Helen Butler

02/10/2026

🇬🇧 WHAT HAS REFORM UK DONE AT LEICESTERSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL?

Reform UK became the administration following the May 2025 county elections (thank you to everyone supported Reform! 🩵). These are some of the key actions and figures that we were able to achieve at County Hall. All facts published by Leicestershire County Council since then: 👇

💷 Council Tax
• 2026/27 increase limited to 2.99%, rather than the 4.99% maximum.
• The first time in a decade the maximum increase wasn’t taken.

📉 Savings & finances
• £48m of savings built into the four-year budget.
• A major efficiency review has identified £4.5m of savings, with further potential savings of £32m–£60m identified.
• £71m reduction in external debt, taking it to its lowest level for over 20 years.
• A further £10m of debt repaid since April 2026.
• Latest figures forecast a £4.7m underspend for 2026/27.

🛣️ Roads & local services
• £2.5m extra invested in repairing roads and potholes.
• Around 10,000 potholes fixed over the past year.
• £501m four-year capital programme, including major investment in roads.
• New £2.5m Service Improvement Fund, including £850,000 initially allocated to buses, grit bins, footpaths, grass cutting and w**d control.
• £50,000 extra for a rapid-response highways team.

🌊 Flooding
• £2m redirected into tackling flooding, including extra gully cleaning and community flood initiatives.

👧 SEND
• Leicestershire’s SEND progress was recognised nationally, with average EHCP completion time falling from 58 weeks to 18 weeks.
• A new £30m, 250-place special school is being developed in Harborough.
• Up to 50 new specialist roles are planned through the “Experts at Hand” approach.

❤️ Services
• £127m additional investment in services, particularly social care.
• Nearly £1m released in Children & Families through vacancy management.
• Changes to homecare procurement have the potential to save around £1m a year.

28/09/2026

👋 Introducing Stuart Wood

I wanted to introduce Stuart ahead of the Shepshed by-election. I’ll let Stuart tell you a little about himself and why he’s standing:

👇

“I’m Stuart Wood, and I’m standing to become your councillor for Shepshed and Leicestershire County.

I’ve given 34 years of service to our country: six years in the British Army, the Prison Service and 22 in the Police, finishing as a Police Inspector. My police career was spent on the frontline, where I saw first-hand the pressure on our public services and the people who rely on them.

I want to put that experience to work for our community: speaking up for Shepshed, listening to local people and what they want for the future of Shepshed.

If you believe in common-sense politics, community, accountability and calm, strong leadership, I’d be grateful for your support.” 🇬🇧🩵

👉 You can contact Stuart here: Stuart For Shepshed Reform

23/09/2026

Stuart is spending a lot of time out and about listening to residents, from the Men’s & Women’s groups, to the library groups & Beat Surgery’s. If you’d like him to visit your group or a place in our community please leave a comment👇

23/09/2026

👋 Hi Shepshed!

If nothing else, I hope I’ve shown that anyone can become a councillor - you don’t need any previous experience! 🙌

It’s a chance to have a say on important decisions, get involved in new ideas and, most importantly, be a voice for your community. 🏡

This by-election has more candidates than ever before, which is fantastic to see! 👏 More people are getting involved, putting themselves forward and wanting to make a difference.

With the Town & Borough Council elections coming up next year, if you’ve got a little time to spare and even the slightest interest in getting involved, drop me a DM! 📩

It’s a really exciting time to get involved in your local community. 🇬🇧🩵

21/09/2026

The candidates for the Shepshed by-election on 15 Oct have been confirmed:

👉 Katy Brookes-Duncan - Liberal Democrats
👉 David Kellock - Green Party
👉 Jane Lennie - Labour Party
👉 Alex McKenzie - Restore Britain
👉 Sarah Monk - Conservative Party
👉 Stuart Wood - Reform UK

19/09/2026

Reform are out in Shepshed 🩵

Reform Shepshed out in force this morning in the rain and sun, Canvassing and delivering leaflets.
Vote Stuart Wood, Vote reform.

15/09/2026

Please do share any Local issues with Stuart or invite him to any local groups 🩵

11/09/2026

Please support Reform by following Stuart, the County Council candidate for Shepshed 🇬🇧🩵

I am the Reform Candidate for the Shepshed by election living in Hathern.

Promoted by and on behalf of Stuart Wood, Millbank Tower 21-24 Millbank, London SW1P 4QP

11/09/2026

I’m really pleased to introduce Stuart, the new Reform UK candidate for Shepshed. 🩵

A fellow Veteran 🇬🇧 Stuart has served in the British Army with the Royal Engineers, followed by 22 years in the Police, retiring as a Police Inspector.

If you would like to know more please follow Stuart for Shepshed Reform.

09/09/2026