Riverside Officers from Parks Services at Leicester City Council will give an update on the project to clean up Evington Brook.
Minutes:
The Chair agreed to hear the following agenda item next and also considered the budget application for the project.
Adrian Lane and Kim Hawksworth, Park Services Riverside Project were present at the meeting to discuss issues raised regarding Evington Brook, and the project on Willow Brook. Adrian said Kim had been recently recruited to the team.
Adrian explained that initially Groundwork were undertaking cleaning work in and around the brook, but the organisation were now bankrupt. He said Evington Brook connected with Willow Brook, and it was intended to tackle the clearing project all the way up Evington Brook. A minimum of three community events would be organised, and schools and youth groups would be visited to ask them to help with the project. He said the project was mainly litter clearing, but would also include vegetation managing and some schemes of planting.
Adrian said the identity of the brook should be raised, with a sign to say ‘Evington Brook’, which would start to make people think differently about it, and get people to value it. He added the Environment Agency should also be approached to look at Evington Brook.
Kim said a bid for Ward Funding had been made, but approaches for funding would also be made to other organisations, and through fundraising events.
Adrian explained that a lot of people had different responsibilities for watercourses, as follows:
· Chemicals / Pollution – Environment Agency
· Parts of River Soar – flood relief scheme.
· Brooks – Leicester City Council.
Adrian added that some householders had responsibility if their homes backed on to the Brook, up to the centre of the watercourse.
A resident asked where the responsibility lay for Ethel Brook, which ran through allotments and had flooded recently. Adrian responded there was nothing the Council could do as Ethel Road allotment site sat on a flood plain, which soaked up water and stopped houses from flooding, though it was acknowledged it was not good for allotment owners.
Adrian said the project outlined was for Willow Brook, but he would ask the Environment Agency to look at Bushby and Evington Brooks, and see if Ethel Brook could be included, though it was acknowledged that Kim had targets to reach. He added that the long-term aim was to move the project into other areas.
Adrian said he would report back at a future meeting details of community day events, and took on board a residents suggestion to circulate information through the Community Meeting publicity list.
The Chair then drew attention to the application for Ward Community funding from Parks Services. The bid was for £1,000 towards a total project cost of £10,000.
The Chair requested that the evaluation included a breakdown of costs, as Ward Community Funding could not be used to cover wages. Adrian said the funding would be used towards, signage, leaflets, and materials. He added that Kim’s wages would be taken from the main budget for the river.
RESOLVED:
that the application be supported in full for £1,000, subject to the condition the funding was not to be used for salaries.