Summer 2024 Holiday Activity and Food Programme

Posted on By Pauline

Dear Families,

On 17 June at midday the Summer Holiday Activity and Food Programme’s website will be ready to view. The website link is here https://gloucestershirehaf.com/cotswold-district-haf/

Cotswolds HAF Community Connector: Bloodhound Education 0208 150 3767 ✉ accounts@bloodhoundeducation.com  9.30am- 2.30pm Monday to Friday – Kirsty & Nishani

In Cirencester Bloodhound Engineering, Sportily, Go Wild Open to All activities,

Across the district in Bourton = School of Larks and Go Wild with World Jungle / in Tetbury = Tetbury Youth (TAYTC), Go Wild with World Jungle / in Stow = Cotswold Active Camps, Go Wild with World Jungle / Moreton = Bloodhound Engineering, Cotswold Active Camps, / Chipping Campden = Go Wild with World Jungle, Fairford = More Go Wild and Working for Wellbeing events.

We will have tickets for The Kitchen Club where you can make food from scratch, guided family walks, Horses for Wellbeing, Batsford Aboretum and Westonbirt Aboretum, Giffords Circus and Cotswold Farm Park. We stagger the release of some activities so that everyone will get the opportunity to do more activities and we are still waiting on confirmation from some activity providers but as soon as these are confirmed they will be on the website. We will have activities in other areas too and please also be aware that we only have a limited number of places, but keep an eye on the website for activities as they are released.

We look forward to seeing you at the Holiday Activity and Food Programme activities in a few weeks’ time.

The Cotswold Holiday Activities and Food Programme Team

Northleach’s Waste Collection Day Is Changing

Posted on By Pauline

Press release from Cotswold District Council:

Cotswold District Council has announced it is changing the waste collection days for 60 per cent of households in the district as the local authority drives for greater efficiency within its waste and recycling service.

The new collection rounds, which will start from week commencing 24 June 2024, are projected to deliver cost-savings of £375k in the current budget year with annual savings of £500k annually thereafter.

As part of the new collection schedules households may see a change to their collection day or the week on which their waste and recycling is collected, or both. Collections may also take place at a different time during the day, even for those who are not having a date change.

The District Council is assuring residents that they will continue to receive the same level of service and is starting the process of notifying those affected this week (commencing 27 May).

Councillor Mike Evemy, Cabinet Member for Finance, including waste and recycling, at Cotswold District Council, said: “Changing our collection rounds will make sure we meet the demand for waste and recycling services as household numbers in our district increase and ensure we continue do this in the most efficient and cost-effective way possible.

“We’re asking residents to look out for the introductory flyer which will be sent at the end of May to those affected by the changes. This will be followed up with new waste calendars and letters explaining what the changes mean for those households, which should arrive on doormats by 13 June. Properties that receive no communication from us in the post will not be changing.

“However, whether they are changing or not, households may find that their collections take place earlier or later in the day than they are accustomed to due to the new routes crews will be taking. Because of this, we’re reminding all residents to put their containers out by 7am to make sure they don’t miss their collections.

“We spend more on waste and recycling than any other service and like other councils across the country we are facing financial challenges, so it’s vital that we spend our money wisely. The money we save here will help us protect other vital services.

“These latest cost-savings have been made possible by our investment in the onboard technology used by collection crews which has allowed us to understand collections routes better and identify opportunities to make the service more efficient.”

While most households with a bin day change will receive their first main waste collection after 24 June earlier than under their current collection schedule, there will be delays for some. During the changeover, 28% of those having a collection day change will experience a delay of either one or two days. However, 17% of households that are changing will have to wait longer than 12 working days between their main collections as they move over to their new schedule.

To support these households, the Council is offering an additional collection of waste and recycling, and garden waste for those who subscribe, details of which will be outlined in the letter to be sent out in June.

The reorganisation of the collection rounds is likely to reduce the overall mileage waste vehicles need to travel, so should deliver important environmental benefits too.

More information about the changes, including a list of Frequently Asked Questions and a ‘look up’ tool enabling residents to check their future collection dates online, can be found online: www.cotswold.gov.uk/bindaychange.

 

Police & Crime Comissioner Election in Gloucestershire – Statement of Persons Nominated

Posted on By Pauline

The Statement of Persons Nominated and Notice of Poll for the election of a Police and Crime Commissioner for Gloucester local area has been published.

The deadline for requesting a postal vote for this election has now passed. Electors may request a proxy vote up to 5pm on Wednesday 24 April and this is the same date for anyone needing a Voter Authority Certificate if they don’t have acceptable photo ID.

A list of acceptable photo ID can be found on the Electoral Commission’s website:
www.electoralcommission.org.uk/voting-and-elections/voter-id/accepted-forms-photo-id

Polling stations will be open from 7am until 10pm on Thursday 2 May.

Check your poll card for details of your local polling station. The local polling place in Northleach is The Westwoods Centre, Basset Road, GL54 3QJ. 

Holiday Activities in Cotswold District Spring 2024

Posted on By Pauline

Information from Cotswold District Council:

For Holiday and Food Programmes in Spring, Summer and Winter 2024, there are lots of activities on offer including Circus, Fundays, Forest School Days, Holiday camps and more ….

Activities go on view before going live on the Children’s Activities Booking System (CABS) and our website on the following dates:

Spring view 4th March – Go Live 11th March
Summer view 17th June – Go Live 1st July
Winter view 18th Nov – Go Live 2nd Dec

To find out more visit: gloucestershirehaf.com.

Once bookings go live, if you need help with bookings or transport, please contact the community connectors Bloodhound Education on email: accounts@bloodhoundeducation.com.

Changes to Parliamentary Boundaries in the Cotswolds

Posted on By Pauline

Press release from Cotswold District Council:

Changes to parliamentary boundaries across the Cotswold District to come into effect for next General Election.

The Boundary Commission for England has completed a review of Parliamentary constituencies which will impact communities in the Cotswold District at the next General Election.

Changes to the Parliamentary boundaries mean that Cotswold District will now form part of two parliamentary constituencies, rather than the one it currently does.

North Cotswolds constituency (70,915 voters) will be formed of Cotswold, Tewkesbury and Stroud district wards.

South Cotswolds constituency (72,856 voters) will be formed of the Cotswold and Wiltshire local authority areas and one ward (Kingswood) from the Stroud district.

The changes were approved at the end of 2023 meaning they will come into effect for the next General Election. The two-year review process included a number of statutory public consultations, where more than 60,000 representations were made.

The changes do not affect the boundaries for any wards for local council elections and will have no impact on council services.

The full report from the Boundary Commission including the final recommendations has been published here: https://boundarycommissionforengland.independent.gov.uk/2023-review/

Cotswold District Council’s Returning Officer and Chief Executive, Robert Weaver, said: “Although these changes alter the Parliamentary constituency that you live in, they do not affect which council area you live in, nor the services you receive. Your councillors will remain the same and it will not affect future council elections.

“At the next general election, all registered voters will be sent information saying which parliamentary constituency they are part of, and residents can look up their new constituencies on the Boundary Commission website.”

Maps can be found via the links below:

North Cotswolds constituency
South Cotswolds constituency

Every constituency must contain between 69,724 and 77,062 electors. The number of constituencies in England has increased from 533 to 543 and the number of constituencies in the South West has increased from 55 to 58.

Have Your Say On Parking in Cotswold District

Posted on By Pauline

Press release from Cotswold District Council:

Cotswold residents are invited to give their views on parking in the district as Cotswold District Council launches its consultation on current parking provision.

Take the survey

The consultation, which runs until 26 February 2024, builds on the current parking strategy which was updated in 2016. Since 2016 several factors have influenced transport and parking behaviours, such as the climate agenda, the Coronavirus pandemic, the cost-of-living crisis, and the wider economy.  

Cllr Tony Dale, Cabinet Member for the Economy and Council Transformation said, “We want to hear from residents as well as business owners about parking in the Cotswold district. Your views will enable us to develop a parking strategy that is fit for our car park users. 

“We want to know where you park, the purpose of your visit and what could be improved about specific car parks, among other things. It’s really important we hear from those who know the car parks best and we’d appreciate any feedback you have.” 

The Council’s car parking strategy looks at what car parking is needed across the district based on the number of people parking, what the needs of those people are and what might be required in future. 

Once complete, the new strategy will set out how parking can be improved across the district that the Council will then look to deliver in partnership with the County Council, local parish councils and other organisations where possible. 

Find out more and take part in the consultation >>