Your Wiltshire March 2011

We will invest

We will protect

Spring

2011

Magazine

We will save

Focus on customers

The next four years

Focus on communities

Focus on a can-do approach

Insi

de Protecting

services in your communities – page 8

Focusing on the customer – page 11

Our plans for the next four years – page 4

Investing in services – page 16

Fostering isn’t just about the good days; it’s about every day. It’s not all plain sailing. Life isn’t like that. A big part of being a foster carer is supporting the child or teenager through all the different challenges that growing up brings. It is things like this that make fostering such a rewarding and life affirming experience.

We’re currently looking for people from all walks of life to care for a wide

range of children and young people. In addition to a life

changing experience we also offer our foster carers excellent training, 24 hour support and generous allowances.

Are you that special person who can make a

difference?

Call 0800 1696 321 or visit www.wiltshirefostering.org.uk

Your Wiltshire Magazine

Welcome 3www.wiltshire.gov.uk

Welcome

Wiltshire Council has published its first four year business plan. The following executive summary highlights the approach the council is taking to manage the challenges it faces over the next four years. It sets out plans to invest, protect and save to make Wiltshire a better place.

The general election in May 2010 has changed the way that local government will be organised and the amount of resources it has for the foreseeable future. This change, the greatest since the Second World War, will mean Wiltshire Council absorbing a cut of more than 28% in its grant funding from the government, as well as managing more than 300 new pieces of legislation. Increases in the number of older and younger people living in our county in the next few years will also have to be managed.

Our business plan is bold and different to many other authorities. It sets out how we intend to meet the challenges whilst delivering our vision to create stronger, more resilient communities. It defines our goals:

• to provide high quality, low cost customer focused services

• to prioritise local issues

• to be open and honest in all our decision making

• to work with our partners to support Wiltshire’s communities.

We believe we can do this because we have taken a long term, pragmatic view and we can take advantage of being a new unitary authority.

We are ambitious – and we have visionary, realistic strategies – for the next 10 to 20 years. We will radically change how we provide some of our key front line services and we will drastically reduce the number of our offices and buildings. Our biggest shift will be developing our work with communities to help them to be more self sufficient and less reliant on our services.

We plan to realign our resources to:

protect our most vulnerable citizens by investing in their services

invest in the future of Wiltshire by enhancing key service areas

keep the council tax low

The way we do things – our approach to customers – and how we communicate with local people and the rest of the world is critical.

We have established our core values that underpin what we do – what we stand for and how we do things. These make us unique – a modern, new organisation that embraces change, treats everybody fairly, values diversity, and;

places its customers first

strengthens its communities

adopts a ‘can-do’ approach in everything it does.

We want to reflect a strong service mentality, which focuses on the whole experience for our customers and how we can make it a good one. We are developing a culture where we go the extra mile to help our customers and make Wiltshire Council one of the best in the country.

Our plan is ambitious, but realistic. We are confident that Wiltshire is well placed to deliver a new and exciting local government that will shift the roles between public sector and community – we want to support our communities to be able to help themselves and improve the quality of life and the economy of Wiltshire in these difficult times and beyond. These are not easy times and we face difficult challenges, but we know we can make Wiltshire a better place by building on the strong foundations that we have in place. We see the next few years as a real opportunity to deliver improvements and the biggest cultural change ever seen in local government.

Jane Scott OBE, Wiltshire Council Leader

Andrew Kerr, Chief Executive

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Our future plans

e next four years

Our vision for th O

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Introduction Our four-year business plan sets out what, together, we will achieve between now and 2015. It highlights our business model for the next five to 10 years. The changes from where we are now will be phased so that the first four years set the foundations to make the council as efficient as possible and equipped for the future.

We are facing significant challenges and there are consequences for the council and for local people if we don’t manage these well. The coalition government is radically changing the role of the public sector by reducing funding and transferring power and responsibility to local communities. The proposed changes in legislation and regulation will alter the relationship between the public sector and citizens and service users.

14% more older people will receive our services

Our vision To create stronger and more resilient communities – is all about people and places, fostering a sense of community belonging and self-sufficiency where communities can solve problems locally with our support. The government refers to this as The Big Society.

We will provide – 450 new affordable homes each year of which 250-350 additional new

affordable homes for rent will be from the PFI scheme

50% of our waste will be

recycled

In Wiltshire a new relationship is forming between public services and communities. Our communities are becoming more self-reliant, reducing the resources needed and the dependency on public services as service providers. We have to trust, empower and enable local communities to take control of their futures.

We will safeguard

8,000 existing jobs

We want to encourage and support local communities to get involved and work with us to strengthen their ability to deal with local challenges. We will work closely with town and parish councils, voluntary groups, local people and other public sector organisations to establish community needs and to help meet those needs in the best way.

We will increase examination results for 11 year olds by 5% at the end of KS2 (combined

maths and English), and in GCSE performance (percentage of

young people achieving 5 A*–C, including English and maths).

These communities will require less intervention from public services which is good for people and it reduces the pressure on increasingly scarce public resources.

We will reduce the roads

maintenance backlog by 10%


Our future plans 55 www.wiltshire.gov.uk

Our vision for t

he next four years

6,000 new jobs to be created in the private

sector

We will reduce

our level of carbon

emissions by 20%

5% more looked-after children wil receive high quality local

placements, either in foster care or residential placements close to

family, friends and community

85% of Wiltshire will be covered by superfast broadband

Making savings We will become a smaller organisation working with many different providers in Wiltshire. Our role will be to support and enable to make things happen. We will help local people and communities to help themselves and improve their neighbourhoods. We have taken action to make the savings needed to cover the government cuts and the investments we will make.

• £8 million reduction in our management costs – this has been achieved – all managers who left opted for voluntary redundancy – 220 managers will have left by end March 2011

• £36 million reduction in the cost of purchasing goods and services

• £8 million reduction by managing our assets better

• £47 million reduction by transforming our services; including adult care and highways

• All services made proposals to achieve 12% reduction in budgets

• Reducing from 95 offices and buildings to four main hubs.

Our future p

lans

www.wiltshire.gov.uk

24% less waste will go to

landfill

6 0300 456 0100 Your Wiltshire Magazine

Our future plans

key services –

We are investing in O

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We are taking a robust, ambitious and realistic approach to managing the challenges we face over the next four years. These challenges include a 28% reduction in Local Authority funding nationally at a time when we need to invest in local priorities.

We know that some things that we need to do are bigger or longer term than individual people or communities can be expected to achieve, and some people need particular support and protection. As well as helping communities to help themselves, we are setting aside money to protect vulnerable people, to invest in priorities for Wiltshire and to keep the council tax low. We will focus on the following priorities:

Vulnerable children – £4.6m The number of looked-after children has continued to increase. Our services for these vulnerable children will be strengthened to meet their needs better.

• Protect and safeguard vulnerable adults and children and meet cost pressures as a result of changes such as the growth in the ageing population. We will also take action to mitigate the potential impact that job losses will have on Wiltshire

• Invest in priority services – roads; waste collection and disposal; leisure; children’s attainment; economy and broadband; energy efficiency; housing and helping communities to help themselves

• Save to allow us to protect and invest and to absorb the expected cuts in government grant of 28% and meet unavoidable cost pressures of £87m.

We will maintain the level of other important services such as anti-social behaviour reduction, alcohol services, and ‘aiming high’ for disabled children.

We will invest £4.6m

We will invest £52m

Vulnerable adults – £52m We need to invest in this area to meet the increasing need for this service created by our ageing population.

The money will be invested across services for older people and adults with a learning disability, physical impairment or mental health problems to provide social care services that will help them to live as independent lives as possible.


Energy efficiency – £4.7m We currently spend £14m a year on energy and transportation and from April we will have to pay a levy for every tonne of carbon dioxide we emit. This investment will help us to reduce our carbon footprint by 20%.


We will invest £23m

Waste management and recycling – £23m One of our key priorities is to increase the amount of rubbish we recycle from 40% to 50% to reduce land fill costs and the impact on the environment.

Wiltshire residents will receive kerbside collections every week on an alternate weekly basis collecting plastic bottles and cardboard; glass, paper, cans, foil and textiles (the existing black box service); nonchargeable optional garden waste; and remaining waste.

7 Your Wiltshire Magazine

Our future plans


We are investing in

key services – O

ur future plan

s

We will invest £4m




Digital inclusion – £2.9m High performance internet access is becoming an increasingly important factor for people in Wiltshire. Good digital literacy skills and access to technology and connectivity will allow people to benefit

Leisure – economically, socially and £4.5m educationally. This investment This investment will be used to bring superfast will help ensure broadband to many rural areas, our leisure centres increase take-up of online are sustainable, services and help give the cost effective and skills to local people to use this high quality. technology.

Communities – £3.2m We have a long track record of investing in our communities through grants, new ways of doing things with the area boards and in supporting community area partnerships. This further investment is about supporting the delivery, shared by our partners, of our vision to build strong and resilient communities. The investment is also linked to what we want to achieve in terms of the Big Society and localism in Wiltshire.

Council tax frozen

for the year

Council tax – 2011/12 As council tax will be frozen for 2011/12 a Band D household will pay £1,222.43 for the year. We aim to achieve a zero increase in council tax for 2012/13 as well. We then expect to raise council tax by a below inflation rate of 2.5% in both 2013/14 and 2014/15.

Children’s attainment £3.3m Improving life chances for children and young people is an important goal for individuals and for Wiltshire’s and the nation’s economy. We will increase examination results at key Stage2 and at GCSE level.

Economy – £4m The number of people in Wiltshire claiming unemployment benefit has risen during the recession by 4,500. We will invest in helping the long-term unemployed back into work, and in support for young people and local businesses.

Spending your money wisely

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During these exceptionally difficult economic times, we are pleased to announce that this year’s council tax has been frozen. The council has set a budget which has kept council tax at the previous level and makes investment in key front line services.

We have done this despite facing cuts of 28.4% to our central government grant over the next four years.

Our plans for saving make it possible to invest and protect.

We asked you for your views on where we should prioritise our

spending. You told us via the People’s Voice Citizen’s Panel and a number of budget consultation forums that your top four priorities are:

• maintaining roads

• services for older people

• services for people with disabilities

• community safety and anti-social behaviour.

Our plans for investment and improvement reflect your views.

Council tax 2011/12 As council tax will be frozen for 2011/12 a Band D household will pay £1,222.43 for the year.

We aim to achieve a zero increase in council tax for 2012/13 as well.

We then expect to raise council tax by a below inflation rate of 2.5% in both 2013/14 and 2014/15.

Council tax discount, exemption and relief More than 200,000 properties in Wiltshire are valued for council tax, creating one of the largest council tax property databases in England.

From these the council expects to raise £246 million in council tax this year.

But did you know that many people are entitled to discounts and some properties are considered to be totally exempt from council tax?

When calculating rates, the council takes into account the number of discounts and exemptions as they reduce the council’s income.

However, it is just as important that people receive what they are entitled to.

It’s also crucial that if you fall into any of these categories, you tell us as soon as possible if your circumstances change.

Generally, reductions are based on either your, or the property’s, circumstances. These include:

Council tax single person discount: If you live alone, or with individuals who can be disregarded for council tax, you are entitled to a 25% discount.

Disabled relief: This can be applied if your property has been adapted for and is occupied by people with certain disabilities. Your property will

be placed in the council tax band immediately below the chargeable band. This applies even if your property is in Band A.

Exempt properties: Some properties are exempt from council tax, for example if they are occupied only by students, if the residents have left the property to receive care, or if probate is still being determined when the householder has died.

There’s more information in the leaflet that accompanies your council tax bill and on the council’s website.

If you believe you are entitled to any of these reductions please contact the council without delay on:

0300 456 0100


Your Wiltshire Magazine 0300 456 0100 Communities

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e matters re’ use le ure centres – w ere leisu

Across Wiltshire’s in-house leisure centres we are committed to ensuring children have the best possible learning experience within our swimming schools, following the national plan.

The ‘National Plan for Teaching Swimming’ is based around providing continuous assessment for children throughout their swimming lesson life. By operating on a 50 week programme, continuous assessment becomes possible as there is effectively no end date for a course.

Durrington 01980 594594

Five Rivers 01722 339966

Devizes 01380 734880

Marlborough 01672 513161

Tidworth 01980 847140

Pewsey 01672 562469

www.wiltshire.gov.uk/wowfit

Wiltshire Council’s Sports and Physical Activity Team is leading a

For more information on what’s

you check back regularly and find

When implementing the new

countywide campaign to increase the number of women and girls involved

week please visit the website and

in sport and physical activity. The campaign, running from 6 to 12 June

a Go’ at a new sport, ‘Play Again’ in

2011, will promote a large number of projects currently available across the

in, or simply try ‘Something

county including women’s cricket, ‘Back to Netball’, mixed non contact rugby, women’s running, health and fitness activities provided within leisure centres and many others.

available for all ages during that

either take the opportunity to ‘Have

something you used to be involved

Different’!

The website will be updated throughout April and May with new sessions being signed up to the campaign, and so make sure

something that appeals!

Women and girls sport and physical activity week

These proposals will deliver The indoor leisure facility stock that we

• New leisure facilities in Trowbridge, Melksham, Warminster and Durrington/Amesbury as part of the wider campus development project

• Improvements to Devizes Leisure Centre, Five Rivers in Salisbury, The Activity Zone in Malmesbury, Marlborough Leisure Centre and

inherited as a result of creating the new unitary council is generally outdated,

of the workplace transformation

inefficient and unsustainable. We are investing £4.5m in our leisure centres over the next four years to ensure they provide high-quality, cost-effective services for local people.

These reinvigorated leisure centres will form a key part of campus project which aims to bring together a range of services for the community in one place.

Investing in our leisure centres C

om

mun

ities

18 month trial of the new scheme and found that in some cases children learnt up to 50% faster by attending a 50 week programme, as opposed to a traditional 39 week programme.

For more information on our swimming lessons contact your local swimming pool:

Splashing out

• A grant of £400,000 to the Wiltshire School of Gymnastics in Melksham.

We will explore with local people

national plan the ASA carried out an

Tidworth Leisure Centre as part

programme

the potential to communities to directly manage some of these communities.

www.wiltshire.gov.uk Your Wiltshire Magazine

Communities

www.wiltshire.gov.uk/libraries

New library in Pewsey opens

Mobile libraries retained – timetables now available Timetables for Wiltshire’s mobile library services are now available.

The timetables inform you when the Wilton, Warminster, Devizes and Chippenham mobile library will be coming to an area near you.

On board a mobile library is a full range of stock for children and adults, talking books, DVDs and, at longer stops, free internet access.

Timetables are available from libraries and council offices, or you can download a copy from:

www.wiltshire.gov.uk/artsheritageandlibraries/librarieshome

The new and improved Pewsey Library is up and running.

This light and spacious building is proving to be a focal point for people of all ages.

The old library was demolished in April 2010 and replaced by a facility that’s a third bigger, offering a full range of services, including free internet access and photocopying facilities.

Protecting our libraries The council is working to safeguard all 31 libraries and its mobile service and ensure they remain at the heart of Wiltshire’s communities.

The county’s 21 largest libraries will operate with new core opening hours.

The council will now work in partnership with local communities to help keep 10 of the county’s smallest libraries open and help extend the opening hours at

other libraries. This will provide opportunities for community volunteers. So far more than 100 have stepped forward to help run our libraries.

These changes will help reduce the cost of running the libraries by more than a tenth but enable all 31 libraries to stay open and keep the five mobile libraries running.

Local authorities across Britain are facing unprecedented pressure on

their budgets and Wiltshire Council is taking steps to ensure it works with communities to protect frontline services.

If people want to find out more about volunteering opportunities, contact the council’s outreach services librarian Rebecca Bolton on:

Details of core opening times can be found on:

01225 713706

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Have you heard about the carers’ emergency card? Wiltshire Council is calling all carers to sign up to its carers’ emergency card scheme.

This scheme is for anyone who has a friend or relative who depends on them for some form of care.

Like the donor card scheme, carers carry a card with them at all times to let people know they are a carer.

This means should the carer have an accident, others will be able to find the card and tell the council so that the cared for person is looked after.

The card has a unique pin number which relates to the carer’s details, which are registered with the council’s emergency response team.

It was launched in 2008 and has been successful with more than 860 carers signed up and carrying the card.

The card is available free to all carers including parent carers.

To register for a carers’ emergency card go to:

Anyone registered on the scheme will receive information about the carers’ discount and incentive card scheme which is under development at this time.

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Changing the face of customer service

Over the next two years Wiltshire Council will do more to bring their services direct to you, changing the way they provide service face to face with their customers.

Currently about 75% of our face to face meetings take place in customers’ homes or businesses.

We aim to make that as near to 100% as possible.

You will be able to make appointments to meet in your home, at your premises (business customers) or in a convenient meeting place in your community if you prefer.

This can be for services like benefits, housing, or planning, and will mean you won’t have to travel to get to us, or wait in a busy office – saving you time and money.

We will also introduce kiosks around the county so you can speak to us via a video link near to where you live or work.

Kiosks will be easy to use and will work like face to face meetings. You’ll be able to scan your documents, sign them and print out completed forms where you are.

Not happy with our service – here’s how to complain Wiltshire Council aims to provide good quality services, but understands there are times when things go wrong and when they do, we want to know.

If you wish to make a complaint, you can do so in a number of ways: by completing an online form; by email; in writing; by phone; or by going to one of our offices.

For a copy of the complaints procedure and more information you can call us, email us or visit our website:

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w w w . w i l t s h i r e . g o v . u k / c o u n c i l / c o r p o r a t e c o m p l a i n t s . h t m

Putting you first… We will continue to develop our website into a self-service portal.

We have already put electronic forms on our website for some waste and recycling services, and we will expand this across a wide range of services, beginning with those which you can book or pay for.

You will soon be able to make your own ‘homepage’ with local information about council and other services, using your postcode.

These changes are all about putting you first, designing how we deliver services round the needs and preferences of our customers.

Custo

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Carers’Emergency CardNo.

Attention!I care for someone who depends on me.

Call 0800 066 5068 to summon help.

www.wiltshire.gov.uk Your Wiltshire Magazine 11 Customers

Spring area board meetings Date Area board Venue 4 May Malmesbury Sherston Village Hall, High Street, Sherston, Malmesbury SN16 0LH (tbc) 5 May Trowbridge Council Chamber, Bradley Road, Trowbridge BA14 0RD 9 May Chippenham Chippenham Town Hall, High Street SN15 3ER 9 May Pewsey Pewsey Vale School, Wilcot Road, Pewsey SN9 5EW

11 May Bradford Holt Village Hall, The Street BA14 6RW 12 May Melksham Melksham Oak Community School, Devizes Road SN12 6QZ 12 May Salisbury Alamein Suite City Hall, Malthouse Lane, Salisbury SP2 7TU 16 May Tidworth Collingbourne Ducis Village Hall, Chicks Lane SN8 3UH 19 May Warminster Codford Village Hall, High Street BA12 0PP

23 May Devizes Devizes Sports Club, London Road SN10 2DL

25 May Wootton Bassett and Cricklade Cricklade Town Hall, High Street SN6 6AE

2 June Amesbury Figheldean Village Hall, Pollen Lane, Figheldean SP4 8JR 2 June Corsham Corsham Town Hall, High Street SN13 0EZ

16 June Westbury Heywood & Hawkeridge Village Hall, Church Road, Westbury BA13 4LP 21 June Marlborough Venue to be confirmed 22 June South West South Newton Village Hall SP2 0PJ 23 June Southern Wiltshire Coombe Bissett Village Hall, Shutts Lane, Coombe Bissett SP5 4LU 28 June Calne Calne Town Hall, The Strand SN11 0EN 29 June Malmesbury Ashton Keynes Village Hall, Park Place, Ashton Keynes, Malmesbury SN6 6NT 30 June Warminster Corsley Reading Room, Corsley Heath, Warminster BA12 7PR

4 July Pewsey Coronation Hall, The Green, East Grafton SN8 3DB 4 July Chippenham Langley Burrell Village Hall, Manor Farm Lane, Langley Burrell SN15 4LL 6 July Wootton Bassett and Cricklade St Bartholomew’s CE Primary School, The Rosary, Wootton Bassett SN4 8AZ 7 July Trowbridge The Atrium, Wiltshire Council Offices, Bradley Road, Trowbridge BA14 0RD

14 July Melksham Venue to be confirmed 14 July Salisbury Salisbury Methodist Church, St Edmund Church Street, Salisbury SP1 1EF 18 July Tidworth Enford Village Hall, Longstreet, Enford SN9 6DD 18 July Devizes Lavington School, The Spring, Market Lavington, Devizes SN10 4EB 20 July Bradford on Avon Westwood Social Club, Lower Westwood, Bradford on Avon BA15 2AP 21 July Amesbury Shrewton Village Hall, 2 The Limes, High Street, Shrewton SP3 4BW

Wiltshire is gaining national recognition for its work with local communities.

Our 18 area boards are at the forefront of supporting community work.

Since they were set up in 2009 area boards have attracted more than 8,500 people to their meetings.

The police, fire and rescue, NHS, military, housing associations, voluntary organisations and town and parish councils also attend the meetings.

Area boards have allocated over £750,000 to support 250 community projects and more than 1,000 issues have been resolved in communities by communities.

To get on board and support your

local community, look out for your next area board

meeting.

Area boards helping communities to help themselves – funding maintained for next year

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Town Day Location Amesbury Wednesday general market, Central car park. (8am – 5pm)

Bradford on Avon

Thursday general market, Bridge Street car park

Calne Friday general market, Phelps Parade Market Square

Chippenham* Friday Saturday

general market, Market Square/High Street. (9am – 3pm) general market, Market Square/High Street. (9am – 3pm)

Corsham Tuesday general market, the High Street

Devizes Tuesday Thursday

Friday Saturday

antiques market, Shambles Market Hall indoor market and general market, Market Place and Shambles Market Hall indoor market, Shambles Market Hall indoor market, Shambles Market Hall

Marlborough Wednesday Saturday

general market, High Street general market, High Street

Pewsey Tuesday general market, Bouverie Hall car park

Salisbury* Tuesday Saturday

general market, Market Square. (8am – 4pm) general market, Market Square. (8am – 4pm)

Trowbridge Mon – Sat general market, Castle Place (9am – 5pm)

Warminster Friday general market, central car park

Wilton Thursday general market, Market Place car park

Wootton Bassett* Wednesday Town Hall, High Street. (8.30am – 2.30pm)

www.wiltshire.gov.uk/markets

Check out the local market near you: Support your local market

✃

* Markets run by local town and city councils

Wiltshire markets

Wiltshire – open for business A special event to help local businesses promote their services will be held in May 2011.

The two-day Wiltshire Open for Business event is supported by Wiltshire Council and aims to help local businesses promote their products and services to a wide audience.

It will be held at the Corn Exchange in Devizes on 10 and 11 May. For more information contact:

Tess Welbourn 01225 355553

[email protected]


0300 456 0100

Want to know about the government’s plans for local working Throughout spring, council officers will be attending special meetings hosted by the area boards to give an update on key proposals within the Localism Bill. The purpose of the meetings is to explain what this means for local communities, especially the changes to the planning system, such as neighbourhood plans, and the impact on planning for new homes and jobs within Wiltshire.

The Localism Bill proposes that government-imposed regional targets for housing and employment are scrapped. The council will be reviewing with communities how this will change Wiltshire’s housing provision over the next 15 years; a public consultation on this will be held later this year.

The Localism Bill has also introduced the right for communities to prepare neighbourhood plans, which will be used together with Wiltshire’s planning policies (Core Strategy) to help determine where, how and when development should take place. The aim behind the plans is to manage and shape new development – not stop it. As the Bill progresses through Parliament, Wiltshire Council will work with the county’s town and parish councils and local communities through the area board network and support them in taking forward this new opportunity.


Economy 13

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Welcome to Wiltshire:

Bustard country!

Lesley Fudge 07734 176426

photograph courtesy David Kjaer

During the summer of 2012 a flock of Great Bustards created by communities from Wiltshire will be released around the county to celebrate the iconic bird being reintroduced on Salisbury Plain, as well as the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee and the Olympics!

Life sized, regal and athletic, or other models of Bustards, will be made with the help of local sculptors and artists by willing participants of all ages and abilities, engaging in a spirit of fun and optimism. Models can also be purchased, or sponsored, like the lions of Bath.

For more information, if you would like to sponsor a Bustard, or make or paint one, please contact:

This year looks set to be a veritable feast of delight for lovers of the arts. From March until September there are festivals, events and exhibitions galore.

The work of John Constable will be celebrated at the Salisbury and South Wiltshire Museum from 20 May to 25 September.

Over in Devizes, the Wiltshire Heritage Museum will showcase the winning entries from the Oexmann Art Competition from 26 March to 8 May.

And from 21 May to 29 August the museum pays homage to the landscapes of Thomas Hardy’s Wessex.

www.wiltshire.gov.uk/arts

This will also be a summer of festivals: The Salisbury International Arts Festival runs from 20 May to 4 June; the

three week Devizes Festival takes place in early July; the Corsham Festival takes place from 18 to 25 June; Marlborough’s International Jazz Festival will be held 15 to 17 July and on 29 August it’s the Devizes International Street Festival.

If you’re a lover of local art, the Wylye Valley Art Trail from 28 May to 5 June and the Marlborough Open Studios for four weekends in July give you the chance to meet artists in their studios.

For more information on all these events, go to:

Wiltshire is where the art is

Health and wellbeing Nominations are open for Wiltshire’s third annual Health and Wellbeing Partnership awards.

The awards celebrate the individuals, groups, organisations and businesses which are involved in improving local health and wellbeing.

In 2010 there were 200 nominations – from walking schemes and healthy eating workshops to drop in centres and sports clubs.

There is a huge range of health and wellbeing activity in Wiltshire. Tell us about your local projects so that their achievements can be recognised.

Wiltshire supports future sporting stars Wiltshire council has recently allocated grants to help support future sporting stars via two grant funds, Funding Future Olympians and the Mike Slade Sports Scholarship.

‘Future Olympians’ grants of £1,000 each were given to five young individuals from across the county with the potential to reach future Olympics: Joseph Coombs – canoe slalom, Jemima Duxberry – judo, Francesca Fox – rhythmic gymnastics, Tom Simmons – canoe sprint and Sophie Upton – athletics: pole vault.

The Mike Slade Sports Scholarship gave a total of £1,300 to six young athletes from south Wiltshire to help them achieve their sporting goals. Rory Burton – swimming, Evie Cummings – athletics, Ben Draper – cricket, Astou Glaisyer Sidbie – diving, Sidney Fenwick – swimming and Alexandra Mundell – athletics.

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YourWiltshire.indd 1 02/03/2011 16:27:00

ED BYRNE ‘Crowd Pleaser’ Wednesday 4 May, 7.30pm

ONE NIGHT OF QUEEN Gary Mullen & The Works Thursday 19 May, 7.30pm

DOM JOLY ‘Welcome To Wherever I Am’ Sunday 22 May, 8pm

LEE NELSON ‘Well Good Tour’ Sunday 30 October, 8pm

Great entertainment for all of the family at City Hall...

CHRIS AND PUI Saturday 18 June, 11am & 2pm

THAT’LL BE THE DAY Friday 20 May, 7.30pm

Cbeebies

favourite

double-act!

25thAnniversarySpecial

THINK LIVE ENTERTAINMENT, THINK 01722 434 434 www.cityhallsalisbury.co.uk

Explore where the Past meets the Present

Explore Wiltshire and discover a land where iconic attractions and breathtaking sights combine with picture perfect villages nestling peacefully amid rolling, unspoiled countryside.

With so much to see and do on your doorstep, why go anywhere else?

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Repairing the winter damage to roads It was one of the coldest winters on record. From pot holes to fine cracks, our roads took a battering.

Wiltshire Council worked winter long to deal with the damage as it occurred.

We regularly inspected the roads and our 20 parish stewards were sent out to find and fix pot holes.

Road mender teams travelled the network in special vehicles loaded with hot materials to repair larger areas of damage.

We also carried out more substantial carriageway repairs and resurfacing of larger areas of damaged road.

All of this helped ensure the winter damage was dealt with effectively and permanently as soon as we became aware of it.

And the work carries on. In the summer our road resurfacing programme will start to improve our roads further.

If you spot any damage to Wiltshire’s roads, call CLARENCE

Investment in housing – Affordable Housing is a top Wiltshire priority. The average Wiltshire house price is £234,000 but the average salary of £26,000 is well under the £45,000 needed to buy a 2-bedroom terraced house. Therefore, it is no surprise that we have a waiting list of 12,000+ of which over a quarter are in the highest need category. Unfortunately, there are only around 45 housing association and council homes allocated each week. So at a time when it is increasingly difficult to deliver affordable homes through conventional routes, there is significant reassurance that Wiltshire is on the threshold of delivering the only affordable Housing PFI scheme in the South West.

New homes make history Tenants of the first council houses to be built in Wiltshire for 30 years moved into their new homes last year.

The builders, Wainhomes, completed 14 units in Southview, Trowbridge, at the end of 2010. A further 17 were due for completion at the end of March this year. They are the first council owned homes in Trowbridge since the housing stock was transferred to a housing association.

New tenant, Mrs Molcher, said: “We were so pleased to get a house with a garden; it will really benefit our children as they grow up.”

Two schemes in North Bradley and St Thomas’s Rd, Trowbridge, a total of 12 units, are due for completion between March and May 2011, while a further 22 homes are expected to be completed in Salisbury by March 2012.

The Homes 4 Wiltshire scheme operates a choice based lettings system and more details will be available on the website: www.homes4wiltshire.co.uk when the remaining properties are ready for allocation.

These 31 houses at Southview are part of a project to provide 65 new council managed and owned homes in the Salisbury and Trowbridge areas, supported by a £4.3 million investment from the Homes and Community Agency.

Inve

stm

ent Investing in services

Mrs Molcher and daughte

r

Community safety and anti-social behaviour – we continue to see this as an important area of community work. A recent assessment has identified a number of priorities within anti-social behaviour and investment funding of £244,000 will be targeted at delivering outcomes against these priorities.

Roads – funding for highways maintenance will increase over and above last year’s budget. Spend on minor repairs and highways maintenance will be looked at as part of our procurement review to achieve savings so that we can do more with the same budget. We are already far more responsive in repairing ‘pot holes’ quicker and for less money. The budget will increase from £11.541 million to £12.210 million.

CLARENCE

0800 23 23 23 for landlines within Wiltshire, or

01225 777234 for mobiles and from outside Wiltshire


Investment 16

Investment in waste and recycling – one of our key priorities is to divert waste from landfill to reduce the local and global environmental impact and, in the medium to long term, secure significant cost savings for residents through the reduction in payment of Landfill Tax. In addition, there is a need to harmonise waste collection and recycling arrangements to provide a consistent service across Wiltshire. The council’s target is to reduce land filled waste to less than 25% of the total collected by 2014.

The average recycling rate in Wiltshire is already ahead of target – in excess of 40%. However, major investment, encouragement and education will be needed to meet an increased target of 50%.

From winter 2011 your recycling collections will

Investm

ent

Garden waste collection service The non-chargeable garden waste service launch is in spring 2012. This is an opt-in service, and so residents who do not already have a garden waste bin will need to sign up to receive the service. Applications to opt-in for this service can be made from summer 2011. If you already have a garden waste bin you do not have to apply.

For updates and more information:

0300 4560102

www.recycleforwiltshire.com

or look out for leaflets and events over the summer.

change Your new service will be:

Plastic bottles and cardboard Fortnightly collection

Winter 2011

Household waste Fortnightly collection

Spring 2012

Non-chargeable garden waste Fortnightly collection

Spring 2012

Black box recycling Fortnightly collection

Continues unchanged

Some residents may already receive elements of the above service.


Investment 17

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s Neighbourhood policing a priority

Wiltshire Police needs to save around £15 million

over the next four years to meet government funding cuts. The proposals are far reaching and require difficult decisions. However, neighbourhood policing will remain the cornerstone of the service provided at a community level. Frontline policing is a top priority, to ensure that officers continue regular patrols throughout the county. So too is public safety, bringing offenders to justice, and protecting vulnerable people and those at risk. Inevitably, finding huge savings will lead to fewer staff within Wiltshire Police and affect some non-urgent service levels.

The strategic priorities for 2011/12

It is the authority’s responsibility to ensure that Wiltshire Police continues to provide an effective and efficient service across the whole of the force area. As part of this commitment, we have set the following strategic priorities for the force for 2011/12:

• Reducing violent crime • Managing the people who cause

the most harm in our communities • Reducing Anti-Social Behaviour • Developing sustainable policing

WPA has set Service Standards for the force and will monitor performance throughout the year.

If you have access to the internet you can find full details of all our plans and priorities by visiting our website www.wiltshire-pa.gov.uk or you can obtain a written copy by calling us on 01380 734022

Immobilise your property

register today

Immobilise is a free, private and secure site where you can register your personal property (all items with serial numbers on them). If your registered property is then lost or stolen and recovered by police it will be returned to you. For more information visit:

www.immobilise.com

Specials recruitment Wiltshire Police continues to recruit new members for the Special Constabulary. Special Constables are volunteers who, when on duty, have the same powers as their regular Police Officer colleagues. For more information about this rewarding role, contact Wiltshire Police recruitment or visit the website:

www.wiltshire.police.uk

Wiltshire Police recruitment

0845 408 7000 ext 720 2314

How to contact Wiltshire Police Register with your neighbourhood policing team to keep up to date with what is happening in your local area and have your say on local priorities. Visit www.wiltshire.police.uk and register today.

You can also join Wiltshire Police on Facebook and follow them on Twitter (@wiltshirepolice) to get information about the latest news and appeals.

In an emergency dial 999

Non emergencies 0845 408 7000

www.wiltshire.police.uk


Our partners 18

0800 389 7849

www.wiltsfire.gov.uk

New thatch information pack launched Wiltshire Fire & Rescue Service has launched a new thatch information pack, in a bid to reduce the risk of fire in thatched properties.

Although fires in thatched roofs are fairly rare, the devastation caused can be immense and such incidents are also very resource intensive for the fire and rescue service.

Group manager Ian Rennie explained: “Thatch is part of our rural heritage, as the availability of straw in days gone by made it an ideal building material. The modern desire for picture postcard cottages has led to a resurgence in the market. The number of properties in Wiltshire is on the increase, with well in excess of 2,500 thatched homes across the county. We estimate that about 1% of our population lives in a thatched property.”

The service has been building up a database of thatched properties and it has now started to contact these homeowners to offer the new information pack. This covers everything from how to prevent a fire in a thatched roof, to what to do in the unlikely event of a fire starting.

Ian Rennie said: “You are no more likely to have a fire in a thatched dwelling than in any other kind of house but, because the material is flammable and surprisingly impervious to water, firefighters find it more difficult to extinguish. Also, thatch is a material in which fire spreads quickly. This means a great deal of damage can be done just in the short time between the 999 call being made and the first fire crews arriving.”

If you have a thatched property, you should hear from Wiltshire Fire & Rescue Service over the coming weeks. However, if you would like to know more about the information pack, contact:

Our p

artners

Reducing re-offending in Wiltshire

Changing lives: case studies of real offenders Wiltshire Probation has helped to stop re-offending Dave was a young man identified by Wiltshire Probation as a prolific offender.

Prolific offenders represent a vital group of people the probation service works with because 10% of active offenders are believed to be responsible for at least 50% of crime.

Besides previous convictions, prolific offenders generally have problems

“Probation has made me face up to what I have done”

But the probation team was able to secure him accommodation and help him understand the underlying reasons for his behaviour.

He attended an offender behaviour group and learned about problem solving, thinking skills and developing empathy with victims.

such as addiction, homelessness and unemployment.

Dave, 21, was released on licence from prison for convictions of burglary. It was one of several prison terms he had served.

Had he come out of prison without support, it is almost certain he would have re-offended.

After intense work, he has built a life that doesn’t involve re-offending.

Dave said: “I knew I needed help, but did not know how to go about getting it. Probation has made me face up to what I have done. I wanted to change and was ready to take stock and learn.”

01225 781950

www.wiltshireprobation.org.uk


Our partners 19

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There’s one thing we can all guarantee in life and that is one day we will die.

Yet this remains a taboo subject, something we’re all afraid to talk about.

However, it really doesn’t have to be that way.

In fact there could be many positive aspects in how we ultimately pass away if only we talked about it, and planned for it.

Planning for your future care

Wiltshire NHS is joining forces with Wiltshire Council, the Primary Care Trust and local hospices in May to illustrate how talking about dying really matters.

National Dying Matters Week this year is 16-20 May and there will be events across the county to highlight how important it is to prepare for our own death.

Ask people how they would like to die and most would say: “At home, or in a hospice, and surrounded by the

If your health care providers and your family know your wishes, every effort would be made to bring them about.

In 2007, 29% (1,188) of people who died were

under the age of 75.

You can also achieve the end you want by writing a will, planning your future and putting into place the Power of Attorney (PoA) for someone to look after your affairs should you become incapable.

For example you can set out whether


Our partners 20 0300 456 0100


www.nhs.uk/Pages/HomePage.aspx

you would like to continue receiving treatment once your illness gets to a certain stage, or you can decide if you would like your organs to be donated.

Planning for your future not only ensures your wishes will be respected, but that your family and loved ones are taken care of.

Look out for Dying Matters events this May in local libraries and at

and

people I love.”

Very few of us achieve our aim Last year approximately 4,000 people died in Wiltshire. Of that number, 71% of men and 80% of women died in hospital. Just 27% of men and 18% of women died at home and only 2%

died in a hospice.

Telling your friends and family how you would like to die really could make a difference.

In 2009, 48% of deaths in Wiltshire occurred in an ‘acute’ hospital and 43%

of people who died did so at home.

Age UK www.ageuk.org.uk

NHS Choices: www.nhs.uk/CarersDirect/guide/bereavement/Pages/Arrangingafuneral.aspx

For more information on granting Power of Attorney: www.thecarer.co.uk/LastingPowerOfAttorney.html

A guide on how to set out your preferred priorities for care: www.endoflifecareforadults.nhs.uk/assets/downloads/ppc_1.pdf

For more information on organ donation: www.uktransplant.org.uk/ukt/default.jsp

www.drect.gov.uk/en/Governmentcitizensandrights/Death/index.htm

Where to get more advice? For useful information on funeral options and writing wills:

Other useful sources of information and advice:

Every year, approximately 4,000 people die in Wiltshire.

Approximately one in 10 deaths is sudden, but most people die after a period of chronic illness.

In 2009 the Wiltshire People’s Voice survey

showed that 60% of people asked stated they would prefer to die at home.

Latest new

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Our partners 21 www.wiltshire.gov.uk

Giving power back to the victims of domestic abuse Wiltshire is to be at the forefront of a new national drive to help the victims of domestic abuse.

Shocking figures show that one in four women will be the victim of domestic abuse during their lifetime – often suffering years of psychological abuse. Last year it was estimated that one million women were victims.

To help tackle this, the government is introducing two new orders that will give domestic abuse victims more protection – and Wiltshire will be one of the areas piloting the scheme.

Over the past 12 months, 9 Regiment the Royal Logistic Corps, based at Buckley Barracks near Chippenham, has been involved in many of the military’s more high profile community engagement events.

These have included receiving the Freedom of Malmesbury, attending medal parades to receive Afghanistan Medals and hosting 15,000 ‘Hairy Bikers’ on the Mothers’ Day Wootton Bassett Afghan Heroes Bike Ride.

Such events, reported through both regional and national media, can raise thousands of pounds for worthwhile causes.

Local engagement contributes to communicating issues and needs, resolving problems and gaining the support of local communities;

Communication specialists from 9 Regiment provide radio links between schools and help with youth workshops

especially important in times such as these, with a high operational tempo.

To achieve this ‘Firm Base’ for soldiers and their families, 9 Regiment personnel actively engage in a whole raft of events, from River Festivals to working with local schools and youth development organisations.

Many of these activities are not generally reported, but fund raising efforts have raised more than

£30,000 for good causes in the last nine months.

The Regiment, for example, helps out in bad weather and clears scrub from local churchyards, in addition to demanding and sometimes dangerous day jobs, because they want to, because they enjoy becoming involved and because their efforts are recognised and celebrated by their many good, supportive neighbours and friends in the local towns and parishes.

The two new powers are called Domestic Violence Protection Notice (DVPN) and Domestic Violence Protection Orders (DVPO) sometimes known as ‘Go Orders’.

Currently, victims receive immediate protection only if the police arrest and charge the person responsible and appropriate bail conditions are set, or a civil injunction is sought by the victim. If this does not happen, the only option for victims may be to flee to temporary accommodation.

Victims of domestic abuse are often at their most vulnerable when they make a complaint and need support during this traumatic period of their lives.

These new powers will provide victims with protected space and time to make important decisions about their future free from the influence of the alleged offender and secure in their own homes.

Where no powers exist to impose conditions on the alleged perpetrator, a police superintendent will issue a DVPN which prevents him/her from having any contact with the victim for 48 hours. During this period the police will apply to a court for the DVPO which, if granted, will last for up to 28 days. During this period, the alleged offender will not be allowed

any contact with the victim.

Their use will be piloted for 12 months in Wiltshire, starting from June this year.

Wiltshire Police is working closely with the Home Office and relevant partners

in preparation for the pilot project.

All agencies are committed to supporting victims of this largely hidden crime and ensuring that suitable support can be provided as quickly and effectively as possible.

Engaging with the community

These new powers will provide victims with protected space

www.lcjb.csjonline.gov.uk/Wiltshire

Our p

artners

Quick reference Re the December issue of the magazine I wanted to ring the council regarding a safety issue with some of our local street lighting. I was surprised to find that the magazine did not have an information page that gave a quick reference to telephone points of contact. Not everyone has internet so such information ought to be included. Clive Adams via email

Editor – Wiltshire Council’s main customer services number is printed on the contents page and at the bottom of the pages that hold council news, along with some direct numbers relevant to particular articles. If you use 0300 456 0100, the main number shown, a customer services operator will put you through to the service you require. Our Clarence service deals with street lighting and their number is 0800 23 23 23.

Your

lett

ers

Your letters and comments

Email or write to us: ‘Your Wiltshire’ County Hall Trowbridge BA14 8JN

[email protected]

Our thanks to all of you who have been in touch with comments. Your views are important, so keep those letters and emails coming.

Canal comeback

We are always open to suggestions from readers on any council related projects and services they would like to see in the magazine, so please do get in touch with anything you would like to see covered. I hope you continue to enjoy and find value in future editions of the magazine.

Your Wiltshire magazine is excellent. I was particularly drawn to the piece on canals, their success, decline and renaissance, and as an asset for the future.

Just now the canals are mainly used for pleasure, but there is already a return of transportation of goods in some areas. However, dramatic changes are coming. The Wilts and Berks restoration will see massive alterations to transportation as oil and gas reserves dwindle and canals will become crucial lifelines.

Thank you for giving space to these ongoing projects and the exciting prospects ahead.

David Harvey, Chippenham, via email

Editor – Thank you, it is really nice to receive such positive feedback for the magazine, and your comments will be appreciated by the team who produce Your Wiltshire.

Keeping customers informed Thank you to everyone who has taken the time to send us their thoughts about the residents’ magazine.

It was a big post bag of around 30 emails and letters, with views ranging from praise to calls to scrap the magazine completely.

We also undertook a survey late last year. We contacted more than 2,000 people to find out how our customers find out about council services and activities and how they would like to receive the information in future.

The survey showed the most common way for people to find out about the council was through this magazine, closely followed by local newspapers.

You also said these were the top ways you preferred to hear about the council, but the survey showed television, radio, the web and information picked up in public buildings were also popular. Around a third of the people who responded said they would be happy to receive information from the council by email.

The majority of people felt the magazine kept customers informed about the council and represented good value for money.

We will use this information to help develop how we communicate with you in the future and we’ll be looking closely at ways that are as cost-effective as possible.

Comments and views?


Your letters 22

Don’t forget to check your bank holiday collection changes

Co

uncil

Find out about key council decisions

The council is publishing a forward work plan on the 15th of every month setting out the key decisions due to be taken over the following four months.

Key decisions will range from savings or expenditure which are significant in relation to council services, or which will be significant in terms of their impact in more than one electoral division on people living and working in Wiltshire.

People will be able to see the plan at County Hall, Bythesea Road, Trowbridge, Wiltshire, during normal working hours between 9am and 5pm free of charge.

Relevant documents and background papers will generally be available alongside the forward plan. However, in some cases, such as when legal advice is contained or they are commercially sensitive, they will not be made publically available.

Ask for a copy of Wiltshire Council’s work plan:

01225 713018

[email protected]


UK -wide referendum Everyone aged 18 and over will soon get the chance to have their say on plans to change the voting system for electing MPs.

A nationwide referendum will be held on 5 May 2011.

The referendum will be staged in a similar way to the elections and you can vote by post or at your local polling station.

For more information on how to apply for a postal vote or to ensure you are on the electoral register, contact Wiltshire Council’s electoral services team on:

0300 456 0112

[email protected]

www.wiltshire.gov.uk/elections

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Bank holiday waste and recycling

Don’t forget you can recycle your Easter egg packaging! Foil can be placed in the black box for recycling and cardboard can be taken to any of the household recycling centres, or many of the mini recycling centres dotted around the county.

Remember, your waste and recycling collections may change due to the bank holidays over Easter. Check your collection calendar online at www.wiltshire.gov.uk or look out for a leaflet about the changes with your council tax information.

Household recycling centres are open throughout Easter, but they will be busy! Residents may like to choose a quieter time to visit, such as week day afternoons.

0300 456 0102



Council 23

24

This magazine is produced by Wiltshire Council; it is printed on recycled paper and delivered at a cost of 16 pence an issue.

If you would like to contact someone about the magazine, you are welcome to:

email: [email protected]

telephone: 01225 713114

write to: Wiltshire Council County Hall Bythesea Road Trowbridge BA14 8JN

Information about Wiltshire Council services can be made available on request in other languages including BSL and formats such as large print and audio. Please contact the council by telephone 0300 456 0100, by textphone 01225 712500, or email [email protected]

تغالو ( يةعماسوأضيرعط خبت ماولعم ) لكاشبأك لذوريشتليويةدلبسلجمت مادخلوحت ماولعمىلعل وصحلا،بلطلاد نع، نكميمقرلاىلع ( نوفت سكيت ) يصنلالصاتالالالخن مو أ٠ ٠٠١٠٦٥٤٠٠٣مقرلاىلعية دلبلاسلجمبل صاتالاءجارلا . فةلتخم

[email protected] : يلتالاناونعلاىلعي نورتكلالاديربلباوأ )٥٢٢١٠ ) ٧ ٠٠٥٢١

如果有需要我們可以使用其他形式（例如：大字體版本或者錄音帶）或其他語言版本向您提供有關

威爾特郡政務會各項服務的資訊，敬請與政務會聯繫，電話： 0300 456 0100，文本電話：01225 712500，或者發電子郵件至：[email protected]

Na yczenie udostpniamy informacje na temat usług oferowanych przez władze samorzdowe hrabstwa Wiltshire (Wiltshire Council) w innych formatach (takich jak duym drukiem lub w wersji audio) i w innych jzykach. Prosimy skontaktowa si z władzami samorzdowymi pod numerem telefonu 0300 456 0100 lub telefonu tekstowego (01225) 712500 bd za porednictwem poczty elektronicznej na adres: [email protected]

Documents

Your Wiltshire March 2011