Agenda item

a)         Raven Youth Centre (Minute 41, “Raven Youth Centre”, referred)

Callie Buchanan, Senior Youth Support Worker with Leicester City Council, advised the meeting that continuity of service at the Raven Youth Centre had improved since the last meeting, so no sessions had been lost due to staff unavailability.  In addition, the behaviour of the young people was improving, although some problems still were encountered on occasions.

Callie Buchanan also advised the meeting that:-

·            Approximately 50 young people were registered with the Raven Youth Centre;

·            At present, approximately 15 young people attended the Centre on a Monday, approximately 10 or 12 attended on a Tuesday for drama sessions and a few more attended cooking sessions on a Thursday;

·            As a result of some nuisance behaviour at Willowbrook Primary School, a proposed football tournament there had been postponed; and

·            A programme of summer activities had been prepared, a copy of which is attached at the end of these minutes for information.

On behalf of the meeting, the Chair thanked Callie Buchanan for the good work he was doing.

b)         Highways Issues (Minute 42, “Highways”, referred)

The meeting noted that the intention to put double yellow lines in Bowhill Grove would be advertised in the Leicester Mercury in July and, subject to no objections being received, work would start later that month. 

It was requested that consideration be given to relocating the bus shelter at the top of Bowhill Grove to the opposite side of the road, as this was the terminus of the route and a bench already was there.  Adele Harrison, Transport Development Officer with Leicester City Council, undertook to consider this.

Adele Harrison then reported that:-

·            The new bus shelter on Colchester Road had been installed on 2 July 2010;

·            All residents on Colchester Road had been consulted about moving the bus shelter.  Some objections had been made to replacing the shelter in the same place, so it had been moved approximately one foot.  A raised kerb also would be built there; and

·            If residents wanted the bus shelter that formerly was in Bowhill Green to be replaced, they could contact the bus companies.

David Poxon, Team Leader Road Safety with Leicester City Council, advised the meeting that the report on Vehicle Activated Signs was being reviewed, following the withdrawal of funding by central government and a reorganisation of the Highways service.  Locations identified as suitable for these signs would be prioritised and the success of those already installed would be reviewed.

It was noted that each sign cost approximately £4,000, including installation.  In addition, if there was no suitable lamp column available from which to feed electricity, a post and a power supply had to be provided, which increased the cost.

Some residents felt that these signs were ineffective, as drivers did not take any notice of them.  They felt that it would be more effective for the Police to use a camera van that could be moved around the area.

In reply, David Poxon explained that:-

·            Recent budget cuts meant that it was possible that the Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland Community Safety Partnership would not be able to operate speed cameras over the coming year;

·            If speed cameras were not used, it could be possible to ask Police beat officers to visit problem sites with a speed gun; and

·            Currently, four camera vans covered the whole of Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland, but this number could be reduced following the recent budget cuts.

David Poxon reported that it was not clear at present if recent changes in funding had affected planned work on repairing potholes.

The Ward Members encouraged members of the public to report potholes as soon as they could, but it was noted that budget cuts could mean that funding was not available to repair them all.  An officer would be invited to the next meeting to directly respond to residents’ concerns.  Residents expressed concern that this could lead to serious accidents occurring and it was unclear who would be responsible in such situations.

c)         Police Update (Minute 45, “Police Update”, referred)

The Ward Members expressed disappointment that the Police had not been present at the last meeting and were not present at this meeting either.

d)         General

AGREED:

that the minutes of the meeting held on 26 April 2010 be approved as a correct record.