Latest News
The regional plan for the East Midlands is being reviewed and people from Leicester and Leicestershire are invited to attend a local meeting run by Planning Aid.
The local meeting, one of eleven training and consultation events throughout the region will be held at Voluntary Action Leicester on 22nd July, 18:00 - 21:00.
If you have any views on housing, transport or climate change, or any other aspect of planning policy, this will be your opportunity to understand the planning system and have your say on options being put forward to the Regional Assembly.
During autumn 2008, 19 of the 27 community forums completed a consultation exercise under the topic of ‘Influencing the Big Budget’. This exercise involved using the voting handsets to gain people’s view on what they thought was most important and most worthy of investment.
The choices were based on Leicestershire’s Sustainable Community Strategy, the overarching strategy for all public sector organisations in the County.
The consultation was also conducted with the Citizens Panel and Leicestershire Together Forum. In total approximately 850 people have been directly engaged in this exercise. More »
The key finding from the consultation is that making Leicestershire a safe and attractive place to live and work was seen as the most important area for investment. To make that happen tackling anti-social behaviour and disorder should be prioritised.
The results of the consultation have informed the budget process of the County Council and its partners and ensure resources are focused on the delivery of the priorities for Leicestershire.
A copy of the full report on the ‘Influencing the Big budget’ consultation can be donwloaded by clicking on the link below: « Less
East Midlands Ambulance Service is conducting a consultation on the decision to become a Trust. The period of consultation is from 27th April to 20th July 2009. Follow the links to find out more about it.
Leicestershire Waste Partnership are offering residents the chance to find out just how useful composters and
food waste digesters are.
Workshops are being held at the following locations to show what units are on offer. Experts will be on hand
to give advice about the different units available and which would suit you best.
Friday 8th May
7pm-9pm
Syston Community Centre,
School Street, Syston
• Tuesday 12th May
7pm-9pm
The Coplow Centre,
Uppingham Road, Billesdon More »
• Saturday 16th May
2pm-4pm
The Samworth Centre,
Burton Road, Melton Mowbray
• Saturday 23rd May
10am-12noon
Hinckley Leisure Centre,
Coventry Road, Hinckley
If you are interested in attending any workshop
please ring the Waste Policy Team on (0116) 3057288 or check the link above. « Less
On Sunday 19th July 2009, The Big Lunch is inviting you and all 61 million people across the UK to simultaneously sit down to eat lunch with your neighbours, in the middle of your street as a simple act of community.
A new initiative run by the Eden Project, The Big Lunch encourages communities to come together through growing food and flowers; creating street music, art and theatre; dressing the street and, of course, cooking and eating together.
The day after the Big Lunch, people will walk down their street and know someone in most windows. However, the legacy of The Big Lunch is much bigger than just the day after... The aim is to give people the tools to strengthen their communities through activities such as neighbourhood-watch; improving local amenities such as youth centres; taking care of the elderly or disabled; making imaginative improvements to the local environment; sharing resources from lawnmowers to cars; and supporting local charities both with money and volunteering time. More »
Organising a Big Lunch in your area is really easy. Available from April, The Big Lunch website and printed Ideas Booklet will take you through the process step by step, giving you the tools, templates and resources to make it as simple as possible. You’ll find inspirational ideas and top tips from our ambassadors on the website and you can find others planning a Big Lunch in your street or area by simply entering your post-code on our Big Lunch map.
To find out more: visit www.thebiglunch.com or call 020 7636 8152 « Less
BARWELL PARISH PLAN - PLEASE HELP US TO HELP YOU!
Barwell parish plan adult questionnaire has now been distributed with the spring edition of the Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Bulletin to every household within the parish!
With the help of the Rural Community Council, the parish plan has been undertaken by a group of local volunteers who are trying to help the relevant authorities and organisations provide you with what you need. We therefore really need to know what you are happy about, what concerns you, and what you feel Barwell needs in the future. More »
It is important that as many people as possible are included and are able to give their views, so if another member of your household wants to have their say the questionnaire is available for online completion at: www.ruralcc.org.uk/parishplanquestionnaire.html
Alternatively, you can pick up a copy at Barwell Parish Council Offices at 10 High Street. We are asking that only people aged over 16 years fill in this questionnaire. We ask that all responses are returned by the 1st May 2009.
By filling the questionnaire in online it will make it much easier for the results to be analysed and we are therefore offering an incentive of a £50 CASH PRIZE if you can fill it in this way. However if it isn’t possible to fill it in online please complete the questionnaire which was delivered to you and return it to Barwell Parish Council Office or send it in a stamped envelope to: ‘H&B Community Development Officer’, 133 Loughborough Rd, Leics, LE4 5LQ. A CASH PRIZE of £10 will be drawn from all entries who return their questionnaire as a paper copy. (The parish plan group will draw one winner from the hat from each category at a public parish plan meeting and will inform the two winners of their prize.)
If you have any questions about this questionnaire, need help in filling it in or need someone to collect it from your house on completion, please call local volunteer Tina on 01455 844229. (Evenings only) If you would like to be involved in the completion of the parish plan please contact Jessica at the Rural Community Council (0116 268 9708) who can advise you of the next meeting date.
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Notes for Editor
Include additional background information about the RCC
Additional information
The RCC ensures that those who work and live in rural communities are provided with access to a range of opportunities, services and facilities, which are sustainable and inclusive to all and are empowered to influence and manage their own future. We have been facilitating community consultations throughout Leicestershire and Rutland for nearly 15 years and are keen to ensure that local people can have their say about the area they live in.
For more information about the RCC visit www.ruralcc.org.uk « Less
Attention all Youth Leaders!!
Environmental Action For A Better Leicestershire (ENABLE), the County wide environmental partnership, is launching a new scheme to loan renewable energy resource kits. This resource will add to the eco-school objectives to deliver sustainable education through schools in Leicestershire.
The resource includes a miniature wind turbine, PV cell and solar water heater for use as a teaching resource. We will be also providing a set of lesson plans that helps teachers to link applications of these kits to the National Curriculum. More »
The kits will be available to all the schools in Leicestershire for the term starting 20th April 2009.
Why?
We are witnessing climate change and the Government is encouraging us to pass the message to our next generation – School Children.
What you can use it for?
You will be provided briefing notes with lesson plans integrating to Science, Geography, ICT, CARE, PSE, etc. showing their links to the National Curriculum.
How much does it cost?
You can borrow these kits for free, there will be a small delivery charge or you could collect and return them yourself. You can also spread the delivery charge by borrowing other items from the Resource Box Scheme.
How long can we keep the loans for?
Schools can borrow up to 25 items from the Resource box including these kits for a whole school term. Non-school borrowers can borrow at any time for a fixed agreed time.
ORDER NOW!! There are only 20 sets available on first come first serve basis. To reserve your renewable energy kit, contact Resource Box Officer on 01455 552834 or sherrier@leics.gov.uk
For further information, please contact Hetal Patel on 0116 3057068 or enable@leics.gov.uk « Less
The new Leicestershire Looks, a directory of Independent Fashion Retailers is now available.
This directory has been compiled to make it easier for the customer to see the wide and diverse range of jewellers, independent fashion retailers, shoes and accessories that are available in Leicestershire’s Market Towns and Rural Centres.
By purchasing locally not only do you get a unique item
but it helps to support the local economy and reduces carbon emissions through less use of the car! To complete your new look why not have a new hairstyle and beauty treatment at one of Leicestershire’s many salons. More »
The directory is arranged by town and then by category, enabling you to find what you are looking for easily.
To complete your day in one of the towns, each offers a unique selection of eating places,
from cafés through to restaurants. Should you welcome a change from shopping, then most towns offer quality museums - especially Snibston in Coalville, which has a new and exciting
Fashion Gallery where you will find pleasant or unpleasant memories!
Copies of these will be distributed to all the shops included in the directory as well as the following,
Car Dealers
Doctors
Dentists
Hotels and other accommodation
Café’s
Tourist Attractions
District Councils
Libraries
If you have any comments or you are interested in a future directory then please contact Nicola Lees on 0116 305 7986 or email betterplaces@leics.gov.uk « Less
Beacon Success for Managing the Night-Time Economy
Sadiq Khan MP last night (3rd March 2009) awarded Hinckley & Bosworth Borough Council and Leicestershire Police Hinckley Local Policing Unit (LPU) Beacon status for their outstanding work in Managing the Night-time Economy. The Borough Council and the police walked away with a share of £3m government funding to expand their work and help other councils achieve the same success.
The Beacon awards recognise local government’s excellence and innovation in improving quality of life for their residents and communities. More »
The Borough Council worked in partnership with Leicestershire Constabulary LPU, the Local Strategic Partnership (LSP) and the Community Safety Partnership (CSP) to secure the award for managing the night-time economy in Hinckley. The partners demonstrated their work in making the town centre a safe, clean, welcoming and thriving place ‘after dark’.
Sadiq Khan, Communities Minister comments, "My congratulations go out to Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council and Leicestershire Police Hinckley LPU and other partners. The Beacons are about showcasing the very best in service delivery, and in this, their final year, we really have seen some exceptional examples of managing the night-time economy. Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council and Leicestershire police Hinckley LPU are among are the top performers in their field, setting the standard for innovation, service excellence and improvement. With the added emphasis on economic recovery in this year’s Beacons, the winners are ideally placed to share their knowledge and skills to improve the sector as a whole.
Marianne Hood, chair of the Beacons Panel continues, “Being awarded Beacon status means that Hinckley & Bosworth Borough Council and Leicestershire Police Hinckley LPU and their partners will receive recognition, from national government and other authorities, for their expertise in managing the night-time economy. I will be closely following the work that the Beacon authorities carry out, and wish them the very best of luck, in their new role sharing knowledge and supporting improvement.”
Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council with Leicestershire Police Hinckley Local Policing Unit, the Local Strategic Partnership and the Community Safety Partnership and the other Beacon councils for this theme will now work together, with the support of the Improvement and Development Agency, using a range of learning activities to help improve standards in all authorities in this area.
Hinckley & Bosworth Borough Council Leader, Councillor David Bill said: “ What is important is not just that the Borough Council and partner agencies have received yet another award, encouraging though that is, but that we have shown once again what can be achieved by everyone working together towards a common aim."
Inspector Martyn Ball, Commander of the Hinckley local policing unit, said: “Working closely with our partners at the council has helped us achieve this prestigious award and I am extremely proud of the success we have attained in recent years.
“By focusing on key problems and locations that impact on crime and disorder we have dramatically reduced crime in the town and across the Borough. We have launched a number of successful campaigns with the Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council and our wider partners, such as Street Pastors and Pub Watch, which has had a significant impact on community cohesion and reassurance. Making Hinckley and Bosworth a safer place to live, work and visit has been at the heart of our efforts and our Beacon Status recognises that.”
South area Commander, Chief Superintendent Garry Forsyth added: “This is a tremendous accolade to the hard work of the local policing unit and the Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council. Beacon Status has provided us with a wonderful opportunity to invest further in our commitment to managing the night-time economy in the area.”
The Beacon Scheme is funded by the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG), and the programme is managed at the Improvement and Development Agency for local government. This year, the independent Beacon panel received 125 applications (involving 159 authorities), and using an extensive judging process, they whittled this number down to a shortlist of 62. « Less
On Thursday 19th March, a public meeting of the Leicestershire Safer Communities Strategy Board is taking place in the Council Chamber at County Hall, Glenfield. A buffet tea will be served from 17:30, with the meeting getting underway at 18:00 until 19:00.
The Leicestershire Safer Communities Strategy Board (LSCSB) is made up of senior representatives from Leicestershire County Council, District/Borough Community Safety Partnerships, Leicestershire Police Authority, Leicestershire Constabulary, Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service, NHS Leicestershire County and Rutland, Leicestershire & Rutland Probation Trust and the Leicestershire Drug & Alcohol Action Team. More »
At the meeting, attendees will:
• hear presentations with a spotlight on alcohol and disorder from professionals and a member of the public
• have the opportunity to feedback to the board on how it engages with the public
• take part in a Question & Answer session
• Receive a free Community Safety Pack containing items and information to keep you, your home and your property safe.
• Have the opportunity to enter a competition to win a half day “Patrol for Two” with Leicestershire Constabulary’s Road Policing Unit
• Explore the Community Safety exhibition in the members lounge
For further information, please contact John Fisher on 0116 305 6015 or email jofisher@leics.gov.uk. « Less
The Leicestershire Local Involvement Network being officially launched on Friday 27th March 2009, 12-1pm followed by refreshments, at the BRITE Centre, Braunstone Avenue, Braunstone, LE3 1LE.
This national initiative is a way of giving people the power to improve health and social care services in every local authority area. Through LINk, local people can join together to influence how services are run.
The Leicestershire LINk will work closely with the health and social care services that the people of Leicestershire use, including services across county boundaries. We will also work in partnership with LINKs in neighbouring counties. There are separate LINks for the city of Leicester and the surrounding counties. More »
To find out more and see how you can get involved book your place for the launch by contacting the LINk team on 0116 234 1577 or email: info@leicestershirelink.org.uk
For Leicestershire LINk telephone: 0116 234 1577, or info@leicestershirelink.org.uk « Less
Hinckley and Bosworth patients who need urgent medical care when their GP surgery is closed will be able to get an appointment to see a doctor at a new evening, weekend and bank holiday clinic at Hinckley and Bosworth Community Hospital from next month.
The clinic has been set up as part a new arrangement which sees the Leicestershire County and Rutland Out of Hours Service take over responsibility for providing ‘out of hours’ urgent medical care for patients of all the GP practices in the Hinckley and Bosworth area from Monday 2 February. More »
Previously nine GP practices in the area were covered by an out of hours service managed by a Primary Care Trust over the border in Warwickshire.
The change means:
• all patients registered with GP practices in Leicestershire and Rutland (with the exception of one practice in Castle Donington) will now get urgent care out of hours from the same service
• patients of the nine practices in Hinckley changing to the new service may need to call a different number (0845 045 0411)
• if patients need to see a GP out of hours an appointment can be made for them to do so at a new evening, weekend and bank holiday clinic at Hinckley and Bosworth Community Hospital on Ashby Road, Hinckley.
• if patients need to see a GP out of hours and they are not well enough to attend the new clinic they will be visited at home by a GP home visiting crew. A home visiting crew will be based at the community hospital.
Director of Community Health Services Rachel North said: “We’re well placed to provide this service for the whole of the Hinckley area. The benefits for local people are three fold: from next month all local people can call the same number for urgent care out of hours; if they need to they will be able to get an appointment to see a GP at the town’s community hospital instead of having to travel elsewhere; and those who need a home visit will get one from a crew based at the hospital.
Leaflets and posters are being displayed in practices and the change will be advertised in community hospitals and through the local media. To find out more about the Leicestershire and Rutland Out of Hours service contact the support services manager on 0116 295 0093. « Less
The dental contracts team have confirmed that planning permission has now been granted to enable the new NHS dental practice, Rodericks Ltd, to be established in the centre of Burbage. Rodericks Ltd have begun converting a building in Church Street and the new practice will be open next month.
The new dental practice has been commissioned as part of NHS Leicestershire County and Rutland’s ongoing commitment to improving access to dental services.
Director of primary care, Rosemary Stuckey, said: ‘We are delighted to confirm that planning permission has now been approved for the new NHS dental practice in Burbage which will improve access to high quality NHS dental services. We will continue to improve and develop services for our patients.’ More »
Local people, including staff, can register interest in becoming a patient at the new Burbage practice by logging onto website at www.burbagedental.co.uk and completing the online form.
NHS Leicestershire County and Rutland is the operating name for Leicestershire County and Rutland PCT « Less
The Department of Health is holding a public consultation on whether it should prohibit the use of 084 numbers to access services provided by the NHS because patients who use 084 numbers are paying more than the equivalent cost of a local rate call to access services provided by the NHS.
GP practices and other NHS organisations using 084 numbers do not make a profit from 084 numbers however, the money generated goes towards the cost of providing that number and functions such as allowing a caller to be held in a queue, so ending the problem of getting an engaged tone and access a push-button choice of options that can be used to route calls, for example to appointments, repeat prescriptions or a practice nurse. More »
For further information including:
Is there an alternative way to offer the same functions as an 084 number?
Why do GP surgeries offer 084 numbers?
and
What are the costs of using an 084 number and to whom?
Please see the document below.
The consultation runs from 16 December 2008 until 31 March 2009 with details available in GP surgeries and online at:
www.dh.gov.uk/en/Consultations/Liveconsultations/index.htm « Less
NHS Leicestershire County and Rutland’s public consultation on the future of our community health services finished on 5 October. During the 16 weeks of the consultation the consultation document was distributed widely, with public events held across Leicestershire and Rutland. Over 1,000 people offered a response.
The feedback is summarised and analysed with this link:
http://www.lcrpct.nhs.uk/xform.asp?folder=Internet/DevelopingCommunityServices More »
Prepared by an independent team from Loughborough University, this analysis gives quantitative figures from the answers to both general questions about the Leicestershire County and Rutland’s public vision for the future and specific questions about proposals for each location.
Much of the feedback supports the overall vision. Most importantly people have commented about proposals for specific hospitals. These include issues of access and views about what services should be provided where. There is also feedback about proposals for particular buildings. « Less
