Charnwood Borough Council

Our challenges are reflected in those set out in the Charnwood Together Sustainable Community Strategy:

• To make real progress in tackling the main pockets of deprivation
• To continue to reduce crime, fear of crime and anti-social behaviour
• To plan for sustainable growth in terms of the need for homes and work places and the supporting infrastructure required for a growing population
• To protect and enhance the richness of our natural and built environments
• To lead local initiatives that seek to mitigate and adapt to a changing climate and which develop resilience to the challenges of high fuel and food costs
• To engender a sense of belonging and common purpose to all people within the Borough through strong and cohesive communities
• To facilitate a strong local economy and skills base
• To promote health and well being with a particular focus on reducing health inequalities
• To strengthen work across sectors in support of our children and young people.

We have identified further challenges the Council must address in delivering this Corporate Plan:

The Corporate Plan has been developed during a period of major economic turmoil. The United Kingdom base rates have fallen to just 1%, an all-time low, and the country is officially in recession. This follows a period of exceptionally high energy prices and a near-catastrophic failure in the international banking system. The challenge for the Council is to deliver a corporate plan that is realistic within these difficult financial times.

Charnwood has five priority neighbourhoods (one is within the 10 percent most deprived in England), which include three wards in Loughborough.

Nationally the population is getting older and generally the demographics of the population are changing, the Council must recognise the impact that these changes will have on the delivery and design of its services.

A high proportion of students live in private rented accommodation, in specific parts of Loughborough. This influences demand for Council services, such as housing, community safety and street cleansing.

Charnwood has particular challenges in balancing the needs of its diverse settlements. Loughborough is the major town, surrounded by villages, more rural areas and the suburban areas of the Leicester City fringes at the southern boundary of the Borough.

Loughborough is important within Charnwood as it brings employment and inward investment to the Borough. Additionally it holds a unique position within the Borough due to the University, which also attracts external funding and acts as a driver for development and employment. However it is important for the Council and partners to balance the focus of new initiatives across the Borough and still recognise the importance of Loughborough.

As the town of Loughborough does not have the equivalent of a Parish Council, the Loughborough Special Rate is levied on residents of Loughborough by the Borough Council and is used for activities specifically related to Loughborough town (e.g. Loughborough in Bloom). This set of activities is comparable to those performed by Parishes and used by other Councils in equivalent situations.