Latest News
Broadband speed is a hot topic at the moment. The
prime issue is that private service providers do not
consider there to be an economic case for improving
broadband provision in some areas with poor
connectivity. A key element of this is that it usually costs
providers considerably more to provide broadband
services in rural areas than it does in more urban areas
emda recently hosted a rural broadband summit
which brought together stakeholders from across the
region to explore the potential for improved broadband
connectivity in areas that are least likely to be reached
by mainstream market providers. Delegates were
invited to put forward their ideas to inform a rural
broadband manifesto for the region.
Broadband connectivity has been identified as a
key priority within the Leicester and Leicestershire
Strategy for Economic Growth, 2010-20. Prospect
Leicestershire, as a delivery partner with the new subregional
governance arrangements, is currently leading
interventions within the County. More »
How can you help?
The Broadband Line Information Monitoring Project
(BLIMP) is supported by a number of Regional
Development Agencies to gather information on local
broadband speeds. It aims to measure the broadband
speeds which are being achieved in the real world
and store these in a database from which the relative
levels of service being delivered across the country by
different suppliers can be monitored. This information
will be made publicly available. It will enable an up to
date, self maintaining atlas of Internet connectivity to be
created.
Visit http://www.blimpchecker.co.uk where you
can download a tool which will make periodic
measurements of your line speed and return this data
automatically to the BLIMP database.
You can uninstall the tool at any time, it doesn’t collect
any personal information and the tool should not
significantly impact the performance of either your
computer or the speed of your broadband connection. « Less
A training course for voluntary groups, community groups and charities will be run on Tuesday 23rd March, 7 - 9pm, at Quorn Lodge Hotel, Melton Mowbray. The cost is £10 per delegate within Melton and Harborough area, £20 per delegate from outside. Pre-booking is essential.
Participants will learn about First steps in fundraising for new and existing projects, Sustainable approaches to fundraising, What funders are looking for, the role of the treasurer and What you need to record and report for your group. More »
To book a place contact Christine Barrett on 01858 439264 or email cbarrett@vasl.org.uk « Less
Supported Accommodation for Older People in Leicestershire
1. Consultation on the proposal of a stand-alone procurement of extra care and specialist dementia care for Catherine Dalley Elderly Person’s Home and Silverdale Hostel Site.
We invite your views.
Consultation period: 25 January 2010 to 19 April 2010.
Who can get involved: Open to anyone.
How can I get involved?
If you would like to contribute see the link above.
2. Consultation on the transfer of nine in-house Elderly Person’s Homes and associated day care services (where co-located) to the independent sector.
We invite your views. More »
Consultation period: 25 January 2010 to 19 April 2010.
Who can get involved: Open to anyone.
How can I get involved? If you would like to contribute see the link above. « Less
ONE year after its creation the NHS Constitution is currently being updated and NHS Leicester City is urging local people to have their say.
The national document outlines what patients, public and staff can expect from the NHS and what is expected from them. There are 25 rights and 14 pledges for patients and the public contained in the NHS Constitution.
The first anniversary of the document is this Thursday and we are asking what people think about Government proposals to introduce two new rights. More »
These rights include reducing waiting times and the introduction of health checks for patients aged 40-74.
NHS Leicester City is currently asking people in the city to comment on the proposed changes via a questionnaire online at www.leicestercity.nhs.uk. NHS Leicester City members will automatically receive a form in the post.
Philip Parkinson, chairman of NHS Leicester City, said: “The NHS Constitution is important and belongs to patients, staff and the public. We hope local people will take this opportunity to have their say on this national document and highlight what is important to them.”
All website and written responses must be returned to the Get Involved team by Monday January 25, 2010.
The Get Involved team work with residents in Leicester to understand what people want from their NHS. For more information please contact the team on 0116 295 4183. « Less
A training course for voluntary groups, community groups and charities will be run on Tuesday 9th February, 7 - 9pm, at Quorn Lodge Hotel, Melton Mowbray. The cost is £10 per delegate within Melton and Harborough area, £20 per delegate from outside. Pre-booking is essential.
Participants will learn about First steps in fundraising for new and existing projects, Sustainable approaches to fundraising, What funders are looking for, the role of the treasurer and What you need to record and report for your group. More »
To book a place contact Christine Barrett on 01858 439264 or email cbarrett@vasl.org.uk « Less
Record levels of Government borrowing mean that public spending will have to reduce.
Over the next four years it is likely that Leicestershire County Council will need to make savings of around £70 million – approximately 25% of its budget (excluding schools).
Over half the savings (c£40 million) will be found from making even more efficiency improvements - but that will not be enough; service reductions will have to be made. Over the coming years Leicestershire County Council will be faced with some very hard choices about services. More »
Leicestershire County Council would very much like your views on how to tackle this issue.
An on-line Budget Consultation Questionnaire asks which services should be reduced, which should be protected and whether you agree with the County Council’s proposals on council tax. The questionnaire would only take a few minutes to complete.
You can access the on-line questionnaire by clicking on the title of this article. « Less
Have you got ideas on how to make your local area an even better place to live? Perhaps you are involved in a project or activity that, with some further support, could help benefit many more in your local area.
If so, you may be interested in attending a special Area Forum workshop to share and discuss ideas and vote for your favourite.
On September 3rd 2009, the Melton West Community Forum will be holding a Dragons' Den-style workshop where residents and community groups can pitch suggestions. More »
The forum will have £20,000 available for projects benefiting the local area and people are invited to come forward with exciting ideas.
Following the workshop we will work with our partners to see how the selected ideas can best be delivered.
The money will be allocated in line with each forum's priorities:
- Improving access to services and facilities,
- Supportin and develoing young people
- Supporting the local economy
The meeting will be held at Ashby Folville Village Hall and start at 6pm, with a light finger buffet available from 5.30pm.
To attend this FREE meeting, (please note earlier start time), you will need to register for a place because the number of places is limited.
To register for a place click here
For further information please contact Richard Downing on 0116 3055823 (or email richard.downing@leics.gov.uk) or Paul Goodman on 0116 3058015 (or email paul.goodman@leics.gov.uk) « Less
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
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
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
