County Councillor Update – January 2024

From your County Councillor

Wishing all residents, a Happy and healthy New Year.

 

Warmer Homes Grants

If your home is not very energy efficient and lacks gas central heating, you can apply for this programme for free improvements to be installed which will save money on your energy bills. These upgrades include things like better insulation, air source heat pumps, and solar panels.

To check if you are eligible and to apply visit the Warmer Homes website www.warmerhomes.org.uk/apply or call the freephone number on 0800 038 5757.

Local Plan

The consultation remains open until 8^th January. The easiest way to comment is via the online form www.rutland.gov.uk/localplan but you can email localplan@rutland.gov.uk or call the Council’s customer services team on 01572 722 577 who will arrange for a member of the Local Plan team to contact you.

Budget

The start of the new year is budget setting time at Rutland County Council when the annual budget for 2024/5 is drawn up and Councillors vote in February on the rate of council tax and the level of fees and charges for council services for next year. You will have seen from the news that many councils are in financial crisis with many expected to fail or having already declared themselves bankrupt. Rutland is not in this position but there is extreme pressure on council finances and the council is therefore carrying out a large and detailed review of all its operations so that it can make sure future budgets can be balanced.

Planning

The reserved matters application for 66 houses off Stapleford Road was approved at the planning committee on 12^th December. This means that the detailed layout of the site is agreed, along with a number of planning conditions. Any diversion to the public footpath will need to be separately approved. Whilst both the Parish Council and I unsuccessfully argued for a reduction in number of houses, due to our efforts the developers have now created more green space at the south of the development, replaced some 4 bed houses with 3 beds, and increased biodiversity and hedgerows, which is good news.  20 homes are ‘affordable’ which includes 13 for social housing. For full details of the planning meeting and to see all the documents and conditions, do look at the council website and search planning applications reference 2023/0271/RES.

My next session at the White Lion will be on Wednesday 21 February from 6pm until 8pm

Rosemary Powell
County Councillor
Whissendine Ward
474257
rpowell@rutland.gov.uk