Agenda and minutes

The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting. The Police did not attend the meeting. No verbal update was provided. The Chair noted that, the Police plan to visit William Gunning Park.

The Chairs of all three Residents` Forums and the Police are to meet on agreed dates. These future meetings will provide the contents for future Police Updates that will be reported to the Residents` Forum.

The minutes were read for accuracy. They were accepted as a true record. An apology for absence was noted from Councillor J W Boyce.

CasePak dictate what can and cannot be recycled. Leicestershire County Council raises revenue from recyclables. This amounts to some £400,000 annually for the County Council.

The Chair of South Wigston Traders provided the following update:

Three shops have closed. Concern was raised about the number of takeaway shops in the area but there was recognition that what people want dictates what is there. Mr Carl Walters is the Chair of the South Wigston Shopkeepers Association.

South Wigston Christmas Capers takes place on Saturday 7 December 2019. Blaby Road is to close for the whole day.

Last year`s Christmas Capers Group did not draw-down any finance and borrowed from its Reserves. Arriva Transport is to sponsor the event in 2019.The Local Authority Finance department will release funding for 2019 once it receives a written report of last year`s spend.

Graham Lamb the Pride of the Borough representative , gave his apologies for being unable to attend tonight`s meeting. He provided the following brief update.

Pride of the Borough now has almost 1,400 members. This is 25% more than at this time in 2018.There are now 57 businesses offering discount to its members.

The Two Steeples restaurant gives a 25% discount on meals.

The Discount Membership Card remains at a cost of £5.00. It can be purchased from Oadby Library, Brocks Hill Conservation Centre and Customer Services on Bell Street, in Wigston.

Three or four groups will be doing Litter Picking. Pride of the Borough is to meet Saturday 19 October 2019 at Countesthorpe Road.

The Community Engagement Officer provided the following update to those residents present.

The Citizen`s Panel is now up and running since May 28th 2019.

The Citizen`s Panel is one way in which the local Council wants to hear the views and suggestions on services which affect the Borough and its Residents.

Membership of the Panel is open to: children, young people, students, the employed and unemployed, faith, belief, business owners, those of diverse age and lifestyles.

Forum Members present were; directed to the Citizens Panel web address to sign up at www.oadby-wigston.gov/citizens-panel.

Everyone present, if they had not already were, encouraged to sign up to the Citizen`s Panel.

There are no capital projects updates to report.

The current Residents Forum Budget is £19,298.

A request was made that a no-littering sign be supplied and fixed near to the recently installed litterbin on Countesthorpe Road.

A request was made for one bench, not made solely of wood, to be placed near to the litterbin on Lansdowne Grove. It is anticipated that this bench will encourage families to connect whilst being able to watch their children play in the nearby park.

A resident requested one bench to be placed on Gloucester Crescent. The possible location suggested was near to the highway or by William Gunning Park.

A request was made for the purchase and installation of a birch seat to be installed in the bus shelter on Gloucester Crescent and a litter bin be placed near to the shops on Gloucester Crescent.

The Greater Wigston Historical Society requested the sum of £200. The sum is to purchase display boards for the emerging Town Heritage Centre for the storage and display of archival community material. It was suggested that funding be sought from the Community and Youth Fund, SV Timber Company, Wickes and InkWright companies.

Action:

Place this item on the agenda for the next South Wigston Residents Forum.

Elliot Hall as a supporter of a number small community groups asked the Forum to consider allocating £5,000. This is to help these groups to access seed funding. Elliot Hall was advised to write to Councillor Boulter regarding this matter as it appears it is a Corporate Council one.

A resident requested funding to run an eight week Programme on Breast Cancer awareness.

A request was made that a no-littering sign be supplied and fixed near to the recently installed litterbin on Countesthorpe Road.

A request was made for one bench, not made solely of wood, to be placed near to the litterbin on Lansdowne Grove. It is anticipated that this bench will encourage families to connect whilst being able to watch their children play in the nearby park.

A resident requested one bench to be placed on Gloucester Crescent. The possible location suggested was near to the highway or by William Gunning Park.

A request was made for the purchase and installation of a birch seat to be installed in the bus shelter on Gloucester Crescent and a litter bin be placed near to the shops on Gloucester Crescent.

The Greater Wigston Historical Society requested the sum of £200. The sum is to purchase display boards for the emerging Town Heritage Centre for the storage and display of archival community material. It was suggested that funding be sought from the Community and Youth Fund, SV Timber Company, Wickes and InkWright companies.

Action:

Place this item on the agenda for the next South Wigston Residents Forum.

Elliot Hall as a supporter of a number small community groups asked the Forum to consider allocating £5,000. This is to help these groups to access seed funding. Elliot Hall was advised to write to Councillor Boulter regarding this matter as it appears it is a Corporate Council one.

A resident requested funding to run an eight week Programme on Breast Cancer awareness.

The Residents Forum received a detailed proposal for the establishment of a Community Garden in Blaby Road Park.

A detailed project proposal was presented to everyone present. The proposal contains a detailed vision, aims and objectives.

The project is to build and promote community wellbeing, develop gardening skills in an identified area of the Park for leisure and potential employment.

Local community groups, The Community Volunteer Trust, Health and residents support the Project.

A full discussion was held which allowed for residents to ask questions about how the project will be sustained, who will own it in the short and long term, how the items such as apple trees will be purchased and protected from vandalism and what will happen should the local community no longer wish to engage with the project.

Overall residents expressed support for the proposal.

The project proposer is to further develop a more comprehensive proposal, seek to further engage and consult local businesses, residents and the local Council.

Action:

Circulate a copy of the project proposal with the minutes.

Fitting of Wooden Benches

Benches made solely of wood are not fitted by the Local Authority .This is due to wooden ones being easily burnt down.

Chip Shop Owners and the installation of litterbins

Chip Shop Owners cannot be forced to install litterbins. A litterbin costs £450.

Big Belly litterbins

Big Belly litterbins are a yard square, solar powered and compress litter. They cost from £4,000 to £5,000.

Residents placing household litter in public litterbins

It was reported that some residents appear to be placing household waste in public litterbins. The Chair noted this is a “grey” area of law for enforcement.

Speeding on Countesthorpe Road and Canal Street South Wigston

Residents reported speeding on Countesthorpe Road and Canal Street in South Wigston. Vehicles have sustained damage. Pets have sustained injury in the process.

Action:

Provide information on the County Speed Watch Scheme at the next South Wigston Forum meeting.

Incidents reported of Youths riding electric Scooters

Residents reported incidents of Youth riding electric Scooters on roads and pavements.

Action:

The Chair will speak to the Police to find out the legality of using Scooters on pavements and roads and if not what can be done to stop this.

Incidents of Go Karts and a Motorbike being ridden in Blaby Road Park

Residents reported incidents of Go Karts and a Motorbike being ridden in Blaby Road Park. The Riders are going through the Kissing Gates. Residents are also being approached from behind by pedal bike riders without warning. A zip-line has been ordered for use on Blaby Road.

South Wigston Train Station and of rubbish and graffiti

Residents expressed concern regarding the amount of rubbish, graffiti, broken glass, dumped items and broken announcement signage at South Wigston Train Station.

Action:

The Chair is to discuss these matters with Network Rail Authority.

Arriva Bus Service and the provision of a future viable Bus Service

Residents of the Fairfield Estate on Dorset Avenue and Cornwall Road will receive a Bus Service on Sunday 14th July 2019.

The Chair and Councillor Rosemary Adams met with the new Arriva Manager. This was to discuss the bus service and what might be viable for delivering a future service between 9:30a.m. until 16:00p.m.at no additional cost.

A request to close Blaby Road on Remembrance Sunday 2019

The County Council has received a request from Oadby and Wigston Council for closure of Blaby Road for the observing of Remembrance Sunday in 2019. Road closure is likely to have a noticeable impact. The Local Authority is awaiting a decision on the request.

Invite a representative of the local Fire Service to attend the next South Wigston Resident Forum meeting. The Fire Service will present on the service it provides.

The Local Authority is to host an Armed Forces Veterans Breakfast Event. This takes place on September 3rd 2019. This event will bring together ex-Armed Forces Veterans. The event is to be hosted by the Mayor from 08:00a.m until 09:45 a.m.

Tuesday 22nd October 2019 at 19:00 p.m. The venue is Elliot Youth and Community Centre, Albion Street, LE184SA.