district council 2005/06 Annual Report

Our vision for Wychavon is of healthy, safe, vibrant and diverse communities, living in a clean and green environment

We aim to deliver excellent services and work with partners to improve quality of life for everyone in Wychavon

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Contents Foreword This report looks back over the last year - at what we've achieved and the things we haven't. It also looks forward, setting out our promises for the foreword 3 current year and plans for the future.

Last year we fully delivered 22 out of the 31 ambitious promises we set, about the district 4 and we aim to deliver on those not achieved later this year. You can find out more about these on pages 12 and 13. Our promises for this year are on pages 20 to 22. a year in Wychavon 6 We spend our time and energy on what really matters to people. We keep political management 8 costs affordable too, with just a 2.5% increase in council tax for each of the last six years. overview and scrutiny 10 Following our comprehensive performance assessment (CPA) inspection in November 2003, where we were ranked as a 'good' council, inspectors came back this year to visit our housing service. In just over a year we money 11 have managed to turn the service around and are the first council in the country to be assessed as providing an excellent three star service that has excellent prospects for improvement. last year’s promises 12 Last summer, we launched our community plan update, 'Making life sweeter for you', featured on page 18. This aims to improve quality of life departmental management 14 for everyone in Wychavon by tackling the issues that matter to people. Nearly a year on, with partners, we've achieved or are on course to achieve at least 65% of the 114 actions in the plan. performance indicators 16 The year has not been without its challenges. Along with other councils across the country, we've had a number of Gypsy encampments to deal working together 18 with. In August we published a newsletter to dispel the myths surrounding the Gypsy issues we were facing. And after much debate and deliberation we've recently unveiled our provisional plans for the lido site in Droitwich this year’s promises 20 Spa, which could include a 1m deep fun pool with beach area, sunbathing terraces and a large wet play area. contracts, feedback, We have a busy year ahead of us. We are about to start work on building a thanks and contacts 23 hospital and health centre in and have made changes to our waste service to help reduce landfill and increase recycling rates. But we're both excited to continue working together with 'Team Wychavon' to make life even better for people in Wychavon over the next year.

Jack Hegarty, Managing Director & Cllr Martin Jennings, Leader photos: left to right - Broadway Tower, Crown Meadow, Salt Workers Statue , contents

about the district

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Wychavon in brief Wychavon is the largest district in , both in terms of size and population. It differs from the Size 260 square miles rest of the West , having lower levels of crime Population 114,990 and unemployment. A significant percentage of the Households 49,986 workforce is employed in agriculture 4.2%, compared Towns Droitwich Spa, Pershore and to 0.9% regionally and nationally. Evesham Containing a mix of rural and urban communities, Villages 100+ Wychavon covers three towns and over 100 villages, Main Employment manufacturing, distribution, where you will find numerous places rich in character business and public services and rural heritage including the National Trust Unemployment 1.5% property of Hanbury Hall. Ethnicity 1.2% Droitwich Spa is famous for having Britain's only Deprivation Ranking 272 out of 354 inland brine spa, where visitors can still experience the therapeutic effects of the warm brine baths that transformed Droitwich into a fashionable resort. You can also explore the town's history dating back to Roman times and walk along the once hectic M42 industrial . Investment is secured for a wealth of redevelopment projects which will see the waterways M5 and the town centre attract even more visitors and residents to the town. J.5 Pershore is a lively , popular for its DROITWICH SPA Hanbury elegant Georgian architecture and home to an impressive Norman Abbey. Situated on the banks of the River Avon you will find the historic bridge, which bears evidence of a civil war skirmish, now a peaceful picnic site. Visitors can enjoy the recently opened J.6 WORCESTER Number 8 Community Arts Centre and popular events Stratford upon Avon including the Town Carnival, Jazz Festival and Plum Fayre. J.7 The old market town of Evesham is renowned for the quality of its fruit and vegetables including Victoria PERSHORE River Avon plums and world famous asparagus. Overlooking the River Se town centre you will see the impressive Bell Tower and the twin churches of All Saints and St. Lawrence, M5 EVESHAM ver Eckington which together with the Almonry are all that remain of n the Benedictine Abbey. Eastern, Medieval and River J.8 Festivals, Regattas and National Angling M50 Broadway Championships are just some of the events which can be enjoyed throughout the year.

J.9 To find out more about what to do throughout the district call our tourism section on 01386 565373 or log on to www.wychavon.gov.uk about the district

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april june august ¤ Helped visitors follow the ¤ Promoted responsible dog ¤ Gained Investors in People Blossom Trail around the Vale ownership through National status for the 3rd time in a row, of Evesham Poop Scoop Week for looking after our staff well ¤ Launched our ‘Reaching out to ¤ Organised European elections ¤ Published 'Equal Rights for everyone’ initiative to work Everyone' newsletter to update more closely with our july residents on Gypsy issues communities Council voted to build a new Provided facilities for young ¤ ¤ Hospital in Pershore people by opening Evesham may skatepark ¤ Council Chairman David Noyes ¤ Kept youngsters entertained by september nominated Wychavon Voluntary putting on events in our parks ¤ Sent out new council tax bills Sector Partnership as his from gorillas to arts, puppets to after Fire Authority told to cap charity robots their share ¤ Received over 100 applications ¤ Won award for Evesham for community grants funding Riverside regeneration ¤ Completed Flood Alleviation Scheme s a year in e p

Wychavon.. july t .

june l i r p a

We dealt with... We inspected... ¤ 335,000 visits to our community contact centres ¤ 613 premises for food safety ¤ 135,000 council tax, benefit and business rate enquiries ¤ 431 premises for health and safety ¤ 227 homeless approaches ¤ 130 properties to check if fit for living in ¤ 3762 responses on the Local Plan ¤ 486 cases of breaches of planning control ¤ 180 requests for sewerage and land drainage information ¤ 2,175 applications for planning and 1,674 for building control a year in wychavon

7 october december february ¤ Took over responsibility from the ¤ Got children interested in ¤ Government inspectors checked Police for parking control on the recycling with a poster up on our improved housing streets of Wychavon competition services - we were awarded an ¤ Opened new Crown Meadow ¤ Residents achieved record levels excellent service with excellent play area in Evesham of recycling prospects for improvements! ¤ Held 'Built in Quality Awards' to ¤ Received positive Annual Audit ¤ We set our budget for the recognise good building design and Inspection Letter from our following year with only a 2.5% ¤ Received £4.6m from the auditors KPMG council tax increase Heritage Lottery Fund to help ¤ Completed public enquiry into ¤ We began the process of restore Droitwich Local Plan Review transferring alcohol licensing from magistrates to ourselves as november january a result of the Licensing Act 2003 ¤ Won an award for the quality of ¤ Provided support for parish the financial information we councils in developing their produce parish plans march ¤ Residents told us how they think ¤ Promoted safe communities with we should spend our budget our Safe and Sound campaign

Statement of Accounts 2003-2004

v dec o WYCHAVON DISTRICT COUNCIL n f e b

oct

We issued... We collected... ¤ 177 grants for disabled facilities ¤ 43,988 tonnes of household waste ¤ 117 pieces of security equipment to the vulnerable ¤ 218 stray dogs ¤ 4,597 penalty charge notices for parking offences ¤ 47 abandoned vehicles ¤ 967 licences, permits and registrations for butchers, street ¤ 123 commercial food samples traders, taxis, entertainment & charitable collections

a year in wychavon

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Our 45 Councillors represent 32 wards. Councillors represent the views of residents in their wards and are active in the community to make sure our decisions reflect local priorities. To find out more about our Councillors call our committee section on 01386 565427 or log on to www.wychavon.gov.uk

1 Cllr Mrs S Ealey 13 Cllr Mrs P Davey 24 Cllr R Cartwright 35 Cllr P Coley Conservatives 31 2 Cllr M Jennings 14 Cllr Mrs E Hope 25 Cllr R Banks 36 Cllr A Christian-Brookes 3 Cllr Mrs E Stokes 15 Cllr D Lawley 26 Cllr M Meikle 37 Cllr R Adams 4 Cllr Mrs M Rowley 16 Cllr T Spencer 27 Cllr J Smith 38 Cllr Mrs J Dowty 5 Cllr A Hardman 17 Cllr Mrs M Lawley 28 Cllr Mrs M Mathews 39 Cllr Mrs G Amphlett Liberal Democrat 12 6 Cllr G Bourne 18 Cllr R Seabourne 29 Cllr C Holt 40 Cllr J Grantham 7 Cllr D Folkes 19 Cllr J Wrenn 30 Cllr T Bean 41 Cllr C Tucker 8 Cllr D Noyes 20 Cllr P Wright 31 Cllr Mrs A Steel 42 Cllr M Argyle 9 Cllr Mrs J Pearce 21 Cllr Mrs A Mackison 32 Cllr D B Lee 43 Cllr A Darby Labour 2 10 Cllr P Middlebrough 22 Cllr Mrs J Sandalls 33 Cllr A Dyke 44 Cllr Mrs M Smith 11 Cllr G Gopsill 23 Cllr Mrs R Kirke 34 Cllr J Payne 45 Cllr Mrs E Tucker 12 Cllr M Barratt

12 3 45 6 78 9

10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18

19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27

28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36

37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45

Since 2002 the council has operated with a Leader and Cabinet similar to that of central government. Our Executive Board is comprised of the Leader of the Council together with five other Councillor Executive Board Members. It meets once a month in public to make decisions on all council issues. The individual Board Members' responsibilities are Community Partnership, Environment, Housing and Health, Planning Policy and Rural Affairs (including Equalities) and Resources.

In addition we have the following other committees which regularly meet: Overview and Scrutiny Committee

7 reviews the work and decisions of the Executive Board, reviews all areas of the council’s work, carries out specific projects and investigations and considers any matter, or service provided by an outside organisation, which affects residents of the district. Standards Committee promotes and maintains high standards of conduct by members of the district council and local parish councils.

6 Development Control Committee makes decisions about development control matters including applications for planning permission, tree preservation orders and footpath diversions. Licensing Committee 5 deals with licensing, registration and regulation of taxis, riding establishments, public entertainment venues and other activities.

political management

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Our Overview and Scrutiny Committee aims to improve services for the community by investigating and monitoring our services and those provided by other organisations. During the year, we set up five Scrutiny Teams to carry out detailed investigations, as are set out below. The Committee has monitored the work of these teams and made recommendations to the Executive Board based on their findings. Performance monitoring The team has developed a new and more efficient process to review areas of the council's performance. It now analyses the quarterly performance monitoring information reported to the Executive Board and reports its findings. This allows the Committee to focus on a small number of significant issues and provides the opportunity to look at other areas than those already being reported. Health The team's work on Disabled Facilities Grants supported aspects of the emerging Housing Strategy. The team has lobbied the government to try and change some aspects of the law, which prevents councils levying a charge on properties to recoup costs of adapting them. The team also influenced the Executive Board in including choice based letting in the budget for 2005/6. Housing Strategy A 'task and finish' team looked at the formulation, implementation and likely effectiveness of the council's Housing Strategy. The work of the team included researching strategies from other councils, reviewing the comments from consultees and the Housing Quality Network. The team provided a detailed critique of the initial draft strategy and made a significant contribution to the final document which is the only 'fit for purpose' Housing Strategy in the West region. Rural transport This team investigated and made recommendations on the provision of rural transport in the Wychavon area. Achievements to date include influencing the provision of a rural transport budget, getting to grips with identifying deficiencies in access to transport in rural areas, establishing an officer group to work with the county council and suggesting the adopted theme of community transport for this year's community grants scheme. The team will continue its work including identifying gaps in transport provision and examining the work of the voluntary sector and community transport provision. Waste and recycling This team was set up to investigate the existing provision and future development of the council's waste and recycling services. The team concentrated its initial research on making recommendations to help us meet the recycling targets set by government. The team’s achievements include a number of significant changes to the council's waste collection services, awareness raising campaigns, investigation of funding opportunities from external agencies and the refurbishment of existing and identification of new recycling sites. The team is continuing with its work and will also examine how we deliver trade waste, street cleaning and respond to fly-tipping. overview & scrutiny

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It costs us £10.3 million a year to provide the wide range of services we deliver. Council tax funds about 40% of these costs, with the rest coming from central government and business rates. Once again, we've managed to keep the rise in our proportion of the council tax to just 2.5%. For every £1 of council tax we collect, just 8.1p stays with us.

We've set this year's budget based on our three priorities. The table below summarises how we spend our budget. We are using £1.3 million of our reserves and balances to help finance this year's budget. This leaves us with an estimated balance of £6.7 million at 31 March 2006. We don't have any debts or outstanding loans.

When we set the budget for 2005/6 last February, we were expecting to spend almost £18.8 million on capital projects in the year including:

¤ Completing the development of the supermarket in Droitwich Spa ¤ Starting the new hospital and health centre development in Pershore ¤ Market town initiatives and regeneration ¤ Supporting private sector housing ¤ Regeneration of the

Whilst we anticipate that all our projects will be completed within budget, some delays in spending may occur. To find out more about our finances call Alan Smith on 01386 565333 and ask for a copy of our council tax leaflet or Statement of Accounts or log on to www.wychavon.gov.uk

2004/2005 2005/2006 Exp Inc. Net. Exp Inc. Net. How do we spend our money? £000 £000 £000 £000 £000 £000 Priority 1 Coporate strategy & communications, 12 public conveniences, collection of council tax & business 5,217 (778) 4,439 4,876 (1,377) 3,499 rates, corporate management & democratic representation, treasury management

Priority 2 Health and enforcement, health promotion, food safety, pollution, pest control, dog wardens, 13,639 (2,751) 10,888 13,152 (2,577) 10,575 planning development, planning policy, planning appeals, building consultancy, land charges, heritage, licensing, 3 swimming pools/leisure complexes & sports development, parks & open spaces, refuse collection, recycling & street cleansing

Priority 3 Wychavon shops, housing & council tax benefits, housing services - housing strategy, advice, 27,181 (21,940) 5,241 26,476 (23,136) 3,340 homelessness, renewal, development & housing register, parking - on & off street, economic development, tourism, Wychavon town managment, concessionary fares, registration of electors & elections, grants

Service Expenditure & Income 46,037 (25,469) 20,568 44,504 (27,090) 17,414

(4,555) - (4,555) LESS Capital charges (7,378) - (7,378) 258 - 258 Revenue financing of capital expenditure 258 - 258 (1,940) - (1,940) Interest and investment income (2,550) - (2,550) 693 - 693 Contribution from earmarked reserves 271 - 271 - (1,271) (1,271) Use of balances and reserves - (1,273) (1,273)

Total Net Expenditure 36,638 (26,742) 9,896 38,702 (28,361) 10,341

money

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Last year's Annual Report set out our promises for 2004/5. Here we set out, under each of our three priorities, whether we achieved them or not. Despite setting ambitious targets, we have fully delivered 22 out of the 31 promises, 4 were partially delivered and 5 not delivered although we have made progress and plan to complete them during 2005/6.

Priority 1 Priority 2 Aspire to be excellent Healthy and safe communities with a

Promises achieved good quality environment

¤ Set out what you can expect from frontline services through charters Promises achieved Implement relevant Audit Commission recommendations arising from ¤ ¤ To work with partners to promote improved health facilities in Evesham and our performance assessment Droitwich Spa Set an affordable council tax at or below HM Treasury assumptions ¤ ¤ Work with community safety partners to tackle anti social behaviour Take the council's message and package of support out to 50 ¤ ¤ Fund crime reduction initiatives on domestic violence, parenting and mentoring community organisations support, and drug education Be reaccredited for Investors in People for good people management ¤ ¤ Provide reassurance through community neighbourhood wardens and practical and implement leadership development for managers security equipment e.g. locks, alarms and intercoms for the most vulnerable ¤ Develop existing programmes of member training in partnership with Complete the Local Plan inquiry and publish proposed modifications other local authorities ¤ ¤ Improve our play areas in parks ¤ Deliver 93% of our business using new technology ¤ Working with landowners, complete two flood alleviation schemes and up to nine ¤ Extend the range of services offered at council’s shops and increase feasibility studies partners involved

Promises partially achieved Promises partially achieved ¤ Increase staff car sharing to the office by 50% and reduce energy use in Civic Centre ¤ Increase news stories to the media by 20% and expand our quarterly and One Stop Shop buildings by 5%, to do our bit for the environment residents' magazine to businesses and schools to boost awareness of our services ¤ Increase recycling rates to 17%. Identify and persuade non-participating households to take part. ¤ Secure partnership funding and start the Droitwich Canal project

Promises not achieved ¤ Start building the Pershore Hospital and health centre ¤ Designate at least one new local nature reserve ¤ Set out an action plan to improve Evesham leisure centre ¤ Publish timetable for Droitwich Brine Spa redevelopment last year’s promises

13 of our three priorities, whether we achieved them or not. Despite setting ambitious targets, elivered although we have made progress and plan to complete them during 2005/6.

Priority 3 mmunities with a Reaching out to everyone ment Promises achieved ¤ Give £120k to community groups for worthwhile projects that link to community plan priorities ved health facilities in Evesham and ¤ Establish outreach youth and low-income panels to help build awareness and improve services for these groups tackle anti social behaviour ¤ Develop a clear set of housing priorities through a new housing strategy estic violence, parenting and mentoring ¤ Help people in housing need by piloting support with rent deposits y neighbourhood wardens and practical ¤ Consult and progress Evesham and Pershore High Street improvements nd intercoms for the most vulnerable to detailed design stage blish proposed modifications ¤ Fund partnership action plans to improve quality of life in Droitwich Spa, Evesham and Pershore ¤ Work up a solution to help tackle rural transport problems with the county flood alleviation schemes and up to nine council

Promises not achieved ¤ Deliver the Pershore skatepark, with the support of the town council y 50% and reduce energy use in Civic Centre do our bit for the environment and persuade non-participating households e Droitwich Canal project

health centre reserve am leisure centre a redevelopment

last year’s promises

We have around 340 staff. Managing Director, Jack Hegarty, has overall responsibility for the management of the council. We operate with a flat management structure and eight individual service units. Community Services - Phil Merrick is responsible for many of the “essential” services such as refuse, recycling and litter collection and public toilets as well as other services which add significantly to the quality of life such as parks, arts, sports and youth development, economic development, tourism, rural and town regeneration and community development support. Corporate Projects - Brian Norfolk is responsible for the development and management of the council’s major projects, providing strategic management of leisure services, supporting other units in maximising community benefits from section 106 negotiations and the management of on and off street parking enforcement. Environmental Services - Steve Jorden is responsible for environmental health and engineering issues. It covers food safety, health and safety, licensing, dog warden, pest control, environment protection, land drainage enforcement, flood alleviation and engineering consultancy. Legal & Support Services - Ian Marshall provides legal advice, services and direction for the council, support for all 45 Councillors and their meetings, office services at the Civic Centre and manages the town centres’ CCTV system. departmental management

Planning Services - Gill Collin covers five key areas: building consultancy, development control, corporate database team, heritage and policy plans. The service is responsible for all aspects of building regulations, dangerous structures, planning applications, enforcement and appeals, land charges, geographical information systems, street naming and numbering, national land and property gazetteer and conservation as well as tree preservation orders and the Local Development Framework. Resources - Sonia Rees (Deputy Managing Director) provides a range of professional back-office support services including accountancy, audit, exchequer, IT, organisational development, payroll, personnel, procurement, property, risk management and treasury management services. Revenues, Housing & Democratic Services - Liz Dyde split into three key areas: the revenues section bills and collects council tax and business rates, administers housing and council tax benefit and detects and prevents fraud. The housing section works with a wide variety of partners to enable access to good quality affordable housing and where appropriate enabling support to be provided. Democratic services provides a wide and diverse range of services from e-government, through one-stop shops to reprographics. Strategy & Communications - Fiona Narburgh provides council wide direction and strategy. Our main activities are driving improvement, performance management, communications, consultation, community planning, community safety, equalities and diversity.

photos: left to right - Phil Merrick, Brian Norfolk, Steve Jorden, Ian Marshall, Gill Collin, Sonia Rees, Liz Dyde, Fiona Narburgh

departmental management

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One of the ways we monitor how we perform 70 How we compared to others is through the use of national performance 60 indicators. The government requires all 50 councils to collect data on areas such as waste, planning, benefits and housing, 40 enabling us to analyse our performance in 30 comparison with all other district councils. 20 The graph on the right shows how we have 10 tracked our performance over the last four 0 years by showing the proportion of indicators 2000/01 2001/02 2002/03 2003/04 in the top, middle and bottom performing Top 25% of all district Middle 50% of district Bottom 25% of district group of councils. councils in councils in England councils in England Every year the government reviews the indicators we are required to report on, therefore it is not always possible to directly compare our performance year on year. The following graphs show our performance over time against some key performance indicators and how we compare to the top and bottom 25% of all district councils. Full details of all performance indicators are included in the Annual Report Appendix available at www.wychavon.gov.uk or call Alan Smith on 01386 565333. Our Performance Top Quartile Performance Bottom Quartile Performance

100% Percentage of invoices paid on time (BV8) 96% The introduction of a new system for paying bills has had a 92% significant impact for the last year. We have now addressed

88% software issues and we are working with each service unit to speed up payments that are just missing the 30 days 84% target. 80% 2000/01 2001/02 2002/032003/04 2004/05

100% Percentage of council tax collected (BV9) 99% We have maintained an above average performance 98% compared to other councils for the percentage of council

97% tax we have collected in the year. There has been a slight drop in our collection rate for 2004/05 as a result of not 96% being able to take any recovery action for three months due 95% 2000/01 2001/02 2002/032003/04 2004/05 to the capping of the Fire Authority and subsequent rebilling.

100% Percentage of business rates collected (BV10) 99% Collection rates have remained at 98.3% and we are hoping 98% to increase this through continuing to promote the use of

97% direct debit and on-line payments as well as looking at alternative ways of improving collection during 2005/06. 96%

95% 2000/01 2001/02 2002/032003/04 2004/05 performance indicators

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14 Number of days lost due to sickness absence (BV12) 13 12 A reduction in long-term sickness has helped us to exceed 11 the government set target. We have trained all managers in 10 sickness absence management and we are developing a 9 8 new policy to ensure sickness absence remains low. 7 6 2000/01 2001/02 2002/032003/04 2004/05

100% Electronic service delivery (BV157) 90% 80% We have consistently performed above the top 25% of 70% authorities for this indicator, and are on target to achieve 60% 100% by the end of 2005/06, in line with our e-government 50% 40% strategy. 30% 20% 2001/02 2002/03 2003/04 2004/05

65 Average time to process new benefit claims (BV78a) 60 55 We have sustained high performance for this indicator and 50 the average number of days taken for new benefit claims 45 has remained low in comparison with other councils. 40 35 30 25 2000/01 2001/02 2002/032003/04 2004/05

20% Percentage of household waste recycled (BV82a) 18% 16% The loss of recycling done by a third party company at the 14% end of 2003/04 had a major impact on this indicator. We’ve 12% made new changes to the waste collection service 10% 8% including the introduction of household glass recycling in 6% September to improve our recycling rate. 4% 2000/01 2001/02 2002/032003/04 2004/05

450kg Number of kilograms of waste collected per household (BV84)

425kg Successful waste minimisation campaigns have helped us in reducing the amount of waste collected compared to a national 400kg increase of 3%. 375kg

350kg 2000/01 2001/02 2002/032003/04 2004/05

performance indicators

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Launched last summer, our community plan update, 'Making life sweeter for you', runs until June 2006. The plan's aim is to improve quality of life for everyone in Wychavon by tackling the issues that matter to people.

'Making life sweeter for you' is a partnership plan, put together by organisations working in Wychavon including , South Worcestershire Primary Care Trust, Community First, Worcestershire County Council and our three Local Strategic Partnerships (LSPs).

Nearly a year on, with partners, we've achieved or are on course to achieve, at least 65% of the 114 actions in the plan. Here are a few of the highlights:

¤ To reduce crime and help people feel safe, we've carried out crime risk assessments, fitted security equipment in vulnerable people's homes, increased the effectiveness of neighbourhood watch schemes and reduced deaths and injuries from fire. Partnership working on community safety is having a real impact, with crime down 9% in Evesham, 14% in Droitwich Spa, 20% in Making Pershore and 13% across the whole district. life ¤ We've made the environment better by helping 40 parishes carry out community litter picks, improving entrances to Abbey Park in Evesham, repairing and improving roads and pavements and sweeter introducing a landlord scheme offering free insulation measures and grants to make homes more energy efficient. for you-

¤ To ensure quality jobs and opportunities, we've provided mopeds to help people in isolated rural update

areas get to training or work opportunities, delivered 60 affordable homes and given more than 100 6 6

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grants to help disabled people in their homes. - -

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d o o Contributing to vibrant communities, we've completed 17 school travel plans, elected young v v v ¤ e a a Designed by Wychavon’s Graphics Unit r s h h io c c people to the Worcestershire Youth Cabinet, extended the services on offer at Community Contact n y y

good services, good value W W

Centres and expanded our programme of arts activities. June 2004

We're closely monitoring progress on 16 actions to make sure we stay on track. These include new walking the way to health routes, the healthy schools programme, building Pershore hospital and health centre and the Sharelink vehicle scheme.

There are a handful of actions we're not on course to achieve in the timescales in the plan, although we will be able to deliver some of these over a longer time period. These include installing CCTV cameras in Broadway, a community renewable energy scheme, exercise on referral programmes, Evesham and Pershore High Street improvement schemes.

To find out more about our community plan, read the punnet-sized version of 'Making life sweeter for you' and 'tasting the difference' newsletters, call Rob Mace or Cherrie Mansfield on 01386 565517 or 565508 or e-mail [email protected]. working together

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Our LSPs are partnerships of community, voluntary, public and business organisations working together to meet local needs. There are three LSPs in Wychavon, based around our main towns and the surrounding rural areas. They have a key role in helping deliver our community plan. On this page we highlight some of the things they've achieved or supported during the last year: Droitwich Area LSP ¤ successful year long pilot Royal Rides hospital transport scheme, now set to continue for the foreseeable future ¤ funding for a new multi sports court at Crowle and self-esteem and team building programme for Westlands First School pupils ¤ training to help improve the skills of the workforce, particularly aimed at industrial estates in and around the town ¤ feasibility study to establish the viability of a proposed 'green necklace' of footpaths around Droitwich Spa ¤ 'Just imagine' event involving community representatives, parishes and public agencies in identifying key priorities and needs for the area, the LSP is using the outcomes to develop a strategy for the next three years Evesham Area LSP ¤ award-winning riverside regeneration project ¤ new footpath linking the town and riverside and circular walks ¤ minibus link from town centre to Country Park ¤ unemployment study of Evesham's 'west ward' and business awareness and development seminars ¤ initiatives promoting the Vale of Evesham including a 'Discovering Evesham' guide and websites focusing on local festivals and events Pershore Area LSP ¤ opening the Number 8 Arts and Community Centre at the start of December ¤ well-used youth shelter in Eckington and a youth co-ordinator based at the Riverside Centre, Pershore ¤ Village Lynx transport scheme, serving five clusters of villages around Pershore ¤ regenerating the rear of Pershore High Street ¤ renaissance of Pershore’s southern gateway including new railings and re-landscaping of Partridges meadow and orchard

To find out more about the Droitwich Area LSP call Cherrie Mansfield on 01386 565508 and call Lew Hammond on 01386 565518 to find out more about the Evesham and Pershore Area LSPs. photos: left to right - Royal Rides hospital transport scheme, Evesham regeneration, Number 8 Arts & Community centre

working together

On the next three pages we set out our promises for this year under each of our three priorities and the associated goals from our five year strategy. Priority 1 - An excellently run council

Goal 1. Continue to improve resident satisfaction with our services ¤ Meet and monitor our service charters and response times to letters, calls and emails ¤ Keep up the pace of our whole council by focusing on service improvement and bettering our service performance standards

Goal 2. Use our money effectively and efficiently ¤ Achieve 2.5% efficiency, keep service quality high and council tax affordable ¤ Secure one new joint service delivery success with neighbouring councils (shared services)

Goal 3. Consult & communicate with residents ¤ Circulate to all homes an updated A-Z of district and county services ¤ Run topical media briefings and increase news stories by 10% ¤ Take the council's support presentation to a further 25 community groups

Goal 4. Develop our staff & Councillors to give their best to residents ¤ Achieve accreditation for developing our Councillors with the Local Government Association's Member Development Charter. ¤ Review and improve our decision-making structures, codes of conduct and how council meetings are run

Goal 5. Expand the use of technology to provide easier access to our services ¤ Implement online licensing, planning and recruitment applications ¤ Improve our website and make it easier to use for visually impaired, for businesses and young people and increase hits by 10% this year’s promises

Priority 2 - Healthy & safe communities with a good quality environment

Goal 1. Work with partners to improve people's health and create better local health facilities ¤ Get Pershore Hospital and health centre under construction ¤ Build community support for health and leisure facilities at Abbey Road, Evesham and play our part in improving health facilities in Droitwich Spa ¤ Develop our role in reducing smoking and alcohol consumption

Goal 2. Reduce crime and fear of crime through partnership and community based working ¤ Expand the areas patrolled by community safety wardens and use mobile CCTV in response to community concerns ¤ Install 100 items of security equipment free of charge to vulnerable residents through the 'safe and sound' scheme ¤ Run anti-bullying programmes in high schools

Goal 3. Promote appropriate development and protect the environment ¤ Run community training sessions on Parish Plans to share good practice ¤ Publish our Statement of Community Involvement for our next Local Plan ¤ Make the Droitwich Canal Project a reality by securing planning permission and doing environmental works

Goal 4. Create opportunities and encourage people to get involved in leisure activities ¤ Create children's water play opportunities in Droitwich Spa, Evesham and Pershore ¤ Pilot summer half price swims for children in our three leisure centres ¤ Support six arts events in rural areas and three summer party in the parks events ¤ Run a sports development programme and deliver 400 coached sports events attended by 6,000 young people

Goal 5. Minimise waste and increase our recycling rates ¤ Increase recycling rates to 21% by increased investment in our recycling services ¤ Introduce new campaigns on the benefits of waste reduction and recycling to increase participation this year’s promises

Priority 3 - Reaching out to everyone

Goal 1. Create vibrant, inclusive communities and help vulnerable people ¤ Target £120k community grants to worthwhile projects ¤ Fund additional outreach work for victims of domestic violence

Goal 2. Help meet housing needs & find innovative ways to provide affordable housing ¤ Deliver 50 affordable homes ¤ Replace the confusing 'points system' for the housing register with a customer choice system

Goal 3. Create a diverse & thriving economy & regenerate our towns ¤ Pilot a project to reduce street signs and clutter ¤ With partners, regenerate the rear of Pershore High Street to open up river access and create more parking ¤ Significantly progress enhancement proposals for Evesham and Pershore High Streets

Goal 4. Help meet transport needs throughout the district, especially in rural areas ¤ Provide additional support to voluntary sector transport schemes ¤ Complete our review of rural transport and implement agreed initiatives

Goal 5. Provide activities for and engage with young people ¤ Deliver the Pershore skatepark ¤ Run citizenship sessions in high schools ¤ Extend text messaging to three more council services

present promises

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Statement on contracts We are required to include a brief statement on contracts that all individual contracts awarded during the past year involving a transfer of staff comply, where applicable, with the requirements in the Code of Practice on Workforce Matters in Local Authority Service Contracts. We have not awarded any such contracts, so no statement is included. Feedback If you have any feedback about this report or need more copies call Alan Smith on 01386 565333 or email [email protected] Thanks... to everyone who has provided photos and helped with the production of this annual report, in particular Lynn Stevens, Angela Tidmarsh, Helen Keegan, Rob Simmonds, Cherrie Mansfield, Rob Mace, Anne-Marie Darroch and Katherine Wagstaff.

This document and its performance appendix are also available on our website at www.wychavon.gov.uk How to contact us Phone us on... General enquiries : 01386 565000 Planning enquiries : 01386 565565 Benefit / council tax / business rate enquires : 01386 565130 Log on to us at... www.wychavon.gov.uk Visit us at... Pershore Civic Centre, Droitwich Community Contact Centre, Evesham Community Contact Centre, Queen Elizabeth Drive. High Street. Abbey Road. 01386 565000 01905 794272 01386 443322 Mon - Fri : 9am to 5pm Mon - Fri : 9am to 5pm Mon - Fri : 8am to 8pm Sat : 9am to 12.30pm Sat : 9am to 12.30pm Sat : 9am to 5pm Sun : 10am to 4pm

contracts, feedback, thanks and contacts

Civic Centre, Queen Elizabeth Drive Pershore, Worcestershire, WR10 1PT WYCHAVON DISTRICT COUNCIL

Copies of this report can be made available in larger print, Braille or audio cassette on request.Call 01386 565333 If you need help with understanding this report in your own language, contact Ethnic Access Link 01905 25121 designed by Wychavon District Council’s Graphics Unit. June 2005 printed on recycled paper