Property investments have brought in £7.1m for essential services
CONCERNS THEY ARE USED AS MARKERS TO INDICATE PETS WORTH STEALING NEARBY
A council’s property investment portfolio generated £7.1 million in the past 12 months to help fund frontline services.
Leicestershire County Council owns a collection of commercial properties which it rents out to generate income and plug the gap between what it spends and what it receives from central government.
Money raised through the investments helps to fund essential services such as social care for adults and children as well as fixing and preventing potholes, and helps relieve some of the pressures facing other critical areas of council spending.
Members of the Tory-run council’s cabinet agreed that the “corporate asset investment fund strategy” will go before full council for approval later this month.
The strategy includes provision to invest a further £89 million over the next four years, which the council says will help it achieve its target of eventually generating circa £18 million per year.
Council leader Councillor Nick Rushton told the cabinet meeting: “It’s just a good job we don’t invest in airports, airlines or retail, otherwise we’d be well up the creek!”
Lead member for finance, Councillor Byron Rhodes, told members: “I think we should be quite pleased with the investments we’ve made.
“This is an investment fund to protect our overall ability to derive income from monies that we have to
RELIEVE PRESSURES’
I think we should be quite pleased with the investments we’ve made
hold.”
A report on the corporate asset investment fund stated that an external review has taken place in light of the Covid-19 crisis.
The review found that the fund had “performed well during 2020 despite the pandemic”, and added: “No tenants had gone bankrupt and there were no voids directly arising from the pandemic.
“Whilst some changes to the frequency of rental payments had been agreed with some tenants, all continued to pay rent on time.”
Papers revealed that 34 new lettings had been agreed since March and acknowledged it was more difficult to secure new tenants at this uncertain time.
But, it said that the fund was “strong and resilient”.
The council’s current property portfolio includes:
■ A new 100,000sq ft building at Loughborough University Science and Enterprise Park – creating a new HQ for tech firm The Access Group. The building was handed over to The Access Group in November. The Access Group’s fit-out works programme is due to complete at the end of March, at which point it will move in.
■ Apollo Business Park in Coalville – offering 40,000sq ft industrial units
and creating 120 jobs – is thriving, with most units now occupied.
Fourteen units have been let, with another two in solicitors’ hands. The final unit of 4,600 sq ft is available via the council’s agents.
■ Airfield Business Park in Market Harborough – the council expanded the site by 80,000sq ft to offer industrial units to let, creating more than 200 jobs.
Nine of the 12 units have now been let, one is under offer and in solicitors’ hands and the other two have expressions of interest.
The independent review of the fund identified the industrial, distribution and logistics sectors as being most resilient in the current circumstances, especially as Leicestershire is located at the heart of the national transport network.
Byron Rhodes, pictured
POLICE have advised people to remove cable ties from lampposts in their area in response to reports they are signals to help dog thieves.
Officers gave out the advice after lots of people on social media reported seeing cable ties around lampposts in Leicestershire.
While they could have a more innocent reason for being on lampposts, the suggestion that the ties could be a signal to dog thieves that there may be a pet worth taking in a nearby house has gained traction on social media.
A Market Bosworth officer posted on the team’s official website: “We’ve had a lot of messages recently about dog theft. People are concerned that cable ties on lampposts may be there for a sinister purpose to identify target houses.
“In order to stop concerned, please remove them from when passing. people being feel free to your locality
“We have had no reports of dog thefts in this area. Let’s keep it that way.”
The RSPCA has warned that thieves are taking orders from would-be dogowners before scouring the streets for matches as demand for pets soars during lockdown.
The animal welfare charity urged owners to take extra care of their pets following a recent series of thefts. In the past week, it has been reported on three separate incidents in the city and county involving the disappearance of more than 10 animals.
The Market Bosworth officer said: “Dogs seem an emotive subject so please use this as an opportunity to do the following – consider a decent doorbell camera and CCTV.
“Send your details to the team so we can get you on Neighbourhood Link and keep you in the loop with relevant local updates.”
The rise in dog thefts is a growing problem nationally, resulting in calls by the public and dog charities on the government to take further action to address the issue, including the introduction of harsher punishments.
People are concerned that cable ties on lampposts may be there for a sinister purpose
Market Bosworth police
An Earl Shilton school has received praise from local parents for its response to the latest UK lockdown.
Heath Lane Academy received messages of thanks after its staff successfully recreated the school day via online platforms.
The pupils have been following their usual timetable of lessons while being taught live in virtual classrooms using Microsoft Teams.
Teachers and pastoral staff have been monitoring online behaviour with the same discipline standards that pupils can expect in school.
Mark Trimingham, Principal at Heath Lane Academy, said: “To make sure engagement levels match normal expectations in school, we planned our remote learning provision to mirror the regular school experience as closely as possible.
“With the support of our parents and the community, our online learning is working superbly during a difficult time for everyone. We have implemented a simple, efficient system in which pupils access their calendar to join their lessons.” The timetable closely follows the curriculum that the pupils have in school, with a balance of live and guided lessons.
Mark says the school has worked hard to ensure that staff received training and support to work using the new format.
Mark said: “We are also working with our colleagues in the Midland Academies Trust and our local primary schools to share best practice and to learn from each other for the benefit of our whole community.
“We thank parents for all of the positive messages and the encouragement we are experiencing firsthand and through social media.”
Parent Carri-Ann Soden, says she is impressed with how structured the lessons are and how seamless the transition has been.
Parent Marie Skists, said: “The school has made lockdown and home learning easy for the students, as well as for working parents.
“Heath Lane has taken so much worry away, and it is good to know that our children are not missing out on any of their education. The quick response to setting up the virtual
learning has been truly outstanding.”
Heath Lane Academy remains open for around 50 vulnerable pupils and children of keyworkers, and they are experiencing the same full timetable as those based at home.