Agenda and draft minutes

Cllr. Gore noted that he was present at the previous meeting of this Forum but that the Minutes do not reflect this. These will be amended accordingly.

PCSO Judge introduced himself to the Forum, and gave some crime statistic updates;

·       18 reports of violent crime this month, 21 previous.

·       ASB has decreased from last month despite being the holidays.

·       Thefts from Shops have reduced.

·       Criminal Damage and Public Order are down.

·       There has been 1 report of weapon carrying.

Burglaries are experiencing a small spike. These are mostly residential properties targeted by people from outside of the area. Car keys have been a focus in these burglaries and some related arrests have been made. Cllr Boulter noted that locks for UPVC doors exist that are classed as ‘non-snap’ that, whilst more expensive, will stop entry being forced as is the case with recent burglaries. It was also noted that double glazing should be installed from the inside out, not the outside in, to further deter burglars.

5 ASB Warning Letters have been issued to young people in South Wigston; 3 young people have been issued with community resolutions, and 1 is potentially being charged with a weapons offence.

A resident raised a motorbike that is heading up and down Blaby Road Park every week night. PCSO Judge noted that the Police have seized two motorbikes from the park last month as they were stolen vehicles.

A resident noted that a group of 5 young people on bicycles with full face coverings were hanging around the Tesco car park tonight; this caused her unease. It was also noted by other residents that this is prevalent across South Wigston. PCSO Judge noted that he had spoken to a group he believes is the same group just prior to the meeting, some of whom removed their face coverings, and that the interaction was caught on camera.

eScooters were raised by another resident with several being seen to be carrying children along with an adult rider. Only Police Constables can seize them on the spot; PCSOs must give two warnings on separate occasions. Seized eScooters must then be recovered and stored by a recovery company which is at a cost, and several companies are now refusing to collect and store them. It is unclear if there is any specific legislation around pillion passengers on eScooters as there is around mobility scooters.

A speed awareness operation will be taking place in the coming weeks, utilising speed guns, where any other offences regarding vehicles will also be picked up.

Changes to Bin Collections

J Wells provided background information on why the changes to bin collections in the Borough are necessary. The Council is currently working on the route mapping work for the changed collections, with an overarching plan of households retaining their same collection days. There may be some changes for communal bins but garden waste collections will be unaffected. The decision to make the change was made by the Council as part of a wider scheme of cost savings the Council has had to undertake; this is linked to a reduction in funding from central government.

Residents expressed a concern that waste will build up, including recycling, in bins. There was an opportunity recently for residents to purchase a 240ltr bin for £38.00 if they have a 140ltr bin.

The previous Government put forward Waste Reforms where they encouraged Councils to retain fortnightly collections; some Councils were looking at three-weekly collections.

From the end of March 2026 there will be a separate food waste collection provided as part of national reforms to waste collection. For businesses this starts in March 2025.

Legislation around packaging has changed for businesses where they will be encouraged, with financial penalties for not doing so, to reduce the amount of packaging they use for their products. The amount of recyclable packaging should also be considered. Monies raised by fines for businesses should be reinvested in local communities; this was under the previous Government however and it is unclear if it will continue.

Additional information will be made available to residents around what can and can’t be recycled.

A return scheme for single use plastics is also being considered for the near future nationally.

Large cardboard items can be placed next to the recycling bins for collection by the Council’s waste crews instead of filling the bins.

Residents raised concerns that their 240ltr recycling bin is filled weekly and that for fortnightly collections some recycling will end up in black bins. They did note however that they moved from an area with fortnightly collections and that they do work, but they had a larger bin in that area.

Refuse trucks can only take 6-7 tonnes of recycling before it requires emptying, and the transport of the waste to disposal / recycling sites does incur a cost for the Council. Sites can only take so much waste per Council a week before the wagons are required to go to an alternative location which is currently Bardon.

There is no incentive for districts and boroughs to collect waste in individual types (cardboard, metal, etc.) with co-mingling of waste to continue.

A resident raised a query around hard plastics and it was confirmed that they cannot usually be recycled.

Residents asked how the decision around the changes to waste collections was made with the number of concerns raised by residents. It was suggested that this was done under the assumption that any ‘surplus’ waste will be taken to the County Household Waste sites by residents. The changes  ...  view the full minutes text for item 67.

• Illegal and dangerous parking on roads around Albion Street with apparently no enforcement. Speeding drivers on local roads as above and further towards the Fairfield Estate. It was noted in the Police update that they will be addressing this in the near future.

• Drain clearing on roads (lack of), with large puddles regularly. Drains are cleared by LCC between 18 and 24 months on rotation. Newer drains have larger collection ‘buckets’ but a lot of the older ones don’t. Any drains that are flooding should be reported to Bill and he’ll arrange clearing.

• Weed clearance on footpaths and local streets is poor. This is the responsibility of LCC who spray twice a year; they can only use contact weedkiller to ensure that it does not enter the water table meaning that if it rains the weedkiller is then ineffective.

• Litter picking and cleaning is insufficient. This will be raised with the Council’s team by J Wells. Residents noted appreciation for the Wombles working in the area.

• Road condition of Saffron Road is poor, uneven and needs resurfacing. This has been reported to LCC to address.

• Lack of maintenance of verges on footpaths, canal side and Guthlaxton Cycle Path with overgrown hedges and growth.  As is the tree at the corner of Glengate. This has been reported to LCC Highways for action and should be addressed in the near future. The Canal and River Trust is responsible for the towpaths and reports to them will be made. The brambles along Spion Kop adjacent to the industrial estate were also raised as a concern; Bill will report this accordingly.

• Bench within Bus Shelter near Jasmine Court (£300). Funding request received by a local resident. Residents present at the Forum approved the funding to be released.

• Give Way signage at the junction of Safron Road and Gloucester Crescent. The three mini roundabouts have give way signs except the roundabout at the junction with Gloucester Crescent heading into South Wigston from Leicester. Cllr. Boulter will follow this up with County.

• Armed Forces Breakfasts and a support group for their families. A request was made for a grant of £300 to get the group off the ground. Residents present at the Forum approved the funding to be released.

• Fairfield Park – The house adjacent to the school has taken down the existing fencing that was installed with the building of the property. A new fence line has been staked out by the owner that appears to be a foot or more further into the park, effectively stealing public land. The soffits and fascias of the property already overhang the park. M Smith will make Planning aware of this tomorrow morning.

• Bin on Windlass Road – This is coming.

• Marquis of Queensbury – It has been bought by a consortium and is being renovated by the same company that did the Grand Hotel in Leicester.

• Alpha House, Countesthorpe Road – The windows at the top of the building are being refurbished. Once  ...  view the full minutes text for item 68.

None raised.

Wednesday, 6 November 2024 – 7pm – Fairfield Primary School