Agenda item

Jerry Connolly, (Members Support Officer), advised that £15,000 was available in the Ward Community Fund for 2011/12.  He explained that, when applications were received at Community Meetings, the views of those present were taken in to account by the Ward members, who then made a recommendation on whether the application should be approved, (either as submitted or in part).  After the meeting, all recommendations were passed to the relevant Assistant City Mayor for formal approval.

The Ward Members reminded the meeting that, when considering applications for funding, they considered whether the priorities identified in the Beaumont Leys Ward Action Plan were addressed.  The main priority in the current Plan was to engage young people, but others included improving health outcomes for people in the City and helping those living in poverty.  In addition, all applications were looked at in terms of how they related to the Ward’s boundaries.

In response to questions, it was suggested that a profile of the Ward could be made available.

The following applications for grants were then considered.

Application 1 –   Leicester City Ladies / Leicester City Colts Football Club

An application had been received for £1,250 to provide more coaches and training equipment, through which to extend ladies’ football to more young people.  An application for this amount also had been made to Abbey Community Meeting, which had been supported in full.

Representatives from the Club were present at the meeting and explained that it also was hoped to improve standards of coaching for women going in to refereeing.  These were the only programmes of this nature in the City.

RECOMMENDED:

that a grant of £1,250 be approved to Leicester City Ladies / Leicester City Colts Football Club for the provision of ladies football coaching and training equipment.

Application 2 –   Cornerstone PCC (Church of England) with Churches Together in North West Leicester

An application had been received for £500 to hold a community picnic in the grounds of Alderman Richard Hallam School.  The meeting noted that Fosse Community Meeting had approved a grant of £500 towards this picnic and Abbey Community Meeting had approved a grant of £250.

A representative of the applicants was present at the meeting and explained that the last few picnics had failed to attract young people.  It therefore was hoped that this could be reversed by having suitable attractions.  A giant Wii had been booked and it was hoped that funding could be approved by this meeting that would enable laser clay shooting to be booked.  Other groups and agencies also would be approached for support for this event.

RECOMMENDED:

that a grant of £250 be approved to Cornerstone PCC (Church of England) with Churches Together in North West Leicester towards the cost of holding a community picnic in the grounds of Alderman Richard Hallam School, Avebury Avenue.

Application 3 – Soft Touch Arts

An application had been received for £830 for the design and painting of a mural in the Home Farm / Strasbourg Drive underpass by local young people.  The full cost of the project was £2,080.

A representative from Soft Touch Arts explained that this had been suggested by the young people themselves.  There was some concern amongst those present that this would not be the best location at which to show the young people’s work and suggested that painting a mural on empty shop units would give their work a wider audience.  However, it was recognised that to relocate this project would take ownership of it away from the young people. 

RECOMMENDED:

that a grant of £830 be approved to Soft Touch Arts towards the cost of designing and painting a mural in the Home Farm / Strasbourg Drive underpass.

AGREED:

                   that, if similar applications are received in the future, consideration be given to the best location before it is formally submitted to the Community Meeting.

Application 4 – Val Kindred (Leicestershire County Netball)

An application had been received for £745 to support a 10 week course to encourage women aged 16+ back in to netball.

RECOMMENDED:

that a grant of £745 be approved to Val Kindred (Leicestershire County Netball) to support a 10 week course to encourage women aged 16+ back in to netball.

Application 5 – UR Choice Young Peoples Project

An application had been received for £5,490 for the purchase of various items to help establish a Youth and Community Café at Home Farm.

A representative of UR Choice explained that this had been proposed as a way in which people could interact and be signposted to services available in the area.  It also was hoped that workshops could be provided on issues of concern.

Young people with additional support needs would be trained to work in the café, which would improve their access to the workplace, as well as being able to participate in community activity or social engagement.

Ward Members expressed support for the principle of the project, but questioned whether some of the items for which grant assistance had been requested should be provided by the City Council through the provision of the Home Farm building.  Local businesses also could be asked to support this project.

RESOLVED:

1)    that a grant of up to £5,490 to UR Choice Young People’s Project towards the purchase of various items to help establish a Youth and Community Café at Home Farm be supported in principle, the final amount awarded to be recommended by the Beaumont Leys Ward Councillors following consultation with the Head of Community Services on how each element of the project can be funded;

2)    that the Members Services Officer and Head of Community Services be asked to liaise with the Beaumont Leys Tesco store, to see if it can provide any assistance with this project; and

3)    that a report on the final amount awarded to this project be made to the next meeting.

Application 6 – Food Parcel Scheme Partnership / Carlym Sandringham

An application had been received for £250 towards a food parcel scheme to help people in emergency situations, by supplying them and any children with food and basic personal hygiene items.

Carlym Sandringham advised the meeting that, as the effects of the national economic crisis became more obvious, more people needed help from the food parcel scheme.  Several agencies were involved in the scheme, which had relied on donations to operate, but people were less able to make donations.

RECOMMENDED:

                                    that a grant of £300 be approved to the Food Parcel Scheme Partnership towards a food parcel scheme to help people in emergency situations.

Application 7 –   Ms Haj Kaur

The meeting noted that some of the details included in the agenda about this application were incorrect.  The application was for a grant of £250 towards the Mowmacre Bonfire and Fireworks event, (not £500 as reported in the agenda).

In support of the application, Carlym Sandringham advised that, although the event was based in the Mowmacre area, a lot of people from Beaumont Leys Ward attended. 

Work was being undertaken in conjunction with various agencies to address on-going problems with anti-social behaviour and “postcode wars” between young people in the Beaumont Leys and Mowmacre areas.  This included the dangers of fireworks and fire setting.  However, although the Ward Members recognised the importance of breaking down territorial barriers, they felt that working with young people on issues such as the misuse of fireworks was part of the core business of the agencies concerned.

RECOMMENDED:

                                    that a grant of £100 be approved to Ms Haj Kaur towards the Mowmacre Bonfire and Firework Event.

Application 8 –   Beaumont Lodge Neighbourhood Association and Local Residents, assisted by Leicester City Council’s Parks Service

Since the agenda had been circulated, an application had been received for £250 from Beaumont Lodge Neighbourhood Association and local residents, (assisted by Leicester City Council’s Parks Service), towards environmental improvements to Beaumont / Astill Lodge grounds.

Ward Members expressed concern that the proposed replacement plants also could perish in bad weather and suggested that local businesses could be asked to contribute to the improvement works, as they would benefit from improvements to the area.

RECOMMENDED:

                                    that a grant of £250 be approved to the Beaumont Lodge Neighbourhood Association and local residents towards environmental improvements to the grounds of Beaumont / Astill Lodge.