Agenda item

a)     Minute 35 – Planning Applications

Councillor Russell reported that:-

·             The hostel at 10 Westcotes Drive had ceased trading and would become accommodation for nurses. 

Some concern was expressed that the property at 10 Westcotes Drive could be used for purposes other than that claimed, so it was agreed that this would be monitored;

·             The hostel at 18 Westcotes Ward would remain, as it had planning permission to operate as a hostel and, in general, no problems were reported regarding its operation; and

·             The hostel at 20 Westcotes Drive had been required to supply a certificate of lawful use for the Council’s planning officers.  If a certificate was not supplied, as appeared to be the case at present, formal notice would be served on the hostel to stop trading.  A report then would be made to the City Council’s Planning and Development Committee on what action would be taken.

Councillor Russell also reported that various work had been done to alleviate the problems with rats in the Western Road/Briton Street/Bede Island Bridge locations that had been reported at the last meeting:-

·             Sunken footway slabs to the left of the bridge.  Highway Management had re-levelled this paved area;

·             The electricity sub-station (next to the bridge).  Western Power Distribution had re-levelled some slabs and removed rubbish within the curtilage  of the sub-station;

·             City Highways had cleaned out several localised road gullies and replaced four missing rodding eye stoppers to these gullies;

·             The Western Pub had given permission for Street Lighting to erect some “DO NOT FEED THE BIRDS” and “NO FLY-TIPPING RUBBISH” signs on their perimeter walls adjacent to the bridge.  These signs had been erected.

Jamie Stubbs (City Warden with Leicester City Council) would be monitoring this area and would consider issuing fixed penalty notices for the dumping of food;

·             To prevent rats entering the storm water system from the river, Severn Trent had given permission for the two broken non return valves to the storm sewer (Bede Island side) to be replaced.  This work had  been done;

·              The other brick storm outlet (Western Pub side) was discussed between Severn Trent and May Gurney, (the new contractors for Severn Trent), on 21 April 2011.  At that meeting, Severn Trent decided not to fit a non return flap, due to difficulty with access and the possibility of the flap and brickwork not giving a tight seal;

·             Equity Shoes demolition site.  Dave Bagshaw, (the contractor representing Jamie Lewis (Developers)), had sealed off four open drains and removed a soft water well; and

·             A gap of 35 mm between the edge of the bridge and highway slabs on The Western pub side appeared to be a major contribution to the rat infestation of this area.  City Council Enforcement Officers needed to visit the site with officers from the Bridges Team, Highways and Pest Control and would advise when the gap had been sealed.

This work was welcomed, but it was noted that, since the last meeting, rats had been seen on a different site near the river.  This was owned by Severn Trent Water Ltd and Councillor Russell offered to contact the company to determine what could be done about the rats.

 b)        Minute 37 – City Warden Service

It was noted that rubbish from take away food outlets on Narborough Road was being dumped in the Saxon Street / Roman Street area and was not being cleared away.  Jamie Stubbs, Leicester City Council’s City Warden for Westcotes Ward, advised that she was working with the businesses concerned to get waste contracts set up if they did not already have one.  Fixed Penalty Notices also were being issued where possible.

It also was noted that the litter bin had been installed on Great Central Way, but it appeared it had been moved from elsewhere.  In addition, the Parks Service had said that it had not received the money for the bin.  Councillor Russell offered to look in to this.

AGREED:

that the minutes of the meeting held on 8 March 2011 be approved as a correct record, subject to the second paragraph on the second full page of text for minute 35, “Planning Applications”, being amended to read as follows, (additional text shown in italics):-

“The Ward Members only heard late in the afternoon on the day of the meeting that the application had been withdrawn, following officer advice to the applicant.  The Ward Members had lodged a formal complaint about the way in which this had been dealt with this officer, the outcome of which was awaited.”