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 Dawood agreed to Chair the meeting and introductions were made.

There were no apologies for absence.

The Action Notes of the previous Spinney Hills Community Meeting held on 11 March 2014 have been circulated and Members will be asked to confirm them as a correct record.

Agreed and noted.

Councillors will report on their activities since the previous Ward Community Meeting.

Councillors reported on the following:

1.    Councillors would continue to meet with Police regarding anti-social behaviour in the ward.

2.    Councillors asked applicants for Ward Funding to ensure documentation was completed as thoroughly as possible. If application forms were not completed correctly, they would be returned to the applicant, which would delay consideration and financial processing of the application. Assistance was available from council officers, contact details of which were on application forms. Councillors said they would assist as many people as possible during the course of the year, but advised that funding was limited.

3.    The Boundary Commission report was due on 12^th August 2014 midnight, and once approved would come into force at the next Council election in May 2015. Recommendations regarding Spinney Hill Ward and new Wycliffe Ward were expected to be included in the report.

4.    Members expressed concern over the current situation in Palestine and Gaza, and their view of the disproportionate use of force, and informed the meeting they would be writing to the relevant people to express their opinion. A Palestinian flag had been signed by the City Mayor, Jon Ashworth MP and Keith Vaz MP, and had been presented to 10 Downing Street.

The Police will give an update of their activities in the Ward.

PC Lesley Marriott reported on recent Police activity in the area and the crime statistics for the ward.

With reference to the action notes of the previous meeting, car parking issues were ongoing, and City Wardens would continue to provide enforcement for issues where they could. Police had also been present at some schools to enforce parking restrictions, and to educate car users on the benefits for children walking to school. Beacon officers for wards worked closely with all schools, and occasional notices had been sent to parents. The Police said there were traffic issues on Gwendolen Road, and the entrances at Crown Hills School were poorly designed.

In response to comments, it was reported the Police were working across the ward to address anti-social behaviour and drug-taking issues. They would re-address the alleygate scheme, as people were gaining access to prohibited areas.

Anti-social behaviour had not seen an increase as was usual during the school holiday period. There were no reported problems on Vulcan Road, which was attributed to the closure of a shop.

A resident asked the police to follow up reported traffic incidents, and gave reference numbers.

The police asked for feedback from residents following the ban of Khat use. They added that for the Police it had been a peaceful transition.

The City Warden will give an update on environmental and enforcement activities.

Darren Evans, City Warden introduced a new Warden assigned to Spinney Hill Ward, Mr Alex Kazmierz.

The meeting was updated with environment and enforcement issues in the ward, and was informed of a new project to tackle paan spitting in the area, and would include a leaflet and poster campaign.

Patrols would continue to discourage bird feeding in the area. Residents reported particular issues around Vulcan Road bridge, and Nedham Street. Leaflets in different languages would be posted through houses locally advising on problems through leaving food out, for example, encouraging rats.

Issues of fly-tipping were raised. City Wardens would contact the Housing Office for St Marks and St Matthews to tackle the issue on the estates quicker.

The new telephone number 454 1001 was given, and information on the ‘One Clean Leicester’ app available for download from iTunes Store, whereby residents could take pictures and report issues directly to the City Warden team.

Housing Officers will give a report including an update on the refurbishment works at St Peters tower block.

There was no housing update to report.

Councillors are reminded that they will need to declare any interest they may have in budget applications.

The meeting was informed of changes to the finance system which had resulted in the delay of some application payments. Applicants were also reminded that accurate completion of forms assisted with the processing of applications.

Applications previously agreed

Members agreed an application in principle at the Ward Community Meeting on 11^th March 2014 a joint bid with Castle Ward, for Sharma Women’s Centre – Computers to help local women aim higher. The application was for £1,000 from each ward. The agreed funding would be taken from the 2014/15 ward community budget.

Applications considered at the meeting

1026 – Kaine Management Ltd. – Silver Surfers. Application for £491.40 – SUPPORTED.

5005 (Joint with Spinney Hills, Evington and Coleman) – Global Hands Leicester (Durgha Ramji) – The Millennium Development Goals and the Post 2015 Development Agenda – Youth Training Seminar. Application for £500 from each ward – NOT SUPPORTED.

1028 – Gavan Wilmot of the Contact Project – St Matthews Community Parks Day 2014. Application for £600.00 – SUPPORTED.

5009 (Joint with Stoneygate, Spinney Hills and Belgrave) – Greater Noakhali Shomiti UK – Eid Function and Celebration. Application for £800.00 from each ward. The Members requested further information and the application was DEFERRED.

1042 – Sudanese Community Leicester – General Meeting 2013-2014. Application for £500.00 – NOT SUPPORTED.

5012 (Joint with Spinney Hills, Stoneygate and Charnwood) – Mammas Community Breastfeeding Support Project – Community support for new mothers and babies. Application for £600.00 from each ward. The Deputy City Mayor had asked for all health related applications to be forwarded to him to see if there were other health funding sources available. The application was DEFERRED.

5013 (Joint with Stoneygate and Spinney Hills) – Highfields Library – Children Summer Reading Activities at Highfields Library. Application for £1,340 with a request for £905.00 from Spinney Hills Ward – SUPPORTED.

5014 (Joint with Stoneygate and Spinney Hills) – Ambreen Awan – Community Wellness Practitioner – Family Health & Wellbeing Event. Application for £300.00 from each ward. The Deputy City Mayor had asked for all health related applications to be forwarded to him to see if there were other health funding sources available. The application was DEFERRED.

5018 (Joint with Castle, Spinney Hills and Fosse) – Liz Carney, The Bridge – Homelessness to Hope, Mentoring Project. Application for £2,000 from each ward. The Ward Members said the application did not demonstrate how it would support people in Spinney Hills Ward – NOT SUPPORTED.

5023 – (Joint with Castle, Spinney Hills and Stoneygate) – Sunfest UK – 2014 Fun Day. Application for £960.00 from each ward. Application SUPPORTED for the amount of £600.00.

5026 – (Joint with Braunstone Park and Rowley Fields, Spinney Hills and Eyres Monsell) – Clair Nutting – Streetvibe Young Peoples Service.  Application for £1,667 from each ward – NOT SUPPORTED.

1076 – Leicester Sudanese Association – Ramadan and Eid. Application for £8,020. Application SUPPORTED for the amount  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8.

1.    Gavin Wilmott, Contact Project, informed the meeting of the 15^th St Matthews Community Parks Day, Bushey Park on Friday 22^nd August 2014, 3.00pm to 7.00pm.

2.    Councillors asked applicants to submit applications for funding at least four weeks prior to the date of the next meeting in October, to allow time for consideration.

The meeting closed at 7.30pm.