Agenda and minutes

Councillor Chaplin, elected as Chair, welcomed everyone to the meeting.

Apologies for the meeting were received from Councillor Kamal, Darren Evans (City Warden), Michael Davies, Cynthia McKay and Helen Everett.

The Action Log of the previous Stoneygate Community Meeting held on 3^rd July 2014, have been circulated and Members are asked to confirm them as a correct record. Any update actions taken from the last meeting will be reported at the meeting.

AGREED as correct.

The Chair asked that a note of councillors present at the meeting be made to the current and future Action Logs.

Councillor Chaplin will provide an update to feedback at the meeting.

The Chair read out a statement from Councillor Russell, Assistant Mayor for Neighbourhood Services. Consultation in the city was re-opened until 5^th October 2014, as the Government were bringing in updated legislation on antisocial behaviour, which might have had impact on previous consultation undertaken in relation to anti-social street drinking. The following information was given:

·         The report of the consultation findings would go to the next Neighbourhood Scrutiny Commission Meeting on 13^th October 2014 and the final report and recommendation would go to Full Council on November 13^th 2014.

·         Residents could forward any questions they might have to Councillor Desai, a member of the Scrutiny Commission, or to officers at the Council, at least five clear days before the date of the meeting. Residents were informed it was a public meeting if they wished to attend.

An update on issues in the Stoneygate Ward will be given at the meeting.

Darren Evans, City Warden, forwarded the following information to the meeting:

·         Flytipping

o   Devana Road had seen a decrease;

o   Ongoing in Draper Street – a leaflet drop containing information on enforcement action would be circulated;

o   Mere Road – a slight increase;

o   Mill Hill Lane – a new project to be done involving area work on front gardens and flytipping information;

o   Evington pathway – monitoring on patrol;

·         Skipworth Street – the successful pilot project in Westcotes ‘Love Leicester’ would be extended and project packs would be issued by the end of October.

·         Shop owners had a duty of care and should ensure they had the correct documentation and waste disposal plans in place.

The Chair reported that Roy Rudham, Neighbourhood Watch had no issues to report in the area, but would be looking to conduct a survey in the area to see if there were any issues residents would like him to address, and would provide feedback at the next Community Meeting.

Sergeant Yusuf Nagdi, Safer Neighbourhoods, will attend and give an update on issues and successes in the Stoneygate Ward.

Sergeant Yusuf Nagdi gave the following crime statistics and information for the ward:

·         372 crime reports generated over the last 90 days.

·         15 live antisocial behaviour investigations.

·         One area deemed as an acute demand area between Osmaston Road, Devana Road and Beckingham Road which had the most complaints made. One action day a month was dedidcated to the area in partnership with other agencies, such as Community Safety.

·         Street drinking was a key issue, and new powers if given, would be utilised. Antisocial behaviour powers had been used to advise people in Evington Road.

·         If problems persisted, the Police would implement a plan of Anti-Social Behaviour Orders.

Comparison of statistics for July to September for the same three-month period in 2013:

2013               2014

Burglary Dwelling                16                    26

Burglary other                       3                      6

Robbery                                 6                      3

Theft from Motor Vehicle    22                    17

Theft of Motor Vehicle         7                      3

Drugs                                     13                    9

·         Leicestershire Police needed to make savings of £15.4million by 2017. Assisting to make the savings would see a new restructure of local policing to commence early 2015, though the public would not see any change to officers on the beat.

·         Police could only ticket vehicles causing an obstruction.

·         A representation had been made to the City Mayor for further residents parking schemes in the ward. Evidence would need to be gathered of issues with existing parking schemes to press for enforcement officers in the area.

·         A request was made for a traffic island near to the post office on Evington Road to be removed. The Chair informed the meeting that due to cost implications, Council officers were looking at the option of moving a bus stop on Evington Road to relieve traffic choke points. The strength of feeling at the meeting was the island should be removed, and the bus stop to remain where it was.

An update will be provided regarding ongoing work to tackle anti-social behaviour issues on the parks.

A meeting was held, and included officers from Parks, Community Safety and the City Warden as a follow-up to a recent patchwalk, and the following points were raised:

·         Issues of anti-social behaviour were outlined for both parks, including drinking, drug taking, urinating, dog fouling and the breakdown of boundary walls.

·         Litter picking and the recording of anti-social behaviour type littering was being monitored and recorded.

·         The CCTV camera on St Stephens Road did not cover Onslow Park unfortunately.

·         More signage would be installed to discourage people using the park as a toilet.

·         Councillors would continue to press for central funding, and asked residents to consider proposals to use Ward Community Funding for improvements on the parks.

·         Councillors asked for provisional work to be undertaken on the walls.

·         A request was made to ask for the parks to be run from Victoria Park which was closer.

·         An agenda item on the parks would be included at the next ward meeting.

Residents of previously supported bids in the Stoneygate Ward will give feedback or a presentation of achievement from the funding recieved.

Feedback on the recent commemorative 40^th anniversary celebrations of the Shree Sarvosaya Samaj (UK) was read out. A successful cultural and community dinner and dance event was held at the Peepul Centre for people living in Evington and Stoneygate Wards. Monies received from Community Ward funding had helped towards the cost of hiring a DJ and hall hire. The event organisers had been unable to find a venue available in either of the wards. The religious ceremony was honoured by a religious VIP guest from India.

Mr Alan Fox gave feedback on funding received by Highfields Association of Residents and Tenants (HART) over the past year:

·         £800 funding was received and put towards the 2014 South Highfields street party, which was a huge success. Photographs of the day can be found on the HART website.

·         £240 funding was granted towards a South Highfields coach trip to Skegness. Everyone who went on the trip enjoyed themselves, though it was reported to be warmer in Leicester than it was in Skegness on the day.

·         £1000 was granted towards youth club activities, previously held in Evington URC, and now held in St James the Greater. £700 had been spent up to now, and events included boxing, basket ball, golf, and art sessions. A film project was also arranged with one of the volunteers.

HART reported it was undertaking a World War 1 project, and had asked the City Mayor if they could place a time capsule as part of the carriageway to the war memorial, and were awaiting a response.

The Stoneygate Ward Community Fund newsletter was circulated at the meeting, and contained contact details on many of the groups in the area.

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

An update will be given on the Ward Community Budget.

The following application has been fast tracked

Joint Bid: 5037

Applicant: Build Community Development

Project Name: Community Event in the Park

Amount Requested £500. Amount supported £500.

Applications to be considered at the meeting

Bid: 1143

Applicant: Checkpoint Advice and Support

Project Name: Financial Health Check Service

Amount Requested £1,421.71

Joint Bid: 5045

Applicant: Shahid Mamodmia and Altamash Nazirahamed

Project Name: Daman and Diu Cricket Club

Amount Requested £600

Joint Bid: 5042

Applicant: For Families

Project Name: Children’s Activity Sessions

Amount Requested £500

Joint Bid: 5038

Applicant: Leicester Twilight Group

Project Name: Leicester Twilight Group Christmas Meal

Amount Requested £515

Joint Bid: 5049

Applicant: Stoneygate Shops Retailer Forum – retailers from Allandale Road & Francis Street

Project Name: Allendale Road/ Francis Street Community Market (December)

Amount Requested £500

Applications previously deferred awaiting a response

Joint Bid: 5014

Applicant: Leicester Partnership Trust

Project Name: Family Health & Wellbeing Event

Amount Requested £300

Bid: 1077

Applicant: Shree Sarvodaya Samaj (Leicester UK)

Project Name: Health & Wellbeing Event

Amount Requested £480

Joint Bid: 5029

Applicant: Sahara Centre

Project Name: Girls Summer Workshop

Amount Requested £500

Bid: 1103

Applicant: Evington Road Business Association

Project Name: Street Festival

Amount Requested: £5,000

The Community Engagement Officer outlined the following Ward budget applications:

Applications approved under the fast track process

5037 – Build Community Development

Application for £500

SUPPORTED – for the amount of £500

The following applications were discussed

1143 – Checkpoint Advice and Support – Financial Health Check Service

Application for £1,421.71

DEFERRED – applicant to attend the next Ward meeting

5045 – Shahid Mamodmia and Altamash Nazirahamed – Daman and Diu Cricket Club

Application for £600

SUPPORTED – for the amount of £600

5042 – For Families – Children’s Activity Sessions

Application for £500

DEFERRED – applicant to attend the next Ward meeting

5038 – Leicester Twilight Group – Christmas Meal

Application for £515

SUPPORTED – for the amount of £100

5049 – Stoneygate Shops Retailer Forum – Allendale Road / Francis Street Community Market (December)

Application for £500

DEFERRED – applicant to attend the next Ward meeting

1184 – Community Safety Team – Myrtle Road Gates

Application for £850

DEFERRED – Capital Funding options to be explored

5050 – Akwaaba Ayeh - Choosing Health for World Mental Health Day & Networking Event

Application for £500

PROVISIONALLY SUPPORTED – pending confirmation from Leicester City Council regarding procurement processes.

Applications previously deferred

1103 – Evington Road Business Association – Street Festival

Application for £5,000

DEFERRED – Awaiting a response

The Chair gave feedback from the Deputy City Mayor, Councillor Palmer, and said that under the current contracts the city council’s public health division had with Leicestershire Partnership Trust for community health work, there was some limited funding to support projects. He had also said he was looking to set up a special community health grants programme for the council over the coming year, though criteria had not been established. Applicants were requested to resubmit bids again, though Members would not revisit those whose events had happened.

Joint Bid: 5014 – Leicester Partnership Trust – Family Health & Wellbeing Event

Application for 300

NOT SUPPORTED

Joint Bid: 1077 – Shree Sarvodaya Samaj (Leicester UK) – Health & Wellbeing Event

Application for £480

NOT SUPPORTED

Joint Bid: 5029 – Sahara Centre Girls Girls Summer Workshop

Application for £500

NOT SUPPORTED

Attendees will have the opportunity to voice any concerns and ask questions.

i)             Cllr Desai informed the meeting that Evington Road Business Association was hoping to have their first issue distributed of a business community leaflet. People were requested to contact Michael Davies if they wished to have something included in the publication.

To note that future Stoneygate Ward Community Meetings will be held as follows:

Thursday 4^th December 2014 at 6pm – venue to be confirmed

Thursday 19^th February 2015 at 6pm – venue to be confirmed

The next meeting would take place on the 4^th December 2014, 6.00pm, and the venue would be advertised nearer to the date.

The meeting closed at 8.37pm.