Wychavon District Council – £30,000 fund for Coronation Celebrations to Town and Parish Councils

/in /by

£30,000 fund for Coronation Celebrations

 

A £30,000 fund is being made available to town and parish councils to support celebrations to mark the Coronation of King Charles III.

 

Wychavon will be contacting town and parish councils directly in the next few weeks to tell them how they can access the money, which can be spent on street parties and community events over the Coronation Weekend. 

 

As well as the dedicated fund, Wychavon is also scrapping fees for road closure notices for anyone holding a street party to celebrate the Coronation. 

 

His Majesty The King and Her Majesty The Queen Consort will be crowned on Saturday 6 May at Westminster Abbey. The following day the Coronation Big Lunch takes place where neighbours and communities are invited to share food and fun together. On the evening a special Coronation Concert will be broadcast live from Windsor Castle. 

 

On Monday 8 May, the public are being urged to take part in The Big Help Out by volunteering or joining projects to support their local area. 

 

Organisations and community projects that have volunteering opportunities available are being urged to register them with Wychavon who will help promote them to the public. 

 

Cllr Rob Adams, Executive Board Member for Stronger Communities, Culture and Sport on Wychavon District Council, said: “After the success of our Platinum Jubilee Fund last year which gave £15,000 to town and parish councils to support those celebrations, we’ve decided to double the support on offer this time. 

 

“The Coronation Weekend is a wonderful opportunity for friends, families and communities to spend time together celebrating what will be a wonderful occasion for our nation. I also hope lots of people will take the chance to do some volunteering with some of the many wonderful voluntary and community groups we have here in Wychavon.”

 

For more information about Coronation events in Wychavon visit www.wychavon.gov.uk/coronation.

Would you like to be a councillor?

/in /by

Would you like to be a councillor?

Special sessions are being held for anyone wishing to stand in this year’s local elections.

Elections to Wychavon District Council and parish and town councils across the district take place on 4 May 2023. To stand for election candidates need to be at least 18 years old and be a British citizen or eligible Commonwealth or EU citizen.

They must also meet certain criteria which will be explained at the Wychavon Nomination sessions, or alternatively can be found on the Electoral Commission website: https://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/i-am-a/candidate-or-agent

Applicants do not have to represent a particular political party but can stand as independent. Anyone wanting to stand on behalf of a political party should contact their local office for more information.

The deadline for nominations for this election is 4pm on Tuesday, 4 April 2023.

Wychavon is holding two sessions to guide people through the nomination process, what is required of candidates during the election and key dates. Sessions are being held at the Civic Centre in Queen Elizabeth Drive, Pershore from 5pm to 7pm on Tuesday 21 February and Thursday 23 February. The content will be the same at each session.

To book a place at one of the sessions, or to raise any questions, email .

Wychavon’s share of the Council Tax bill could be frozen for the sixth year running if proposals put forward by councillors are accepted.

/in /by

Council Tax freeze proposed again

Wychavon’s share of the Council Tax bill could be frozen for the sixth year running if proposals put forward by councillors are accepted.

If approved the freeze would mean by March next year, £2.7 million will have been kept in the pockets of Wychavon residents.

Keeping Council Tax on hold is one of a number of proposals put forward at a meeting on Wednesday (1 February) by Wychavon’s Executive Board to support residents and improve the district.

Another £1million was announced for community projects through Wychavon’s Community Legacy Grants scheme, which will open to applications in early 2024.

A pledge was made to continue to work with partners to provide practical advice and support to residents with the cost of living crisis, backed by £50,000 of new funding.

Councillors also proposed £75,000 to recruit a financial inclusion officer as part of Wychavon’s Housing Service to offer direct support to people in financial difficulty.

Parish and town councils will also get £30,000 to support street parties and events to celebrate the coronation of King Charles III.

There were also new environmental commitments made. Wychavon, working with its contractor FCC Environment, will spent £210,000 over the next two years to begin phasing in the use of Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO) to FCC’s bin collection and street sweeping fleet. HVO can cut carbon emissions by 90% compared to diesel. The move follows a successful trial of the fuel in 2022.

Funding of £70,000 will also be made available to each of Wychavon’s leisure centres to pay for swimming pool covers. Pool covers can cut energy consumption by about 50% helping to cut fuel bills for Wychavon’s leisure centres as well as slash carbon emissions.

All of the proposals will now go to a meeting of Wychavon’s full Council on February 22 for final approval.

Cllr Bradley Thomas, Leader of Wychavon District Council, said: “Wychavon already has the fourth lowest Council Tax charge of any district council in the country. By keeping our part of the bill on hold for a sixth year running we’re keeping money in residents’ pockets so they can spend it on their priorities, like household bills and essentials.

 

“Even though we’re freezing our part of the bill, as our other spending announcements show, we’re still committed to improving Wychavon by investing in our communities, supporting people when they need us most and protecting our environment.”

 

Wychavon residents will need photo ID to vote at elections in May

/in /by

Wychavon residents will need photo ID to vote at elections in May

Changes introduced by the Government mean Wychavon residents will for the first time need to show photo ID to vote at this year’s local council elections.

Residents are being urged to check they have an accepted form of photo ID ahead of polling day on Thursday, 4 May 2023 to make sure they can cast their vote.

The requirement to show photo ID at a polling station was introduced by the UK Government’s Elections Act, which was passed last year, and comes into effect for the first time this May.

There are many accepted forms of ID including a UK, European Economic Area (EEA) or Commonwealth passport, a UK or EEA drivers’ licence, a blue badge or an older person’s bus pass. The full list of accepted photo ID can be found on the Electoral Commission website at www.electoralcommission.org.uk/voterID.

Voters will be able to use out of date ID if they are still recognisable from the photo.

Anyone who does not have one of the accepted forms of ID can apply for a free Voter Authority Certificate. These can be applied for by following the links at www.wychavon.gov.uk/elections. The deadline to apply for the Wychavon District Council and town and parish council elections is 5pm on 25 April 2023, but residents are being urged to apply early if they need to.

People will need to be registered to vote first before they apply. This can be done online following the links on Wychavon’s elections page.

Vic Allison, Chief Executive and Returning Officer for Wychavon District Council, said: “Residents will be electing a whole new Council in May as well as representatives on town and parish councils across the district.

“Although it may seem a long way away, I urge people to check now they have the required form of photo ID to make sure they can vote in May. If you haven’t, then please apply for a Voter Authority Certificate early to make sure you don’t miss out on making your voice heard through the ballot box.

“If you need help understanding the new requirement for photo ID or applying for a Voter Authority Certificate then please contact our elections team.”

This year’s Wychavon District Council election will be the first held under new ward boundaries, which means the name of the electoral ward people live in or where they usually go to vote may change.

Poll cards will be issued towards the end of March. Residents are urged to check them for the location of their polling station and more information on the photo ID requirement.

Visit www.wychavon.gov.uk/elections for more information or contact the elections team by emailing or call 01386 565437.

The time has come for comments/objections to the SWDP plan for a new town at Throckmorton.  All comments need to be in by Tuesday 13 December. 

/in /by

The time has come for comments/objections to the SWDP plan for a new town at Throckmorton.  All comments need to be in by Tuesday 13 December.  The more well reasoned responses we put in, the better chance we’ll have at being heard.  All of the relevant links are at the bottom of this post – read as much or as little of them as you like.

For those of you who want to object/comment, this website will give you information on how to do it:

https://batpc.org.uk/nototnt

Select either online, email or post and you’ll be given the information you need.

I would just add the following to what’s on the website.  As we  know, the consultation response form is not user friendly.

My advice for filling it in is as follows:

Part A is just your details.

Part B Para 3 requires you to identify the bit of the plan you object to.  Whilst you could just say “all of it”, that’s not especially helpful.  The actual part of the Plan relating to Throckmorton is policy number “SWDPR 52”.  Identifying that should be sufficient.

Then at Part B Para 4, you then have to say whether the policy is “legally compliant” and/or “sound”.  If you object to the selection and plans for Throckmorton, I would suggest you ignore the “legally compliant” box and simply say that you consider the policy not to be “sound”.

Then Part B Para 5 is where you set out your objection.  Either use the box, or say “See attached” and attach a word document (or any other documents/evidence) you want to rely on.

The remaining boxes in Part B seem fairly optional.   

Message me if you want any assistance.

Links:

The consultation response form

https://view.officeapps.live.com/op/view.aspx?src=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.swdevelopmentplan.org%2Fcomponent%2Ffileman%2Ffile%2FDocuments%2FSWDPR%2520Reg%252019%2520Docs%2FSWDPR%2520Reg%252019%2520Response%2520Form%2520FINAL%2520281022.doc%3Frouted%3D1%26container%3Dfileman-files&wdOrigin=BROWSELINK&fbclid=IwAR24YPJHoF9h1s8Q-2I07FoAKPIFfXaHho9Z-Lxft6aSVuohX-hCYSfh_hw

The SWDP document itself (see particularly SWDP 52 at page 211

https://www.swdevelopmentplan.org/component/fileman/file/Documents/SWDPR%20Reg%2019%20Docs/Accessible%20SWDP%20Review%20Regulation%2019%20%281%29.pdf?routed=1&container=fileman-files&fbclid=IwAR1sFT_jqzA3W2RNBJzEdlE91M1e-F8owuaPz8fvAEXJJhFAjlBwLJ6jEiY

The SWDP website with further links and evidence

https://www.swdevelopmentplan.org/swdp-review/swdpr-regulation-19-publication-consultation?fbclid=IwAR1-_hl3o-AwEKq7Ll8LRjeAf568F3fP7DXUlnEZxLcHeBmR1ddwV79SaFc

The National Planning Framework which defines the test for soundness – see Paragraph 35

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1005759/NPPF_July_2021.pdf?fbclid=IwAR3zozyp1HtU7ppFzOZMGmznXTRjYH_YN5Y0RUBmXB3Z6eHd7lQiG80cbWg

Throckmorton New Town Development – public event on Monday 14 November at Bishampton Village Hall from 1-8pm

/in /by

THROCKMORTON NEW TOWN

DEVELOPMENT.

5000 houses, 5 schools, industrial park,

10 pitch traveller site close to Pinvin.

The public consultation for this development

is happening NOW  –  1 Nov – 13 December.

View the plans and voice your opinions

at the following public event:

Monday 14 November at

Bishampton Village Hall from 1-8pm

(Wychavon council  staff will be present)

ACT NOW!

 

Worcestershire Children First – Could you Foster?

/in /by
COULD YOU FOSTER 723x1030 1

COULD YOU FOSTER 723×1030 1

Wychavon District Council urges Residents to put their bin out on time

/in /by

wdc logo 1

Residents urged to put their bin out on time

The time waste and recycling bins are collected across Wychavon may change for some residents next week.

Changes are being made to all waste and recycling collection rounds across Wychavon to further improve efficiency and ensure the current high standard of service is maintained.

Only Chawson residents in Droitwich Spa will see a change to their collection day and residents have already been contacted about this.

Across the rest of the district, collection days will remain the same but the time bin crews arrive may change from what people are used to.

To make sure nobody misses their bin collection, residents are being urged from Monday (7 November) to make sure their bin is out by 7am on the day of their scheduled collection. Crews will collect anytime between 7am and 6pm.

 

Cllr Emma Stokes, Executive Board Member for Resident and Customer Services on Wychavon District Council, said: “We know some residents are used to collection crews arriving in their street at a certain time and so will delay putting their bin out until then. Because of the round changes, crews may arrive at a different time from next week.

“Please make sure your bin is out by 7am on your scheduled collection day. If you don’t do this then unfortunately we cannot come back to collect your bin until the next scheduled collection.

“I thank residents for their patience while we make these necessary round changes to further improve the high quality service we already offer.”

 

Anyone who would like to check their collection day and what bin to put out should visit www.wychavon.gov.uk/waste-and-recycling for more information.