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 Shelton, Chair for the meeting, welcomed everyone and led the introductions.

Apologies for absence were received from Ian Stapleton (LCC Housing) and Kevin Byron (LCC Housing), Ann and Alan Sturgess, Ann Anstey, Herbert & Sue Eppel and Angie Beale.

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

DSO to add a column to the Action Log to add the name of the person tasked with carrying out an action.

Point 21 – other venues for Councillor surgeries and community meetings would be looked into in the St Andrews area. Councillors said they were also willing to visit residents at home.

Point 23 – a commitment had been given from the Assistant Mayor that Saffron Lane was included on a programme for a cycle lane.

The Action Log from the previous meeting on 22 March 2016 was confirmed as a correct record.

Councillors will provide an update on ward information.

a)    The annual SAFTAS event at Saffron Working Men’s Club was reported.

b)    Councillors gave assistance with the clearing up of the site near the mural on Walnut Street

c)    The Saffron Fete would be held on Aylestone recreation ground, adjacent to Aylestone Leisure Centre, Saturday 20^th August, 11.00am to 4.00pm, with free entry.

d)    Suggested layouts of outdoor gym equipment for St Andrews playgroup park, were shown.  A request would be made for funding for the equipment.

e)    It would be useful to do a mapping of the area to find out what residents thoughts were their neighbourhoods, as communities were not restricted by ward boundaries.

f)     Neighbourhood Services and Community Involvement Scrutiny Commission would be looking at fly tipping citywide. Residents to feed back comments on their experiences of fly tipping to Ward Councillors.

g)    St Mary’s Allotment community green space – it was hoped that information from developers would be forthcoming over the summer with regards to the development of the site.

There will be an update on parking schemes within the St. Andrews area of the Ward and towards Raw Dykes Road.

·         Highways would install cycle racks requested through Local Environmental Works (LEW) between St Andrews Road and Duncan Road.

·         Pork Pie Library – a proposal for additional parking for disabled access was being considered. If approved, would be in place in approximately 6 months.

·         Bloomfield Road – 20mph speed humps. Approval was awaited to begin to install the scheme.

·         Parking on land belonging to Highways could be enforced through the Parking Enforcement Team. Traffic restrictions on private land were enforced through the private contractor CMS. Highways were looking into the transfer of private land to Highways in some areas.

·         As the area around Martindale Close had some loading restrictions, there was the possibility of a hybrid residents parking scheme with different elements, for example, pay & display during the daytime, changes on match days. It was suggested that St Andrews Estate be included in the review of the ‘Nut’ streets parking scheme when due.

·         The hospital multi-storey car park had improved traffic flow in the area.

There will be an update on the latest development of the Walnut Street mural.

·         The murals on Bath Lane, Burnmoor Street and Tudor Road had been completed. Pictures of those and next phase murals to support Leicester City Football Club’s sporting success are attached to the action log..

·         The two walls of the Walnut Street mural are owned by Sacred Heart Housing. Leicester Tiger’s Rugby Club had put forward £1,000 to assist with the development of the Tiger’s themed mural which would go here. Work would commence 13/14 August 2016, and would take approximately one week to complete.

An update will be provided on local housing works.

·         The East Midlands Housing Scheme at Heathcott Road was on target for completion October 2016. 68 properties had 100% nomination rights from the Council’s housing register, then 75% thereafter as the houses became vacant.

·         The Housing Review had concluded and would be implemented 31^st October 2016. There were now 6 district managers, and 2 team leaders for Saffron. A District Manager would cover Saffron and Braunstone areas.

·         The Saffron Housing Office would remain, with a surgery from Eyres Monsell Community Centre as part of the citywide ‘Using Buildings Better’ scheme.

·         Improvement works – £5,000 would be spent, including removing two flowerbeds. Some ward funding held by Housing last year might go to the Neston Gardens area.

·         A bid for housing funds would be submitted next financial year to redo flooring at Heathcott and Neston blocks over a two year period.

·         Parking issues at Heathcott Road flats would be looked at as a future scheme.

·         Housing officers to consider including spray washing and cleaning of buildings in the programme. Residents advised to submit a bid for cleaning, which would then be costed and prioritised subject to available funding. Councillors requested a quote for the clean, and possible future use of ward funding.

·         Housing officers to consider whether the Probation Community Payback scheme could be used to clear weeds in the area if there was a least a half day worth of work. Residents were asked to contact the Tenants Advice Centre with ideas for any improvements.

The local City Warden will be present to update on environmental works within the Ward.

Noel Cazley, City Warden, circulated an information sheet for the ward (attached to the action log for information).

·         Fly tipping – new Fixed Penalty Notices (FPN) of £250 (currently £80) will be rolled out over the next few months, reduced to £150 for early payment.

·         Witnesses to fly tipping had to make a statement to give the Council powers to prosecute, though it was known some people did not wish to do so through fear of reprisal. If items of rubbish could identify the owner, a witness statement was not required.

·         Fly tipping should be reported as soon as possible, either through the ‘Love Leicester’ app or by phone.

·         Problems had been experienced with waste dumped in streets when students moved out, bins left out, and waste at the side of dustbins which bin men would not pick up. The meeting was reminded of the orange bag recycling scheme and special collections for bulk waste. Community Protection warning letters would be sent to offenders, and if waste was not removed a Community Protection Notice (CPNs) would be served with a £100 FPN served to the owner occupier, increasing in cost through non-payment.

·         Landlords would be contacted to inform them that no waste from the property should be left on the highway, and for them to offer advice to the tenant. City Wardens would also have a stall at Freshers’ Fair to inform students about waste services.

·         Information notices would be issued to inform people of bin collection day. People would receive three warning letters prior to FPNs of £80 being issued for bins left out. CPNs when introduced would speed up the process.

·         A landowner on Saffron Lane was issued a Section 80 notice, and two lorry-loads of rubbish was removed from the property, at cost to the landowner.

There will be a local Policing update relevant to the Saffron Ward.

Police representatives were not present at the meeting.

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

Residents were reminded that all applications for funding should now be made online. Assistance with completing applications could be obtained over the phone from Community Engagement Officers. Details could be found on the Council’s website at http://www.leicester.gov.uk/your-council/decisions-meetings-and-minutes/community-meetings/ .

The next deadline for funding applications over £500 was 30^th September 2016. Applications under £500 could be fast tracked. Recent application decisions are attached to the minutes for information.

As Residents / Visitors Parking Permits could be applied for online, but not all residents had access to online facilities, and had not been able to obtain assistance or permits from the central customer service centre on Granby Street. Councillors explained that services had changed as part of the Council’s Channel Shift programme, but offered to report the issue to Council officers.

The meeting closed at 7.55pm.