County Councillor for Gartree March 24

16th March 2024 | Councils

Waste Sites – New Consultation

Following a large response to the previous consultation, the county council have decided to keep the Market Harborough and Shepshed sites open. However, savings still need to be made so people can have their say on some new proposals.

Residents are being asked for their views on using an extra £100k of funds to change the original proposals after the council listened to feedback from residents during the previous consultation.

The revised proposals include:

  • Keeping Market Harborough waste site open three days a week
  • Kibworth waste site to open four days a week, instead of five days
  • Keeping Shepshed waste site open two days a week

These plans would ensure there was a seven-day opening between Market Harborough and Kibworth sites. To keep both sites, open part-time, the council will need to reduce the opening of Kibworth by a day.

The new consultation is open until Wednesday 20 March and can be found on: https://www.leicestershire.gov.uk/have-your-say/current-engagement/proposed-changes-to-recycling-and-household-waste-sites

New Money for Transport & Highways

The Government has announced Local Transport money is being reallocated from funding that would have been used for the HS2 network. Leicestershire is set to receive £238.1m towards highways and public transport. These funds are to be spent from April 2025 over the next 7 years – so the county council is now working on details of projects they can use to spend the money e.g. completion of Melton Mowbray Distributor Road, potholes, extra buses etc.  

I will be reminding the Highways department of the urgent need for improved access onto the A6 from the north and south sides, and whether the case for a Kibworth bypass can be re-assessed.

Secondary School Places

More than 98% of young people have secured a place at one of their top three secondary school choices in Leicestershire.

Figures released on Friday 1 March (National School Place Offer Day) show that more than 7,500 pupils have been offered one of their chosen schools when they transfer from primary to secondary this autumn.

Out of these, more than 91% secured their first-choice place, nearly 6% received their second choice and around 1.4% received their third choice. Around 7,635 applications were received in total.

Councillor Deborah Taylor, lead member for children and families, said: “The majority of young people, around nine out of ten, will be attending their first choice of Leicestershire secondary school when they start Year 7 this autumn.

“Last year’s figures were also encouraging but the percentage of young people securing a first choice or preferred choice of schools is even higher this year, which is great news.

“If you applied and wish to accept your offer, you don’t need to do anything else.

“While we do our best to offer families their preferred places, there are a small number of cases where this hasn’t been possible. In these cases, pupils will have had an offer for their nearest school with available places.”

Harborough District Council Tax

At the HDC council meeting on 26 February councillors resolved not to increase the HDC element of council tax for 2024/25, so it remains at £177.97 for a Band D home. An opposition amendment to reduce the council tax by £5 a year was defeated by 1 vote. HDC have had better than expected business rates income from Magna Park.

kevin.feltham@leics.gov.uk