SPOTLIGHT, The Journal of Syston Town Council (May 2021) written by Catherine Voyce

It was with heartfelt sorrow that we learned of the death of His Royal Highness Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.
Our thoughts are with the Royal Family at this time.
Our Chairman said: “This is a very sad day for our nation and on behalf of the Syston Town, I would like to express our sincerest condolences to the Royal Family. The Duke of Edinburgh selflessly served our country for so many years and earned the respect of not just this nation, but of those around the world. Now is a time for mourning, but we should remember the Duke with pride and affection.”
Flags were flown at half-mast at the Council’s office and at the War Memorial and an online book of condolence was opened for Charnwood residents who wished to leave a message. Details of the Royal Family’s online book of condolence were also provided.
Council Services from May 2021
As we emerge from the period of national lockdown due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Council services are currently operating as follows:
Syston Town Council offices are open from Monday to Friday 9 – 4.30 pm. The office is being manned by two to three Officers each day, as well as the Facilities Manager on site. Officers not in the office are homeworking and are able to access their emails and Council mobile phones if they have one. Mobile phone numbers for the Town Manager and Deputy Town Manager are as follows:
* Town Manager: 0778 000 5642
* Deputy Town Manager: 0778 088 1897
Estates team are working as normal.
The public toilets on Melton Road and the disabled use toilet on Central Park, are open as usual with additional cleaning measures in place to help protect against the spread of Covid-19 virus. The toilets are temporarily closed during the time that our cleaner is sanitising the facilities.
The Community Centre opened from 12th April for use by exempt groups.
Educational classes can begin from w/c 17th May in line with government guidance. We have set a maximum capacity of 12 x adults to allow social distancing. Government guidance must be followed, and masks are to be worn unless exempt, and hand sanitiser is available.
Also, from 17th May organised indoor sport / exercise classes can begin. We will limit class numbers to allow for social distancing.
Football games have re-started at Memorial Park with supervised use of the Sports Pavilion for toilet use only.
The Health and Safety Executive conducted a Covid-19 spot check with our Facilities Manager, Jason Green during April. They confirmed that they were happy that we had completed all necessary actions to ensure the safety of both staff and visitors to the Community Centre.
Park Bookings
Hire of Central Park for crowd controlled public events are as follows:
* Kids Fun Day, Central Park: Saturday 3rd July 2021
* Funtopia: Central Park, Saturday 17th July 2021
* Food Festive by Food Gusto: Central Park, Saturday 28th August 2021
* Billy Bates Fair, Central Park, 17th – 26th September 2021 (tbc)
All arrangements are subject to government guidance at the time and are subject to change.
Council meetings are still operating each Tuesday evening at 7.30pm by Zoom; agendas are posted on noticeboards, Syston Town Council website and on our Facebook and Twitter pages. Council meetings are public meetings, the log in details are printed on the agendas.
In May we are expecting to return to physical meetings, or a dual approach with both face to face and Zoom meetings, a final decision has not yet been made as we await guidance from the National Association of Local Councils (NLAC).
Monthly Councillor Surgeries take place on the first Saturday of each month, currently by Zoom. Our local County and Borough Councillors are in attendance to assist with queries relating to borough and county issues. I am also attending these events in my role of Town Manager to allow you the opportunity to raise any Syston Town Council specific concerns.
See our website, Facebook and Twitter as well as the notice board at the Community Centre for the Zoom log in details, or contact the office Monday to Friday for assistance if you are unsure how to use Zoom.
Great British Spring Clean – Sunday 6th June
The Great British Spring Clean is once again active this year. Syston plans to hold an event on Sunday 6th June from 11.00am to 12.00noon. If you are interested in taking part, and helping to make Syston a town to be proud of, please contact the Council office. Equipment is provided.
The Council has recently been supporting the Syston and Thurmaston Litter Wombles by providing litter picking equipment for their use. The Litter Wombles have been very busy and made a real difference in the town.
We are also supporting a small group who are concentrating on the Liberty Gardens area of Syston.
Cllr Sue Gerrard carried out an individual litter pick around the Hobby Horse estate – thank you Sue!
Love Clean Streets App – coming soon!!
We will soon be launching a free app that will allow residents to report graffiti, fly-tipping, fly-posters, potholes, abandoned cars, dog mess and may other categories. When a report is made, a choice from a list of categories will be shown and your concern will be directed straight to the relevant department/authority.
E-Bikes for Town Council
As part of the Choose how you Move initiative, designed to support the county to travel actively and help the environment, Syston Town Council staff are currently trialing four electric bikes for commuting to and from work and also between Council sites. This is operated by Leicestershire County Council in partnership with the Department for Transport and Leicester City Council.
Council Services – who does what?
The last Spotlight article provided a reminder of the services and responsibilities carried out by the Town Council and the Borough Council. This article will concentrate on Leicestershire County Council services.
• Education – This includes adult education, child education and social services for children and child employment.
There are many specific telephone number in this department that can be found on the LCC website. However, for general enquiries you can call 0116 305 0002.
* Social Services – All aspects of adult social care and health.
*  Libraries
*  Roads, pavements and traffic
All aspects of road and travel
• Trading Standards
Includes business advice, Rogue traders and cold callers, Scams, Food recall.
• Museums
Leicestershire County Council Services
Main Switchboard Telephone: 0116 232 3232
* Education – call the main switchboard
* Social Services 0116 305 0004
* Libraries – call the main switchboard
* Roads, Pavements and Traffic
0116 305 0001
* Trading Standards – call the main
switchboard
* Museums – call the main switchboard
* Property – call the main switchboard
County Councillors – Election on Thursday, 6th May 2021
Syston Topic
Keep a look out for our own Council Newsletter, Syston Topic. For now, the newsletter is restricted to e-copies, and can be found on the Syston Town Council website, with links via Facebook and Twitter. Topic provides you with the most up to date information from Syston Town Council; what we are doing, when we are doing, how we are doing and why we are doing it!
www.systontowncouncil.org.uk
Twitter @syston_tc
Also find us on Facebook and
Linked-In
Contacting your Council:
SYSTON TOWN COUNCILLORS
Merton Ward
Cllr Lyn Gillard
Cllr John Lucas (Vice Chairman)
Cllr Ken Pacey
Cllr Salome Tonge
Cllr Satish Visavadia
Cllr Phil Walden
Cllr Scott Walker
St Peters East Ward
Cllr Sharon Brown
Cllr Susan Gerrard
Cllr Stephen Hampson
Cllr Mike Mcloughlin
St Peters West Ward
Cllr Tom Barkley (Chairman)
Cllr Malwyn Carnall
Cllr Phillip Knight
Vacancy
New Barkby Ward
Cllr David Pepper
Cllr Harold Screaton
Cllr Lara Towell
Vacancy
Vacancy
All Councillors can be contacted via Syston Town Council:
Syston Town Council, Community Centre, School Street, Syston
LE7 1HN
Town Manager: Catherine Voyce
Deputy Town Manager: Ursula Southan
Senior Administrator: Kay Liquorish
Assistant to the Town Manager: Sophie Brown
Facilities Manager: Jason Green
Phone: 0116 260 7150
Council Meeting Dates
May 2021
Tuesday, 04 Development and General Purposes
Tuesday, 11 Amenities
Tuesday, 18 Resources
Tuesday, 25 Annual Town Meeting (7pm)
Tuesday, 25 Annual Meeting of the Town Council (7.30pm)
June 2021
Tuesday, 01 Development and General Purposes
Tuesday, 08 Amenities
Tuesday, 15 Resources
Tuesday, 22 Full Council
July 2021
Tuesday, 06 Development and General Purposes
Tuesday, 13 Amenities
Tuesday, 20 Resources
Tuesday, 27 Full Council
All meetings take place in the Brookside Suite or via Zoom (see agenda for details) at the Community Centre at 7.30 pm, unless stated otherwise.