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 Chaplin, elected as Chair, welcomed everyone and led introductions.

Apologies were received from: Martin Fletcher – Highways, Sergeant Yusuf Nagdi – Leicestershire Police, Woody Wood – local resident, Helen Everett – Evington Road Neighbourhood Association (ERNA), Sarah Harrison - City Centre Director and Pamela Campbell-Morris – Ward funding applicant.

There were no declarations of interest.

The Action Log of the Meeting held on 3 March 2016 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 of the previous meeting held on 3 March 2016 was confirmed as a correct record.

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

Stoneygate Ward Councillors provided an update on the issues they had been dealing with in the ward and activities they had been involved in. The following was discussed:

Councillor Master:

·         The works to Evington Road footpath which included new surfaces and lighting were reported as complete. It was noted that one sign remained to be installed.

·         It was reported that following the success of Leicester City Football Club, an officer would be collating ideas and information for artistic works across the city.

Councillor Thalukdar:

·         It was reported that since the Brexit, there had been an increase in hate crime complaints of which Councillor Thalukdar had been dealing.

Councillor Chaplin:

·         Attendees were informed regarding the wearing of a safety pin which signified people willing to provide support to others for issues faced following the Brexit.

·         The consultation concerning the local Council tax reduction scheme was currently taking place.

·         Leicester Link were consulting whether the magazine publication should now be electronic.

·         Councillor Chaplin had been involved in the campaign against the closure of the Children’s Heart Surgery department at Leicester’s Glenfield hospital.

·         Support was also being provided for the following; women’s craft/ knitting group and the Vaughan Centre for lifelong learning at Leicester University.

·         ‘Loving Later Life’ - an Age UK event would take place on 1 September, 10am-3pm at Clarence House, Humberstone Gate.

·         It was noted that the calendar of Councillors surgeries had recently been published with surgery details up until December 2016.

Open Space Area – Evington Road (opposite the One Stop Shop):

·         A representative of ERNA queried whether an artwork/ project would still go ahead in the Open Space as it was confirmed that Dindy Outen the initial lead for the work was no longer the Arts Advisory Officer for the Council.

·         Councillor Chaplin requested that the Ward Community Engagement Officer (WCEO) look into what could be done in regards to the development of the Open Space. It was also suggested for a meeting to be held with Jane Russell (ERNA), Councillor Chaplin and possibly the City Warden to discuss a way forward on this issue.

An update will be provided on the development works along Evington Road.

Councillor Chaplin read an update provided by Sarah Harrison – City Centre Director regarding Evington Road local shopping area improvements.

·         It was noted that Sarah and her team were looking at whether it would be possible for Evington Road to be included in a broader piece of work the Council was undertaking which would provide a new way of moving the improvements forward. 

·         The intention would be to bring a document before Stoneygate Ward Councillors by Christmas 2016 outlining various proposed actions and initiatives for consideration.

Officers will be present to talk about upcoming works in the Ward.

Bob Mullins – Head of Standards & Development attended the meeting and gave a presentation on the Community Action Plan.

All to note:

·         It was noted that the Council’s commitment was “to build pride in our neighbourhoods and stronger communities”.

·         With this commitment the Council’s aim was to;

§  Establish the main priorities of an area/ ward by gathering evidence.

§  Producing a framework based on the evidence.

§  Engaging with Councillors, Officers and the community regarding the issues highlighted.

§  Consulting using the information to produce an,

§  Action plan to tackle, monitor and review the issues.

·         Bob invited those present to take part in an interactive session whereby each attendee was given two tokens and were asked to drop them in two boxes which they felt had titles that represented issues affecting the ward such as ‘littering’ and ‘illegal parking’. The findings of the session were provided following the meeting and are attached at the end of this action log.

·         To enable more Stoneygate residents the opportunity to submit their views, the following was suggested; community groups could be emailed with a similar activity, promote via twitter and to ward funding applicants. In addition, Councillor Chaplin suggested that the press team could give feedback and information about how residents could get involved.

·         Bob would bring further feedback to the next Stoneygate Community Meeting.

·         Councillor Master noted that the first piece of work for this pilot should be produced over the next few weeks.

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

Robert Bateman – Team Leader for Highways & Traffic Design discussed the following:

·         The Leicester Improvement Parking Plan – included several ideas about tackling parking issues in the Stoneygate Ward.

·         Evington Valley School and Sparkenhoe Community Primary School were reported as high priority schools on Highways list to address school run parking issues. It was noted that Highways would be looking at education measures.

·         Councillor Master noted that there was a city wide scheme for schools across the City whereby a matrix had been designed in order to identify issues surrounding and affecting schools. It was noted that the information would be evaluated.

·         Robert noted that the process for residents parking in Stoneygate would commence in early autumn.

·         Stoughton Drive North – a speeding issue from Homeway Drive to Evington Road had been notified to Highways. Robert carried out a site visit and informed the meeting of several potential options one of which was to increase the number of pedestrian crossing points with refuges. A proposal with costings had been carried out and Highways were now ready to consult the relevant residents with a letter. Residents would then have the opportunity to feedback their opinions.

Councillor Chaplin:

·         Requested further information as to when the Rippon Street residents would be given their resident parking permits.

·         It was requested that any residents with strong views on residents parking areas/ streets in the ward should contact Councillor Chaplin who would forward the information to Martin Fletcher. It was also requested to Highways that it would be advantageous for residents to be more informed about the process for consultation.

·         It was noted that the consultation should be active by the next Stoneygate Ward Community Meeting.

·         Speeding issues were reported on St Johns Road.

Councillor Master:

·         It was noted that St Stephens Road was on the list for the ‘local area shopping improvement plan’.

Councillor Thalukdar:

·         Sutherland Street to St Peters – it was requested for it to be a one way street. An interest was declared as Councillor Thalukdar lived on that street.

Residents’ concerns/ requests:

·         Residents requested the following roads to be looked at for inclusion within the parking scheme; Bartholomew Street, Myrtle Road, Cedar Road and Abingdon Road.

·         It was noted regarding suggestions for the implementation of 20mph zones on several streets in the ward.

A City Warden update will be provided at the meeting on environmental and enforcement activities in the Ward.

Darren Evans provided an update on activities and enforcements taking place in the Ward.

All to note:

·         The City Warden had been involved in several ‘bins on streets’ projects to reduce the number of bins left out on streets and educate people on the policy.

·         It was reported that many Evington Road shops were not taking responsibility for their littering/ flytipping actions; therefore Community Protection Notices (CPN’s) were likely to be issued.

·         City Warden statistics for Stoneygate since the last meeting:

7+ (CPN’s) had been issued.

40 + Warning letters.

4 fines issued.

40 Fixed Penalty Notices (FPN’s) for bins on streets.

Residents’ concerns:

·         Fly tipping was reported on Medway Street – Darren would look into this.

·         A resident discussed fly tipping as a result of landlords emptying their houses. Darren discussed legislative procedures and processes.

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

In the absence of the Police, the Chair requested residents to report any crime related issues to the Police or contact Willy Bach – the Police & Crime Commissioner for the Leicestershire Police force 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 on the Ward Community Budget will be provided at the meeting.

The following applicants were present at the meeting and gave feedback on the events/ activities held and how the funding was spent:

All the above applicants had successful events and most were aiming to continue on an annual or ongoing basis.

Decisions on further funding applications were presented by Laura Burt, the Ward Community Engagement Officer (WCEO):

Highfields Community Association – applied for support towards the Highfields festival – grant of £500 approved.

Karadi Matvad Khalifa M S Jamat UK – organised a Sammelan event - grant of £300 approved.

Martin Scott – planned to print a community newspaper ‘the Clarendon Chronicle’ – application not supported.

LEEAP Ltd – applied for funds to provide advice to elderly/ disabled vulnerable people – grant of £150 towards stationary supplies was supported.

Young Adventures – requested funds for a two day residential for young people – application not supported.

Highfield Rangers Sports & Social Club – applied for support towards the Community fun day – grant of £300 supported.

Sensational Vibes – applied to hold a summer project – grant of £250 supported.

ClarendonPark.Life requested funds for an Online Community Forum – application not supported.

Events or presentations announced:

·         Highfields Festival 2016 – Highfields Centre – 13^th August – morning.

·         Highfields Street Party - Upper Tichbourne Street – 13^th August – 2pm.

·         ‘Precious Pearls’ summer scheme presentation ceremony – 62 Evington Valley Road – 19^th August – 2pm until 5pm.

·         Leicester Caribbean Cricket Club end of year young people’s achievement evening – 4^th September.

Events in Onslow Park:

·         Art in the Park event – 19^th & 22^nd August – 1pm until 4pm.

·         Malaysian Day celebrations – 17^th September – 2pm until 4pm.

·         Everybody’s reading festival – 2^nd October – 2pm until 4pm.

It was noted that community groups were developing a friends of Onslow Park group.

The president of the Malaysian Student Association spoke on their aim to introduce Malaysian society to the neighbourhood. The first would be an event in Onlsow Park to celebrate the 53^rd Malaysian Day.

Councillor Chaplin discussed potential plans to install a community notice board in Onslow Park and Prebend Gardens. One concern was who would be responsible to update the board.

An ERNA representative informed attendees of ERNA’s  ...  view the full minutes text for item 41.

The Chair declared the meeting closed at 8.32pm.