Agenda and minutes

Councillor Chaplin was elected Chair for the meeting.

An apology for absence was received from Councillor Kamal who was attending a civic function as the recently elected Lord Mayor of Leicester.

There were no declarations on Interest made at this time.

The minutes of the previous Stoneygate Community Meeting, held on 9^th May 2013, are attached and Members are asked to confirm them as a correct record.

The Record of Actions from the Community Meeting held on 9 May 2013 had been circulated with the Agenda papers.  It was noted that some street and place names which had been included required correction. 

It was also noted that Councillors Desai and Kamal had left the meeting although it had not been recorded that their departure was in order to attend another Council meeting.  It was confirmed that the normal practice was to record their departure as such, and it was therefore accepted that this should be recorded at the appropriate juncture in the Record of Actions for clarification.

RESOLVED:

                        that, subject to the above clarification and corrections, the                             Minutes of the Stoneygate Community Meeting held on 9 May                       2013 be confirmed as a correct record.

A)        Former Varisty PH

It was noted that the licensing of the premises had been refused following the grant of the planning consent.  The Chair reported on the Licensing Hearing meeting which she had attended with residents and stated that the Cumulative Impact Zone policy had been upheld.  It was expected that an appeal would be submitted by Sainsbury’s against the Council’s decision.

B)        Onslow/Cedar Road Parks

It was reported that residents had expressed their preference in favour of an Order to prevent drinking in public places (DPPO).  It was also reported that as many other areas were in favour, Community Safety Officers were investigating the feasibility of a city wide order.  It was considered that this would policy would prevent problems of displacement if introduced.

C)        Arterial Routes

It was reported that the City Mayor had been asked by Ward Councillors to include Evington Park Road and London Road in the scheme to help businesses with signage, advice and grants to improve their shopfronts.

D)        Licensing of Takeaways – Evington Park Road

It was reported that issues concerning the licensing of take away food outlets were to be monitored over the summer by the Licensing Team.  A Roving Street Surgery was to be arranged together with a meeting between businesses and the Council’s Economic Development Officers.

A previous commitment to purchase larger street bins to replace those bins at existing locations was confirmed.  It was noted that a Ward Community Grant application may be required to fund the new bins.

The Police were urged to do more to prevent street drinking, and to stop groups of youths congregating at certain locations on Evington Park Road.

To receive information on local City Council subsidised bus services.

John Dowson, Transport Strategy and Programmes, referred to the extensive consultation process concerning the evaluation of twelve bus services which received financial support from the City Council.

The criteria and methodology used in evaluating the services was described and it was noted that this criteria gave a value for each service, following an assessment period.

In respect of the Stoneygate Ward, detailed information was supplied concerning the 81 service, 40 service, and the 10/11 service (inner circle route).

John commented that following evaluation, service 40 and service 81 had scored highly, with a significant level of use, and it had therefore been proposed that these would continue to be supported.

In respect of the 10/11 service, which included the southern section of the Ward in its route, had scored poorly, with around £5 of subsidy being paid per passenger journey.  It had therefore been proposed that this service would not continue to be supported.

It was reported that to continue the provision of buses for those people affected, a revised route for the 73 service (Eyres Monsell) had been proposed.

John was thanked for his report.

The following points were then made in discussion:-

o          The proposed continued funding of the 40 service and the 81 service        was welcomed and supported;

o          It was requested that data concerning the numbers of passengers using the 10/11 service for journeys to and from their employment,             particularly at Fosse Park, should be sought, as it was             considered that although low numbers of passengers used the       service, the journeys may be essential with no      affordable alternative          option. 

It was confirmed that this could be achieved from analysing the information from the consultation forms received.

The Chair reminded the meeting that leaflets including the consultation ‘return form’ were available and that information could be found on the City Council’s website.

In conclusion the meeting thanked Andy Deacon for his work in attending the Bus User Panel, and requested that their appreciation be recorded.

Following a request received from a local group to clean Evington Brook the Community Meeting to receive an update on how best this can be achieved.

Adrian Lane, Parks Services, referred to correspondence received from concerned residents and from local conservationists concerning the need to clean Evington Brook.

He commented on the due process undertaken by Riverside Officers and stated that although residents should be congratulated on their keenness to become involved in the clean-up, various health and safety and conservation policies were required to be adhered to.  In this respect Adrian reported on the complications concerning the proper status of litter in the river and the difficulties with identifying which agency was responsible for clearance and disposal.  In some instances specialist equipment was also required to collect and dispose of potentially harmful substances.

It was noted that a project would be commenced in 2014 with the Environment Agency at Willowbrook involving volunteers. It was suggested that the Project Officer could liaise with the Council with a view to extending the project to include Evington Brook.

In conclusion those Conservation Volunteers who had expressed their interest in the clean-up were encouraged to submit a Ward Community Funding Bid to help extend the Environment Agency’s joint project to Evington Brook.

Adrian was thanked for his report and he agreed to submit an update to the next Ward Community Meeting.

The Community Meeting to receive an update on local Policing and Community Safety issues.

PC Lally was in attendance to report the recorded crime statistics for the period.  He made particular reference to a newspaper report printed in the Leicester Mercury where a large anti-drug operation had led to many arrests and a significant reduction in activity in the ward.

Statistics relating to burglary, theft and robberies were also reported as being significantly reduced, although it was not generally felt by the meeting that the statistics quoted reflected actual criminal activity in the Ward.  It was requested that the Police Activities Reports including crime statistics should be submitted to be in writing for circulation with the agendas for future meetings.  PC Lally agreed to refer he request to Sgt Danny Graham.

It was noted that recent reorganisation had led to reduced numbers of officers being reduced and allocated to larger and wider areas, which had an impact on their effectiveness as beat Officers.  It was suggested that the newly elected Police Commissioner should to be invited to a future meeting to explain such policies.

PC Lally noted individual concerns raised at the meeting by residents, following which he was thanked for his attendance and report.

Nazira Vania referred to her work since the previous meeting where permissions for alley gates had been granted for various locations in the Ward, with some installed, which had reduced reports of anti-social behaviour.

Nazira also reported that she would be leaving her post in the near future and Councillors, community representatives and public present requested that their thanks and their appreciation for the work undertaken by Nazira in the Ward be recorded.

The Community Meeting to receive an update from the City Warden.

Darren Evans, City Warden, reported on his activities in the Ward.

Particular reference was made to problems caused by significant amounts of fly-tipping, particularly in the St Albans Rd area, caused by the large numbers of student lets coming to the end of their leases.  Initiatives were being suggested to lessen the problem, including greater liaison and communication with Universities and Colleges.

In reporting on his other activities Darren reported on the forthcoming ‘clean-up’ painting event at Cedar Road Park.  He also reported on Section 98 notices issued, bins on streets initiatives, dog fouling and a new initiative to ensure that skips and scaffolding were properly licensed.

Darren was thanked for his attendance and report.

The Community Meeting to receive an update on the on-going parking and traffic issues on Evington Road.

Councillor Chaplin, as Chair asked that her disappointed that Officers from the specific transport section who had been invited had not been able to attend.  She thanked John Dowson for remaining in the meeting after the report on Subsidised Bus Services who agreed to note issues raised by residents.

The meeting discussed the problems in the Ward and referred to the principal concerns relating to the enforcement of no parking zones, particularly within bus lanes.  It was considered that increased enforcement should be undertaken on London Road and Evington Park Road.

It was agreed to request a report for submission to the next Ward Community Meeting.

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.

To consider the following budget applications that have been received since the last meeting of the Community Meeting: -

                                                                                                                          £

i)          Community Gathetring - Heathfield House                             557

Application received to organise a community gathering based at Heathfield House, 236 London Road, in September 2013. Heathfield House is a supported housing project for individuals recovering from substance misuse.

ii)         Children Summer Reading Activities                                        950

            at Highfields Library

Application received to part fund the development/delivery and evaluation of a summer programme of activities for children 5-15 years, at Highfields Library linked to the Leicester Libraries Summer Reading Challenge – Creepy House.

iii)        Somali Advice and Information Services                                 1424

Application received to fund workshops to empower inexperienced Somali males and females who are currently unemployed.

iv)        Children and Parents Alliance                                                    662

Application received to fund a series of ten computer workshops so that local people, in particular women, can develop computer literacy skills.

v)         Highfields Summer Late Lounge                                               1,000

Application to part fund a Summer Late Lounge at the Highfields Centre over the school holiday period, to run on Friday and Saturday evenings (8.30pm – 11.30pm). The Late Lounge is a targeted youth engagement project that provides positive activities for young people engaged in, or at risk of engaging in anti-social behaviour (ASB) and/or crime.

vi)        Shree Sarvodaya Samaj (UK)-                                                    500

            40^th Year Anniversary Celebrations

Application received to part fund a cultural programme with Dinner and Dance Diwali Party to celebrate their 40 years as a Community in Leicester in July and to be held at the Peepul Centre.

Kalvaran Sandhu, Scrutiny Support Officer, reported that the Ward Community budget for the financial year had been set at £18,000 as the previous financial year.

It was reported that approval had been given for the unspent grant budget from 2012/13 in the sum of £176 to be carried forward to the current financial year, giving a total budget amount of £18,176.

Councillor Chaplin referred to the publication of a community leaflet which would be distributed to all households in the Ward explaining how the budget had been spent in 2012/13.

Kalvaran reported on the following applications, which Ward Councillors determined as indicated:

Applications received                                                                                 £

i)          Community Gathering - Heathfield House                              557

Application received to organise a community gathering based at

Heathfield House, 236 London Road, in September 2013. Heathfield

House is a supported housing project for individuals recovering from

substance misuse.

Resolved:

                        that the application be supported - £557.

ii)         Children’s Summer Reading – Highfields Library                 950

Application received to part fund the development/delivery and

evaluation of a summer programme of activities for children 5-15 years,

at Highfields Library linked to the Leicester Libraries Summer Reading

Challenge – Creepy House.

Resolved:

                        that the application be deferred.

iii)        Somali Advice and Information Services                                 1,424

Application received to fund workshops to empower inexperienced

Somali males and females who are currently unemployed.

Resolved:

                        that the application be deferred.

iv)        Children and Parents Alliance                                                    662

Application received to fund a series of ten computer workshops so that local people, in particular women, can develop computer literacy skills.

Resolved:

                        that the application be supported - £662.

v)         Highfields Summer Late Lounge                                               1,000

Application to part fund a Summer Late Lounge at the Highfields Centre over the school holiday period, to run on Friday and Saturday evenings (8.30pm – 11.30pm). The Late Lounge is a targeted youth engagement project that provides positive activities for young people engaged in, or at risk of engaging in anti-social behaviour (ASB) and/or crime.

Resolved:

                        that the application be supported - £1,000.

vi)        Shree Sarvodaya 40^th Year Anniversary Celebrations         500

Application received to part fund a cultural programme with Dinner and

Dance Diwali Party to celebrate their 40 years as a Community in

Leicester in July and to be held at the Peepul Centre.

Resolved:

                        that the application be supported - £400.

The meeting closed at 8.50 pm.