Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received from Sgt. Harvey Watson.

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.

Councillor Suleman disclosed a personal and non-prejudicial interest in Minute 28 (c) as he had spoken with Sgt. Danny Graham prior to the meeting about the Khidmah Organisation funding application that would be discussed later in the meeting.

The minutes of the previous Stoneygate Community Meeting, held on 2^nd August have been previously circulated and Members are asked to confirm them as a correct record.

The minutes of the meeting of the Stoneygate Community Meeting held on 2^nd August 2010, as previously circulated, were approved as a correct record.

To receive an update on local policing issues.

Sgt. Danny Graham, responsible for the Stoneygate and Thurncourt policing areas attended the meeting to give an update on local policing issues.

It was reported that between early August and early September 2010 Operation Overlord had taken place to address problems around Anti-Social Behaviour and Car Parking in the area. 4 Police Officers, as well as City Wardens and Special Constabulary officers had taken part and the operation had been a great success with no incidences of anti-social behaviour or any arrests. Several parking tickets had been issued and a number of advisory notices had also been issued for cars that had been parked badly.

It was stated that the Police relied on the public to report incidents and the targets for local policing had recently been set, to include: -

            Medway Street – Drugs Issues

            Evington Road – Car parking and Anti-Social Behaviour

These issues would be dealt with first and then other areas of concern identified would be tackled. To assist this process, door to door street surveys were being carried out, supported by non-Police volunteers, to try and ascertain what problems were causing concern. Further issues had been identified around Myrtle Road and Upper Tichborne Street relating to Ant-Social Behaviour, Drug Use and Misuse of Motor Vehicle. With Diwali and Christmas approaching it was planned to put extra patrols on the streets to show a police presence.

Sgt. Graham stated that all crime in the area had shown an overall decrease of 71% compared to the same period (June, July and August) in 2009.

Several members of the public stated that they were concerned at the numbers of Eastern Europeans gathering in crowds in the Evington Road area, and it was also apparent that large numbers were living in several houses, and there were also drugs issues in certain parts of Abingdon Road. Sgt. Graham stated that there had certainly been an increase in the number of Eastern Europeans in the area but no obvious community leaders had been identified and activities were being sought.

A member of the public stated that there had been further issues of Anti-Social Behaviour on James Road the previous Saturday, that had resulted in 11 cars being damaged, as well other similar incidents that had occurred previously. Sgt Graham stated that regarding the Saturday incidents he would respond to these and investigate.

A member of the public qyestioned whether ther was anyone that couldbe contacted within the local Muslim community to put an end to certain rumour that were circulating regarding how the City Council had bought mosques for the Muslim community and paid for extensions to the buildings. Councillor Suleman stated that he was aware of a number of rumours that had been circulating and gave assurances that the City Council had not bought any mosque for the Muslim community and neither did they pay for extensions to mosques. The City Council were however responsible for administering the planning process that covered new build, changes of use, conversions etc.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 25.

To receive an update on progress at the Mayfield Centre.

Geraldine Connor, Integrated Services Neighbourhood Manager attended the meeting and gave an update on the Mayfield Centre that had been finished at the end of June. The Centre (Currently with provision for 0-12’s) was now open and Neighbourhood Timetable had been drawn up for the 3 centres in this neighbourhood, namely Highfields, St. Saviours and Mayfield Centres.

A leaflet had been produced that showed the location of all 23 Children’s Centres across the City and this also outlined the range of services available that took into account national and local priorities.

Within the City there was also Extended Services provision for 13-19’s and the local Integrated Service Hub Manager was working on making the Mayfield Centre a 0-19’s Centre.

A member of the public expressed concerns at the number of new arrivals in the area with pre-school age children, mainly the local Roma community. Geraldine stated that she was aware of the problems and the Council were in the process of getting information to the Roma community.

Ward Councillors stated that they had not been informed of the re-opening of the Centre but expressed an interest in visiting the Centre. The Chair stated that the Roma community were a concern and had been discussed at several meetings but the stage had not yet been reached whereby close liaison with the Roma Community could be undertaken and it was felt that contact should have been made before the Mayfield Centre opened.

Geraldine stated that she had been in post since April and accepted that certain things may not have happened as they should have. Work on the local Neighbourhood Plan had been started and this was intended to be a meaningful document that would involve local people. The Mayfield Centre had adopted an ‘open door’ approach and arrangements would be put in place for a formal tour. Arrangements would also be put in place for the 13-19 yrs team to come to the Community Meeting.

Geraldine was thanked for her update.

RESOLVED:

                        that the information be noted.

Officers to give feedback on progress since the last meeting.

Steve Letten spoke to the schedule of planned highways maintenance works planned for the Stoneygate area, following the presentation made at the last meeting. The schedule included the list of streets to be dealt with, the works to be undertaken and a projected timescale. The Chair urged residents to contact their Ward Councillors should any of the works outlined be not carried out to a satisfactory standard.

A member of the public stated that the works planned for Rowsley Street should have started that day, but were now likely to start on the following day. It was suggested that a 48 hour period of grace should be allowed for the works planned.

RESOLVED:

                        that the information be noted.

Barbara Whitcombe, Team Manager (City Wardens), attended the meeting and gave an update on the work of City Wardens.

Barbara stated that several small and large graffiti removal kits were still available for small groups, businesses or larger organisations.

Recently Leicestershire had been chosen by Keep Britain Tidy as one of the areas to promote a ‘Dog Fouling Campaign’. Legislation had recently changed allowing wrapped dog excrement to be placed in any bin, domestic or street bins. Within the City patrols of parks had been carried out and people disposing of dog excrement correctly were given rewards, whereas people not observed to be not disposing of dog excrement correctly were given ‘on the spot’ fines.

In the lead up to Bonfire Night City Wardens would extra vigilant to look out for piles of wood and other materials that could be deemed dangerous and get them removed. This measure was to help ensure that damage to property was avoided.

The Stoneygate City Warden outlined his work over the previous few weeks to address a number of problems around the dumping of rubbish and drugs problems.

RESOLVED:

                        that the information be noted.

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.

Steve Letten to provide an update on the Community Meeting Budget and report on applications for funding received since the last meeting.

Steve Letten, Members Support Officer, introduced the funding applications received since the last meeting and members gave them consideration: -

                                                                                                                           £

a)         Leicester Interfaith Gardening Work Project                          3,820

Application deferred from the last meeting pending further information from the applicants. It was reported that the applicants had failed to provide further information.

RESOLVED:

                        that the application be Rejected.

b)        Muslim Burial Council of Leicestershire                                  657

Application to fund a Multi Lingual Educational Publication project for the benefit of the various newly arrived communities in the area.

RESOLVED:

                        that the application  for £657 be Supported.

c)         Khidmah Organisation                                                                 1,000

Application to run evening youth activities during the month of Ramadan, based at Madani Community Centre. It was reported that although the application was retrospective the Cabinet Lead member that the application should be considered.

RESOLVED:

                        That the application for £1,000 be Supported.

d)        Leicester Interfaith Youth Club                                                   580

A substitute Application was tabled at the meeting ‘Clean up Evington Brook’, submitted on behalf of the St. Philip’s Centre. The application was to cover the costs of BTCV who would provide professional tools for cutting and clipping vegetation and provide protective gear for the 25 expected volunteers.

Discussion took place as to whose responsibility the clearing of Evington Brook was. It was suggested that the City Council’s Parks Team should be approached in the first instance and also the Environment Agency regarding Evington Brook. Detailed costings regarding the application were also requested.

It was generally agreed that prior to a decision being made, a sum of £300 be ‘ring fenced’, pending the satisfactory receipt of the following information regarding the aspects of the work proposed: -

            Ownership of the land referred to in the application

            Ownership of watercourse

Assess whether any of the work proposed could be done by others (Parks Team for instance).

Safe Working.

            RESOLVED:

that a sum of £300 be ’ring fenced’ pending the receipt of the information requested and a decision by the Community Meeting.

e)         Greener Highfields Big Bulb Plant                                            276.50

Application to plant spring bulbs in the tree pits at more than 90 locations in streets in the Stoneygate area, purchase of 10 bulb planters, compost and publicity.

Discussion took place and it was suggested that, as the Community Meeting promoted working together, other local volunteer groups should be approached to become involved in the planting programme, together with local schools.

RESOLVED:

that the application for £276.50 be Supported, funded from the Ward Action Plan.

f)          Kaine Management Group                                                           740

Application to stage a Cultural Awareness Day for approximately 60 school children aged 5-11 from the Stoneygate Ward.

It was further suggested that a better approach might be to arrange for 30 children from Stoneygate to meet with 30 children from another Ward such as Braunstone or New Parks, this suggestion was supported.

RESOLVED:

that the application for £740 be referred in the first instance to the Corporate Community Cohesion Fund to see whether it can be funded from there.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 29.

Community Partner

Reference was made to the application received from Mr Whitlock, a local resident, to be considered as a Community Partner. It was noted that Mr Whitlock had been a local resident for a number of years. Mr Whitlock was invited to address the meeting and stated that he was concerned at the lack of community facilities in the area, apart from Victoria Park, and stated that he would like to think that he could do a lot for the area.

Ward Councillors noted the application and stated that they would give it full consideration and report back to the next meeting.

It was noted that thenext meeting would be held at 76.00 pm on Monday 13^th December at a venue to be notified.

The Chair declared the meeting closed at 8.30 pm.