News and features from Harborough District Council - March 2026

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Should Market Harborough have a parish council? Have your say before 13 April

If you live in Market Harborough don't forget to take part in the consultation looking at the future of local decision-making that's currently underway.

With nationwide local government reorganisation, a number of district councils are looking at whether to create or change new parish councils in the unparished parts of their area.

There is no parish council in Market Harborough which means Harborough District Council provides services such as parks, play areas, cemeteries and bus shelters that in other parts of the district would be provided by a parish council.

Market Harborough residents are charged for the cost of these services as special expenses. If a parish council existed, these services could be provided by the parish, ensuring that local people, businesses and communities continue to have a say in how their area is run.

This consultation runs until 13 April 2026.

If you’re registered to vote, you’ll be able to vote in the local poll on 30 April on this matter, so look out for your poll card which will be coming soon.

District councils are being abolished - have your say on what replaces them before 26 March

There's still time to have your say on how local government should be organised as part of the government consultation on plans for new structures in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland.

Three proposals are being consulted on, which would see the existing 10 councils replaced with a smaller number of unitary councils delivering all services.

Consultation is underway until 26 March, with views sought on the following proposals:

• Three councils with a council for north Leicestershire and Rutland, a council for south Leicestershire and one for the city on its existing boundary. It is called the North, City, South proposal. It is proposed by the seven district and borough councils and Rutland County Council and is supported by Harborough District Council.
• Two councils with an expanded Leicester city boundary and a single council for the rest of Leicestershire and Rutland (proposed by Leicester City Council). This would have a direct impact on a number of communities within Harborough District. Areas being considered for inclusion within an expanded Leicester boundary include: Great Glen, Little Stretton, Scraptoft, Stoughton, Thurnby and Bushby, Willoughby Waterleys and Wistow
• Two councils with one single council for Leicestershire and Rutland and one for Leicester on its existing boundary (proposed by Leicestershire County Council)

Subscribe to garden waste collections before 21 March for maximum value

Subscriptions to our garden waste collection service are now open.

You can put grass cuttings, leaves, flowers, weeds, twigs and small branches in your green wheeled bin which is collected fortnightly from the kerbside outside your home.

You don't need an account and there's no sign-up to the service and recurring payments are no longer taken automatically.

Although you can subscribe to the service at any time, you will get best value for your subscription by signing up by 21 March. This will ensure you are in time for the first collection round of the season.

You can subscribe at any time after 21 March but you will miss the first garden waste collection round. 

The garden waste collection service charge has been frozen for the fourth year in a row and you will get collections from late March to November.

Anyone who does not renew their subscription will have their last collection this month and the green bin will remain at their property.

Memorial bench installed honouring street cleaner Billy Kimpton

A memorial bench honouring much-loved street cleaner Billy Kimpton was unveiled in Market Harborough town centre last month.

The bench, titled “Billy’s Bench”, includes a commemorative plaque recognising Billy’s service and contribution to the local community.

The plaque was fitted by Harborough District Council and formally unveiled in the presence of members of his family. The bench has been installed as part of wider town centre improvement scheme.

Pictured: Karen Kimpton, niece of Billy, with Council Chairman Cllr Peter James on Billy’s Bench.

Funding to cover almost half the cost of installing EV chargers for households and businesses

The government announced in February that renters, flat owners, homeowners without driveways and businesses will be able to save up to £500 when installing electric vehicle (EV) charge points, with a 40% plus increase in charge point government grant funding.

The uplift will cover almost half the cost of a typical charge point installation until March 2027, helping more drivers access cheaper domestic electricity rates at home or work.

Great Bowden Neighbourhood Plan consultation underway until 8 April

The Great Bowden Neighbourhood Plan has been submitted by Great Bowden Parish Council to Harborough District Council for examination.

A six-week consultation on the proposed Neighbourhood Plan is now underway until 8 April 2026.

Fresh guidance for residents to prepare for flooding

New guidance has been published on our website to help you prepare for the possibility of flooding. 

Visit our flooding preparation webpage and download the guidance named Be Flood Ready guidance for residents.

Other useful links to help prepare:

• Report a flood

• Check flood risk maps

• Check for flood warnings by postcode and assess if you’re at risk
  

• Check before you travel – find travel updates online or by listening and following the local radio 

• Stay up to date with weather warnings and weather information

• Learn about flood insurance 

Chatty Chairs helps older adults regain mobility confidence

Our Health and Wellbeing Team has started a new seated exercise class in Market Harborough.

Chatty Chairs is delivered by a qualified instructor and aims to help older adults regain confidence in their strength and balance to become more active once again. 

It is designed to improve posture, develop strength and increase flexibility while meeting new people in a relaxed setting.

Sessions are held at Market Harborough Congregational Church on Bowden Lane on Thursdays from 11am to 12midday. The first session is free and costs £4.50 thereafter.

Chatty Chairs is part of our Falls Prevention Pathway and it leads on to our Steady Steps classes. 

If you would like to attend a class, please email our Health and Wellbeing Team at activetogether@harborough.gov.uk. 

Anyone who doesn't have access to email can call the council on 01858 828282 and ask for the Health and Wellbeing Team.

Chatty Chairs is just one of our community activity programmes and you can find out more on the Active Together Harborough website.

The website has information for people of all ages and activity levels including local walking groups, activity sessions and useful links to specific programmes as well as information about local groups, exercise classes, local sporting activities, clubs and information on healthy eating and self-help.

Air-X to return to Harborough Leisure Centre

Air-X, the huge, inflatable obstacle course is set to return to Harborough Leisure Centre on Saturday 28 March.

The centre, run by operator Everyone Active on behalf of Harborough District Council, will welcome youngsters who bounce, climb, slide and race their way around it.

Air-X enjoyed a successful stint at the centre last summer. Following its return, it will remain at the site until the end of the summer holidays this year.

Sessions are aimed at those aged between five and 15 and cost £6.50 plus an additional £2 for Air-X socks, which can be purchased at the centre. Party bookings are also available.

Webinars to help grant applicants

Decisions on the latest round of Community Grants will be made by councillors later this month, with applications invited for round three from 27 March to 11 May.

Community Grant funding is for capital projects which create lasting assets across Harborough district, such as improvements to buildings, facilities, or purchasing and installing equipment.

Ahead of round three, our grants officers are running webinars to help potential applicants secure funding. Please note booking in advance is essential via our web form.

The webinars will take place as follows:

• 14 April at 2.30pm: Step by Step - How to complete the online application form

• 20 April at 10am: Open forum - an opportunity to ask general questions about the Community Grant process or discuss a potential project

 Full details about how to apply with supporting examples and templates are online.

Community Grant funding gives HTFC a louder voice

Harborough Town Football Club was awarded a Community Grant to buy a new scoreboard and PA system.

Now in place, the new, loud PA system replaced it’s crackly and unreliable predecessor, enhancing the whole match experience by providing clear match information, safety instructions and music.

The system will help the club to comply with Martyn’s Law. This legislation requires venues to put in place the means to communicate effectively with people in premises to reduce the risk of physical harm such as providing clear information on evacuation, invacuation or lockdown.

The club also bought its first electronic scoreboard which has enhanced the crowd experience with clearer scores, time-checks, league tables, videos and general information, including safety announcements. The new screen also helps people with disabilities to keep track of the game.

Full details about how to apply with supporting examples and templates are online.

Apply for an Environmental Grants Scheme before 1 April

If you are a member of a village group, community enterprise, registered charity, town or parish council or meeting there's still time to apply for an Environmental Grant.

Applications for grants ranging from £5,000 to £20,000 are invited from not-for-profit organisations for projects that demonstrate a clear benefit and a positive, proven impact on the environment.

The grants are a part of our work to tackle climate change, as set out in the Climate Emergency Action Plan 2022 – 2030.

The deadline for grant applications is 1 April 2026.

Turning empty properties into much needed homes

Have you ever noticed a property in your neighbourhood that seems to have been empty for ages?

It’s quite possible that it’s one of the 279 properties in Harborough district that have been empty for more than 12 months.

Properties become empty for all sorts of reasons and earlier this year we recruited a new Empty Property Officer to bring as many of them back into use as possible.

Bhavik Ghelani is leading the effort to track down empty property owners to discuss options for transforming their properties into homes.

Speaking during this week’s national Empty Homes Week, Bhavik explained: “There are many reasons why properties are left empty and with people waiting for a much needed home it’s important to bring them into use.

“I work with owners to provide information, education and gentle persuasion to show why it is in their interests and the community’s interest to make their empty property a home.

“Shortly, I’ll be writing to all our known empty property owners asking them to clarify their intentions.

“Often we find that after explaining the options, discussing possibilities and the help on offer, progress is made.”

The council offers a range of support to help owners bring their properties back into use.

This includes a VAT reduction on building materials for properties empty for more than two years, with more generous terms for any properties empty for over ten years.

An Empty Property Grant is also available to accredited landlords and we can also help owners find tenants.

Financially, empty properties have become much more costly too. Since last April, owners of long-term empty properties may be liable to pay a Council Tax premium.

Bhavik added: “Sometimes empty property owners won’t talk to us and if that is the case we do have the option of taking formal enforcement action.

“This certainly isn’t our first choice, but when we are just not getting anywhere it is something available to us.

“Empty properties often deteriorate and have an impact on residents and the neighbourhood.

“In these instances, we can issue community protection warning letters and notices to require remedial work to be done on properties in disrepair. We have done this recently with some success.

“Ignoring a warning letter can result in a fixed penalty fine and potentially court action.

“We have powers to enforce a sale or use compulsory purchase powers but thankfully we have found that most owners work with us positively before we get to that stage.”

Go online to find out more about Empty Homes Week and our own Empty Property Strategy.

If you own an empty property, then get in touch with us at: environmentteam@harborough.gov.uk. You can also report properties that you believe are empty to the council at the same email address.

All landlords should also be aware of the changes being introduced this summer by the Renters’ Rights Act 2005. For more information on this visit our website.

Youth council initiative sets up young people for financial success

An initiative from our youth council has helped local students brush up on essential financial and money management skills.

The Harborough District Youth Council Finance Champions programme was delivered last month by our Economic Development Team, Nicola Moss from The Business Hub Work Experience CIC and finance experts.

Around 20 Year 10 students from four local schools took part. 

They explored practical modules including understanding payslips, University vs Apprenticeship costs and money management essentials. 

The youth council identified financial education as a subject they felt young people across Harborough district would benefit from. A resource pack will also be made available to extend the programme’s reach across the district.

If you know a young person aged 11-18 who may be interested in the youth council or attending future meetings then get in touch with Becca Powell, our Youth Engagement Officer, at: youthvoice@harborough.gov.uk