Leicestershire Matters

Please tell us know your views on Leicestershire Matters and if there are subjects you would like to see included in a future issue.

Call: 0116 305 6162 or 0116 305 6957, e-mail: Leics-Matters@leics.gov.uk or write to: Leicestershire Matters, Room 211, Chief Executive’s Department, County Hall, Glenfield, Leicestershire LE3 8RA.

The ‘Rot-a-Lot’ Composting Club is free to join and has regular workshops around the County, giving people the opportunity to meet with experts and fellow enthusiasts.

Club members will receive tips to improve the quality of their compost and will also get regular newsletters.

Residents joining the club will be given a pack to help get the most from their compost bins.  Packs include:

To join the ‘Rot-a-Lot’ club, or for more details, e-mail: compost@leics.gov.uk or call 0116 305 8385.

Places are limited on this popular scheme which offers young people expert help and advice to help them become safer motorists and encourages a responsible attitude to driving.

The pre-driver days are aimed at 16 and 17 year olds who have yet to get behind the wheel. They provide an introduction to motoring and workshops highlight the risks of speeding and irresponsible driving.

We also offer young driver days for ages 17-24.  These are aimed at young people who hold a full driving licence.  Sessions include advice on negotiating different weather conditions and the dangers of drink driving.

Both days involve practical driving with a qualified instructor.  The pre-driver course includes an off-road lesson around the Mallory Park track, which allows young motorists to gain confidence in a hazard-free environment.

The young driver days include an on-road practical session, giving those taking part the opportunity to further develop their skills.  Participants in both courses will receive feedback and advice on their driving.

To register your interest or for further details, contact Loraine Harris on 0116 305 7229, e-mail: lharris@leics.gov.uk Alternatively, visit the tjunction website  

The airport has invested £85,000 and worked with us to install the new cycle link across the A453 near Diseworth.

When a cyclist arrives at the crossing, sensors trigger signs which show a ‘Slow Down’ message with amber flashing lights, to warn motorists to watch out for cyclists.

The link will make it easier and safer for employees and those travelling to and from the airport to do so by bicycle.

David Parsons, the County Council’s Leader, said: “We have worked with the airport authority and with leading sustainable transport charity, Sustrans, on this project which uses innovative technology – is a major ‘first’ for Leicestershire.”

Patrick Davis, Sustrans’ East Midlands Area Manager, said: "The new link forms part of National Cycle Network Route 15 and provides a real alternative to travelling to the airport by car.”

Colleen Hempson, Transport and Employment Strategy Manager for the airport said, “This crossing means that we can actively promote cycling to employees. It also opens up new employment opportunities to those people living in this area who do not have access to a car.”

Exciting new libraries have been opened at Kirby Muxloe and Markfield, while Birstall Library has been revamped.

These are the latest developments in a huge programme of refurbishments and new buildings across the County, ensuring libraries in Leicestershire are among the best in the country.

As part of the programme, new libraries have already opened at Ratby, Broughton Astley, Glenhills, Glenfield and Measham.  Refurbishment work has been completed at libraries including Loughborough, Shepshed, Coalville, Wigston Magna, Burbage and Thurmaston.  Look out too for a major revamp of Hinckley Library over the coming months.

Not only are we building and refurbishing libraries, we are developing the services available at libraries.

All libraries, including mobiles, now have collections of the current top 20 best selling fiction paperbacks.  They can be borrowed for a week, free of charge and are renewable.

We are also using information from our on-line survey to help us decide on the type and range of stock that should go into various libraries. More than 400 people replied to this survey, giving views on what stock we should put into our libraries. The results are available on the Libraries pages of this website  Alternatively call 0116 267 8023 or e-mail: rwalkuski@leics.gov.uk

We have extended opening hours.  Most of our libraries are now open until 5pm on Saturdays and many are open later in the evenings.  Loughborough Library is now open seven days a week.

A leaflet has been produced providing information about the services available at your local library, and has been translated into Bengali, Gujarati, Hindi, Polish, Punjabi and Urdu.  Copies are available at all County libraries and on the Libraries pages.

For more details about library services visit the Libraries pages or call 0116 305 6988.

Your services are funded through a combination of a Government grant and money raised from Council Tax.

We receive poor funding from central Government across all our services – 20 per cent less per head of population than the national average for County Councils.

For example, funding for our schools is the lowest in the country.  For each pupil we receive £220 below the average for other County Councils and £419 below the national average.

Our Fair Share Campaign is being launched in partnership with Leicestershire Police.  Both authorities are lobbying for better funding settlements as the current levels fall well short of what is needed.

Next year, the increase in our Government grant will be less than one per cent.  At the same time, the costs of providing services is increasing dramatically.

For example, due to Government and EC legislation, the cost of waste disposal and recycling will rise by 10 per cent.  In addition, the cost of caring for older people and adults with learning disabilities is increasing much more than inflation.

Despite this, as your four-star County Council, we are determined to continue to provide the highest standard of services possible.

Last year, more than three and a half million books, DVDs, CDs and videos were borrowed from our libraries.  More than 50,000 sessions were attended by older people at our day centres and we managed the disposal of 240,000 tonnes of waste at landfill sites.

Our aim is to maintain the standard of services we provide and improve our priority areas, such as libraries and recycling facilities, without major Council Tax increases.

To do this, savings will have to be made.  Most of these will come from improving efficiency, but reductions in lower priority services are likely to be required.

We will be consulting with local residents on our financial strategy.  We are keen to hear your views on:

A survey will be issued to our Citizens’ Panel members (information on how to join the Citizens Panel), and we will be asking small focus groups made up of local residents for their views.  The results of these will help us to plan our budget for the next financial year.

For more details about our campaign for fairer funding e-mail: fairerfunding@leics.gov.uk or call 0116 305 7642 6199.

Whether you want to go shopping, visit friends and family, enjoy a day trip or commute, buses offer good value, they are parking-free and an environmentally-friendly way to travel.

To make journey planning simple our County-wide Leicestershire Bus Map & Guide covers all our hourly services and our individual Town Map and Guides give you full details on more local services.

We also have leaflets on our Rural Rider bus service, which help people in smaller villages in east Leicestershire to travel to Market Harborough, Melton Mowbray and Oakham.

Look out for travel offers in your area on local services such as:

For details visit: the Transport Promotions page of this website.

The maps and guides are available at tourist information centres, libraries, service shops and post offices. Alternatively:

The following guides and leaflets are also available to download

If you live in a community that does not have convenient access to one of our hourly bus services, an alternative service can often be provided.  

These services are usually available on set days and times, to local centres, but they only run when booked. The fares are similar to bus fares and there are also concessions for bus pass holders.

The places they run from are usually smaller villages, for example Branston, which has services to Grantham and Melton.  But they also cover areas in larger villages that are further than 800 metres from the nearest bus stop, for example the eastern end of Main Street in Queniborough.  

We also have community transport services to help you if you find it difficult to use buses because you are an elderly or disabled person.

We fund voluntary transport organisations across the County who run minibus services and social car schemes. Fares are similar to bus fares and on the social car scheme a zone fares system is in operation. Half fare concessions are available for bus pass holders.

For more details, please call 0116 305 8777, or e-mail: passengertransport@leics.gov.uk

The Secretary of State has named the £15 million bypass in a three-year construction programme, and confirmed funding could be made available as early as next year.

Work is due to start on the new road in late 2007 and is planned to be open to traffic during winter 2008/09.

For further information e-mail: mtp@leics.gov.uk or call 0116 305 6835.

Until the end of October, action was taken against 34 lorry drivers following reports by members of the public.

This is helping to enforce our lorry control strategy, which keeps A and B roads available for all traffic, but has restricted most other roads in rural areas. There are still some instances where minor roads may be used by heavy lorries. The 7.5 tonne weight restriction does not apply if lorries are making a delivery into an affected area.

To report problems, e-mail: weight.restricted@leicestershire.pnn.police.uk or call 0116 222 2222.

To see a map of the lorry route network visit the Lorry Route pages.

It contains advice on accident prevention in the home, keeping mentally and physically healthy and maintaining your independence.

The free handbook, entitled ‘Ageing Well in Leicestershire’, also includes information about assisted travel, financial matters and adult education.

Aimed at people over 60, it includes a series of contact details for local organisations and services to help you make the most out of life and older age.

The booklet has been produced through a collaboration of agencies, led by the County Council and Age Concern Leicestershire and Rutland.  Further partners involved include the NHS, District Councils, voluntary sector organisations and the Pension Service.

The older persons’ handbook is part of a series of new initiatives being delivered as part of the Local Area Agreement (for more details see our story below).

Copies of the handbook will be circulated widely to older people across the County and will also be available from places including GP surgeries and libraries.  Alternatively, call 0116 305 7404 or e-mail: adultsocialcare@leics.gov.uk and we can send you an electronic version or a hard copy.

The new initiatives are part of the Local Area Agreement.  This is an agreement between Leicestershire Together (a strategic partnership of local organisations led by the County Council) and the Government to progress key projects which will benefit local people.

As well as producing the new older persons’ handbook, these include:

For more information about the LAA visit the Leicestershire Together website, e-mail: jpwright@leics.gov.uk or call John Wright on 0116 305 8015.