August is my quiet month, and this has enabled me as usual to catch up with some much needed reading, covering the Children’s Social Care Review Paper and the SEND paper (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities), along with some high-level research into how we police the country and the changes in crimes that we can all be victims of.
I was delighted to welcome to County Hall the Police Force’s Road Policing Unit to show what equipment and skills they can use against criminal activity, just ahead of the last Police and Crime Panel meeting that I chair. In attendance we had a response car, an armed response vehicle, police motorcycle, the tactical support vehicle, and the drone team. We were educated about how these are all used within the force and watched a demonstration of the drone flying. The drone is capable of being used in many different scenarios but was most recently used to fly over the fires we have had locally to see the extent of the fires and where the high risks areas were.
On Monday 8th August on a lovely sunny afternoon, I was delighted to attend a celebration at Beaumanor Hall.
A pioneering programme, which is helping to recruit more social workers into the industry, has seen its first cohort of students graduate in Leicestershire.
The County Council has become one of the first upper-tier authorities in the country to offer the degree apprenticeship programme.
A total of 16 graduates are now all registered with Social Work England as practising social workers, gaining further experience in roles with the county council’s adults and children’s social care services.
Through the programme, existing staff are supported to gain professional qualifications on a social work apprenticeship, funded by the County Council through the apprenticeship levy.
I have received information from the highways team, that the re-location of the bus stop to Stadon Road from Leicester Road, Anstey, has suffered another delay. This work was due to be started on 21st August. The delay is due to electrical work that EON need to complete for the ‘Real Time Information’ boards. There is a delay in EON getting the correct approval from Western Power to work on their network.
I am very frustrated and disappointed to hear of an additional delay, but I am hopefully the work will be completed as soon as possible.
Green Living Leicestershire
This scheme will fund measures to help Leicestershire residents ‘Go Green’, reduce costs and tackle climate change. Some homeowners in Leicestershire will be eligible for efficiency improvements which will help them to reduce their energy costs as well as making their households warmer and greener.
As part of the new ‘Green Living Leicestershire’ programme, eligible county residents can benefit from fully funded home improvements including loft and wall insulation, solar panels, heat pumps and new efficient windows and doors.
The Energy Saving Trust ( https://energysavingtrust.org.uk/ ) estimates that solar panels can save households an average of £280 per year, as well as saving up to 1.6 tonnes of carbon emissions a year. ‘Green Living Leicestershire’ is funded by £3.6 million provided by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, and administered through the Midlands Net Zero Hub ( https://www.midlandsnetzerohub.co.uk/ )
To qualify for the grant, homeowners must meet the eligibility criteria required which includes households with an income of £30,000 or less per year or in receipt of means-tested benefits, and an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of D, E, F or G. It will prioritise supporting low-income households heated by mains gas, those off the gas grid, and those at high risk of fuel poverty.
For more information on the grants, or to apply, visit the county council’s https://www.leicestershire.gov.uk/news/green-living-leicestershire-scheme-will-help-county-households-cut-their-energy-bills or call project delivery partner YES Energy Solutions on 03309 126199, who can support residents with their applications.
Scams
Leicestershire Trading Standards Service has produced its latest newsletter edition of the latest scams in Leicestershire.
Make sure you are not a victim. Be #ScamAware. Be aware of texts, emails, unexpected phone calls, scam adverts and website scams.
'If it sounds too good to be true, it usually is'
If you have been a victim of a scam or require further advice, you can get in touch with the following organisations:
Action Fraud – https://www.actionfraud.police.uk/
Citizens Advice Consumer Helpline - 0808 223 1133
https://www.bradgateconservatives.org.uk/news/latest-scams-leicestershire
Shire Community Grants
Grants of up to £10,000 are available for community projects that will make a difference to people in our communities.
The team are interested in funding services, projects and activities that will:
Improve the lives, health and wellbeing of vulnerable or disadvantaged people and communities in Leicestershire
Provide community-based early intervention and prevention solutions which help to reduce demand on Council and other public services
Complement existing services already being delivered.
For more information, contact: Andy Hayes or Noel Singh on
Tel: (0116) 305 7269 or 305 7020
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.leicestershirecommunities.org.uk/shiregrants
Round 2 of applications are open, with a deadline of 7th September.
Round 2:
Opens: Wednesday 6th July 2022
Deadline for Applications: Wednesday 7th September 2022 (at 5.00pm)
Decisions Made: September 2022
Round 3:
Opens: Wednesday 5th October 2022
Deadline for Applications: Wednesday 30th November 2022 (at 5.00pm)
Decisions Made: December 2022
Additional support, information and guidance can be found here:
- Grants & Funding: www.leicestershirecommunities.org.uk/grants
- Voluntary Action Leicestershire: https://valonline.org.uk/
- CASE: http://case.coop/
- Leicestershire Funding Toolkit: www.fundingtoolkit.org
If you have any issues or concerns, I’m here to help.
