December 2009

Change to Closing Time on Fridays

From week commencing 4 January the Customer Service Centre will close at 4.30pm on Fridays instead on 5pm, the change follows a review of the times that customer contact the Council.

Invitation to Parish Councils to Discuss the 2010/11 Budget

The Leader of the Council, George Beckett, is inviting Parish Councils to discuss Cabinet's proposals for the 2010/11 Council Budget. As in previous years the meeting is also an opportunity to discuss other matters of common concern, including the progress on Beyond 2010 - The Vision for our Organisation's Future. The meeting will be held on Wednesday 27 January at 6pm in the Walton Room, Guildhall, Winchester. If you are interested in attending please contact Bee Ambrose via email bambrose@winchester.gov.uk, or call her on 01962 848 313.

Rural affordable housing schemes at Littleton and Swanmore complete on target

Two rural affordable housing projects developed in partnership with HARAH (Hampshire Alliance for Rural Affordable Housing) have just been completed in the villages of Littleton and Swanmore, providing much needed homes for local people. The projects have been built as an exception to Winchester Local Plan policies, to meet the housing needs of people with a strong local connection to the parish. Littleton A parish based housing needs survey in 2003 identified a significant number of local households in need of affordable housing. The site at Main Road was chosen after a lengthy process to consider possible exception sites around Littleton. Twelve homes have been built on the site at Main Road - comprising two 4 bedroom homes, 2 with 3 bedrooms, 4 with 2 bedrooms and 4 with 1 bedroom. Swanmore Swanmore Parish Council identified the need for affordable homes for local people back in 2002, and this was confirmed by the number of households with a local connection to the parish on the Housing Register. As a result fourteen homes have been built on the site at Dodds Lane - comprising one 4 bedroom home, 4 with 3 bedrooms, 5 with 2 bedrooms and 4 with 1 bedroom.

Brighter future beckons with contract for South Coast Streetlighting PFI

The contract for the biggest streetlighting project in the country has been signed this week by Hampshire County Council, West Sussex County Council and Southampton City Council in a unique partnership. Work to replace and maintain 250,000 streetlights across Hampshire, West Sussex and Southampton in a £225 million 25-year private finance initiative (PFI) will be carried out by Tay Valley Lighting Ltd, using its subsidiary contractor Southern Electric Contracting (SEC).   Hampshire’s 50% stake in the project will see the replacement or updating of 150,000 street lights, illuminated signs and bollards with the latest energy efficient equipment during the first five years of the project. The focus for the following 20 years will be on maintaining and operating the new lights to a high standard, with Hampshire County Council’s monitoring team keeping a check on project delivery and operations.  The benefits of the massive PFI project include: investment in the most up to date, energy efficient equipment more efficient use of energy – with a potential reduction in current levels improved visibility and reduced light pollution at night safer streets and reduced crime fewer burning hours and dimming lights by 25% to reduce carbon emissions,  with the ability to dim further All lighting stock over 15 years old will be replaced on a like for like basis with white fluorescent light in residential areas, giving greater clarity and representation of colour and features. Carbon emissions will be reduced through the introduction of remote lighting management, with a central control room having the ability to change lighting times and levels. And as faults can also be automatically registered, there should be no more need for staff driving around looking for problems. Research shows that better street lighting helps improve road safety, as well as reducing crime and the fear of crime. The terms of the contract address environmental issues and carbon reduction or energy savings, and although the lighting will be greatly improved there will be no increase in energy use.

£2million rural funding going where it is needed

The Fieldfare Local Action Group has reported good progress in its remit to award grants from its £2m ‘pot’ of LEADER funding for the Winchester and East Hampshire areas. Andrew Gordon, Chair of the Local Action Group (LAG), announced: “The LAG has been ‘in business’ for just nine months, but so far we have offered over £330,000 of grant funding to support 20 projects across the two districts. We are already receiving positive feedback about the difference that this funding has made to people’s quality of life and the long term viability of their rural business” The Programme Manager, Ken Brown, has been helping local farmers, foresters, rural businesses and tourism providers to explore how the Fieldfare LEADER funding opportunity might be able to help them get their project ideas off the ground.  Find out more information about LEADER log onto www.winchester.gov.uk/leaderfunding or contact Ken Brown on 01962 848 588 or email kbrown@winchester.gov.uk

Sweet Success for Winchester Confectionary Shop

A Winchester based shop has been the first successful applicant for a Winchester City Council business start up grant. The Sweet Treat Company on City Road has been allocated the funding to help them broaden their appeal to a wider audience. It received the first part of a £1,000 grant, and will be eligible to request the second instalment after six months. The funding will help them market their confectionary range to more people by making better use of the internet. The Council has allocated funds for start up grants as part of its recession-busting activities for the whole Winchester District. It is keen to encourage entrepreneurship to sustain a healthy and diverse local economy during the current economic downturn. Other measures include training, marketing, rate relief and providing jobs for the long term unemployed through the Future Jobs Fund. To apply for the business start up grant, contact Business Link on 0845 600 9 006 or email info@businesslinkhampshireiow.co.uk. To find out more about Winchester City Council grant schemes, go to www.winchester.gov.uk/businessgrants or contact Kate Crawford by email kcrawford@winchester.gov.uk or telephone 01962 848 563.

Winchester District Sports Awards 2009

The Winchester District Sport and Physical Activity Alliance (SPAA) held its second annual sports awards at Winchester Guildhall on Thursday 3 December. Local Olympic star, Julia Beckett, was on hand to present the 12 awards to local sporting heroes alongside the Mayor of Winchester, Cllr Dominic Hiscock. There was also a guest presentation and inspirational speech by Rod Carr OBE, Chief Executive of the Royal Yachting Association.   This year’s winners were: Junior Sportsman – Richard Humby – Athletics (Polevault) Junior Sportswoman – Amy Middleton - Gymnastics Senior Sportswoman – Caroline Brownlie – Target Shooting Masters Sportsman – Rory Fitzgerald - Swimming Male Coach – David Vosser - Athletics Female Coach – Patricia Francis - Gymnastics Senior Volunteer – Anne Burridge - Cricket Junior Volunteer – George Mann – Multi Sport Junior Team – St Cross Cricket U13s - Cricket Senior Team – Hampshire Thrashers – American Football Male Service to Sport – David Chiswell - Tennis Female Service to Sport – Sue Coles - Cycling

Upcoming Meetings
Licensing Sub-Committee - Walton Room, Guildhall, Winchester		4 January 09:30
Licensing Sub-Committee - Wykeham Room, Guildhall, Winchester		5 January 18:30
Council - Conference Chamber, Guildhall, Winchester		6 January 19:00
Planning Development Control Committee - Walton Room, Guildhall, Winchester		7 January 09:30
Winchester Town Safer Neighbourhood Panel - Saxon Suite, Guildhall, Winchester		12 January 19:00
Cabinet - Walton Room, Guildhall, Winchester		13 January 10:00
Principal Scrutiny Committee - Walton Room, Guildhall, Winchester		18 January 18:30
Winchester Town Forum - Walton Room, Guildhall, Winchester		20 January 18:30
Standards Committee - Walton Room, Guildhall, Winchester		25 January 18:15
Licensing and Regulation Committee - Walton Room, Guildhall, Winchester		26 January 18:30
Planning Development Control Committee - Walton Room, Guildhall, Winchester		28 January 09:30

Recent Press Releases

Businesses given chance to guide Council budgets

Council responds to BT’s phone box proposals

£2million rural funding going where it is needed

Sweet success for Winchester confectionary shop

Something Old, Something New

Free disability awareness course for local traders

City Council performing well in assessment

Keep in Touch
The are a variety of ways for you to keep in touch with Winchester City Council  Twitter - http://twitter.com/winchestercity  Facebook - Winchester City Council		Corporate Communications Winchester City Council City Offices Colebrook Street Winchester Hampshire SO23 9LJ Tel: 01962 848 504 Tel: 01962 848 251 communications@winchester.gov.uk

All rights reserved. All content ©2009 Winchester Council.You may To unsubscribe or change your details click here , or visit your account page to change your subscription. Alternatively, you might want to Forward this email to a friend if you think it may be of interest to them.