Consultations and engagement

We sought views on a proposal to charge double the standard council tax for properties that are substantially unfurnished and unoccupied from one year instead of two from 1 April 2024, and secondly, to charge double the standard charge for properties that have no resident and are substantially furnished from 1 April 2025.

59 people responded to the online consultation. The majority (81%) were Leicester residents and 8% responded as property owners.

71% of respondents agreed that we should charge double the standard council for properties which have been unoccupied and substantially unfurnished after one year, instead of the current two years.

66% agreed that we should charge double the standard council tax for properties that have no resident and are substantially furnished.

49% agreed that certain types of property or ownership should be exempt from the changes.

On 21 February 2024 Full Council approved to double the standard council tax for substantially unfurnished and unoccupied properties from one year with effect from 1 April 2024, and to double the charge for properties that have no resident and are substantially furnished from 1 April 2025. 

The current exemptions to the additional charge that apply to empty unfurnished properties will continue. We will further consider exemptions once the Government has published its policy guidelines. This will include suggestions made by consultees.

We sought views on a proposal to change the speed limit from 30mph to 20mph on streets in the Osmaston Road area.

29 responses were received to the online consultation. All were within the consultation delivery area.

We also carried out a paper consultation to residents in the area covered by the 20mph zone.
 
1,556 letters were delivered. 194 replied, including 29 via the online consultation, which equats to a 12% response rate.

168 (87%) of respondants were in favour of the proposed 20mph zone, 22 (11%) against and 3 (2%) were unsure.

As a result of the support of the proposal, the Deputy City Mayor for Climate, Economy and Culture has approved the implementation of the scheme which is scheduled to come into force in Spring 2024.

In August 2023, we and our partners (De Montfort University, University of Leicester and Arts Council England) published initial recommendations for a cultural and creative industries strategy for Leicester to help the city raise its collective ambition, create a compelling vision for what it can become, and guide priorities for the next five years. The partners undertook citywide public consultation for comment.

77 responses were received, 62 from individuals and 15 representing organisations.

Most responses were positive and supported the vision and objectives of the strategy. Some respondents thought it should go further, more clearly prioritise between the themes and actions of the strategy and set out a more ambitious vision for cultural and creative industries and communities in Leicester.

The responses gave greatest priority to:

Industry focus and accessibility: There was a strong call for the strategy to focus on creating a robust framework for developing creative talent and skills and supporting recognised events like film festivals and art shows. This included providing accessible space for creatives, which was deemed crucial for fostering growth, attracting investment, and enhancing the city's cultural and economic appeal.

Inclusivity and diversity: The strategy needs to go beyond recognising ethnic diversity and include a broader scope of community representation, including the LGBT+ community and micro-businesses. The strategy should ensure that support mechanisms are equitable and reflect the city's demographics.

Evidence-based claims and local identity: Respondents asked for the strategy to present evidence-based claims about Leicester's cultural offerings to avoid generic statements. There was a desire for the strategy to resonate with local identity, ensuring honesty about the reality of life in the city and recognition of local assets, which would help drive meaningful change and prevent the strategy from being perceived as an out-of-touch, top-down approach.

Others saw a greater opportunity to highlight and capitalise on the benefits of creative health, and the need to link the recommendations explicitly to sustainability and addressing the climate emergency.

All comments have been scrutinised and noted. We and our partners will be hosting a further engagement event at Hansom Hall on Friday 1 December 2023 to set out eight ‘Big Ideas” which have been developed on the basis of feedback from the responses. This event will include live performances which showcase the excellence of cultural activity in Leicester as well as an opportunity to comment further on the ‘Big Ideas’ and provide input into the final strategy.