A busy month again and now we are heading into the festive season, it will be a busy time for many of us.
On Wednesday 25th October, I opened our twelfth Family Hub in Shelthorpe, Loughborough. I was delighted to be joined by Jane Hunt MP so that I was able to show her the great work we are doing around the county to support our children and families. I also opened the Barwell Family Hub, our fourteenth, on 15th November 2023
In my role as Chair of the Police and Crime Panel, I am keen for the panel to familiarise themselves with the work of the Police and Crime Commissioners (PCC). To do this I encourage regular visits to Leicestershire Police HQ to see how the police operate on the budget allocated to them by the PCC.
On this visit, on Friday 27th October 2023, we were hosted by Chief Inspector Botte, who give us a great insight into the Leicestershire Training Academy.
On Monday 30th I was invited to ‘Leicestershire Cares’, who are a charity with a vision for an inclusive and safe Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland where nobody is left behind, and all children and young people are supported to reach their full potential ( www.leicestershirecares.co.uk/ ).
I went to listen to the research the young people had completed about making Care Leavers a Protected Characteristic. This will ensure that care leavers are given the right support to move into their adult life, fully supported.
I was delighted to be invited to St Paul’s Church of England Primary School in Woodhouse to enjoy a lovely school dinner.
It was roast dinner day, so roast pork was on the menu. The children were very welcoming, and they were very chatty as we enjoyed lunch together
On Sunday 12th November, I paid my respects to remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice defending their country. I attended the church in Anstey for the Roll of Honour Service before heading to Swithland to join the residents and lay my wreath on behalf of the residents of the County.
Waste Site Consultation
Residents are being asked to have their say on plans to make changes to the recycling and household waste sites service. The council is looking to reduce costs whilst minimising the impact on residents. A twelve-week consultation is open until 24 January 2024, with proposals that includes:
- Closing three recycling and household waste sites - Market Harborough, Shepshed and Somerby
- Changing the opening days at Bottesford and Melton Mowbray
- Closing all sites on Christmas Eve
- Changing summer opening hours at all recycling and household waste sites.
The proposed closures would save £270,000 per year, with the change in summer opening hours saving a further £150,000 per year. The council has repeatedly highlighted the current financial pressures, including a budget shortfall of well over £100m by 2027.
Both Somerby and Shepshed sites cost the council significantly more per visit than more popular sites, and all three sites proposed for closure take just 11% of the overall tonnage of waste disposed of. Alternative sites are available within easy reach of the suggested sites for closure to ensure impact on residents is minimal.
The council currently runs fourteen waste sites, more than any council in the East Midlands counties, and this proposed reduction would bring it in line with others in the region.
The consultation was agreed by the county council’s cabinet meeting on 24 October and is open until Wednesday 24 January 2024 and can be found online here: https://www.leicestershire.gov.uk/have-your-say/current-engagement/recycling-and-household-waste-sites
County’s Important Trees
A new app which allows people to record the most valuable and important trees in the county has been developed by Leicestershire County Council and volunteers are now being sought to test it out in the field.
The ‘Mergin’ app can be used to capture details of ancient trees and those which might benefit from Tree Preservation Orders. All the data collected will then be used by the council to build up a record of the county’s important trees to help safeguard them for the future.
An appeal has gone out for volunteers to go out and about in their communities to map and record the trees in the area. The app will enable the volunteers to record a large amount of data about each individual tree, including location, species, size, condition, age, and shape, as well as any potential threats which might put the tree at risk. Volunteers will need to complete around two hours of training on how to use the app and will be signed up as Environment Action Volunteers, before being asked to go out and catalogue an initial ten trees.
The app is being promoted to Leicestershire’s 125 Tree Wardens in a bid to build a clear picture of the county’s trees. All the data gathered in the project will also be shared with the Woodland Trust and the tree officers from each of the county’s seven district councils.
The ‘Mergin’ app has been developed by the council’s Environment partnership with geographic information system specialists Lutra Consulting, using data supplied by the Woodland Trust and the council's Tree Preservation Order records.
The ‘Mergin’ app and associated council training will enable volunteers of the parishes and the County Council to assess trees to see if they are worthy of Tree Preservation Orders or if they meet Ancient Woodland Tree Inventory Criteria.
Tree Preservation Orders can only be made legally by the District or Borough planning authorities; however, the app can help to locate trees of this calibre and make people aware of them so that they have greater value to society and are protected.
Anyone who would like to find out more about volunteering to become an Environment Action Volunteer and to help catalogue the county’s trees should email [email protected].
Considering Fostering
Families with children are encouraged to explore how fostering can fit into their lives. ‘Children of Foster Carers Month’ was held in October. This aims to raise awareness of the role of children of foster carers and recognise their contribution to supporting children in care.
If you would like to explore how fostering would fit into your family, then you’re welcome to attend one of the council’s virtual ‘Find out about fostering’ events.
The next evening to find out about fostering is on Tuesday 12 December 2023.
You can book your place by visiting our www.leicestershire.gov.uk/education-and-children/fostering emailing [email protected] or calling 0116 305 0505.
Lines are open until 8pm on Tuesday and Thursdays, and on the first Saturday of the month 10 am until 12 noon.
I would like to wish everyone a very Happy Christmas and a Peaceful New Year.
If you have any issues or concerns, I’m here to help.
