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.

Councillors were asked whether they had any declarations of interest in respect of the items on the agenda.

Councillor Cole declared that in respect of the ward community meeting budget, he had an interest in the Phoenix Agenda, an organisation that had submitted a funding application and as such he would not participate in the consideration of that application.

The Action Log from the meeting held on 23 September 2015 is attached for information and discussion.

The action log of the Western Ward Community Meeting held on 23 September 2015 was agreed as a correct record.

Hetha Copland, the Neighbourhood Development Manager will provide an update on the Transforming Neighbourhood Services programme which is expanding to the North West area of the city.

Members of the public were asked to note an update from Hetha Copland, Neighbourhood Development Manager on the Transforming Neighbourhood Services programme. Hetha’s presentation included the following points:

·         The programme looked at how local city council buildings, such as libraries, community centres etc were used and could be used in the future as very significant savings could be made by maximising the use of buildings.

·         As part of the programme there had been consultations with local groups and service users. No decisions had been taken yet and there would be further consultation over the next six to nine months.

·         Information would be available on the council’s website and in community buildings.

Councillor Cole added that it had been suggested to the City Mayor, that it would be very helpful if any money saved from the programme could be used to provide some provision in the area of the Western ward where there was none.

Joanne Plews from Eurovia will be present to provide an update on roadworks in the ward.

Attendees were asked to note an update from Joanne Plews on the Eurovia roadworks. The points made by Joanne included the following:

·         Eurovia were currently working on three highways projects in Leicester. These were the A50 corridor, the A563 along New Parks Way and the Aikman Avenue junction.

·         Eurovia were aware of the significant impact that the road works were having on residents and wanted to help us much as possible with any queries. Joanne therefore held three drop in sessions per week, to provide information and answer queries from residents. 

·         Joanne’s contact details were on each of the sites and there were weekly updates to keep people informed on what was happening.

·         Eurovia were keen to help and participate in community projects. Residents were asked to talk to Joanne if they knew of any community group that needed assistance.

·         It was anticipated that all the road works would be completed by the end of May 2016. 

The meeting will receive an update on the Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service

There was no representative from the Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service present at the meeting, but Councillor Barton provided an update on the current situation with the budgetary issues.

Attendees were asked to note that:

·         Proposals were put forward last year to save money in the Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service; one proposal was to cut one fire engine (at Western).

·         Since then, it was considered that this would not result in sufficient savings and a new proposal was put forward to close the Central Fire Station as well as cut the fire engine at Western.

·         Councillors at the Leicester City Council and the City Mayor were not convinced that this would be a safe strategy. It was however a Fire Authority decision and the city council would need the support of people in the county.

·         The financial management of the fire service was contracted to the city council and the city councillors and finance officers were looking to put forward a new budget which would not necessitate the close of the central fire station.

Attendees expressed their concern at the possibility of the closure of the central fire station, particularly in view of the fact that there were there were hospitals, two football grounds and two universities in the city. Councillors asked residents to write to express their concerns to the Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service.

There will be an update on local housing issues.

No officers from Housing were present at the meeting and therefore there was no update on housing issues.

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

Attendees were asked to note an update from PCSO Sally-Ann Morgan. This included the following points:

·         There were parking problems at the start and end of the school day at Christ the King Roman Catholic and Dovelands Primary schools. The Police were trying to work with parents and guardians to encourage more responsible parking.

·         Residents were asked to be vigilant about home security, particularly during the Christmas season.

Police in the New Parks area had worked to improve problems at St Clements Court and Comet Close. The situation was better but was not fully resolved.  Councillor Cole commented that residents had complained to him about noise nuisance and rubbish. Richard Sutton, the City Warden asked for further information about those complaints so that he and the Anti-Social Behaviour Unit could investigate. Councillors asked to be updated on the situation. Action: City Wardens.

There will be a discussion item relating to traffic issues on Letchworth Road.

Robert Bateman, Transport Strategy explained that he had been invited to attend because of traffic problems around Letchworth Road.  He had visited the area and observed that traffic had been particularly frenetic at the start and end of the school day. He had also observed incidences of illegal parking.

It was noted that the Christ the King Roman Catholic Primary School annex had recently opened on Glenfield Road near to Letchworth Road. It was argued that previous accident data which had showed just one minor incident during 2010 – 2014, was no longer relevant.

Robert had noticed that there was a pavilion like structure near to Christ the King, which parents used as a car park; it provided off road parking but also resulted in numerous entry and exit movements on a busy road.  Councillors asked for information as to who owned the pavilion. Action: Robert Bateman, Transport Strategy.

Strong concerns were raised that the traffic situation around the Letchworth Road / Glenfield Road junction was chaotic and further exacerbated by motorists parking on the central reservation.

Richard Sutton, the City Warden will give an update on issues in the Western Ward.

Attendees were asked to note an update from Richard Sutton, City Warden. Richard explained that he and fellow warden Alexander Kazmierz covered the Western, Fosse and Westcotes wards. Richard circulated a leaflet to attendees who were asked to contact the wardens if they wished to report environmental related issues.

The city wardens could be contacted on 0116 454 1001 or by email on city.warden@leicester.gov.uk

Councillors asked the city wardens for a map showing where the ‘grot spots’ were located in the ward, so that they could see the main areas where the dumping of rubbish was an issue.  Action: Richard Sutton and Alexander Kazmierz (City Wardens).

Hetha Copland, Neighbourhood Development Manager will provide details on the different community activities that are available in Western Ward,

Hetha Copland explained that due to budgetary cuts, she and the Community Engagement Officer, Mitun Dabhelia would no longer be attending community meetings in the Western ward. A different officer would be dealing with the community meeting budget. Hetha added that regretfully it would not be possible to carry out the same sort of community engagement that had taken place over the last few years.

There were a variety of activities taking place in the ward, such as in community centres and libraries. People could contact the centres or libraries to find out more, but in addition there would be a newsletter for all residents in the ward. Anyone who wished to be involved in the newsletter or add an item to the newsletter was asked to talk to Hetha.

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

Project Name: Plot to Plot – Funding requestedto create a community orchard and fruit farm.

Submitted by: New Parks Community Panel

Amount requested: £1200

Project Name: Christmas Extravaganzas – Funding requested for an Alice in Wonderland Fun Run and Tea Dance at Abbey Park. (Joint Bid)

Submitted by: GLAD and Community Wellness Service

Amount requested: £500

Project Name: Christmas Extravaganzas – Funding requestedto hold community workshops to develop a Christmas grotto which will be a resource for future years.(Joint Bid)

Submitted by: GLAD and Community Wellness Service

Amount requested: £500

Project Name: Celebrating Academic Success – Funding requested to celebrate the success of Key Stage 4 African Heritage students.

Submitted by: Phoenix Agenda (Joint Bid)

Amount requested: £400

The following funding applications had been fast tracked for payment prior to the meeting:

Project Name: Christmas Extravaganza (joint bid) -  Alice in Wonderland Fun Run and Tea Dance at Abbey Park

Submitted by GLAD and Community Wellness Service

Amount requested and supported: £500

Project Name: Christmas Extravaganza (joint bid) – Community workshops to develop a Christmas grotto.

Submitted by GLAD and Community Wellness Service

Amount requested and supported: £500

The following applications were considered during the meeting:

Project Name: Plot to Plot

Submitted by the New Parks Community Panel

Amount requested: £1200

Funding application supported in full to the value of £1200

Project Name: Celebrating Academic Success (joint bid)- to celebrate the success of Key Stage 4 African Heritage students.

Submitted by Phoenix Agenda

Amount requested: £400

Funding application supported in full to the value of £400.

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

Late funding application:

Project Name: Western Park Festival

Submitted by: The Friends of Western Park

Amount requested: £5000

Adrian Alexander, Chair of the Friends of Western Park presented the funding application. Councillors explained that the bid would need to be looked at in detail as it had just been submitted, but noted that support for the bid was expressed by those present. 

Action: For the Community Engagement Officer to process the above application for the councillors to consider in more detail.

A concern was raised about motorists who parked their vehicles on grass verges, particularly on Wyngate Drive.  Councillors responded that it would be difficult to take action where the vehicles were not causing an obstruction.

A query was raised as to whether the council were proactive in encouraging recycling as fewer people appeared to be putting out their orange bags. The Chair explained that it was not possible to persuade everyone to recycle although the vast majority of people did take this issue seriously.

The meeting closed at 9.15 pm.