February seemed to have come and gone very quickly! We managed to have a long weekend away with the dogs, and apart from a visit to the beach, we did nothing else but rest.
I have been involved in several meetings with our local MPs to discuss various issues but mainly focused on the lack of core funding for our residents from the government and the burden this puts on the local taxpayers.
I attended an event in Coalville, where I listened to Priti Patel MP speak about her time as Home Secretary and where we need to be now to solve the illegal immigration crisis.
As Chair of the Police and Crime Panel, we held the Budget meeting in February. It was a long meeting but there was some particularly good scrutiny of the Police and Crime Commissioner’s (PCC) proposed precept amount and listening to the Chief Constable on the issues that Leicestershire Police face over the coming year.
I popped into the Food Fair event at All Saints Church in Thurcaston on a very wet Tuesday evening. It was great to see it so busy and I bought some lovely produce.
I also met with the PCC and Jack Lopresti MP, a member of the Armed Forces Select Committee and Deputy Chairman of the Conservative Party to discuss the issues facing Leicestershire and I didn’t waste the opportunity to discuss funding issues across Leicestershire, including school funding and police funding.
Focus of February
- A major incident was on 30th January, concerning the water leak in Ratby and Kirby Muxloe, which then let water into the gas pipes. The County has been leading the Local Resilience Forum and leading the response. Gas supplies have been re-connected to all properties, but some homes are still unable to connect their appliances to the gas supply, due to water in their boilers. Severn Trent are now working to replace the affected boilers.
- The Council is halfway towards its goal of planting 700,000 trees. More than 356,000 trees have already been planted across the county over the past couple of years.
- We have been working on the LCC budget for the past few months. The latest proposals went to the Cabinet on Friday 9th February for approval. The budget will now be discussed at Full Council at the end of February.
We can balance the budget for the next financial year, by using approx. £6m of reserves but the following year the budget gap is £33m. The council has welcomed the additional money the government announced for social care, but this is just a sticking plaster. The issue with core funding remains the same and we have some tough years ahead, where we will have to focus on a slimmed down local authority.
GP Practice Experience
Patients in Leicester, Leicestershire, and Rutland (LLR) are being invited to share their recent experiences of healthcare provided by local GP practices
If you are an LLR patient, you are being asked to take this opportunity to fill in the survey and have your say.
The range of health professionals at a GP practice who can provide care has been expanded and video, online and telephone consultations have been introduced, along with digital services, to make it easier for people to get what they need.
Survey responses will help GP practices to understand the impact of these new ways of working as well as people’s general experiences.
The closing date for completed questionnaires is midnight on Sunday 10th March. You can fill in the questionnaire online at www.bit.ly/LLRGPSurvey or you can collect a copy from your GP practice.
Childcare Support
Thousands of families are missing help paying for childcare. With significant changes coming to 15 and 30 hours childcare support in England, you can now apply for April.
For eligible working families in England
Currently available for children aged 3-4 years, you can now put in your application for 2-year-olds for April 2024
- Up to 15 hours of early education over 38 weeks of the year for 2-year-olds.
- Up to 30 hours of early education over 38 weeks of the year for 3–4-year-olds.
This can be used flexibly with one or more childcare providers. Some providers will allow you to ‘stretch’ the hours over 52 weeks, using fewer hours per week.
Coming Soon
From Sept 2024 - Up to 15 hours for eligible working families in England with a child between 9 and 23 months old.
From Sept 2025 - Up to 30 hours for eligible working families in England with a child from 9 months old up to school age.
Get the help that fits your family. To find out more visit: https://orlo.uk/td7h2
Hospital Discharge Grant
Unpaid carers supporting someone living in Leicestershire are being urged to check if they qualify for a grant.
If you are looking after a person in the county who has recently been discharged from hospital you may be eligible through the Leicestershire County Council scheme, funded by the Government’s Discharge Funding grant.
More than £55,000 of support has already been given to unpaid carers of people in Leicestershire since the scheme began last year. Carers often incur unexpected extra costs, including having to take time off work or paying for cleaning, housework, or short-term sitting services.
To qualify for the council funded grant, carers aged over 18 will need to show that the cared-for person:
- Lives in Leicestershire and is also aged over 18
- Has been discharged from hospital during the past four weeks (at the time of applying)
- Needs the carer for help and support to keep them safe
- Needs a level of support that has seen additional costs for the carer since the hospital discharge.
Carers must apply within four weeks of the person they care for being discharged from hospital. The application form is available on the Support for Carers website at https://www.supportforcarers.org/what-we-offer/carer-support-hospital-discharge-grant
Carers can also call VASL on 01858 468543 or email [email protected] and the team will complete the application form on their behalf.
For more information on the practical and financial help available for carers, visit https://www.leicestershire.gov.uk/adult-social-care-and-health/looking-after-someone
Warm Homes Service
Residents living in homes across Leicestershire without mains gas central heating are being encouraged to apply for free installation of energy efficiency improvements, which will reduce energy costs as well as making households warmer and greener.
Leicestershire County Council’s Warm Homes service last year was awarded £6.8 million by the government to support the installation of energy efficiency improvements.
The current scheme of Home Upgrade Grant (HUG) funding is available to homes without mains gas as their main heating type, in priority neighbourhood postcodes, and more widely where the annual household income is below £31,000, or where a member of the household receives certain means-tested benefits. Funding is available to homeowners and private tenants of landlords with small property portfolios.
Under the latest HUG funding, eligible county residents will benefit from an expert assessment that recommends the improvements best suited to their property, which may include external wall insulation, cavity wall insulation, loft insulation, solar panels, and clean heating measures such as heat pumps. Funding is targeted at homes where the main source of heating is something other than mains gas, such as electric, heating oil, LPG, or solid fuel. Households that only use gas for cooking or secondary room heating can still apply.
For more information on the grants, including the full eligibility criteria, and eligible postcode areas or to apply, visit www.leicestershire.gov.uk/home-upgrade-grant, or call YES Energy Solutions on 03309 126 199.
The installation of the measures will be carried out by E.ON Energy Solutions.
Supported Lodgings
Supported lodgings offer over 16-year-olds spare rooms in safe and supportive homes to help them become independent adults. Leicestershire County Council has launched a campaign to recruit individuals or families to offer over 16-year-olds spare rooms in safe and supportive homes to help them become independent adults.
At 16-21 years old, most young people are not ready to go out into the world alone, without any support. Many of the young people in need of support either work or are in full-time education, meaning supported lodgings hosts can work full-time if they wish, whilst receiving an allowance.
Supported Lodgings Hosts offer a room in their home to a young person over 16 years old. They offer help and guidance with things like learning to cook and doing laundry, managing money, and helping plan for their future.
This helps to prepare young people for adulthood and independence, by developing essential life skills. It often gives them an invaluable opportunity to gain confidence in an encouraging safe and supportive environment too.
Visit the Fostering page: https://www.leicestershire.gov.uk/education-and-children/fostering/find-out-about-fostering-events
More information on becoming a Supported Lodgings Host is available on our Supported Lodgings page: https://www.leicestershire.gov.uk/education-and-children/fostering/supported-lodgings-hosts
Cook, Meet and Eat Course
Leicestershire County Council are running a Cook, Meet and Eat Course at The Hut on Old Ashby Road, Loughborough in April. Booking for this is now open by contacting the number on the poster of calling into The Hut, 14 Old Ashby Road, Loughborough.
