Information on Loughborough

Have a hand in boosting Blaby's community projects

Posted on 07/09/2009

Leicestershire Councty Council Chief Executive's

7 September 2009

Have a hand in boosting Blaby's community projects

Blaby District residents can get involved in choosing how £20,000 will boost their local area by taking part in an interactive meeting.

At a Dragons' Den-style workshop held earlier in the summer, people pitched ideas for community projects which would benefit from a share of the money.

This partnership funding is available for activities helping young people, vulnerable adults or the local economy and residents were invited to come forward with exciting suggestions and choose their favourite.

Wednesday's Blaby North Community Forum meeting is an opportunity to hear more about the top three - Kids in Kirby, Elderly 'Elpers and Holiday Workshops - and to take part in a final vote.

At the meeting, open to everyone living in and around Braunstone Town, Glenfield, Kirby Muxloe and Leicester Forest East, people can also find out about the latest on local issues and speak to representatives from councils, the NHS and police.

Cllr Gary Sanders, Chair of Blaby North Community Forum, said: "I hope local residents will take the opportunity to be involved in the work of the forum and help decide which of the very worthwhile projects will receive funding."

Blaby North Community Forum is being held at 7pm on Wednesday, 9th September at Kirby Muxloe Primary School.

For more information, please contact Bill Malley on 0116 305 5562 or visit www.leicestershireforums.org .

At three special pilot workshops held in different parts of Blaby District in June, people worked together to discuss ideas, voted for their favourite and produced a shortlist of projects which could benefit from the money - the idea is now being rolled out across Leicestershire.

Following this, all the suggestions have been looked at in detail and at this meeting, people will have the chance to take part in a final vote.

The same process will be happening at the two other community forums in the district:

- Blaby South Community Forum – 30th September at Huncote Primary School

- Blaby Central Community Forum – 6th October at Whetstone United Reformed Church

Community forums offer 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.

Notes:

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.