Shocking figures, obtained by the Liberal Democrats, show that the Government is planning to keep nearly £200m of council tenant’s rent this year.

Every year, the treasury decides how much local authorities need to spend on new homes and maintaining council houses. Thoses it deems to take more in rent than they need to spend pay a ‘negative subsidy’ to the Treasury, which is then redistributed to authorities in greater need.

However, this year the Treasury is collecting £195,816,938 more than it is redistributing. This extra money will remain with the exchequer and will not be spent on council housing.

Cllr Michael Wyatt said, “The tax on tenants is preventing local councils from investing in their housing stock, and crucially building new homes for the 1.67 million families on social housing waiting lists. It’s time to scrap the tenant tax.”

Cllr Michael Wyatt has asked the County Highways for a new bollard for the junction of Waterworks Road and Staple Drive. Cllr Wyatt has been contacted by a number of local residents who approached him for help.

Cllr Wyatt said, “I have asked the county highways to replace the missing bollard as soon as possible. Hopefully within the next few weeks or so a new one will be in place”.

Tory County Council Bosses are considering building an incineration site in north West Leicestershire, rumours have it Ellistown could be a potential site

Local Liberal Democrats are completely opposed to any incineration site being considered until all the Districts and Borough Council’s within Leicestershire have exhausted all avenues to recycle. North West Leics District Council is still one of the poorest performing councils within Leicestershire.

Bill Newton Dunn, Lib Dem MEP for the North West Leicestershire and the East Midlands said, “Any plans for an incineration site in Ellistown or any other area needs to be vigorously opposed. The Tory controlled County Council must wake up and see that local people want better recycling facilities and the opportunity to recycle more, not incineration sites polluting our Towns and Villages. The Tory Bosses need to get the basics right, and exhaust the recycling potential before imposing a health hazard onto the people of North West Leicestershire”.

Recently a new law was set by the European Union, which gives weight to the principle that recycling should be given priority over incineration when dealing with waste, but the latter will be permitted so long as energy is recovered from the material that is burned.

At last night’s meeting of the County Highway Forum, which is a forum of District and County Councillors, and Officers to discuss County issues, Cllr michael Wyatt spoke on the issue of the Meadow Lane Cross Roads.

Cllr Michael Wyatt submitted a petition last November urging the County Highway Officers to urgently address the speeding and illegal parking issue at the Cross roads.

Last night Cllr Wyatt addressed the meeting by expressing the local residents disappointment at the decision taken by the Officers not to take any action. Cllr Wyatt continued by saying that “if they fail to to take action then someone could get killed.”

Your Liberal Democrat Councillors will continue to push for action at the Meadow Lane Cross Roads, If you would like to help our campaign then here are just a couple of things you can do today:

1. Contact the District Council customer service line on : 01530 454545 and log your complaint concerning illegal parking the Cross Roads                                          

2. Write a letter or email the County Council Highway Officers at County Hall in Glenfield  and complain about the need for more action to tackle the illegal parking and the need for pedestrian crossing at the junction.

Michael Wyatt would like to thank everyone who has already sent letters, e-mails and phoned the customer service line concerning the illegal parking.

Your Liberal Democrat Cllrs can give you an assurance that they will continue to fight for better road safety measures at the Meadow Lane Cross.

If any Council has stopped you getting access to information - or if there’s are details relating to a contract you wish to see then you may be able to do something about that in the next few weeks.  Under s14 & 15 Audit Commission Act 1998 any local government elector can inspect as part of the audit process the statement of accounts and auditors reports and may also inspect “all books, deeds, contracts, bills, vouchers and receipts relating to them. On top of that you can make copies of those documents. The timescale when this can be done is very limited (2-3 weeks) and usually advertised by the Council in one of the small print “official notices” section of the paper. The easiest way of finding out is probably to email the finances dept though. This website has information on the time periods for many councils. Basically anything to do with council finances can be accessed and becomes completely public domain. No exemptions for commercial confidentiality (though there are some for personal information such as salaries and expenses). Unsurprisingly Council’s don’t go out of their way to publicise this facility and it is rarely used! Further details at http://www.yrtk.org/2006/checking-council-accounts/ 

Last week after the grass cutting contractors visited the area again, many local residents have continued to express their disgust at the poor grass cutting service.  Lots of green areas are now looking a total mess due to the vast amount of grass cuttings lying on the ground, which is trying to rot down. Not only is there the previous grass cutting but now its been made worse by last weeks cut, which as just added more to the piles of rotting grass cuttings.

Cllr Michael Wyatt said, “I am urging local residents to continue expressing their disgust, and complain by ringing the County Council Customer service line on 0116 3050001. Its vital the Tory Bosses at the County Council understand that we want a decent service and not a second rate service, which is making our area look a complete mess”.

Over the next few days Aggregate Industries UK Ltd will be holding public exhibitions on their initial proposals for extending Bardon Hill Quarry.

Plans and drawings illustrating the proposals will be on display at the following locations.

9th July Greenhill Community Church Hall, Charnborough Rd Greenhill Coalville 2pm until 8pm.

11th July Copt Oak Village Hall, Whitwick Road 2pm until 8pm.

Representatives from Aggregate Industries will be on hand to answer questions and collect feedback regarding the proposal.

Cllr Michael Wyatt will be holding talks this week with Officers of the District to see if we can obtain the Cocked Hat and turn it into a Multi Purpose Community Facility, all services under one roof. Cllr Michael Wyatt has been looking at how we can provide more services for the Greenhill Estate.  

Cllr Michael Wyatt said, “The Greenhill Estate is one of the largest estates in North West Leicestershire and unfortunately is still one of the most deprived area’s with Leicestershire. Having a Community Centre with all services under one roof would be a step towards tackling some of the key issues. The argument that we already have a community centre at the Charnborough Chapel building is nothing more than a white elephant. This does not and cannot provide the services we want to provide like, educational, social and health services which will have a positive impact on the local community. What I would like to see is the Cocked Hat being utilised due to its proximity and size.”

Your Liberal Democrat Cllrs will continue to push for improved services for the Greenhill Ward

Your Local Liberal Democrat Councillors have contacted the County Highway Officers to cut back the overgrown footpath next to the boundary fence next to Broom Leys School, after many parents approached the Lib Dem Team for help.

Cllr Julie Roberts has been assured today the footpath will be a priority, and within the next week it will be cut back. .

Your Lib Dem Cllrs would like to thank everyone who contacted them concerning this issue and will as ever keep up the pressure on the County Highway Officers to improve the service they are supposed to provide for local residents.

Cllr Michael Wyatt has been campaigning for over a decade for action to be taken at the Warrenhills Road and Meadow Lane junction, and at the Meadow Lane Cross Roads. Michael Wyatt submitted two petitions last November urging the county council to take action against illegal parking at the Meadow Lane Cross Rds and requested action be taken to have the speed limit reduced on Warrenhills Rd. 

Cllr Michael Wyatt said “The County Highways bosses have responded to the two petitions with some good news and some bad. The good news being that they have listened to us, they have agreed to reduce the speed limit on Warrrenhills Road from 60mph to 50mph, which is a start, but the bad news is that they feel that illegal parking is not a problem and that they do not intend to do anything at the Meadow Lane Cross Roads to make it safer” “Concerning the Meadow Lane Cross Roads I am very disappointed we have not yet convinced them that action needs to be taken. I intend to continue our campaign and send the evidence I have, that there is a real danger of illegally parked cars at the Meadow Lane cross rds, which is causing a danger to other drivers and pedestrians. I would urge all residents to ring the District Council Customer service number, 01530 454545 and complain until they do finally wake up and take action.”

“Concerning the reduction in the speed limit from 60mph to 50mph on Warrenhills Rd, I welcome this, but I certainly feel this does not go far enough. What we need is the speed limit reduced to 40mph, which is a more sensible limit, especially when you have two school entrances within yards of the main road.”  

Your Local Liberal Democrat Cllrs would like to hear your views on these two important local issues. Please click on the comments link and tell us what you think about Illegal parked cars on the Meadow Lane Cross Rds and the proposed speed reduction on Warrenhills Rd. 

Your Liberal Democrat Cllrs will keep you updated as ever if there are any new developments.

Cllr Michael Wyatt and his colleagues are having discussions with Officers at the District Council to see how we can progress with their campaign for a Community purpose facility on the Greenhill Estate.

Cllr  Michael Wyatt said, “I’m determined to push for better community services for the Greenhill Estate. Greenhill is one of the most deprived area’s within Leicestershire. Yet we have no Community Centre, providing key services like health and education. What I want to see is a Community Building, which provides all services under one roof. I have already spoken to many local residents, and had a discussion with the local church who are expressing their wish to see an increase in direct services for the residents on the Estate.”

Your Liberal Democrat Councillors will keep you updated with any further progress on this project, and welcome any comments from residents. Please click on the comments link and give us your views.