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 as required by the Councillors’ Code of Conduct.

Councillor Thomas, Chair for the meeting welcomed those present and led introductions.

Councillor Thomas led everyone in a moment of reflection to mark the passing of former Councillor Culdip Singh Bhatti and Alderman Winston Nurse.

Declarations of Interest:

Councillor Chohan declared an Other Disclosable Interest in the business on the agenda as he was a Belgrave resident.

Councillor Sood declared an Other Disclosable Interest in the ward community budget, as all of the community meeting budgets fell within her portfolio as Assistant Mayor (Community Involvement). 

Councillor Thomas declared an Other Disclosable Interest in the ward community budget, as he was a supporter of the Sea Cadets, who’s venue was being used for this meeting and which had received funding in the past from the Belgrave Community budget.

Apologies were received from Sgt Leon Gamble.

The Action Log of the Belgrave community meeting held on 22^nd March 2016 is attached and Members will be asked to confirm it as an accurate record.

The action log of the Belgrave Community Meeting held on 22^nd March 2016 was agreed as an accurate record.

Matters Arising:

Item 27 Community Meeting Budget

Concerns were expressed that:

·       recipients of funding were not providing feedback to the next meeting,

·       the decision process on bids was not transparent,

·       the public were not involved at meetings in the funding decisions.

The Community Engagement Officer responded that the process had changed; there was no specific requirement for recipients to attend meetings to feedback although they could be invited to future meetings. The financial process was more robust with audit trails in place.

Councillor Thomas confirmed that grants would not be sanctioned for faith group events.

The Ward Community Engagement Officer will give a briefing on the Transforming Neighbourhoods Scheme.

The Community Engagement Officer informed the meeting that the council was currently reviewing the way it operated local services including community centres.

The Council would be working with local people and community organisations to look at the best way to deliver services in the future. Consultation on the options would be starting in August 2016 and residents were encouraged to complete a consultation response form which was available online.

Daxa Pancholi, Head of Community Safety will provide details of the Belgrave Secure Homes Scheme.

Daxa Pancholi outlined a presentation on the Belgrave Burglary Reduction Scheme and anti-social behaviour project (as attached).

Councillor Chohan referred to the increase in issues on Dorset Street since the removal of the CCTV.

Councillor Thomas referred to the safety features in the presentation and reminded those present that it was important to secure their properties to avoid becoming an easy target.

It was reported that £5000 for the project had been allocated from last year’s community ward budget and the Councillors offered full support to the Community Safety Team and Police with this project.

Discussion of the presentation included the following comments:

·       Incidents that were reported were not being acted upon quickly enough by the police.

·       Was Vicarage Lane the only hotspot? What was being done about other areas in the ward? Daxa replied that Vicarage Lane had been identified as the main hotspot in the area but that was not to say there were no other hotspot areas. There was also a city wide programme; however the presentation had focused on this particular project which had been identified for the area around Vicarage Lane.

·       Was funding being spread around? Councillor Thomas responded that there was constant criticism of funding in the City but a considerable amount of funding was being spent in outer areas including Belgrave Ward, e.g. homes being made fit for purpose with new kitchen and bathroom installations.

·       Was the project only for people on benefits and was it means tested? Daxa replied that this project was available to everyone living in the hotspot area and was not just for those on benefits.

Action – Residents asked that the Police and Crime Commissioner be invited to the next meeting to discuss crime levels in the Belgrave Ward and City.

The Chair thanked Daxa for the presentation.

An update on the proposals to redevelop Belgrave Road will be given.

Barry Pritchard, Group Manager provided an update on progress of the redevelopment of Belgrave Road which included the following points:

·       2 options had been presented, the first would retain 2 lanes of traffic, improve footways, reduce the number of traffic lights and keep crossing points, and the second would look to reduce Belgrave to one lane of traffic each way, widen pavements and improve the number of traffic lights.

·       A number of public consultation events had already taken place in the Belgrave Ward.

·       Plans of the 2 options were currently exhibited at the Cossington Street Library.

·       Public consultation was ongoing until 4^th August 2016 – it was hoped as many responses as possible would be received.

·       The results of the consultation would be compiled and a report submitted to the City Mayor in October 2016 when it was intended that a final decision would be made on the proposals.

During the course of discussion the following comments were made:

·       Ward councillors had met with the City Mayor and also attended the Economic Development, Transport & Tourism Scrutiny Commission at the invite of that Chair; they had put forward representations for the whole ward including the views of the people and businesses in the area that would be affected by the proposals.

·       The purpose of the consultation was to get people’s views on the proposals and everyone was urged to put forward their comments on the consultation as there were a lot of things that could be done to improve the Belgrave Road.

·       Concerns were raised that there was a concentration on improving Belgrave Road but surrounding areas needed investment to improve them too, e.g. exterior paintwork in St Marks had not been done for many years.

·       It was a concern that if a decision was made on the proposals to narrow the road to one lane of traffic each way then the area faced upto 2 years of road works.

·       Where would traffic be dispersed during the development works? The intention was that diverted traffic would use Abbey Lane once improvements had been completed there. Bus routes would continue to operate along Belgrave Road.

·       Had an impact assessment been carried out? This would be done as part of the development once an option had been decided upon. It was agreed that details of the impact assessment could be brought to a future meeting.

·       Concerns were raised that diverted traffic would impact on Catherine Street and Abbey Lane which both had a number of schools in those areas and extra traffic would increase risks to school children.

Barry Pritchard explained that the decision had not yet been made, this was a genuine consultation to get as wide a range of views as possible and comments made this evening would be taken back.

Councillor Thomas urged everyone to complete a consultation response form; hard copies were circulated at the meeting and could also be completed online at the council’s website.

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

Mohammed Patel, City Warden gave an update on issues in the Belgrave Ward and distributed information leaflets to those present.

·       Targeted patrols had taken place around Martin Street/Catherine Street in relation to bird feeding issues, some fixed penalty notices had been issued and there had been some reduction in bird feeding problems.

·       It had been arranged for the community payback team to tidy the area around the old Sainsbury’s site and Peepul Centre – shrubs had been cut back and paths cleared.

·       Flytipping on Ross Walk – it had been identified where most of the black bags were coming from and steps were in place to address that.

·       The police had been made aware of anti-social behaviour and street drinking around Ross Walk too.

Action: CW to report issue of bins/litter in Cossington Recreation Ground to Park Wardens service/

Action: CEO to invite Park Warden to attend next meeting.

Residents raised a number of concerns which included the following:

·       Overgrown trees on Dorset Street needed to be cut back – CW agreed to report to relevant team.

·       Bushes on Surrey Street, one side has been left overgrown and needs cutting back to reduce issues in area – CW agreed to refer to Parks service again.

·       Festivities on park (Abbey Meadows), large groups gathering with very loud noise, bbq’s, loud music and drums. Young cadets and local residents were intimidated walking along the footpath. Rubbish was being dumped attracting rats – CW agreed to conduct some targeted patrols and work with the local police to look at issuing fixed penalty notices.

Residents were encouraged to use the Love Leicester App to report issues or phone the City Warden service on 0116 4541001 as the City Warden service could only prioritise its work based on reports made.

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

Sgt Rich Lane gave an update on local police activities in the Ward, it was reported that the police were very visible in the ward and regular patrols were taking place.

An information leaflet on parking on pavements was circulated (attached).

The public were reminded that crime statistics could be found on the police website at www.police.uk.

Residents were reminded to keep their property secure, lock doors and windows especially at this time of year during hot weather when windows were often left open. The “cover up” campaign was also highlighted and encouraged people not to have high value jewellery on show in the street.

Everyone was encouraged to report any incidents using the 101 number or 999 if it was an emergency. Beat office numbers circulated previously still stood.

An information leaflet setting out Police events and consultation dates was circulated (as attached).

Residents requested that at the next meeting the police provide information on how to form a Neighbourhood Watch scheme.

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 together with a summary of grant applications submitted for consideration since the last meeting.

It was explained that decisions relating to the bids were the Councillors and would not be for discussion by the floor. The Councillors dealt with all bids in three tranches spread across the year at Ward Budget meetings outside of this meeting.

Residents requested that at the next Community meeting details of how to apply for funding and the criteria to be met be provided.

Residents also asked for more information on funding provided to faith groups and whether the funding criteria excluded children events that were part of those groups.

The Community Engagement Officer reminded residents that there was no specific requirement for recipients to attend meetings to give feedback, but she would invite those in receipt of funding to future meetings.

Further details of the funding process including the online application form were available at: http://www.leicester.gov.uk/your-council/decisions-meetings-and-minutes/community-meetings/

To note future meetings to be scheduled as follows:

·       Tuesday 8^th November 2016 at 6.30pm, at Belgrave Neighbourhood Centre, Rothley Street, Leicester.

·       Tuesday 14^th March 2017 at 6.30pm, venue to be confirmed.

To note future meetings will take place as follows:

·       Tuesday 8^th November 2016 at 6.30pm at the Belgrave Neighbourhood Centre, Rothley Street, Leicester.

·       Tuesday 14^th March 2017 at 6.30pm, venue to be confirmed.

There being no other business the meeting closed at 9pm.