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 of interest as required by the Councillors’ Code of Conduct.

Cllr Dawood – Chair, welcomed everyone and led introductions.

There were no declarations of interest.

There were no apologies for absence.

The Action Log for the last meeting, held on 6 December 2022, is attached for information and discussion.

The action log of the previous meeting was agreed as a correct record.

Ward Councillors will provide an update on local ward related matters.

The Ward Members provided an update on ongoing works. It was noted that:

·         The potential for a KC to be appointed to lead on the enquiry into the events that happened in the east of Leicester was in the process

·         A public meeting would be arranged to allow for local information to be provided and discuss the events

·         The ongoing scheme to support the renewal of shop fronts and signage had not been well taken up and residents were reminded that this was an opportunity to improve the street frontages of local businesses

·         Resurfacing works and improvements works had begun to the ball cage on Melbourne Street local known as BallPark.

Officers from the Local Policing Unit will be at the meeting to provide an update on police issues in the Ward

Sergeant Adam Ahmed (4381) provided an update on local policing matters. It was noted that:

·         Ongoing issues with ASB were being investigated

·         Sentinel reports had reduced, and residents were requested to continue reporting issues, either via the phone or online, this helped identify the hotspots for the police

·         Focussed foot patrols on the beat with the aim for the officers to be approachable with regular visits to hotspots

·         Podcams (x2) had been installed on Spinney Hill Park

·         Proactive problem management plan in place as part of an inter partnership approach with the City Warden, Parks Team and CrASBU to address ASB on Spinney Hill Park with the summer months approaching

Members suggested that local residents need to be assured that previous problems that have caused issues on the park have been addressed and solutions considered and in response the police noted that the problem management plan alongside partner organisations was in place and different partners would be utilised.

The police further noted that the Spinney Hill Park was part of the beat and there were additional patrols planned for other parts of the local area during the summer months.

The police had also been working on drug related matters with a number on addresses being targeted. Residents were requested to continue to provide information on potential harms to the community.

Local residents suggested that a lot of problems on the park were a result of alcohol and whether the Public Space Protection Order from the local authority could be put in place to ban the use of alcohol. It was noted that there was no full time ban of alcohol on the park and that if there was ASB there were powers in place for the alcohol to be surrendered to authorities. The local residents felt that it was important to work on a full time ban of alcohol on the park as it has historically been the cause of problems on the park.

Ward Councillors suggested that there was a lack of co-operation between the police and reluctant residents, the police suggested that a visible approach to policing had been taken to allow for engagement, mini police work was delivered as part of engagement with local schools, beat posters were on local business windows to identify who local beat officers were and that between 8-4 there was a room available at the local police station open for community access for further engagement work and information on this could be provided to anyone interested.

In further discussions it was noted that:

·         The park on Vulcan Road and the area around Grove Road be considered to be part of the beat patrol

·         The ban of alcohol past certain hours be considered with the option to trial different times

·         Residents be requested to participate in the stop and search consultation

·         Beat surgeries be considered to be held at venues on the ward, including Wesley Hall

·         Although there was scope for more, the Police be commended for their efforts on improving the ward.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 50.

Highways Officers will be in attendance to update on highways matters.

The Highways Officer in attendance provided an update on issues that had been raised at the previous meeting, it was noted that:

·         The Junction at Morley Road and Hartington Road was considered to be the best use of space that the current layout allowed

·         The pavement parking suggestions had been considered but the footpaths were not wide enough and was not deemed to be safe

·         There had been a lot of resistance to removing parking pays on Melbourne Road and the bus company was adamant that the bus service needed to continue

In further discussions it was noted that:

·         Residents suggested a site visit to Melbourne Road would be helpful to get a better understanding of how the junction with Berners Street could be improved

·         Residents requested that the pot holes on Vulcan Road and Frederick Road be considered as part of the resurfacing works in the new year

·         Pavement parking suggestions were dismissed as this would send pedestrians into the carriageway

·         Resurfacing works on Kent Street be considered as this could improve the flow of traffic in and out of the area

·         Residents proposed a site visit with Ward Councillors and Officers to consider improvement options on the ward

·         Officers be commended by local residents for the delivery of the one-way system around the Berners Street and Melbourne Street area.

ACTIONS:

·         Resurfacing Works Programme

·         Pedestrian Safety

·         Site Meeting

Housing Officers will be at the meeting to discuss housing issues in the Ward.

The Housing Officers in attendance provided information on Housing related matters. It was noted that:

·         Public Realm Works were proposed on the St Matthews Estate

·         Ongoing work to address the parking issues on the St Matthews Estate with additional Enforcement Officers proposed

·         Proposed works on courtyards in the St Peters and St Matthews Estates to make the spaces more user friendly and available to young families to use

·         Neighbourhood Housing Surgeries continued to take place on every Wednesday between 10:30am and 2:30pm at Framland House

·         Ongoing work with Active Leicester to make improvements to the ball cage on the St Peters Estate

·         Work was underway to create a a team to deal with ASB related to Housing.

In further discussions it was noted that:

·         Following reports of intercom systems that did not work, door access improvements were proposed across the estates

·         The cleaning specification was being reconsidered after reports of the cleaning of communal areas needed improving

·         District Housing charges would be going ahead but a lower rate had been agreed following a meeting of Full Council, with meter systems to be introduced in the near future

·         The STAR Team were available for guidance to those who required genuine support with income management.

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

The City Warden provided info on works that had been carried out, it was noted that:

·         Bird Feed letters had been distributed to effected areas on St Matthews

·         Pan Spitting had been cleared on Hartington Road following reports

·         Fly tipping investigations continue

·         Bins on Streets works continued around Evington Street

·         Bulky Waste Collection had resumed with normal service

·         Holland Road and Nedham Street Alleyway cleared following reports

·         Fixed Penalty notices for businesses who had not declared their Waste Management Licenses

Members and Residents felt that it was important to arrange a multi ward initiative to improve the littering around the brooks in and around Spinney Hill Park during the summer.

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

An update on the Ward Community Budget will be provided at the meeting

The Ward Community Engagement Officer provided an update on the Ward Budget, it was noted that to date 42 applications had been received and 33 had been approved across the ward.

There would be no carry over of funds at the end of this cycle and the new round of funding would commence following the elections in May.

Residents suggested that in the new year a project to support the Elderly in isolation and who were lonely should be an initiative that is considered and supported through the Ward Budget.

The Chair declared the meeting closed at 8:12pm.