AGENDA ITEM 8

AREA BOARD: NORTH , , , NORTHWELL & WARDS

DATE: THURSDAY 17TH OCTOBER 2013

SUBJECT: AREA REPORT

REPORT BY: HEAD OF POLICY & PERFORMANCE

CONTACT OFFICER: GARY J. ROBERTS 01582 546985

IMPLICATIONS:

LEGAL COMMUNITY SAFETY

EQUALITIES ENVIRONMENT

FINANCIAL CONSULTATIONS

STAFFING OTHER

WARDS AFFECTED: BRAMINGHAM, ICKNIELD, LIMBURY, NORTHWELL & SUNDON PARK WARDS ______

PURPOSE

1. To bring before the Board an update on the issues that were raised following the last Area Board held on the 11th June 2013.

RECOMMENDATION(S)

2. The North Luton Area Board are recommended to note the report and make recommendations on further action where required.

BACKGROUND

3. This report encapsulates the progress of the area committee since the implementation of the initiative in October 2001. In addition it includes information on projects and activities supported by the committee and following liaison and mediation with both internal and external service areas, pursues the concerns raised by both the local community and Members of the council.

REPORT

4. Members of the public who appear on the current database were informed of this meeting by post on the 1st October 2013 and publicity 8/1

for this cycle of meetings appeared in the October edition of Lutonline, the Luton on Sunday and Luton & Express during week commencing 29th September and 20th October 2013. Additionally, posters in keeping with the new style advert and corporate approach to area committees were also dispatched to every General Practitioner, Dental Practice, Chiropodists, Chiropractors, Educational establishment, Library, Sports Centre, Community & Youth Centre, Day Centre, Places of Worship and Sheltered Housing provision, across the borough. The information gave dates for every Area Board across the town.

5. The Area Board web site is regularly updated and can be accessed on www.luton.gov.uk/areacommittees This address is soon to be changed to www.luton.gov.uk/areaboards

COMMUNICATION

6. I would like to remind the Area Board that the web pages on www.luton.gov.uk/areacommittees are regularly updated and members of the public can access all of the following on these pages:-

• Information – What are area committees? What are ward forums? • Dates of all meetings • Dates and information of all area tours • Ward Forum issues/updates • Agendas • Minutes • Reports • Area project proposal form

The actual address to the above web page and of coursed email address will be changed in due course to come into line with the new title of Area Boards.

AREA COMMITTEE ATTENDANCES

7. The following are up to date attendances at the North Luton Area Board for the period October 2011 to June/July 2013.

Area October January April June October/ February/ June/July Board 2011 2012 2012 2012 November March 2013 cycle 2012 2013

North Luton 45 61 58 55 75 81 58

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BUDGET UPDATE

8. The following table shows the budget for the North Luton Area Board.

North Luton Bramingham, Icknield, Limbury, Northwell & Sundon Park Wards Allocation 2013/2014 £10,000.00 IC 500 District Camp Event £1,754 £1,000 This is an application for assistance with the district camp event which is taking place at Tolmers Scout Campsite, Hertfordshire from the 27th to 29th September 2013. This will involve all scout groups in the Icknield District. LI 501 St. Augustines Scout Group £980 £980 The group need to renew the existing double doors wooden doors at their scout hut which are in poor condition and are currently held together with metal plates. This work is essential to ensure that the children attending have safe and easy access to the building and do not endanger themselves. Balance brought forward: £8,020.00

AREA PROJECTS

9. There are three applications for Members to consider at the meeting this evening. The applications were circulated to all Members of this Area Board during week commencing 30th September 2013.

Project Project Cost of Amount Number project requested LI 507 100 (Yeomanry) Regiment Royal Artillery and Army Cadet Force Currently the site has a gymnasium which is available for use by cadets, soldiers, civilians employed by the MOD. This gymnasium is also being used to deliver community engagement events featuring young people from , Luton Sixth Form College, schools and community groups across the town. The TA accept individuals from age 18 whilst the ACF welcome boys and girls from the age of 12 (and in at least year eight at school). Our people are of all abilities and backgrounds, and through a broad range of exciting, challenging, educational and adventurous activities, we help them develop physically, mentally and socially. Some of our activities have a military theme, others have more of a community focus. We have an active outreach programme designed to support local community events with trained staff (including our Physical training Instructors) at external venues and a policy of running training and development courses in the centre, which use the gymnasium and equipment.

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 Life Fitness CST Club Series Treadmill -Catalogue 4,395.00 4,395.00 Number: 153-0843 –

 NordicTrack T22.0 Treadmill - Catalogue Number: 625- 1,990.00 1,990.00 9164 - NT 508 Fireworks Committee 4,000.00 2,000.00  The Marsh Farm Firework Committee are the original founders of the Marsh Farm Firework Display that has been running for many years in Luton. We are partners with the Marsh Farm Events Committee and are hosting the Firework Event on 5th November this year. The group are a not for profit community organisation that put on and support many events in the North of Luton for the benefit of the local community. We are supported entirely from volunteers and also have the valued support of the Local Authority and other services such as Police.. The group will use the money applied for in this application to help fund the Free Firework Display that will take place on Lea Manor Playing Field on the evening of 5th November 2013.  The event will include a professionally fired Firework Display that will last for approximately 20minutes pre and after music and entertainment including fund raising stalls, food stalls and kiddies rides. The event is free for all to attend and attracts thousands of people each year. This will be the biggest Free Firework display taking place in Luton this year and will focus its attendance on those living in the North of Luton. The event will start around 6pm and finish about 8.30pm we will have gained all the necessary permission from the local authority to put on the event.

North Make a difference day. 468.80 468.80 509 As part of the national volunteering campaign ‘Make a Difference Day’ the University of Bedfordshire Student Union is teaming up with partners across town to deliver a day of environmental improvements to local parks on 31st October 2013. of the five chosen locations for the days improvements will be Freemans Green in the North area of Luton. Students from the University will work with the council, partners and the local community to undertake a number of activities in Freemans Green to include planting native daffodil bulbs, general tidying tasks and organise for some local people to get involved and learn about maintenance of herbaceous borders.

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The aim is to involve 20-30 volunteers (from the North area) to assist on the day itself and for these volunteers to be made up of local residents/families, community and faith groups, students and also to involve local councillors and businesses. UOB students union will work alongside to the councils community development team to recruit community volunteers and the council’s parks department to chose appropriate planting locations. 32

The overall aims for the day are to

1. Promote volunteering in the town (through cross partnership working). 2. Involve a diverse range of people from the local community and specifically promote intergenerational learning and working. 3. Engage/ educate residents on green tasks and on how to help keep cleaner community spaces (i.e. through literature from the Keep Britain Tidy’ programme). 4. Promote a positive image for Luton – making the town a cleaner and greener place for all!

PROPOSAL/OPTION

10. It is proposed that Members of the North Luton Area Board note the report.

11. In terms of the application under the Area Board Projects Scheme

 Reference LI 507  Reference NT 508  Reference North 509

Members may consider the following: (i) Granting the full application. (ii) Making a different contribution towards the scheme. (iii) Deferring the application for future consideration. (iv) Refusing the application

EQUALITIES IMPLICATIONS

12. Much of the work conducted by the Area Board will have an impact on Council services and will address issues such as accessibility, local participation and the general quality of life within the Borough.

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COMMUNITY SAFETY IMPLICATIONS

13. A large amount of the work being pursued and undertaken by service areas and other outside agencies will make a major contribution to community safety and need to be considered alongside other schemes that may be under consideration or being implemented.

FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS

14. Any contribution made by the Area Board will be met from existing budgets.

ENVIRONMENT IMPLICATIONS

15. The implications of the work being undertaken will address and improve the environment, create safer communities and address the quality of life for local people.

LIST OF BACKGROUND PAPERS LOCAL GOVERNMENT ACT 1972, SECTION 100D

None

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