrange a site visit to Holmwood Drive for Councillors and Residents to explore the best options.

ACTION: Adrian to explore scheme of improvement and costings for the Home Farm play area.

Adrian then outlined landscape improvement proposals to open space at Upper Temple Walk/Milton Crescent that would be funded through section 106 monies (photos attached). Options suggested included installing outdoor gym equipment or looking at feasibility of creating a kick about area depending on whether additional funding could be secured.

ACTION: Adrian to construct a leaflet with suggested options and set out distributions area to Councillors to agree.

ACTION: Adrian to provide an outline costing for a kick about area to Councillors.

Concerns were raised about the increase on traffic pressures that would arise when the Ashton Green development became more populated. Grant assured Councillors that traffic management was being considered and there would be full consultation around any proposals regarding the main transport corridors – Bennion road, Anstey Lane, Glenfrith Way etc.

A local Housing Officer will provide an update on housing related matters in the Beaumont Leys Ward.

Alison Morrish, Neighbourhood Housing Officer gave a brief update on housing related matters to the meeting during which it was noted that:

·       The number of ASB incidents reported was down 8% on last quarters figures with 17% of those incidents being noise related.

·       Improvements across the housing stock continued.

·       New bin stores installed in various places

·       Alleyways cleared

·       Ivy removed

·       Bike pods were being installed at back of Padstone Close as a secure way for residents to store bikes.

·       Clearer signage being installed in open spaces.

·       Bishopdale Road – plans to install bollards to prevent flytipping had been approved. Works should begin soon.

·       Evictions – 4 had taken place in the ward in recent months, 2 more were coming up – all related to rent arrears.

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

a)    An update will be given on the Ward Community budget; and

b)    Recipients of ward funding will be invited to give feedback on their projects.

The Ward Community Engagement Officer gave an update on bids supported by Councillors as follows:

·       Heathley Park residents - £500 supported.

·       Beaumont Leys Muslims – joint application £1000 supported (Abbey supported £500).

·       Barleycroft Food Bank - £500 supported.

The Ward Community Engagement Officer explained that the process for applying for funding from the Ward Community Budget had changed over 12 months ago and decisions on funding were taken by Councillors in 3 tranches at budget meetings outside of this meeting.

The deadline for the next round of bids to be considered was 30 September 2018 however applications for upto £500 could still be fast tracked and approved by Councillors ahead of that.

Full details of how to apply were available on the Community Services page of the council’s website.

Wednesday 31^st October 2018

Wednesday 13^th February 2019

Meetings all start at 6pm unless otherwise stated,

Dates of future meetings were noted as follows:

Weds 31^st October 2018 at 6pm

Weds 13^th February 2019 at 6pm

To take place in the Beaumont Leys Library meeting room.

There being no further business the meeting closed at 7.20pm.