I have been very busy over the past month, getting to grips with my new role as Deputy Leader. I have had my diary fill up with multiple new meetings, taking time to meet with new partners, while continuing to support residents through my local case work.
It was great to head over to Loughborough University to hold the annual county council meeting on Wednesday 19th May. It was the first meeting held face to face for 14 months and it was so nice to meet up (Covid-safe) as a whole council. We welcomed many new faces and caught up with old friends and colleagues. Cllr Dan Harrison was elected as the 46th chairman of the county council. Retired businessman Dan has been involved in local politics for over 40 years, first being elected as a district councillor in 1976 and to the county council in 2017 to represent Ibstock and Appleby. Cllr Kevin Feltham was elected as the vice-chairman.
As I write we, the country has just been advised that the final step of the Covid restrictions being lifted has been delayed by 4 weeks. I know this will be disappointing for many residents and businesses, but we must ensure we have the virus under control. Please continue to follow the guidance, get vaccinated when called and get yourself regularly tested.
I was delighted to be invited onto Channel 4’s ‘Steph Packed Lunch’ show on Wednesday 16th June, to join one of our foster children, Salman. Salman was a young refugee who was placed with foster carers in Leicestershire at the age of 12 after a tough start in life. Salman has achieved his dream of qualifying as an architect.
Salman, now 25, was taken under the wing of a supportive family after arriving in England following a treacherous six-month journey - often walking through snow and mountains in remote areas – escaping from war-torn Afghanistan.
He is now supporting the work of ‘Place to Call Home’, a partnership project between local authorities in the East Midlands, led by Leicestershire County Council, aiming to recruit foster carers to support young refugees as they grow and adapt to their new lives. More details about the project can be found on the website: https://placetocallhome.org.uk/
I am sure many of us are watching the UEFA Euros or heard on the news about Christian Eriksen’s cardiac arrest on the pitch. I was very glad to hear the news that he is doing well, and his heart was restarted by an AED, pitch side. A resident rang me and asked if I would include, in my report, the locations of defibrillators in our local area for your information. The Heart Safe website has a list of locations and you can also register any AED that are not listed. Their website can be found here: https://www.heartsafe.org.uk/aed-locations
If you make an emergency call and an AED device is needed, you will also be told the location and the code if the device is in a locked cabinet.
School Term Dates
Residents are being asked their views on when school holidays in Leicester and Leicestershire should fall. Leicestershire County Council and Leicester City Council have both launched consultations on school term and holiday dates for autumn 2022 through to summer 2027.
Each consultation offers the opportunity to choose from several options, including sticking to regular patterns. Both consultation options reflect the same dates. Both authorities are asking for views on whether the term patterns followed by the city and county should match. The closing date for both consultations is midnight on Sunday 18th July.
Fill in the consultation and see suggested options for Leicestershire county term dates on: https://www.leicestershire.gov.uk/have-your-say/current-consultations/have-your-say-on-school-term-time-dates To request a paper copy, call 0116 305 6324 or email: [email protected]
Boundary Review for MP’s Constituencies
The Boundary Commission for England is the independent organisation responsible for reviewing Parliamentary constituency boundaries in England. The current review is looking at all the constituencies for MPs and will conclude with a formal report and recommendations in June 2023.
You can use their website (https://www.bcereviews.org.uk/) to:
- view current constituency and local authority boundaries.
- view our proposals for new constituency boundaries.
- submit a response directly to us about our proposals.
From the second consultation period onwards, you will also be able to:
- view the responses submitted by others.
- submit a comment directly to us, supporting or contesting a response from somebody else.
My county area is proposed to be changed and called the ‘Mid Leicestershire’ Constituency. I have included the link for that area here: https://www.bcereviews.org.uk/node/6483?postcode=LE77YH
Residents are being invited to submit their comments. The consultation is currently open until Monday 2nd August 2021, please ensure your response is received by that date at the latest, or it will not be considered.
Highway Improvements
An extra £5 million has been earmarked to boost road improvements.
Residents will have an influence on the improvements made. The extra money is set to be invested in boosting Leicestershire’s roads and environment, bolstering safety and sprucing up our communities.
The sizable sum would be ploughed into maintenance – including road repairs, looking after verges, cleaning signs, emptying drains and gullies, refurbishing bus stops and improving rights of way - and into more flashing signs, supporting average speed cameras and other measures to deter speeding motorists.
The cash injection also includes a £25,000 pot for every county councillor, enabling local residents to get involved in influencing the improvements that they would like to see where they live. It could be used for a wide range of options, such as flashing signs to reduce speeding, flower beds and benches, as well as minor road repairs and freshening up signs and lines.
Residents will be able to talk to their county councillor and help shape how the funding is spent in their area.
The £5m investment includes:
• £2.2m for highway maintenance – managing grass verges, improving road signs and lines, revamping bus stops, improving accessibility to our rights of way
• £1m to cut speeding in communities - flashing signs, traffic calming and supporting our average speed camera work
• £1.4m to boost local areas – smaller scale improvements that enhance communities
The proposals will be discussed by the council’s cabinet on 22nd June 2021.
Local Bus Services
The county council is working closely with local bus operators to come up with bold plans to improve public transport – and encouraging more people to use it. The Government has pledged £3 billion to help progress these plans across the country – and Leicestershire is aiming to secure a fair share of the funding.
However, to secure this funding, the council must develop a Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP). The council needs input to help develop their plan. It wants to find out what people think would improve local bus services - and what would encourage them to use local buses more.
The council would like to hear from people who already use buses, those who currently don’t as well as from public, private, and voluntary organisations.
There is a questionnaire at www.leicestershire.gov.uk/bus-strategy-survey for residents to have their say. The closing date is Friday 30th July.
New Employment Scheme
Work + is a free one-to-one service offering support, advice and information to people looking for secure paid employment or training. Work + is open to everyone – from those who have never been employed to those who have lost their jobs due to the pandemic, been furloughed or who are at risk of redundancy. It will also help college leavers, graduates, and agency staff on zero hour or temporary contracts.
Qualified personal advisers will offer impartial and professional advice to people from all backgrounds and support people on a one-to-one basis. Appointments will initially be offered online due to the pandemic but later in the year face to face meetings will be held in local libraries and adult learning centres.
Everyone who signs up to the scheme will have the opportunity to have a tailored work plan drawn up for them, including clear targets and steps to achieve their goal.
Help will be given with CV and letter writing skills, job searches, interview techniques and digital training, self-employment advice and business support. The Work+ team will also work directly with employers who may be in the unfortunate position of making redundancies and want to support their staff to find new employment.
To find out more or to register your interest contact the Work+ team on 0800 988 0308 or visit:www.work-plus.co.uk
Updates
Newtown Linford Lining – All the double yellow lining has now been put down following the public consultation. I have received multiple emails from residents, some who are very happy with the lining and some that are not. I am continuing to work to try and sort out solutions for some residents who have been impacted by this decision.
Newtown Linford Flooding - Following the severe flooding experienced by many residents last year, we finally managed to arrange a site visit (delayed due to Covid-19) Present was myself, Cllr Snartt, LCC Flood officer, affected residents and Jelsons (the land owner). It was a positive site meeting and action was agreed moving forward. I will continue to ensure that the agreed actions are carried out, as promised.
