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.

a)        An update on the 2012/13 Community Meeting budget will be provided

b)        The meeting is asked to note the following grant applications, which have been approved under the Council’s fast track procedure:-

Application 1

Project:            Braunstone Exhibition

Amount approved:   £200

Applicant:      Anita Robinson in conjunction with the Braunstone Residents Network Committee (part of b-inspired)

Summary:

This grant was approved towards the cost of the Parks Services and b-inspired, in partnership with the Braunstone History Club & Braunstone Art Club, putting on an exhibition of Braunstone.  This was held on Wednesday October 24th 2012 in the art room & museum area of the stable block at Braunstone Hall.

Application 2

Project:            ‘Make a Difference’ Day

Amount approved:   £200

Applicant:      Braunstone Clean Up Group – Anita Robinson - in conjunction with the Braunstone Residents Network Committee (part of b-inspired)

Summary:

On Tuesday 6th November, under the National ‘Make a Difference’ banner, the Braunstone Clean Up helped to improve the appearance of Braunstone Park to reduce anti-social behaviour activities inside the spinney areas along the brook on Cort Crescent.

Braunstone Clean Up Group included Parks Services, the local police, arson team, City Cleansing, City Wardens, the City Council’s Environmental Team, b-inspired, the residents network association and local residents.  

This work would be continued by Parks Services, along with the help of the probation team.

Application 3

Project:           Braunstone Alert

Amount approved:   £360

Applicant:      Anne Short

Summary:

Advertising of Ward meetings and surgeries in the Braunstone Alert.

Application 4

An application from Ndi Igbo for a grant of £250 towards a Christmas Gala Night / Get Together was not supported.

c)        The following grant application is submitted for consideration:-

Application 5:

Proposal:       Winton Walk Gates

Applicant:      Louise Lavelle, Community Safety Team, Leicester City Council

Amount Requested:   

Summary:

As a result of long term concerns about crime and anti-social behaviour, local residents asked the Community Safety Team to install gates on the public footpath linking Gaddesby Avenue with Winton Avenue.  A successful Gating Order was completed in 2009 in the near vicinity for the pathway that links Winton Avenue to Harlaxton Road. This has significantly reduced ASB and vastly improved the quality of life for residents. The gates are opened and closed by a local resident at 7am and 7pm.

In order to assist with the decision of whether to formally proceed with a Gating Order, the decision was taken to consult the local community to assess whether an order was necessary.  Community Safety undertook a consultation with assistance from members of the Braunstone and Rowley Fields Neighbourhood Policing Team to ascertain the views of over 350 residents in the surrounding area who may use/are affected by the pathway.

On 1 August 2012, local residents were consulted by a door knocking exercise or via a letter with a stamped addressed envelope to encourage a response if they were not in on the day. Streets consulted were Fosse Rd South, Gaddesby Ave, Harlaxton St, Imperial Ave, Lavender Rd, Narborough Rd, Sweetbriar Rd, Winchester Ave and Winton Ave.

Responses received outlined strong support for a Gating Order.  As a result, a formal application for a Gating Order to prevent access to the pathway from 7pm until 7am was submitted and no objections were received.

It is hoped that this will mirror the success of the gates that link Harlaxton Road to Winton Avenue in reducing crime and anti-social behaviour. It is part of Gating Order policy to evaluate after 12 months to ensure that it is working as intended. This is to make sure that the residents affected by the Gating Order are satisfied with their purpose and also that no further ASB has ensued after the implementation of the order.

To date, £2,830 of the £3,580 needed to fund the initiative has been allocated.  Of this, £2,080 has been given by the Council’s Community Safety team and £750 has been given by the Hinckley Road Joint Action Group.  The grant requested from the Community Meeting will cover the balance of this cost.

The Chair advised that the following budget applications had been fast tracked and approved for payment:

Project: Braunstone Exhibition

Applicant: Anita Robinson in conjunction with the Braunstone Residents’ Network Committee (part of b-inspired).

Amount approved:  £200

Project: ‘Make a Difference’ Day

Applicant: Braunstone Clean Up Group – Anita Robinson – in conjunction with the Braunstone Residents’ Network Committee (part of b-inspired).

Amount approved: £200

Project: Braunstone Alert

Applicant: Anne Short

Amount Approved: £360

Project: Ndi Igbo

Application: Christmas Gala Night / Get Together

Amount Requested: £250 from Braunstone Park and Rowley Fields (funding request also submitted to other wards).

This application was not supported.

The following funding applications were considered during the meeting.

Project: Winton Walk Gates

Applicant: Louise Lavelle, Community Safety Team, Leicester City Council

Amount requested: £750 (match funding for that provided by the Hinckley Road JAG, in addition to funding provided by the Community Safety Team)

Louise explained that there had been long term concerns about crime and anti-social behaviour and local residents had asked the Community Safety Team to install gates on the public footpath linking Gaddesby Avenue with Winton Avenue. A 28 day consultation had been carried out and no objections had been received.  Local residents would be responsible for locking the gates in the evening and opening the gates in the morning.

RESOLVED:

                        that the funding application be supported.

Project: Braunstone Park and Rowley Fields – Improving Health Initiative

Applicant: Braunstone Foundation (T/A b-inspired)

Amount requested: £5000

The Councillors explained that the project was to kick start a strategic approach to organising better health services in the ward and they believed that this was important for the community.

RESOLVED:

                        that the funding application be supported to the value of £5000

Project: Sport 4 All

Applicant: Young People’s Sports Network

Amount requested: £1,500

The Chair explained that there were other funding sources that could also be used in respect of this project and a decision had been made to partially support the project to the value of £500. The applicant had been advised of where else they may be able to seek financial support.

RESOLVED:

that the funding application be partially supported to the value of £500