As we enter a new year I think it's worth taking a few minutes to reflect on some of our achievements of 2015.
2015 was an historic year that will be remembered for all time because it was the year in which King Richard III was finally laid to rest with the dignity befitting a Monarch. For some time our Borough appeared on news channels across the world, its citizens came out in their thousands to play their part in the ceremonies and pageantry, and to witness events that brought alive our history of 1485 .
It was a year in which we finally saw Hinckley's bus station redeveloped to become The Crescent and with the opening of Sainsbury's, Cineworld, and The Elbow Room we have seen the start of a new era for this town’s centre. We have also approved a town centres vision document to set out the next part of regeneration, not just for Hinckley but our other major towns as well.
We had our first Annual Rural Conference and launched a draft rural strategy, a new bus route connecting with Mira was launched after the A5 improvement, and was quickly extended to Witherley and Fenny Drayton.
Our Planning Committee introduced changes to bring regular updates to members with progress on major developments and updates on enforcement actions. We introduced the planning policy forum, allowing all members to contribute their views on policy much earlier than would otherwise have been the case.
Market Bosworth deserves a special mention because it had its neighbourhood development plan adopted.
We also published a revised health strategy, engaged positively with health partners and MP David Treddinick, and are influencing the CCG Community Health review.
As we start 2016 we already know there is much to look forward to. We will see continued regeneration in Hinckley, not least of which will be the opening of the new leisure centre in four months’ time.
Work with our partner councils in Leicestershire will continue to create a combined authority and through that to devolve further powers to local government.
We will be holding a developers’ forum at the end of this month, with local and national builders, to discuss better ways to meet future housing need, without destroying the communities that we value today. Part of this of course will be to outline how we plan to utilise some of our own land assets for future housing development.
There are of course challenges going forward, not least of which is Council’s budget.
Members will shortly be receiving papers for the scrutiny commission to be held on 21 January. This meeting is open for all members to attend to review the draft budget proposals for the coming year. Everyone will, I am sure, be pleased to know that these proposals do not require this council to hold a referendum on a council tax increase. With the increased funding from government, including the continuation of new homes bonus, increased business rates retention, further efficiency savings within the council, increases in the use of our charged services, and a small increase in council tax we will be able to set a balanced budget. We will also be seeking to retain the universal garden waste recycling service, for at least the year 2016/17, without the need to make a charge for its collection, and without the need to fund the service from Council’s reserves.
I submitted an expense claim in January for 142 miles of car use and £16.50 in parking charges.
Minutes:
In his position statement, the Leader referred to the achievements of 2015, including the Crescent development, the successful first Annual Rural Conference and the adoption of Market Bosworth Neighbourhood Plan. Looking forward, he spoke about the CCG Community Health review, the opening of the new leisure centre, and the emerging Leicester & Leicestershire Combined Authority. Reference was also made to the Strategic Growth Plan for Leicestershire and that the presentation to the cross-party planning working group was the first to be convened in Leicestershire, and the Developer Forum which was being convened at the end of January.