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

There were no apologies for absence.

Councillor Aldred & Newcombe declared their interest in submitting several applications to the ward community budget.

The Action Log of the Meeting held on 30 November 2015 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 30 November 2015 was confirmed as a correct record.

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

Robert Bateman – Team Leader for Highways and Design informed the meeting of the issues which Highways officers were looking into for the Thurncourt Ward.

Residents’ concerns:

·         It was requested that officers investigate a series of issues at the junction of Havencrest Drive and The Parkway including the existing yellow lines.

·         It was noted that the hatching of Thurncourt Road and Scraptoft Lane junction was reported to be causing issues.

·         Parking on pavements/ grass verges was reported to be an issue on Dudley Avenue/ Gervas Road.

·         Residents’ had concerns that the top of Bowhill Grove/ Gretna Way had parking issues, vehicles were being driven on grass verges and that there were other potential hazards.

·         Councillor Aldred reported that several walks had taken place in the ward with Highways officers and many of the above residents’ concerns were being looked into.

·         A resident requested that some of the trees that the Council were reported to have purchased should be planted on grass verges instead of bollards.

An officer will provide an update on Parks developments within the Thurncourt Ward.

Adrian Edge - Landscape Development Manager gave the following update.

Willowbrook Park gym equipment:

·         It was noted that there were plans to increase the Willowbrook Park gym equipment from 8 to 15 pieces.

·         The additional pieces would most likely be strength based equipment, with a planned installation date by the end of the calendar year.

Willowbrook Park infants play area:

·         In regards to the infants play area, the slide had previously been removed due to its condition and approximately £5,000 had been allocated for new equipment to this area.

·         Adrian requested suggestions which could either be noted at the next meeting or could be taken forward by consulting with primary schools.

·         It was aimed for this equipment to be installed before the summer holidays 2016.

·         Councillor Aldred noted that the sandpit was not in a good condition. Adrian discussed that funds to replace the sand/pit were not currently available; however, regular maintenance would be ensured.

Residents’ concerns:

·         Paths on Willowbrook Park required resurfacing in certain areas. Adrian would feed this back to the team.

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

City Wardens - Nicole Powell and Charlotte Glover provided an update on the activities and enforcement the City Wardens had been dealing with in the ward since the last meeting.

·         Some of the works included; clearing rubbish on private land and fly-tipping. It was requested that residents use the bulky waste system for large disposals or the Gypsum Close recycling centre.

·         It was noted that all clothes banks had been removed out of the city as Biffa was in the process of changing contracts. It was hoped that this would be changed by the end of the month.

Dog fouling issues:

·         It was noted that spray stencils would soon be used and extra patrolling was planned.

·         Nicole advised attendees to report dog fouling and provided a sheet at the meeting for residents to indicate the times of day the offences occurred.

·         Councillor Aldred noted that large amounts of dog fouling were seen around Dudley Avenue School and Willowbrook Primary School.

·         Nicole would look into possible dog fouling signage from housing to put up in communal areas.

·         A resident reported concerns of repetitive tag graffiti in the past few months. It was noted that Councillor Newcombe had reported this to officers.

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

Sergeant Rob Merrall and PC Ben Orton from the Local Policing Team gave an update on the following issues in the ward:

·         During the month of February, it was noted that 3 burglary dwellings and 3 burglary non-dwellings took place.

·         The new Police priority was to address ASB near the Thurncourt Road shops. A dedicated car would be patrolling this area regularly. Police requested residents to contact them with any information.

·         A representative from the Young Peoples Council suggested other methods that could be used to address the ASB issue, such as; social media, Police to engage with youth, and advertisement of youth activities in Thurncourt.

·         In regards to speeding on Thurncourt Road, it was noted that new constables were being trained to use the speed gun.

·         An attendee requested that the candidates for the Police & Crime Commissioner elections in May, be invited to the next ward meeting to provide information about themselves and their intentions.

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

Ela Krychowska-Hall Area Manager for Housing attended the meeting and provided the following update:

·         It was noted that £42,000 from the improvement funds had been allocated to improve parking on Bowhill Grove and Roborough Green, working in conjunction with Highways.

·         £16,000 had been allocated for improvements to lighting on Homestone Gardens and Ocean Road.

·         Works were taking place to improve the fencing and gates at Rona Gardens.

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

The following applications will be discussed at the meeting:

Bid: 1632

Applicant: Leicester City Council

Project Name & Summary: Easter Bunny event.

Amount Requested: £500

Result: Grant of £500 approved in full.

Bid: 1633

Applicant: Leicester City Council

Project Name & Summary: Weatherproof noticeboard.

Amount Requested: £700

Result: Grant of £700 approved in full.

Bid: 1639

Applicant: Leicester City Council – Councillor Aldred

Project Name & Summary: Knitting group.

Amount Requested: £175

Result: Grant of £175 approved in full.

Laura Burt, the Ward Community Engagement Officer (WCEO) presented an update on the Ward Community Budget.

The following items were considered at the meeting:

1632: Thurncourt Ward Councillors – Councillor Aldred and Councillor Newcombe requested £500 to support an Easter Bunny event - grant of £500 approved in full.

1633: Thurncourt Ward Councillors – Councillor Aldred and Councillor Newcombe applied for £700 to purchase a weatherproof noticeboard for outside the Thurncourt Road shops - grant of £700 approved in full.

1639: Thurncourt Ward Councillors – Councillor Aldred and Councillor Newcombe requested £175 in support of a knitting group - grant of £175 approved in full.

The following application was deferred at the previous meeting:

1601: The Peace Centre requested £850 towards a bicycle shelter/ safe storage rack – application not supported.

·         Tina Harrison gave a presentation on the application ‘xcluded drop in music lessons’ which planned to set up music sessions for young people excluded or at risk of exclusion from education.

·         The radio youth club was suggested as a possible venue for Tina to hold the music sessions. It was also noted that Tina could contact the Youth service run by Raven and also contact Laura who currently provided youth music classes in the ward.

·         Several discussions took place of the wide range of youth activities available in the ward. It was requested that a poster be produced or more adverts showcasing these activities be published.

·         It was noted that the ward community budget was now spent; any new applications would be considered after 31 March 2016 and would need to be completed online.

·         There were concerns that some applicants may require assistance with the new online service. The WCEO would look into this.

·         The Peace Centre applicants requested clarity on the refusal of their application.

·         Councillors noted that there were currently discussions taking place with officers in regards to the site. It was noted that a new application in the next financial year would be invited however; outcomes from the discussions would determine the decision.

The meeting closed at 8.00pm.