CURRENT LOCAL NEWS AND ISSUES

COUNCIL MEETINGS OPEN TO ALL

Richmondshire District Council starting 6.30pm unless otherwise stated.

Next Full Council will be on Tuesday 15 May 2012 at 6.30 p.m. in Swale House, Frenchgate, Richmond.

St Martins Parish Council starting 7pm in the Heritage Room, Station Building.  Next Meeting will be held in 17 May 2012.

Hipswell Parish Council starting 7.00pm on the second Monday of the month and future meetings will be -  Monday 14 May at Hipswell Village Hall and Monday 12 March at The White Rose Club.

Colburn Town Council starting at 6.15pm in Colburn Village Hall is held on the first Monday of each month.

LATEST NEWS

Wardens of residential care homes and nursing homes have been urged to check window openers after a major safety alert was issued.

Payments of Richmondshire housing benefits were one day late last week due a computer software problem.

Over 500 people from across Hambleton and Richmondshire turned out in force to support Sports Relief last month raising over £4000. They took part in a sponsored walk either around Hambleton Leisure Centre playing fields or the old railway line next Richmond Swimming Pool.

People local to the Scotton and Tunstall area and in need of affordable housing are being urged to add their names to the list of possible tenants for a new housing scheme in the village.

Richmondshire’s unsung heroes have been recognised in a special awards ceremony. Seven awards were made in the district council’s ‘making a Difference in Richmondshire’ awards on April 18.

Issued on behalf of Richmondshire Local Sports Association: Richmond residents are being urged to nominate talented young sports people for special awards. The Richmondshire Local Sports Association awards to recognise and support young sporting stars.

A scheme which offers support to single people and families facing homelessness has helped over 500 Hambleton and Richmondshire households in the last year. The ‘Homelessness Prevention’ scheme has seen two teams set up in Northallerton and Richmond by the charity Foundation – they work alongside Hambleton and Richmondshire District Council’s Housing Options team to resettle homeless single people and families aged 16+ into permanent homes more quickly and prevent homelessness.

 Parking charges at a Richmondshire based leisure facility are being cut – before they have even been introduced! District Councillors have agreed to adopt charges they say reflect the ‘unique’ needs of users of the Richmond Swimming Pool and Richmond Station.

An emergency scheme is helping Richmondshire residents to live independently, safely and securely. The 'Telecare’ scheme provides help by sending them alerts from everything from a reminder to take medication or turn off the cooker to alerting family, friends, carers or the emergency services to dangerous situations such as falls

Vital crime prevention advice is being handed out with parking tickets in Richmondshire. The campaign – led by the Hambleton and Richmondshire Community Safety Partnership and North Yorkshire County Council – sees every ticket bought in a car park machine in and around Richmond bare advice on car theft, mobile phone use, drink driving and motorbike.

Richmondshire District Councillors are united in the condemnation of proposals to remove services at the Friarage Hospital in Northallerton. They have voted unanimously to support a proposal to advise NHD health chiefs that it ‘considers it essential for the peace of mind and well being of the residents in the District that the paediatric service is maintained at the Friarage for the benefit they provide to in patients and their relatives, and for the support they give to maintaining a 24/7 consultant-led maternity service at the hospital’

Hambleton and Richmondshire’s pest control service is being relaunched giving customers the freedom to choose the level of service they require for the first time. They will be able to opt to pay for a gold, silver or bonze service – with the speed of response reflected in the charge

More than £81,000 from fraudulent benefit claims were identified in Hambleton and Richmondshire last year.

Richmondshire residents are being urged to join councillors as they review public services. The district council’s Scrutiny Committee want to see more people getting involved in their work by becoming co-opted members of these bodies

Leyburn ‘Community Office’ is moving. The Richmondshire District Council run office is relocating to the Library and Information Centre at Thornborough Hall in Leyburn

People living in Hambleton and Richmondshire continue to be some of the most physically active in the country. The Active People survey commissioned by Sport England found that 27.7% of over 16s living in Hambleton and 26.7% in Richmondshire regularly take part in sport and active recreation. The latest results place Hambleton first in North Yorkshire and 11th out of 325 local authorities nationally and Richmondshire is placed second and 23rd respectively

Hambleton and Richmondshire Community Safety Partnership is joining forces with North Yorkshire Police to launch a campaign to combat theft from lorries parked up in Hambleton and Richmondshire. Drivers are being encouraged to be extra vigilant – and report any suspicious activity in lay-bys and lorry parks along the A1, A19 and A66 after a spate of thefts from vehicles parked overnight.

2012 will bring in new sporting facilities in Wensleydale. From January people living in and around the Dale will be able to use the new floodlit pitch being built at Wensleydale School in Leyburn – the £100,000 Sports pitch being part funded by Richmondshire District Council will be available to hire by local groups.

Plans to light up Hambleton and Richmondshire to celebrate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee next year are being supported by the District Councils – they have issued guidance on taking part in the celebrations.

Trials of street recycling bins are underway in Bedale and Colburn. The pilot will be trialled for six months and depending on their success and the increase in recycling rates, may be rolled out to other towns across the two districts

A new joint contact centre for Hambleton and Richmondshire District Councils opened for business in December as part of the shared services programme between the two authorities

The second annual report for tenants of Richmondshire District Council has been published. It has been developed using feedback from tenants, the Tenant Panel, Tenant Editorial Group and from performance information across a range of housing services – it outlines what has been achieved over the last 12 months

Families have celebrated the long awaited completion of a play park in Richmondshire. A massive £40,000 has been spent upgrading the Piper Hill facility in Colburn providing new fixed play equipment, refurbishing existing equipment and landscaping the area.

Housing leaders are celebrating a partnership which has seen £67 million come into North Yorkshire to provide housing in priority areas across the county over the last three years. The Local Government North Yorkshire and York Housing Board saw new homes and housing improvements delivered during a period of economic crisis

New businesses to Richmondshire could benefit from reduced rent in some council owned properties. The District Council is looking to help those starting up in the area by offering rent incentives at some business premises

A new ratings system of food for businesses was launched across Hambleton and Richmondshire. The scheme helps consumers choose where to eat out or shop for food by rating businesses from 0 to 5 (5 being the best).

COUNCIL HOUSE STANDARDS RAISED

A new initiative to raise the standards of council homes across Richmondshire has been introduced.

All empty council properties must now meet new ‘lettable’ standards before they are allocated to new tenants.

Voluntary tenant inspectors will inspect the homes before they are released for letting – ensuring that all repairs are done and the home is up to the required standards.

The ‘Void Lettable Standards’ scheme has been developed following consultation with new tenants and various district based tenants groups, including the Tenant Panel. 

“These new standards allow tenants to know exactly what they can expect from the council when they are allocated accommodation,” said Councillor Peter Wood, Member for Housing.

“The voluntary inspectors will be checking that all new empty properties are in top condition, necessary repairs are completed and they are up to the required standard for new tenancy.   This scheme raises the bar for council house standards and makes sure all our homes are in first class condition when they are let.” 

The new scheme also includes a system where ‘local’ offers specific to certain areas and needs can be made.  Set up with the Tenant Panel – and following consultation with local people undertaken through the resident’s newsletter ‘Grapevine’ - it aims to deal with issues that make a difference on a local level.   So far it has seen hardstandings installed in 15 homes to address parking issues; extractor fans fitted in kitchens and bathrooms; and estate walkabouts introduced.  The walkabouts see council officers, councillors and tenants out and about on estates to identify and deal with problems – in a bid to keep them clean, tidy and safe.

BUSY YEAR FOR CRIMEFIGHTERS

Almost 100 community activities and projects were delivered by the newly merged Hambleton and Richmondshire Community Safety Partnership in the last 12 months. 

Designed to tackle the community safety priorities for both districts, they included the launch of a hate crime campaign, the production of burglary reduction and home safety leaflets and the distribution of home security marking kits to crime victims and vulnerable residents.

A range of diversionary activities and capital projects were also funded - market town evening and weekend football projects in Bedale, Richmond and Stokesley and a mobile youth project in Stokesley area.

Alcohol misuse was targeted with funding to alcohol reduction campaigns spearheaded by North Yorkshire County Council Trading Standards.  They worked with alcohol retailers and licensed premises to reduce direct and proxy sales to underage drinkers in Northallerton and Leyburn.  And night marshalls patrolled Northallerton to reduce nuisance behaviour at peak periods.

Several road safety awareness events were delivered in conjunction with 95 Alive; Urban Rodeo - driving lessons for older people; Drive to Survive - young driver’s survival and car modification advice; Safe Winter Driving; Drink Drive Roadshows; and Parish Speed Monitoring - an ongoing project which provides parishes with equipment, advice and resources to enable speed measurement and management solutions for their area.

Awareness campaigns promoting domestic abuse issues and where to obtain help were launched with a very successful Christmas initiative - ‘Don’t be on the receiving end this Christmas’.

“We had a very busy 12 months which saw the partnerships involved in a wide range of projects to help people of all ages across the two districts,” said Partnership Chairman, Liz Smith.

“The next year promises to continue that work – and the successes.  We are already supporting a range of new projects for key themes such as anti-social behaviour, road safety, domestic abuse and alcohol misuse, but we also need our community to tell us what they think.”

She said that full details will be available on the partnership’s new webpages – due to be launched within the next six weeks at richmondshire.gov.uk and hambleton.gov.uk

TENANTS GET ‘CHOICE’ IN RICHMONDSHIRE

The first Richmondshire based council home has been let under the new Choice Based Lettings scheme.

The house – in Colburn went to a local family

The new system – to improve the way affordable homes are let to tenants - was launched across North Yorkshire at the beginning of July.

‘North Yorkshire Homechoice’ - the North Yorkshire Choice Based Lettings scheme – has been developed by most local authorities and housing associations across North Yorkshire, including Richmondshire District Council. 

The new approach is based on the public advertising of available properties on a weekly basis – from both Councils and Housing Associations.   It is designed to promote choice, mobility and better information about housing options for local people seeking accommodation. 

The first adverts went live on July 7 and saw a number of bids being made on the Richmondshire properties. In the first four weeks 14 homes were listed – 12 council owned and two belonging to Housing Associations.

“This new scheme is working well after just a few weeks – with bids coming in on the available properties,” said Housing Spokesperson, Councillor Peter Wood.

“And also as a councillor for Colburn it was great to see the first let home go in my area!   This is just the sort of area Home Choice has been designed for.  “Bids have been placed on all the advertised properties, mostly from people local to Richmondshire.  Offers have been made to the bidders with housing officers now waiting for replies before the homes are finally let.”

LOWER WENSLEYDALE GETS £95,000 BONANZA

Lower Wensleydale’s rural economy has been given a £95,000 boost – with a themed website and brand new identity to attract new tourism income top of the priority list.

For a three year project to deliver economic and tourism projects within the area was given the go ahead when a grant of £76,534 was confirmed.    It will be added to the £19,000 already raised.

LEADER funding has been secured by a community led marketing and branding team within the Lower Wensleydale Area Partnership.   The group is made up of local business leaders, and representatives of Middleham and Leyburn Councils and Richmondshire District Council.

The initiative will see a Community Liaison Worker appointed to manage delivery of the project.  Richard Sanderson, Chairman of the Leyburn and Mid-Wensleydale Business Association, says that without each individual group member, the grant may never have materialised.

“Each member has brought something different to the group, whether that’s support, expertise or funding - and collectively it’s all these different elements which has enabled us to secure the funding.  While it has taken us 10 months to secure, we never gave up during a time when external funding has become virtually impossible to tap into. I’m just relieved that all the preparation, persistence and sheer determination has paid off,” he said. 

And Chairman of the marketing and branding subgroup, Keith Garrard, added: “This project has seen real team work between the community and Richmondshire District Council. The community asked for more tourism support and the district council has responded.

“This will make a tremendous difference in the future to visitor numbers in the area. Richmondshire District Council is doing fantastic job leading the overall project, which was set up following the Miller Reports into the long term economic development of the area. We are grateful for the support and commitment to the future of the area.”

The Lower Wensleydale Area Partnership is one of five set up by Richmondshire District Council to address local needs and issues and aim to involve communities in decisions affecting them, identify priorities for the local area and deal with any local concerns or issues residents may have. Each has a dedicated pot of money to spend on community and voluntary projects as well as projects looking to address the partnership priorities.

KIER WINS IN RICHMONDSHIRE - Kier announces £6m contract win

Richmondshire District Council and Kier are pleased to announce that they have entered into a contract to procure planned refurbishment works to Council owned homes across the district worth £6.35m.

The new four-year contract, due to begin in September, will see Kier carry out refurbishments including external doors and windows, kitchens and bathrooms, roofing, central heating and rewires. The contract marks Kier’s first venture in this region, into which it hopes to expand over the coming years.

Kier regional director for maintenance, Mike Furze, said: “We are looking forward to working with Richmondshire District Council to help enhance and improve its housing stock, as well as working with the community in Richmondshire. We are committed to delivering the best value service for local people in the years ahead and we plan to focus strongly on the continuous improvement of, and engagement with, the local community to do this. We will be developing a CSR campaign to support local people and businesses as well as promoting sustainability through the work we carry out.”

Richmondshire District Council’s spokesperson for housing, Cllr Peter Wood, added: “This new contract will benefit our residents across the district. A lot of hard work went in to the preparation of the contract and we are confident that Kier will deliver a high quality service and great efficiencies over the coming years.”

Across the north, Kier currently carries out more than 60,000 repairs to tenants’ homes each year. It has delivered Decent Homes projects in conjunction with the local council in North Tyneside to a value between £30m and £40m, and £9m of work in East Durham. It employs around 500 staff, most of who live within the respective boroughs and almost 100 per cent within a 30 mile radius of the local offices.

Kier is currently expanding into other markets such as the education sector. For more information on the work Kier carries out in the north-east visit: www.kier.co.uk

WARNING ON SCAM CALLERS

Council taxpayers across Hambleton and Richmondshire are being warned to be on the alert for bogus phone calls.

Callers purport to be from the district council saying customers are entitled to a council tax refund as they have always paid on time.    They are then asked how they want the refund paying and given another number to ring as well as a code.

However the calls are scams designed to glean personal details from innocent taxpayers.

“We want to advise all our council taxpayers to be on the alert for these scam calls,” said Chief Executive for both authorities, Peter Simpson.

“These are not genuine calls and residents must not give out personal details – especially bank details – to unknown sources.   Anyone from the councils would not ask for this type of detail by phone.”

If anyone is concerned about a call about council tax it can be verified by contacting Hambleton District Council on 0845 1211 555 or Richmondshire District Council on 01748 828728.

A copy of the consultation document and the advance questions and responses can be viewed on the council’s website www.richmondshire.gov.uk