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.

Councillors Cooke, Glover and Naylor introduced themselves and Councillor Cooke indicated that he would Chair the meeting.  

Apologies were received from Mr Paul Howgill. 

Members are asked to declare any interests they may have in the business to be discussed.

Councillor Cooke declared an Other Declarable Interest in the grant application as a member of the Board of the Braunstone Foundation b-Inspired.

Councillor Glover declared an Other Declarable Interest as Chair Streetvibe Young People Service.

Councillor Naylor declared an Disclosable Pecuniary Interest in the grant application for Streetvibe Young People Service.  

Members indicated that they would not take part in any discussion on the applications.

The Action Log for the last meeting held on 17 December 2014 is attached.  Members are asked to confirm it as a correct record.

The Action Log of the meeting held on 17 December 2013 was approved.

Ward Councillors will provide and update and feedback on the following:-

a)    Environmental Works

b)    Braunstone Foundation Plan  

Councillors provided an update on the following matters which were noted by the public:-

Review of Ward Boundaries - The draft proposals for the Review of Ward Boundaries carried out by the Local Government Boundary Commission were now available for consultation on their website.  The current proposal for the ward was that the number of councillors would remain the same but the ward would be expanded to take in that part of the current Westcotes ward south of the railway line and east of Narbourough Road.  The consultation period on the draft proposals would close on 20 May 2014.

Fairchild Developments  - Northern Trust Co Ltd had now submitted a planning application for the proposed development. 

St Marys Fields Infant School - £4.5m had been approved to develop the current infant school into a primary school.

Environmental Works - The three projects in the ward were:

a)    Widening of Hockley Farm Road opposite the Health Centre.

b)    Gooding Road – removal of a roundabout in a cul de sac.

c)    Winchester Road – installation of bollards to prevent parking on the pavement.

Housing – a scheme to convert three bedroomed houses to two bedroomed houses with an upstairs bathroom was welcomed.  Building progressing on mixed development on Hamlyn Road (garage site) including properties for people with special needs.

Braunstone Community Primary School A scheme to develop the school had been approved.

Council Reviews A number of service reviews were being carried out to achieve savings as a result of reductions of central government grants.

Children’s Centres   These were being rationalised and the Braunstone Sure Start would provide a focus for Braunstone, New Parks and Westcotes areas of the City.

Adventure Playground Review The review closing adventure playgrounds was not now being implemented and there could be an opportunity to link future use of adventure playground with the Grove.   

Review of Neighbourhood Services Proposals for the review of Neighbourhood Services to produce 30% savings on capital and staff would be launched the following day.  There would be an opportunity to comment on the proposals at the Leisure Centre from 6-7 pm.  A pilot scheme was being trialled in the Saffron/Eyres Monsell area.

Hockley Farm Road Works were being carried out adjacent to the Medical Centre were to improve the infrastructure for future power distribution in the western part of the City.

Garden Refuse Scheme The City Council had introduced a garden refuse scheme at a cost of £20 per year.

Braunstone Foundation Plan – Angie Wright gave an update on the Plan.  Noted that the 5 priorities of the Plan and been reviewed by public consultation.  The original 5 priorities had not changed but their relative ranking with each other had.  Crime and Anti-Social Behaviour had risen to be the top priority, largely as a result of a short spate of ASB incidents occurring during the consultation process.  Generally crime had reduced in the last year and there had been good improvements in education with Fulhurst achieving its highest scores of  ...  view the full minutes text for item 54.

It was agreed to defer this item to the next meeting due to unforeseen difficulties in not be able to show the video.

To receive a short presentation on the new NHS 111 service which had replaced the NHS Direct telephone help line service.

No one for NHS 111 was able to attend the meeting and it was agreed to defer the item to the next meeting.

A representative of the Citizens Advice Bureau will outline the links with ‘Big Difference’.

Presentation by Mandy Blow on the Big Difference Fund was noted.  Public encouraged to publicise the scheme that provided help anyone who had a disposable income of less than £100 per month and had £400 or more arrears on their water bills.  The scheme was open to anyone regardless of whether they were working or not.

The scheme was administered by Coventry Citizens Advice Bureau and enquiries from people in Leicester would be directed to the Leicester CAB.

To enquire public advised to call 02476 252041 or text 07903115444.  Alternatively e-mail: bdf@coventrycab.org.uk. Or send message on twitter - @BigDiffFund.

Offices will provide an update of housing issues in the Ward.

No update was received.

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

Update by PC Oliver was noted.  PC Oliver now beacon Officer for the Ward.  There had been recent spike in ASB relating to theft and misuse of motorbikes.  Police carried out a day of action which had produced good results with 2 motorbikes being seized, 2 arrests and seizure of drugs.  It was proposed to undertake another day of action in the near future.

Public advised to report any incidents to the Police of anti-social parking on Collingham Road.  PC Oliver also noted details submitted by members of public.  

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

No update was received.

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 have been received and will be considered at the meeting:-

1. (1702)    Mandy Shepard: Essential Rejuvenation (organisation)

Young people’s fun Sport and fitness: £500

2. (1705)    Anne Short: Braunstone Foundation B-connected

Website development: £3,812.97

3. (1704)   Dan Hewins: Leicester City Table Tennis Development group £500

4. (1706)   Kim Harris/ Lorraine Clay: Braunstone Sure Start: Awareness Campaign

Risks of E Cigarettes, Burn and Scald risk hair straighteners and of NHS advice on items such as plug socket covers: £500

5. (1707)   Claire Nutting: Streetvibe Young people’s Centre

£5,000

6. (0015)   Adrian Alexander: Western Park Festival

£3,500 (Each) Jointly with Western Park and New Parks

The Neighbourhood Development Manager will present the applications and provide an update on the Ward Community Budget.

Noted that the following grant applications had been approved by Councillors under the fast-track procedure (grants of £500 or less) since the last meeting:-

Application 1702 for grant of £500. Mandy Sheppard – Essensual Rejuvenation.  Young people’s fun sport and fitness. £500 approved

Application 1703 for a grant of £475. Paul Trunkfield – Braunstone Community Media. Purchase of a wireless microphone.  £475 approved.

Application 1704 for a grant of £500. Dan Hewins: Leicester City Table Tennis Development group.  £500 approved.

Application 1706 for a grant of £500. Kim Harris/ Lorraine Clay: Braunstone Sure Start: Awareness Campaign.  Risks of E Cigarettes, Burn and Scald risk hair straighteners and of NHS advice on items such as plug socket covers. £500 approved

Application 1709 for a grant of £600. Childcare and Early Learning – Leicester City Council.  Trip to Twycross Zoo for vulnerable children and families.  £500 approved.

Applications considered at the meeting:-

Application 1701 for a grant of £1,697.50.  Tom Campbell Fulhurst Community College City Farm.  Cost of materials for livestock areas.  Joint bid with Westcotes Ward for £1,697.50 – total cost of £3,395) £1,697.50 approved.

Application 1705 for a grant of £3,812.87.  Anne Short – Braunstone Foundation B Connected.  Website development work.  Consideration of grant deferred until next financial year.

Application 1707 for a grant of £5,000.  Claire Nutting: Streetvibe Young people’s Centre.  Consideration of grant deferred until next financial year.

Application 1708 for a grant of £950.  Angels and Monsters. Workshops in hair and beauty and practical parenting for young people.  £950 approved

Application 1710 for a grant of £1,000.  Ruth Wragg, KT Performing Arts.  Flooring mats and storage.  £1,000 approved.

Application 0015 for a grant of £3,500.  Adrian Alexander Western Park Festival.  Joint bid Western Park and New Parks – total estimated expenditure £15,900.  Application refused as there was no evidence provided of any local involvement.

Total Grants approved during the 2013/14 financial year (including those approved at the meeting) £17,234.30.  The remaining balance of £1,025.27 would be carried over to the next financial year.

A full schedule of grants approved during the year would be submitted at the next meeting and recipients of grants would be invited to attend future meetings to give feedback on how the grants were used.  

Public raised issues relating to bus services and these were noted for future action.

Braunstone Lane Bus Stop (near the post office and old vicarage) – requires a raised pavement to assist older people to get on/off buses.

Issues with services 51 and 19 had been raised through the Bus Users Panel.

The Bus Stop on Woodshawe Rise was being vandalised and public asked if it could be removed.

Councillor Cooke reported that future meetings would be held a 5pm on the following dates, venues to be confirmed:-

Tuesday 10 June 2014

Tuesday 5 August 2014

Tuesday 14 October 2014

Tuesday 9 December 2014

Tuesday 17 February 2014

The meeting closed at 7.05 pm.