LATEST NEWS

Broughton Matters 'on line'

If you don't want to wait for all the information contained in new edition of Broughton Matters, it is now available to download by clicking on the link below.

Rural Community Council - funding news

The latest edition of the Rural Community Council's weekly bulletin provides details of 2 important funding opportunities for local groups.

* Grassroots Grants programme - maximum award £5,000
* BT Community Connections award - laptops and broadband for community groups.

Please click on the document below for more details

Budget increase kept to 1.58%

Broughton Astley Councillors met in mid-December to set their annual budget and Precept bid for 2009/10. The Councillors were delighted to announce that as a result of significant savings made this year in terms of staff time and in operational activities; and by successful grant applications the Precept bid of £295,704 amounts to a small increase of 1.58% against last years budget.

The Parish Council has worked hard this year to keep the budget increase to the minimum possible, despite rising costs. It is anticipated that savings may also be made next year when the Parish Council enters into a Grounds Maintenance Partnership with Harborough District Council.

There will be however, be a small increase in Village Hall hire charges of around 3.5% to combat the not insignificant increases in energy costs faced by the Parish Council.

The Precept bid will be submitted to Harborough District Council for approval this week.
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Hallmark Award

Broughton Astley Village Hall has been awarded with the ‘Hallmark 1’ quality standard. The Hall, which is managed and administered by the Parish Council is the first in Leicestershire to have been awarded the Hallmark 1.

The Hallmark quality standards scheme is open to any village or community hall management committee and aims to:
• Reward and establish good practice
• Encourage improvement in established customs and procedures
• Gain recognition for obtaining good standards in the management of the hall.

The award was made following a visit by independent volunteer assessors who spent a morning examining the cleanliness of the facilities, the health & safety procedures, the booking systems and access arrangements. The assessors also spoke to a regular user of the hall in order to gauge satisfaction with both the facilities and the relationship with the Parish Council’s staff.

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New Youth Shelter for Broughton Astley

Younger people in Broughton Astley will now have a new place to meet now that their long awaited Youth Shelter has been installed.

The shelter which is situated in the corner of the field at Thomas Estley Community College has been designed and constructed by REKK Limited. The concave construction of the youth shelter is of durable recycled aluminum alloy and has an integral Solar safety lighting unit.

Consultation undertaken in the community last Autumn confirmed a need for more facilities for young people in Broughton Astley. Through successful applications for grant funding a new Multi-Sports Cage was provided in Frolesworth Road Recreation Ground earlier this year and now the Youth Shelter, which should provide the young people with more choice for their leisure activities. It is hoped that the Youth Shelter will be as popular as the Multi-Sports Cage is already, and that the youngsters will adopt the Youth Shelter as their own space, and look after it!
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Fnding available for Community Groups

Harborough District Council is encouraging voluntary and community groups in Broughton Astley to bid for grants through its Section 106 funding scheme.

Section 106 of the Town and Country Planning Act enables planning authorities like Harborough District Council to make builders and developers set aside money for use in the community. Harborough District Council has a ‘pot’ of funds to be used in the Broughton Astley area.

This money can be used for community facilities, off-site recreation and play equipment. To date grants have been provided towards the Skateboard Park, the artificial cricket pitch, the Community Bus and new play equipment.

In order to have their funding bids considered, local groups are requested to complete an application form, (which must be signed by a local District Councillor) before returning a copy of the application to the Parish and District Councils.

The applications will be examined by the members of the Harborough District Grants Panel, who will consider them on the basis of community need, sustainability and wider district issues. If there are more bids than funds available the Grants Panel would then act as an arbitrator between competing bids.

Please click on the link below for a copy of the Section 106 Funding application form. For more information please contact Christine Lord, Broughton Astley Parish Manager on 01455 285655 or Chris Etherington, Community Development Manager at Harborough District Council on 01858 821286.

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Get involved with Community Safety

Residents from each of the 4 wards in Broughton Astley have volunteered to represent their area on a core committee, which will provide information to the Police and other agencies and work together to identify solutions to our problems of anti-social behaviour and petty crime.

The group does need more volunteers to represent the Broughton Ward (Station/Dunton Road, and the Croft Way housing estate north of these roads). Young people from all area are also most welcome to join the group.

If you are interested in getting involved either in the wider group, or on the core committee why not contact the group and find out more. In the first instance, please call the Parish Office on 01455 285655.

Broughton Astley Improvement Team (BAIT)

Over the last few months Broughton Astley Improvement Team (BAIT) has been working together to identify key development needs for Broughton Astley.

BAIT members include: Harborough District Council,Thomas Estley Community College, Broughton Astley Parish Council, Library Service
Leicestershire Police, South Leicestershire Voluntary Services,
Broughton Astley Healthcheck Group and the Health Centre.

The partnership has studied the services and facilities available in Broughton Astley, active community groups, crime levels and other factors which help to build a picture of Broughton Astley at the moment.

Using this information, and using data gathered by a series of focus groups and surveys, BAIT has produced the first draft of a new Community Strategy. If you would like more information or would like to get involved in 'Shaping the Future' please use the 'contact us' link below or telephone Christine Lord on 01455 285655 or make contact via email christine@broughton-astley.gov.uk .

A Haven for Wildlife

The Wildlife Garden at the Western Willows Allotments is now firmly establised and provides a safe habitiat for many birds, insects and small animals. The pond has been planted with marginal plants which provide an area of tranquillity where residents can spend a little peaceful relaxation.

A small but dedicated group of residents maintain the Wildlife area, and seeking the assistance of residents who may also wish to volunteer a little of their spare time in helping to maintain this area to keep it attractive to visitors. If you are able to give any time, no matter how little, please call the Parish Council Office on 01455 285655 and they will pass on your details to those organising the maintenance routine for the garden.

Be Prepared

Central Network have supplied all Parish Councils in their distribution area with an "Emergency Pack". The pack contains useful items which the company feels could be required in the event of a power cut.

If you would like to have a look at it call in at the Parish Council at the Village Hall. The Office is open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 10.00 am to 2.00 pm.

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