Consultation launches on Council Tax Support changes

August 17, 2018Civic, NewsBlaby District Council, consultation, Consultation launches on Council Tax Support changes, Council Tax, supportstaff

A consultation on changes to the Council Tax Support Scheme has been launched
by Blaby District Council from 17 August, closing on 30 September 2018.

Following significant reductions in central government funding, the Council no
longer receives money based on the Council Tax support provided to households.

This money must now be found by Blaby District Council through its central budget.

In order to make up the shortfall following the funding cut, the Council has launched
a consultation on changes which could save hundreds of thousands of pounds a
year, and is seeking residents’ views.

Proposals include a 200% Council Tax charge on properties that have been empty
for more than two years. This is part of the Council’s drive to bring long term empty
properties back into use across the district.

Other changes include no longer giving an unfurnished and unoccupied property a
one-month free period of Council Tax, removing the 10% discount for second
homes in the district and no longer offering a 50% discount on Council Tax to
properties undergoing major repair or structural works.

If all four proposed changes were made it could save up to £400,000 per year for
Blaby District Council, Leicestershire County Council, Leicestershire Police
Authority, Leicestershire Fire Authority and local parish councils.

The consultation also includes proposals on Council Tax Support Scheme.

Currently around 5,000 households receive a means-tested discount. All
households currently pay at least 15% towards their Council Tax bill.

Four options are being considered in the consultation, including reducing the maximum support from 85% to 83%, 80% or 78%. A reduction to 78% would save around £300,000 per year.

There will be no change to the amount of help for people of pension age credit, the
25% single person discount or the exemption for those who are severely mentally
impaired and living alone.

Councillor Lee Breckon, Portfolio Holder for Community Services, said: “This is an
important consultation and we want as many residents as possible to have their say
to help us shape the difficult decisions we have to make.

“The consultation is open until 30 September and we encourage people to read the
booklet which gives clear information on the proposals and savings that could be
made before having their say.

“Any savings would be shared between ourselves, Leicestershire County Council,
the Fire and Rescue Service, Leicestershire Police and Parish Councils.”

Residents can visit www.blaby.gov.uk/consultation to find the consultation booklet
and fill in the online consultation form. A paper copy is also available on the website
or via request on 0116 272 7510.

[Source: Blaby District Council Communications]

District’s leisure programmes prove a success

August 14, 2018Civic, NewsBlaby, District’s leisure programmes prove a success, Health and Leisure team, Physical Activity Pathwaystaff

Residents in the District of Blaby have been named as one of the most physically active thanks to the work of the Health and Leisure Services team.

Using funding from Leicestershire County Council Public Health, Blaby District Council’s Health and Leisure Service deliver various programmes for different target groups every year; from school sports partnerships to specific activities for older people.

A “Physical Activity Pathway” with exercise programmes designed to increase activity, avoid falls in the home and for those in need of cardiac rehabilitation is also offered.

As well as enabling residents to get specialist exercise, the work of the Physical Activity Pathway can also lead to a reduction in demand on health services.

Analysis of the programmes offered over the last year highlighted that over 11,000 residents participated in at least one programme offered by the Health and Leisure team, the second highest number across the county.

The team also engaged over 1,000 participants with a disability and over 1,000 BAME residents. These figures were the highest and second highest across the county respectively.

Blaby District also became the only local area in Leicestershire to engage more males than females, with inactive men far harder to engage historically.

Councillor Iain Hewson, Portfolio Holder for Leisure and Regulatory Services, said: “We are incredibly proud of our Health and Leisure team. Each and every programme run for all ages and abilities had led to this success, with healthier, more active residents the result.

“Our dedicated staff have made an effort to get out into the local community and working with residents to achieve this year’s fantastic outcome. Their local knowledge and expertise means the funding from the County Council is used wisely.”

For more information on the programmes and activities available for residents, visit www.sportblaby.org.uk or email leisure@blaby.gov.uk.

[Source/Photo: Blaby District Council Communications]

Two fined for collar and tag offences

August 14, 2018Civic, NewsBlaby District Council, Broughton Astley, Fran Lee, Rebecca Bennett, sharnford, Two fined for collar and tag offencesstaff

Two people have been fined for failing to ensure their dog has a collar or tag
containing updated contact details.

Fran Lee of Broughton Astley had her German Shepherd picked up as a stray by
the Council in Cosby. The dog failed to have a tag on in a public place as per The
Control of Dogs Order (1992).

A dog must wear a collar bearing the name and address (including postcode) of the owner engraved or written on it, or engraved on a tag.

Miss Lee didn’t enter a plea and was fined £220, ordered to pay £140 in costs and
a £30 victim surcharge by Leicester Magistrates’ Court.

Rebecca Bennett of Sharnford had her Cocker Spaniel picked up near Sapcote,
with the dog failing to have a collar on. She pleaded guilty to the offence and
offered mitigation to Leicester Magistrates’ Court, who fined her £50, with £50 costs and a £30 victim surcharge.

Cllr Hewson: Fines could have been avoided

Councillor Iain Hewson, Portfolio Holder for Leisure and Regulatory Services, said: “Both of these fines could have been avoided had these dogs been wearing the appropriate items as required by law.

“Every time we pick a dog up as a stray it costs the Council money that could be better spent elsewhere.

“We’re pleased with these results and hope it is a deterrent for anyone whose dogs are walking in public places across the district without the right collar or tag on.”

A summer family dog day will be hosted on Narborough Park on Thursday 23
August from 10am-2pm giving dog owners the chance to get a collar and/or tag, as
well as ensure their pet has an up to date microchip. Activities for children, including
face painting and Dog’s Trust educators will also be at the event.

Tags can be bought and engraved from as little as £2.50 online, or from pet shops
across the local area. To find out more about the law visit www.blaby.gov.uk/dogs.

Enderby Fete promises fun for all the family

August 13, 2018Leisure & Sport, News2018, Enderby, Enderby Events, Enderby Fete promises fun for all the family, fete, King George V Playing Field, Mill Lanestaff

It’s been a while since the last one, but the dream of restoring an annual Village Fete is alive!

Final preparations are coming together for the Enderby Village Fete 2018 to be held on Saturday, September 1st. on the King George V Playing Field, Mill Lane, Enderby.

Many Enderby residents might remember the Village Fete of 30th July 2011 – the first for over 50 years – which was organised in response to suggestions made in the 2010 Enderby Parish Plan – and which was viewed generally as a major success. Plans were made to repeat the event in 2012, drawing on the experience gained.

Photo (top) Riding the Little Red Bus at the 2011 Enderby Village Fete

Unfortunately, despite the excitement and anticipation of Enderby folk, the weather had other ideas. As the date of the 2012 event drew tantalisingly close, Mother Nature decided to intervene with what turned out to be a lengthy period of inclement weather. Over 100mm of rain – more than the average amount for the whole month of June – fell in 24 hours in some areas of the country.

The Fete Committee reluctantly made the decision to cancel the 2012 Enderby Village Fete after several inspections of the King George V Playing Field.

The committee concluded that following the torrential rainfall throughout June and July of that year, the saturated ground meant it was unsafe to be traversed by vehicles and neither would it be conducive to providing a pleasant experience for exhibitors and visitors alike.

After that setback it seemed the appetite for a Village Fete as an annual event was
significantly diminished… until recently (and some 7 years after the last highly successful event).

New ‘Enderby Events Group’ formed

The original fete committee disbanded in 2012 but in an attempt to revive an annual Village Fete, a new Events Group was formed earlier this year.

The new group is comprised of a number of Parish Councillors and interested residents.

The primary focus of the Events Group is the re-establishment of the Enderby Village Fete as an annual event. A decision was taken to hold the new group’s inaugural event on 1st September this year.

The organisers have been busy and the event will feature a Dog Show, Classic Car Show, Live Music, Tug-O-War, Children’s Entertainment (including riding the ‘Little Red Bus!’), A ‘Real Ale’ Bar and of course a wide variety of stalls. Food, drink and ice-creams will also be available. Something to interest all the family!

Everyone involved is keeping their fingers crossed that Mother Nature will behave and this year (instead of showering everyone with rain) she will ‘shower’ her blessings on what promises to be a memorable event.

A Place To Grow Open Day

August 11, 2018Civic, Leisure & Sport, NewsA Place To Grow, open day, performance, SEEDstaff

The sun shone down on Saturday 11th August as a steady stream of visitors made their way around the ‘A Place To Grow’ community garden site on Mill Lane Enderby.

District Councillor Iain Hewson, Portfolio Holder for Health Improvement, Leisure & Regulatory Services, welcomed visitors to the Open Day event which featured a BBQ, cake, refreshments and an ice cream van on offer.

This years event included a children’s garden hunt, garden games, planting activities, and the sale of plants and produce from the community garden.

In addition, there were two free family performances of Pif Paf Theatre‘s ‘SEED’, featuring “an inspiring hitch-hike on a plant-related journey from small Acorns to great Oak Trees”! (Pictured above and below, later).

The performances, at 11.30am and 1.30pm, took place on a grass area within the site.

Children and adults alike were spellbound watching the performance, described as “an inspiring hitch-hike on a plant-related journey from small Acorns to great Oak Trees.”

It was a fun exploration of man’s relationship with the long suffering plants that keep us fed, sheltered and breathing through a one-man performance which entailed the visual and movement theatre story of Wilford – one of the ‘unseen’ – as he scrapes and digs and blasts the seed holes and co-opts the water and food.”

The story was told with a multitude of ‘props’ and contraption effects ingeniously engineered into an ‘ark’ that was reminiscent of a Disney inspired ‘wonderful machine’.

Visitors enjoyed wandering among the raised beds and stalls promoting healthy living, a theme that ran through the whole event and which encapsulates the site’s raison d’être.

The purpose of ‘A Place To Grow’ is to provide a sustainable community garden that supports positive health and wellbeing. This is achieved by encouraging those participating in the project to learn new things by producing and eating healthy food, being physically active, getting involved in the community and meeting new people in a friendly, informal and safe environment.

Opening times of ‘A Place To Grow’ are: