Agenda and minutes

Councillors will elect a Chair for the meeting.

Councillor Dawood was elected as Chair for the meeting. 

A framed certificate was presented to the Chair of the Committee from representatives of Leicester United Sport and Culture following funding previously awarded to them to hold a football tournament at St Margaret’s Pastures.  

There were no apologies for absence. 

The first main item on theagenda 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 on the agenda, and/or indicate that Section 106 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 applies to them.

In respect of Item 9 ‘The new Policing Areas’, Councillor Dr Chowdhury declared a personal interest, as he was a Member of the Leicestershire Police Authority.  

The minutes of the previous Spinney Hills Community Meeting, held on Monday 14 December 2009, are attached and Members are asked to confirm them as a correct record.

The minutes of the meeting held on Monday 14 December 2009 were approved as a correct record.

Following discussion at the previous meeting, Penny Hajek, Director, Access, Inclusion and Participation and Vicky Wibberley, Head of Service Change for Children will be present to provide an update on Integrated Services Hubs. 

Following discussion on this matter at the previous meeting, Penny Hajek, Director, Access, Inclusion and Participation and Vicky Wibberley, Head of Service Change for Children were present to provide an update on Integrated Services Hubs. 

It was reported that the vision for Integrated Services in Leicester was to develop an entitlement offer to all children and young people that provides integrated neighbourhood services that are accessible, inclusive, sustainable, evidence-based where funding follows need and results in measurable improvement of outcomes.

Penny explained that the Spinney Hills Ward was located within the central area.  Services for 0-12 year olds would be delivered via the Children’s Centres based at the Highfields Centre, the Mayfield Centre and on St Saviours Road.  Services for 13-19 year olds would be delivered via a Hub at Moat Community College.  The Highfields Centre was also to be used as a youth resource centre as part of the programme.

Penny reported that Kay Hewitt had been appointed as the co-ordinator for services for 13-19 year olds in the central area.

A Member of the Public requested further information in relation to the timescales for implementing the programme and enquired how different community groups could become more greatly involved.  In response, it was noted that Priya Thamotheram would be representing the local community of the Leicester Youth Action Committee.  Penny further stated that there were a number of ways for members of the community to become involved with the programme, through advisory boards that had been set up for services for 0-12 year olds and that similar boards were to be set up for services for 13-19 year olds.  In terms of the composition of these, Kay stated that they would be made up equally with statutory, voluntary sector and community representatives, including young people.  It was further pointed out from officers that the service commissioning strategy which was currently being developed would give greater detail around how the advisory boards would operate. 

With regard to timescales for delivery, it was reported that the Hub at the Mayflower site was currently being developed, and would be in operation by September of this year.  The Moat Site was being developed as part of the BSF programme at the community college, and this would be in operation by 2011/12, but it was intended that some level of services would be delivered from the site at an earlier time.

In terms of the 13-19 Hub, it was stated that initial discussions had taken place with Moat Community College around the level and range of services that could be provided.  It was also reported that Kay Hewitt had met with heads of year groups at the college to identify which services would be most suitable for young people of various ages. 

A view was raised around schools and colleges not being the most suitable venues for service delivery, as many young people who were having negative experiences with schooling would not be minded to return to the same buildings to access services out  ...  view the full minutes text for item 72.

Officers from the Regeneration, Transport and Highways Division will be present to discuss traffic and highways issues in the area, and will also inform the meeting of the Cycle Link proposals.

Officers from the Regeneration, Transport and Highways Division were present to discuss traffic and highways issues in the area, and also informed the meeting of the Cycle Link proposals.

It was reported that work on the A47 corridor between the Humberstone Road Roundabout an St Georges Retail Park was to finish in June, and that the Cycle Link project was to be formed as an extension to the scheme.  As part of this, toucan crossing had been installed to allow pedestrians and cyclists to cross the road safely.  Officers explained that the cycle link proposals had been discussed with Ward Councillors and the City Council’s Cabinet Lead Member for Regeneration and transport.  One possibility was for there to be a cycle proficiency centre in the Highfields area, and that the St Peters Ball Court had been suggested as a potential location for this.  The plan for the court would be to develop it in to a cycling proficiency centre for cycling training to take place, but it was made clear that the site would still be also retained as a ball court.  There were also plans for three cycle parking spaces at the site.  

In respect of the proposal for the joint use of the ball court, a Member of the Public felt that the St Peters Tenants and residents Association should be consulted.   Councillor Dawood confirmed that he had asked officers to consult with the Association and the Housing Office.  Several residents present were concerned that the proposals could lead to a loss of local parking, which was generally accepted as already being scarce.  It was confirmed that it was proposed that two spaces would be lost on Melbourne Street and three on Maidstone Road.  It was made clear by residents that a petition containing the signatures of 300 residents that opposed the scheme had been submitted to the Council.  Officers did point out that many residents had indicated that they favoured the proposals, but that the petition was also being currently dealt with.  

Representatives from Biffa Leicester will be present to raise awareness of initiatives to encourage recycling.

Sarah Jaques from Biffa Leicester was be present to raise awareness of initiatives to encourage recycling.

Sarah reported that Biffa was working hard in the whole of Leicester to increase recycling rates.  She explained that roughly only half of the population of the city currently recycled.

It was reported that a leaflet was to be included in the next edition of Leicester Link which allowed residents to comment on the service or lodge a complaint and request a replacement recycling box if necessary.  It was also stated that leaflets would be distributed to all of the main community venues in Spinney Hills, and Sarah welcomed feedback from residents. 

Sarah reported that Uplands Junior School had recently piloted a cooking oil boiler scheme, and if these were deemed to be successful, it could be extended to other schools in Leicester.  She also stated that the school was the first in the country to launch such a scheme and had been subject to recent national attention. 

Sarah also explained that a Saturday family morning was to be arranged, and as part of this, there would be a real-nappy promotion and would also be attended by the City Wardens.  It would also serve as an opportunity for the bulky waste collection to be promoted.  She also appealed to those present to suggest particular community groups that could be visited by Biffa to raise awareness of recycling initiatives.  It was explained that such sessions were fun and interactive, though it was acknowledged that it was often difficult to motivate people to recycle. 

A resident was of the view that there was a shortage of litter bins within Spinney Hills, and in particular, felt that Everest Court was one street which required a new bin.  Malabar Road was also cited as an area that suffered problems with dropped litter, particularly immediately outside the retail units.  Sarah explained that ideally, recycling boxes would be situated outside shopping areas but that this could create a number of problems including the wrong materials being placed in boxes.  An officer from Waste Management also notified the meeting that a mini recycling centre in St Matthews had recently been established.

Officers from Cultural Services, Leicester City Council, will be present to provide an update on the Heritage Lottery Fund Bid for improvements to Spinney Hills Park.

Bob Mullins, Parks and Green Spaces, Leicester City Council, was present to provide an update on the Heritage Lottery Fund Bid for improvements to Spinney Hills Park.

Bob gave a brief presentation which particularly focused on the consultation mechanism behind seeking ways to spend the grant money, which was awarded in October 2009.  He explained that to date, 14 community groups had completed forms that had fed in to the consultation for park improvements.  The consultation results had influences the proposals which were submitted to the Heritage Lottery Fund.

In response to a question, Bob explained that the Heritage Lottery Fund could not pay for any form of park lighting, but that this could be explored as a separate issue.  Bob also informed residents that a gardening club would be based at the park. 

Officers from the Spinney Hills Local Policing Unit will be present to discuss the new policing areas in Leicester.  

Sergeant David Hughes was present to discuss the new policing areas in Leicester, and provided an update on some of the policing issues which affected Spinney Hills.

Sgt Hughes explained that the policing boundaries had changed to align with ward boundaries, and that this was a simpler way of working.  He explained that he had recently been appointed as the new Sergeant but had lived in Leicester for many years and was familiar with the history and profile of the Spinney Hills area.  He stated that he worked with a total beat team of 12. 

Sgt Hughes acknowledged that parking was a prime issue for the ward, and accepted that problems with parking had led to other crimes including assaults.  He also pointed out that irresponsible parking often blocked littre bins which led to problems with pests.

Members of the public raised several issues in respect of parking, and it was especially felt that commuter parking was a significant concern.  A Member of the Public queried whether front gardens could be paved away to create additional parking, and stated that such a scheme had taken place in the past and was successful. 

A Member of the Public was of the view that there had recently been a significant drop in problems associated with drug dealing in Spinney Hills, and appreciated the efforts of the local Police to achieve this.  Sgt Hughes acknowledged the decrease in drug related offences, and stated that the success was due to a citywide operation.  The previous Sergeant was also praised for his efforts to eradicate the drug problem, and it was also felt that incidents of anti-social behaviour had also reduced.  Councillor Dr Chowdhury explained that he was a Member of the Police Authority and agreed to pass on the positive comments at the next meeting he would attend. 

In terms of problems associated with prostitution that were raised at previous community meetings, Sgt Hughes reported that a problem solving plan was in place to deal with the problems within a particular area, and had been notified that residents had felt that the situation had recently improved. 

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.

·        Community Cultural Awareness, Centre for Research and   Development for the Somali Community £1, 250               Appendix B1

·        Warriors Basketball £1,345                                Appendix B2

·        Lets Connect – Somali Youth Organisation £4,426     Appendix B3

·        Three times thirty £975                               Appendix B4

·        Variety Show – Active Youth £1,000                     Appendix B5

·        New dog waste bins on St Peters Estate £1,019         Appendix B6

·        Youth and Sports Programme      £2,551               Appendix B7

-         Hashi Somali Community Centre

·        Youth and Sports Programme £2,408               Appendix B8

-         St Matthew’s and Highfields Community Point

·        SPARKS      £2,199                                 Appendix B9

·        Melbourne Road Pavement £250                   No Appendix

 Steve Letten, Members Support Officer, stated that the following applications had been received.  He also explained that the Councillors had met prior to the meeting to indicate their views on each application.

B1)              Community Cultural Event – request for £1,250 from the Centre for             Research and Development for the Somali Community.

            To pay for sessions on awareness of particular communities including             Hinduism, Sikhism, Islam and Christianity

            AGREED:     that this application be rejected.

B2)      Community Fund Basketball Sessions – request for £1,345 from Karl     Brown.

            To pay for equipment, t-shirts, publicity and tuition.

            AGREED:     that a sum of £775 be awarded from the Ward                                                   Action Plan Fund.

B3)      Let’s Connect – request for £4,426 from the Somali Youth Organisation

            To pay for social integration sessions between young people from             different cultural backgrounds.

AGREED:that a sum of £1,500 be awarded from the Community Fund, but that this be only used towards room hire and sports hall hire costs.

B4)      Three Times Thirty– request for £875 from Farzana Potter..

            To pay for venue hire and tutorial costs aimed at encouraging women to take up regular physical activities to promote, stimulate and develop better health. 

            AGREED:     that this application be rejected. 

B5)            Variety Show – request for £1,000 from Active Youth

            To pay for venue hire, casual staffing costs, refreshments and publicity             for a young people’s event to bring together different communities. 

            It was noted by Members that this event had already happened but felt       that it was a worthwhile project.

AGREED:that a sum of £500 be awarded from the Ward Community Fund.

B6)      New Dog Waste Bins in St Peters – request for £1,090 from the St Peters Tenants and Residents Association

            To pay for the installation of 3 dog bins on the St Peters Estate. 

            AGREED:     that a sum of £1,090 be awarded from the Ward                                            Action Plan Fund.

B7)      Youth and Sports Programme – request for £2,551 form the Hashi             Somali Community Centre

            To pay for sports hall hire, sports equipment and coaching fees.

            AGREED:     that a sum of £1,000 be awarded from the Ward                                            Action Plan Fund.

B8)      Youth and Sports Programme – request for £2,408 from the St Matthew’s and Highfields Community Point

To pay for To pay for sports hall hire, sports equipment and coaching             fees.

AGREED:     That the application be rejected in light of it duplicating                             application B7. 

B9)            Project Playground – request for £2,199 from SPARKS – Friends of Sparkenhoe

To provide a variety of age appropriate extensive play equipment in the       school playground.

AGREED:     That a sum of £2,000 be awarded from the                                                       Ward Action Plan Fund.

The Chair also stated that a sum of £250 was to be awarded from the Ward Community Fund to make improvements to the pavement on Melbourne Road.

The Chair reported that following the above decisions taken to award particular projects, a sum of £630 remained, and encouraged other organisations to submit applications up to £500 which can be approved prior to the end of the current  ...  view the full minutes text for item 77.

The meeting closed at 8:45pm.