Agenda and minutes

Councillors will elect a Chair for the meeting.

Councillor Cooke was elected as Chair for the meeting.

Councillor Cooke welcomed those present to the meeting and briefly set out each item to be considered.

The first main item on the programme is Declarations of Interest, where Councillors have to say if there is anything in the programme they have a personal interest in. For example, if a meeting wanted to talk about digging up a road and one of the councillors lived on that road, he or she would have to say they have a personal interest in that.

Councillors are asked to declare any interest they may have in the business on the agenda, and/or indicate that Section 106 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 applies to them. 

Members were asked to declare any interests that they may have in the business to be discussed and/or indicate that Section 106 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 applied to them.

No declarations were made.

Members are asked to agree the Minutes of the meeting held on 2^nd September 2008 as a correct record, copy attached.  

The minutes of the Braunstone Park and Rowley Fields Community Meeting dated 2^nd September 2008, as circulated, were approved as a correct record.

Steve Letten, Members Support Officer will give an update on the ward priorities identified at the last meeting. The Community Meeting to develop actions from the priorities.

Steve Letten, Members Support Officer, gave details of the consultation process undertaken in relation to developing the ward priorities for the area. Further, it was confirmed that as well as those present at the earlier Community Meeting, other community groups/organisations had been consulted as part of the process. The possibility of utilising the results of the recent IPSOS MORI residents survey undertaken in Leicester was also suggested. 

Steve Letten further explained the scoring and ranking process that had been undertaken in relation to the ward priorities and suggested that the emphasis at the meeting could focus on the development of ward priorities relating specifically to the Rowley Fields area, given the location of the Community Meeting and large proportion of residents from the Rowley Fields area in attendance at the meeting.

After circulating a draft Action Plan outline, residents were asked for their opinions in relation to the priorities for the area.

Councillor Cooke and Councillor Glover discussed the following matters with residents at the meeting:

• Older Persons Transport and the problematic location of drop off points in and around the City Centre
• The draft Strategy for Older People
• Local Community facilities and availability of activities for local residents
• Illegal use of Mini-Moto bikes by the young people of Rowley Fields

Councillor Cooke confirmed to residents that discussions were due to take place with transport officials in relation to the issue of public transport both in to and across the City Centre, and also that Adrian Russell, Environmental Services, had agreed to engage residents on a patch walk of the area to identify current issues.

In light of concerns raised by residents about the illegal use of Mini-Moto bikes in the area, a Police Officer from the Local Policing Unit confirmed that they have taken action and seized a large number of bikes being used illegally. Residents were urged to continue to report further incidences of illegal use.

Councillors and residents agreed the following action plan priority areas for Rowley Fields:

• Traffic/Parking
• Lack of Community facilities
• Environmental Issues
• Lack of Youth activities
• Lack of Children’s activities
• Lack of Older People’s activities
• Mini motos

Councillors and residents also agreed that the following items be added to the action plan being developed:

After discussions with residents the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 26.

Steve Letten, Members Support Officer, will update the Community Meeting on proposals for funding received.

A supplemental funding application (Application No. 3) was tabled and circulated at the meeting.

Councillor Cooke explained each budget application to residents and explained how any bids endorsed by the Community Meeting would be approved.

Funding Application – Cultural Experience

Councillor Glover stated that the bid offered good value for money, as it works out at £3.25 per head.

RESOLVED:

                        that it be agreed that the funding application for £250 be supported, subject to the condition that the organisers consider the feasibility of arranging a similar project for all people within the ward and that information be provided back to the Council demonstrating that this has been undertaken.

Funding Application – Young People/Key Agency Team Building Event

Councillor Cooke noted that the organisers, Braunstone Joint Action Group, have been the most successful Joint Action Group in the city area.

RESOLVED:

that it be agreed that the funding application for £250 be supported.

Funding Application – Braunstone Joint Action Group

The following concerns/questions were raised at the meeting in relation to the bid:

• What happened to the equipment that was previously provided?
• What happens to the clothing and equipment once the Police Officer moves on?
• How does the cycle kit differ from standard kit and why does it cost so much?

The Police Officer from the Local Policing Unit confirmed that:

·        The previous cycles were stolen but the offender had been caught and prosecuted.

·        The kit differs from the standard Police issue kit hence the additional cost.

·        The clothing is issued to the individual Officer therefore when they move areas/forces, through promotion or otherwise, the kit remains with them.

·        This form of transport is required due to the need to cover areas such as Braunstone Park that are generally inaccessible by vehicles other than cycles/motorbikes, and due to the shortage of such vehicles in the area.

Steve Letten, Members Support Officer, suggested to the meeting that conditions could be written into the approval in relation to the use of the equipment should the bid be supported and that in respect of future funding no repeat applications could be made to any of the Community Meetings funds.

RESOLVED:

that it be agreed that the funding application of £1729.30 be supported, subject to the condition that written confirmation be provided to the Council confirming that

A)     The equipment will not be used by Neighbourhood Policing Units outside the Braunstone Park and Rowley Fields ward, and

B)     That the whole ward should benefit from the equipment.

Domestic Violence

An Officer from the Domestic Violence Team gave a verbal presentation on the various Domestic Violence initiatives currently available in the area and circulated some supporting information at the meeting.

Councillor Cooke suggested that the Officer liaise with Steve Letten, Members Support Officer, in relation to attending further Community Meetings and Community Groups with a view to providing a discreet contact point at such meetings/events.

Adrian Russell, Environmental Services to give feedback on:-

• General Issues
• 10,000 Trees
• Graffiti requests - responses

Brian Stafford, Leicester City Council, gave a verbal update on the 10,000 Trees project and the potential for planting in the Braunstone Park and Rowley Fields ward.

Residents and Councillors raised the following concerns/questions:

• That regard should be had for the residential amenity of the local area when planning any planting schemes.
• Would the Council consider planting schemes on private land?

Brian Stafford, Leicester City Council, confirmed that when considering the viability of planting schemes they must always be sympathetic to the residential amenity of the area and that planting suggestions in public spaces would be given first consideration but schemes on private land may be considered depending on demand for schemes in public areas.

Councillor Glover explained the new Members Bulletin to the meeting and confirmed that it would be brought to future Community Meetings once published.

An Environmental Services newsletter was tabled and circulated to residents at the meeting.

To report on suggested dates for future meetings.

The following schedule of meetings was proposed and agreed at the meeting on the basis that these may need to be amended subject to the Council schedule of meetings to be announced at the forthcoming 2009/2010 Annual Council meeting:

1.                  Tuesday 10^th March 2009

2.                  Tuesday 9^th June 2009

3.                  Tuesday 8^th September 2009

4.                  Tuesday 8^th December 2009

5.                  Tuesday 9^th March 2010

The meeting closed at 7.13pm.