Agenda and draft minutes

In Item 84.E - A resident noted that there is no mention of their point at the last meeting about there being very few empty shops in Wigston Magna and that if the Council had had any involvement in this excellent position then it should be congratulated! This has been noted and feedback provided to the relevant officers. The Chair noted that vacant occupancy in Wigston is 4% where the Government average is 14%. South Wigston is 6% and Oadby is 8%.

No update available due to no representation.

Spion Kop – Works are expected to start in June, one lane will remain open throughout the period of works.

VE Day Celebration – 8 May event went very well at both the morning and evening sessions. The bells at All Saints Church were also rung. The spire at All Saints has been lit for the last few days in memory of Edna May Charles following her passing.

a)    Meadows Estate – Sale of Green Spaces / Planning Permission

Jelsons did own, and have sold, the green spaces but nothing can be built on them. New owners must maintain the land – some residents noted that some of the spaces have gone unmown, this may be in relation to No Mow May but Council officers are keeping an eye on these – the Council has powers to fine people should the sites not be maintained. Trees on the sites have TPOs in place too preventing any development. Sites near to Abington Close were also raised as being for sale – there will be no development permitted on these sites either. The non-maintained site was raised as a concern with the Council’s Legal Team in April, and notice given.

b)    Levelling Up Funded Wigston Sign

Some people like it, some people don’t – it accompanies the murals across the Borough and new street furniture in town centres. The money used to fund the sign came from central Government and had specific criteria attached to it on how it could be spent. Additional funding has been made available to the Council this financial year for the improvement of town centres – residents suggested bus shelters were looked at within these works. Residents raised concerns with the condition of some parks in the Borough, including Willow Park and the park on Kelmarsh Avenue – the Chair noted that a programme of parks works has now started, starting with Willow Park, and all parks will receive works. Planting in Bell Street was also raised querying if there was a programme of watering, some planters have also had plants taken from them. Plants are dying quickly due to the lack of watering, and potentially due to the concrete planters wicking water away from the compost / planting material. Additional benches are being returned to Bell Street and Leicester Road following refurbishment. Residents queried the lack of backs on the concrete seats – this is being looked into. The mural on Leicester Road features All Saints’ Church but it does not truly represent All Saints’ Church – this has been checked with the Historical Society website and is thought to be correct but residents note that the website has now been amended, and that the church may be incorrect. Willow Park – will the netting be reinstated around the basketball court? This may be a different programme of works

A resident queried the £10,000 cost of the Wigston Sign and how it may fit with the Levelling Up criteria – the Council could have spent this money elsewhere. Cllr Bentley noted that the cost of the this sign is less than 0.7% of the £1.34m available for works and was approved by the Visit Leicester process, and met Levelling Up criteria. Cllrs stressed that the monies used is not Council Tax monies, and came from Central Government.

c)    Cooks Lane New Road

Part of the second phase of direction of growth; there are now  ...  view the full minutes text for item 90.

Attendance by LFRS has been requested for the next meeting of this Forum.

Wednesday, 16 July 2025 - 19:00 - Thythorn Hill Community Centre, Wigston

Wednesday, 16 July 2025 – 19:00 – Thythorn Hill Community Centre, Wigston