Last Meetings Minutes continued
Street Lighting – outside the ring road, streetlights will be switched off on Sunday to Thursday between 12.30am and 5.30am and on Friday and Saturday between 1.30am and 5.30am. The police and relevant authorities have been notified. John B outlined what the savings to the Council would be. However, since the meeting, residents have observed that the streetlights are still on in our area during the night. IKEA – IKEA own the building. Coventry City Council want to create a storage facility for artwork, etc. and this project would incur a large financial expenditure. Our Councillors are opposed to this expenditure. John B does not think it would be open to the public. Coventry Sports Centre – this is a listed building and has been empty for some years. It costs £500,000 per annum to maintain.
LOCAL POLICE UPDATE – no update has been received from the team apart from regular brief reports from Paul Jackson (Police, PCSO, Woodlands, Wainbody, Westwood and Whoberley). Styvechale Grange is a low crime area, but nevertheless it is not a ‘no crime’ area. Our StreetWatch team report that their accompanying PCSO is leaving at the end of April 2024. John A and John B will attend a police liaison meeting on 15 May 2024 and will ask Sgt. Betts if there are plans for a replacement PCSO, particularly bearing in mind that the new chief constable for Coventry wants to encourage local residents to liaise with the police.
STREETWATCH – there have been no patrols since 26 February 2024 with the next one scheduled for 28 April with the PCSO. The team is now reduced from 4 to 3 members which makes it difficult to carry out patrols.
TREASURER’S REPORT – Finances - we currently have £339.14. Facebook – two people have posted comments and we have received eight ‘likes’. Website – this is being viewed by – 67 UK, 8 USA, 5 China, and 8 others. Mick had received a request for information on the Stivichall/Styvechale Grange history group and there is a link in our website to this group.
ANY OTHER BUSINESS – John A confirmed the general agreement to discontinue the raffle and for members to pay a voluntary £1 at our meeting – this is expected to be a temporary measure. Volunteers are required to enable SGRA to carry out a door-to-door collection. We think it is not unreasonable to ask for £2 per household and a brief flier will be available to hand out. Coventry Building Society AGM – the meeting agreed that Mick should accept in favour of the existing board. Ward Boundaries – a decision on any changes to ward boundaries is expected on 7 May 2024. Any changes will take effect from May 2026. There will be no local elections in 2025. John A had received a letter from Our Future Health in partnership with NHS, inviting him to take part in a health research programme. This invitation had been sent to randomly selected addresses.
DATE OF NEXT MEETING – Thursday, 9 May 2024.