Agenda and minutes

The minutes of the previous meeting held 06 July 2016 were accepted as a true and accurate record.

The Police provided criminal policing statistics for the period between July 2015 and August 2016.

The crime figures brought to this meeting are, to enable residents to see the comparison between the two year periods. Shop theft figures were down.

Thefts from motor vehicles were high due to people leaving their vehicles unsecured.

Speed Watch

The Police explained what Speed Watch is and how it works. In 2014 Oadby residents had signed up to its implementation.

Community Speed Watch (CSW) is a scheme run by Volunteers to help reduce traffic speeding through their neighbourhood. The scheme enables volunteers to work within their community to raise awareness of the dangers of speeding and to help control the problem. The scheme is supported by the Local Authority. Speed Watch can be set up in any area governed by a 20, 30 or 40 miles per hour speed limit. Data collected by Speed Watch groups is passed to the Police. This can lead to driver prosecutions.

Speed Watch requires a group of at least 6 to 16 trained volunteers to operate. Groups are provided with training by the County Council Highways Department. The training will include the criteria for where the Speed Gun can be used. It was suggested by the Chair that a proposals to be brought by two to three people regarding implemting a Speed Watch scheme in Oadby.

On the issue of the Speed Check Monitoring Device which was discussed at the previous meeting, the Chair stated, it would be the responsibility of committed individual volunteers to take responsibility for the installation of the equipment and monitoring of the data. It was therefore agreed that, “at the current time “it was not viable to introduce the Device.

Issues Raised by Residents and Reported to the Police

Motorists are driving at speeds of over 40 miles per hour on the A6 in the Great Glen section of the road. The Police are aware of this. This will be reported to the Beat Officer.

The Police requested residents to inform the Police of criminal activity by ringing 101.Calls are logged and used to prioritise Police resources.

A presentation regarding the newly built swimming leisure facilities in Oadby and Wigston was delivered.

Approximately 300 people took part in the opening gala at Parklands.

Media coverage of the openings was transmitted on ITV and BBC news. Ex Olympian Colin Jackson was guest of honour at the Parklands pool opening.

Between 2013 and 2014 there were some 271,000 visits. Visits from March to April 2016 were 574,000.

Holiday clubs over the summer period attracted over 60 children a day.

Touch tennis using ones feet will be available from September 2016.

The following responses below were given to residents’ questions on, provision and access for disabled people and the potential, especially for women to be spied on through the big glass pool windows.

• Two sessions a week are provided for disabled people.
• A pool hoist is available.
• An arm bike for wheel chairs is available.
• Facilities for people who are limbless below the knees are available.
• Staff has been trained to support people who are disabled.
• Life Guards work facing outward so inappropriate behaviour from anyone in the car park can be seen and addressed. Cosmetic stickers were one suggestion made for breaking up the pool windows to promote swimmers` privacy from prying eyes.

A resident observed that road signage from Wigston to the Oadby pool points incorrectly to Ellis Park.

Action: Clarify with the Council if this is being addressed.

Action: Circulate the overhead presentation.

The East Midlands in Bloom judges visited the Borough. In recent East Midlands in Bloom competition the Borough was awarded gold medal for the 7^th consecutive year. The outcome of the visit should be known by September 17^th 2016. There was a plea for more Oadby gardeners to enter the local competitions next year.

There are now 37 businesses in the Pride of the Borough Loyalty Card scheme. The card is still available to purchase. It costs £5.00.

The Borough Take Pride campaign continues to develop its work with primary schools. Links are being expanded to; local groups, local Universities and the media.

Residents were requested to spread the word about the campaign and also get involved. A hard copy of a flyer about the Campaign was distributed. It states how people can get involved in the Litter Campaign and who to contact for a Loyalty Card. On the 20^th September 2016 an article about Pride of the Borough will appear in the Letterbox newsletter

Every third Saturday sees: local people bulb planting and litter picking in Oadby and Wigston. For more information, contact Brocks Hill Country Park and Centre, Washbrook Lane, Oadby, Leicester, LE2 5JJ. Email: potb.oadbywigston@gmail.com or www.prideoftheborough.or.Tel: 07874228491.

The Civic Society is to raise the issue as to how to proceed with the placing of the Commemorative Stones as a monument. This is to be discussed at the Civic Society meeting on; 14th September 2016.

Representatives of the Oadby and Wigston Multi Agency Forum provided an outline of the work multiple agencies are doing to support asylum seekers now residing at Kennedy House in South Wigston.

Kennedy House was decommissioned over 18 months ago as a facility for homeless people.

The residents currently represent some 55 men age 18 to 31 years. Some are from Afghanistan and previously worked as translators for the British Army. The men speak some 12 different languages and some are suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder having experienced living in war zones and under government oppression.

The men are awaiting the outcome of their asylum seeker claims and some may have their claims denied.

The men are not allowed to work. Once a decision is made by the Home Office as to right or otherwise to UK citizenship the men will be able to work and apply for housing.

Children will soon form a possible number of refugees/asylum seekers coming to the Borough.

A resident asked what was the difference between a refugee and an asylum seeker.A refugee, generally speaking, is a displaced person who has been forced to cross national boundaries and who cannot return home safely. Such a person may be called an asylum seeker until granted refugee status by the contracting state or the UNHCR if they formally make a claim for asylum.

Residents were asked to consider making donations of clothing, body wash products and come forward to volunteer English language spoken lessons. A request was also made for a donation of old but useable bicycles.

A BarB-Q event takes place with the residents of Kennedy House on September 14 2016 This is being organised by Voluntary Action Leicester as a meet and greet with the men. Any ideas as to events or services the men can access please inform Sheila Moseley. For more information on how residents can help contact: Sheila Mosely on: 07751888391.

Oadby and Wigston Community First Responders have not yet launched their Twitter Link or provided an article for the Letterbox newspaper .They are to attend the next Oadby Residents Forum meeting to provide an update.

Ellis Park Fountain is still awaiting renovation due to the illness of the specialist contractor.

Residents were requested to report illegal parking on the highway to the County Council .It is not a matter for the Police.

The removal of the grey pillar boxes is a work in progress.

The Council is addressing the concern raised by residents as to the issue of land grabs by some residents along Fludes Lane.

There is nothing to report currently on the feasibility work on Ellis Park.

Yellow Lines are being placed on the bend to stop people parking on Stoughton Road, New Street and reaches down to the garage.

The dog bin and litter bin have been removed from around Severn Road.

Regarding unofficial parking on Burton`s Corner, this is being dealt with by the County Council Highways Authority.

Phoenix Therapies

Phoenix Therapies presented a more detailed proposal to launch a 10 week pilot project titled: Take the Weight off your Mind” for Oadby. This project is already running in Wigston and South Wigston. The Project teaches people the emotional skills needed to support improved mental health wellbeing and how to achieve a happier and more fulfilled life. The proposal requested funding of £1,700.

The presentation covered previous residents questions  as follows:

• Phoenix therapists qualifications
• Therapist supervision
• Current work in South Wigston and elsewhere
• Pubic liability insurance held,
• Evaluations previous 16 programmes completed
• Previous and future work completed with Helping Hands sin South Wigston.
• A minimum of 12 people will be accommodated on each course.
• Following work with Helping Hands it is planned to role out work across the Leicestershire County.
• Volunteers are to help sustain the programme by their input
• The organisation is also working with BUPA
• Each client is offered a 10 week session, more than through the Health Service which offers about 6.

People will be encouraged to set up their own self help groups.

The Resident Forum funding is given as pump priming. People wanting access to the course will be required to contribute £6.00 per week. People will therefore from the start be asked to pay £6.00.

To sustain the impact of the Emotional Therapy Toolkit, people will have a minimum of ten sessions with a therapist .Oadby residents will be offered a bespoke course for its residents.

18 people voted in favour of granting £17,000 for a bespoke Programme for Oadby. There were 5 abstentions.

Action:

Circulate the presentation electronically.

A presentation was delivered outlining progress on this project.

A proposal for further and concluding funding was brought for the sum of £6,500.Materials produced will be used by educators. This sum will take the project to the end of 2018.

30 people voted in favour of awarding the funding requested. There were no abstentions.

Action:

Electronically circulate the presentation.

A proposal previously brought by Oadby Civic Society for an award of £2,000 to cover the cost and installation of 10 conservation plaques was again presented.

All Residents were supportive in principle to funding this firmed up proposal. The sum requested was £1,452.The proposal for funding this project was agreed by 21 residents in favour, no abstentions and no rejections.

Edward Garnier Parliamentary Speech Re Governance of Oadby & Wigston Council

A resident requested clarification on why MP Edward Garnier stated the Council was run incompetently and called for the resignation of the leader of the Council and Senior Management.

The Chair stated that the matter concerns employment issues relating to staff. Guidance has been sought from lawyers and support given by the Local Government Association. The matter is still being arbitrated and therefore cannot be discussed in the public arena.

A Defibrillator for Oadby Parade

At the next meeting, Jitesh Chauhan is to raise the idea of a Defibrillator being located for access on the Oadby Parade. He has discussed this idea with the Town`s Centre Manager and Community First Responders.

Street Side Parking Charge

Councillor Kaufman noted the County Council may be making a charge for on street side car parking A petition is being raised to address this. It was suggested that this charge might place the viability of local Oadby shops at risk of closure.

Oadby Lights Switch On

The Oadby Festive Lights are to be switched on; Saturday November 12th 2016.The duration of the event is 3pm till 9pm. Oadby Traders welcome residents assistance, including the provision/identification of entertainers.

Three Litter Bins

A resident stated three litter bins are needed opposite Waitrose store and Church Street. The Chair suggested residents bring this idea as a proposal for funding to the next Resident Forum meeting.

Foliage and Trees along Hunters Way

A resident reported foliage and trees along Hunters Way to the A6 are obstructing cyclists. He requested a Councillor investigate this and report it to Highways for action.

Date:               Tuesday 28^th February 2017

Time:               6.30pm

Venue:             Oadby Trinity Methodist Church, Harborough Road, Oadby, LE2 4LA