Last Meetings Minutes

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LOCATION – Grange Farm School
DATE – 5 February 2026
PRESENT John Archer - Chairman, Councillor John Blundell, Mick Fitzpatrick - Treasurer, Councillor Mattie Heaven, David Keaney, Head of Network Management, Coventry City Council, Pratibha Reddy, Sheila Weare – Minutes Secretary.
Plus 27 members of the Association.
WELCOME – John A welcomed members to the meeting and thanked them for attending.
APOLOGIES – Judith and David Cule, Bernard and Jayne Every, Babu and Kusum Mistry,
Wal Neal, Jane Parfitt, Councillor Tim Sawdon, Manjit Singh
MINUTES – The minutes of the meeting held on 6 November 2025, having been posted online and circulated, were presumed accepted.
MATTERS ARISING – There were no urgent matters to be discussed.
DAVID KEANEY – Coventry City Council – John A introduced David Keaney, Head of Network Management, Coventry City Council and hoped he could give an answer to the various queries that SGRA always had, not least concerning parking around Grange Farm School. David outlined the services provided by his teams. These include street works and network management, urban traffic management, monitoring of speed cameras and traffic lights, road safety and road works improvements and speed limit changes. They always endeavour to minimise the impact on the environment and their services are always considered regarding the wider picture and must keep the city moving. David explained how modern technology is helping to drive improvements and believes Coventry is an innovative city and is striving to do the best for its residents. School Streets is a travel and traffic management scheme to improve road safety outside schools and has the support of the police. There are 100 schools across the city, five are currently being trialled and it is hoped to include three more. Grange Farm School in Dewsbury Avenue is not an ideal location for inclusion in the trial. Certain measures would need to be addressed and the installation of the scheme would be very expensive. We remain on a lengthy waiting list. The parking problem outside schools is nationwide and there would seem to be no single solution. John A advised David that at the recent PACT meeting the police had agreed to patrol outside Grange Farm at various peak times and issue parking tickets if appropriate. Use of the ANPR vehicle may also be considered. David advised that they work closely with the police and are ‘evidence led’ by data gathered by them. John B asked who benefits from the parking penalties money and David replied that Coventry Council does benefit from a portion of the income. However, this is not considered to be a definitive source of income. John B asked if David and his team would carry out a detailed analysis for School Streets. David advised it is hoped to promote cycling, where possible, as a means of getting to school. John A is seeking the criteria for Grange Farm being included in this scheme and advice as to what we can do to improve our chances of making this happen. Members commented on the impact that the change in catchment areas had been and David described the challenges.

LOCAL POLICE UPDATE – PACT Meeting 3 February 2026 - John A and Sheila had attended. Latest total reported crime figure for Wainbody Ward was 325, of which Styvechale Grange had just 4. There has been an increase in the theft of Asian gold. We are advised to consider using a home safe or a safety deposit vault if there are large amounts of jewellery or gold held. For local vault services, check with the National Pawnbrokers Association (https://www.thenpa.com/). Parking outside schools in Birmingham was discussed and problems are very similar to those in Coventry.
 COUNCILLOR JOHN BLUNDELL/COUNCILLOR MATTIE HEAVEN – Area Planning Applications (for proposed childcare) - 118 Alpine Rise -at the planning meeting on 18 December 2025 this application was deferred until 5 March 2026 (a good result for SGRA thanks to John B and Mattie). This deferment will allow members of the planning committee more time to investigate the suitability of the applicant; however, this may have no effect on the final decision. John B thinks the application will be passed on 5 March 2026, but if it is not approved then the applicant may appeal. The applicant will then be required to apply to Ofsted, which could be a significant obstacle for him. The applicant was not represented at the planning meeting. Mattie thanked SGRA members for their support. The online petition to object is still active. A member at our meeting said she understood that apparently Ofsted have no power over children’s homes. It is not known what the involvement with Care Quality Commission (CQC) would be. Another member reported that the government are looking to prevent providers of children’s homes making excessive profits. 48 Dawlish Drive – this application has received approval. 3 Cornwall Street, Hillfields – no objections have been raised and there is no discernible activity. 249 Green Lane – planning application agreed subject to a problem regarding parking.
18 Dewsbury Avenue – the assumption was that the property had been sold to a young family, but the planning application suggests otherwise. No application has been made for a HIMO licence, but this is a future possibility. John B has asked Grace Goodman (Planning) to refer this to the planning committee as an inappropriate development (possibly to 6/7 bedrooms) and an impact on neighbours’ amenities, together with resultant removal of on-site parking (4 reduced to 2). Dewsbury Avenue is already a congested street at school starting and finishing times. SGRA members are urged to appeal against this development. SGRA as an organisation can also appeal. Reduction in parking space at the property could be given as a valid reason to object. John A is concerned about the increase in houses being turned into businesses.
STREETWATCH – a patrol was caried out during January 2026. SGRA is grateful to the team for helping keep our area safe as possible.
TREASURER’S REPORT – Finances – we currently have £1,182.61. Mick had needed to clarify with the school their December charges. Our monthly meeting had been cancelled but an extraordinary meeting was held on 16 December 2025. This has now been resolved to SGRA’s satisfaction. There have been significant changes in office staff at the school with whom we have always had a good working relationship. An updated Website/Facebook page will be posted during February 2026. Mick is waiting to hear from several people with confirmation of their consent for SGRA to hold their data.
ANY OTHER BUSINESS – Mattie asked if there was any enthusiasm to carry out a litter pick and it was agreed to look at this again in the spring. Half Term at Grange Farm is 16-20 February 2026. Coat of Arms Bridge Road will be closed to traffic that week. Morrisons Daily in Hexworthy Avenue is reported to be losing business and the message is ‘use it or lose it’. An SGRA member had been approached by two men and a girl for permission to photograph their property. When asked why, the reply had been that it was for a video for Tik Tok. Permission was refused.
The meeting concluded with the raffle.
DATE OF NEXT MEETING – Thursday 5 March 2026 at 7.30 pm.