Agenda item

Councillors are reminded that they will need to declare any interest they may have in budget applications, and/or indicate that Section 106 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 applies to them.

Please find summaries of the applications received below. Full application forms can be accessed by contacting Democratic Support on 0116 2298814 or by visiting the Council’s website at www.cabinet.leicester.gov.uk.

·        Holbrook Memorial Hall, Improvements to Disabled Access and Repairs to the External Façade of the Building - £7,329, Revd Richard Bonney (Priest Attached to St Guthlac Church, Knighton)

The application is for improvements to the disabled access and repairs to the external façade of the building to ensure weather proofing and survivability so that the building may be kept open and used by the general public for various activities and community events for the foreseeable future.. The applicant will also be placing a funding bid to Biffaward in the region of £50,000 for internal refurbishment.

·        Safer Schools Programme - £2,000, Knighton Neighbourhood Police Team

The application is for 1,000 high visibility safety vests for children. The application wishes to raise awareness with the children of road safety issues and to promote personal road safety.

·        Welford Road Local Policing Unit, Neighbourhood Action Team Plain Vehicle - £750, Leicester Constabulary

The application is for funding the provision of a plain vehicle (rental) for use by the Neighbourhood Action Team in performing its duties and functions.

·        Provision of Cycle Stands at St Mary’s Church, Knighton - £414, St Mary Magdalen with St Guthlac Parish Council

The application is for the provision of two coated cycle hoops outside St Mary’s Church to allow members of the Parish and congregation to securely store their bicycles whilst visiting the Church.

·        New Carpet for the Meeting Room - £410, Stoneygate Baptist Church

The application is for a new carpet in the meeting room. The current carpet has been down for 30 years and now needs replacing. The applicant feels carpet tiles would be best as this type of carpet can be moved around or replaced.

Steve Letten, Member Support Officer, introduced applications for funding that had been received. These were considered as follows:

Holbrook Memorial Hall, improvements to disabled access and repairs to the external façade of the building, £7,329.

Rev Bonney explained the considerable community importance of the hall and that the funding was sought on a match funding basis. In response to a question regarding legal issues, it was reported that following perceived uncertainty about the future of the hall it had been confirmed that it would remain in use for the community.

AGREED:

            That the Community Meeting supports the funding of £7,239.

Safer Schools Programme - £2,000, Knighton Neighbourhood Police Team

The application was for high visibility vests for children and to raise awareness of road safety. The meeting was informed of the poster competition that Councillors had judged, with one winner’s design from each of the three schools in the ward being chosen to be turned into a poster. The winners were:

Phoebe, Class 6E, Overdale Junior Scholl

Grace, Violet Class, Overdale Infant School

Solomon, Mrs Whitehead’s Class, St Thomas More School

AGREED:

            That the Community Meeting supports the funding of £2,000.

Welford Road Local Policing Unit, Neighbourhood Action Team Plain Vehicle

This application was withdrawn as funding had been mainstreamed.

Provision of cycle stands at St Mary’s Church, £414, St Mary Magdalen with St Guthlac Parish Council

Rev Chris Allen stated that this would encourage people to cycle to church and planning permission had bee obtained. It was felt that, as the stands would be used by the wider community, such funding was permissible.

AGREED:

            That the Community Meeting supports the funding of £414.

New carpet for meeting room, £710, Stoneygate Baptist Church

It was considered that, as the room was used extensively by community groups, such funding would be permissible. It was noted that the amount requested was £710, rather than £410 stated on the agenda.

AGREED:

            That the Community Meeting supports the funding of £710.

Special Olympics Multi Sports Club -  £450

This item was submitted at the meeting. It was a joint bid to Knighton, Aylestone and Eyres Monsell wards. And would cover room rental and facility use at Southfields Recreation Centre to train Special Olympians. Members expressed concern that more wards had not been approached and felt that assurance was required that sufficient Knighton residents would benefit.

AGREED:

That the application be supported in principle, subject to clarification regarding the number of Knighton residents that would benefit and subject to support of Aylestone and Eyres Monsell wards.

Cycle racks outside shops

Residents asked for an update on progress with the suggestion to install cycle racks outside shops. Steve stated that work was progressing and that quotes had to be obtained. This would be reported on at the next meeting.

Street Vibe

Brian Quinn from Street Vibe gave an update on the project which had been previously supported by the meeting. As a result of youth sessions being delivered at the request of Pendlebury Drive residents, young people had come together and set up their own community organisation. Troy from the group stated that they were setting up a constitution and bank account and would look for funding to continue. Brian stated that the young people should be thanked for their voluntary efforts and recognised that there was very little youth provision in the area. The meeting discussed problems with installing the goal posts on Chilton Green due to residents’ objections. Efforts had been made to gain access to Lancaster School site, and this was ongoing. Steve suggested that the £2000 that had been allocated to the goal posts could be used to provide young people’s services in a different way. Members agreed that this money should be ring fenced for youth provision. They thanked the young people for the work they had been doing and encouraged them to continue.