Deborah's County Councillor Bradgate Villages Monthly Update - March 2021
I find it hard to believe we are in March already (by the time you read this report). 2021 is passing by so quickly! I am continuing to work from home and all my meetings remain on the virtual platform. Much of my time has been spent supporting schools and by the time this lands on your doormat, I am hoping that half term gave everyone a chance to rest and recover. As I write we are a few days away from the government’s announcement of the roadmap to recovery. I am hopeful that schools will be accepting more pupils back in a phased return from 8th March. Testing and isolation will be key to keeping the Covid-19 infection rate down.
As you may have already read in my monthly reports, I am part of a vaccine trial. I have now had my second jab. I am continuing to be monitored by the clinic and have frequent appointments and blood tests. I still don’t know if I have received the vaccine or the placebo. I have felt well the whole time but did have a slight headache after each injection. I am not sure if this was stress related or because I have had the real vaccine! When I am called for the NHS’s national vaccine program, I will need to contact the vaccine trial team to be unblinded and find out what I received during the trial and whether I need to take up the vaccine offer through the national program.
The national vaccine program is continuing to be rolled out. Over 250,000 doses (at the time of writing) of vaccines have been administered in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland. The top four priority groups have all been offered their first injection by the 15th February. This hit the government’s targets and our NHS colleagues should be congratulated on this amazing achievement. The roll out will now continue with the next priority groups. These are people aged 65 and over and individuals aged 16 to 64 years with underlying health conditions which puts them at higher risk of serious disease and mortality. There will also be the second round of injections for the top four priority groups. With more places coming online all the time, the NHS are estimating that they can carry on at the rate already set for the first vaccination jabs.
I am continuing to support residents with casework and I have had some complex issues to support residents with. I am continuing to push for the relocation of the bus stop from Leicester Road to Stadon Road in Anstey. This has been delayed by 12 months already, due to Covid-19, and I am keen to get the work completed as soon as possible. This will enable faster traffic flows through The Nook.
I am still waiting for the results of the public consultation, regarding further parking restrictions around the three car park entrances to Bradgate Park. There were many responses received and they are all being looked at, before a decision is made as to what the final plan will look like. I am pushing to get this work completed as soon as possible, before the better weather arrives and the lockdown begins to ease.
I have also been working with the Police, Highways, Nomads and Anstey Parish Council regarding the parking issues on Cropston Road, Anstey, near the football ground. I think we are just about there with an agreed plan to reduce some of the traffic problems on matchday. Hopefully, this will be put into place very soon.
I have responded to three planning applications. One on Maplewell Road, Woodhouse Eaves, (which has now been refused) and two on Groby Road, Anstey. I have responded, outlining my concerns with the developments.
I have supported a member of our Youth Parliament on a Zoom meeting with Esther McVey MP, to seek support for his campaign. This young person presented his campaign to the national conference for the Youth Parliament last year, and his campaign received full support. This young person’s campaign is to ‘Improve Teenage Cancer Care’. A very worthwhile campaign and I will be supporting this campaign as much as I can, so he has the greatest chance for success and can go on to make a difference.
Leicestershire Warm Homes Fund
All Charnwood residents could be eligible for a free gas connection and a free central heating system installed in their home. The Leicestershire Warm Homes Fund Project is an initiative led by the County Council’s Warm Homes service being delivered by E.ON to connect homes across Leicestershire to gas and to install central heating systems for free. You do not need to be an E.ON customer to apply.
You can apply for this scheme if you do not already have central heating. You do not need to own your home to apply. If you rent your property, they will work with you and your landlord to get the relevant permission.
How to find out more or apply:
Online: www.leicestershire.gov.uk/warm-homes-fund
Telephone: Leicestershire County Council on 0116 305 4286 (Mon-Thurs 08:30am - 5pm, Fri 08:30am - 4:30pm (local rates).
Even if you already have central heating at home, anyone can apply to obtain advice and support to maintain a warm home through project partners Age UK Leicester Shire & Rutland and the County Council’s Warm Homes and First Contact Plus services.
County Council’s Budget
The County Council’s budget was approved at the council meeting, held on Wednesday 17th February 2021.
Updated proposals were approved which sets out a balanced budget for two years – one year longer than the initial plan – and shows that the difference between income and expenditure will total £79m in 2025, a reduction of £13m.
A one-off £25m Covid fund, enabling money to be used if further national funding isn’t available, is included as well as a 3% Council Tax levy for adult social care. Generating an extra £10m, the Government has given councils this option to offset the impact of significant increases in adult social care costs on other services. This means the budget includes in total a 4.99% Council Tax increase for 2021/22 –which is an increase of £5.59 a month for a Band D house. Councils can apply a levy of 3% for adult social care over two years – the proposal is to include the 3% levy in 2021/22.
Investment in services including children and family services, adult social care and environment in transport is proposed, as well as a £450m capital pot to spend on new roads, school places, recycling initiatives and other infrastructure supporting new homes. The updated figures provide further clarity on Government funding, the impact of the adult social care levy, as well as feedback from a consultation.
The headlines from the budget are:
Rising costs
Growing demand for services is expected to increase costs by £60m, including:
- Children and Family Services - this is mainly due to pressures on the budget for social care places, which are rising by over 10% a year
- Adult Social Care - this is largely the result of an ageing population with increasing care needs
- Environment and Transport - this primarily relates to more SEND (Special Education Needs/Disability) pupils requiring transport.
Savings
The £79m savings are made up of:
- £30m of detailed savings – reducing children and family costs by re-shaping how services are delivered
- A ‘high needs development plan’ which will reduce SEND costs by £26m
- Reducing adult social care costs by simplifying processes and speeding up support
- A £23m gap reduced following the Council Tax increase.
Elections
The government has announced that the local elections and the delayed Police and Crime Commissioner elections will go ahead on 6th May 2021. Work has now started on how to deliver Covid-19 safe elections and polling stations. To make sure you can vote in these important elections, please make sure you are registered to vote. I have included the links below on how to register to vote and register for a postal vote if that is your preferred method of voting. I have also included a link to our Bradgate Conservatives new website. There is plenty of information and advice on how to vote in the upcoming elections. If you do need any further help or support, please do get in touch.
The link to register to vote is here:
https://www.charnwood.gov.uk/pages/register_to_vote
The link to register for a postal vote is here:
https://www.charnwood.gov.uk/pages/where_and_how_you_can_vote
There is also much more information on voting on our website:
