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I would just like to wish all residents, communities and businesses in Charnwood a very Happy New Year!
I am looking forward to another busy year for the Council and our focus remains on delivering the best services we can to communities, supporting economic growth and working with partners and stakeholders to make our borough a better place for all.
As usual there is already a lot on the Council’s agenda. In the early part of the year we will be finalising our budget, which will give us a solid base to operate from for 2025/26.
We will continue to deliver investment through Loughborough Town Deal and the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. A big thank you to all partners and stakeholders involved in those programmes. They are making significant improvements to our borough, such as the regeneration scheme at Shepshed and the refurbishment at John Taylor and Co Bellfoundry in Loughborough, which were both completed last year.
There is much more on the way including work due to start on the Digital Skills Hub at Loughborough College, the opening of the Generator arts and culture hub, and investment in parks in Sileby and sports facilities in Mountsorrel.
We will also continue to invest in our council homes to make them better for tenants and we are also creating new homes. The Council will be starting work on creating nine high-quality bungalows in Thurmaston this year, which is an exciting scheme. They will replace an outdated sheltered complex that no longer met the needs of tenants.
We will also continue to support community organisations through our grants scheme. In our last round of grants in 2024, we allocated almost £40,000 to 14 projects, including an urban farm initiative, the creation of a new wellbeing hub and support for disadvantaged young people.
There are so many outstanding organisations, projects and people in our borough, and I am proud we can support them as a Council.
While there are many exciting projects happening around the borough, the day-to-day services we operate are also important.
We will continue to focus on delivering the best services we can and making sure we are getting the most from every pound we spend.
Finally, at the end of 2024, the Government announced plans to devolve more powers and funding to the regions and proposed reorganising local government, potentially impacting councils like ours.
It is likely to mean speculation about what the future holds for local councils, but I would like to assure residents that it will not distract us from delivering services. It is very much business as usual for Charnwood Borough Council.
Once again, all the best for 2025!
Cllr Jewel Miah, Leader of Charnwood Borough Council
Don't forget, you can use the Council website to report any issues on our services. Simply visit www.charnwood.gov.uk/report
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