Agenda and minutes

Councillors will elect a Chair for the meeting.

The Chair will introduce those present and make any necessary announcements.

The Chair and any other Councillors who are present will make any declarations of interest as required by the Councillors’ Code of Conduct.

Councillor Halford, elected as Chair, welcomed everyone and led introductions.

There were no declarations of interest.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Corrall.

The Action Log for the last meeting, held on 23 March, is attached for information and discussion.

The Action Log from the meeting held on 23 March 2017 was circulated and confirmed as a correct record.

Ward Councillors will provide an update on local ward issues

Councillor Halford noted the issue with motorcycles being driven on/ in Braunstone Park which had been affecting other park users. Collaboration between the Police and the Council were being looked into to deal with the issue and also solutions to block some of the parks many entrances.

Councillor Singh-Johal noted that he had been dealing with an issue where a car recently had thinners thrown over it whereby he had spoken to and re-assured the owners.

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

PC Anton Wilson from Leicestershire Police was present at the meeting and provided the following update:

Crime Statistics within the past three months

·         In regards to the theft of motor vehicles statistics, Police had found a young group of children possibly associated with the problem. Social services were also reported to be working on this case which could possibly see one family removed from off the estate.

·         Motorcycles on park issue – PC Wilson reported that high powered off road bikes were being used. The Police were trying to identify perpetrators from certain video footage. Two bikes had also been recovered.

·         The Police and Councillors agreed to have a walk around parts of the Ward to show efforts regarding the motorbikes issue.

·         Residents were requested to report any issues by ringing 101. In addition, residents were advised to lock doors and have security lights to deter burglars. In emergencies residents should call 999.

Residents had the following concerns:

·         Motorbikes reported to be racing down Collingham Road and Hockley Farm Road.

·         Specific burglary areas were queried. PC Wilson noted that this was organised crime whereby a core group were targeting vulnerable elderly people, no specific area. Work was being done to deal with this group.

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

Matt Davinson - City Warden for the Ward attended the meeting and provided and update on activities the City Warden had been involved in, in the Ward.

·         The City Wardens and Handyperson service would be present at the Raven Road garages tomorrow fixing gates.

·         Matt noted that following complaints of untidy land, he had been approaching landlords and owners.

Residents’ concerns:

·         Hockley Farm Road either side of Sandyhurst which was reported to be Council housing land required the vegetation cutting back. Punum Patel - Ward Community Engagement Officer (WCEO) would inform the housing team.

·         A dangerous bay window was reported on 71 Mountcastle Road towards the garages on Lambert.

·         The City Warden requested residents to report fly tipping information and download the Love Leicester application.

·         Councillor Halford reported that Compton Road had issues of not using the bulky items collection service. The City Warden would be attending that area tomorrow to look into this.

·         Councillor Halford mentioned that the recycling bins at Avery Hill were often used as a barrier to hide fly-tipping behind. Matt informed the meeting this had been identified as a problem and cameras had now been installed outside of the PDSA PetAid Hospital Heyford Rd.

·         4 + 6 Dumbleton Avenue – a car was reported to have been parked outside of the house which was said to have been there for several years and another vehicle had now appeared.

·         Between 2 & 4 Dumbleton Avenue – Rubbish had been frequently dumped and was reported to be very untidy with skips and rubbish surrounding them.

·         Matt noted that he would look into all of the residents’ concerns above.

·         Curry Palace (Former Chilli Peppers restaurant) was reported to have items dumped in the back parking area regularly. The City Warden noted that this area had been cleared recently but would check again.

Highways Officers will be at the meeting to provide an update on highways issues in the Ward. 

There was no Highways update at the meeting; however, residents expressed concerns for the following issues to be taken back to the Highways team:

·         The state of the pavements at 22 Alvaston Road and 11, 13, 17, 19 Rowley Fields Avenue were said to be cracked due to skips and lorries. The WCEO would pass this onto Highways.

·         Collingham Road, Meredith Road, Hand Avenue and Rowley Fields Avenue – concerns with the recent road resurfacing works done by Highways. Residents and Councillors would keep a visual on these roads to determine whether further works were required.

Applicants who have previously received ward funding have been asked to provide feedback in relation to their grants.

Some applicants who had previously received funding from the Ward Community Budget were in attendance and provided the following feedback:

·         Angie Wright representative from Braunstone Foundation gave feedback on the ‘Dig It’ growing food project and Braunstone carnival which was supported through ward funding. The project was able to support Braunstone food share programme with their vegetables and seasonal salads. Cooking sessions, food packs, demonstrations and recipes were all produced as well as successful food crops. A 1950’s tea dance took place in conjunction with Braunstone Blues whereby over 75 people attended and food was provided by the ‘Dig It’ project. They would be hoping to do an afternoon tea party at the end of August.

·         The second award was for Braunstone Community Carnival which had stalls, acts, a portable boxing ring, lots of entertainment and over 2,500 people in attendance including the Lord Mayor. It was noted that flyers were produced with the funds from the Ward Community Budget, first aid kit and hiring the stage.

·         Email addresses would be exchanged between the Dig it - growing project and Braunstone Park and Rowley Fields allotments group for future communications.

·         Robert Butcher representative from Sandyhurst Gardens informed the meeting about a project that supported Sandyhurst Housing on Hockley Farm Road. The grant received from the Ward Community Budget was used to transform the outdoor communal area/ garden into a rear patio by cleaning & re-cementing slabs, adding fencing and purchasing furniture which was reported to now be well appreciated by residents.

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

An update will be given on the Ward Community Budget. A summary of grant applications submitted for consideration since the last meeting is attached.

Punum Patel – WCEO presented the following to the meeting on the Ward Community Budget:

·         Since the 2017/18 budget commenced, there had been eight applications which are detailed below, five had been supported and £17,150 remained.

Applications

Applicant: Forward In Faith – Cort Crescent

Project Name/ Summary: Refurbishing the kitchen at Cort Crescent Community Centre

Decision: Application not supported.

Applicant: The Monday Leicestershire Club

Project Name/ Summary: Barge Trip – Health and Wellbeing project

Decision: Applicant supported with grant of £200.

Applicant: Art of Relaxing – Art Group

Project Name/ Summary: Art of Relaxing – Art Group

Decision: Application not supported.

Applicant: Leicester Lo-fi Photography

Project Name/ Summary: Leicester Lo-fi New Community Darkroom Installation

Decision: Application supported with grant of £1,200.

Applicant: Polish Play and Learn

Project Name/ Summary: Spend your Time After School ‘active’

Decision: Application supported with grant of £120.

Applicant – Polish Play and Learn

Project Name/ Summary – Play and Learn

Decision – Application supported with grant of £250.

Applicant – Ndi Igbo Leicestershire

Project Name/ Summary – Iri Ji or New Yam

Decision – Application not supported.

Applicant – Leicester Ivorian Association

Project Name – Celebrating the Cameroon National Day

Decision – Application supported with grant of £200.

To note that further meetings will be held at 5.30 pm on the following dates:-

9 November 2017

15 March 2018

Venues for these meetings will be advised nearer the dates.

Dates of future meetings would be held at 5.30 pm on the following dates:-

·         9 November 2017

·         15 March 2018

Venues for these meetings would be advised nearer the dates.

·         It was requested that the leaflet advertising for the meeting could have the upcoming Ward dates and venues all on one flyer so that the information could be made available. In addition it was requested that the flyer be displayed in various places including centres in the ward.

·         The WCEO and the Democratic Support Officer informed the meeting of the current distribution status of which residents could become part of once contact details were received.

·         A resident requested that Councillors allow residents at Ward Meetings to introduce themselves. Councillor Halford confirmed that this was something that could be considered.

·         The number 51 bus was queried as it was reported that some residents were struggling without this bus service. Councillors noted that although communications with Councillors and the Arriva bus company had already taken place, it would be looked into to see what else could be done on this matter.

The Chair declared the meeting closed at 7:05pm.