March 2025 - Our Month in Review
Councillor Surgeries, Devolution, HNRFI and RCC Free Coffee Visits
This month has seen our latest Councillor surgery take place, after our very successful one in Sapcote, this surgery was held in Sharnford. Thank you to all those that attended. We will continue to host these to ensure we are available to residents, not just online, but in person too.
It’s been another busy month with devolution proposals, budget setting and HNRFI nearing its conclusion (we continue to fight for a refusal).
Pictured above we also attended the RCC ‘Free Coffee Morning’ event in Sharnford. These are running for six weeks, dates in the pic below for those interested in future sessions.
RCC are a local charity that look to tackle rural isolation & loneliness. We are all very grateful for coming to Sharnford and I know Huncote is another village they run this event for in the afternoon.
A massive thank you to Sharnford Parish Councillor, Cllr Rosemarie Simpson for reaching out to RCC and arranging these events for Sharnford.
Our next report will be limited due to the local elections, we will have a catch-up report in May.
Local government in Leicestershire is changing
The government wants to reduce the number of councils in areas like ours and make things simpler and more efficient.
This will mean new unitary councils are created – authorities which deliver all services.
They will replace the district and borough councils and the county councils.
Developing proposals
The Government has invited the area to submit plans for future council structures. This is also about unlocking devolution and bringing powers and funding to the region.
The seven district and borough councils in Leicestershire and Rutland County Council are working together to look at how we can make this work best for local communities.
From the work we’ve carried out so far, a preferred model for local government structures in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland is emerging. That model is for three unitary councils for our shared area:
- One to serve North Leicestershire and Rutland
- One for South Leicestershire
- One for the city of Leicester
an area currently served by Charnwood, North West Leicestershire and Melton district and borough councils, and Rutland County Council)
an area currently served by Blaby, Harborough, Hinckley & Bosworth and Oadby & Wigston district and borough councils
based on its existing boundaries
The benefits of three unitary councils
This approach ensures councils remain connected to people and place, are accessible and accountable, efficient and have simple structures.
These are initial ideas. We need to do much more work, including engaging with our communities.
The deadline is tight. The Government wants an interim plan by 21 March 2025.
We need views to help shape our proposal
We are talking to stakeholders but want to make sure residents, organisations and businesses can also share their views.
We have created a short survey so you can have a say now.
The ‘ask’ at this stage is really simple – what is most important to you when you think about your local council? If you have any other thoughts or views on the topic, feel free to share them with us.
There will be more to get involved in as much wider public engagement is planned before final proposals need to be submitted in November 2025.
Alberto Costa MP
Alberto is holding a surgery in Sharnford on 14th March.
If you would like to book an appointment, please email
Councillor Activities
During February, your councillors have attended many training events and/or meetings, including social functions:
- Meeting with resident concerning A5 accident issues + make a video - 1st
- View tree issues in Elmesthorpe – 1st
- Draft Local Nature Recovery Strategy – Teams – 4th
- Audit & Corporate Governance Committee – 6th
- Sapcote Parish Council – 6th
- Scrutiny Task & Finish – Recruitment – 11th
- Planning Committee – 13th
- Ward Councillors’ Surgery – 15th
- Blaby Local Plan Development Group – 18th
- Meeting with resident to discuss local flooding – 21st
- Sharnford Parish Council – 20th
- District Council Meeting – 25th
- Sharnford Fete Committee – 26th
- Blaby Youth Conference – 27th
During March, your councillors will be attending meetings and training events. Because of the recent government proposals, the number of activities could increase:
- Sharnford Bacon Buttie – 1st
- Devolution Plan – online – 6th
- Grievance & Standards Committee – 6th
- Elmesthorpe Parish Council – 6th
- Sapcote Parish Council – 6th
- Police Beat Surgery – 11th
- Blaby Parishes Group Meeting – 12th
- Planning Committee – 13th
- Youth Council Meeting – 17th
- Sharnford Parish Council – 20th
- Scrutiny Task & Finish – Recruitment – 25th
- Sharnford Fete Committee – 26th
- Blaby Chairman’s Coffee Morning – 27th
- Joint Consultative Committee – 27th
News Release
- Community Heroes Honoured
- Go Green and save money
- Putting communities at the heart of future local government services
HNRFI Update – Decision Phase
The Hinckley National Rail Freight Interchange will remain in our monthly reports until the final decision is made by the Secretary of State.
HNRFI decision delayed
As you will be aware, the Hinckley National Rail Freight Interchange (HNRFI) decision has been delayed to 10 March 2025 by the Secretary of State for Transport. The Secretary of State published two documents; a Minded to Refuse Letter (explaining why the application may be refused) and a Recommendation Report (outlining advice from the Planning Inspectorate to the Secretary of State) and gave the developers Tritax Symmetry, until 10 December 2024 to submit further information.
A decision is due on the HNRFI by 10 March.
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.
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 Blaby District Planning Applications
25/0104/RM - Land Adjacent To Leicester Road And Foston Road Countesthorpe Leicestershire
Reserved Matters application for the erection of 170 dwellings (Use Class C3) including details of appearance, landscaping, layout and scale (relating to outline application 23/1071/OUT).
Application to be determined by Planning Committee at future meeting
24/0004/FUL – Land off Gillam Butts, Countesthorpe
Development of 41 dwellings
Application deferred by Planning Committee on 13th February 2025 due to changes in Flood Risk analysis.
24/0527/OUT – Land off Oak Road, Littlethorpe
Outline application for the erection of up to 155 residential dwellings
Application refused by Planning Committee on 13th February 2025
24/0874/FUL - The Works Aston Lane Sharnford Leicestershire
Demolition of existing pre-fab offices and siting of 29 self-storage containers with erection of new boundary fencing and landscape bund
Application approved by Planning Committee on 13th February 2025 after ‘call-in’ by
Cllr Ben Taylor
25/0016/VAR – Bouskell Park, Welford Road, Blaby
Variation of Condition 2 (approved plans) and removal of Conditions 3 and 4 (relating to surface water drainage details) of permission 24/0746/FUL
Application approved by Planning Committee on 13th February 2025
24/1040/FUL – The Gables, Chapel Lane, Sharnford
Residential development of 3 new dwellings and alteration and extension to ‘The Gables’.
Application to be determined by Planning Officer under delegated powers
24/1079/FUL – 27 Leicester Road, Sapcote
Alterations and extension to the property, change of use from a dwelling to an 8-bed, 8-person house in multiple occupation (HMO)
Application withdrawn by applicant to consider options.
Local Minor Planning Applications
25/0172/HH - 15 Whitley Way Sapcote Leicester Leicestershire LE9 4GE
Single storey rear extension and new front porch.
25/0091/FUL - 24 Billington Road East Elmesthorpe Leicester Leicestershire LE9 7SB
Retrospective change of use of garage and storage building to office (Class E) Address: 24 Billington Road East Elmesthorpe Leicester Leicestershire LE9 7SB
Appeals
02/0184/1/PX – Applicant appealed against decision by BDC to refuse Retention and use of mobile home for residential purposes in breach of Condition 2.
Local Planning Enforcement
None for Fosse Highcross
PDF version of this newsletter can be downloaded from the link below.
