We took an extended Christmas break, and we spent the first week of the new year in a very snowy Manchester with my daughter, her partner, and our new grandson.
I came back into the office on 6th January 2025, and it has been full speed ahead ever since.
My main focus has been on the Devolution White Paper (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/english-devolution-white-paper-power-and-partnership-foundations-for-growth/english-devolution-white-paper ), published by the government just before Christmas. See below for more details.
I also appeared on the Politics East Midlands Show on Sunday 12th January. This was my second appearance. I enjoyed the experience much more this time as I wasn’t quite so nervous. It is still available on the BBC iPlayer if you want to take a look.
On Monday 20th January 2025, I had a lovely visit to one of our brand new schools, Greenstone Primary School. This school is in the Sense Valley area of Coalville and has been built by the developers as part of a wider new development. Lionheart Trust will be running the school, and the school will be open to pupils in September 2025.
I was part of the ‘ground breaking’ ceremony just before the build started in October 2023, so it was great to be back to have a tour around the brand new school.
Local Government Re-Organisation
The County Council has requested the Government postpone the elections planned for May this year until May 2026. We should receive a response by the end of January or early February, and I will update you through my monthly update.
When the Devolution White Paper was published last December the Government said there were two scenarios in which they were willing to postpone elections: one is related to a priority programme for devolution and the second is related to areas where reorganisation of local government is needed to unlock or enable devolution. The County Council’s request has been made in respect of the second scenario.
The County Council has long regretted that it has not been possible for any devolution of powers, responsibilities, and additional funding to Leicestershire since it was first asked to bid to the Government in 2021. There is now a new opportunity to bid for devolution on a Leicester, Leicestershire, and Rutland footprint.
Once a new structure of unitary local government has been agreed for the area the intention would be to have a mayoral combined authority. The Government has made clear that they wish to have all areas of England covered by a mayor and all two-tier local government reorganised by the end of this parliament.
You can read the full press release here: https://www.leicestershire.gov.uk/news/local-government-reorganisation
Lord-Lieutenant’s Young Person of the Year 2025
This is the final reminder that you have until 14th February to help the Lord-Lieutenant of Leicestershire celebrate the achievements of young people aged 13 to 19 across the city and county.
Family, friends, teachers, and other professionals and community leaders are being urged to nominate inspiring young people in their communities for this year’s Lord-Lieutenant’s Young Person of the Year Award. The four categories for which people can nominate their chosen young person are: Young Person of Courage, Young Volunteer, Young Leader, and Young Artist.
The award scheme is open to all 13 to 19-year-olds living or attending full-time education in Leicester or Leicestershire. Nominations can be made by other young people, their school, parent, or carer, as well as any other agency or individual.
More information about the awards, as well as useful tips to help you complete your nomination, is available on the Lord-Lieutenant’s website:
www.leicestershirelieutenancy.org.uk/lord-lieutenants-award-young-people
The closing date for nominations is Friday 14 February.
Health Research Funding
Leicestershire County Council, in partnership with local universities, has secured £5.25m of funding from the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) for a Health Determinants Research Collaboration (HDRC) project.
The NIHR funds, enables, and delivers world-leading health and social care research that can improve people's health and well-being and promotes economic growth.
Some areas of the county have an average living age of up to six years lower compared to others, with health factors influenced by education, employment, housing, and air quality.
The five-year programme will unlock the ability to work with partners in the university, voluntary, community, and health sectors to improve the health of Leicestershire residents.
Using the money, the Leicestershire HDRC will:
- Fund research on local health,
- Invest money to talk to residents and local groups about health issues that matter and affect them,
- Ensure that local authority decisions impacting health are fully understood and evidence based,
- Enable research with communities and universities,
- Ensure research becomes a part of the day-to-day business of the county council.
The University of Leicester, De Montfort University, University of Nottingham, and Loughborough University, as well as Leicestershire Academic Health Partners, which includes the NHS and health-focused academic organisations, are key partners for the innovative collaboration.
To ensure research is guided by the health needs and priorities of residents and local communities, a Citizen's Assembly will take place in March.
or more information about taking part and shaping the work to make researchers aware of the challenges that matter most to local people and communities, please visit the website:
Leicestershire Trading Standards
Residents who have suffered damage caused by the recent flooding are being warned by Leicestershire Trading Standards to be on their guard against rogue traders. Hundreds of homes and businesses were damaged in the widespread flooding, with Charnwood and Melton particularly hard hit.
Leicestershire County Council’s Trading Standards team is now urging people to be on the alert for doorstep traders and cold callers offering flood mitigation measures, building repairs, garden work and clean-up services, which may be sub-standard and over-priced.
Leicestershire Trading Standards has issued a checklist to help people steer clear of rogue traders and doorstep scams:
- Do not agree to any work on the doorstep,
- Go online to search for reviews and recommendations,
- Is the trader listed as a Limited Company? – if so, it should be listed on Companies House,
- Obtain a minimum of three quotes by different tradespeople,
- Obtain full details of each business that provides a quote, visit any website and/or social media page they hold, check their address on the Royal Mail website,
- Ensure that the contract of works required, the quoted and agreed final price are all received in writing,
- Never pay in cash - use a secure method such as bank transfer or credit card,
- Do not feel pressured to pay prior to any work being conducted,
- For contracts over the value of £42, traders must give you notice that you have 14 days to change your mind and cancel the contract,
- Has the trader offered to take you to the bank to withdraw money? If so, this is considered an ‘aggressive practice’,
- Speak to friends or family before parting with any money if you are unsure,
- Contact your insurance company for advice about repairs.
If you feel in immediate danger, call the police on 999 or for a non-urgent matter, call 101.
For more advice and guidance, call 0808 223 1133 or visit the Citizens Advice consumer help website: https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/
To report a rogue trader, visit our Trading Standards web page:
https://www.leicestershire.gov.uk/business-and-consumers/trading-standards
