The Stoneygate Ward Councillors will provide an update on the issues they have been dealing with in the Stoneygate Ward.
Minutes:
Stoneygate Ward Councillors provided an update on the issues they had been dealing with in the ward and activities they had been involved in since the last meeting. The following was discussed.
Councillor Thalukdar:
· Combined Fire Authority – several high rise buildings were checked for fire safety, two were noted as combustible and required sprinklers which would be added.
· Mental Health – Residents were advised that if there was anyone who had mental health issues, Councillors or the Council could be contacted for further advice on the appropriate support services.
· Heritage, Culture, Leisure & Sport – a new staircase and lift had now been installed in New Walk Museum and works to improve Abbey Pumping Station had also commenced.
Residents’ concerns:
· Planning application for the current building at 11 Elmfield Avenue was to be demolished and turned into a care home. There were concerns regarding the potential volume of traffic which would be on Elmfield Road. Double yellow lines were requested by residents to prevent parking at the road corners. Councillor Master would inform the Highways team and also noted that the new group that owned the building had been communicating with the Councillors. There was a consultation deadline of 23 August for plans and proposals.
· Other Planning applications which raised concerns were 22 Staveley Road (the former F. Stimpson) where a block of flats were planned to be built and 1 St Albans Road (former Lloyds bank) where a proposal had been made for a six storey residential unit for students. Councillor Chaplin informed the meeting that the planning application for 1 St Albans Road had recently been refused however, residents should still be observant.
· A resident reported a proposal regarding the DMU business school on London Road. Councillor Master would check this out and feedback.
Councillor Master:
· Noted that the Local Plan consultation was currently taking place – residents were encouraged to submit their views.
· Councillor Master asked residents if it would be useful to have an overview of the Local Plan at a meeting in the Ward. Councillor Chaplin suggested that an additional focus meeting primarily about the Local Plan take place – residents accepted and Councillor Master agreed to take this back as an action.
Councillor Chaplin:
· Reported the planning proposal to put a hobby room in the garden at 208 London Road, which was approved subject to conditions which emphasised the need to take care not to damage or affect the boundary wall and also to inform of the implications of any alteration/impact on listed structures. Councillor Chaplin noted the significance of conservation areas.
· Homelessness – It was announced that a street sleeper near the Co-op supermarket on Evington Road had recently passed away. This triggered a meeting of local Police with managers and staff working with homeless people in the City. Councillor Chaplin attended this meeting at the Dawn Centre whereby several actions were agreed to carefully monitor areas like the Evington Road in addition to City Centre and Police and Councillors should be more regularly and fully briefed. Residents were requested to inform the Council if they had concerns regarding street sleeping/ people sleeping rough so that the appropriate support services could be offered.
· Knife Crime – Councillor Chaplin had met with a local resident who had concerns of knife crime in the area, Councillor Chaplin and the resident agreed to draft a petition for local people to sign, especially young people.
· Following talks with teenagers in the Ward, Councillor Chaplin noted that she and several other Councillors had requested the City Mayor to reconsider the savings target for the Council’s youth services and to use part of the unallocated underspend to fund the services.