County Councillor’s Report from Ozzy O’shea

Email: ozzy.o’shea@leics.gov.uk or ozzyoshea@hotmail.com

Tel 0116 239 4336 Mobile 07808

Budget Council Tax Rise April 2023

A BUDGET that delivers major investment in support for vulnerable people has been set by Leicestershire County Council.

The authority agreed its financial plan - including an extra £57m for vital help, such as home and residential care - at a full county council meeting on the 22nd February 2023.

The budget is designed to protect public services as much as possible during tough economic times, it will see major capital investment of £509m, service cuts totalling £3m, £59m of efficiency savings and a 4.99 per cent Council Tax increase from April to ensure the books will balance next year.

An extra £1m has also been earmarked to offset the impact of service cuts and boost road maintenance, following better than expected Government funding earlier this year – this includes £100,000 to continue rolling out community speed cameras. Protecting the vulnerable and hefty investment in support people depend on – that’s what our budget delivers.

Unforeseen global issues such as war in Ukraine and rising energy costs make balancing our books challenging. We’ve spent a lot of time on it and asking people to pay more has been a tough decision. Not doing so would drastically reduce the money we can spend on social care, fixing roads and other frontline services.

Although councils fared better than expected in the Government’s Autumn Statement, the financial outlook remains extremely tough with the authority’s budget gap set to rise to nearly £90m by 2026.

Growing service demand is set to increase costs by £70m, with rising inflation forecast to add another £91m by 2026/27. On top of this, the National Living Wage increase drives up social care costs significantly and adds another £18m.

A 4.99 per cent Council Tax increase from April equates to £1.39 a week for a Band D home and generates £17.7m for front line services. The national agreed public sector pay rise for staff agreed in November 2022 was £1925 excluding senior staff. This added £17m to our budget. Even with the financial pressuring growing, we pride ourselves on doing the best we can with the money we have. And that’s why it was right to freeze our own member allowances this year. Being the lowest funded county compounds the issue and I am looking forward to our leader discussing this with the Chancellor, Jeremy Hunt, next month.

A 4.99 per cent Council Tax rise in the county council’s share includes a two per cent adult social care levy – and means a Band D home would pay £1,525.

The budget includes:

• £57m more to support vulnerable people - to pay for more home and residential care, and support people with physical disabilities, learning disabilities and mental health needs. The number of home care users has increased by 600 since January 2020.

• £59m of efficiency savings –reducing back office costs by maximising digital technology, simplifying processes and providing the right level of support to residents

• Service cuts totalling £3mincluding reviewing waste sites, streetlighting, Green Plaques and Shire Grants

• A £509m four-year capital pot - for the cost of building roads, schools and other one-off projects The council’s yearly budget totals £512m.

District councils, police, fire and parish and town councils all make up portions of residents’ Council Tax bills.

Winter Weather

I HAVE paid thanks to our Gritting teams, who have been working to keep our roads clear, whilst we are all asleep.

They have done and excellent job and continue to do so, as another cold snap is on the horizon.

Locked’ Apple ID Scam

SCAMMERS are again attempting to steal personal data from Apple users by impersonating the brand.

Fraudsters are sending phishing emails claiming the recipient’s Apple ID has been locked due to ‘multiple failed sign-in attempts’. If you click the Verify your account’ button, you’re taken to a QR code generation website, which scammers use to phish for your personal information.

And finally

FINALLY, I would like to thank you all for your continued support and remind you that should you need my help or advice, I always pride myself on making myself available to residents.

Remember I am only a phone call or email away.

Ozzy O’shea

Always Working for you Locally.

Cllr Ozzy O’shea Tel 0116 2394336 Mobile 07808585825

Email Ozzy.O’shea@leics.gov.uk

Newtown Linford Ladies Luncheon Club

THIS LUNCHEON CLUB originally started in Newtown Linford but now has members from all over Leicestershire.

There is a monthly meeting on every 3rd Wednesday and you can have 3 visits initially to see if you wish to join.Members pay an additional £20 a year to cover the speakers’ fees on top of their monthly £19 for their meal. There are no meetings in July and August but often an outing is arranged instead.

• NEXT MONTH’S MEETING is on Wednesday 15th March 2023 with a three-course lunch at Lingdale Golf Club, Joe Moores Lane, Woodhouse Eaves, Leicestershire LE12 8TF, starting at 12 noon to 3pm, and afterwards there will a talk by Stuart Dixon on The Garden of Hebb’s Farmhouse

If you are interested in attending this Luncheon Club meeting, then please telephone Sheila Price 0116 2205225 before Friday 10th March to book a place. All dietary needs are catered for.

Aldi has donated almost 400,000 meals in county

ALDI has officially donated 30 million meals to good causes since launching its food donations initiative in 2019, with 399,300 meals being donated to local communities in Leicestershire.

In partnership with community giving platform Neighbourly, all of the supermarket’s stores in Leicestershire are partnered with foodbanks, charities and community groups, who receive surplus food year-round.

As a result of the successful partnership, more than 4,000 good causes across the country have now benefitted from the scheme, including soup kitchens and children’s breakfast clubs.

Charities and community groups interested in working with Aldi should contact Neighbourly at aldi@neighbourly.com

Wise Words

The best way to predict your future is to create it.

Abraham Lincoln

Happiness is like a butterfly; the more you chase it, the more it will elude you, but if you turn your attention to other things, it will come and sit softly on your shoulder.

Henry David Thoreau

You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough.

Mae West

South Charnwood High School

South Charnwood High School

Facilities Assistants

3G Pitch and Lettings

(Casual or permanent contracted hours that can fit around other commitments)

We are looking for Facilities Assistants who will be part of our Premises Team, supporting afterschool 3G pitch and whole school lettings.

The role will involve opening and shutting the site, assisting with the setting up of facilities, clearing of pitches, ensuring the area is kept clean and free of litter and liaising with and assisting users.

The hours of work will fall between the times of Monday to Friday between 4:45pm and 9:45pm and Saturday and Sunday between 8:45 am and 5:45pm. This is an ideal opportunity for someone who wants to work within the community. These are casual or permanent contracted hours and can fit around other commitments. Rate of pay is £10.78 to £10.88 per hour (with an additional 12% up lift for holiday pay).

If you are interested in this role, please see the school website at www.southcharnwood.leics.sch.uk for an information pack and application form. Alternatively, telephone 01530 242351 or email: hcarnan@southcharnwood.org

As this job is designated as a ‘regulated activity’ an enhanced DBS check with Barred List check is essential

Charnwood High School - Committed to

Children and Young People.’