Poole News2.QXD 18/01/2011 09:37 Page 2 Welcome from Leader of the Council, Cllr Elaine Atkinson
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PooleNews No.54 February / March 2011 Changing Times Winter Weather Watch WIN a Valentine’s treat at Hotel du Vin Poole News2.QXD 18/01/2011 09:37 Page 2 Welcome from Leader of the Council, Cllr Elaine Atkinson The new year brings changes and benefits for directors and for all of us at Borough of service heads as well as the In this edition Poole. New ways of working value of Council contracts and inevitable changes to the over £500 and how to bid for 4 Improving Poole way we can deliver services in contracts with the Council. schools the future. We have had many We hope this will help you to 10 Transport towards years of trying to do more have a greater understanding 2026 for less, but our belts will be of our work and standards. 11 Getting About on the tightened more than ever this To access these pages buses coming year. visit boroughofpoole.com/ 12 Community crime One new development which transparency fighters receive demonstrates our wish to show I would also like to draw awards that we are fully open and your attention to Changing 15 Council and Area transparent in our business Times on page 6 which will Meetings operations, is a new facility become a regular feature in 16 Member of Youth which is now available to view Poole News as the picture Parliament visits the on our website. You can view relating to cuts and service Commons members’ allowances, pay changes becomes clearer. 19 Half term fun at Canford Heath 22 What’s on Front cover: Snowy scene at uncil Upton Country r co ou y g Park in December n ti c a t n o to C Aof your councilZ services 2011/12 New A – Z of Council Services 6 8 16 can be viewed at boroughofpoole. Changing Times Winter Weather WIN a Valentine’s com/a-z Watch treat at Hotel du Vin Publication Details We can give you help Purpose: To keep residents of Poole informed about Council news to read or understand Design: The Roman Group Print: Newsquest Ltd this information To Poole households, libraries and Welcome Centre Number Printed: 67,000 Approx cost per copy: 7½p (01202) 633293 Publication date: January 2011 Text The Council does not vouch for the legitimacy of, or endorse, 18001 01202 633293 any of the advertising in Poole News. Relay To advertise in Poole News, for comments or further copies contact Julie Snow, Editor Tel. 633293 or boroughofpoole. e-mail: [email protected] com/accessibility 3 Poole Schools roving ls Imp New e-schoo With a rapidly rising birth rate, work homes for pr is taking place to create urgently needed pupil places in key ‘hot spots’ while delivering first class accommodation and facilities. To help cope with new pupil and will add 150 additional numbers, Sylvan First and school places needed in Longfleet CE VC Combined Reception in September 2011. Schools have both received At Baden Powell & St Peter’s modular accommodation in CE VC Middle School, a advance of extensive internal planning application has remodelling works. Minor been submitted for a £3.3m works will be carried out programme to provide four at Talbot Combined School additional classrooms and a and a new Reception classroom new school hall to enable block will be built at St the school to expand Aldhelm’s CE VA Combined from five to six School. These projects are forms of entry from due to start in the spring September 2012. Schools for the Future (BSF) programme. Two shortlisted contractors made their final bid submissions before Christmas and the preferred bidder will be announced in February. Academies in Poole and Bournemouth enjoyed a Happy Christmas following news that they will receive a share of more than £50million from the Government. St Aldhelm’s Academy will Supporting ProposedChildren & Young People changes to the age of transfer have also benefit from £11,108,040. resulted in investment in some senior schools. The money will be used to rebuild and refurbish Poole Grammar School Capital Fund bid made in the school buildings and recently opened their new 2005 which has also transform teaching and Learning Resource Centre enabled the development learning. (pic above) part of a £4 of new facilities and Councillor Mike White, million investment that will refurbishment at Parkstone Cabinet Portfolio Holder for also provide the school Grammar School and a new Major Projects said: “The with a new reception area, school hall, dining facilities Government is currently performance block, multi and teaching spaces conducting a national review use games arena and food for Poole High School. of capital funding for schools technology building to Ashdown Technology but investing in school help cater for an additional College is still set to receive buildings remains a priority year group resulting from £15m funding to re-model, for the Borough of Poole.” the change in the age of re-build and extend the For more information about transfer. The work was school buildings, through school improvements, funded through the Targeted the now shelved Building contact Tel. 633530. 4 To advertise in Poole News e-mail: [email protected] ng Poole Schools provi ools Im New homes for pre-sch Two Poole pre-schools have settled into new homes after being given a helping hand from the Council. Borough of Poole’s Childcare Team stepped in when Wise Owl Playschool in Parkstone needed to find alternative premises. The Council used Supporting Children & Young People Government funding to transform a redundant building in the grounds of Compton as unsafe in November 2009. site has been transformed into Acres into a new home for the Early years funding has also a purpose-built pre-school. pre-school (pic right). helped Postman Pat Pre- For more information contact Down in the Woods Nursery school in Canford Heath the Family Information has moved into a new open a second branch in Service Tel. 261999 or visit building in Merley after its Hamworthy. A building on the b o r o u g h o f p o o l e . c o m / previous home was assessed former Turlin Moor First School familyinformation A warm welcome for families If you’re looking for information about anything to providing instant access to information about childcare do with family life and young online services. If you wish or children’s activities people up to the age of 19 to speak to someone in in Poole, or if you need (or 24 years for young people confidence, a skilled member advice on parenting skills or with disabilities). of staff can help with your applying for a school place, The recently opened, enquiry sensitively and in then why not visit Poole’s new welcome area offers private. Family Information Service a relaxed and friendly Based in Poole Central in the Dolphin Shopping environment with modern Library, the Family Information Centre? The service seating, a children’s learning Service is open between 9am offers free, confidential and play zone, and a self- to 5pm Monday to Friday or and impartial advice and service computer terminal call 01202 261999. Learning in the library Poole Library Service is the only service in “Children were the South West to be awarded a Learning enthusiastic to take Outside the Classroom Quality Badge, in parents along to recognition of high-quality work with children the library. I was and schools. impressed how Literacy Officers, Laura Sneddon and Tricia relaxed staff were Courage work with schools to promote libraries with 30 excited children exploring the resources.” and the many benefits of literacy and reading To arrange a workshop or library visit, schools through a variety of projects and workshops. and other children’s groups can contact Laura One teacher who visited with her group said: or Tricia on Tel. 262455/6. 5 imes nging t Cha Test website Recent national news drive Poole’s new bulletins have been full of stories about cuts in Council budgets, redundancies affecting public sector staff and reductions in services. In Poole, we learnt in December that we are likely to receive £4 million less in formula funding from Government for the forthcoming financial year starting in April 2011. This represents a 14.2% reduction in formula grant and will have a major provide for those needing care. Charges impact on our budget. The Government for day care and some transport are has also announced significant reductions now based on the ability to pay which is in specific grants, along with announcing affecting a small number of residents. that there is no need for Council Tax bills We believe that our settlement means to rise this year. that we remain one of the lowest funded unitary authorities in the country. Despite Increasing pressures the difficulties we face, the Council is On top of the reduced funding there determined to protect front line services are increasing pressures amounting to to residents and to minimise the impact approximately £10 million. These include that these cuts may have. Our proposed for example the consequences of a rising budget will include savings of £600,000 birth rate and an ageing population, and for community services while maintaining other costs such as landfill tax which has all library services with opening hours increased by £8 per tonne to £56. unaffected. The proposed budget will include an investment of £88,000 in In real terms this means that by services to protect and assist victims of 1 April 2011 we need to have found anti-social behaviour £14 million of savings, efficiencies and domestic or additional income.