News and features from Harborough District Council -  October 2023

Tilton on the Hill, which has no public transport service, has successfully established Leicestershire's first community car club. The club provides residents with affordable, accessible, environmentally friendly transport, with two electric vehicles supplied by Green Fox Community Energy, a not-for-profit community co-operative.

We funded the installation of two double electric vehicle fast-charging points at the village hall which allow up to four electric cars to be charged.

Miriam Stoate, founding member and chair of Tilton Green, said: “It is fantastic to have developed the first electric car club in Leicestershire at Tilton on the Hill. The amazing dedication and hard work of so many people in our community have made this possible. We now have an electric car club, providing easy to use, emission free and affordable travel, available to anyone in the parish along with a Need A Lift Scheme with volunteer drivers”.

Green Fox secured funding for the car club from the Motability Foundation, the national disability charity, as part of a project is to provide those with disabilities, in rural communities, with access to affordable shared transport, which will allow them to access services and social activities independently and improve their general wellbeing.

All the cars are adapted for those with limited mobility. The vehicles are also available for the rest of the community to hire, creating a transformational, accessible asset for the whole village.

Harborough District Council has deferred a decision on whether to take on a share of new homes that Leicester City Council is unable to provide within its own boundaries. This is on the back of a direct challenge from the council leader, Cllr Phil Knowles, to the three local MPs.

At a meeting of Full Council on 18 September 2023, a motion proposed by the council leader to defer a decision on whether to become a signatory to the Leicester and Leicestershire Statement of Common Ground relating to housing and employment needs, was carried by councillors. The decision will now be deferred to the Full Council meeting on 6 November 2023.

Cllr Phil Knowles, Leader of Harborough District Council, said that Cabinet has always stressed that they will consider all information very carefully and ensure that all councillors have the information they need to make an informed decision. He referenced that the three local MPs have shared their views against signing this agreement and invited them to an open meeting to clarify and evidence the information that they have shared publicly on this issue and to question the advice that the council has been given.

The MPs have declined to attend a meeting with the leader at the council offices before the Full Council meeting.

Seven of the nine local authorities in Leicestershire have already agreed the Statement of Common Ground. Read the report of Full Council on 18 September.

It is already autumn and Halloween is quickly approaching. As part of our Respect and Tolerance campaign we hope by being mindful of each other everyone can enjoy fun or peace at the same time.

Here are some simple considerations for Halloween trick or treaters: 

• Only visit places you know won’t mind and be considerate to others whilst wandering between properties

• Look out for houses with pumpkins outside them welcoming visits

• Always respect the “No trick or treaters sign"

• Make sure young children are always accompanied by an adult

•  If older children are going out unaccompanied make sure that they know to:
    - Keep to well-lit areas, wear reflective clothing and carry a torch
    - Use the green cross code when crossing the street
    - Never talk to strangers who approach them

If you don’t want trick and treaters at your door you can contact communitysafety@harborough.gov.uk to request a poster or download one here

Award winning displays 

Market Harborough has won the East Midlands In Bloom competition for the second year running thanks to the ongoing hard work of the town's In Bloom volunteers and the council's environmental services team.

The gold award was presented as winners of the Large Town category at a results ceremony in Lincolnshire in September, following the judges visit to the town in July 2023. 

Ridgeway Primary School also won a Silver Award in the Best Ornamental Garden category and J Stamp & Sons funeral directors won the Best Retail/Commercial Award for floral displays outside their base on Kettering Road in Market Harborough. 

Congratulations everyone and thank you for all your hard work! 

Britain in Bloom judges with Chairman Barbara Johnson, Harborough in Bloom volunteers and members of the council's environmental services team at Welland Park rose garden.

With thanks to Andy Carpenter for the image 

Considerate behaviour for bonfire night

We would always encourage you to attend an organised event instead of holding your own fireworks display. This reduces the disturbance for other people and animals and ensures there are fewer firework night incidents and accidents.

If you do intend on holding your own please consider others by:

• Talking with your neighbours and informing them so they have plenty of time to prepare

• Only buying fireworks from a legitimate retailer

• Check the fireworks you buy are suitable for the size of garden and conform to British Standard (BS 7114)

• Always store fireworks in a metal box, kept closed between use - never put fireworks in your pocket! 

• Never hold a lit firework and always wear gloves when holding a sparkler

Please remember it is illegal if you:

• Possess a firework and you’re under 18 years old

• Set off fireworks after midnight on 5 November

• Set off fireworks (including sparklers) in the street or public place

Breaking these laws can result in an on the spot fine of £90.

Community projects benefit from over £400k

Over £400k has been handed out to a diverse range of community projects as the council has agreed to allocate funding to four projects in the Harborough district.

The projects are benefiting from Section 106 money which is provided by developers for community projects and social infrastructure in locations where new development has taken place.

The projects which successfully applied for funding are:

• Ullesthorpe Village Memorial Hall – received £65,303.20 for its community facilities scheme to refurbish and extend the memorial hall

• North Kilworth Parish Council – received £31,951 for its natural and semi natural green space scheme to enhance boardwalk and paths at North Kilworth Millennium Green

• Kibworth Beauchamp Parish Council – received £263,953.99 for its community facilities scheme to create a new community hub and redevelop the library

• Kibworth Scouts and Guides Building Committee – received £60,000 for its community facilities scheme to improve and expand facilities and services offered at Kibworth Scouts and Guides HQ, Fleckney Road, Kibworth

Do you have a digital community project? 

Through the Rural England Prosperity Fund, Harborough District Council has allocated funding towards digital projects for rural communities. Projects which can be supported must be capital (lasting assets such as a building or equipment) with a focus on digital infrastructure, and it must meet the following objectives:

Strengthen our social fabric and foster a sense of local pride and belonging, through investment in activities that enhance physical, cultural, and social ties and amenities. This includes:

•    community infrastructure and local green space
•    community-led projects

The council would like to engage with the community to collate ideas and potential projects that this fund may support. If you think you have a project, please complete this survey.

If you have any questions, please email business@harborough.gov.uk 

Waterways and wellbeing activities offered to residents

People living in the Harborough district can enjoy paddleboarding, a wellbeing walk, or some canoeing as part of an ongoing council supported waterways and wellbeing social prescribing project which is set to run for another 24 months, until May 2025.

The South Leicestershire Waterways and Wellbeing Project started in 2022 and is designed to make use of the Grand Union Canal as a focal point to help adults tackle mental and physical health problems.

Activities include canoe and paddleboard sessions, wellbeing walks, running, cycling, crafting sessions and green volunteering opportunities. Sessions will be planned by the wellbeing coordinator which can be booked directly by participants or by referral from social prescribers and link workers.

The project is being delivered by The Canal and River Trust in partnership with Harborough District Council and two other local authorities.

Social prescribing involves helping people to improve their health, wellbeing and social welfare by connecting them to community services and activities like gardening, health walks and volunteering opportunities. GPs, link workers or other health and wellbeing professionals can refer people to activities that are appropriate to them. 

To find out more about referrals and booking activities contact the Community Wellbeing Coordinator Sean Payne at sean.payne@canalrivertrust.org.uk or on 07795 057198.

New guidelines about damp and mould 

On 7 September 2023, the government produced new guidance on damp and mould.

The guidance applies to all types of accommodation providers, owner-occupiers and tenants.

It sets out the health effects of damp and mould and provides guidance as to how it should be identified and addressed by those responsible.

The guidance is a direct response to the Coroner’s report into the tragic death of 2 year old Awaab Ishak in 2020, due to mould in his family home

Landlords must ensure that the accommodation they provide is free from serious hazards, including damp and mould, and that homes are fit for habitation. They must treat cases of damp and mould with the utmost seriousness and act promptly to protect their tenants’ health.

As this guidance also makes clear, tenants should not be blamed for damp and mould. Damp and mould in the home are not the result of ‘lifestyle choices’, and it is the responsibility of landlords to identify and address the underlying causes of the problem, such as structural issues or inadequate ventilation.

If you are a tenant and you are having problems with damp and mould in your property which your landlord is not able to resolve you can find help here.

The Christmas light switch on in Market Harborough will be held on Saturday 18 November 2023. 

The popular Christmas food and drink festival will be on The Square from Friday 17 November to Sunday 19 November.

The Christmas Switch on event is going to be bigger and better than ever this year! To attract more visitors and to give more of the community the chance to attend, the switch on will be held on Saturday 18 November from 5pm until 8pm with the switch on itself at 7pm.

There will be lots for the family to enjoy with activities including live music, Christmas carols, street entertainment, and a visit from Father Christmas!

There will also be a great selection of food and drink plus additional Christmas gift stalls on Saturday 18 November.

Watch this space for more exciting information about this and other events in the district to come! 

We are now in the final stages of our Annual Canvass of the Register of Electors.

Thank you to all households that have responded so far. Reminder forms have been despatched to those properties required to respond but have yet to do so. Responding online or by email will reduce costs for the authority.

The final stage is when our canvassers will carry out a door knock to the non-responding properties.

The canvassers will ask the names of residents eligible to vote at the property or they can leave another form with you for completion.

All of our canvassers will carry photographic identification and will introduce themselves as employees of Harborough District Council when they visit your property.

Remember you need to be on the register of electors to vote. You may also find it more difficult to obtain credit if you are not on the electoral register. Credit reference agencies use the register of electors to confirm your address.

For further information please contact our Elections Team on 01858 821372 or by email e.services@harborough.gov.uk 

Find a career you love at Lutterworth Job Fair 

Are you looking for a new opportunity?

Pop in to the Lutterworth Job Fair on Friday 6 October 2023 to speak directly to local employers with live vacancies.

The Job Fair is open to everyone whether you are employed, unemployed, just left school, college, or university, or thinking about getting back to work after time away. 

There will be a variety of employers there with a range of roles available.You could even have an on the spot informal interview there and then! Six job offers were made at the recent Harborough Job Fair so do come along to chat with employers about the job vacancies available.

There will also be careers advisers in attendance who will happily help you with careers advice, getting job ready, and accessing training courses to help you upskill ready for your next role. 

Time: 1pm – 3pm
Date: Friday 6 October 2023
Location: The Wycliffe Rooms, George Street, Lutterworth, LE17 4ED 

If you are an employer who would like to book a free space, please email business@harborough.gov.uk 

Customer satisfaction ratings boosted by online services

Following the successful launch of a range of online council services, residents are reporting high levels of customer satisfaction.

The most requested top three online services recently have been:

•  New bin request with a satisfaction score of 93%

• Clinical waste collection with a satisfaction score of 92%

• General service enquiry with a satisfaction score of 86%

Completing an online form can be quicker than calling customer services and the forms can be accessed and submitted at any time, day or night!  

Here are some handy links to a range of our online services: 

• Assisted waste collection 

• Request a bin of a different size 

• Clinical waste collection 

• Request an additional recycling bin 

• Garden waste collection 

• General enquiry 

• Missed bin collection 

• New bin request 

• Repair my bin 

• Return a bin 

Dates for your diary

• 6 October: Lutterworth Job Fair from 1pm-3pm at The Wycliffe Rooms in Lutterworth

• 7-8 October: Harborough Market Railex Weekend in Market Harborough 

• 28 October: Artisan Fair on The Square in Market Harborough

• Save the date: 18 November for Christmas lights switch-on in Market Harborough