News and features from Harborough District Council - January 2025

Update on Local Plan housing figures

The government has announced its response to the recent National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) consultation.

The impact of this for the council is that it can now continue with its plan-making under the old system which reduces the requirement from 723 houses a year, to 657 houses a year, and when you take off housing sites that have already been permitted this will mean approximately 380 houses on new sites per year.

This means that the number of houses required to 2041 is approximately 1,800 houses fewer than it would be under the new NPPF.

Support for people affected by flooding 

The Leader of Harborough District Council has offered the council’s condolences to residents and businesses affected by the recent flooding.

Council officers were deployed to some of the affected areas, including Great Glen and Broughton Astley, with sandbag supplies and offers of support, with prioritisation being given to the most vulnerable residents. Cllr Phil Knowles, Leader of Harborough District Council, said: “We are working with Leicestershire County Council and other agencies to support immediate issues, but it appears a significant rainfall on saturated land has unfortunately caused localised flooding issues.

“Our thoughts are with all those impacted by this. We will be calling for a partner meeting as a matter of urgency to understand what lessons can be learnt. We also need to explore in detail the utilisation of available investment funds by partners that might play a significant part in this for the future. I would suggest that members of parliament be invited to attend so that any available national investment can also be investigated. I’m quite happy that Harborough District Council host and facilitate the meeting as long as we can get all parties together as quickly as is possible.” 

The district council is offering a free bulky waste collection service for residents who have been affected by internal flooding. Residents should contact the council’s customer services team to discuss and arrange a collection.

Residents should take photographs of the damaged items and clear disposal of them with their insurance companies before disposal.

Information about flood prevention, who to report different types of flooding incidents to and recovering from a flood can be found at: www.harborough.gov.uk/flooding

Harborough District Community Awards 2024

Image: Winners and runners up are pictured with Martin Johnson CBE, Deputy Lieutenant of Leicestershire Richard Everard OBE, Cllr Phil Knowles Leader of Harborough District Council, Cllr Jim Knight Cabinet Lead for Wellbeing, Cllr Anderson Young Person’s Champion, Cllr Peter Elliott Chairman of Harborough District Council, John Tillotson Chair of Harborough Civic Society, Caroline Mortiboys Hon. Secretary of Harborough Civic Society, John Richardson Chief Executive of Harborough District Council

People from across the Harborough district have been recognised for their important contributions to their communities at a special awards ceremony.

Winners and runners up in the Harborough District Community Awards were presented with their certificates and cash prizes at an event on 5 December 2024 in the Octagonal Hall at Welland Park Academy, Market Harborough. 

In October people were invited to nominate individuals and groups who they felt make a valuable contribution to their local community in the district for an award.  

Nominees were judged by a small panel consisting of officers from the council and Voluntary Action LeicesterShire (VAL). 

Winners and runners up were as follows: 

Voluntary and Community Group of the Year 

Winner: Broughton Astley Volunteer Group 

Runner up: The Well, Kibworth 

Young Person of the Year (11-18) 

Winner: Natasha Callis 

Runner up: Phoebe Tomes 

Volunteer of the Year (19-59) 

Winner: Jemma Redden 

Runner up: Harry Fordham 

Volunteer of the Year (60+) 

Winner: Edith Townsend 

Runner up: Mick Draper 

Special Recognition of the Year 

Winner: Roger Brown 

Joint runners up: Dot Tribe and Anthony Osborn 

The awards event also incorporated a presentation of the Citizenship Cup by John Tillotson, Chair of Harborough Civic Society to Martin Johnson CBE, retired international rugby union player. Martin spent his entire professional club career at Leicester Tigers and was England’s only Rugby World Cup-winning captain and twice leader of the British & Irish Lions. 

The Citizenship Cup was donated anonymously to the council in 1955 on the Diamond Jubilee of the Market Harborough Urban District Council. It is awarded from time to time to individuals or organised groups of individuals in recognition of outstanding achievement enhancing the reputation of or reflecting credit on Market Harborough, and for distinguished service rendered in the interests of the town.  

The council has plans to run the Harborough District Community Awards again in 2025.

Freedom of the District for Lauren

Olympian Lauren Henry is set to be granted the Freedom of the District at a ceremony next year.

The sportswoman, from Lutterworth, who won a gold medal for Team GB in the women’s quadruple sculls rowing event at Paris in 2024, will receive the honour.

At an extraordinary meeting of Harborough District Council on Monday 9 December 2024, councillors unanimously agreed that the authority would confer the title of honorary freewoman to the rower.

The Freedom of the District is the highest honour the council can bestow and is given to individuals who have demonstrated outstanding achievement and have a strong association with the Harborough district.

Lauren will be invited to a special presentation at Annual Council in May 2025.

Opportunity to have your say on council car parks

The council recognises the benefits of having good quality car parks in town centres and the need to make sure they operate at nil cost to the general community with income generated used to cover the costs of providing the service.

We want to make sure we have the right mix in the right locations and the car parking facilities operated in an environmentally friendly manner with easy-to-use terminals that have fast transaction technology. 

The new car parking strategy will be shortly open to public consultation in early spring and it will be an opportunity for you to have you say on the car parks.

Innovative and inclusive economic strategy 

A new plan to develop the local economy has been approved by the council.

At Full Council on Monday 9 December Harborough District Council adopted its Economic Development Strategy 2024-31 designed to foster growth and resilience across the Harborough district.

The feedback received through an extensive period of public consultation this year from residents and stakeholders helped shape the new strategy, which outlines the council’s longer-term vision and aspirations for the next six years.

It focuses on four key strands under the tagline: thriving people, places, enterprise and environment and outlines a number of council priorities to support businesses, attract investment, create jobs and enhance skills.

With a strong emphasis on sustainability and innovation, the strategy aims to future-proof the local economy while maintaining its unique blend of vibrant towns and scenic rural areas.

In support of the strategy, the Invest in Harborough website has undergone a significant revamp, making it easier for businesses, investors, and residents to access vital information and resources. The updated website showcases the district’s strengths and opportunities, providing a streamlined platform for those looking to grow or establish their businesses.

Community projects receive funding 

More cash has been given to community projects from the council's £1 million Community Grant Fund.

The fund aims to strengthen working relationships between the council and parishes and towns in the Harborough district and enable delivery of projects and initiatives to benefit communities at a local level.

Harborough District Council’s Cabinet Sub Committee for Grants agreed, on 17 December 2024, to allocate £39,763.76 to:  

• Kibworth Scout Group - £25,380 to build and set up a permanent outdoor education facility
• Kibworth Village Hall - £586 to replace and tile the main entrance steps
• Harborough Band - £8,795 to replace its current timpani, music stands and stand banners
• Harborough FM - £5,002.76 to purchase six new computers

Over £1.1 million in Section 106 money has also been awarded by the council to enhance amenities in Great Glen.

Organisations which applied and successfully received funding are:

• Great Glen Village Hall – £369,410.40 to refurbish the 125-year-old building and bring it up to modern standards for community use
• Great Glen Parish Council – £748,143.16 to deliver a community pavilion complex with accessible vehicle parking for the purposes of sport, social and leisure activities

Active in the community

Pictured are: Escape pain completers

Escape Pain

Residents can still self refer onto the Escape Pain programme. It is for people who have chronic knee or hip pain. The programme aims to offer pain management through education and gentle exercise. The course is free for those wanting to access it. If interested, please fill out the contact us form. 

Female only classes 

Active Together Harborough is looking to promote female only classes and sessions via their social media platforms. If you are an instructor, group leader or club looking to promote your female only offer please get in touch directly with the team at activetogether@harborough.gov.uk 

Project successes 

Two council teams have partnered with the Learning South Leicestershire Schools Sports Partnership (LSLSSP) to support the delivery of Active Travel activation across the Harborough district. The Economic Development Team has supported financially through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) and Active Harborough have helped deliver a Park and Stride Event in Lutterworth. 

LSLSSP has delivered some successful initiatives aimed at encouraging pupils, parents and teachers to move more and ditch their vehicular mode of transport on their way to and from school. October was Active Travel Month with 20 schools from Harborough district getting involved. 

A total of 4,219 pupils walked, cycled or scooted to school, a great effort considering the weather! Well done to all schools and pupils who took part. The 'Steptober' challenge was also delivered in October utilising the UKSPF. School staff in Harborough district were encouraged to complete as many steps as they can over the month of October.  Any device/app for example Fitbit could be used to track steps. This resulted in 145 school staff from Harborough schools completing a whopping 26,000,000 (26 million steps)!! 

The LSLSSP team, with the support of the Harborough District Council and Active Together Harborough, also created the 'Harborough Monster Trail'. The programme was funded by the UKSPF and forms part of the ‘Harborough on the Move’ programme. The aim of the trail was to encourage children and families explore the local green spaces and to be active during half term, Halloween and the autumn. 

The Monster Trail started on Monday 21 October (start of half term) and finished on Friday 29 November. During the summer, children in Harborough district created monsters which were designed into monster cards. 20 monster cards were hidden in four green parks in the Harborough district for children and families to find. Participants found the monster cards in one of the parks or all of the parks won special prizes. Prizes included mini fuzzy monsters, certificates and medals, with over 100 families participating.

Finally, over 60 parents, children and staff from Sherrier C of E Primary School in Lutterworth got together outside Lutterworth Sports Centre for a 'Park & Stride' event. They walked an extended route to school to showcase the opportunity for Active Travel in the area.

Gartree 3: Latest update from Ministry of Justice

As we head into the new year we are preparing to ramp up works on site as part of the ‘enabling works’ which need to take place before main works can start around summer 2025. This means that residents living around the site will notice an increased presence of vehicles and people on site. The types of work that will be carried out in the coming months include excavation works, ditch and drainage diversions, formation of road bellmouths, and access roads around the site and car parks.

We continue to listen to feedback from local residents and make changes wherever we can to address any issues that arise such as construction traffic taking the correct routes around site and changes to road sweeping. We have also listened to feedback on local walking routes and the team is working closely with local councillors on what we can do to help residents access different areas around the site, for example making some additional green space available for public access to use for dog walking. We expect to write to residents directly again early in the new year to provide further detail on the upcoming works and will continue to provide as much information as we are able to throughout the project.

As always, you can still email (psdenquiries@justice.gov.uk) with any questions, queries or suggestions, including how you would like to be kept up to date on progress.

Finally, I hope you all enjoyed the festive season and best wishes for 2025.

James Smith
Senior Responsible Owner, New Prisons Programme

Be weather ready this winter  

Councils, emergency services and the NHS work together to help people prepare for flooding and to stay safe during severe weather.

It is also important that residents and businesses take all possible steps to prepare and protect their properties if flood warnings are issued.

Always adjust your driving according to the weather conditions and plan your journey in advance by checking weather forecasts. Never drive through flood water. Turn around.

You can find advice and tips on travelling in severe weather.

Visit our refreshed flooding information web page, which has helpful advice and tips on how to prepare and how to report flooding in Harborough District.

You can also stay up to date by signing up to flood alerts and find key contact information for partner agencies.

Volunteer as a community flood warden to help provide a vital role in assisting and protecting people and their homes from the impact of flooding, whilst learning ways to help your community become more resilient.  

Become a councillor or join our Youth Council 

Last month we celebrated women’s contribution to local government.

On 12 December 2024, it was 130 years since the Victorian 1894 Local Government Act, which gave women the legal right to stand as district councillors.

There are currently 10 serving female councillors who sit on the council, some are pictured above. 

As well as encouraging women to stand for elected office we continue to want enthusiastic individuals aged between 11 and 18 years old to be part of a new Youth Council.

Young people will be able to learn more about what the Council does, have a say on local issues and have the opportunity to raise concerns about matters affecting them.

If interested, please share some details with us and our Youth Engagement Officer will be in touch.

For more information on becoming a councillor visit: www.local.gov.uk/be-councillor