Parks Councillor Swindon - What have I been doing?

The Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment, a bit of a mouthful but it seems to be basically looking at identifing potential housing sites. Although they do say it should not be taken as representing either an intention to allocate these sites for housing, it has got to be worth giving them your opinion about sites which you have have concerns about.
It is a public consultation from 9 March 2009 to 20 April 2009. I have written expressing my concern about the lack of parking we already have and also how we lack open space more than any other ward. Steve Allsopp has wriiten too I know. Please have a look and give them your opinions.

There are community grants available

Grassroots Grants

Grassroots Grants are there to -
To support new community activity contributing to the Swindon Borough Council's and the communities' priorities
To provide activities and amenities that improve the quality of people's lives
To improve the connections and links between Swindon Borough Council's councillors and local communities
To assist small organisations to develop themselves

Any 'small group' can apply, which has:

A management group
A governing document (e.g. constitution, statement of aims and objectives)
A bank account
A small group is one having a turnover of less than £50,000 per annum.

There is info here if you want to apply or know of a group it may help.

An update I recently received about the potential reduction in Council housing rent :-

Council Rents Increases 2009-10

The Government announced on Friday 6th March that financial support would be made available to assist Councils cut their planned rent increases due to the current economic climate. The Government is aiming to halve the average guideline rent increase it issues from 6.2% to 3.1%.

Tenants however will need to be patient in waiting for the rent reduction. The Council has already issued its rent increases for 2009/10 and we are waiting for further Government guidance before we are able to implement the rent reduction. The
reduction will apply to rent only and not other charges, eg garages, heating, neighbourhood wardens.

It is likely to be several months before we are in a position to reduce the rents, initially waiting for Government guidance. Current legislation requires housing authorities to give tenants four weeks notice of any variation in their rent. It is also a complex matter to adjust rent levels, as computer systems will require updating. Housing Benefit will need to be recalculated and new rent cards will have to be issued.

In the meantime tenants must continue to pay their rent in line with their existing rent increase letters that are effective from 6th April 2009. When changes are applied to the rent accounts it will be adjusted back to the start of the new rent year (6th April 2009) and tenants will not end up being charged more than they should.

I'll let you know as and when I hear anymore, hopefully good news
Finally my email has changed, I can now be contacted on howardsr@btinternet.com

Did you see Michael Wills article in the Adver here. A number of people have raised the issue with me via email & when I've been out and about. If we are successful in our bid it would great to see a reduction in the rent for many. From what I hear the council is looking into it, information is still coming in, so no definate desision has been made. But so far as I understand it everyone is keen to bid for the extra money, watch this space....

I've also been busy elsewhere. Last week I met up with the local Police at the library to talk about the new police pledge. You can now type in your postcode here or text the word PLEDGE & your postcode to 66101 and you will receive a text back with info on your local police team.

Yesterday I went out with a housing officer Sarah and a neighbourhood warden Joan on their normal walkabout in Park South. 16 points were noted down by Sarah, the wardens had quite a few and I had 5 things to follow up which has kept me busy since I got back. Issues noted included illegal parking, untidy gardens, repairs to walls, and lack of litter bins. The wardens and the Housing officer go on walk about around the Parks regularly, I will try and join them again. It was great to be able to talk about issues and share information.

Last week I went to the latest Citizenship Ceremony, about 35 people from many different nationalities became British citizens and had a celebration, it was great. The ceremony involved pledging alliegance to the country and the queen, the National athem was sung and there was details of versus I didn't even know! I also learnt all about the history of Swindons coat of arms too. Everyone had their photo taken with the mayor, and was given a commemorative medal.

We are still working to do all we can to save the libraries and park & ride. Casework is still coming in, a great deal of mould around causing problems with families with young children. Also problems with some repairs, uncollected plastic bottle bags and a car having been damaged. It's very varied!

I was there yesterday, and we had two visitors

Casework is coming thick and fast at the moment, the latest things I am working on behalf of residents are : -

- The parking still yet to happen in Studland Close

- Leaking toilet and shower I got onto that one very quickly!

- Someone threatened with eviction as the benefits system is taking so long to sort out his claim. On this I have heard many times how papers taken in are lost so the claim has been delayed, has this ever happened to you or someone you know? Let me know Email - howards@zoom.co.uk as I am keen to keep an eye on this.

- Questions about how we managed the snow as a Council, snow plough unable to negotiate speed humps and lack of gritting.

- A query about the underpass at Kirby going.

- The new bus routes/ times causing some issues.

And

- Two issues about the recent allocation of school places

So it's all go

We are also still trying to do all we can to save the Gorsehill & Even Swindon libraries, I can't understand why the spending on hospitality has not been reviewed and surely spending £1.4m on advertising is too much if we can't keep local services?

I went into Swindon dance and had a chat about how they will manage with the budget cut. It was great to hear of the work done in getting dance into the community through schools, and the group for able bodied and the disabled working on performances together. But depressing to hear of things having to stop; including reduced rates for those on low income. I believe the arts should be for all, not based on ability to pay. I accept this can't always be the case, but we had a good thing in Swindon, it was inclusive, it was well used and now we are at risk of losing it.

Did you see this ? Since we have our own parking problems and I could see this working in some of our roads, I think it is worth looking into, what do you think?

I also dropped in on the International Womens Day event yesterday at Broadgreen, I have to confess I avoided the exercise! There was a good turnout and everyone was chatting to each other. It's not on the Adver site yet but here's a link to what Anne Snelgrove MP has to say on the day.

Just off to cook Chilli, it's my daughters 15th birthday meal, I'd have preferred a roast but it's not my choice!