Summer 2012

Make the most of Park

Now is the ideal time to visit Selby’s biggest and most popular park – Selby Park in the heart of the town.

It’s easy to forget that a day at areas for the kids, crazy golf and The Park also has an Annual Park the park can keep the whole bowling are just the start of it. As Open Day every July – a fantastic family entertained without well as offering ice creams, tea, free day out for all the family. costing you a fortune. coffee and snacks, the Pavilion Selby Park is maintained by The busy park, near Selby Abbey also hosts bingo sessions. WLCT as part of a deal with covers five acres and offers Don’t forget that over the Council to deliver something for everyone. Play summer months, the play area leisure services. adjacent to the pavilion offers toys suitable for younger children and a bouncy castle. Make sure you keep an eye out INSIDE for posters advertising regular Find out about: music concerts by local and regional bands. The latest work of your Community Officers Welcome to the summer issue of The Police your Open Door newsletter. Operation Tornado This newsletter gives you a chance to get local information, the latest news on our services and gives Recent changes you all the important contact details you might need, to the benefits all in one place. system Don’t forget, if you would like to receive future issues of Open Door by email, rather High speed than through the post, please let us know. broadband Contact [email protected] and campaign we’ll do the rest. Community officers round-up

There have been some small changes to the areas your Community Officers cover. Here’s a summary of who does what and where:

Southern area North Duffield, Osgodby, Riccall, Carol V Baker Ryther-cum-Ossendyke, Skipwith, Balne, Beal, Burn, Stillingfleet, Thorganby, Wistow Camblesforth, Carlton, Chapel & Villages Central Haddlesey, Cridling Dominic Kris Capperauld, Sue Stubbs, Drax, Eggborough, Richardson & Cooley, Suzanne Collins Gateforth, Hambleton, Heck, Ruth Beckwith Barlow, Brayton, Selby Hensall, Hirst Courtney, Acaster Selby, Kellington, Kirk Smeaton, Little Appleton Roebuck, Western Smeaton, Long Drax, Newland, , Barbara Scargill & Stapleton, Temple Hirst, Thorpe Bilborough, Bolton Christine Morton Willoughby, Walden Stubbs, West Percy, Catterton, Birkin, Brotherton, Haddlesey, Whitley, Womersley Colton, Grimston, Burton Salmon, Healaugh, Lead, Byram, Fairburn, Eastern Kirkby Wharfe with Hillam, Lumby, Monk Andy Rouse North Milford, Newton Kyme, Fryston, Newthorpe, Barlby, Biggin, , Oxton, Saxton, Steeton, Stutton, Sherburn in Elmet, , Cliffe, Tadcaster East & West, Towton, South Milford, Sutton Escrick, Hemingbrough, Ulleskelf Kelfield, Little Fenton, Working together

Tadcaster’s Safer Neighbourhoods Team and Access Selby’s Community Officers dedicate one day each month to work together to deal with the issues that matter most to the local community.

Working in partnership they Neil Charlton are two of those community issues. This is a great can deal more effectively with a involved. PCSO Vause said, opportunity to strengthen our wide range of concerns, such as “Having a joint approach to partnership and build on this.” neighbour disputes and fly tipping; dealing with these issues will see Acting Chief Inspector Richard issues that can have a real impact a faster resolution to problems Abbott, The Selby Safer on people’s day-to-day lives. and it will help to keep officers Neighbourhood Commander, Access Selby delivers services on up-to-date on what’s happening in said, “I’m very pleased that both behalf of Selby District Council the area. This will increase public organisations have grabbed this and the organisation’s dedicated confidence and reassurance.” opportunity to work together. I Community Officers are often Access Selby Community Officer, am convinced that we can both out and about dealing with a Dominic Richardson works achieve more by working together wide range of front line services alongside colleague Ruth Beckwith and can share information such as housing and street scene as part of the scheme. He added, about crime and the causes of issues. Meanwhile the Police Safer “Selby District Council has always crime. This shows that both Neighbourhoods Team offers had a good track record of organisations are forward looking community policing in the area. working closely with the police and are keen to explore new PSCO Kelly Vause and PCSO in Tadcaster to deal with key working procedures”.

2 OPEN DOOR Summer 2012 View from the estates

All residents are welcome to join these estate walkabouts by Access Selby’s Community Officers and members of your Tenants’ and Residents’ Association.

You can raise any issues that concern you and point out any problems you feel need attention. Here Suzanne Collins, Community Officer for the Central area explains why they matter… “The estate walkabouts are a great chance for the community to get involved and talk to us Tenants’ and about what matters the most to Residents’ them. “It can be a great way to draw Association my attention to an issue that they may have noticed and been • Litter meetings concerned about for some time. • Grass cutting The Flaxley Road “It keeps us, as Community • Graffiti Tenants’ and Residents’ Officers, in touch with what is • General property maintenance Association meeting going on in our estates in Selby. “The estate walkabouts really takes place on the “We can also monitor are valuable for us in terms of second Tuesday of reoccurring issues on these information gathering. every month at the estates and see exactly what is “But its also a two way process Coultish Centre at going on in a particular area. because we get the opportunity 6.30pm. “The regular issues that to keep residents up to date The Selby South residents talk to us about with the work that we’re Tenants’ and Residents’ include: doing.” Association meeting, usually takes place every six weeks at the Cunliffe Centre, Petre Walkabout with us Avenue, Selby at 7pm. Sherburn walkabouts Tadcaster Walkabouts – meeting point library 10am start 10am start Thursday 6 September – Monday 3 September Calcaria House Monday 3 December Thursday 6 December – Rosemary House In Tadcaster Byram Walkabouts – Selby Walkabouts – the Community meeting point Byram Flaxley Road meeting Officer Surgery Park Road flats 10am point – Coultish Centre; will run every start Abbots Road meeting Thursday at Thursday 6 September point – Cunliffe Centre – Calcaria House Thursday 6 December 10am from 9.30am until Friday 7 September 12.30pm. Friday 7 December

OPEN DOOR Summer 2012 3 Keep warm and stay safe

Smoke alarms, fire retardant bedding and throws and free home safety visits are available for vulnerable people in our communities.

Colin Hunter, from North Fire and Rescue Service explained, “Some elderly people may be particularly at risk from fire due to health problems or because they have reduced mobility. “Over half of those killed by fires in the home are aged 65 or over. Poor mobility, poor sense of smell and a reduced tolerance of smoke and burns contribute to fatalities. Major sources of ignition include cookers, smoking materials, candles, coal fires, “ Fire & Rescue “Do you have an elderly or heaters and electrical faults on Service has identified elderly vulnerable relative, neighbour items such as electric blankets. and vulnerable people as a top or friend whose safety would “Elderly people smoking in bed priority for action. This includes benefit from this support? If so, or falling asleep in a chair with publicity campaigns and direct please get in touch with us.” a lighted cigarette have resulted interventions, where we will Call the Fire Safety Advice Line in a number of fatalities. The carry out a free home safety 01609 788545. problem is particularly acute for visit, then provide and fit smoke Go online: www.northyorksfire. those who live alone and have alarms and other equipment gov.uk mobility problems. which will enhance the safety of Telephone 01757 702453 or the individual. 01937 832223 to request a home fire risk check. Can you help broaden the band? local economy and in What you can do to Getting high turn increases local job help? quality broadband opportunities. Register interest with through the district Broadband which offers North Yorkshire County a reliable service and Council www.northyorks. is important to all consistent speeds allows gov.uk/broadbandsurvey of us. families and businesses If you have any the chance to connect questions or need any A high speed broadband with face to face high further information, helps residents keep in definition video, webcams please contact District touch with the wider and internet telephone. It Community Broadband world and supports also means easy viewing Co-ordinator Drew businesses as they of ‘on demand’ TV Fussey at dfussey@selby. grow – this builds the without stalling. gov.uk

4 OPEN DOOR Summer 2012 Tenants’ insurance made simple Selby District Council Council. It’s simple and Selby District Council has tenants now have the value for money, with negotiatied this scheme chance to insure the premiums payable weekly, as a service for tenants contents of their homes in monthly or annually. This and does not receive any an easy and affordable way. is a voluntary scheme money from the scheme. Working with us, Royal & and tenants are of course Further information and SunAlliance has produced free to make their own an application form are a home contents policy arrangements to insure available by visiting our specially designed for the the contents of their website www.selby.gov. tenants of Selby District home. uk.

Operation Tornado is launched Inspector Richard Abbott, the police inspector for Selby The fight against metal theft is being Rural, said, “We continue to be taken to a new level as Operation threatened by travelling criminals committing this sort of crime. Tornado has been launched across It’s essential that we all keep an the region in a bid to restrict the eye out for them and report suspicious activities to the movement of stolen metal. police. Help us to do our job by doing this and we will endeavour The campaign signals a warning either a photo driving licence, to make the arrests”. to criminals that there is no passport or national identity card Metal thieves have caused market for stolen metals in - which must show an address - misery for countless thousands . supported by a utility bill under of people across the country Already successfully trialled in three months old which also and the railway industry has the North East region earlier shows their address. experienced significant issues this year, Operation Tornado She added: “This is another tool for some time, but throughout is being implemented by the which will help the police stem 2011, criminals have been Association of Chief Police the tide of metal theft by cutting diversifying and targeting metal Officers (ACPO), the Home off criminals’ cash-flow. We have from other areas, including Office, British Metals Recycling watched the North East pilot power cables, utilities pipe work, Association (BMRA), British with interest and are extremely telecommunications cabling, Transport Police (BTP) North pleased that we are able to adopt residential properties, businesses Yorkshire Police, South Yorkshire the initiative for North Yorkshire and catalytic converters from Police, West Yorkshire Police and and the City of York. vehicles. Humberside Police. “The aim is to encourage the Ten people have also died in the Acting Chief Inspector Sarah- estimated 50 to 60 registered past year as a result of metal Jane Sanderson, of North scrap metal dealers across North theft. Yorkshire Police, said: Yorkshire to sign up to the Whatever the crime, the net “Anyone who wants to sell scheme to help fight the trade result is the same - disruption to metal to participating dealers in stolen metal, making it more everyday life. in North Yorkshire will now difficult for thieves to make be required to provide proof money as we will have removed of their identity by producing all their avenues to sell metal on.”

OPEN DOOR Summer 2012 5 Investing in your homes • Improve the quality of life of The draft Housing Revenue Account our tenants and leaseholders (HRA) Business Plan is our plan for through targeted investment in their homes; managing housing in the Selby district • Help meet the affordable for the next five years. housing needs across the district through making best Our plans include investing £15m rents their tenants pay. Putting use of the resources we have million in your homes over the control of housing services in the available; next 5 years. hands of councils strengthens the • Deliver value for money to The plan takes into account our link between the rent we collect our tenants and stakeholders Housing Strategy, the condition and the services we provide. through efficient and responsive of our housing stock, the demand Our vision for our housing services ensuring a viable for social housing and the likely service is: housing service. availability of resources. “People getting involved and Our plan is to continue to It takes into consideration some taking pride in where they live, in engage with the Tenants’ and major changes – financial reform homes that enhance their quality Leaseholders’ Scrutiny Panel with the abolition of the old of life.” and future tenants to develop Housing Subsidy System in favour Our key aims are: our housing service to meet of self-financing, the increased • Increase tenant and leaseholder the challenges that lie ahead. We opportunities and challenges participation through the believe that only by listening to from the Government’s enhanced work of tenant groups and and understanding our existing ‘right to buy’ scheme and the the Community Engagement and potential customers can we opportunity for ‘one-for-one’ Forums; improve services and ensure they replacement. • Shape our housing stock so meet their needs. Self-financing has seen local that it better meets the needs More information on the draft housing authorities take on of our changing communities HRA Business Plan and how you central Government housing debt through more effective asset can get involved is available by in return for keeping all of the management; visiting our website www.selby. gov.uk Looking ahead – improving access to home our tenancy strategy ownership • Making better use of our stock Under the Localism Act, the Following consultation with • Supporting more tenants into council has a new duty to partners it is expected that a work through signposting develop a Tenancy Strategy, which strategy could be agreed and • Maintain sustainable Registered Social Providers approved during summer of 2012. communities. (or Housing Associations) Once this has been completed, Detailed operational decisions with housing in the district are as a stock holding authority, will need to be made about how expected to have regard to. we will need to produce our these aims might be delivered, This will set out what we expect own Tenancy Policy relating and whether and how we might of them in their own individual to the management of our decide to offer fixed term Tenancy Policies, and it will stock by January 2013. This tenancies. Work is progressing summarise those policies or will outline our approach to towards the development of a explain where they can be found. tenancy management, including draft policy for consultation in We are working with other consideration of the use of fixed September/October 2012. Please North Yorkshire authorities term tenancies, and could include visit our website for up to date to develop a county Tenancy issues such as: details of this consultation and to Strategy; we already share • Targeting resources at those in find out more about how you can a county Housing Strategy, greatest need get involved. Homelessness Strategy and • Meeting more residents’ long A final Tenancy Policy should be Allocations Policy (Homechoice). term housing aspirations by in place early in 2013.

6 OPEN DOOR Summer 2012 Summer colouring fun All you have to do to be in with a chance of winning is colour in our summer picture and send it to us. The best pictures from these three age groups 0-5, 5-7 and 7-10 will win a £5 voucher for WH Smiths. Send your entries, with your name, address, telephone number and age to Julie Walden, Communications, Civic Centre, Doncaster Road, Selby, YO8 9T. The winners of the competition from our Spring issue were Halle Moore from Monk Fryston and Stephanie Cooper from Selby (pictured here with Jean Name...... Allerton from the Tenants’ and Leaseholders’ Scrutiny Panel Address ...... and Nina Furminger from the ...... Open Door Editorial Panel. receiving their Easter eggs at ...... the Civic Centre). Another Telephone...... Age...... competition winner was Oliver Harte from Tadcaster. Well done to all! SPOTLIGHT ON... Citizens Advice service

What does the Citizens Advice service do?

The Citizens Advice service provided by trained volunteers. to do, but explain their options helps people resolve their legal, • The CAB service is known and the possible outcomes money and other problems by by 97 per cent of the public of different courses of action. providing free, independent, (BMRB 2009). Clients are encouraged to make confidential and impartial advice • CAB advice is available to their own decisions and act on to everyone on their rights and everyone regardless of race, their own behalf. They enable responsibilities. gender, disability, sexual clients to manage their own • It is the largest advice-giving orientation, religion, age or problems by focusing on their network in the UK nationality. needs as individuals. • During 2009/10 they helped • Every CAB is a registered 2.1 million people deal with charity reliant on trained Selby District Citizens over 7 million new problems, volunteers and funds to Advice Bureau in bureaux, by phone and email, continue providing this vital Rear of 4 Park Street, SELBY at outreach sessions in places service to local communities. North Yorkshire, YO8 4PW like GP surgeries, in courts and There are a number of different Telephone Advice line: even in people’s homes. ways that CAB advisers can help 08444 111 444 • CAB advice is free, independent, people to resolve a problem. Admin line: 01757 701 320 confidential and impartial, and is Advisers don’t tell clients what Fax 01757 213325

OPEN DOOR Summer 2012 7 Contact us...

Online You can find out about all Selby District Council’s housing services online: www.selby.gov.uk. You can use the website to make payments, for example home or garage rent, or to enquire about specific housing services such as repairs and maintenance. The Council’s online services are available 24-hours a day.

Phone 01757 705101 Phone line opening times Monday – 8.30am to 5pm Tuesday – 8.30am to 5pm Wednesday – 10am to 5pm Thursday – 8.30am to 5pm Friday – 8.30am to 4.30pm

The out of hours emergency number for repairs and homelessness issues is 01757 706291.

Visit Customer contact centre, Market Cross Shopping Centre, Selby, YO8 4JS. Please note: the postal address of the Council is Civic Centre, Doncaster Road, Selby, North Yorkshire YO8 9FT.

Customer contact centre opening times: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday – 9.30am to 4pm Wednesday – 10am to 4pm Information about Selby District Council services is also available via County Council-run libraries in Tadcaster and Sherburn in Elmet, as follows (the opening times of libraries are subject to change). Tadcaster Library, Station Sherburn Library, Finkle Road, Tadcaster, LS24 9JG Hill, Sherburn in Elmet, Monday – 2pm to 7pm LS25 6EA Tuesday and Friday – 2pm to Monday, Tuesday, Friday – 9.30am 5pm to 5pm Thursday – 9am to 2pm Wednesday – 9.30am to 1pm Saturday – 9am to 1pm Thursday – 9.30am to 7pm Saturday – 9.30am to 1pm

Community Engagement Forum meetings To find out when your next Community Engagement Forum meeting is due to take place please visit this website www.your-community.org.uk

8 OPEN DOOR Summer 2012