Have your say

We asked residents to tell us if they would be interested in renting one of our garages from us. We own a number of garages around the Borough and we were interested to know what the demand from residents was. This was to help us to plan the future of the sites.

Residents told us that there was a reasonable level of demand for certain site, and none at all for others. This has shown us which sites are likely to be rented if we keep them and refurbish them. We also know which sites are not in demand, so we can consider other options for them.

The area of highest demand was for garages in Melton Mowbray, with less people interested in the surround villages. 

We have made a commitment to invest in the garage sites that most residents told us they would be interested in renting. We will invest £50,000 on two sites in 2024/25 and have committed to further investment of £25,000 per year after that.

Where there is less demand from residents to rent a garage, we will consider the options that we have available. This may include clearing the site or selling it. Any decisions to sell garage sites will be made by the Cabinet on an individual basis.

We asked for your views on the draft Climate Change Strategy, which has been drafted following our previous climate change consultation in 2022. We asked residents, businesses and local organisations if they agreed with the Strategy Vision, Key Principles, Key Delivery Themes, Strategy Delivery and the Approach set out in the document and whether they had any additional views to share.  

We did this to help us shape this community-based Climate Change Strategy and ensure it was fit for purpose in our local area.  

An Equalities Impact Assessment was also undertaken as part of the consultation process. 

Each area of the strategy was well supported: 

• Overall, most respondents supported the vision, as it is written or with some changes (81%) 

• Overall, most respondents supported the key principles, as it is written or with some changes (77%).  

• Overall, most respondents supported the Transport and Travel Actions, as it is written or with some changes (75%) 

• Overall, most respondents supported the Housing, Buildings and Built Environment Actions, as it is written or with some changes (81%) 

• Overall, most respondents supported the Natural Environment and Farming Actions, as it is written or with some changes (77%) 

• Overall, most respondents supported the Greener Low Carbon Economy Actions, as it is written or with some changes (77%).  

• Overall, most respondents supported the Waste and use of resources Actions, as it is written or with some changes (88%). 

It was highlighted that the vision statement could be improved by identifying clearer targets and goals, including dates, timescales or high-level milestones (for example, for reaching net zero) to help improve accountability.  

In regard strategy delivery, there was a desire that action is needed on tackling climate change but it was recognised that there would be significant challenges ahead, given resource limitations. It was expressed that by working together and adopting this strategy, a route map to begin tackling climate change in the borough could be developed.  

Concerns were raised about the current walking and cycling infrastructure, public transport links and the access to EV charging points within the borough; and there was support to improve this.   

‘Greening’ the borough as well as Melton town was supported but it was felt that more emphasis could be placed on this as an objective, to recognise the depleted biodiversity across Leicestershire.  

Building relationships with local universities was suggested as they who have the skills in the green economy and building relationships with them to support key projects.  

In regard equalities, having reviewed the responses it is considered that there are no comments that would lead to change of the strategy.   

All comments made by respondents were read and, where appropriate, considered to help shape the final version of the Climate Change Strategy document. The revised strategy including the amendments made following the consultation was then considered and finalised by Members of the Climate Emergency Working Group.  

The final version, which you can view on our climate change webpages, was approved by Cabinet on 12th June 2024. 

To ensure the strategy can be delivered appropriately, we all have a role to play in tackling climate change and we need to work together to deliver on climate action. Following the consultation, the council will develop action plans, to prioritise this action given limited resources available.   

We wanted to know your thoughts on our Draft Corporate Strategy, which would set out our vision and aspirations for the future.  

We developed 8 Corporate Strategy Vision Statements; which shape the council’s long term vision and strategic focus until 2036. 

We asked for your feedback on these whether you agreed or disagreed that they should be included. 

We had 63 responses to the consultation which were positive about all eight statements, and it was agreed that they should be included. 

However, there were some thoughts and comments about how we could update and enhance some of the Vision statements.  

Statement 1 
Feedback suggested an overall desire to have more district wide provision and update existing leisure facilities.  

Statement 2  
You fed back to us you thought that we should include a focus on improving people’s health alongside the need for additional healthcare facilities. 

Statement 3  
Although we referenced the need to be supported by the right infrastructure, you thought we needed to include reference to having the right facilities in place as well. 

Statement 5  
It was felt that this should be more focussed on the wider town centre and tourism across the borough as a whole. 

Statement 6  
You suggested that this should highlight Melton as the Rural Capital of Food and have a focus on green infrastructure alongside canals and waterways.  

Following the comments you gave us, we updated the Draft Corporate Strategy and made changes to five out of the eight statements, as listed below.  

Statement 1  
We updated this statement to include an aspiration to include ‘facilities across the borough’.   

Statement 2  
We added to the initial aspiration with a commitment to ‘encourage activities to improve people’s health’. 

Statement 3  
We updated the original statement to include ‘supported by the right infrastructure and facilities’ 

Statement 5  
We revised this statement following your comments to be more focussed on the wider town centre and tourism across the borough as a whole ‘A bustling, vibrant and regenerated town centre, recognised as a regional destination, and supported by a thriving tourism sector’. 

Statement 6  
Following feedback around this survey we updated this aspiration to include delivering on the Rural Capital of Food and rewording the commitment to ‘maximising investment in our waterways, canals, walkways and green infrastructure’. 

This revised document went to Full Council and was approved on 8 February. 

The New Corporate Strategy 2024 –2036 came into effect on 1 April 2024. You can view it in full, including the updated vision statement online at: www.melton.gov.uk/corporatestrategy.