Agenda and minutes

Councillor Cooke was elected as Chair for the meeting.

The Chair welcomed residents to the meeting and explained that the theme for the meeting was Health. 

This was one of the main themes identified in the Ward Strategy, but it had been found that needs varied across the Ward.  Agencies and residents therefore had been invited to this meeting to discuss health issues in Rowley Fields.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Glover, who was absent due to ill health.

The first main item on the agenda is Declarations of Interest where Councillors have to say if there is anything on the agenda they have a personal interest in. For example if a meeting was due to discuss a budget application put forward by a community group and one of the Councillors was a member of that group, they would not be able to take part in the decision on that budget application.

Councillors are asked to declare any interest they may have in the business to be discussed.

There were no declarations of interest.

The minutes of the meeting held on 17 July 2013 have been circulated and the Councillors will be asked to confirm them as a correct record.

The minutes of the meeting held on 11 June 2013 were agreed as a correct record.

Information is being gathered from which a health strategy for Rowley Fields can be developed. 

Organisations and groups with an interest in health matters have been invited to the meeting to make an input in to this.

Initially, Mr John Allen, Secretary of the Friends of Woodville Unit, addressed the meeting, explaining that this was a secure Unit for people with various conditions, including dementia.  This condition affected not only those with it, but those around them as well, as its progress could be slowed down, but not stopped.  However, it was important to let people visit residents in units such as this, to enable family and other ties to be maintained.

John Allen thanked the Community Meeting for a grant of £300 that had given to the Friends of Woodville Unit.  This enabled an entertainment to be put on for residents and their relatives, to break the monotony of life in the unit.  It had been very successful, helping residents, carers and relatives.

Philip Parkinson, the Acting Chair of Healthwatch, explained that Healthwatch had replaced the Leicester Local Involvement Network as the organisation that ensured that service users’ views were recognised.  As such, its success depended on the extent to which it could get information on people’s experiences of services, both good and bad.  Leaflets were available giving the contact details for Healthwatch.

The Ward Members then gave a presentation on “Improving Health for Braunstone”, which showed the type of approach that could be taken in developing a health strategy for Rowley Fields.  A copy of this presentation is attached at the end of these minutes for information.

During the presentation, particular attention was drawn to the following points:-

·           The Braunstone Health Strategy had been developed through co-ordinating as many different health-related organisations as possible.  During this process, contact had been made with 31 such organisations in Braunstone;

·           Deprivation, poverty and lifestyle factors affected health and these were all significant in Braunstone;

·           The aim of the health strategy was to help improve the quality of life and life expectancy for people in the Ward;

·           Strategies for health improvement had led to things such as the provision of fitness equipment in the Ward;

·           There currently were two Surestart centres in the Ward, but they operated differently.  The one in Braunstone tended to have children go to it, but the one in Rowley Fields did more outreach work, visiting people’s homes and other premises.  Information on the health priorities of the Braunstone Children’s Centre was tabled at the meeting and is attached at the end of these minutes for information;

·           Isolation and loneliness also affected health, but these could be overcome through things such as befriending services;

·           Some people did not know how to cook simple, nutritious meals.  Work could be done to rectify this, such as providing cookery classes;

·           Setting benchmarks would help indicate where there had been improvements.  Some changes had already happened, such as the installation of a telephone landline and better access to appointments at the medical centre in Braunstone;

·           Consideration could be given to using the Ward Community Budget to help finance work being done in support of a health strategy for Rowley Fields.  This could include funding groups such as allotment societies  ...  view the full minutes text for item 19.

The City Warden will be at the meeting to give an update on environmental issues in the Ward.

This item was deferred, as the City Warden was unable to be present.

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

PC Darren Cramp introduced himself to the meeting and apologised for not being able to attend previous meetings.

He advised that:-

·           There had been very few burglaries or robberies in the Ward during the last 100 days;

·           Cyber-crime was a new area of crime that was being experienced, but the Police were not used to it yet at a local level.  Residents were warned that, if bank details were requested, they should not be given out over the phone or electronically;

·           Satellite navigation systems in cars and cycles were being targeted, particularly as burglary rates improved, although the frequency of this varied across the Ward;

·           People using mobile phones in the street needed to be aware of the risks of doing so, as in some parts of the Ward they were being snatched; and

·           The Police had had some good results lately.  For example, arrests had been made very recently regarding a robbery and a stolen motorbike.

Residents reported that:-

o    Problems arising from noise and open air drinking had been reported to the Police and had been dealt with very well;

o    Items had been stolen from outside some properties.  PC Cramp advised that, in this situation, the 101 telephone number should be used to report them;

o    Telephone credit card scams were happening.  If anyone received a call from someone who asked them to call back, they should put the phone down and call the 101 service, or the Police on 0116 777 7777; and

o    Problems had been experienced with groups of young people in parts of the Ward.  PC Cramp advised that work was being done in relation to this.

In conclusion, PC Cramp asked that people continue to let the Police know of any problems as they arose.  In addition to telephone and e-mail access, officers could be contacted at Braunstone Park Police Station from Monday to Friday.  Even if the Police could not respond immediately to reports, they would be looked at as soon as possible.

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)         Budget 2013/14

To receive an update on the budget for 2013/14

b)        Feedback

Feedback on how some recently approved grants have been used will be given at the meeting.

c)         Grant Applications for Consideration

The following grant applications are submitted for consideration:-

Application 1

Project:           Food in the Community – Pilot Project

Amount requested: 

This is a joint application with Westcotes Ward.

Applicant:      Leicester Masaya Link Group, with the support of environmental Studies Ltd

Summary:

The project aims to consult with members of the local community and relevant partners to develop a larger funded programme of activities combining food growing with the cultural and social significance of food.

Promoting the growing of vegetables will support healthy eating and encourage physical exercise, as well as increasing access to cheap, fresh food.  It is anticipated that the community based approach of will include sharing favourite recipes and understanding the global interdependence of foods, which will support greater cohesion between communities.  The collective act of growing brings people together and gives a sense of ownership and belonging.

The consultation process will take place from June to September 2013.  At the end of this there will be clear project proposal, incorporating identified community need and committed partner organisations.  Applications for funding for the proposal will then made to funding bodies.

The organisers will be attending the International Food Festival at the Manor House Community Centre on 6 July 2013 and the Braunstone Carnival on 29 June.  In addition, a drop-in community event will be hosted at the polytunnels next to Braunstone Skills Centre.  This will emphasise practical food growing.

Alongside this, the applicants will research current activity and players in the local area, to ensure that the proposal complements existing programmes, and to identify potential funding streams to submit the final proposal to.

Application 2

Project:           Iri Ji (New Yam) Festival 2013

Amount requested: 

Funding has also been requested from Westcotes and the Western Park Fields Wards.

i)          Grant Applications for Consideration

The following applications for grants were considered:-

·           Food in the Community – Pilot Project

AGREED:

a)     That this application be deferred pending the result of an application for Lottery funding by other agencies for a similar project; and

b)     That consideration be given to how the applicant can be involved in the project noted under (a) above.

·           Iri Ji (New Year) Festival 2013

AGREED:

That this application would not be supported, as the benefit to the Ward had not been demonstrated.

·           Schools Tennis

AGREED:

That consideration of this application be deferred to enable further discussions to be held with the applicant.

·           World War 2 Interpretation Board for Braunstone Park

Anita Robinson, Parks Officer, advised the meeting that an event would be held shortly to remember the contribution made in World War 2 by the American 82nd Airborne Division, which had been based in Braunstone Park. 

The memorial stone that had been moved to the walled garden would be returned to its original position by the Park entrance before this, but it was also hoped that an information board, explaining the Division’s contribution could be put up before the event. 

The Information Board would stand on two pillars and be covered.  The total cost of it would be £1,800, but a grant of £1,500 had been requested.

AGREED:

That a grant of £1,500 to Anita Robinson (Parks Officer) towards the cost of a World War 2 Interpretation Board for Braunstone Park be supported.

·           Think Ahead Plus

In view of the importance of providing support to young people with maths, the meeting supported this item.

AGREED:

That a grant of £490 to the Maths Club towards the cost of providing extra maths tuition and coaching at the Oak Centre, Bendbow Rise be supported.

·           Studs FC

AGREED:

That consideration of this application be deferred to enable further discussions to be held with the applicant.

ii)         2013/14 Community Meeting Budget

The Chair reported that, following the decisions recorded above, approximately £12,000 remained in the Ward Community Budget for 2013/14.

The Ward Councillors will provide an update on issues not covered elsewhere on the agenda.

a)         Improvements to Great Central Way

It was noted that the Council soon would be making improvements to the Great Central Way, especially to the surface.  No information was available on how this would affect access routes.

b)        Rowley Fields Allotment Society Open Day

An Open Day would be held on Sunday 18 August at the Society’s site in Meredith Road.  This would include cooking demonstrations by chefs from the Curve, using produce from allotments.

c)         Braunstone Hall

It was noted that the Council was considering the terms and conditions under which the lease of the Hall could be passed on to a third party.

It also was noted that the location of the proposed marquee had changed.  It now would be placed at the side of the house and discreet parking would be available under the trees.

a)         Next Meeting

It was noted that the next Braunstone Park and Rowley Fields Community Meeting currently was scheduled for 15 October 2013, but this needed to change, due to clashes with other events.  The meeting therefore would be held at 5.30 pm on Tuesday 8 October.

The meeting would be held at Cort Crescent Community Centre.

b)        Rancliffe Crescent Allotment Society

Councillor Naylor thanked everyone at the Rancliffe Crescent Allotment Society for the visit he had recently made there. 

It was hoped that link work could be carried out with the Society in the future.

The meeting closed at 7.40 pm