Agenda and minutes

Councillor Fonseca was elected as Chair for the meeting.

Apologies for absence were received from Trevor Taylor.

Councillor Fonseca declared an interest in application 9 of agenda item 11, “Ward Community Budget 2012/13”, as he was a governor at Willowbrook Primary School.

In accordance with the Council’s Code of Conduct, this interest was not considered so significant that it was likely to prejudice Councillor Fonseca’s judgement of the public interest.  He was not, therefore, required to withdraw from the meeting.

The minutes of the Thurncourt Community Meeting held on 28 January 2013 are attached and Members are asked to confirm them as a correct record.

The minutes of Thurncourt Community Meeting held on 28 January 2013 were agreed as a correct record.

A short update will be given on the relocation of current users of the Raven Centre.

Steve Goddard, Head of Community Services, gave the following update:-

“As reported at the previous Ward Community Meeting the overwhelming response was that the 55^th Scout Hut would be leased to the Forgotten Estates Group and the Raven Youth Centre be leased to the As-Salaam Trust. After the completion of the negotiations the Head Terms of the Lease agreements for both buildings have now been signed.

The 55^th had its Open Day on Saturday and the Council will continue to support the Forgotten Estates Group with advice and guidance as and when required.

The As-Salaam Trust will be leasing the Raven Centre from Monday 1^st April 2013.

The Youth sessions will be unaffected and they will still meet on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday and will move to the community centre. There will be some refurbishment work that has been agreed in consultation with the young people currently attending the youth sessions. This will provide additional facilities for the young people and the community to access including a kitchenette in the annex. The Council will continue to work with the young people to make sure they are involved with the changes to the building.

The Community Book Loan Scheme will be relocated to the Lounge within the Community Centre and will be more easily accessible for local residents to bring and share reading material.

The Bowls Club will continue to use the Raven Centre until the outdoor season begins in May and it is proposed that they will use the Raven from October for the indoor season.

The other two groups currently using the Raven have been relocated within the Community Centre and they will start their new sessions after Easter.

The Council is aware of the feelings of local residents that the Raven Centre would be lost by the local community. The Council has negotiated a clause within the lease agreement with the As-Salaam Trust to ensure that the community can continue to have access to the building and As-Salaam have confirmed that The Raven will continue to be available for hire to the community.

The Council will continue to provide support to the Thurnby Lodge Community Centre and work with the Community Association to develop the facility.”

The following concerns were then raised during debate on this item:-

·           Why were the young people moved out of The Raven?

·           Information had been circulated locally that the Bowls group would be moved to the Manor.  It was understood that this information was given on good authority.

In response, Steve Goddard confirmed that:-

o    Agreement had been reached between the Council and the Bowls group about the facilities it would use.  The group would continue to use The Raven until 2 May 2013.  It would then be outdoors for the bowls season and would return to The Raven in October; and

o    Meetings had been held with the three groups that would be relocated from The Raven to discuss this.

In reply, residents stressed the importance of honouring the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 38.

City Council officers will give a presentation on ways to pay Council Tax and Housing Rents.  The presentation will give particular advice to those people who will be affected by the changes to the Welfare Rights Scheme that come in to effect on 1 April 2013.  This will include those who have to pay Council Tax for the first time and those who will now receive housing benefits payments directly to themselves.  A brief overview of the changes to the Welfare Rights Scheme also will be given.

Mike Watson, Income Collection Manager with the City Council’s Housing Services, explained that the Welfare Reform Act would come in to force on 1 April 2013.  This was a government initiative over which the Council had no control and would make changes to the way benefits were calculated and paid.

Mike Watson explained that there were various ways in which to pay rent and Council Tax to the Council:-

·           Direct Debit.

Rent could be paid on the 1st and 15th of each month.

Council Tax could be paid on the 1st, 10th, 20th and 28th of each month.

Direct debits could be cancelled at any time.

·           On-line.

Payments could be made on-line with cards such as Switch, Solo, or Delta.  The rent account or Council Tax account numbers were needed to make the payment.

Computers could be accessed at libraries and housing offices.

·           PayPoint.

Payments could be made in cash at any outlet with a PayPoint sign.  These payments could be made whenever wanted at no extra cost to the payee.

·           Over the telephone by debit or credit card.

·           At any branch of the Post Office in the country.

·           By post.

Payments by post could only be made by cheque.

·           By Standing Order.

The form for this could be obtained from the Council or the Council’s website.  Five days needed to be allowed before the due date of the payment to set up the Standing Order.

People also could open a Credit Union Budget Account (CUBA).  These were transactional accounts that credit unions across the East Midlands had come together to create.  Benefits would be paid directly in to an account and then rent and Council Tax payments were taken out first.  Anyone operating a CUBA had access to all of the services offered by credit unions, such as budgeting advice and low interest loans.

The Council would pay the £10 joining fee for a CUBA and the 75p transaction charge for rent payments.

If a rent payment was missed, a reminder letter would be sent.  If applicable, the Council would enter in to an affordable agreement with anyone owing rent and could provide a free “benefits health check”.  However, if people continued not to pay, the Council would take them to court.  As a last resort, a bailiff warrant would be obtained to enforce eviction.  Anyone evicted for non-payment of rent would be considered to be intentionally homeless.

Council Tax usually was paid over ten months, but a request could be made to spread the payments over twelve months.  If a payment of Council Tax was missed, a reminder letter would be sent, with a further letter being sent if a second payment was missed.  After the third missed payment, the Council would take action to recover the money owed, including action through the courts.

The date that the Council received a payment was important.  It recommended that payments be made five days before the due date, to avoid any problems arising.

If people could not afford to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 39.

Housing officers will give an update on housing issues in the Ward.

Chrissie Field, one of Leicester City Council’s Area Managers, advised the meeting that the Council was required to consult with tenants about how the Environmental and Communal Improvement Budget was used.  All residents were not consulted, as those not living in Council accommodation did not contribute to the fund.

Thurncourt had been allocated an Environmental and Communal Improvement Budget of approximately £45,000 for 2013/14.  This was the same as had been awarded in 2012/13.

Schemes from this budget for 2012/13 had been completed, as follows:-

The work at Willowbrook View maisonettes had been slow to start, as issues relating to repairs being made from different budgets had to be resolved.  This necessitated visits to the maisonettes by various Council officers.

As a result of consultation with tenants, the following preferences for use of the 2013/14 budget had emerged:-

The meeting noted that outdoor multi-gyms had been popular in other parts of the city.  No decision had yet been taken on exactly where the equipment would be located, but anyone interested could see equipment in action at the Open Day at Craven Park on 2 April 2013.  (This coincided with the family fun day.)

If savings were made in this budget, additional benches would be provided in the area, although no decisions had been taken on exactly where they would be located.  The Council now purchased benches made out of recycled plastic, which were vandal-proof.  These cost £300 each.  If any groups were interested in having the old benches, this could be discussed.

It was suggested that Willowbrook Park was a suitable location for additional benches, but Chrissie Field explained that permission was needed from the Parks service for this and they had already indicated that there were enough benches in that Park.  However, she was willing to raise this with them again.

If funding was approved for environmental and communal improvement work in 2014/15, it was hoped that schemes would be agreed by December 2013, so that work on them could start in April 2014.

A resident asked whether it would be possible to repair the fence around the 55^th Scout Hut from this budget, as it stood on housing land.  Chrissie Field advised that the schemes to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 40.

Highways officers will give an update on highways issues in the Ward.

This item was deferred, as no officers were able to be present.

The City Warden will give an update on issues in Thurncourt Ward.

Charlotte Williams-Glover, City Warden, drew attention to the information on the City Warden service in the ward that had been tabled.  A copy of this is attached at the end of these minutes for information.

Particular attention was drawn to the following points:-

·           It was hoped that monthly litter picks could be held.  The first, a joint litter pick with Thurnby Lodge schools, would be held on 10 April 2013;

·           The first Fixed Penalty Notice for littering in the ward had been issued for an offence in Thurncourt Road;

·           A prosecution for fly tipping was in progress.  It was hoped that this would be completed in the next few months;

·           One of the vans being monitored for the way it parked on Ocean Road / Thurncourt Road was a Council van.  The manager of the driver had been informed and agreement reached on a safer place to park the van;

·           All residents were invited to let the City Wardens know if any further parking issues arose; and

·           The City Wardens would be having an information stall at Thurnby Lodge Carnival.

A resident advised the City Wardens that she had the agreement of her landlord for her large fence to be used by young people to paint on.  She was willing to fundraise to provide the materials for this.  The City Wardens undertook to consider this further.

Residents raise concerns that, although dog fouling on the grass verges of Wendy Close and Nursery Road had been reported, the fouling was continuing.  The City Wardens advised the meeting that they monitored areas in which dog fouling was reported, but unless they saw the owner of the dog leaving waste, they could not take action.  They therefore asked that residents kept reporting all incidents.

To receive an update on Policing issues in the area.

This item was deferred, as the Police were absent, dealing with an incident in the ward.

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.

a)     The Members Support Officer will provide an update on the Ward Community budget for 2012/13; and

b)     The following grant applications are submitted for consideration:-

Application 1

Applicant:      1st Thurnby Lodge Brownies

Project:           Assistance with rent

Amount Requested: 

Summary:

1^st Thurnby Lodge Brownies meet weekly at Thurncourt Community Centre.  Several meetings a year are extended to for parties and practices, (eg, shows, carol singing) and for planning meetings with parents.

Activities are also provided in the school holidays, either in the evening or during the daytime.  For example, in the summer holidays, these activities are in the daytime, as many of the Brownies do not have the opportunity to go on family holidays and have few other activities to go to.  Thurncourt Community Centre is used for this, so that activities and games are not disrupted by the weather.

Thurnby Lodge Brownies is for girls that live in the vicinity of Thurnby Lodge.

There often are incidences when parents cannot afford the weekly subscription.  These girls are not excluded, but it does impact on income.  Therefore, if the rent is paid by this grant, it will be possible to reduce the weekly subscription for a time.

Application 2

Applicant:      Tuesday Evening Bingo Club – Mrs B Ayres

Friday Evening Bingo Club – Mrs J Worley

Project:           Assistance for the Tuesday and Friday Evening Bingo Clubs

Amount Requested: 

Summary:

The purchase of the bingo books and assistance with running costs for both groups is requested, as falling numbers makes it increasingly difficult to manage the sessions.  Both sessions are run for people on the estate.

Application 3

Applicant:      Mr T Taylor (member of Tuesday (Seabroke) Club)

Project:           Outing for the Tuesday (Seabroke) Club

Amount Requested: 

Summary:

The grant will be used towards an outing to a place of interest for the club members, with a meal.  This will take place in the spring or early summer.  Costs above the level of grant given will be met by club members.

The outing will be for club members, who live on the Thurnby Lodge estate.  There currently are 40 members.  Any spare seats will be offered to friends of club members.

Application 4

Applicant:      Rowlatts Hill Allotment Society  ...  view the full agenda text for item 44.

It was noted that approximately £8,305 remained in the Ward Community Budget. 

The meeting was reminded that a grant of £1,750 had been approved to the Forgotten Estates Community Association towards establishing LE5 Boxercise, (minute 31, 28 January 2013 referred).  As this was half of the grant applied for, it also had been agreed that consideration would be given at this meeting to funding the remainder. 

Having considered the application, it was agreed that the remainder of the application should be supported and a further £1,750 awarded to the Forgotten Estates Community Association towards establishing LE5 Boxercise.

Consideration was then given to the remaining applications.  It was noted that, as applications for funding totalling £13,372 had been received, (including that from the Forgotten Estates Community Association referred to above), grants would be awarded in the following amounts:-

·           Application 1 - 1st Thurnby Lodge Brownies (Assistance with rent) – No grant approved, as the application was for on-going costs

·           Application 2 - Tuesday and Friday Evening Bingo Clubs (Running costs and book costs) - £300

·           Application 3 - Mr T Taylor (Outing for the Tuesday (Seabroke) Club) - £500

·           Application 4 - Rowlatts Hill Allotment Society, Colchester Road site (Provision of a Chemical Toilet) - £760

·           Application 5 - Christ Church Parish Church (Family Friendly Seating Area in Church Building) - £450

·           Application 6 - Rosemary Goodman and Vinny Cooper (55^th Community Gardens and Allotment) – no grant approved at this time as a breakdown of costs was required

·           Application 7 - Willowbrook Activity Centre (Boyzee Easter Activities for Half Term Break) - £475

·           Application 8 - Janice French and Kerry Woods (Easy Learning Music Club) - £300

·           Application 9 - Mike Pears, Team Leader Highway Asset Management, Leicester City Council (Installation of bollards outside Willowbrook Primary School at the Roborough Green school entrance) - £2,800

·           Application 10 - Nazira Vania, Development Officer, Community Safety Team, Leicester City Council (on behalf of local residents) – Lighting for the Footpath between the bottom of Colthurst Way and Thurncourt Road, crossing over Thurnby Brook - £874.93

·           Application 11 - Nazira Vania, Development Officer, Community Safety Team, Leicester City Council (on behalf of local residents) - Willowbrook Park Ball Court Lighting (to resolve anti-social behaviour concerns arising from the loss of the previous lighting, which was stolen approximately 18 months ago) – no grant approved at this time, due to lack of funds, but additional sources of funding to be sought and a further application submitted if needed.

The meeting closed at 7.38 pm