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
