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Rochford District MattersAutumn 2013

Designed & Published by:

Rochford District Council

Editor: Leona Murray-Green

(01702 546366)

Printed by:

Morton Print Ltd

(01507 523456)

This publication is available in audio format by contacting 01702 546366 or you can listen via our website at www.rochford.gov.uk/rdm

Community

Pay Day Lenders

Community

Flooding

Community

Family Theatre and

Sports Awards

People

Online Access to

Service

Community

Annual Voter

Registration Canvass

In Focus

Budget Survey

Safer District

Fire Alarms

Working Together

Annual Report

15

5

4

3

2

16

8

10

Inside

MattersAutumn 2013www.rochford.gov.uk

Rochford District

Also inside

Rochford

District

Matters...

Independents’ Day for

local businesses – p7Meet the new Chief

Executive – p8

Recycling Champion

Announced – p12

Golden ticket foundRochford District resident BarbaraSpratt is the lucky winner of ourrecycling competition, ‘Message ina Bottle’.

Barbara from Hullbridge won thecompetition by putting the specialgolden ticket from the last edition ofRochford District Matters into hernormal glass bottle recycling. Shewas awarded her £50 prize by theCouncil’s Recycling Mascot, Maxthe Dragon.

To show just how good you are atrecycling, according to provisionalfigures, the District is on target tobe the best in England. Accordingto letsrecycle.com, RochfordDistrict Council tops the leaguetable in recycling, composting andreuse for England in 2012/13.

We will find out if the prediction isright when the official figures arereleased by the Department forEnvironment, Food and RuralAffairs (DEFRA) in November.

Barbara Spratt, Max the Dragonand Barry Saunders, Street SceneManager

Your Council, Your Services, Your SayThe Council is asking you to have your say on some of the most

important decisions it has to take over the next 12 months.

Budget Survey pages 9-11

get online at www.rochford.gov.uk�

2

� Find out more by visiting www.rochford.gov.uk

Beware of Payday lenders The Citizens Advice Bureau arewarning residents about theperils of Payday lenders.

Payday lenders are dammingpeople to debt by failing to carryout checks to make sure borrowerscan afford to repay the loan, saysRochford & Rayleigh CitizensAdvice Bureau.

New figures from the nationalCitizens Advice payday loan trackerfound 65% of people did not getasked about their financial situation– leading to 7 in 10 not being ableto pay back the loan. This goesagainst pledges the payday loanindustry made in its customercharter launched on 26 November2012.

The figures also found thatcustomers who weren’t askedaffordability questions and hadrepayment problems were furtherlet down by lenders as:

● 6 in 7 did not offer to freezeinterest and charges when theborrower agreed repayments;

● 71% did not explain how much itwill cost to extend the loan;

● 84% did not treat peoplesympathetically.

During the same time period over11,000 people sought online helpfrom Citizens Advice about paydayloans. In the last four yearsCitizens Advice Bureaux have seena ten-fold increase in payday loans.For advice on maximising yourincome, see our helpful guide onon how to spend less onwww.adviceguide.org.uk.

Sue Murray, District Manager ofRochford & Rayleigh CitizensAdvice Bureau said:

“Day in day out we see peoplebattling with payday loan debts.

Many have been able to take out aloan despite it being quite clearfrom their finances that they’llstruggle to pay it back. It’s verydisappointing that payday lendersare not asking borrowers abouttheir financial situation to see ifthey are able to repay the loanespecially given they have vowedto do so.

Payday lenders need to take theirpledge to treat people fairlyseriously by and making sure theycheck the loan is affordable andhelp those who struggle to payback the loan.”

If you are having problemsrepaying a payday loan, pleasecontact Rochford & Rayleigh CABfor advice on 0844 4770808.

Community

Autumn 2013

Volunteering is a great way to meetnew people and gain new skills aswell as give something back to thelocal community. The involvment ofvolunteers is often vital to thesmooth running and operation of acommunity group or charity.

RRAVS accredited VolunteerCentre provides support to thoselooking to volunteer and for theorganisations, projects and communityactivities looking for volunteers. It isentirely up to you how much timeyou can offer, although someorganisations require a minimumtime commitment, but pleaseremember any time you can giveas a volunteer is valued.

What can you do?There are a wide range ofopportunities to choose from such as:

• Befriending• Social Clubs• Driving• Fundraising

• Office and Administrative Work• Sport

.... And a whole lot more!

Why not give us a call to find outmore, or email (details below)You can also visit the nationalvolunteering database,www.do-it.org. RRAVS VolunteerCentre uploads all of its latestvolunteering opportunities to thissite. When on the home page ofthe do-it website, just search foryour nearest Volunteer Centre byputting in your postcode and fromthere you will be able to view all ofour available opportunities.

We look forward to hearing from you.

Rayleigh, Rochford and DistrictAssociation for Voluntary Service105a High Street, Rayleigh, Essex, SS6 7QA

www.rravs.org.uk

[email protected]

phone: 01268 772796

Rayleigh, Rochford and DistrictAssociation for VoluntaryService (RRAVS) has a widerange of support on offer acrossthe Rochford District.

RRAVS is once again running theirLAPTTOP courses which aim tohelp over 25’s learn computingskills in a relaxed atmosphere.

LAPTTOP can help you with abeginners computer course, homevisits and a link to RochfordComputer Club all in a relaxedatmosphere.

Among the skills the courseteaches are:

• How to visit websites that youhave seen on television

• How to send emails with photosattached

• How to transfer photos fromcameras to computers

• Learn about internet shopping

LAPTTOP

Contact RRAVS on 01268 772796

or email [email protected]

Could you use LAPTTOP?Hands up to Volunteer!

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The Met Office will give warnings;these are circulated through themedia via weather forecasts.

If the rain is likely to lead toflooding related to rivers, theEnvironment Agency will issuewarnings. Their responsibilityextends to other “critical ordinarywatercourses”, which includesmany of the main streams andsome main ditches. Most ditchesare the responsibility of theland owner.

Essex County Council is the leadlocal flood authority and has a rolein overseeing the management oflocal flood risk, including:

Groundwater flooding –caused when heavy or prolongedrainfall makes the groundwatertable rise above its normal level

Surface water (rainfall) runoff –flows from, or over, surfaces such

as roads, roofs and patios thatcannot easily absorb water

Ordinary watercourses (streams and ditches) –channels which cannot containlarge volumes of surface waterrunoff during or after heavy rain

Anglian Water have responsibilityfor the removal of waste water viathe sewerage system.

Sand bags have a limited effect inprotecting properties during flashflooding as they need to be storedon the premises in advance of theevent. They can be obtained fromcommercial outlets and sandpurchased from builders merchants.

The Emergency Services willrespond in the best way they canto protect life during an incident.

Flooding on the roads is theresponsibility of Essex Highways.

Where people have to leave theirproperties; the responsibility forrehousing social housing tenantslies with the relevant housingassociation. Those in privatehomes will need to make their ownarrangements, but would look totheir insurance companies toassist. There may be cases wherepeople become homeless, in whichcase they would be helped byRochford District Council. Wherelarge numbers of people have beenevacuated the Council will use itsemergency arrangements toprovide temporary accommodationand care.

Rochford District Council willwork with its residents during therecovery phase to provideappropriate services. For example,the removal of flood contaminatedcarpets and furniture and advice onpossible Council Tax relief

Environment

Autumn 2013

Floods can happen anywhere atanytime, caused by rising groundwater, overwhelmed drainagesystems, hillside run off due tosudden heavy rain as well asflooding from rivers and the sea.Even if you live miles from thecoast or a river, flooding can affectyou. Prepare for flooding byfollowing a few small steps toreduce the impact of flooding onyour home:

• Find out if you live in an area atrisk from sea or river floodingand sign up to floodline direct, afree service that provideswarnings direct to you by phone,mobile, SMS, e-mail or fax, visitwww.environment-agency.gov.ukor call 0845 9881188 for furtherinformation.

• Make a flood plan – know howto turn off gas, water andelectricity supplies

• have a flood kit, torch, wind upradio, important telephonenumbers, bottled water

• think about what can be movedto a safe place now (photoalbums, family videos, treasureditems)

• think about what you would wantto move to safety if flooding isforecast (cars, pets, furniture)

• Protect your property fromflooding – while it is impossibleto completely flood proof aproperty, there are lots of thingsyou can do to reduce flooddamage by preventing ordelaying water entering yourproperty.

A range of guides can be found atwww.environment-agency.gov.uk orby calling 0845 9881188 to helpyou prepare.

Flood Action Planning Further information and contacts:

For information on severe weather warnings

www.metoffice.gov.uk 0870 900 0100

For general advice on flood risk, register for flood

alerts and warnings

www.environment-agency.gov.uk

0845 988 1188

National Flood Forum for downloadable leaflets on

flood protection, products and services

www.floodforum.org.uk 01299 403 055

Essex Highways

www.essexhighways.org

0845 606 7631 (urgent and 24hr contact)

Association of British Insurers

www.abi.org.uk 020 7600 3333.

Who helps with flooding?

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Community

Autumn 2013

It’s all at your leisure

Rochford and Castle Point Sports Awards 2013 sponsored by Virgin Active

A new monthly programme ofprofessional family theatre haslaunched at the Mill Arts & EventsCentre in Rayleigh.

Rochford District Council ArtsDevelopment has teamed up withVirgin Active to bring some greattouring shows to Rayleigh.

This new offer for families followspilot theatre events that took placeearlier this year and a consultationcarried out with local residents.The pilot events sold out quickly,and the big messages that camethrough the consultation was thatparents and carers wanted fun and

educational entertainment, that waslocal and affordable.

The full line-up of shows through toMarch 2014 can be found atwww.rochford.gov.uk/arts andincludes

� Arthur’s Dream Boat

� Beauty and the Beast

� The Sorcerer’s Apprentice

� Sally and the Sunflower

� The Three Billy Pigs.

Tickets for all shows are on sale now and cost just £3.50

each by calling Rochford District Council’s Customer

Services Team 01702 318191 (office hours only).

Theatre fun for the whole family

The 6th annual Sports Awardsceremony will take place onWednesday 23 October at The MillArts & Events Centre in Rayleigh.

London 2012 Bronze MedallistChloe Rogers (pictured) will be ourguest speaker and awards will bemade in the following categories:

Sports Personality of the Year,sponsored by Wells Legal Solicitors

Disability Sports Personality ofthe Year, sponsored by Waters &Stanton PLC

Young Sports Personality of theYear, sponsored by SouthendUnited Community & EducationalTrust

Sports Club of the Year,sponsored by the Essex LeopardsBasketball Club

Services to Sport, sponsored byThe Co-operative Funeralcare

Rochford and Castle Point 2012Respect Award, sponsored byAffinity 1777

Thank you to all our sponsors andto BBC Essex for their support.

Deadline for nominations

30 September 2013.

To nominate or for further

information please go to

www.rochford.gov.uk/sportsawards

or phone the Rochford District

Council Leisure Team on

01702 318121

Useful information for Revenues and Benefits customers


5


24/7 access to our services

Council Tax discount for carers

Revenues and Benefits have beenworking hard to update our sectionof Rochford District Councils websitemaking it easier for customers tofind out about our services.

The new pages are informative,user friendly and help customers tohelp themselves.

By visiting our website you can useour online services to:

● view your Council Tax, Business Rates or Housing Benefit accounts

● report a move

● make payments

● sign up for Direct Debits andPaperless Billing

● download application forms andadvice leaflets

The qualifying criteria for a CouncilTax carers discount changed fromApril 2013.

If you are providing care to some-one who is not your spouse, civilpartner or child under the age of 18you may be entitled to claim a

discount to help reduce yourCouncil Tax bill.

To qualify you must be providingcare to a person who is entitled toeither:

● Attendance Allowance,

● the highest or middle rate of thecare component of a DisabilityLiving Allowance,

● an increased rate ofDisablement Pension, or

● an increase in constantAttendance Allowance; and

You must also live in the sameproperty as the person who you arecaring for and provide care for atleast 35 hours a week on average.

For more information or to requestan application form call us on01702 318197 or 01702 318198

Offering a helping hand

If you are getting Council TaxSupport and are struggling to payyour Council Tax we have adedicated officer, Laura Poole, whocan offer help and advice. You can:

• call her on 01702 318089

• visit her at the Council Offices,South Street, Rochford between8.30am-5pm Monday to Friday

• request a home visit if you find itdifficult to get out

If you are worried about yourfinancial health visitwww.moneyadviceservice.org.ukor call them on 0300 500 5000between 8am-8pm. The MoneyAdvice Service offer free,independent financial advice andcan help with:

• managing your money better

• reviewing or reducing borrowing

• money saving tips

• Universal Credit and otherbenefits

• work and money

• bank accounts and credit anddebit cards

People

Autumn 2013

you can find out:

● how to use our online services

● how your bill is calculated

● how to pay

● what happens if you don’t pay

● what to do if you are moving

● about discounts and exemptions

● about Local Council Tax Support

● how to appeal

● how to contact us

you can find out:


● how to make a claim

● about Welfare Reform changes

● about Discretionary HousingPayments

● about overpaid Housing Benefit

● how to report suspected Fraud

● how to appeal


you can find out:


● how to pay

● what happens if you don’t pay

● about moving

● how to reduce your bill

● how to appeal


www.rochford.gov.uk/

counciltax


benefits


businessrates

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It’s never ‘bin’ easier!Reporting a problem with your binshas never been easier. Whateverthe day or time you can now logonto the Council website and let usknow of any issues you areexperiencing with your waste bins.

Is your bin damaged or missing?then log ontowww.rochford.gov.uk/online_services/report it and complete theonline form.

The forms are user friendly, easy tounderstand and guide you throughthe questions step by step, within acouple of clicks your issue will bereported and a member of our teamwill contact you as soon as they can.

For more information about this orany of our other online formsplease call Customer Services on01702 318111

People

Autumn 2013

www.rochford.gov.uk/online_services/report it

Medical assistance fast

When your child is running a slighttemperature, your elderly parentcomplains of pain, or you havedeveloped a nagging earache, it is

quite often when your doctor’ssurgery is closed. It may not be a999 emergency, but you do need toget help or advice fast. Whatshould you do?

If you live anywhere in south Essex,the answer is dial one easy number.You simply need to call 111.

The NHS 111 number allowspeople to access healthcare forany health problem that is not life-threatening. You can ring the 111number 24 hours a day, 7 days aweek, 365 days a year.

The NHS in south Essex wants toreassure residents that the 111number is working very well in ourarea. NHS 111 staff are dealingquickly and efficiently with a highvolume of calls.

When patients dial 111 they are putthrough to highly trained callhandlers, supported byexperienced nurses or paramedics.They will be clinically assessed andeither given information or referreddirectly to the most appropriateservice which can deal with theirinjury or illness. This may rangefrom dentist, pharmacy, orcommunity service to out-of-hoursGP, or in some cases anambulance.

NHS Castle Point and RochfordClinical Commissioning Group(CCG) commissions the NHS 111service for the people of southEssex. Dr Roger Gardiner, GPmember of Castle Point andRochford CCCG and lead clinicianfor NHS 111 in south Essex, said:

“We would like to reassure localpeople that the service in southEssex is working very well and hasnot encountered the problems

described in the national media.We are confident that the localservice is robust and able to copein a timely manner with thedemands placed upon it. Let meassure patients that 111 is thenumber to call for urgent or out ofhours medical help.”

– it’s as easy as 111

Don’t mess with us!To report a streetscene problem�

Online: www.rochford.gov.uk/streetscene

Email: [email protected]

Phone: 01702 318111


7


Local Economy

Autumn 2013

Independents’ Day 2013

On 4 July 2013 a nationalcampaign, organised by theNational Skills Academy for Retailwas launched which enabled Shopat my Local to champion the localretailers who make RochfordDistrict so special and unique.

Retailers were encouraged to say‘thank you’ to the local shoppers forsupporting them (involvinggiveaways, discounts and cupcakes!).

In addition to this, retailers fromacross the District joined together todemonstrate their community spirit.

Shoppers were encouraged to buyat least 1 item from their local,independent retailer.

Shop at my Local ran a competitionfor its trader members to advertisetheir voucher in the Echonewspaper. The half page advertgave a little taste of what the publiccan receive when they pledge toshop locally atwww.shopatmylocal.com.

Members of the Shop at my LocalSteering Group, local Parish andTown Council members and localbusiness owners were out in force;promoting the local scheme andencouraging shoppers to pledgetheir support for local retailers.

Over 100 people pledged theirsupport on the 4 July, and nowhave access to vouchers, latestoffers and news items.

Following the success ofIndependents’ Day, we are thinkingabout what else Shop at my Local,and local retailers, can do toencourage the public to shoplocally, and to promote ourshopping areas across the District.

Ideas for Empty Shops

The Summer edition of RochfordDistrict Matters provided an articleregarding empty shops, and askedresidents, ‘what can be done tohelp’?

We have already received someideas for improving the situation;Pop Up Shops (where empty shopsare used for a short period), artexhibitions, photography displays,council surgery sessions,temporary recruitment/career fairs,showcasing students work, andcommunity events.

If you have any other thoughts orsuggestions please contact us [email protected].

Small Business Saturday

Small Business Saturday is agrassroots campaign thatencourages people to ‘shop local’and support small businesses intheir communities, both on the dayand beyond.

Small Business Saturday in the UKwill take place on Saturday 7December, one of our busiestshopping days of the year.

American Express will besupporting the campaign on this

side of the pond as well, and theyaren't the only ones! Themovement is already growing, withbacking from the Federation ofSmall Businesses, Forum forPrivate Business, the Associationof Convenience Stores, the BritishChamber of Commerce and theAssociation of Town & CityManagement representinghundreds of thousands of localbusinesses. We’ll be supportingthis and holding events on the dayin your local high streets andshopping areas – why not popalong to join in the fun and supportyour local businesses?

What else could we do to promotethe unique shopping areas that wehave in the Rochford District?If you have any suggestions pleaseemail us [email protected].

Lets keep shopping local

The Districts local

independent businesses

and the Shop at my Local

team joined forces to

celebrate Independents’

Day 2013



Autumn 2013

8 CommunityOur New Chief ExecutiveRochford District Council hasnamed its successor to the existingChief Executive Paul Warren, whowill retire at the end of the year.

Following a rigorous selectionprocess, Amar Dave, who iscurrently Acting Corporate Directorof Environment, Culture andTransport at Reading BoroughCouncil, was selected from morethan 30 applicants for the position.

Mr Dave has been ActingCorporate Director of Environment,Culture and Transport at ReadingBorough Council since 2010. Hehas extensive experience ofmanaging the delivery of frontlinecouncil services includinghighways, transport, planning,environmental, housing, arts andheritage.

Prior to joining Reading BoroughCouncil, Mr Dave has enjoyedsuccess in a number of other high

profile roles with organisationsincluding Stroud District Counciland Amey Facilities Management.

Mr Dave said, “I’m really lookingforward to joining Rochford DistrictCouncil as Chief Executive andworking with staff and councillors tocontinue to deliver the bestpossible services for residents,businesses and visitors right acrossthe District.

I know the Rochford District andthe County well as my wife grew upin Essex and she still has familyliving here. It’s a pleasure to returnto Essex where we can bring upour family”.

Mr Dave is now expected to jointhe Council in mid October, beforethe current Chief Executive, PaulWarren, retires at the end ofDecember 2013.

The Register of Electors ispublished every year following acanvass of all households in theDistrict. This year the canvass willstart in October.

Look out for the form comingthrough your letterbox in Octoberand return it early to avoidreceiving a reminder.

You must, by law, respond to thecanvass form and provide theinformation asked for.

You are not automaticallyregistered, even if anotherdepartment within the council holdsyour details for any other purpose.

Remember you can only vote inelections and referendums if yourname is on the register of electors.

Your credit rating can be affected ifyou aren’t registered where youlive.

Some facts about the voterregistration canvass for RochfordDistrict Council

● Every year at the start of thecanvass we hand deliver over34,000 registration forms

● Last year we had to deliver over15,000 reminder forms. That’s atotal of nearly 50,000 forms.

● In 2012 canvassers knocked on thedoors of nearly 7000 propertiesthat hadn’t returned a form.

Please help us to save yourmoney by returning your formpromptly

If all the details on your form arecorrect you can use the Freephoneservice or the internet to respond.If you prefer to return your form bypost or you have some changes tomake please make sure you sign

and date the form and return to usin the prepaid envelope.

For further information phone theElectoral Registration helpline on01702 318187 or [email protected]

The Annual Voter Registration Canvass

NO CHANGES TO YOUR DETAILS?CONFIRM IN LESS THAN 60 SECONDS BY FREEPHONE OR INTERNET.

Changes to the Edited Register (see below) can alsobe made during your telephone or internet registration

Part One: Part

Two:

And when prompted, please enter BOTH parts of this security code:

RETURN YOUR FORM BY POST IF:

CONFIRM BY INTERNET

CONFIRM BY FREEPHONE0800 197 6192 (24 HOURS)

You are required by law to give the information asked for in this form. You are entitled to register to vote if you are a British, Irish, European

or qualifying Commonwealth citizen (see overleaf for more details). Please complete this form and return it to us as soon as possible.

Previous address (if applicable)If you have moved in the last 6 months

Voter Registration Form Don’t lose your right to vote

PLEASE NOTE: DO NOT RETURN THIS FORM IF YOU HAVE REGISTERED BY FREEPHONE OR INTERNET

If nobody at this address is entitled to register to vote (including you), please tick the appropriate box below and complete part 4 before returning this form.

Property currently emptyBusiness premises

Other reason (please state why)All residents not entitled to vote due totheir nationality (please give nationality)

3. People who are not entitled to register to vote

Remember – if you do not need to make any changes to the information on this form then registering

by internet or freephone is not only the easiest method but also helps your Council to save your money.

STOP! Could you have registered by internet or freephone?

4. Sign here before returning this form

Signed:

Phone no:

Date:

2013

Print name:

Please write in BLOCK LETTERS

SurnameFirst name and middle initials

2. Are there any 16 and 17 year olds living at this address?

EditedRegister

PostalVote

Date of birth

Young adults can vote as soon as they are 18. They should register now. Please list any 16 and 17 year olds.

Please read the notes overleaf before completing this form.

Please write clearly using BLOCK LETTERS.Persons listed below appear on the current register. Cross out any who no

If you will be 70 or over on 17/02/14

If you do not wish to appear on the edited register (see over)

here if you want a postal vote application form (see over)

As shown on passport

SurnameFirst name and middle initials

REF

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

1. What are the details of the people currently living at your address who are 18 or over? Nationality Jury Service

ExemptionEdited

RegisterPostal vote

© Reproduced with kind permission

of the Electoral Commission

Local Government are currentlyfacing some of the most financiallychallenging times in recent history,which means that we have to makedifficult decisions on the servicesand level of service we provide.

As we consider next year’s budget,we would like the views of you as aresident, or business in the District,about what services you would bewilling to see reduced or chargedfor.

For 2014-15, in order to be able tomaintain the Authority's expenditurewithin the income being receivedfrom Government and Council Tax,about £500,000 worth of savingsneed to be identified.



An electronic version of the Survey is also available at the Council’s website – www.rochford.gov.uk

Autumn 2013

9In FocusIt’s time to have your say

Completing the Survey

The Survey on the followingpages should be completed and returned to:

Rochford District CouncilFREEPOSTCL1858South Street , Essex SS4 1BR

An electronic version of the

Survey is also available

at the Council’s website

www.rochford.gov.uk

The services that are provided bythe Council are listed in a table onthe following pages.

Please indicate what level ofreduction in service, for each area,you consider appropriate. There isalso space provided for anycomments you wish to make.

The figures in the purple headingsagainst the main service area arethe total cost of that area includingindirect support costs and capitalcosts, and the % shown is that ofthe total council budget.

(Notes: * Direct Cost of Servicecolumn excludes service supportcosts and capital costs.

** Cost per Household column isnot the actual cost to eachhousehold in terms of Council Taxpaid, as Government Grant incomeand income from fees and chargesalso covers the cost of services,this is purely to give a comparativeof what services cost).

Turn to pages

10 and 11 to

get started...

Please read instructions

given below on how to

complete the survey



Budget Survey 2014/15

Autumn 2013

Rochford District Budget Survey 2014/15

1. Description

Direct costof service

(* see noteon page 9)

Cost perhousehold

(**see noteon page 9)

Don’treduce

Reducemarginally

Reducesignificantly

Don’tknow Comments

(Please use this box to let us know

any other views you may have on

the delivery of this service)?Leisure and Cultural Services (£2,473,700 – 23.3%)

Windmill This is an historical building in the District that isused as a museum, however in the last fewyears has started to build in popularity as awedding venue and generates income.

£29,300expenditure£8,000income

£0.74

LeisurePremises

A number of buildings across the District providedifferent leisure activities from swimming andgyms to hire for various clubs and parties. Thecosts cover the running of these centres and therates and repair costs.

£494,500expenditure

£17.28

Recreational Spaces

WoodlandsUnit

The Rochford District is home to one of the fewremaining areas of historic woodland. Togetherwith the Cherry Orchard Jubilee Country Park,these areas are managed by the Woodlandsteam for the enjoyment of all residents andvisitors. Income is made from pitch fees andsales of memorial benches and logs.


£5.06

Parks andOpen Spaces

This District has a wide range of open spacesavailable for residents to use, this budget ensuresplay spaces are available for children and thatthe open spaces and verges themselves aresatisfactory for people in the District. An incomeis received for the provisions of pavilions andpitches to groups within the District.

£925,400expenditure£85,600income£35,600 isreceivedfrom ECC forthe maintenanceof the Highwayverges

£28.10

Planning and Development (£1,691,900 – 15.9%)

EconomicDevelopment

This team provides a vast range of businesssupport (including sourcing funding opportunitiesand specialist business advice) to all Rochfordbased businesses, including new start ups, andlooks at ways to encourage new businesses tolocate to the area. The team aims to increasethe affluence of the area, and enhance our towncentres, and also works to increase employmentopportunities within Rochford.


£5.83

VoluntaryGrants

In order to support the 3rd sector, we offergrants to voluntary organisations. These groupssupport a large cross section of the District’spopulation from the elderly, to youngsters, anddisabled.

£90,000expenditure(of which£15,000 toRRAVS£60,000 toCAB)

£3.14

CommunitySafety

This team delivers initiatives in tackling variousareas of anti-social behaviour and crime anddisorder to make the community safer.


£2.67

10 In Focus


� The closing date 21 December 2013, please send the completed survey back to

Rochford District Council, Freepost CL1858, South Street, Essex SS4 1BR

Autumn 2013

Description

Direct costof service

(* see noteon page 9)

Cost perhousehold

(**see noteon page 9)

Don’treduce

Reducemarginally

Reducesignificantly

Don’tknow Comments

(Please use this box to let us know

any other views you may have on

the delivery of this service)?Environmental Services (£3,688,300 – 34.7%)

EnvironmentalHealth

This covers a number of areas, including; airquality, food safety, contaminated land, publichealth and pollution prevention/control.


£15.76

PublicConveniences

The Council provides 6 public conveniencesacross the District, the costs includemaintenance and cleaning of these buildings.


£3.51

StreetCleansing

Street cleansing includes the pavement areasaround the District, litter picking to animal fouling.


£23.45

RecyclingCollection

Currently, Rochford District Council are 3rd inthe country for recycling, the scheme enablesthe Authority to generate a significant incomestream from the sale of the waste materials.

£2,555,100expenditure£1,288,000income

£44.28

Overhead services

Communications Brings you everything you need to know aboutservices available via the Council’s publication‘Rochford District Matters’, campaigns, eventsand a press office service.


£2.64

2.Are there any services that you receive, where you would be willing to pay a fee, or do you have any suggestions of new areas that could

be introduced for residents/businesses in the area in order to avoid further reductions in service?

3.Of the Council Tax bill you received for 2013/14 only 13% of that is kept by Rochford District Council (RDC).

Currently, if the Council Tax were to be increased by more of 2%, then this would trigger a local referendum.

RDC made for 2013-14 would be £4.10 per household. This equates to additional income to the authority of £117,330.

Please indicate your agreement with the following statementsStrongly

AgreeAgree Neither Disagree

Strongly

Disagree

I would be happy to see an increase in Council Tax if it avoided further reductions in service.

4.About you (optional)

Are you

Male

Female

Are you aged

under 25

25-49

50-64

65 or over

Ethnicity

White

Mixed

Asian or Asian British

Black or Black British

Other Ethnic Group

Please state

Prefer not to say

Do you have a disability?

Yes

No

Prefer not to say

Your residential postcode

If you would like to join the Have

Your Say group, then please

include your email address

below, and one of our officers

will contact you.

Email:

11

Lorraine Allisonfrom Stambridgehates to wasteanything, andreuses, recycles andcompostseverything she can.That is why she hasbeen nominated as alocal RecyclingChampion!

get online at www.rochford.gov.uk� Autumn 2013

12


All in a days recycling

Small and large electrical items andfurniture which can be reused canbe collected for FREE by the charityHopeworx. They re-sell items in theirshop and help people who are onlow income. Hopeworx can becontacted on 01268 743232 forfurther information.

A brand new facility is nowavailable in Hullbridge for residentsto take their old and unwantedsmall electrical items for recycling.

From broken or unwantedcomputer keyboards through to oldtelevision remote controls, toasters,kettles and hairdryers – you cannow recycle lots of small WasteElectrical and Electronic Equipment(WEEE) at the Essex Textilesrecycling bank located in PoolesLane car park. There are currently

already a number of banks atlocations across the District,making Hullbridge the final area toensure that every part of theDistrict has access to this service.

The Essex Textiles bank can nowalso accept small electrical itemsas well as textiles and shoes.Residents are asked to ensure thatWEEE and textile items are placedin separate bags.

There is a WEEE bank in BackLane car park, Rochford and thereare LMB textile banks located at anumber of locations across theDistrict, and now Hullbridgeresidents have the sameopportunity to recycle WEEE.

The most important thing is thatsmall WEEE should not bedisposed of in any of your threekerbside bins. Please note thatWEEE banks do not acceptcomputer screens or televisions.

Environment

Anything that isn’t reused isrecycled, and Lorraine makessure she washes all her bottles,cans and food containers beforeplacing them loose into herrecyclables bin.

Electrical items should not be placedinto any of the three kerbside bins.Broken small electrical items can berecycled at the dedicated recycling bankin Back Lane Car Park, Rochford, atany of the LMB textiles banksthroughout the District and at the EssexTextiles bank at Pooles Lane, Hullbridge.

Lorraine’s home is full of goodquality furniture which otherpeople didn’t want, even her twodogs are recycled!

Are you a Recycling Champion, ordo you know anyone that is? If soplease get in touch as we’d loveto hear your story ...

The Council work with Essex Textiles toprovide a FREE textiles kerbsidecollection service. Just call them on0800 787 9071 for more information anda supply of blue bags. Fill the bags withtextiles and place them out for collectionon the morning of your recyclablescollection day. Please do not place thebags in the bin.

I’m glad mumrescued us, we love

living here!

It’s a shame this fan isbroken, but at least I can

recycle it at a recycling bankand it won’t go to landfill

Hello, is that hopeworx?I have some old electrical

items and furniture that canbe reused, can I arrange a

collection please?

I make sure that Inever put textiles in any

of my bins!

With three home composter bins Lorraine can compost her foodscraps and garden waste to make her own compost.

Any additional garden and food waste goes into her kerbsidecompostables bin, which is green with a yellow lid and iscollected weekly. All food waste can be placed into this bin,including meat, fish and bones, as these should not be placedinto your own home compost bin.

That’s the District covered



Autumn 2013

Big Lunch, Big SuccessRochford District Council thankedthe hundreds of ‘Love RochfordDistrict’ volunteers by holding apicnic style presentation at CherryOrchard Jubilee Country Park.

In partnership with McDonalds, the‘Big Lunch’ was held to celebratethe success of the ‘Love RochfordDistrict’ campaign, which focuseson informing residents aboutenvironmental issues such as litterand dog fouling.

The first litter pick took place inMay 2012 and involved McDonalds,SITA UK, Friends of CherryOrchard and Rochford DistrictCouncil after which subsequentlitter picks were held every monthand developed into the ‘LoveRochford District’ Campaign.

Since April 2013, volunteers havegiven more than 500 hours of theirtime and collected over 200 bags

of litter. Many more litter picks areplanned.

The event was attended by theChairman of Rochford DistrictCouncil, Councillor Barbara Wilkinswho thanked the volunteers andpresented them all with certificates.Councillor Wilkins said: “It is amazingto see all these young people whohave given up their own time tohelp keep the beautiful District ofRochford clean and tidy. Our ‘BigLunch’ is a celebration of all theirhard work and is a fantastic way torecognise their achievements, I amvery proud of them all”.

Lunch was provided by McDonalds,Sainsbury’s, Asda and the Co-opwho supplied a mouth wateringspread of healthy snacks, drinksand sandwiches.

How do you bin yours?New Campaign Launches to Help

Reduce Chewing Gum Litter.

Rochford District Council willlaunch a new campaign in October,with the aim of reducing chewinggum litter in the local area.Encouraging residents to ‘Bin ityour way’, the council haspartnered with the Chewing GumAction Group (CGAG), anorganisation chaired by Defra andfunded by the chewing gumindustry, to tackle gum litter in the UK.

The campaign, now in its eighthyear, sees industry working withcouncils to develop local initiativesto reduce chewing gum litter.Rochford District Council is among16 Local Authorities taking part inthe 2013 activity, and is the onlyone in Essex .

The campaign aims to educateresidents about how it isunacceptable to drop gum onto ourpavements, which can result in a

fine of £75 for residents. Clearingchewing gum is a very costlyprocess for the Council and can beavoided if residents use the litterbins provided to dispose of theirgum correctly. The Street SceneTeam will be out and about in theDistrict throughout October soplease come and show yoursupport for the campaign andspread the word.

13

Above – Volunteer scouts enjoytheir lunch courtesy of localbusinesses.

Left – The Chairman presentsscout volunteers with their certificate.

To report a streetscene problem�

Online: www.rochford.gov.uk/streetscene

Email: [email protected]

Phone: 01702 318111

Fed up with picking

up the tab?


14

� To keep up to date with all the events in the District visit: www.rochford.gov.uk

Got an event? We can put it on RDM Online, visit www.rochford.gov.uk

Out and About

Clubs, Societies and Events

Rochford District Health Walks

Where: Hullbridge

When: Mondays at 10.45am

Meet in the car park on thecorner of Ferry Road and Pooles Lane

Where: Hockley Woods

When: Thursdays at 10.45am

Meet in the car park, which ispay and display

Walks are free – no need to bookjust come along and join in.

Hockley Scrabble Club

Where: Hockley Day Centre,situated in the public car park, off Southend Road, Hockley.

When: This well establishedgroup meets every Tuesdayevening between 6.30 pm and 10pm for competitive games and onthe 2nd and 4th Saturdays in themonth from 2 pm - 5 pm forsocial play.

All abilities are catered for.

How much: The first two visitsare free

Contact: Shirley, on01702 205910 for more details or just turn up.

Christmas Lights

Who...? what...? when...? where...? how...?

Come and join in with the Rochford District Health Walkers –Walks are free – no need to book, just turn up at the meeting point.

All meetings will take place at the

Civic Suite, 2 Hockley Road,

Rayleigh, SS6 8EB

The Executive

Wednesday 11 September 7.30pm

Audit Committee

Tuesday 24 September 7.30pm

Standards Committee

Tuesday 1 October 7.30pm

Licensing Committee

Thursday 3 October 10.00am

Review Committee


The Executive

Wednesday 9 October 7.30pm

Council


Development Committee

Thursday 24 October 7.30pm

The Executive

Wednesday 6 November 7.30pm

Review Committee

Tuesday 12 November 7.30pm

Development Committee

Thursday 21 November 7.30pm

For information contact Member

Services on 01702 318140

Council and CommitteeMeetings

Please note that although events are checked before going to press, they are subject to change. We recommend you visit our

website at www.rochford.gov.uk or contact the organisers to check before going to an event.

Rochford District holiday activity programme

Following a successful summer holiday programme

Rochford District Council, Virgin Active and Rochford

Extended Services are working in partnership on the

October holiday programme.

Information will be available from

www.rochford.gov.uk/holidayactivities

from early October.

October Holiday Activities

Where: The Mill Arts & EventsCentre, Rayleigh.

When: Sunday 13 October 2013,2pm – Beauty and the Beast

Sunday 17 November 201311am and 2pm – Arthur’s Dream Boat

Sunday 12 January 2014, 2pm – The Sorcerer’s Apprentice

Sunday 9 February 2014, 2pm – The Three Billy Pigs

Sunday 9 March 2014, 2pm – Sally and the Sunflower

How much: All tickets are pricedat only £3.50 per person

Contact: To book tickets pleasephone Rochford District CouncilCustomers Services on01702 318191

Apple Day

Where: Cherry Orchard JubileeCountry Park

When: 29 September 201311am-4pm

A Country Fair style day for lotsof family fun

Rayleigh Town Council will beturning on the Christmas Lights

Where: Rayleigh

When: Thursday 28 Novemberat 6.30pm

The High Street will be closed totraffic from 1.45pm and willreopen at 8pm. Access to theBellingham Lane car parks isavailable up to 4pm but pleaseuse public transport or walk onthis very busy night.

We will have all the usualattractions including singing fromour ten Rayleigh school choirs, theMushroom Theatre Company andmany stalls so you can buy yourpresents in time for the big day.

Contact: Further details fromRayleigh Town Council's websitewww.essexinfo.net or [email protected]

Where: Grove Wood PrimarySchool, Rayleigh SS6 8UA

When: Thursday 26 Septemberfrom 6pm to 8pm

A chance for residents to voicetheir views on local policing.

Family Fun DayFamily Theatre Shows

Police and Crime

Commissioner Public Meeting

Maureen’s Gift

RRochford Housing Association Limited, an exempt charity, is a subsidiary of Sanctuary Housing Association, an exempt charity

Community groups in the Rochford district are being invited to apply for a share of £5,000, thanks to Rochford Housing Association.

Named in memory of local community champion, Maureen Vince, the Maureen’s Gift funding scheme offers support to local groups in need of a little financial backing to help deliver activities in the area.

Maureen’s Gift is now open for applications from charities, resident groups and voluntary organisations. Successful applicants are chosen by a dedicated panel of representatives, which includes Rochford Housing staff, board members and local residents.

Community funding up for grabs in Rochford

Karen Johnson, Rochford Housing’s managing director, said: “We know that relatively small amounts of funding can make a real difference to people’s lives, which is why Maureen’s Gift is so important.

“The funding could go towards anything – from a healthy eating project for older people, to training equipment for young people. What’s important is that the project helps people and neighbourhoods to flourish.”

Grants will be offered to community organisations which operate within the Rochford district and can supply a copy of their latest annual accounts. Applications from individuals will be considered and help is available with completing the application form.

To apply contact the Rochford Housing office quoting Maureen’s Gift on either

0800 131 3348 from a landline or

0300 123 3511 from a mobile. Alternatively, email [email protected]

The application process is open until 31 December 2013.

Community SafetyPartnership

ROCHFORD DISTRICT

Community Older Persons Event

● Information stalls

● Speakers from

Fire Service,

Neighbourhood Watch,

Police,

Transport Services,

Trading Standards,

Voluntary Services,

Emergency Planning

and Community Safety

Hullbridge Day Centre3 Windermere Avenue,

Hullbridge SS5 6JR

Wednesday 2 October 2013 10.15am to 3.30pm

Rochford District’s

Places are limited and must be

booked in advance. Please phone

01702 318112 to reserve a place

�FREE �lunch and transport

+ a goody bag!

C.O.P.E An event aimed to

give older people the

advice needed to

‘Stay Safe’


16 Working TogetherAnnual Report 2012/13

The Council produces a detailedIncome and Expenditure Account,which can be found in theStatement of Accounts and is setout in a prescribed manner.

The account below shows the costof services in 2012/13 under eachof our Corporate Objectives andthe amount left to be financed fromlocal and national tax income.

Rochford District Councilproduces an Annual Reportwhich gives an overview of theCouncil’s performance, spendingand financial position.

Below we’ve put together anat-a-glance guide showing whatprojects we’ve spent money onand how much we’ve spent.The full report is available onour website

What Rochford District Council spent

Where did the money come from?

Net Expenditure

2012/13 £m

Making a difference to our Community

Collection of local taxes

5.75

Collection of local taxes

Council Tax and Housing Benefits

Emergency Planning & Health & Safety

Leisure and Sports Development

Housing Services & Homelessness

Community Safety

Elections

Local Land Charges

Cemeteries & Churchyards

Licensing

Public Conveniences

Democratic Services

Making a difference to our Environment

Mill Tower Windmill

5.73

Woodlands, Parks and Open Spaces

Planning and Building Control

Environmental Health

Street Cleansing

Recycling

Making a difference to our local Economy

Economic Development (0.10)

Car Parks *

Net Cost of Services 11.38

LESS Statutory Accounting Adjustments,including capital charges

(0.81)

LESS Income from cash investments (0.11)

PLUS Money put into reserves for future use (0.19)

Cost of local services to be met by local andnational taxes

10.27

*Note: We received more in income from car parks than we spent out.

The £10.2m that we spent onproviding local services, aftercontributions from reserves andincome raised from various feesand charges, came from local andnational taxes and redistributedbusiness rates.

Our total income for the year was£10.27m (2011/12 £10.33m), whichwas split £0.65m GovernmentGrants, £3.19m from nationalbusiness rates returned to theCouncil and £6.43m from CouncilTax from residents as shown below.

Summary of Income and Expenditure

The Council is using balances builtup over previous years to coversome of the reduction inGovernment funding.

The Council recognises that thesebalances won’t last and has plansto continue to reduce expenditure.

Revenue AccountSurplus

2012/13£m

Total Income (10.27)

Total Cost of Services 10.20

Surplus for the year (0.06)

What did we spend last year:Net Expenditure2011/12 £m

Making a difference to our Community 7.00

Making a difference to our Environment 5.94

Making a difference to our local Economy (0.21)

Net Cost of Services 12.73

� Rochford District Council’s Corporate Objectives are to: Make a difference to our community, our environment and our local economy


� The Council’s plans for 2013 onwards are set in the Corporate Plan which is available at www.rochford.gov.uk

Autumn 2013

17Council TaxThe Council was responsible forcollecting £48.3m of Council Taxlast year, but we only kept £6.43m,equivalent to 13p in every£ collected. The majority of what’s

collected is paid to others asshown in the graph below:

The average Council Tax for Band D property for 2012/13 was made upas follows:

In 2012/13 the nationalaverage for Council Taxon a band D property was£1,510. From GovernmentGrant and redistributionof business rates, wereceived £38 per head,down from £43 in 2011/12,compared to a nationalaverage of £60 in 2012/13

2012/13

Rochford District Council £201.15

Essex County Council £1,086.75

Essex Fire and Rescue £66.42

Essex Police Authority £136.71

Town/Parish Councils (average) £37.19

Total £1,528.22

Capital ExpenditureWe also spend money on improvingland and buildings in order tocontinue delivering excellent costeffective services for all ourcustomers. Capital Expenditure isthe money spent on the purchaseand improvement of buildings,

vehicles, equipment and computersoftware. It is called capitalexpenditure as it results in assetswhich the Council and thecommunity can use for more thanone year. Capital Expenditure doesnot directly affect the Council Tax.

For 2012/13 our expenditure on capital compared to what we planned tospend was:

How we paid for Capital Expenditure 2012/13 £000s

Grants and Contributions 224

Capital Receipts 613

Total 837

Delivering Value for MoneyDuring 2012/13, the Council hasbeen successful in generatingincome through the provision ofservices to partners and otherCouncils and approximately£77,000 has been earned fromthese initiatives.

The Council also planned to makesavings during the year of £900,000,which were delivered. This hasbeen achieved by more efficientservice and better organisation.

Rochford District Council’s dedicatedstaff continue to work hard to ensureit offers its residents value for money.

The Council is determined todeliver high levels of performance.Rochford has shown that, despitehaving one of the lowestgovernment grant funding levels, itcontinues to save money andreduce spending. We will continueto keep close scrutiny over Councilmoney.

Rochford District Council is amongthe best in Essex and the countrywhen it comes to collecting CouncilTax. The Revenues and Benefitsteam collected 98.7% of the £48.3mCouncil Tax due last year (the sameas in 2011/12). We also collected96.9% of business rates due last year,which was an increase on 2011/12.

Collecting income in the currenteconomic climate is challenging butstaff have offered as much supportand advice as possible to help localresidents and businesses to paytheir bills.

What we spent: Planned £000s Actual £000s

Vehicles and Equipment 264 127

Hall Road Cemetery extension 40 10

Leisure and Play Facilities 304 177

Private Sector Renewal Grants 104 32

Disabled Facilities Grants 313 222

IT infrastructure 62 45

Council properties 272 204

Thames Gateway Energy Schemes 31 9

Big Society Funding 42 11

Totals 1,432 837

Charities and some sports clubsare entitled to 80% mandatory reliefon their business rates. In order toprovide additional support, theCouncil can award discretionary

relief for the remaining 20%. For2012/13, discretionary relief wasawarded to 35 organisationsthroughout the District at a cost tothe Council of £18,535.

Some of the projects not completed in 2012/13 will be rolled forward into2013/14.

The £837,000 which was spent on our land and property assets was paidfor by capital receipts from the sale of property, grants and from revenue.

Discretionary Rate Relief

Financial Performance

Autumn 2013

18 Working Together



Advertising Feature

Your perfect party venue!Whether it’s your sweet 16 or lifeabout to start at 40, the FreightHouse and the Mill Arts & EventsCentre are perfect for parties!

Whether you’re celebrating:

• Your engagement;

• A special anniversary;

• A retirement party or

• A family get together

Whatever the occasion, thesevenues are the ideal setting foryour special event.

And with individual suites and fullylicensed bars your event canaccommodate 30-500 guests.

Whatever the occasion fromwedding receptions to familyparties or special birthdaycelebrations, the teams at thevenues will help organiseeverything to ensure your party isunique and memorable.

With Christmas fast approaching,as a special incentive to really get

your party going, both The FreightHouse and The Mill Arts & EventsCentre are offering a 50%discount* on private venue hirethroughout December!

Don’t forget that both venues havefunction rooms available to hirethroughout the festive season.

For further information, please visitthe websites:www.thefreighthouse.co.uk andwww.themillhall.co.uk

*Terms and conditions apply

To take advantage of this special offer call The Freight House on 01702 548977 or The Mill Arts & Events Centre on 01268 778171 and quote RDM.

Thanks to the unique partnershipbetween Virgin Active HealthClubs and Rochford DistrictCouncil, you’ll enjoy all theluxuries of a health club plus allthe sports and activities you couldever ask for in a leisure centrewhen you visit Clements Hall andRayleigh Leisure Centres.

Anyone can come along and enjoythe fantastic sporting facilities on aflexible pay and play basis orreally save money by taking outone of the no commitment VirginActive Health and Fitness monthlymemberships.

Clements Hall Leisure Centrefeatures a 25-metre swimmingpool with separate teaching pooland swim sessions which aretailored to suit all, from childrenlearning their first strokes tograndparents wanting to get somegentle exercise (or brush up ontheir butterfly skills!)

Afterwards, you can relax andunwind in the poolside sauna,steam room and spa pool.

Sports facilities at Clements Hall &Rayleigh Leisure Centres includebadminton, squash and tennis

courts, outside Astroturf pitchesand even an indoor climbing wallat Clements Hall and an impressiveIndoor Bowls Arena with four rinksat Rayleigh Leisure Centre.

There’s also a huge variety ofenrolment sports courses on offerand Pay and Play sessions for allages including Active Life for theover 50s, badminton, basketball,climbing, urban dance, judo,trampolining and the hugelysuccessful Swim School.

The gyms are equipped with allthe latest Technogym cardio andresistance equipment as well asthe newest innovations andrevolutionary equipment likeKettlebells™, Power Plate® andViPR™.

Plus both centres provide apacked timetable of studioexercise classes from GroupCycle to electrifying Zumba®dance classes and the new Puma

Faas Claas which is based ontraining methods adopted by theworld’s elite athletes. There reallyis something for everyone.

What’s more, Clements Hall andRayleigh Leisure Centres providethe highest standard of child carefor kids from six weeks up to eightyears of age in OFSTEDregistered crèches. You can relaxin the knowledge your little onesare safe.

Don’t forget doors are open toanyone on a Pay and Play basisbut you’ll save money if youbecome a Virgin Active member.

For more information please callClements Hall Leisure Centre on01702 207777 or Rayleigh Leisure Centre on01268 654510.

Please note facilities differbetween locations

Live happily ever active at your local leisure centres


� You can report Anti-Social Behaviour online at www.rochford.gov.uk

Autumn 2013

Smoke Alarms save lives

How safe is your home?

Essex County Fire and RescueService (ECFRS) launched a 2013Safety Campaign Calendar with amonthly focus. Throughout Octoberthe Fire Service will beencouraging residents to ensuretheir family are properly protectedby fitting and testing smoke alarmsin their homes.

Community Safety Liaison Officerfor ECFRS, Lee Markwick ispromoting the importance of havinga working smoke alarm in thehome that is properly fitted andregularly tested.

Lee Markwick said “Smoke alarmsprovide a vital early warning at thefirst sign of fire giving you and yourfamily time to safely get out, stayout and get the Fire Service out”.

Senior Divisional Officer JulianAshley of ECFRS added “werecommend at least one smokealarm on every level of your home,

and once those alarms have beenfitted it is important to regularly testthem to make sure that they arefully functioning. It is of greatconcern that Essex Fire Servicestill attends fires at homes whichdo not have a working smokealarm leaving the occupants atgreater risk of death or injury froma fire.”

Stay safe with our top tips

Smoke alarms cost just a fewpounds and take minutes to fit sothere is no excuse for not makingsure that your family are properlyprotected. Help keep yourself andyour loved ones safe in the homeby following these simple steps:

A working smoke alarm can buyyou valuable time to get out, stayout and call 999. Make sure you fitone on every level of your homeand test them regularly.

Make testing your smoke alarmpart of your household routine.Check the alarm by pressing thebutton regularly; change yourbattery once a year or invest in a10-year alarm; and clean the alarmcasing twice a year to ensure dustisn’t blocking the sensor.

Whatever happens, never removethe battery in your smoke alarm.

Make sure that everyone in yourhome knows what to do in a fireand practice your escape route.

www.essex-fire.gov.uk

Essex County Council TradingStandards in partnership withRochford District Council’sCommunity Safety Team fundedand delivered one-day free HomeSafety checks for residents in theDistrict.

Following the success of theTrading Standards pilot ‘Safe HomeSave Lives’ project’ in Tendring andCastle Point in 2011, the initiativewas expanded and is currentlybeing delivered in a number oflocal authority areas across Essex.

Residents eligible for the schemewere visited by Trading Standardsofficers where Portable ApplianceTesting (PAT) testing was carriedout for free on their smallappliances. Any appliance orequipment which failed the PATtest were repaired or replaced freeof charge. This was to ensureresidents were not left withoutessential appliances.

Residents were also provided withadvice on dealing with cold callingand using the ‘Buy WithConfidence’ scheme to findreputable traders.

Lynsey Yarnell, ECC TradingStandards Officer said ‘I ampleased to have had theopportunity to deliver the checks inRochford District. One of the mainaims of the initiative is to ensurethe safety of older adults livingindependently. In doing this we arereducing the risk of domesticaccidents and fires. The visits giveus the opportunity to give advicearound doorstep crime andconsider wider safeguardingissues. The checks are particularlyimportant and give peace of mindfor older and vulnerable residents’

Help Combat Loneliness

In our modern and fast pacedsociety, some individuals findthemselves left behind. Through nofault of their own they graduallybecome more and more isolated,no-one to visit, no-one to call. Dayscan turn into weeks without anycontact with the outside world.

The Befriending Scheme, led byCastle Point Association ofVoluntary Services (CAVS), is an

initiative operating within the CastlePoint and Rochford/Rayleigh areasto combat isolation and loneliness.The service helps change the livesof many residents by pairing themwith a trained volunteer Befrienderto provide companionship andsupport. A cup of tea, a walk to theshops or a trip out just once aweek can make a huge differenceto somebody’s life.

This popular scheme relies onvolunteers, so if you can spare justone hour a week and would like tomake a real difference tosomeone’s life please contact:

Rochford/Rayleigh area –Ann-Marie Fordham,01268 638416 or 07979914743 email: [email protected]

Castle Point – Beverley Parrish,01268 638416 or 07794515609 email: [email protected]

Safer District 19

Become a Befriender

Our Values: Respect, Accountability, Openness and Involvement

Essex CountyFire & Rescue Service

Essex County Fire and

Rescue Service provide a

free home fire safety visit

service.

To arrange a free home

fire safety visit,

phone: 0845 601 2495

or email:

webmaster@essex-

fire.gov.uk

© iS

tockphoto

.com

/Ale

xR

ath

s

Working in partnership with

At Clements Hall and Rayleigh Leisure Centres, it’s that easy. Pop in for

a game of badminton, squash, tennis or basketball; learn judo, or try

climbing and trampolining – all with no monthly commitments and no

strings attached.

Pop in anytime to Pay & Play, or call us for more details.

Clements Hall Leisure Centre

Clements Hall Way, Hawkwell, Essex, SS5 4LN

01702 207 777. virginactive.co.uk

Rayleigh Leisure Centre

Priory Chase, Rawreth Lane, Rayleigh, Essex, SS6 9NF

01268 654 510. virginactive.co.uk

rochford district matters€¦ · rochford district matters into her normal glass bottle recycling....

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