We are reviewing the feedback received and will publish more information in due course.
Engagement 2023
Closed consultations and engagements
Sexual health services in Leicestershire and Rutland
Date: 16 January - 12 March 2023
Sexual health services for Leicestershire and Rutland comprise of the Integrated Sexual Health Service (ISHS) and Community Based Services (CBS).
We asked
The Integrated Sexual Health Service (ISHS) is currently jointly commissioned by Leicester City, Leicestershire County and Rutland County Councils.
This service has main clinics (hub clinics) alongside several smaller (spoke) clinics.
Hub clinics are in:
- Haymarket Centre (Leicester)
- Loughborough Health Centre
Spoke clinics are in:
- Rutland Memorial Hospital
- Hinckley Health Centre
- St. Luke’s Hospital (Market Harborough)
- Coalville Community Hospital.
The service currently provides a range of services including:
- sexually transmitted infection testing and treatment
- a specific young people’s service
- psychosexual counselling
- contraceptive services
Community Based Services are commissioned individually by each authority and provide contraceptive services in communities. This may be delivered by either your GP or a local pharmacy.
Why we are consulting
In Leicestershire and Rutland both the Integrated Sexual Health Service (ISHS) and Community Based Services (CBS) contracts end on 31 March 2024 meaning that Leicestershire and Rutland need to set up new contracts.
We are seeking your views on what the sexual health services should offer and how they might work. The new contracts will provide an opportunity to make changes, and ensure services better meets users’ needs.
We also need to understand how people might be affected by any proposed changes to help shape future services.
Consultation for the Leicestershire and Rutland’s Sexual Health Services was approved by Leicestershire County Council’s Cabinet on 16 December 2022 and Rutland County Council’s Cabinet on 12 January 2023.
What are the proposals?
A summary of the proposed changes is listed below:
- changes to the way the services are contracted - the plans are that Leicestershire and Rutland will work together due to their similar geographical make-up and similar needs of their populations, which differ from that of Leicester City
- hub and spoke model of sexual health clinic provision to be retained and delivered from suitable premises and to be based on need
- expand the accessibility of chlamydia screening services
- dedicated long-acting reversible contraception (LARC) (coil/implants) provision within community settings
- expand emergency hormonal contraception (EHC) provision locally
The following services will continue to be available:
- condom distribution service for under 25s
- availability of online sexual health services
- vending machines in easy-to-access venues with condoms, STI testing kits and pregnancy testing kits available
- providing professional advice over the telephone to help you manage your sexual health better
- increasing the availability of advice and information that is on the sexual health services website
This consultation is about sexual health services that include prevention, testing and treatment for sexually transmitted infections and contraceptive services. These services can be used by people no matter where they live.
It does not include the HIV treatment and care services that are provided by University Hospitals of Leicester.
There will still be an open access sexual health service in Leicester City Hub, which will be contracted by Leicester City Council.
What happens next?
After the consultation closes in March, we’ll analyse the results and share the findings before going to full council in April 2023.
Your views on byelaws in Leicestershire's Country Parks
Date: 1 December 2022 – 23 February 2023
We asked
Green spaces have proven to be a lifeline in recent years. Currently Leicestershire’s parks and green spaces have a set of byelaws which were introduced in 2003. Following developments in technology and usage changes across our green spaces, we are looking to update them, and we would like to hear from you.
Local byelaws are seen as additional layer of protection that enables visitors to experience the county’s green spaces at their best while partaking in activities that they love.
In 2003, the county council approved a set of byelaws that covered all aspects of country parks, from protecting wildlife and the environment through to vehicle management and visitor activities.
The new proposals will seek to bring the byelaws up to date reflecting site usage and technology changes that have happened during the last nineteen years.
What are the proposals?
The proposed changes to the current byelaws are as follows:
- Inclusion of a definition of electrically powered cycles
- Prohibition of use of BBQs and camping stoves
- Inclusion and prohibition of sky lanterns
- Inclusion and prohibition of the release of fire works
- Improved clarity over the use of model boats
- Inclusion and prohibition of dogs from designated playground areas
- Inclusion of dogs on leads areas and dogs on leads by direction
- Inclusion of and clarity on the use of model electric cars
- Inclusion of and clarity on the use model aircraft and drones
- Inclusion, prohibition of and clarity on permission for flyers, graffiti, musical entertainment and Firearms
Please see the documents below which show the byelaws from 2003 and the proposed byelaws that, if approved, would be introduced next year.
What happens next?
After the consultation closes in February, we’ll analyse the results and share the findings with the Development Control and Regulatory Board before going to full council in March 2023.
Budget 2023 - 2027
Date: 19 December 2022 - 15 January 2023
We asked
We sought views from residents, businesses, organisations and staff on what they think about our budget proposals, to help shape the final proposals.
Our budget
How much is the council’s budget?
Our budget for next year is £512m. Our income is mainly from Council Tax, as well as government grants for specific projects.
What period does the budget cover?
We publish a four-year budget plan every year, known as the medium term financial strategy. It includes areas where investment is planned to meet increased demand – known as growth – and areas earmarked for savings.
How much is spent on different services?
The chart breaks down spend and income over the next four years. The financial outlook remains extremely tough with our budget gap set to rise to over £90m by 2026.
Our budget
At a glance:
- £57m more to support vulnerable people - to pay for more home and residential care, and support people with physical disabilities, learning disabilities and mental health needs. The number of home care users has increased by 600 since January 2020.
- £59m of efficiency savings - reducing back office costs by maximising digital technology, simplifying processes and providing the right level of support to residents
- Service cuts totalling £3m - including reviewing waste sites, streetlighting, Green Plaques and Shire Grants
- A 4.99 per cent Council Tax rise for 2023/24 - this equates to £1.39 a week for a Band D home and generates £17.7m for front line services. It includes a two per cent adult social care precept
- £509m four-year capital pot - for the cost of building roads, schools and other one-off projects
- An extra £1m to reduce the impact of service cuts and boost road maintenance – including £100,000 to continue rolling out community speed cameras. This follows the budget consultation and better than expected funding from Government earlier this year. Proposals will be drawn up over the next 12 months on options for this money, following detailed consultations on specific planned savings.
Council Tax
Find out more about how Council Tax is used to provide our services and more on the adult social care precept:
What happens next?
Following the consultation, our cabinet agreed final proposals before the budget was agreed at a meeting of the county council on 22 February 2023.
Consultations setting out more details about any specific service reductions would run before any changes are made.