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 Dr Chowdhury, elected as Chair, welcomed everyone and led introductions.

Apologies for absence were received from Sergeant Matt Painter – Leicestershire Police and Martin Fletcher – Head of Highways.

Councillor Dr Chowdhury declared, for the avoidance of doubt, that in regard to; agenda item 8 – Ward Community Budget; application 5139, he worked in a voluntary organisation which provided advice for this project and application 5149, he had helped and knew many people from the Bangladeshi community.

The Action Log of the Meeting held on 6 October 2015 is attached at Appendix A and Members are asked to confirm it as an accurate record. Any update on actions taken since the last meeting will be reported at the meeting.

The Action Log from the meeting held on 6 October 2016 was circulated and confirmed as a correct record and the following was highlighted:

·         Councillor Dr Chowdhury had made an additional request to Highways for speed cameras outside of the mosque on East Park Road.

·         It was noted that residents could contact Councillors by phone, email or surgeries and that Councillors could also visit constituents with mobility issues.

·         It was noted that some of the highways issues previously highlighted were still being looked into. It was requested for the Ward Community Engagement Officer (WCEO) to invite the head of Highways to provide an update at the next meeting.

The Spinney Hills Ward Councillors will provide an update on the issues they have been dealing with in the Spinney Hills Ward.

Councillors informed the meeting on the issues they had been dealing with in the ward since the last meeting. The following was discussed:

·         Councillor Malik had been dealing with constituent issues such as; housing accommodation and school admissions, as well as holding regular surgeries.

·         Councillor Dr Chowdhury had been looking into traffic issues during school closing times.

·         A resident had approached Councillor Dr Chowdhury with concerns of fly-tipping and rubbish issues at the former Dunlop building. It was requested for this to be looked into by the City Warden.

An update will be provided on a number of transport and highways issues in the Spinney Hills Ward.

There’s was no Highways update as Officers had sent their apologies.

Residents’ concerns:

·         Residents of the Wakerley Road/ Gwendolen Road bungalows reported that young people were regularly driving in/ out and parking in the ‘residents only’ area at evening times. In addition, littering including nitrous oxide canisters and other nuisance behaviour was noted. Councillor Dr Chowdhury requested the Police and City Warden to look into these concerns and feedback to Councillors.

·         Wakerley Road/ Gwendolen Road – residents had concerns that since the removal of the bus stop, the nearest bus stop distance was now too far.

·         A resident reported an issue outside of Coleman Primary School whereby a slab was uneven and water had been leaking out. Councillor Dr Chowdhury requested the WCEO to report this to Highways as a matter of urgency.

Local residents will be given the opportunity to highlight local concerns, issues and priorities. In addition, community groups can provide updates of any community activities they may be involved in, within the Spinney Hills Ward.

Residents and local ward community groups had the opportunity to highlight local concerns and also update the meeting on any activities they were involved in. The following residents/ community groups were present at the meeting and gave the below presentations:

·         Glenda Terry applicant from Community Advice and Law Service gave an insight into the services available some of which had already commenced at Sparkenhoe Community Primary School.

·         Representative from Greater Noakhali Shomiti provided an update on their application success – celebrating Bangladeshi Independence day.

·         A trustee of Leicester Caribbean Cricket Club application gave a presentation on the success of the club, ways the project had grown and plans for the future.

·         Highfields Community Play Action group were present at the meeting and informed attendees how they first started out by creating community cohesion amongst neighbours and doing social events. The group now planned to do more community events/ projects.

A Community Safety/ City Warden update will be provided at the meeting.

Darren Evans, Spinney Hills City Warden gave the following update on issues in the ward:

·         City Wardens now had legislation to deal with bins left out on streets.

·         Cars for sale reports around the area were being monitored and actions taken.

·         A large project was in place to tackle fly-tipping.

·         The City Warden was focusing on untidy gardens and alleyways.

·         Scaffolding structures were being monitored and action taken for non-licences.

Residents/ Councillors concerns:

·         Councillor Dr Chowdhury reported that the alleyway gate between 29-31 Kings Newton Street required netting.

·         Residents’ queried if there were any plans to bring back the community skips scheme which previously existed and requested its re-implementation. Councillor Dr Chowdhury asked the City Warden to look into when the community skips previously existed, the reason for their departure and how they could be re-implemented.

·         Residents reported concerns that there were regularly large amounts of fly-tipping located from the top end of Gopsall Street to the bottom end of Melbourne Road.

Officers from the Local Policing Unit will be at the meeting to provide an update on Police issues in Ward.

Sergeant Nigel Baraclough gave an update on issues in the Spinney Hills Ward. The following was discussed:

·         A rise in burglaries at the beginning of the year had now resulted in several arrests.

·         7 robberies which took place around St Saviours Road had resulted in 3 arrests. There had been no further robberies in the past 10 days.

·         Police had been engaged in giving advice to people at various centres and educating children on knife crime at Crown Hills and others schools.

·         It was noted that a recent Police operation took place on Kent Street in regards to prostitution whereby several people received verbal warnings.

·         There would be an increase in the number of PCSO’s over the next year.

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

An update on the Ward Community Budget will be provided at the meeting.

Angela Martin, the Ward Community Engagement Officer (WCEO) gave an update on the Ward Community Budget:

·         5117: Leicester Mammas CIC requested £820 to hold Mammas Baby Massage classes – application not supported.

·         1531: St Peter’s Community Centre Management Committee applied for £497 for the replacement of broken equipment and advertising materials for St Peter’s Lunch Club – grant of £400 approved.

·         5119: Leicester Caribbean Cricket Club applied for £500 to support junior cricket development within the local community – grant of £500 approved in full.

·         1538: East Midlands Housing Group – Scarborough Court requested £625 to provide seated exercise sessions – grant of £625 approved in full.

·         5122: Leicester Twilight Group requested £585 to hold the Leicester Twilight Group Christmas meal – application not supported.

·         5125: Highfields Play Action applied for £485 to support social occasions for getting to know neighbours – grant of £485 approved in full.

·         5126: Leicester City FC Community Trust requested £1,500 towards a Premier League Kicks project to support ASB in 3 wards – application not supported.

·         1581: Kulan Point SomUK applied for £900 for helping youth to improve health, reduce anti-social behaviour and integrate through sport – application not supported.

·         5128: The Friends Hub requested £500 to tackle Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB) through sports – grant of £500 approved in full.

·         1591: St Peters & Stoughton Street Tenants & Residents Association applied for £1,000 for the provision of multi sports activities at Apollo – application not supported.

·         5139: Community Advice and Law Service (lead agency for the Advice Leicester Partnership) requested £700 to provide free legal advice in schools - grant of £1,400 approved. (Increased amount was a result of extra support to keep the service going whilst the applicants awaited mainstream funding).

·         5140: Adult Skills and Learning service requested £555 to provide free community learning courses for local residents – application not supported.

·         1628: Manav Seva Community Services applied for £1,100 to hold a Christmas and New Year’s event – application not supported.

·         5143: JJ Service applied for £993 to support empowering and befriend sessions – grant of £700 approved.

·         5149: Greater Noakhali Shomiti UK requested £1,000 to celebrate Bangladeshi Independence Day – grant of £1,000 approved in full.

·         1735: Small Green Shots requested £450 for an ‘Arrivals’ spoken word and language based project on the stories of migrants in the UK – grant of £450 approved in full.

·         1759: Residents of Wakerley Road/ City Warden applied for £1,000 to do an ASB/ Drug/ Litter removal campaign – grant of £1,000 approved in full.

·         1760: Spinney Hill – Highfields Play Action applied for £1,250 for 3 key community projects: Dads & Lads/ Community Cookbook/ Community Skip & clearance – grant of £1,250 approved in full.

·         1761: Misbah Batool – SAWAL requested £620 to support a day trip for older South Asian women – grant of £620 approved in full.

The meeting closed at 7.40pm.