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 Unsworth, Chair, welcomed all those present to the Western Ward Community Meeting.

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

The Chair stated that there had been issues of anti-social behaviour in the ward, but recently there had been a considerable improvement. This issue would be covered by the Police during their update later on in the meeting.

The meeting was asked to note the following:

There had been a fantastic event in the Western Park in the summer, with an attendance of up to 10,000 people.

The New Parks Extravaganza had been very successful and children had enjoyed themselves.

Councillor Barton had been working to bring the old Western Park School building back into use and had raised this issue with the City Mayor and Councillor Adam Clarke, the Heritage Champion.

In response to questions about the ECO House, the meeting heard that there had been a potential purchaser, but the sale had fallen through. Concerns were expressed about vandalism at the site. The Chair responded that vandalism and anti-social behaviour were difficult problems to address there because the building was on a very large area of land with easy access.

Councillor Cole reported that concerns had been raised in relation to anti-social behaviour in Comet Close / Sampson Close. He was aware that there were difficulties there for residents and efforts were being made to address the issues, but that work involved a number of different agencies including Health services and the Police.  Concerns were raised from attendees that anti-social behaviour was a general problem in New Parks, including at St Clements Court.

Councillors responded that they were aware of problems in St Clements Court and had taken up the issues with relevant officers.

The meeting will receive an update on road works in the ward.

John Dowson from the Leicester City Council Transport Strategy team gave an update on the Leicester Northwest highways and transport project between the county and city which aimed to improve road networks along the A50 corridor, towards the A47 and the A6 and roads around the western by-pass and outer ring road.

The first phase of works had commenced in July and had impacted on the area around the Glenfield Hospital, New Parks Way and Groby Road. The road works were being carried out in response to significant growth and employment opportunities that were anticipated in the area over the next few years. Increased traffic was expected and the highway improvements would also make the roads safer.

Joanne Plews, Public Liaison Officer from Eurovia, the company which was carrying out the roadworks was then introduced to the meeting. Joanne stated that the company was aware of the impact on the community and she was there to try to ease that impact on residents. Joanne held four drop- in sessions per week and was trying to find key areas where she would be accessible for members of the public. Amongst other venues, Joanne used Glenfield Library, Leicestershire County Council foyer and New Parks Library. Information about the road works was displayed on notice boards around the area and Joanne asked people to contact her with any queries or concerns they may have.

It was also Eurovia’s practice to put something back into the community and the company had already helped with a number of projects, including a garden a New College. Joanne welcomed ideas for new projects that Eurovia might be able to help with and asked people to contact her with suggestions.

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

Attendees at the community meeting were asked to note an update from the Police as follows:

·         The main issue had been anti-social behaviour; this concern had been raised earlier in the meeting.

·         St Clements Court in Comet Close was a big concern but the criminality there was being dealt with and arrests had been made.

·         There had been an issue with the theft of motorcycles, particularly in Western Park and Beaumont Leys.  91 motorcycles had been recovered since February this year, some of which had been burnt out. There had been numerous prosecutions. The Police were thanked for the work on this problem,

·         A consultation would be starting on 24 September around Sampson Close, and other areas would follow. Members of the public were invited to suggest streets for future consultations.

·         There had been an increase in the number of house burglaries. People were asked to think about house security, and as the darker evenings were approaching, to switch lights on before going out.

Councillors thanked the Police for work they were doing, particularly in relation to anti-social behaviour.

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

Caroline Walsh, the City Warden explained that she was being seconded from October and that Richard Sutton would be taking over as City Warden in the Western Ward.

The Chair raised concerns about fly tipping, and said that as soon as an area was cleared, more rubbish appeared. There was a cost to the council for rubbish clearance and attendees were asked to think about reporting people who they knew to be fly tipping. People however were asked not to challenge the culprits in anyway.

Residents were encouraged to continue reporting concerns with the Warden Service or their Councillor at the Councillor surgeries held in the ward or on the Love Leicester app.

There will be an update on local housing issues.

The meeting received a housing update from Marie Murray, Area Housing Manager for the Western, Fosse and Westcotes Wards.

Marie talked about the achievements for 2014-15, which included the investment of £400,000 on projects in the three wards. These included improved car parking spaces and landscaping projects.  £3m had also been spent on capital works to council housing stock.

Projects for 2015-16 also included improvements to provide car parking as well as landscaping.  £300,000 had been set aside for improvements to the flats on Aikman Avenue.

Further expenditure was also currently being considered for 2016-17 and people were encouraged to contact Marie if they had ideas for new projects.

Marie concluded her presentation by stating that during last year and the current financial year, the Council were looking to spend £6m on council housing in the area.

Marie was thanked for the work being undertaken on housing in the area.

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

An update will be given on the Ward Community Meeting Budget.

Funding Applications to be considered at the meeting

The Klick: African Caribbean Carnival.

£500 has been requested to enable young people’s involvement in the annual festival. This took place on 1 August 2015 and funding was requested to make costumes and cover costs for the preparation for this event. 

Woodgate’s Residents’ Association: Music Development Programme

£500 has been requested for the Youth Development Programme which is held at the Woodgate’s Resource Centre. This teaches children various musical instruments including guitar, keyboard, violin, flute, clarinet, drums as well as singing.

Brian Hookway: Soccer School

£1000 has been requested for soccer training for young people aged 5-14 years for 16 hours a week over the school holidays in October and December.

Braunstone Frith Tenants and Residents Association: Christmas Meal

£500 has been requested for a Christmas Meal for people isolated by age and / or disability. There will be 50 spaces available for the event which is due to take place on the first Monday in December.

Councillors were reminded that under the Council’s Code of Conduct, they should declare any interest they had in the budget applications.  No such declarations were made.

The following funding applications were considered:

The Klick: African Caribbean Carnival.

£500 had been requested to enable young people’s involvement in the annual festival. This took place on 1 August 2015 and funding was requested to make costumes and cover costs for the preparation for this event. 

Funding application supported in full to the value of £500. 

Woodgate’s Residents’ Association: Music Development Programme

£500 has been requested for the Youth Development Programme, held at the Woodgate’s Resource Centre. This programme taught children various musical instruments including guitar, keyboard, violin, flute, clarinet, drums as well as singing.

Funding application supported in full to the value of £500. 

Brian Hookway: Soccer School

£1000 had been requested for soccer training for young people aged 5-14 years for 16 hours a week over the school holidays in October and December.

Funding application supported in full to the value of £1000

Braunstone Frith Tenants and Residents Association: Christmas Meal

£500 had been requested for a Christmas Meal for people isolated by age and / or disability. 50 spaces would be made available for the event which was due to take place on the first Monday in December.

Funding application supported in full to the value of £500. 

Action: the Community Engagement Officer to process the above funding applications.

Pedestrian Crossing

Concerns were expressed relating to a pedestrian crossing on Liberty Road. The crossing was not a pelican crossing with lights and was deemed to be dangerous. It was reported that people had been knocked down by speeding traffic there.

The Chair commented that the ward funding had been used to invest in a radar gun for use to deter speeding motorists, and he questioned whether this should be put to use there. After some discussion, it was agreed that the best way forward would be to start a petition. The Neighbourhood Development Manager agreed to progress this further.

Councillor Surgeries

Members of the community were asked to note the details of their surgeries as follows:

1^st Friday of the month at New Parks Customer Service Centre, Aikman Avenue, between 3- 4 pm

2^nd Wednesday of the month at St Anne’s Church Hall, Letchworth Road between 7.00 – 8.00 pm

3^rd Saturday of the month at Braunstone Frith Recreation Centre, Sharman Crescent between 11.00am – 12.00 pm.

The meeting closed at 8.55 pm.