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 Bajaj, elected as Chair, welcomed everyone and led introductions.

Apologies were received from Councillor Hunter, Helen Pettman – Evington Echo and Sam Larke – Leicester Ageing Together (LAT) project.

The Action Log of the Meeting held on 5 November 2015 is attached at Appendix A and Members are asked to confirm it as an accurate record. Any update on actions taken since the last meeting will be reported at the meeting.

Anita Clarke, the Community Engagement Officer (CEO) gave an update from Leicester Ageing Together (LAT) and informed the meeting that Sam Larke, a representative from the LAT project had requested a slot on the next Evington Ward Community Meeting agenda.

The Evington Ward Councillors will provide an update on the issues they have been dealing with in the Evington Ward.

Evington Ward Councillors gave feedback on issues they had been dealing with in the ward, since the last meeting. The following was discussed;

Councillor Bajaj:

·         The new bench had now been installed outside of the Evington Library.

·         The footpath on Grocot Road had now been refurbished.

·         It was noted that there would be a film/ video launch about British values on 16 March at the City Hall.

·         A launch would be taking place for Evington Heritage banners on 4 March outside the Cedars pub at 12pm.

Councillor Govind:

·         It was noted that the Police now had an office in Coleman Neighbourhood Centre (NC).

·         A job fair would be taking place on 9 March from 10am-4pm at Coleman NC.

·         There would be an open Police meeting taking place on 15 March for members of the public to be given information and ask questions in relation to Police matters. The venue was to be confirmed and Councillor Govind would inform anyone who provided contact details of the venue when it was confirmed.

·         It was noted that the CEO, Anita Clarke announced that football coaching events would be taking place at Coleman NC on Tuesday evenings for 12-19 years olds in response to ASB around that area.

Officers from the Local Policing Unit will be at the meeting to provide an update on Police issues in Evington Ward.

There was no local policing update as officers were not present at the meeting.

An Officer from the Community Safety Team will be present to provide an update on community safety issues in the Evington Ward.

Community Safety Officer, Shobhana Patel informed the meeting of the developments taking place in the Rowlatts Hill area/ Coleman NC estate area in regards to the ASB issues. The following was discussed:

·         Mobile CCTV had temporarily been installed around the back of Coleman NC near the ball court.

·         Several alley ways had been closed.

·         Leaflets had been delivered to residents with information and methods to report criminal activity.

·         The Community Safety Team were continuing to work with the Councillors and the Partnership Team to address the ASB issues in these area.

Residents/ Councillors concerns:

·         A resident suggested that youth provisions and activities were required in the area as well as an outreach worker.

·         It was noted that the Councillors were working towards improvements for youth in that area.

·         A representative from the new allotment project called ‘Grow and Thrive’ at Rowlatts Hill allotments reported that a new gardening polytunnel would be installed on 26 February and 4 March, commencing at 10am on both dates and requested young people to get involved.

·         A resident of Booth Close had concerns that the CCTV camera in that area was not working. Shobhana would look into this.

An update will be provided on a number of transport and highways issues in the Evington Ward.

There was no Highways Officer present and no report had been provided.

·         Councillor Govind informed the meeting of a patch walk which would take place on several streets in the ward. Some areas to be included would be Greenacre Drive and Goodwood Road to address a resident’s previous concerns where the double yellow lines had not been repainted.

·         Residents of a home off Coleman Road and Waterfield Close discussed parking issues outside their house and driveway, which was noted as being blocked by hospital users. Councillor Govind was aware of this issue and was looking into this.

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

Anita Clarke, the Community Engagement Officer (CEO) distributed printed material on works the City Warden had been involved in, within the Evington Ward.

Housing officers will be present to give a presentation on housing matters.

There was no Housing Officer present at the meeting. Following the community meeting a housing update was provided. The update is attached at the end of the action notes.

Residents’ concerns:

·         A resident with previous concerns that the shrubs had been ripped up at the back of Goodwood Road requested an update. The CEO agreed to look into this.

·         A resident requested a follow up regarding rain flooding in several flats on Ethel Road. The CEO was to take the residents details and agreed to look into this.

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

Jamal Abdulla, Chairman for the Coleman Evington Tenants and Residents Association reported that the Association would be holding an event on 20 February from 10am-4pm at Coleman NC.

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 will be discussed at the meeting.

Joint Bid: 5126

Applicant: Leicester City FC Community Trust

Project Name & Summary: Extension and expansion of the Premier League (PL) Kicks project to support anti-social behaviour issues in 3 wards.

Amount Requested: £1,500

Bid: 1579     

Applicant: Christina Herbert

Project Name & Summary: Winter Wonderland at Coleman NC.

Amount Requested: £350

Bid: 1586

Applicant: S. Sidat

Project Name & Summary: M. Hamidiya to provide supplementary Islamic education to local children.

Amount Requested: £2,000

Bid: 1587

Applicant: Mr Des Foster

Project Name & Summary: Christmas Lunch contribution.

Amount Requested: £150

Bid: 1599

Applicant: Evington Ward Councillors

Project Name & Summary: Replace bench outside Evington library.

Amount Requested: £500

Bid: 1624

Applicant: Friends of Evington

Project Name & Summary: Sitting and standing keep fit.

Amount Requested: £428.70

Bid: 1627

Applicant: Leicester City Council

Project Name & Summary: Improvement works to Evington Park.

Amount Requested: £1,758

Anita Clarke, the Community Engagement Officer (CEO) presented an update on the Ward Community Budget. The following items were considered at the meeting:

5126: Leicester City FC Community Trust requested £1,500 to support the extension and expansion of the Premier League (PL) Kicks project to support anti-social behaviour issues in 3 wards – grant of £1,500 approved in full.

1579: Christina Herbert requested £350 to hold Winter Wonderland at Coleman NC – grant of £350 approved in full.

1586: S. Sidat requested £2,000 for M. Hamidiya to provide supplementary Islamic education to local children – application not supported.

1587: Mr Des Foster applied for £150 towards a Christmas Lunch – grant of £150 approved in full.

1599: Evington Ward Councillors requested £500 to replace the bench outside Evington library – grant of £500 approved in full.

1624: Friends of Evington applied for £428.70 to support the sitting and standing keep fit group/ classes – grant of £428.70 approved in full

1627: Leicester City Council applied for £1,758 for improvement works to Evington Park – grant of £1,758 approved in full.

1642: Friends of Evington requested £1,850 to upgrade the community kitchen in Evington Park house – application not supported.

1643: Friends of Evington applied for £500 to start up a willow weaving project – grant of £500 approved in full.

1644: Evington in Bloom requested £480 to purchase materials for the summer and autumn Evington in bloom displays – grant of £480 approved in full.

1652: Jeetesh Chauhan requested £1,000 for the purchase of a defibrillator – grant of £1,000 approved in full.

1653: 7events – Jeetesh Chauhan requested £1,000 to hold a health & wellbeing festival – application not supported.

5148: Evington in Bloom applied for £300 to hold consultation meetings for expanding Evington in Bloom – application not supported.

5149: Greater Noakhali Shomiti UK applied for £1,000 to celebrate Bangladeshi Independence Day – application not supported.

1663: 7events – Jeetesh Chauhan requested £490 to arrange a Raas Garba evening – application not supported, as the event was not taking place in the Evington Ward.

1679: TCV applied for £1,300 for a ‘Grow and Thrive’ community allotment start-up – grant of £500 approved, with the understanding that the applicants could apply again.

1680: Coleman Residents Association requested £1,550 to hold an event – grant of £350 approved.

·         It was noted that Councillor Bajaj would talk to his Co-Councillors in regards to holding 4 meetings per year instead of 3.

·         The CEO informed the meeting that all successful ward funding applicants must complete an evaluation form with invoices attached.

·         From April 2016 the Council would only accept completed online ward budget applications.

·         The Chair requested the CEO to provide clarification on left over funding from the ward community budget.

·         Applicant Jeetesh Chauhan discussed his application request to purchase a defibrillator for the Downing Drive area of the ward.

·         Councillor Bajaj requested the CEO to contact Housing, Highways and Police Officers in regards to their absence at the meeting and no updates provided.

·         It was noted that applicant Jeetesh Chauhan/ 7 events were planning to hold a free health and wellbeing event at Evington Leisure Centre in April with several organisations in attendance.

·         Councillor Bajaj and several residents requested that applicants attend and be given a few minutes to inform the meeting about their application request and the activity they would be applying for.

·         A resident requested that issues such as Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), Domestic Violence and ASB to be discussed at the next meeting.

The meeting closed at 8.32pm.