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 Cutkelvin in the Chair.

Everyone welcomed and introductions given.

No declarations of interest were made.

Apologies were received from Chris Garner, Herbert and Sue Eppel, and Mr Tahil (Application No. JB5157).

The Chair informed those present that Mr Neil Gamble, local resident, had sadly passed away.

Attached for information is the Action Log from the last Saffron Ward community meeting.

Members asked the following to be noted as a matter arising from the Action Log of the previous meeting:

·         Page 2 – 3^rd point down – regular council surgeries – the surgery at St Andrew’s Hall, Jarrom Street, would be moved, as it used to cross over with a community group who will no longer be meeting at that time. Councillors would be looking for a location towards the city centre, and were happy to take suggestions.

The Action Log was agreed as a correct record.

Councillors will provide an update on ward information.

Councillors reported the following:

·         Broken fences near to St Mary’s Road were reported and will be repaired.

·         Piles of litter in a front garden of a half-way house on Knighton Fields Road West were reported to the City Warden, and have since been removed following contact with the prison service.

·         Councillors reported a complaint to Highways regarding potholes on The Fairway – the stretch of road had since been resurfaced.

·         Options for bike storage in Neston Gardens has been partially solved – one option being looked into was using old drying rooms.

·         It was confirmed that Welford Road Police Station had closed. A discussion on what the police were doing in terms of community engagement would be helpful for residents. The building would probably receive a planning application for an education or community involvement premises.

·         The Council’s customer service was moving from Saffron Lane to the Pork Pie Library. A citywide exercise to train frontline staff would be undertaken through the Transforming Neighbourhood Services review. There were some issues around the provision of service to tenants, for example, submission of forms (one courier a day only) Blue Badge and bus pass applications, and no face-to-face service. It was acknowledged that the council was driven by the need to save money, but issues raised would be taken by Councillors back to the Neighbourhood Services and Community Involvement Scrutiny Commission.

·         The issue of grass verge parking on Jarrom Street looked to have been resolved.

·         The pantomime event had been a success following hard work from members of the board, and had made £80+ profit. The next pantomime would be held on November 28^th 2016 at Saffron Working Men’s Club.

·         The Christmas Fete was also a reported success with over 400 children through the door. The next one would be held on 9^th December 2016.

·         Emails to sort out the Saffron Summer Fete would be sent shortly.

Highways Officers will provide an update on highways and transport issues within the Ward.

Martin Fletcher (Head of Highways) and Ed Kocik (Team Leader, Traffic Operations) were present from the Council, and reported the following:

·         Saffron Lane – resurfacing would continue during the summer months. The stretch of road at the Knighton Lane East junction had been resurfaced to improve skid resistance and lines had been remarked. The Road Safety Team were looking at putting a Vehicle Activated sign on Saffron Lane to help highlight the junction to drivers.

·         There was no pattern to the different sorts of accidents at the junction, and it was believed some were due to bad driving and impatient drivers.

·         20 miles per hour limits and some traffic calming features would be installed on Bloomfield Road, Copinger Road, Heathcott Road, Cheviot Road and others in the area, as part of an ongoing programme across the city over the next 7-8 years, following consultation feedback of people in favour of the programme.

·         Grace Road – 2-3 traffic surveys were planned around the cricket ground due to parking problems for residents during cricket matches and football match days. Issues also affected Aylestone Ward. Surveys would take place on 20:20 match days, and the home football game against West Ham. Improvements would also be looked at around the Leicester Royal Infirmary.

·         Flood warnings had been issued in part of the ward in reference to Greenhithe Road, Boundary Road and Hughenden Drive. Residents were encouraged to sign up to receive a 2-hour phone call warning from the Environment Agency of potential flooding. Residents were advised to ensure they had adequate contents insurance to cover flooding, and to include the Floodline number on local leaflets.

The Chair noted it was hoped a cycle lane would be installed along Saffron Lane.

The Chair thanked the officers and their staff for their work, and the information and support they provided to Ward Councillors when dealing with ward issues.

A Housing update will be provided on any housing work being carried out within the ward.

Ian Stapleton (Area Manager, Housing) reported on the following:

·         Housing had worked with Highways, and The Fairway and Helmesley Road had received some verge hardening towards Saffron Lane, funded by the Housing Division. Other areas, including Goldhill would be visited in the next financial year. Parking improvements have assisted grounds maintenance improvement.

·         Parking on St Andrews would be looked at as a future piece of work.

·         Housing had worked with ASRA and had been able to develop some housing. 2016 should see the completion of approximately 68 mixed bedroom dwellings on Heathcote Road, with the first ones hopefully being occupied September/ October time. It will be confirmed if all 68 properties are for people on the LCC housing register.

·         Following consultation with residents, bike racks had been installed in Neston Gardens, in the old drying rooms. There would be zero tolerance to storage arrangements other than bikes, including mobility scooters which were deemed by the Fire Service to be a fire hazard. It was noted as an issue in some sheltered housing, and Cromwell House had external sheds.

·         Play equipment for the pocket park, Neston Gardens had been purchased, and was awaiting Parks Service to install.

·         Transforming Neighbourhood Services was looking at buildings and how to staff them. Known as ‘Channel Shift’ the idea looked at how expensive it was to have someone sat at a desk, on phones, or online.

·         The current Housing review would see the number of housing managers reduced from six to three. The number of Housing offices would also be reduced, whilst ensuring that those most vulnerable still received a service.

·         A derelict property at the side of a housing office had planning to convert it to apartments.

·         A reduction in frontline staff should not affect Housing Repairs, which had been restructured and improved.

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

PC Michael Thomas and SPC Charlotte Parry were present and the following update on police issues was given based on the old police boundaries (Freeman Ward):

·         Police were now based at Wigston Police Station, and covered the previous Freemen Ward area. Contact details could be found on the Police’s website. The station was open Monday to Saturday 10.00am – 6.00pm, Closed all day Sunday. Mansfield House officers covered the new part of Saffron Ward near to Leicester Royal Infirmary, and the station was open 7 days a week. Euston Street station was not open to members of the public, and was just an operation base.

·         The following police surgeries were planned:

9^th April. Aylestone Leisure Centre, 12 noon – 2.00pm

21^st April, Saffron Lane Stadium, 6.00pm – 8.00pm

·         Statistics for incidents in the ward for the period of 90 days up to 22/03/16:

o  6 burglaries of dwellings;10 burglaries other than dwellings (sheds/garages);

o  8 theft of motor vehicles;

o  16 theft from motor vehicles;

o  9 criminal damage - Figures were similar to last year;

o  61 anti-social behaviour incidents – an increase to the previous year for the same period.

o  There were problems around the Heathcote Road Area and Neston Gardens – a group of youngsters that did not want to engage with partner agencies or the police. There had been some arrests and people brought in and charged for damages.

·         Problems with fights near local schools had been resolved.

·         The problem solving plan (PSP) for Marriott Road would be closed and the focus shift to Heathcote Road.

·         The police, working with King Power Stadium, were hoping to set up a community champions project towards the end of April 2016 with money secured, to education children at the stadium and work to reduce anti-social behaviour. Following success of the project in Highfields, the end goal would be to use some of the Highfields youngsters to do the coaching.

·         The Chief Constable was trying to protect police from cuts, and beat police had been asked to look at what was cost effective. It was acknowledged that residents engaged with the police through residents meetings, but there would be a reduction in police attendance, though the Joint Action Group (JAG) meetings would remain, and social media would be used to target a geographical area.

The local City Warden will be present to provide an update on any environmental issues within the Saffron Ward.

Noel Cazley, City Warden, reported the following issues:

·         Fly tipping remained an issue – a hand delivered fly-tip letter had been delivered to residents in St Andrews to remind them of the Waste Management collection service.

·         In the process of tackling bins on streets. Checks on properties on Jarrom Street were in progress.

·         Households with messy gardens haven been contact. It was taking time to take legal action against residents who were not complying.

·         Issues with Japanese knotweed in St Andrews. The plants could only be injected during the growing season in April.

·         Graffiti on Hughenden Drive should be cleared over the next few days.

·         Complaints regarding dog fouling went straight to Parks Services – parks wardens were authorised to issues tickets. Issues on Aylestone Park would be reported.

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

a)    An update will be given on the Ward Community budget; and

b)    A list of grant applications submitted for consideration at this meeting is attached.

It was the last meeting of the financial year. Only bids of £500 or less would be received and fast tracked if approved before April.

Residents were asked to approve in principal any bid for budget underspend from Parks or of a similar nature, but ring-fence the money to be spent in Saffron Ward, for example, play equipment. 10% of underspend could be carried forward.

The following funding applications had been agreed:

Project: Mini-bus purchase

Applicant: Forwarding Faith Ministry

Amount Requested: £2,000

Councillors indicated they were not quite clear how the project would benefit local residents.

Agreed: that the application be DEFERRED pending a visit to the organisation.

Project: Community fun day

Applicant: Saffron Young people’s Project

Amount Requested: £750

Attendees and Councillors indicated that they were in support of this funding application.

Agreed: that the application be SUPPORTED in full to the value of £750

Project: Sessions for disabled children and young people

Applicant: Leicester Disabled Action Group

Amount Requested: £750

Attendees and Councillors indicated that they were in support of this funding application.

Agreed: that the application be SUPPORTED in full to the value of £750

Project: Saffron & friends Christmas event – Kingfisher Youth Centre

Applicant: Community Management Board

Amount Requested: £1,200

Attendees and Councillors indicated that they were in support of this funding application.

Agreed: that the application be SUPPORTED in full to the value of £1,200

Project: New equipment

Applicant: Leicester Fencing Club

Amount Requested: £2,925.76

Councillor Cutkelvin made a declaration of interest, that her nephew attended the club, but would not affect her decision.

Councillors indicated they were minded to approve a lesser amount other than that requested.

The applicant was informed there might be other funding opportunities for equipment and would be approached by officers following the meeting.

Agreed: that the application be SUPPORTED IN PART to the value of £500

Project: Raised flower beds

Applicant: Goldhill Play Association

Amount Requested: £479.20

Councillors indicated they were minded to approve a lesser amount other than that requested.

Agreed: that the application be SUPPORTED in full to the value of £479.20

Project: Ndi Igbo Leicestershire Children’s  Day Trip to the Seaside

Applicant: Nigerian Community Association

Amount Requested: £600

Attendees and Councillors indicated that they were in support of this funding application.

Agreed: that the application be SUPPORTED in full to the value of £600

The meeting was informed a bid was awaited from the Saffron Community Management Board for a Christmas pantomime – amount requested £625.

Agreed: that the bid once received would be SUPPORTED in full to the value of £625.

The balance remaining if all bids above were received was £6,112.13

After 31^st March, paper applications will no longer be accepted and must be completed online – Community Engagement Officers to offer assistance to complete them online. Officers will also find out if forms could be completed over the phone, but there may be issues around submitting bank account details that require approval.

The meeting closed at 8.35pm.