Ismael, Raul, Emil, Laura and Pharon in St John’s Wood Library #MySt John’s Wood #MyWestminster What’s your #MyWestminster Lowest Band D Council Tax in the country How to contact More information inside the council and get value for money from local services

2018 – 2019 02 Dear resident #MyWestminster 03 By working hard to make your money go further, I am pleased to report that Westminster has once again set the lowest Band D Council Tax in the country for 2018/19. A low Council Tax means we help and support those on lower and fixed incomes whose finances may be under most pressure from increases in household expenses.

How to contact the council More information is included in this booklet on how your Council Tax is calculated and how it supports the local services that are most important to you. You may have heard about our new voluntary Community Contribution Scheme. We’re introducing this because some residents in higher value properties have asked us if they can pay more to support local services. It will provide a way for people who want, and are able, to make a voluntary contribution to support additional local services. You can find out more about the scheme online atwestminster.gov.uk/mywestminster

Some have asked why we haven’t just raised Council Tax. National legislation dictates that if a local authority plans to raise Council Tax it has to be across all Bands, which means everyone would have to pay more and we believe it is our duty to protect those on the lowest incomes. That’s why we have kept Band D the lowest in the country since 2013/14. Take pride in our vibrant and diverse city at our annual More information is included in this booklet on how your Council Tax is calculated and how it supports the local services that are most important to you celebration of Westminster’s neighbourhoods.

I am determined that Westminster is a place where everyone has a chance to #MyWestminster Day Come along to this free succeed, not just the fortunate few. Truly a City for All. Sunday 1st July 2018 community day and enjoy: 11am – 3pm • free food from across the world Paddington Recreation Ground, • live music from the Pad Rec , W9 1PD bandstand • dance Hosted by Cllr Nickie Aiken, • face painting Leader of • sports activities • inflatables Find out more and register • family activities your interest in attending at • arts and crafts westminster.gov.uk/ • activity zone mywestminster#MWD Plus lots more.

Cllr Nickie Aiken Leader of Westminster City Council 04 Your Council Tax bill 2018/19 Where your money goes 05

Band WCC GLA Total The Council Tax you pay is a key part of making Westminster a City for All. We represent the whole of the community and we A £277.51 £196.15 £473.66 spend your money, not our money on services for everyone. B £323.77 £228.85 £552.62

C £370.02 £261.54 £631.56 Highest rated by the Social Mobility Delivering 1,850 affordable homes Commission for our work to create by 2023, including council D £416.27 £294.23 £710.50 760 opportunities and employment homes for social rent so families How to contact the council E £508.77 £359.61 £868.38 can lay down their foundations F £601.28 £425.00 £1026.28 Over 6,300 children taking part in #MyWestminster City Lions the Forest Schools programme, £100,000 programme to give G £693.78 £490.38 £1184.16 becoming the green ambassadors 13–16 year olds access to great H £832.54 £588.46 £1421.00 of the future unrivaled opportunities Supporting over 700 people into Flagship redevelopment of work through the Westminster Moberly Sports Centre providing Employment Service state-of-the-art sporting facilities north of the borough

Your Council Tax bill if you live in Queen’s Park #MyWestminster Fund community In 2018/19 we will spend £871.3m led investment of £500,000 for on council run services For the residents of Queen’s Park ward an additional precept is applied voluntary organisations for the Queen’s Park Community Council, created in April 2014. Find out more at westminster.gov.uk/queens-park-community-council The Old Town Hall reopened after a major £800,000 Band WCC GLA QPCC precept Total refurbishment and is once again A £277.51 £196.15 £30.92 £504.58 hosting marriages, civil partnerships and citizenship ceremonies B £323.77 £228.85 £36.07 £588.69 C £370.02 £261.54 £41.23 £672.79 D £416.27 £294.23 £46.38 £756.88 E £508.77 £359.61 £56.69 £925.07 F £601.28 £425.00 £66.99 £1093.27 G £693.78 £490.38 £77.30 £1261.46 H £832.54 £588.46 £92.76 £1513.76

Welcome to Westminster For more information about your Council Tax visit westminster.gov.uk/council-tax 06 Council services anytime, anywhere

We are constantly working to upgrade our online services, making it quicker and easier than ever before to contact the council and find the answers to any questions on our website.

Visit westminster.gov.uk to:

Apply for a Westminster City Submit and check a planning Save card to receive exclusive application How to contact the council discounts and offers Apply for a temporary Find and contact your event notice local Councillor Order recycling bags Set up a direct debit to pay your or a box council tax

Find your nearest leisure centre, library or community hub

Help us solve issues faster – Report It! The #MyWestminster Fund is part of the council’s #MyWestminster programme which supports local projects. Keeping Westminster’s streets clean and safe is a priority to us. If you see or experience a problem, reporting it online helps us resolve the issue as quickly as possible. The fund is open to all voluntary There will be four rounds of bidding organisations, resident, faith and over a two-year period. All bids will Use westminster.gov.uk/report-it to let us know about issues related to: community groups within the be considered by officers from the borough. This includes schools and council with final decisions on funding Abandoned waste Noise other establishments which care for will be decided by a Member Board. Westminster residents. For more information and advice on Street cleaning Damage to the road All individual applications must be for the fund email mywestminsterfund@ under £10,000. westminster.gov.uk Dog fouling Illegal parking and more Your project must support one of Graffiti these themes: • community leadership and cohesion • pride in vibrant, mixed Set up your personal MyWestminster online account to: neighbourhoods • air quality and the environment Track the progress of Save time by pre-filling forms with

your requests the details from your account • young people • benefit large areas or the whole city Make a selection of Visit myaccount.westminster.gov.uk miscellaneous payments 08 Westminster launches first ever Your council 09 voluntary Community Contribution (A – Z) Westminster is a great place to live, but there are huge challenges for some. That is why some residents in the highest Council Tax band Find out more about the services you asked how they could contribute more to community projects in receive through your Council Tax. Westminster. In response, the council has launched the Westminster 10 Adult services Community Contribution Scheme.

How to contact the council 10 Armed forces community Council Tax payers in Band H are being protecting the incomes of residents 10 Business unit invited to make a voluntary contribution whose finances are under most pressure. to The City of Westminster Charitable 10 Business rates Trust, a registered charity, to enable it Cllr Nickie Aiken, Leader, said: “Some 10 Children’s services to support additional local services. have asked why we haven’t just raised Council Tax. National legislation dictates 12 City promotions, events So many people have already shown that if a local authority plans to raise and filming support for the scheme, with some Council Tax it has to be across all Bands, already sending contributions of up which means everyone would have to 12 Council tax to £2,000. The council is suggesting a pay more and we believe it is our duty 14 Cycling contribution of £833 – or just £69 a to protect those on the lowest incomes. month – to match the City Council That’s why we have kept Band D the 14 Data protection and element of Council Tax for Band H lowest in the country since 2013/14. freedom of information properties this year. However, this is The voluntary Westminster Community 14 Electoral services just a suggestion and the amount is up Contribution is a great way for those to those who wish to contribute to this who want, and are able, to make a real 14 Employment completely voluntary scheme. difference to people in our community 14 Health with the greatest need.” By working hard to make local tax 15 Housing payers’ money go further, Westminster For further information visit 15 Housing benefit and has once again set the lowest Band D westminster.gov.uk/mywestminster council tax support Council Tax in the country for 2018/19, 16 Libraries 16 Parking 18 Planning and licensing 18 Registrars 18 Recycling, streets and environmental health Lael, 18 Sexual and domestic Registrar at abuse helpline The Old Marylebone Town Hall 20 Sports and leisure #MyMarylebone #MyWestminster 20 Volunteering What’s your #MyWestminster 10

Adult services Armed forces peoplefirstinfo.org.uk community westminster.gov.uk/adult-services westminster.gov.uk/armed-forces 020 7641 2500 PAY COUNCIL TAX • Adult care services or concerns about an adult Business unit

How to contact the council • Information and advice businesswestminster.com • Support to maintain health and 020 7641 2070 BY DIRECT DEBIT well-being Bespoke information, advice and • Support to stay at home guidance for Westminster businesses. • Transport for disabled or older people

020 7641 6000 • Support for carers

Business rates Other adult services contacts westminster.gov.uk/businessrates 020 8315 2050 Customer feedback team ASCCustomerfeedback@

General Enquiries westminster.gov.uk Children’s services 0800 587 0072 westminster.gov.uk/children-services Adult education youngwestminster.org.uk waes.ac.uk 020 7641 4000 020 7297 7297 • Worries about a child’s safety and protection Carers service • Early help and support for families carers-network.org.uk • Adoption and fostering 020 8960 3033 • Childminding and nurseries • Children’s Centres (Family Hubs) Community supportive housing • Youth offending team 020 7641 1000 • Young people, Youth Council and youth participation Handyperson scheme 020 7641 8959 Continued on page 12

Older persons Freedom Pass londoncouncils.gov.uk/freedompass For more information, visit westminster.gov.uk/directdebit

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Complaints and compliments Early Help information for families Children’s services westminster.gov.uk/early-help 0808 202 6210 020 7641 7929 020 7745 6501 #My Westminster Free school meals Children’s Centres 020 7641 3412

How to contact the council (Family Hubs) Take control of your future School admissions westminster.gov.uk/childrens- 020 7745 6433 #MyWestminster City Lions is a new club to help young centres people aged 13 to 16 make the most of the many We are developing our Children’s Centre Schools (call the school direct) opportunities that come with living in the heart of the city. Hubs into Family Hubs. Visit your local hub westminster.gov.uk/schools By joining #MyWestminster City Lions, young people will: for stay and play sessions, antenatal and 020 7641 6000 parenting advice, workshops and more. Special Educational Needs • boost their CV with work experience • receive exclusive access to arts and and Disabilities (SEND) at some of the city’s most prominent cultural venues and events such North West organisations including The Ritz and as West End theatre shows and localoffer.westminster.gov.uk Queen’s Park Children’s Centre Lord’s Cricket Ground exhibitions at museums and galleries 020 7641 5838 020 7361 3311 • gain access to volunteering roles • meet other young people from 88 Bravington Road, W9 3AL to help them with their career across the city.

General Enquiries Student finance choice including high profile events #MyWestminster City Lions will initially 0300 100 0607 North East such as West End LIVE be for 100 local young people starting in Church Street Children’s Centre • explore different career paths Easter 2018, before expanding to 1,000 Portman Early Childhood Centre through taster sessions and teenagers over the next two years. 020 7641 5435/5436 City promotions, inspirational workshops with Find out more and register 12–18 Salisbury Street, NW8 8DE events and filming local young entrepreneurs your interest in taking part at westminster.gov.uk/my- South westminster.gov.uk/events-and-filming westminster Churchill Garden Children’s Centre 020 7641 2390 020 7641 5923 Holding an event or filming in a park, open Johnson’s Place, SW1V 3EU space or public highway in Westminster.

Other children’s Council tax services contacts westminster.gov.uk/council-tax 0343 178 2743 Disabled children localoffer.westminster.gov.uk 020 7641 5100 14 15

Cycling Health NHS services Central area service centre 24 Lilestone Street, NW8 8SR nhs.uk westminster.gov.uk/cycling westminster.gov.uk/public-health [email protected] 0300 311 2233 Campaign Against Living Miserably For estates: Church Street, Lisson Green, Marylebone, St John’s Wood Data protection (CALM) Medical assistance thecalmzone.net 999 In an emergency and freedom of South area service centre 0808 802 5858 111 For non-emergencies 137 Lupus Street, SW1V 3HE How to contact the council information For estates: Churchill Gardens, Diabetes support westminster.gov.uk/dp Grosvenor, Lillington and Longmoore knowdiabetes.org.uk Gardens, , Pimlico Street westminster.gov.uk/foi Housing Properties, Soho and Covent Garden 020 7641 3921 Drug and alcohol services westminster.gov.uk/housing 0330 303 8080 (substance misuse) 020 7641 1000 North area service centre 020 7641 6000 0800 014 7440 (alcohol misuse) • Homelessness 1 Glasgow House, W9 1QY Electoral services • Housing options For estates: Maida Vale, Mozart, North Street Properties, Queen’s Park westminster.gov.uk/electoral- Healthy lifestyle sessions • Private sector housing services for families and teens West area service centre 020 7641 7500 mytimeactive.co.uk/MEND Other housing numbers 155 Westbourne Terrace, W2 6JX 020 3795 9346 For estates: , Little Venice, General Enquiries • Voter registration Paddington Green, West Street • Administration of elections, Healthy Hearts Residential services referendums and ballots Properties, Westbourne Park healthyhearts.org.uk 020 7641 6161 020 3434 2500 Employment Rough sleeping Housing benefit and Mental health talking therapies westminster.gov.uk/rough-sleeping 030 3333 0000 Contact Streetlink on 0300 500 0914 council tax support Westminster westminster.gov.uk/benefits Employment Service Sexual health services CityWest Homes 0800 072 0042 peoplefirstinfo.org.uk/health-and- westminster.gov.uk/employment • Housing benefit to help pay rent well-being/taking-care-of-yourself/ cwh.org.uk employmentteam@westminster. • Support to help pay council tax gov.uk sexual-health 0800 358 3783 020 7641 3336 Stop smoking service Repairs 020 7631 3460 kick-it.org.uk (CityWest Homes tenants) A free to use recruitment service which can [email protected] help you to prepare for work and find a job. 020 3434 2500 0800 358 3783 or 020 7245 2990 0800 358 3783 (out of hours emergencies only) 16 17

Libraries Mayfair Library 25 South Audley Street, W1K 2PB westminster.gov.uk/libraries 020 7641 6200 Paddington Library • Archives and local studies Porchester Road, W2 5DU (adults) • Arts and culture 150 Queensway, W2 6GD (children)* • Business Information Points *Due to redevelopment this is a temporary location for Paddington Children’s Library. The library will reopen at How to contact the council Get the skills • Renewals and enquiries Clifford Hall later in 2018.

Home library service Pimlico Library 020 7641 5405 Lupus Street, SW1V 3AT to get the job

020 7641 6000 Queen’s Park Library

Libraries

666 Harrow Road, W10 4NE WAES is Westminster’s adult college, offering training Archives Centre and Express Library St John’s Wood Library in English, maths and key skills needed for work. 10 St Ann’s Street, SW1P 2DE 20 Circus Road, NW8 6PD Choose from hundreds of qualification and short

Victoria Library and Westminster courses to upskill or prepare you for employment. General Enquiries Charing Cross Library including the Chinese Library Music Library 4 – 6 Charing Cross Road, WC2H 0HF 160 Buckingham Palace Road, SW1W 9UD • Apprenticeships and traineeships Church Street Library • Computing and digital skills 67 Church Street, NW8 8EU Westminster Reference Library • Creative arts and vocational studies 35 St Martin’s Street, WC2H 7HP • English and maths Little Venice Sports Centre Library • Employability skills (self-service) • General interest courses 10 Crompton Street, W2 1ND Parking westminster.gov.uk/parking Maida Vale Library 020 7823 4567 Sutherland Avenue, W9 2QT Monday – Saturday 8am – 8pm Call us, go online or visit a WAES centre today to see • Car Club Marylebone Library how we can help. Plus, speak to an adviser to find out • Motorcycle parking 9–11 New Cavendish Street, • Parking bay suspensions if you’re eligible to receive funding for your studies. W1G 9UQ. • Parking permits (resident or disabled) • Pay or challenge a parking ticket (24 hrs) www.waes.ac.uk 020 7297 7297

get-the-skills-2017-18.indd 1 03/02/2017 15:38 18 Your recycling guide Planning and licensing • Highways licensing including temporary Every household property in Westminster receives structures, scaffolds and cranes westminster.gov.uk/planning • Health and safety a weekly mixed recycling collection westminster.gov.uk/licensing • Noise complaints (24 hours, 020 7641 6500 365 days a year) • Building control • Parks, gardens and trees Your mixed recycling collection is weekly • Conservation areas and listed buildings • Pest control • Pot holes Step 1 Step 2 Step 3 How to contact the council • Licensing • Markets and street trading • Recycling and rubbish collections Order your free recycling bags or Put all your mixed recycling Leave your bags/ box out on • Street cleansing box by contacting us or ask your together into your recycling bags your collection day for your • Planning applications and permissions housing manager or caretaker. or box. doorstep collection. Or if you • Street lights* • Planning enforcement Please remember to: live in a communal property use your onsite recycling bins. • Trading standards Flatten your cardboard boxes Not sure when your collection *Faulty traffic lights should be reported directly to Give your food, drink and

020 7641 6000 household product containers day is?

Transport for London. Visit tfl.gov.uk/help-and-contact/ Registrars report-road-works or call 0343 222 1234. a quick rinse. Visit westminster.gov.uk/recycling

westminster.gov.uk/births-deaths- marriages-and-citizenship Commercial waste 020 7641 7500 cleanstreets.westminster.gov.uk Please only put in your mixed recycling: • Births 020 7641 6180 • Citizenship ceremonies General Enquiries • Deaths • Marriages and civil partnerships Sexual and domestic • Nationality Services abuse helpline angelou.org Recycling, streets and 0808 801 0660 (freephone) 0808 801 0770 environmental health Monday – Friday 10am – 4pm no food waste no black bags no garden waste no polystyrene westminster.gov.uk/recycling Wednesdays also 6 – 9pm westminster.gov.uk/report-it advancecharity.org.uk Contact us 020 7641 2000 020 8741 7008 Visit westminster.gov.uk/recycling to If you have a housing manager or caretaker please Monday – Friday 10am – 6pm order free recycling bags or box ask them for details of your recycling and rubbish collection services. • Animal warden Thursdays until 9pm find out your recycling and rubbish collection days • Bulky waste and special collections and times Translators are available. find your nearest on-street micro-recycling centre • Cemeteries Free, non-judgemental and • Drains confidential advice for women and • Fly tipping girls aged 13 and over, experiencing • Food safety domestic, sexual or gang related • Graffiti and fly-posting violence, and harmful practices.

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Sports and leisure Paddington Recreation Ground 0333 005 0413 westminster.gov.uk/sports Randolph Avenue, W9 1PD everyoneactive.com/centre OFFERS AND DISCOUNTS FOR WESTMINSTER RESIDENTS 020 7641 2012 Porchester Centre Information on sports facilities, activities 0333 005 0415 Don’t miss out on fantastic and clubs competitions. Queensway, W2 5HS offers and great savings at How to contact the council Westminster’s leading Leisure centres Porchester Spa attractions with a free 020 7313 3858 Westminster City Save card. Queensway, W2 5HS Academy Sport Register for a free card and find full 020 7121 0642 details of all offers atwestminster.gov. Queen Mother Sports Centre . You can also register by 020 7641 6000 Westminster Academy, Sir Naim uk/city-save

Dangoor Centre, 255 Harrow Road, 0333 005 0418 filling out an application form at your

W2 5EZ 223 Vauxhall Bridge Road, SW1V 1EL local library or leisure centre, or by calling 020 7641 6000. Jubilee Sports Centre* Seymour Leisure Centre 0333 005 0412 0333 005 0416 FREE ADMISSION TO WESTMINSTER ABBEY Caird Street, W10 4RR Seymour Place, W1H 5TJ General Enquiries

Little Venice Sports Centre St Augustine’s Sports Centre The setting for coronations for 1,000 years and the final resting 0333 005 0414 0333 005 0413 place of many of Britain’s kings 10 Crompton Street, W2 1ND Oxford Road, NW6 5AW and queens, Westminster Abbey is one of the nation’s pre-eminent *Moberly Sports Centre closed for redevelopment Marshall Street Sports Centre and is due to reopen in Summer 2018. For more national landmarks. Westminster 0333 005 0417 information on memberships and facilities visit residents are eligible to free entry everyoneactive.com/HelloWestminster. Once between Monday – Saturday with the 15 Marshall Street, W1F 7EL Moberly opens, Jubilee Sports Centre will close for presentation of a valid City Save card. redevelopment into a community facility. Moberly Sports Centre* 020 3879 6669 Volunteering NW10 3NB FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA westminster.gov.uk/volunteering 020 7723 1216 Keep in touch, join the  @CityWestminster conversation and help us make  facebook.com/CityWestminster Westminster a City for All.  @CityWestminster 22 General Enquiries 020 7641 6000 How to contact the council neighbourhood forum,orthecouncil’sOpenForum. Contact your ward councillor ward your Contact your partofWestminsterby neighborhoods thatresidentsareproudtocallhome.Helpshape From SohotoQueen’sPark,ourcityconsistsofmanybeloved You make the difference Wards:

for consideration. your wardcouncillors team toputitforward the council’swardbudgets for olderresidents,contact more treesorfundingactivities for alocalsportsclub,planting that isbuyingnewequipment an ideaforaproject,whether specific localprojects.Ifyouhave an annualbudgetearmarkedfor Each wardinWestminsterhas Ward budgets westminster.gov.uk/councillors

westminster.gov.uk/ Warwick Tachbrook 020 7641 3411 7641 020 ward-budgets West End Vincent Square St James’s Marylebone High Street Lancaster Gate Knightsbridge andBelgravia Hyde Park Bryanston and DorsetSquare

getting involved via your ward, getting involvedviayourward,

Wards:

Westbourne Churchill Bayswater 020 7641 4299 Regent’s Park Queen’s Park Maida Vale Little Venice Harrow Road Church Street Abbey Road Hyde Park Regent’s Park

Th e Th ames neighbourhood-planning planning at forums andneighbourhood Westminster’s neighbourhood be provided.Findoutmoreabout like andwhatinfrastructure shape its shared visionfortheirareaandhelp residents andbusinessestocreatea Neighbourhood forumsallowlocal Neighbourhood forums those newbuildings to bebuilt,havetheirsayonwhat want newhomes,shopsandoffices they canhelpdecidewhere By developing • • in awaythatsuitsyou: involved inlocaldecisionmaking Open Forumallowsyoutoget ForumOpen

[email protected] WCC OPENFORUM Freepost Write tousat:Freepost westminster.gov.uk members throughouttheyear the CouncilandotherCabinet speak directlytotheLeaderof Forum publicmeetingsto Join oneofourregularOpen residents at that mattertoyouwithother and eventsdiscussissues Feedback on council services development and growth. development andgrowth. westminster.gov.uk/ a neighbourhood plan a neighbourhoodplan openforum. should look should look Welcome to Westminster

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What’s your #MyWestminster #MyQueens Park Open Age,QueensParkClub Mary, TonyandCandy, #MyWestminster

23 THERE’S A NEW WAY TO APPLY FOR BENEFITS

Go online for a better way to apply for benefits. You can now claim your housing benefit and council tax support from anywhere you can access the internet. westminster.gov.uk/go-online

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