Anstey Neighbourhood Plan
Anstey Parish Council has prepared a draft Neighbourhood Plan for the parish. Charnwood Borough Council has considered the Plan against the statutory requirements and is satisfied that these have been met and it can proceed to consultation. The consultation will run for 8 weeks from Wednesday 13th November 2024 until 5pm on Wednesday 8th January 2025. The extended period of consultation is to take account of the Christmas holiday period and the fact that the Borough Council offices will be closed. Copies of the consultation documents are available for inspection at the following locations:
· Online at: www.charnwood.gov.uk/pages/anstey_neighbourhood_plan
· In person at: Anstey Parish Council, Jubilee Hall, Stadon Road, Anstey, Leicester LE7 7AY.
If you have any questions about the consultation, or if an individual requires an alternative means of accessing these documents, please contact the borough council by email: [email protected] or telephone 01509 634929.
If you wish to respond to the consultation, these should be sent to Charnwood Borough Council together with your name and address by:
· Email: [email protected]
· In Writing: Local Plans Team, Charnwood Borough Council, Council Offices, Southfield Road, Loughborough, LE11 2TN.
Responses should be received by Charnwood Borough Council by no later than 5pm on Wednesday 8th January 2025. Any representations that are made on the Plan will be forwarded to an independent Examiner who will then undertake an examination of the Anstey Neighbourhood Plan. The Examiner will also conclude on whether or not a referendum is required before the Plan can formally be adopted.
Charnwood Local Plan (CLP)
This plan has been delayed again by the Labour Administration deciding at the last minute to make material changes to the local plan by advising the Planning Inspectorate that they now plan to introduce a Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL*) to provide the much-needed infrastructure necessary to support the planned housing growth for the borough. This means there could now be a delay of approx. 12 months as the CIL will need to go through consultation and examination before it can be adopted. This leaves us at risk of speculative development in Anstey and with no funding to deliver the much-needed improvements to the roads, schools and medical care that will be needed with the additional houses.
You can read the latest letter from the Planning Inspectorate ( ‘EXAM 88 - Inspectors' Post MMS Letter’) on the Charnwood Borough Council’s website here: www.charnwood.gov.uk/pages/examination_documents or by scanning this QR code.
*The Community Infrastructure Levy (the ‘levy’) is a charge which can be levied by local authorities on new development in their area. It is an important tool for local authorities to use to help them deliver the infrastructure needed to support development in their area.
The levy only applies in areas where a local authority has consulted on, and approved, a charging schedule which sets out its levy rates and has published the schedule on its website.
Most new development which creates net additional floor space of 100 square metres or more, or creates a new dwelling, is potentially liable for the levy.
Community Safety Survey
The Violence Reduction Unit is asking residents to share their views on crime and anti-social behaviour in your area. To fill in the survey, scan the QR code or type in the website address. The survey closes on 31st January 2025.
Motion On Winter Fuel
On Monday 4th November, the Conservative Group put forward a motion to the full council regarding the removal of the Winter Fuel Payment for pensioners not in receipt of Pension Credit and its impact on Charnwood pensioners. As a group, we are deeply concerned that how our pensioners across Charnwood are going to be able to heat their homes this winter. The Green Group put forward an amendment to our motion and in the spirit of the amendment, even though we did not agree with all the changes they recommended, we agreed to accept the amendments so the motion could be approved. The Labour administration also agreed to support the motion with the amendments and therefore voted against the government.
Here is the resolution of the motion and you can read the full text of the motion on the Charnwood Borough Council website under the Calendar of meetings page. (See: https://charnwood.moderngov.co.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=138&MId=1076 – Item 9.1.)
(i) That this Council therefore resolves to:
(i) Request that the Chief Executive of Charnwood Borough Council writes to the Chancellor of the Exchequer, urging a review of the decision on the income level at which to means-test the Winter Fuel Payment, and asking the government to:
- ensure that all vulnerable people, particularly those who do not currently claim Pension Credit, or rely on other benefits and support are protected from fuel poverty,
- That this government invest in home insulation and energy efficiency measures for both current and proposed homes to ensure a long term reduction in bills and energy usage, and to improve overall health.
(ii) Request the Leader, Councillor Jewel Miah, write to the three Members of Parliament, Peter Bedford MP, Edward Argar MP and Jeevun Sandher MP, who represent our pensioners and their families in the Borough, asking them to give their support to increasing the financial threshold for means testing and for further investment in warmer homes.
(iii) Encourages members to sign the ‘Save the Winter Fuel Payment for Struggling Pensioners’ petition being run by Age UK www.ageuk.org.uk/our-impact/campaigning/save-the-winter-fuel-payment
(iv) Encourage local efforts to promote Pension Credit uptake, including asking officers to explore the possibility of contacting pensioners in the Borough of Charnwood who may be eligible for pension credit with advice on how to claim and through council services and partnerships with local charities and community organisations, to ensure that all eligible residents in Leicestershire are supported in claiming any entitlement they may be due.
Revenues and Benefits Service
Charnwood Borough Council has brought its Revenues and Benefits service back in-house to help make significant savings in the coming years. The service has been delivered by an external provider for around 15 years, but following a procurement exercise the Council opted to run the service itself. Over the past 12 months, the Council has put in place new systems and processes to create the new in-house service, and it went live on 1st November 2024. The Revenues and Benefits service deals with collection and billing for council tax and business rates, housing benefits claims and managing council tax support and discretionary housing and council tax payments. Over the next five years, the Council estimates bringing the service in-house will save around £1.5 million.
We would like to wish everyone in Anstey a merry Christmas and a happy New Year.
If you have any issues or concerns, we are here to help.
Deborah and Paul
