LEYTON WARD FORUM GRANTS 2014

The allocation of the Community Ward Forum Grants for 2014 was agreed unanimously at the recent Residents Forum.

Contact/Group                            Project                                                        Grant
Let’s Roll CIC                                    Roller Skating                                                    £835

Beaumont TRA                                 Two coach trips for elder residents            £1,600

LOCSPUR                                          Football sessions                                            £2,000

Kreative Culture Club                     Street dancing project                                   £2,875

WF Asian Disabled Association    Exercise, outings, advice etc.                          £700

ACWDC                                              Extra youth support                                         £698

ACWDC                                              For people with learning difficulties             £770

ACWDC                                              Elder women’s project.                                    £522

                                                                                            FUND  TOTAL    £10,000

Minutes of Leyton Ward Forum – 5 December 2013

Minutes of 5 December 2013 LEYTON WARD RESIDENTS FORUM MEETING

Score Centre, Leyton E10 at 7pm

 Officers/Councillors in Attendance: Cllr Bob Sullivan, Cllr Naheed Qureshi, Cllr Winnie Smith, PC Chris Heathcote (Ward Officer) and Karen Sandbrook (Community Safety Unit)

AGENDA ITEM 1: WELCOME AND INTRODUCTIONS

The Chair, Cllr Bob Sullivan welcomed everybody to the meeting. Cllr Sullivan introduced the Councillors and Officers in attendance. Fire and Safety measures were explained.

AGENDA ITEM 2: MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING

Street Party Initiative – forms were distributed, but have produced no response.

  • Leyton Cricket Club – still pending.
  • Betting Shops – licence refused for 661 High Road, but it may be appealed. Further application lodged for 377 High Road, the Focus Team has already lodged objection. The Chair explained that there is a limit on the number of highly profitable gaming machines at any location, companies are opening multiple branches to get around this restriction.
  • The minutes of the last meeting were agreed.

 AGENDA ITEM 3: STREET DRINKERS

 The Chair explained that any proposal for restrictions on street drinkers must show support from local residents, the police and the council. Residents were urged to sign copies of a survey, which was tabled at the meeting.

PC Heathcote reported that there had been:

  • 13 crime reports in the High Road in the last 6 months involving crime, drugs and alcohol.
  • Section 27 Violent Crime Reduction Orders have started being used since 16 September.
  • Anti-Social behaviour is being targeted in the town centre with officers enforcing behaviour agreements, which may be followed by an ASBO (anti-social behaviour order).
  • Collecting evidence to support a Controlled Zone.

The Community Safety Unit is targeting Coronation Gardens, in collaboration with the Alcohol Outreach Team.

Comments from residents:

  • People will not use the local parks as they do not feel safe.
  • There are also problems in the Church Yard.
  • Overnight sleepers in Marsh Lane.

AGENDA ITEM 4: LEYTON SPORTS GROUND

 Pete Towler, the Chair of the Management Committee, introduced his written report, which included several options for developing the northern end of the Ground. He explained that funding options are currently being researched. The suggestions will be discussed with all parties involved before a final response is discussed with the council.

The Chair thanked Pete Towler for his update.

 AGENDA ITEM 5: LEYTON WARD SAFER NEIGHBOURHOOD TEAM

PC Chris Heathcote gave a presentation about the new local policing structure. The officers dedicated to Leyton Ward are:

PC Chris Heathcote and PCSO Az Choudhry, who report to Sergeant Louise Da Prato, who also covers Grove Green Ward. They form part of the Waltham Forest South Neighbourhood Policing Team, led by Inspector Tor Garnett.

Points raised:

  • There are on average 5,000 crimes a year.
  • The growth of betting shops continues to be a concern.
  • Leyton Community Action had protested about betting shops a year ago
  • Influence of Westfield Shopping Centre
  • Police are getting more proactive

The Chair advised that councillors are now able to lodge objections to betting shop licence applications. The Council is also looking to impose directions during 2014.

Ward priorities:

  • Street drinkers
  • Gang violence
  • Vehicle theft

Contact the Leyton SNT on 020 8721 2037 or call 101. In an emergency however always dial 999.

The Chair thanked PC Heathcote for his attendance.

AGENDA ITEM 6: WARD FUNDING 2013/2014

The Chair advised that applications were welcome by projects seeking consideration for ward funding. These will be voted on at the next meeting.

Limited funding is still available again, contact Bob Sullivan for an application form.

All requests should be sent to 24 Thornhill Road Leyton E10 5LL

AGENDA ITEM 7: ROGUE LANDLORDS

The Chair advised that the Lib Dems had put a motion to full Council which advocated Selective Licensing of identified privately rented property with a view to ensuring decent standards of accommodation. Licensing is already being enforced by other boroughs.

A presentation of Licensing across the whole borough was given by council officers as a consultation has now been launched by the Council, and the Chair urged everyone to participate in the consultation. He explained that it is already featured in the latest edition of the FOCUS Newsletter.

The Chair thanked the officers for their attendance.

Cllr Sullivan closed the meeting and thanked everyone for their attendance.

The next meeting will be in February 2014

WE WANT OUR ROAD BACK!

Buckingham Road – access blocked to through traffic

Residents are angry that the developers of the flats overlooking Coronation Gardens managed to get the Council to block off part of Buckingham Road for use as a private car park with no lease and no payment of charges.

Cllr. Bob Sullivan has been campaigning for years to get the road reopened for public use.

Focus says:  Residents have lost a road and the Council does not make a penny from it. We want our road back!  Focus will keep you informed of any progress.

Leyton Ward Residents’ Meeting – Minutes for 4 September 2013

Minutes of 4 September 2013 LEYTON WARD RESIDENTS FORUM MEETING

Score Centre, Leyton E10 at 7pm

Officers/Councillors in Attendance: Cllr Bob Sullivan, Cllr Naheed Qureshi, Cllr Winnie Smith, Leyton SNT and Library staff

AGENDA ITEM 1: WELCOME AND INTRODUCTIONS

The Chair, Cllr Bob Sullivan welcomed everybody to the meeting. Cllr Sullivan introduced the Councillors and Officers in attendance. Fire and Safety measures were explained.

AGENDA ITEM 2: MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING

  • The minutes of the last meeting were agreed.

AGENDA ITEM 3: LEYTON WARD SAFER NEIGHBOURHOOD TEAM

The SNT is now part of the newly constituted South Cluster, operating longer hours with more officers covering both Leyton and Grove Green wards.

Points raised:

  • Leyton Mills disabled bays being abused. This will be passed to the dedicated Leyton Mills SNT, who work with the parking enforcement contractor.
  • Church Road mosque – noise nuisance.
  • Adelaide Road, by steps to the old Town Hall – rough sleepers present both night and day. The SNT advised that a Section 27 Warning was issued and they are moved on.
  • St. Mary’s Church – 2 headstones were smashed – SNT are aware and have carried out searches and moved rough sleepers on.

Following restructuring of the local force, longer cover is available, and calls will be directed to SNT on their mobile numbers enabling them to deal with problems more quickly.

Cllr Sullivan thanked the representatives from the SNT for their attendance.

AGENDA ITEM 4: LEYTON LIBRARY

Staff from Residents First, which now includes the Library Service, gave a slide presentation and explained the works due to start on 9 September.

  • Improvements to the ICT provision, with Wi-Fi extended throughout the Library.
  • Children’s library on the ground floor, including study space.
  • Residents questioned the adult library moving to the first floor; of special concern was the tortuous access for disabled users, who use the ramp at the rear of the building before navigating through the ground floor to get to the lift.
  • Finalising software to be installed on PCs.

Temporary facilities at:

  • The County Ground – Monday-Friday:  9am – 7pm, Saturday: 9am – 6pm and Sunday: 12 noon – 4pm.
  • Sidmouth House – Monday-Friday: 4.30pm – 7pm, Saturday: 9am – 6pm, Sunday: 12 noon – 4pm.
  • Courses will be staged at the County Ground.
  • Both outlets will continue to have full supplies of books.
  • Lea Bridge Library has on-line resources.

Leyton Ward Councillor Surgeries

The Chair advised that the surgery will be held every Saturday at the County Ground until Leyton Library reopens, hopefully in mid-February.

AGENDA ITEM 5: LEYTON CRICKET GROUND

Pete Towler, Chair of the Management Committee, was unable to be present, and his written report was circulated

The main points of his report:

  • The southern part of the ground, including the Pavilion, has been surveyed. All the buildings, except for the modern arts block, were in either a poor or very poor condition.
  • The Council has finally made a successful application, under the Fields in Trust scheme, which offers an additional layer of safeguarding and protection for the site.
  • Essex CCC continues to work with the Committee. Their plan is to make the Ground the hub for cricket development in East London.
  • The National Cricket League has rented the pitch for most Saturdays and Sundays during the summer.
  • The former bowling club buildings were finally regained from the squatters, and the Committee believes the Council is arranging their demolition (The survey indicated that refurbishment was not viable). Currently the area is being patrolled by security staff.
  • The Council are contributing £30k towards capital works at the Ground, in return for hosting the temporary library.

The Chair reminded the meeting that the Charity Commission had blocked the Council’s move to build a new school on part of the ground. As a registered charity it is only available for sports and leisure use. It has suffered from a lack of funds for many years. A public consultation is planned for October.

AGENDA ITEM 6: STREET PARTY INITIATIVE 2013

Cllr Sullivan gave out the grant application forms and confirmed that he is going to be talking to the two primary schools that held a party last year.

AGENDA ITEM 8: COMMUNITY DISCUSSION

  • Ive Farm Playing Field – proposal was to rebuild and Pavilion and refurbish the running track. The Chair agreed that the Council appears reluctant, and would try to find out what is planned.
  • Leyton Cricket Club – have played at the County Ground since 1975, until they were told to leave last year. The Chair said he would need more details from the club so that he could check it out.
  • Trees’ facing Brewster Road – The Chair has been advised that they are not due for attention until 2014/15.
  • Family Fun Day – was cancelled at the County Ground, when it was not otherwise in use? County Ground Pavilion – question about lights being left on late at night. The Chair believed it could be for security.
  • Ruckholt Road – rubbish collection not taking place on the correct day.
  • Brown bins – not collected for 5 weeks.
  • Maud Road – rubbish dumping regularly at the end of the road. The Chair urged residents to keep reporting all such problems to Waltham Forest Direct on 8496 3000.
  • Coopers Lane – Brown bins missed collection. Finally picked up by normal refuse lorry and black sacks dumped in with recycling, plus a bib lid fell into the lorry.
  • Betting Shops – The Chair confirmed that he has already lodged his objections.
  • Damaged Roads – The Chair requested that residents let him have photos and he will take them up.
  • Church Road – manhole cover loose outside 39, next to bus stop.
  • Church Road – tree at 19, rubbish needs clearing from front garden.
  • Ive Farm Close – complaint about dog mess in the area. The Chair advised that the owner needs to be identified. Contact Cllr Sullivan or the Dog Warden – possibly needs CCTV?
  • Coopers Lane flats – rubbish dumping, metal transfer station. Joint action needed. ACTION – Cllr Sullivan to follow up.
  • The Marshes – litter picks, need to publicise to get more volunteers.
  • Resurfacing Roads – The Chair confirmed that this is an on-going Lib Dem campaign to have roads resurfaced rather than constant patching.
  • Overcrowding in Schools
  • Oliver Road – call for cameras.

 Cllr Sullivan closed the meeting and thanked everyone for their attendance.