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.

Apologies were received from Nicole Powell – City Warden.

No interests were declared.

The Action Log of the Meeting held on 28 September 2015 is attached at Appendix A and Members are asked to confirm it as an accurate record.

The Action Log from the meeting held on 28 September 2015 was circulated and confirmed as a correct record.

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

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

All to note:

·         Current beat priorities were to tackle ASB including nuisance mopeds, mini motos and quad bikes being ridden recklessly and intimidating residents in the Herthull Road area.

·         Police were focusing on motorists parking on street junctions/ pavements causing unnecessary congestion and causing safety risks for pedestrians and school children.

·         Since the last meeting, there were no suspicious vehicles or abductions and crime figures including home burglaries were significantly lower.

·         Attendees were reminded to take preventative steps to prevent burglaries i.e. leaving house lights on when out in dark hours, drawing curtains, securing sheds with padlocks etc.

·         It was requested that any suspicious activity or crime be reported by calling 101 or Crimestoppers 0800 555 111.

A representative from the ASB Team will attend the meeting to give an update.

ASB Investigators attended the meeting and gave a presentation on the Leicester Anti-Social Behaviour Unit (LASBU). An overview of LASBU in terms of what they do, how it works and what intervention tools could be used was provided. The presentation is attached to these minutes.

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

Highways Officers were not present at the meeting.

Residents had the following queries to be sent to the Highways team for feedback:

·         Homestone Gardens opposite Willowbrook School towards the T junction, the road surface was reported to not be in a good condition.

·         Colchester Road junction of Goodwood Road and Uppingham Road, it was reported that the three lanes were inadequate.

·         Councillor Aldred confirmed that the Patch-walk had identified many of these issues which had already been reported to the Highways team.

·         A cul-de-sac on Fastnet Road was reported to have cars regularly parked on the green verges and the resident had difficulties in finding places to park.

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

Ela Krychowska-Hall – Area Manager for Housing updated the meeting on timings and costs for projects which would be taking place in the ward.

It was noted that the following projects would be completed by the end of March 2016:

·         Fitting 10 metal gates to the rear of the Thurncourt Road shop units.

·         Thurncourt Gardens removal of shrubs & turfing.

Residents’ queries:

·         What was the number of empty Council properties in the Thurncourt ward?

·         A resident reported that 4 Vale close had been empty for several months.

·         Ela would look into this and report back.

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

The City Warden was unable to attend the meeting and had sent a paper update. Councillor Newcombe expressed his concern and requested the CEO to contact the City Warden in complaint of their lack of attendance at the Thurncourt Community Meetings this year.

A representative from the Leicester Ageing Together (LAT) programme will give an update at the meeting.

Sam Larke, Leicester Ageing Together representative informed the meeting of further progress taking place for the LAT programme.

·         It was noted that one of the next plans was to do a newsletter which would be distributed through residents’ doors.

·         Any further ideas of how the LAT could reduce social isolation for people of 50 years and older were welcomed and also how the LAT could engage with this age group were requested.

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

The following bids will be reported for noting at the meeting:

Bid: 1523

Applicant: Silver Threads

Project Name & Summary: Christmas Party.

Amount Request: £500

Result: Grant of £400 approved.

Bid: 1528

Applicant: Beryl Cooper – Seabrooke Group

Project Name & Summary: Christmas dinner and coach.

Amount Request: £500

Result: Grant of £300 approved.

Bid: 1535

Applicant: Hamilton Bowls Group

Project Name & Summary: Funds for a Christmas outing.

Amount Request: £325

Result: Grant of £175 approved.

Bid: 1540

Applicant: Thurnby Lodge Tea Dance Group

Project Name & Summary: Lunch for forty members.

Amount Request: £400

Result: Grant of £200 approved.

Bid: 1541

Applicant: Wednesday Club

Project Name & Summary: Travel cost & meal.

Amount Request: £400

Result: Grant of £200 approved.

Bid: 1559

Applicant: Thurnby Lodge Community Association – Allan Gratrix

Project Name & Summary: Thurncourt Ward taxi scheme.

Amount Request: £1,000

Result: Grant of £1,000 approved in full.

Bid: 1560

Applicant: Thurnby Lodge Community Association – Allan Gratrix

Project Name & Summary: Purchase of defibrillator.

Amount Request: £1,000

Result: Grant of £1,000 approved in full.

Bid: 1561

Applicant: Thurnby Lodge Community Association – Councillors Aldred & Newcombe

Project Name & Summary: Christmas tree forever for Thurncourt.

Amount Request: £900

Result: Grant of £900 approved in full.

Bid: 1563

Applicant: John Echlin

Project Name & Summary: Royal Horticultural Society – purchase plants, seed and small items of equipment.

Amount Request: £150

Result: Grant of £150 approved in full.

Anita Clarke gave an update on the Ward Community Budget.

The following items were discussed at the meeting:

1523: Silver Threads requested £500 to hold aChristmas Party - grant of £400 approved.

1528: Beryl Cooper – Seabrooke Grouprequested £500 in support of aChristmas dinner and coach - grant of £300 approved.

1535: Hamilton Bowls Group requested £325funds for a Christmas outing - grant of £175 approved.

1540: Thurnby Lodge Tea Dance Group requested £400towards lunch for forty members – grant of £200 approved.

1541: Wednesday Club requested £400 towards travel cost & meal - grant of £200 approved.

1559: Thurnby Lodge Community Association – Allan Gratrixrequested £1,000 in support of theThurncourt Ward taxi scheme - grant of £1,000 approved in full.

1560: Thurnby Lodge Community Association – Allan Gratrixrequested £1,000 towards the purchase of defibrillator – grant of £1,000 approved in full.

1561: Thurnby Lodge Community Association – Councillors Aldred & Newcombe requested £900 to purchase a ‘Christmas tree forever’ for Thurncourt - grant of £900 approved in full.

1563: John Echlin requested £150 support for the Royal Horticultural Society to purchase plants, seed and small items of equipment - grant of £150 approved in full.

The following items were considered at the meeting:

1577: Kick start soccer academy – requested £400 to support their Christmas at Boyzee event – grant of £150 approved.

1585: Tina Harrison requested £500 to hold drop in music sessions for young children – grant of £200 approved.

5129: Anita Clarke requested £150 for outdoor gym equipment tuition – application deferred and awaiting response from public health as Councillors felt this should be supported through that service.

5133: Envoy twirlers requested £700 to enable 7 girls to go to selections to enter a European competition in France – application not supported.

1601: The Peace Centre requested £850 towards a bicycle shelter/ safe storage rack – application deferred.

The tree/ lights:

It was noted that the tree was now purchased and located by the Thurncourt shops. This tree was said to be a tree for the ward to last for years to come, not only for Christmas but all year round. The Council would be providing temporary lights to be placed on the tree for the carol singing service next to the tree would take place on Friday 4 December 2015 at 6.30pm. Ela Krychowska-Hall, Area Housing Manager reported that the funds and correct source would be allocated to purchase the permanent lights for the tree.

It was reported that a plaque would be made to thank the Councillors for making the tree purchase possible.

The defibrillator:

The defibrillator for the ward was now purchased at the cost of £1974.00 (£1,000 from the Thurncourt Ward Community Budget and £974 from the Thurnby Lodge Community Association). The defibrillator would be located in the cupboard, entrance/ porch way of the Thurnby Lodge Community Centre for public use when  ...  view the full minutes text for item 20.

Successful applicants for Thurncourt Ward funding will give feedback or a presentation on what was achieved with the funding received.

Kick start soccer academy applicants attended the meeting and gave feedback on their event. A Halloween disco was held with the funds received from the ward community budget. The event was reported as well attended and a success. The applicants reported that their application for funds from the ward budget of £400 to hold a Christmas event had not been supported. In this regard Graham Cornish agreed to offer the Kick start soccer academy £150 from the Boyzee fund. Allan Gratrix then agreed that £100 would be offered from Thurnby Lodge Youth & Community Forum of which the Councillors further agreed to fund the remainder of £150 from the Thurncourt Ward Community Budget. As a result, kick start gave thanks and would look into the possibilities of still organising the event.

The Clan Lodge Pipe band attended the meeting but was unable to stay full for the duration. However, feedback was passed onto the CEO and Councillor and an evaluation form filled out.

Parks Officer Paul Barker attended the meeting and gave the following update on activities taking place in the ward. It was noted that the Councillors had informed the Parks team of the Ocean Road open space. Plans for Ocean Road open space this year were reported to include the following:

·         To make more open spaces, increase the grass paths for walking use, cut the mounds once a year, improve entries to the space by cutting 5 metres each side to improve views and install new signs.

·         The stream’s vegetative barrier would be maintained and a path created for people to get access to the stream.

·         Possible future steps which largely depended on funds/ volunteer sessions would be to improve the gates, add seats on the south side of the brook and make a half way entry on Gervas Road.

Residents/ Councillors feedback:

·         A resident suggested that the BMX site/ track adjacent to Willowbrook School be turned into a football pitch. Councillor Aldred informed the meeting of discussions currently taking place with the City Mayor in regards to the BMX site being developed into a football pitch.

·         The Christmas on Ice event on Thurncourt Road would be held on 12 December 2015.

The next meeting will be held on Monday 7 March 2016 at Thurnby Lodge Community Centre.

The meeting closed at 7.45pm.