I’m proud to have joined more than 120 MPs in signing a Unison letter calling for more funding for local government in the Budget.

Leicester City Council’s budget has been cut by 50% since 2010 and vital services are under more pressure than ever before.

I am extremely disappointed that the Chancellor failed to reverse the £1.3 billion of cuts planned for council budgets next year. The £650 million announced for adult and children’s social care makes up for barely half of these cuts and falls far short of replacing the £7 billion that has been cut from social care since 2010.

I will continue to fight for proper funding for local councils and the decent services on which we all depend. You can read more about the letter and Unison’s campaign here.

On Friday I attend an event to celebrate the achievements of community group B-inspired, congratulated them for taking over ownership of the Health and Social Care centre and heard more about their plans of the future.

I always enjoy visiting the B-inspired team. They are an absolutely fantastic organisation which has already made a huge difference to the lives of people in Braunstone.

Over the years yhey’ve offered apprenticeships to over 52 young people; their befriending scheme has helped to tackle loneliness in the over 55s; and through their b-working scheme they provide real support, access, advice and practical help for local residents in finding and keeping employment.

Now by bringing the Health and Social Care Centre into community ownership, B-inspired will be able to offer even more locally based services, supporting even more people in Braunstone. 

On Friday 14^th September I held another public meeting with local councillors, Annette Byrne and Vijay Riyait, the Deputy City Mayor for Environment, Public Health & Health Integration, Adam Clarke, as well as representatives from Leicester City Council, the Environment Agency and Biffa to discuss the smell produced by the nearby Biffa plant.

My office has received a number of complaints over the summer months regarding the smells which have been an ongoing problem for a number of years, and I find that local residents are having to put up with it completely unacceptable.

I will continue to do everything I can to solve this problem for all of the local residents effected.

On Friday 22^nd June I held a public meeting with local councillors, Annette Byrne and Vijay Riyait, the Deputy City Mayor for Environment, Public Health & Health Integration, Adam Clarke, as well as representatives from Leicester City Council, the Environment Agency and Biffa to discuss the smell produced by the nearby Biffa plant.

My office has recently received a number of complaints regarding the smells which have been an ongoing problem for a number of years, and I find that local residents are having to put up with it completely unacceptable.

I will be holding meetings with both Biffa and Leicester City Council before meeting residents again in September to provide an update.