Information on Loughborough

Get involved in boosting community projects

Posted on 21/08/2009

Leicestershire Councty Council Chief Executive's

21 August 2009

Get involved in boosting community projects

Leicestershire residents can help choose how thousands of pounds will boost their local area, thanks to an innovative new project.

From September, community forums across the County will be holding Dragons' Den-style workshops where residents and community groups can pitch suggestions.

Each meeting will have £20,000 available for projects benefiting the local area and people are invited to come forward with exciting ideas.

This partnership money will be allocated in line with each forum's priorities - these vary but examples include supporting young people, regenerating town centres or improving health.

To get involved in spending the cash, people need to go along their local meeting where they will be able to share and discuss ideas and vote for their favourite.

The workshops follow a successful pilot held earlier this summer in Blaby District. Residents there will be taking part in a final vote for their favourite at the district's three community forums this autumn.

Fifteen-year-old Geena Sharma from Blaby District Youth Council, who took part in this, said: "Blaby Community Forums gave the youth council a lot to think about and flagged up issues that young people are dealing with in the District. The event was well organised and I particularly liked the voting plus the fact that people young or old could attend. I enjoyed myself and would encourgage others to go along."

Ernie White, Cabinet Member for Better Places, said: "We want residents to get involved in helping to decide how £20,000 of partnership money could improve their communities and are offering them the chance to come forward with suggestions and vote for their favourite.

"This is an innovative idea and I would encourage residents, businesses and local groups with ideas about a local project which needs a boost to get involved and have a hand in shaping their community."

Each session is free to attend and includes a finger buffet and refreshments. Places are limited so to book a place, please contact the Community Engagement Team at County Hall on 0116 305 7581, email leicestershireforums@leics.gov.uk or visit www.leicestershireforums.org .

There are 27 community forums across Leicestershire offering people a great opportunity to find out what is happening on their doorstep, give views, get answers to queries and influence local decision-making.

Since they started in January last year, over 2,500 people throughout the County have taken part and picked up the latest on services for older people, anti-social behaviour, eco-town proposals, grants, development plans, lorry routes, tackling crime, transport, housing, jobs, loan sharks, roads, community hospitals plus much more.

Plans are underway to roll out these budgets for community projects in Oadby and Wigston and Harborough districts.

Meeting dates for the £20,000 budget workshops are below:

Charnwood Area Forums (people are asked to arrive at 5.30pm for a 6pm start)

- Quorn, Barrow, Sileby and the Wolds - 9th September at Walton on the Wolds Village Hall

- Loughborough East - 17th September at Woodbrook Vale High School

- Syston, Thurmaston and Wreake Villages (South Charnwood) - 7th October at Rearsby Village Hall

- Loughborough South West - 15th October at Mountfields Lodge Primary School (please arrive at 6pm for a 6.15pm start)

- Bradgate, Rothley, Mountsorrel and Birstall - 26th October at Woodhouse Eaves Village Hall

- Shepshed and Hathern - 2nd November, venue to be confirmed

- Loughborough North West - 3rd November at All Saints' Church Hall

Hinckley and Bosworth Community Forums (people are asked to arrive at 5.30pm for a 6pm start)

- Hinckley Area - 24th September at Sketchley Hill Primary School

- Bosworth - 15th October at Bosworth Battlefield Centre

- Markfield, Ratby and Groby - 1st October at South Charnwood High School

Melton Community Forums (people are asked to arrive at 5.30pm for a 6pm start)

- Melton West - 3rd September at Ashby Folville Village Hall

- Belvoir - 28th September at Long Clawson Village Hall

- Melton Town - 12th October at Royal British Legion, Melton

North West Leicestershire Community Forums (starting at 7pm, venues to be confirmed)

- Ashby Area - 13th October

- Coalville - 19th October

- Valley - 26th October

Dates for other meetings are below:

Blaby Community Forums (starting at 7pm)

- Blaby North - 9th September at Kirby Muxloe Primary School

- Blaby South - 30th September at Huncote Primary School

- Blaby Central - 6th October at Whetstone United Reformed Church

Harborough 'Have your say' Meetings (starting at 7pm)

- Broughton Astley and Rural West - 2nd September at Village Hall, North Kilworth

- Rural East - 14th September at Coplow Centre, Billesdon

- Lutterworth - 15th September at Wycliffe Rooms, George Street

- Market Harborough -  22nd September at Evangelical Church, Bath Street

- Mid Rural - 30th September at Village Hall, Fleckney

Oadby and Wigston Residents Meetings (starting at 7pm)

- Oadby - 7th September at United Reformed Church, Rosemead Drive

- Wigston - 9th September at Council Chambers, Station Road

Notes:

At the workshops, people will work together to discuss ideas, vote for their favourite and produce a shortlist of projects which could benefit from the money.

Following this, all the suggestions will be looked at in detail before people have the chance to take part in a final vote at community forums next spring.

A community forum is a meeting place for residents, local businesses, voluntary and community groups, councillors and service providers.

There are 27 forums across Leicestershire which bring together elected representatives across all tiers of local government - County, District and Borough and Parish, together with a range of other community representatives.

Community forums involve Leicestershire County Council, District and Borough Councils, NHS Leicestershire County and Rutland, Leicestershire Police and Leicestershire Together partners

Although they do not have formal decision-making powers, forums are important bodies of influence - there is a 'duty to respond' to actions recommended.