Ward Councillors will provide and update and feedback on the following:-
a) Environmental Works
b) Braunstone Foundation Plan
Minutes:
Councillors provided an update on the following matters which were noted by the public:-
Review of Ward Boundaries - The draft proposals for the Review of Ward Boundaries carried out by the Local Government Boundary Commission were now available for consultation on their website. The current proposal for the ward was that the number of councillors would remain the same but the ward would be expanded to take in that part of the current Westcotes ward south of the railway line and east of Narbourough Road. The consultation period on the draft proposals would close on 20 May 2014.
Fairchild Developments - Northern Trust Co Ltd had now submitted a planning application for the proposed development.
St Marys Fields Infant School - £4.5m had been approved to develop the current infant school into a primary school.
Environmental Works - The three projects in the ward were:
a) Widening of Hockley Farm Road opposite the Health Centre.
b) Gooding Road – removal of a roundabout in a cul de sac.
c) Winchester Road – installation of bollards to prevent parking on the pavement.
Housing – a scheme to convert three bedroomed houses to two bedroomed houses with an upstairs bathroom was welcomed. Building progressing on mixed development on Hamlyn Road (garage site) including properties for people with special needs.
Braunstone Community Primary School A scheme to develop the school had been approved.
Council Reviews A number of service reviews were being carried out to achieve savings as a result of reductions of central government grants.
Children’s Centres These were being rationalised and the Braunstone Sure Start would provide a focus for Braunstone, New Parks and Westcotes areas of the City.
Adventure Playground Review The review closing adventure playgrounds was not now being implemented and there could be an opportunity to link future use of adventure playground with the Grove.
Review of Neighbourhood Services Proposals for the review of Neighbourhood Services to produce 30% savings on capital and staff would be launched the following day. There would be an opportunity to comment on the proposals at the Leisure Centre from 6-7 pm. A pilot scheme was being trialled in the Saffron/Eyres Monsell area.
Hockley Farm Road Works were being carried out adjacent to the Medical Centre were to improve the infrastructure for future power distribution in the western part of the City.
Garden Refuse Scheme The City Council had introduced a garden refuse scheme at a cost of £20 per year.
Braunstone Foundation Plan – Angie Wright gave an update on the Plan. Noted that the 5 priorities of the Plan and been reviewed by public consultation. The original 5 priorities had not changed but their relative ranking with each other had. Crime and Anti-Social Behaviour had risen to be the top priority, largely as a result of a short spate of ASB incidents occurring during the consultation process. Generally crime had reduced in the last year and there had been good improvements in education with Fulhurst achieving its highest scores of pupils gaining A-C results. Rowley Fields had also seen improvements and the new Ellesmere College would be open in September. Much work had also been done in outreach work with older people’s services.
Angie Wright to give a more detailed presentation at the next meeting.
Community Health Initiatives
Karen Pickering – Leicestershire Partnership Trust offer to give a presentation at the next meeting on new community health initiatives.