June 2025 - Our Month in Review

Democracy at work – New Leader for Blaby District Council

A new Leader has been sworn in at Blaby District Council following a change of the District’s Conservative Party leadership.

Councillor Ben Taylor has taken over the role from Councillor Terry Richardson, who has led the authority for the last decade. The leadership change was confirmed at the authority’s Annual Council meeting on 20 May.

Councillor Taylor, who joined the Council in 2015 and represents the Fosse Highcross Ward, brings a wealth of experience and a strong commitment to serving the residents and businesses of Blaby District.

Following a vote to confirm the new Council Leader, Councillor Taylor said: “I am extremely honoured and privileged to have been elected Leader of Blaby District Council and will work tirelessly for the people and communities of the area.

“I want to thank Councillor Terry Richardson for his outstanding leadership over the past 10 years. I look forward to working with officers and our communities to continue delivering high quality services and shaping a positive future for our District.”

The meeting also confirmed changes to the Council’s Cabinet, which is now made up of:

• Leader – Cllr Ben Taylor
• Deputy Leader and Portfolio Holder for Finance, People and Transformation Cllr Cheryl Cashmore
• Portfolio Holder for Neighbourhood Services and Assets Cllr Nigel Grundy
• Portfolio Holder for Housing, Community Safety and Environmental Services Cllr Les Phillimore
• Portfolio Holder for Planning and Strategic Growth Cllr Mike Shirley
• Portfolio Holder for Health, Community and Economic Development Cllr Nick Chapman

Councillor Terry Richardson will continue to serve as a ward councillor for Narborough and Littlethorpe. 

Chairman of the Council

At the Annual Meeting of Blaby District Council, we welcomed the new elected Chairman of the Council, Councillor Roy Denney.

The Chairman of Blaby District Council is a traditional role given to a councillor for one year. The Council meets in May each year to appoint the Chairman. 
The Chairman is pleased to support LOROS as his chosen charity for the year.

Councillor Activities   

During June your councillors will attend many meetings and events reflecting their new responsibilities:

• Monthly catch-up with Blaby DC executive director – 4th
• Aston Flamville Parish Meeting – 4th
• Planning Committee – 5th
• Sapcote Parish Council – 5th
• Sapcote Bloom Group fundraiser – 7th
• Sharnford Village Fete – 8th
• Cabinet Executive Review – 10th
• Local Development Group Meeting – 17th
• Training - Annual Planning Committee – 19th
• Sharnford Parish Council – 19th
• Sharnford Bacon Buttie 21st
• Cabinet Executive Meeting – 23rd 

News Release

• Could you benefit from one of our Community Grants?
  Blaby District Council’s long-running Community Grants Scheme is open for 2025-26 and local charities, community groups and sports clubs are being urged to apply.
    
• Council responds to homelessness challenges
  Blaby District Council has developed a new homelessness strategy in the wake of record demand.
   
• New Leader for Blaby District Council
  A new Leader has been sworn in at Blaby District Council following a change of the District’s Conservative Party leadership.
   
• Scale Changes to Enderby Hub
  The new owners of the Enderby Logistics Hub site are looking to reduce overall roof heights on buildings in two sections of the warehouse development off St Johns.

Very welcome news to see a new bus service for several Fosse Villages to and from Fosse Park and Hinckley

Timetables below. The Arriva LC14 service will begin operating from the 2nd of June, next Monday

We await feedback from our new County Councillor when paper copies will be available.

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/

Changes at Parish Council

It is all changing in Fosse Highcross Ward. Our Parish Councils have carried out their statutory duties of holding the Annual Parish Council Meeting during May and have seen changes to their membership:

Elmesthorpe Parish Council now have a new Chairman and Vice Chairman with Cllr Christine Leigh and Cllr Becky Roper being elected to their new roles.

Sapcote Parish Council now has seven new councillors with Cllr Fiona Bishop and Cllr Jonathan Mason being elected to Chairman and Vice Chairman respectively.

Sharnford Parish Council sees Cllr Mike Shirley returning as Chairman after a two year break with Cllr Gary Peryer remaining as Vice Chairman.

Wigston Parva Parish Meeting was held on 28 May with Richard Masterton being re-elected as chairman for a further twelve months.

Aston Flamville Parish Meeting hold their annual meeting on 4 June with their current chairman Robin Wilson still in office. The election for chairman will be carried out at the beginning of the meeting.

Major Blaby District Planning Applications 

24/0004/FUL – Land off Gillam Butts, Countesthorpe
Development of 41 dwellings
Application approved by Planning Committee on 8th May 2025 

24/0105/FUL – Elms Farm Bungalow, Springwell Lane, Whetstone
Erection of 21 dwellings including demolition of existing bungalow
Application approved by Planning Committee on 8th May 2025 

24/0117/VAR - Unit 3, Fosse Park Avenue, Grove Way, Enderby
Variation of conditions 2 and 4 of planning permission 15/0577/FUL to facilitate subdivision of unit to create 2 separate retail units.
Application approved by Planning Committee on 8th May 2025 

24/0615/OUT – Off Hinckley Road, Leicester Forest East
Outline application for demolition of buildings and erection of up to 145 new dwellings.
Application approved by Planning Committee on 8th May 2025 

24/0976/OUT – 2 Spring Gardens, Sapcote
Outline application for 9 new dwellings and demolition of dwelling.
Application refused by Planning Committee on 8th May 2025 

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

Local Minor Planning Applications

None for Fosse Highcross

Appeals

None for Fosse Highcross

Local Planning Enforcement

None for Fosse Highcross

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