July 2025 - Our Month in Review

Leicestershire & Rutland Local Government Reorganisation

Local councils and the services they provide have an impact on residents’ lives, and it is important that you have a say on possible changes to how these services are delivered in the future. Please read the engagement document and/or go to www.northcitysouth.co.uk for information about the proposals. To give your feedback, complete this questionnaire by 20 July 2025.

The seven district and borough councils of Leicestershire, and Rutland County Council, have appointed ORS, as an independent social research company, to manage the engagement and questionnaire responses. ORS will faithfully report the outcomes, in which the views of individual members of the public will be anonymous; but where feedback is from organisations or elected representatives or someone acting in their official capacity, it may be attributed.

All the questions are optional, and all information you provide will be processed by ORS in accordance with latest data protection regulations. For further information, please see www.ors.org.uk/privacy and www.northcitysouth.co.uk/privacy-policy.

Waste Collection Changes Consultation

We've launched a six week consultation so we can hear your views on important changes we are making to our waste collection services.
The consultation runs until noon on Friday 8 August and covers two key changes that will affect how you manage your household waste. 

The first is around food waste, as from 31 March 2026 all Councils in England must introduce a separate weekly food waste collection service.
Food waste will be collected separately in a designated food waste caddy, alongside existing recycling and refuse collections. The food waste will go to specialist centres to generate cheap and clean energy and produce fertiliser for farmers. The move will cut greenhouse gas emissions, boost recycling, reduce disposal costs and encourage people to think more proactively about reducing food waste, so saving money.
The second change is around cardboard collection. Currently residents can place cardboard, broken down into manageable pieces, at the side of the recycling bin ready for collection.
From November 1 excess cardboard placed at the side of the recycling bin will no longer be collected. The cardboard must be put in the recycling bin and fit in the bin with the lid closed. This change will increase crew safety, ensure better quality recycling as the cardboard stays clean and dry and lead to cleaner street

Councillor Activities   

During June your District Councillors Ben and Mike, have been settling into their new roles on the Council. Ben as Leader and Mike as Portfolio Holder for Planning & Strategic Growth. Ben has plenty of experience, being a member of the Cabinet for many years, and a District Councillor for the last ten. For Mike a totally new role, a councillor for four years with added responsibilities as vice chairman of the Planning Committee and chairman of the Audit & Corporate Governance Committee, this has now all changed for Mike, relinquishing the committee roles and joining the Cabinet. Apart from our normal responsibilities, attending Fosse Highcross events and parish council meetings, there are daily meetings with Blaby District Council officers, managers, and directors. More for Ben than Mike, where Ben attends meetings with other District/Borough Council Leaders and Chief Executives.

The following is just a brief review of June’s activities and a plan for July with the emphasis on Fosse Highcross Ward:

JUNE

• Monthly catch-up with Blaby DC executive director – 4th
• Aston Flamville Parish Meeting – 4th
• Planning Committee observation – 5th
• Meeting with Sapcote Parish Council Chairman – 5th
• Sapcote Bloom Group fundraiser – 7th
• Sharnford Village Fete – 8th
• Blaby Planning Authority meeting – 10th
• Cabinet Executive Review – 10th
• Veteran Coffee Morning – 11th
• Sapcote Parish Council Meeting – 12th
• Rural Member Induction – 16th
• Counter Terrorism Briefing – 16th
• Local Development Group Meeting 17th
• Planning & Infrastructure Bill Overview – 18th
• Sharnford Parish Council Meeting – 19th
• Sharnford Bacon Buttie – 21st
• Cabinet Executive Meeting – 23rd
• Blaby Councillors briefing on Local Government Regeneration – 26th
• Armed Forces Day – 27th
• A Place to Grow -28th

JULY

• Monthly catch-up with Blaby DC executive director – 1st
• Licensing & Regulatory Training – 1st
• Veteran Coffee Morning – 2nd
• Jobs & Skills Fair – 2nd
• Sharnford fete committee wash-up – 2nd
• Portfolio Holder Catch-up – 3rd
• Planning Obligations Committee – 3rd
• Planning Committee observation, + speak on Sharnford application – 3rd
• Sapcote Parish Council Meeting – 3rd
• Blaby District Council Meeting – 8th
• Lubbesthorpe Health Centre Opening Ceremony – 11th
• Local Development Group – 15th
• Sharnford Parish Council Meeting – 17th
• A5 Transport Partnership – County Hall – 18th
• Portfolio Holder Catch-up – 30th
• Planning Committee Observation – 31st

News Release

• Safe Places scheme extends in District
• Promoting responsible dog ownership
• Step back in time at Bouskell Park

Communications providers in the UK are replacing the technology they use to provide fixed telephone networks (landlines). For most customers, the upgrade is expected to be complete by January 2027.

In November 2017, the telecoms industry announced its intention to retire analogue telephone networks such as the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN), which provides many analogue telephone services. The Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN), which is also used to deliver telephone services, is also being switched off. Most customers are expected to have made the switch by the end of January 2027. The industry will upgrade landline services to new digital technology using an internet connection, such as Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), Digital Voice or All-IP telephony.

For most consumers and businesses, this change will be straightforward. Nobody will have to lose their landline service because of this change, as there will still be the option for a ‘landline only’ service should a customer not wish to purchase a general internet connection. Communications providers will continue to be bound by the same regulatory obligations as they are today.

The upgrade of the UK’s telephone lines is not a government programme and does not result from a government decision or policy, and therefore specific questions about how the upgrade programme might affect you should be directed to your service provider.

New Local Plan

 We continue to work on our Local Plan which will guide growth across the District up to 2041, shaping where housing, employment and retail sites should be developed and where development should be restricted. Regular meetings of district councillors and officers, chaired by Cllr Mike Shirley, will be held leading up to the November Reg.19 date.

May 2025 Update

Due to the Government’s revision of the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) and the impact of the imposition of mandatory housing targets, the Council is taking the opportunity to review and refresh some key evidence, and to engage with strategic partners, to ensure the plan is compliant with the new legislation.  As such, the Council now intends to publish the Regulation 19 Local Plan in November 2025. 

The Regulation 19 provides an opportunity for public consultation on the Local Plan. Following on from the consultation phase, revisions will be made to the Local Plan before it is submitted for Examination. At the Examination stage the Local Plan will be examined by an independent Inspector who will consider the Plan against the Government’s criteria. 

For the latest info on our new local plan, please see Blaby District Council’s dedicated webpage: https://www.blaby.gov.uk/planning-and-building/local-plan/new-local-plan/

Major Planning Decision made by Leicestershire County Council, outside of control by Blaby District Council

2025/VOCM/0028/LCC – Sutton Lodge Farm, Frolesworth Road, Broughton Astley
Erection of an Anaerobic Digestion Facility with associated infrastructure and landscaping.
Application approved by LCC Development Control & Regulatory Board on 13th June 2025

NOTE:

Even though ALL HGV traffic will enter/leave the site via the B4114, Blaby District Council were not consulted on the application. Stoney Stanton, Sapcote, and Sharnford can expect to see an increase in HGV traffic through our villages, totalling up to 20,000 vehicle movements per year.

Major Blaby District Planning Applications 

The Planning Committee has been actively reviewing these applications as part of the district’s ongoing development initiatives. Particular attention is being given to the impact of these projects on local infrastructure, green spaces, and community amenities, ensuring that future growth aligns with sustainable and inclusive planning principles. Upcoming meetings will further address the concerns raised during public consultations, with an emphasis on balancing housing needs and preserving the unique character of each area.

24/0559/OUT – Land at Croft Lodge Farm, Broughton Road, Croft
Outline application for erection of 95 dwellings.
Application approved by Planning Committee on 5th June 2025

24/0760/OUT - Land off Sycamore Way, Littlethorpe
Outline application for erection of up to 14 dwellings
Application to be considered by Planning Committee on 3rd July 2025

24/0834/OUT - Land north of Leicester Road, Sharnford 
Outline application for erection of up to 98 dwellings
Application to be considered by Planning Committee on 3rd July 2025

25/0104/RM - Land of Foston Road / Leicester Road, Countesthorpe
Reserved Matters application for erection of up to 170 dwellings
Application to be considered by Planning Committee on 3rd July 2025

Minor Planning Applications in Fosse Highcross

25/0469/FUL – Elmesgate House, Station Road, Elmesthorpe
Change of use from haulage to residential including the demolition of two existing buildings and the construction of single dwelling and double garage.

25/0406/HH – 34 Sharnford Road, Sapcote
Vehicular access with dropped kerb.

25/0525/HH – 11 Penfold Close, Sapcote
Proposed two storey and single storey side extensions.

25/0503/FUL – Springfield Farm, Donkey Lane, Sapcote
Redevelopment and change of use of existing outbuilding to auxiliary plant room) ground source heating system) for Outbuilding B only.

25/0465/CLP – 27 Leicester Road, Sapcote
Change of use of private residence (Use Class C3) to 6 bed HMO (Use class C4)

The application is not a planning application but is a Certificate of Lawfulness application.  It seeks the formal determination of the Council as to the lawfulness of their intended use of the property as a small House in Multiple Occupation (HMO) which falls within Class C4 of the Use Classes Order.  The application does not allow for the merits of the proposals to be taken into account in any way – the only matter is whether the use would be lawful or not.

 Provisions within the General Permitted Development Order (2015) allow certain forms of development to take place without the Council’s express approval.  These include permitting a change of use of a dwelling (Use Class C3) to a small HMO (Use Class C4) without planning permission (and back again, as required).  Use Class C4 covers ‘use of a dwellinghouse by not more than six residents as a house in multiple occupation’.

 The property has no planning restrictions placed on it by previous permissions which would prevent its ability to make use of the permitted development rights outlined above.

Planning Appeals

24/0527/OUT APP/T2405/W/25/3365777 - Land off Oak Road, Littlethorpe, LE19 2HZ 

Outline planning application for the erection of up to 155no. residential dwellings (including affordable housing) with public open space, landscaping, sustainable drainage system (SuDS) and vehicular access point. All matters reserved except for means of access. Gladman Developments Limited 

Inquiry 04 June 2025 

Deadline for submitting representations: 9th July 2025

Planning Enforcement

None for Fosse Highcross

PDF version of this newsletter can be downloaded from the link below.