Council tenants and leaseholders are being invited to a special event on Thursday, September 26.
Charnwood Borough Council has organised a tenant networking event at Loughborough Town Hall.
Council tenants will be able to meet officers, ask questions and find out more about the services available such as how to access advice on managing money and dealing with anti-social behaviour. The housing needs team will also be on hand to talk to tenants about housing options including transfers.
The event will take place in the Victoria Room at Loughborough Town Hall between 10am and 1pm and is open to anyone who is a council tenant or leaseholder. You don’t need to book a space, and people can come and go as they please. There will be free tea and coffee and useful free gifts.
There will also be the opportunity for tenants to sign up for various services, groups, forums and events via the council’s menu of involvement, which will be handed out to everyone who attends in the form of a colourful new leaflet.
Cllr Paul Mercer, lead member for housing, said: “The council prides itself on its ability to listen to tenants and build a relationship based on trust and understanding.
“We are always interested in hearing from tenants about any problems they may have; from repairs, housing options, to the services we provide and more.
“This event gives our tenants the perfect opportunity to come and talk to us and receive all the help and support they need. Come by, have a coffee and a chat. We look forward to seeing you there.”
The leader of Charnwood Borough Council has welcomed news that Loughborough is in line for up to £25 million of funding to regenerate the town.
Cllr Jonathan Morgan says the announcement today by Local Government Secretary Rt Hon Robert Jenrick is a massive opportunity for Loughborough.
The Government has revealed that 100 places around the country will be invited to develop proposals for a new generation of multi-million-pound Town Deals. It says communities, businesses and local leaders will join forces to draw up ambitious plans to transform their town’s economic growth prospects with a focus on improved transport, broadband connectivity, skills and culture.
Cllr Morgan said: “This is fantastic news and presents us with a huge opportunity to shape the future of Loughborough for many years to come.
“This is a significant funding announcement and the borough council will work with residents, businesses, partners and other organisations to bring forward proposals which deliver major benefits for our communities.
“I look forward to seeing further details about the funding process and working with partners to harness this opportunity.”
A total of 33 places in the Midlands Engine are among the 100 pioneers of new Town Deals as part of the Government’s commitment to level up all regions by boosting productivity, skills and living standards.
Local Government Secretary, Rt Hon Robert Jenrick MP, said: “Ensuring that prosperity and opportunities are available to everyone in this country, not just those in London or our biggest cities, is at the heart of the mission of this government.
“We want to level-up our great towns, raising living standards and ensuring they can thrive with transformative investment in transport, technology, skills and culture
“I will now work with local people from the 100 communities announced today to agree proposals to invest up to £25 million in each place. I hope these deals will provide the investment and the impetus for long-term renewal ensuring each town can look to the future with a new optimism.”
The Government says it will soon publish a prospectus to guide towns through the process and set eligibility criteria for funding.
Once approved, new Town Deals will improve connectivity, provide vital social and cultural infrastructure and boost growth – with communities having a say on how the money is spent. Decisions on funding any proposals will be made in due course.
ENDS
District councils in Leicestershire have joined forces to make recycling easier than ever by providing a more consistent recycling service for Leicestershire residents.
The majority of county residents are now able to recycle exactly the same materials in their recycling wheelie bins wherever they live in the county.
Six district councils have worked together to produce one simple list of what can and cannot be put into the recycling bin. It is hoped that not only will this offer better consistency for residents countywide, but that it will also encourage residents to recycle more things, more often.
A complete list of items that can be recycled can be seen here: www.lesswaste.org.uk/items-accepted-for-recycling-at-casepak
Until recently, when recycling bins were emptied by crews in each council area, the contents were taken to several different recycling sites for sorting. Each recycling site had different rules and different processes which meant items that could be recycled in some districts could not be recycled in others. That changed last year and now recycling collections from most districts - Blaby, Charnwood, Harborough, Hinckley & Bosworth, Melton and Oadby & Wigston - are now taken to a single materials recycling facility in Leicester which has enabled the councils to team up for the first time.
Up to date information on what the recycling is used for is also available at www.lesswaste.org.uk
Cllr Leigh Harper-Davies, lead member for major contracts at Charnwood Borough Council said: “It’s important we make recycling as easy as possible to ensure residents in Charnwood can recycle as much as possible.
“I’m pleased we’ve been able to work with other district councils in Leicestershire to produce a single list and hope residents will take time to look at the list of what can be put in their green recycling bin.”
Beverley Jolly, joint chief executive of Harborough District Council and Leicestershire districts’ lead on waste said: "It's been a source of some frustration to Leicestershire residents for some time that items that can be recycled by some councils cannot be recycled by others.
"It's also an issue that WRAP, the national waste and resources action programme, is keen to tackle as their research says that inconsistency leads to confusion and puts people off recycling so we were keen to work together to produce a single list for recycling that applies countywide.
"We really hope this will make recycling easier than ever for Leicestershire residents, leading to more recycling and less waste going to landfill.”
Charnwood Borough Council is backing a new campaign by its waste management partner Serco which aims to protect its frontline staff members.
Serco is launching a new zero tolerance policy towards any violence, aggression or abuse directed against its employees delivering front line local services. The ‘Respect and Protect’ campaign was launched in Charnwood in partnership with the borough council, the police, GMB union representatives and frontline employees.
Cllr Leigh Harper-Davies, lead Member for major contracts for Charnwood Borough Council, said: “We are delighted that this campaign has been launched in partnership with Serco.
“This can affect everyone in their workplace and I wholeheartedly support our employees who are carrying out important services every day.”
Serco’s employees deliver a range of front line local services across the UK, including collecting all refuse and recycling from the borough’s 75,000 homes as well as serving more than 30,000 customers of the Council’s garden waste service.
Over the last year Serco employees across the UK were subjected to 350 reported incidents of unacceptable behaviour. This includes assault, threats with weapons and verbal abuse.
Liz Yates, operations director, Serco Citizen Services said: “It is unacceptable that our people should be subjected to violence, aggression and abuse at work.
“Serco, our customers and unions have a common shared interest in preventing threats and acts of violence. Serco’s ‘Respect and Protect’ campaign is being launched in a joint approach to ensuring that the risks of encountering violence and aggressive behaviour at work are assessed, prevented, and if encountered, addressed appropriately.
“We will not hesitate to report incidents to the police and support prosecutions. We will work with our partners and enforcement agencies to support our employees; they deserve to be respected and protected and we must collectively do all we can to ensure that everyone goes home safely.”
A Charter of Protection has been agreed between Serco and its partners, including local authorities, respective unions and the police. The charter aims to raise awareness and increase understanding of violence, aggression and abuse at work.
This includes fostering a culture of zero tolerance, encouraging reporting of incidents, supporting police investigations where appropriate, and non-acceptance of unwarranted behaviour, together with specific training and support.
Jim Clarke, GMB Union – regional representative said: “We welcome the opportunity to work with Serco and the council to protect our members and we are happy to be involved and support this campaign.”
Charnwood Museum is one of the most visited free attractions in the East Midlands according to Visit Britain.
The museum in Loughborough, run by Charnwood Borough Council, was the 11th most popular free attraction in 2018 with nearly 45,000 visitors.
Cllr Jenny Bokor, the council’s lead member for Loughborough, said: “It is fantastic to see that Charnwood Museum continues to punch above its weight when it comes to delivering fantastic exhibitions, events and talks to the local community.
“The museum is a great place to visit for all the family and is situated in the award-winning Queens Park along with the Carillon. Congratulations to the team for all their hard work and efforts to make the museum such an enjoyable place to visit across Loughborough, Charnwood and the East Midlands as a whole.”
The museum has an excellent record of working with schools and the local community, which resulted in them winning the community engagement award at the NUS National Green Impact Awards last year. The award recognised teams who have engaged people in activities focussed around sustainability.
While the museum is owned and operated by the borough Council, the exhibits are provided by Leicestershire County Council.
Visit Britain is the national tourism agency that aims to build the countries tourism product and raise Britain’s profile worldwide. Each year, they invite visitor attractions nationwide to take part in an annual survey, recording visitor numbers alongside key information like entrance fees and visitor profiles.
The full top 20 for both free and paid attractions in the East Midlands can be found on the Visit Britain website: www.visitbritain.org/annual-survey-visits-visitor-attractions-latest-results.
Charnwood Museum is located in Queen’s Park, Loughborough. For information about the museum opening times and events visit: www.charnwood.gov.uk/charnwood_museum.
A house in Loughborough which was empty for over three years has received an £8,000 grant to help bring it back into use.
The owner of the property contacted Charnwood Borough Council for help with renovating the three-bedroom property which had been vacant since January 2016.
The Council supported the owner through its partnership grants scheme. The scheme offers grants to fund renovation works and will cover 50% of the cost of the work up to a maximum of £15,000 to bring empty homes back into use.
In return for the grant, the Council can nominate people in housing need to become tenants for 2-3 years in these renovated properties.
Cllr Paul Mercer, lead member for housing said: “I am pleased to see another empty home being bought back into use in the borough.
“The Council is committed to getting empty homes back on the market and one of the ways we can do this is to offer funding through our partnership grants scheme to part-fund renovations.
“It’s important we keep encouraging property owners in Charnwood to bring their empty properties back into use. Not only does it help ease the pressure of the local housing market, but it also ensures properties don’t become a concern for the community.
The grant was used towards funding a new bathroom and kitchen, central heating system, repairs to the roof and new windows and doors at the property.
Miss Smita Patel, owner of the property said: “I’d like to thank the Council’s empty homes officer Muhammad Uddin for all of the support he provided throughout the process. In particular, the advice and information he offered when I was applying for the grant.
“I’d encourage owners who would like to get their empty house back into use to contact the Council to see what support is available.”
The Council helps get empty homes back into use by offering advice and support on what’s best for the property including finding tenants and getting access to discounted selling fees with local agents and auctioneers.
Since April 2016, the Council has helped get 143 empty homes in the borough back into use.
For more information about the support available for owners of empty properties, or to report an empty home visit www.charnwood.gov.uk/empty_properties
To apply for a grant, contact the Council’s empty homes officer Muhammad Uddin on 01509 634651.
People are being reminded to nominate their local sporting stars for this year’s Charnwood Sports Awards.
The annual awards are run by Charnwood Borough Council and give recognition to committed athletes and the dedicated coaches and volunteers who give up their time to support them.
Cllr Deborah Taylor, lead member for communities said: “The Sports Awards are an opportunity to acknowledge and celebrate the brilliant sporting talent we have in the borough.
“If you know someone who has been outstanding in their chosen sport this year, a coach or volunteer that goes above and beyond then you can nominate them for one of the 11 categories on the council website.”
The categories this year include:
· Junior Sportsperson of the Year
· Junior Volunteer of the Year
· Junior Team of the Year
· Senior Sportsperson of the Year
· Senior Volunteer of the Year
· Senior Team of the Year
· Coach of the Year
· Club of the Year
· Best Community Sport/Physical Activity Project
· Outstanding Contribution to Physical Activity, Sport & School Sport
· Joe Humphries Special Recognition Award
This year’s awards ceremony will take place on Monday, December 2.
The deadline for nominations is 5pm on Friday, September 27.
To nominate online or find out more about the awards visit www.charnwood.gov.uk/sportsawards or call 01509 634592.
Cllr Jane Hunt has been appointed to Charnwood Borough Council’s Cabinet as lead member for planning, inward investment and tourism strategy, following the resignation of Cllr Eric Vardy.
Cllr Vardy, who is moving away from the area, said he had thoroughly enjoyed his time on the Council and serving the people of Syston West ward. A by-election for the ward has now been called.
Cllr Jonathan Morgan, leader of the Council, said: “I would like to thank Eric for his service in a number of senior roles at the Council over the years and he will be missed.
“However, I am pleased to announce that Cllr Hunt is now the lead member for planning and I wish her well in her new role.”
Cllr Roy Rollings, lead member for transformation, has taken over responsibility for issues relating to environment strategy and carbon reduction.
Cllr Morgan has also appointed three new Council champions. Cllr Julian Howe will champion the Council’s commitment to plant thousands of trees over the next few years and Cllr Ted Parton is the Council’s new champion for loneliness, ensuring issues such as isolation and loneliness remain high on the Council agenda.
Cllr Laurie Needham is the Council’s new champion for climate change.
The notice of election for the Syston West ward has been published. Nominations must be submitted by 4pm on September 6. Should the seat be contested, a by-election will take place on Thursday October 3. More information is available at www.charnwood.gov.uk/forthcoming_elections.
The search is on for high-quality building design as Charnwood Borough Council launches the Charnwood Design Awards 2019.
The awards recognise the excellent work of building owners, agents and contractors on a wide range of developments and conservation projects in the Borough.
The Charnwood Design Awards encourage and recognise high standards of design in the built environment and demonstrate how the Council’s vision for high-quality design, as set out in the Core Strategy which guides development in Charnwood, is being met.
There are five categories and projects must have been completed after July 1, 2017. The categories are:
• New buildings
• Conservation
• Landscape
• Sustainable construction
• Positive contribution to achieving good design
The final category is for projects which have positively contributed to achieving good design but cannot be considered in the other four categories.
An overall winner of the Charnwood Design Awards 2019 will be selected from the category winners, which is considered represents the very best in design quality in Charnwood.
Cllr Eric Vardy, lead member for planning and sustainability, said: “We are all users of buildings and the landscapes that surround them, so high quality design should be the aim of everyone involved in the development process and should always be encouraged, not just when an area is already highly valued.”
“High quality design doesn’t always cost more, particularly over the lifetime of a development. A small amount of additional time, care and thought can create buildings and spaces that are sustainable and valued and, most importantly, can be enjoyed by communities.”
The deadline for entries is September 24, 2019 and you can enter by visiting www.charnwood.gov.uk/design_awards_2019.
The awards were last held in 2017 when the winners included new classroom facilities and extensive remodelling to Fairfield Preparatory School in Loughborough, the Baxter Gate Cinema complex in Loughborough and the restoration of Roecliffe Hall in Woodhouse Eaves.
For more information, please contact the Council’s Conservation and Landscape Team on 01509 634971 or email built.heritage@charnwood.gov.uk.
A number of borough council tenants have been rewarded for their gardening talents in an annual competition.
The competition, which is run by Charnwood Borough Council, saw a record number of beautiful gardens entered and highlighted the hard work and dedication that tenants put in.
Overall there were 37 entrants in this year’s competition and the gardens were judged over two days by tenants Trish Edwardes, Tracey Riley and Sheila Breed.
The judges agreed that the standard has improved consistently year after year, and 2019 was the most competitive yet, aided by the mix of hot weather and rainfall we’ve experienced this summer.
The competition was split into six main categories, including two new categories for best newcomer and best fruit or vegetable garden. The traditional four categories – best hanging basket or balcony, best sheltered court garden, best communal garden and best individual house or flat garden – still remained.
The winners for 2019 were:
Best hanging basket or balcony
First place: Mr Martin Beadle
Second place: Mr Kevin Poole
Third place: Mrs Lander & Mrs Jacobsen
Communal garden
First place: The Mills, Quorn
Second place: Longcliffe Road Communal Garden, Shepshed
Third place: Chapman Street Gardening Association, Loughborough
Sheltered court garden
First place: Arnold Smith House, Shepshed
Second place: St Pauls Court, Syston
Third place: Fielding Court, Loughborough
House or flat garden
First place: Mr Frederick Miles
Second place: Mr & Mrs Pipes
Third place: Mr & Mrs Kirk
Best newcomer
First place: Mr Michael Taylor
Second place: Mr Trevor Moore
Third place: Mr & Mrs Mason
Fruit and vegetable garden
First place: Ms Glenda Bennett
Second place: Mr Kevin Poole
Third place: Mr Edwin Fryer
High street vouchers were awarded to the winners and runners-up who were presented with their prizes by the lead member for housing, Councillor Paul Mercer, during an event at Loughborough Town Hall on Thursday, August 22.
Cllr Mercer said: “Year after year our tenants work so hard on their gardens, and this competition just highlights how much pride they have for their homes and the areas they live in.
Charnwood is a beautiful place, and one of the reasons for this are the wonderful gardens. It’s a pleasure to see that so many of them belong to our tenants. Congratulations to all the winners and to everybody who entered.”
Loughborough’s historic Carillon Tower will open its doors on Saturday, September 14 as part of a national event to celebrate heritage. Charnwood Borough Council is working with the Carillon War Memorial Trust to open the tower during Heritage Open Days: England's largest festival of history and culture.
The tower, which underwent a £280,000 conservation project in 2018, is currently closed while the trust applies for funding to improve the museum inside.
Visitors will be able to see the completed conservation works and find out about the planned redevelopment of the museum.
Cllr Jenny Bokor, lead member for Loughborough said: “The Carillon is a much-loved part of Loughborough’s history which we will be showcasing as part of this year’s Heritage Open Day.
“Following the conservation project last year, the tower has remained closed while the Council worked with the trust to refresh what the museum offers to visitors.”
“There have been a number of open days already this summer giving people the opportunity to find out about the conservation project and to view the plans to refresh the museum.
“I’d encourage anyone who hasn’t been to the tower for a while to come along to the open day, meet some of the volunteers and give feedback on the plans.”
Visitors will be able to visit the ground floor of the Carillon between 12pm-3pm and can climb the 138 steps to the viewing balcony for spectacular views of Loughborough and to see the tower’s bells up close.
The Council and trust are also working with Taylor’s Bellfoundry which is hosting an open day between 10.30am-2.30pm. People can see behind the scenes of one of the UK’s last major bellfoundry and visit the museum there.
The bellfoundry will also host a guided walk from Queen’s Park to the bellfoundry. The walk will depart from the Carillon Tower at 1pm and people are encouraged to dress up in Victorian fancy dress.
To find out more about the Heritage Open Day at the Carillon Tower visit: www.heritageopendays.org.uk/visiting/event/carillon-tower
For more information about the Heritage Open Day at Taylor’s Bellfoundry visit: www.heritageopendays.org.uk/visiting/event/loughborough-bellfoundry-open-day
Every year in September, places across the country throw open their doors to celebrate their heritage, community and history as part of Heritage Open Days. It involves more than 2,000 organisations, 5,000 events and 40,000 volunteers.
Charnwood and Rushcliffe borough councils have received a gold award for their support of the Armed Forces.
The Armed Forces Covenant Employer Scheme (ERS) Gold Award is the highest badge of honour for organisations which have signed the Armed Forces Covenant and demonstrated outstanding support for those who serve and have served.
The award recognises employers who actively support the Armed Forces community in their workplace and encourage others to follow their lead.
Both councils currently have the silver award and are the first local authorities in the East Midlands to now receive gold.
Cllr Hilary Fryer, the armed forces champion for Charnwood Borough Council said: “We are extremely proud to receive the gold award for our continued support of the Armed Forces community.
“The award is testament to our successful partnership with Rushcliffe and our work within the community to raise awareness of the issues affecting Armed Forces personnel.
“It’s important we continue to acknowledge the sacrifices our armed forces men and women, and their families make, and the work of the covenant gives us an opportunity to give something back.”
“Congratulations to everyone involved in achieving this top award.”
Cllr Debbie Mason, deputy leader and armed forces champion for Rushcliffe Borough Council said: "We are absolutely delighted to have been awarded the gold award from the Armed Forces Employee Recognition Scheme together with Charnwood Borough Council.
"The award acknowledges our work with our Armed Forces community with initiatives such as Veterans' breakfast clubs, encouraging social enterprises and businesses to sign the covenant and events such as Proms in the Park that raise the profile of military causes and charities.
"We also introduced a guaranteed job interview scheme for Veterans and Reservists at the Council and if appointed, a buddy support system will help them settle into their new work place.
"We will continue to do everything we can to support those with a military background and to explore further ways we can assist hard-to-reach veterans and families with the support they may require."
Charnwood and Rushcliffe have made pledges under the Armed Forces Covenant to help support the Armed forces community including serving personnel, reservists, veterans and families to ensure that they do not face any disadvantage as a result of their service.
The partnership was formed in 2017 and involves Melton Borough Council.
A ceremony will be held in London later this year when the Council’s will formally receive the ERS Gold Award.
Residents in Charnwood are being offered the chance to sign up to the ‘Big Switch’ with the possibility of saving more than £240 a year on energy bills.
The borough council has launched the Charnwood Big Switch, a collective switching scheme to help residents change energy suppliers with ease and get a better deal.
Cllr Paul Mercer, lead member for housing said: “The Council is committed to helping residents and this scheme could help them get a better deal on their energy bills. Switching suppliers can be daunting even though they may be paying too much for their energy.
“By joining the collective switching scheme residents will be able to switch suppliers with ease and save money on their bills.
“I would encourage people to register with the scheme because they can then see whether they are getting a better deal before deciding to switch.
“The scheme also provides an opportunity to encourage energy efficiency and help to reduce the number of households in fuel poverty.”
The scheme is delivered by the Council and iChoosr, an independent specialist provider in collective energy switching.
Collective switching gives people the opportunity to group together and pay less for their energy. Residents can switch electric or dual fuel and can choose to have paper bills or to manage their accounts online.
iChoosr hold three auctions a year and energy suppliers compete to provide the lowest priced tariff in the auction.
It is free for residents to register their interest and registrations for the first auction are now open. The first auction for Charnwood will take place on 8 October.
For more information about Charnwood Big Switch and to register visit https://www.charnwood.gov.uk/charnwoodbigswitch
Charnwood Borough Council is supporting a campaign to help reduce the amount of contamination in Leicestershire’s recycling bins.
Leicestershire County Council has launched the campaign to help residents in the county recycle right by making sure the right items are going in the right bins.
In caring for the environment, we all want to recycle as much as we can, and Leicestershire residents are doing a fantastic job. However, an increasing number of incorrect items are being put into recycling bins, which can prevent good material from being recycled.
Last year, 5,500 tonnes of material placed in recycling bins in Leicestershire was rejected due to wrongly recycled items, such as disposable nappies and food waste spoiling good quality, recyclable material.
So, with contamination levels and disposal costs on the rise, the councils are taking action.
Leicestershire County Council is working with district and borough councils across the county to improve Leicestershire’s recycling output, and with the help of clear information and advice, want residents to take responsibility for their own rubbish by making sure that the right things are going in the right bins.
Cllr Leigh Harper-Davies, the Council’s lead member for major contracts said: “Everyone wants to do their bit for the environment which includes recycling as much as possible.
"There’s been an increase in the number of incorrect items being put in recycling bins which prevents good materials from being recycled. We’re hoping this campaign will remind residents how to recycle right and reduce the amount of contaminated recycling.
“I’d encourage residents in Charnwood to look at the advice and information provided through the campaign and take time to understand what can and cannot be recycled.”
For more information on what can and can’t be recycled in your recycling bin, visit www.lesswaste.org.uk.
Thousands of forms are being delivered across Charnwood to ensure the borough’s electoral register is up to date.
Charnwood Borough Council will be delivering around 76,000 household enquiry forms to homes and residents are being urged to respond.
Every year the Council must check its electoral register is up to date and letters are sent to all households asking people to confirm the details or inform the Council of any changes.
The aim is to make sure that everyone who is eligible to vote is registered and can have their say in future elections and referendums.
One form is being sent to each household and people are being asked to check whether the information that appears on the electoral register for those living at their address is correct.
If the information is not correct (if people have moved out or in to the property) then residents need to let the Council know as soon as possible so individual electoral registration forms can be sent to those who need to register to vote.
Geoff Parker, the Council’s Electoral Registration Officer, said: “Having the right to vote is very important and I would urge people to respond to the letter when they receive it on their door step.
“It is a legal requirement to respond and dealing with the form promptly will avoid us having to visit your property and door-knock to get the required details.
“Responses can be made by phone, online or by post using the pre-paid envelope provided.”
The Electoral Registration Officer needs the information to be able to publish a complete and accurate electoral register on December 1 each year.
Having your details on the electoral register will:
• allow you to be able to vote
• improve your credit rating
• make it easier to access council services
• help you avoid a fine
Full details of how residents can complete the form online, by phone, via text or by post are all contained in the document sent to them.
Any residents who have any questions can visit www.charnwood.gov.uk/electoralservices or contact the elections team on 01509 634546
A man has been fined £440 after he left 80 bags of rubbish outside his property and failed to remove them despite repeated warnings from Charnwood Borough Council
The Council took action following complaints from the public about the unsightly and smelly waste outside the home of Kevin Rose, 60 of Burleigh Road, Loughborough.
In September 2018, the Council received a complaint about a large build-up of waste on the front and side of the privately-owned property in Burleigh Road.
A Council officer visited the property and there were around 30 bags of waste. The Council issued a warning letter to Mr Rose stating the waste needed removing.
However, by October 5 more bags of waste had accumulated and a community protection notice was issued. The notice required Mr Rose to remove the waste or face possible prosecution.
In November 2018, a Council officer visited the property and the amount of waste had increased to around 50 black bags and the Council was forced to remove the waste at a cost of £117. However, at this point the pile of bags had grown to around 80.
The Council then brought the prosecution against Mr Rose for breaching the community protection notice. He did not enter a plea.
Leicester Magistrates Court fined Mr Rose £440 for breaching the notice, ordered him to pay £440 costs to the Council and a £44 victim surcharge.
Following the hearing, Cllr Margaret Smidowicz, lead member for regulatory services said: “People need to take responsibility for their own waste and ensure that it is disposed of properly.
“We tried to engage with Mr Rose on several occasions and gave him plenty of time to remove the waste before issuing the notice.
“Leaving waste to build up on the front of your property is not acceptable. Not only is it unsightly but it can present risks to people’s health.”
One of Loughborough’s beauty spots has been awarded a prestigious Green Flag for the eleventh year running.
Loughborough’s Queen’s Park, which is managed by Charnwood Borough Council and its open spaces contractor idverde, has achieved the national standard of excellence once again.
The Forest Road Green Belt Gardeners in Loughborough also received a Green Flag Community Award for creating and managing wildlife areas in the town.
Cllr Jenny Bokor, lead member for Loughborough said: “I’m delighted Queen’s Park has once again been awarded a Green Flag.
“This award celebrates the hard work and dedication in maintaining green spaces to a high standard. As well as a beautiful green space, the park has lots to offer to visitors including a museum, play area and the Carillon Tower.
“Thank you goes to our partners idverde and the volunteers at Friends of Queen’s Park for their hard work in ensuring Queen’s Park retained its Green Flag.
“We should also congratulate everyone involved in the Green Belt Gardeners who do some fantastic work for the benefit of others.”
The green flag scheme is run by Keep Britain Tidy and recognises and rewards well managed parks and green spaces in the UK and worldwide.
For more information about green spaces in Charnwood visit www.charnwood.gov.uk/parksandopenspaces
Loughborough was in full bloom as it took part in Britain in Bloom on July 30.
The town was selected to represent the region in the small city category at the national awards organised by the Royal Horticultural Society.
Loughborough in Bloom is supported by a large number of community groups, residents, businesses and organisations from across the town, including Charnwood Borough Council.
Cllr Jenny Bokor, the Council’s lead member for Loughborough said: “We were delighted to represent the region and it was a pleasure to welcome the Britain in Bloom judges to Loughborough.
“Although it started to rain towards the end of their tour, I hope they were able to see how hard our volunteers work to help Loughborough blossom.
“We also welcomed the East Midlands in Bloom judges to Loughborough not so long ago and once again I’d like to thank everyone involved for their dedication.”
Britain in Bloom competition judges went on a three-hour tour of the town giving community groups the chance to showcase their gardening projects and initiatives.
Marion Smith, Loughborough in Bloom chair, said: “It’s been a very busy year for our volunteers, and everyone involved with Loughborough in Bloom.
“Community groups and volunteers have been working around the clock to ensure green spaces and gardening projects are in full bloom and look wonderful.
“Taking part in the national competition is a real testament to everyone’s hard work and dedication.”
Loughborough previously represented the East Midlands at the Britain in Bloom UK Finals in 2014 and 2016.
Other towns being judged in the small city category this summer include Bury, Derry, Harrogate, Kirkcaldy and Rugby.
The winners of each category will be announced at a national awards ceremony in October.
The annual Edible Forest Festival returns this September to celebrate the best in local food and drink at unique and iconic settings around the ancient woodland of Charnwood Forest.
From September 7-15, 2019, there will be a range of tasty food and drink events including afternoon tea in the iconic Old John Tower in Bradgate Park, dining under the stars in one of our unique dining pods, Trappist Brewery Tours, Safari Supper around Charnwood’s finest eateries and another outstanding Secret Gourmet evening with Michelin star holder, Chef John Duffin.
New events at this year’s Edible Forest Festival include a cider tasting night, cheese pairing and a vegan day. Additional new events will be announced shortly. People can sign up at www.edibleforest.co.uk to make sure that they get first in the queue when tickets go on sale.
The Edible Forest festival was created by Leicestershire Promotions and is supported by Charnwood Borough Council and Everards.
Enjoy a gastronomic experience with a forest-inspired menu created by Michelin star holder, Chef John Duffin. The Secret Gourmet unique forest location will remain a secret until days before the event.
There will be a unique opportunity to take a tour of the UK’s only Trappist brewery at Mount Saint Bernard Abbey. You can discover the art of traditional monastic brewing at one of only 12 Trappist breweries in the world. One of the monks will propose a guided tour of the plant, which is operated exclusively by the community. The tour will end with a beer tasting.
One of the favourites of the festival is afternoon tea in the iconic Old John in Bradgate Park. You can enjoy delicious homemade produce whilst enjoying the spectacular views over from this amazing vantage point.
The unique dining pods make a welcome return to the festival for a second year. Set in ancient woodland, diners can enjoy an intimate picnic of tasty local produce in one of the pods or enjoy dinner whilst watching the evening stars.
Build up an appetite with an early morning ranger-led tour around Bradgate Park where you will learn all about the edible produce that can be found within the park. After the walk you can tuck into a well-deserved, hearty breakfast made up of tasty local produce.
Hop on the vintage Midland Red bus and dine around the forest, enjoying a different course of wonderful local forest food at some of the best pubs in Charnwood, exploring the ancient forest on your way.
Charnwood Cider will be offering a brewery tour and cider and ale tasting session at their new home, the Mash and Press in Anstey. You can find out how this delectable local produce is created from Rob and his team, and find out which of the many ciders and ales created are your favourite.
A truly unique event where you will get to sample a wide selection of regional artisan cheeses, each carefully matched with local ale, cider, wine and cordial, beautifully presented and under the expert tutelage of our very own Cheese Meister!
Look out for our very special event when our famous ‘Tea in the Tower’ goes vegan for a whole day.
Martin Peters, Chief Executive of Leicestershire Promotions said: “We’ve delighted to bring back some of our amazing favourites from last year, as well as a few new events, specially-created to tickle your tastebuds! Events have traditionally sold out very quickly so our advice is to book early and avoid disappointment.”
About Leicestershire Promotions:
Leicestershire Promotions is an independent tourism specialist, delivering campaigns, events and services to develop tourism offers and attract more visitors to a growing portfolio of leading tourism destinations. For more information, go to www.lpltourism.com or follow us on Twitter at @l_p_l.
For further media information, please contact:
Simon Gribbon
Leicestershire Promotions
Phone: 07990 583371
Email: simon.gribbon@l-p-l.com
Charnwood Borough Council has confirmed the appointment of its new chief executive.
Councillors approved the appointment of Rob Mitchell, currently chief executive officer at Ashfield District Council in Nottinghamshire, at a special meeting on Monday, July 29.
It follows the announcement that current Charnwood chief executive Geoff Parker will be retiring later this year.
Cllr Jonathan Morgan, Leader of Charnwood Borough Council, said: “I am delighted Rob’s appointment has now been confirmed.
“His track record of delivering outstanding public services is second-to-none and we are excited to have him on board.
“Charnwood is a strong, vibrant borough and Rob is joining the organisation at a critical time as we identify our priorities for the future. Rob will play a key role in helping us achieve our ambitions.”
Rob said: “After four fantastic years at Ashfield District Council, I am delighted to be appointed as chief executive of Charnwood Borough Council.
“I am looking forward to building upon the excellent work already carried out in Charnwood and driving the Council’s ambitions forward at pace.”
Rob, who is expected to start in his new role in the autumn, joined Ashfield in 2015 and was previously a director at Tamworth Borough Council. He lives with his family in Quorn, Charnwood.