A GUIDE TO YOUR COUNCIL TAX 2020 - 2021 Contact us WEBSITE: Contents www.braintree.gov.uk 5 News from the district EMAIL: [email protected] A Campus for the Future at 6 Join the plastic pledge TELEPHONE: Colchester Institute’s Braintree Campus 01376 552525 9 Your guide to Council Tax Colchester Institute has officially launched Current students have already been enjoying POST: its all-new Braintree Campus, now that the these new facilities in the £5m Learning and 14 Parish and town councils final building – The Learning and Technology Technology Centre since its completion and Braintree District Council, Centre is complete. These new facilities are it has received superb feedback since its Causeway House, aimed at equipping students, Apprentices opening from visitors, staff and students. Braintree, Essex CM7 9HB 15 Easy ways to pay and adult learners with the essential skills and experience they need for jobs that Level 3 Film and Television student, Heather Connect with Braintree District Council will be waiting for them in industry. Hamilton said: “The Media Lab is our place 16 Visit Braintree District and we get to use a lot of equipment. We have Follow us @BraintreeDC Students local to Braintree will have a range of cameras and a brand-new studio access to state-of-the-art technology on where we can film whatever we like. There Follow us @BraintreeDC their doorstep that the area has never seen are plenty of computers to do extra work and before, giving them the opportunity for the environment is very welcoming – I would first-class training that can best-prepare definitely recommend studying here if Media them for a rewarding career in their is your passion.” REPORT FRAUD NOW chosen industry. Useful contacts 08000 740405 For more information on the courses and BILLING ENQUIRIES Braintree Campus now boasts high-quality Apprenticeships available at the Braintree 01376 557755 [email protected] workshops, flexible learning spaces, Campus at Colchester Institute, please visit: computer suites, wood workshops and colchester.ac.uk/braintree or [email protected] CAD suites. Media studios include the new Media Lab, which is home to an In April, the Braintree Campus is opening its LATE-PAYMENT ENQUIRIES Data Protection Statement: impressive industry-standard TV studio. doors to the local community by inviting 01376 557722 The Council may share information A new Student Hub incorporating the local residents to have a look around during or [email protected] internally and with other agencies library and the new River Kitchen have its Open Event alongside potential students to carry out its statutory functions been created in the existing STEM on Thursday 23rd April 2020, 5pm-7pm. COUNCIL TAX SUPPORT ENQUIRIES Innovation building to improve the To register to attend this event, visit: efficiently. student experience. colchester.ac.uk/event 01376 557852 Braintree District Council has or [email protected] a duty to protect the public funds it administers, so we may use OUR 24/7 AUTOMATED PAYMENT LINE information you provide for the 01376 557894 prevention and detection of fraud. Information may also be shared with other bodies responsible for auditing or administering public funds for If you require this leaflet these purposes. in an alternative format, More information can be found on www.braintree.gov.uk/privacy please call 01376 557755 Better Careers Begin Here 3 Local solutions Significant investment to global issues for the Braintree District Like most councils, Braintree District Council has declared Braintree’s Essex a climate emergency and aims Braintree District Council will invest • Resurfacing of the artificial grass pitch and improvements to the athletic to make its activities, as far as Energy Switch more than £40 million for projects such as the Manor Street redevelopment, track at Braintree Sports & Health Club. possible, carbon neutral by 2030 The scheme is delivered by the Council The pitch and the track are regularly used Horizon 120 Business & Innovation for schools district sports days as well as and iChoosr, an independent specialist provider in collective buying schemes. Park and I-Construct. regional athletic and football competitions. Braintree District Council has already: Register from 1st April – 18th May The investment is all part of the • Invested £640,000 in solar panels on Council’s Health, Homes, Journeys Cllr Graham Butland, Leader of Braintree council properties reducing energy costs Auction on 19th May Closure on 30th June and Jobs agenda and will unlock District Council, said: “We’re investing and producing an income and savings of in what matters to our residents. From £100,000 each year. more opportunities for residents Find out more at www.braintree.gov. and businesses. smaller community projects, better play • Saved 858 tonnes of CO2 in business uk/essexenergyswitch or call the areas and sports facilities keeping our travel since 2015. iChoosr helpline on 0800 048 8285 young people away from screens to taking • Since 2005, we have reduced our New capital projects include: on some of the big issues such as climate change, being a place where innovative electricity and gas usage saving a total • Pedestrianisation of Braintree Town businesses can thrive and homes for our of 1,912 tonnes of CO2. Centre to create a safe, flexible and social Solar Together young people.” • Enabled more than 150,000 residents space which will draw people in and keep them entertained for longer generating to save £705,000 over the last 5 years Essex more trade for shops and businesses. through its energy switching scheme. Solar Together is a group buying It will also unlock much-needed scheme, delivered by iChoosr which gives • Encouraged residents to reduce, reuse improvements to the condition of the Investment you the opportunity to buy high quality and recycle their waste. current road and pavements. solar panels at a highly competitive price. in much loved • Supported residents to install more than Register from 23rd March 2020 • Refurbishments to play areas in ancient monument 8,700 energy saving measures since 2014 Auction on 27th April 2020 Rivenhall, Witham, Braintree and in Notley Green. The much-loved grade 1 listed directly resulting in the saving of over 1000 Closure 27th June 2020 tonnes of C02. Bocking Windmill will receive a £58,000 • Protection of a number of open spaces Find out more at investment over the next six years for Keep up to date with our work by signing in Braintree and Witham from www.solartogether.co.uk much needed repairs to the steps, sails, up to our Environment, Refuse, Recycling unauthorised encampments. or call 0800 048 8639 windows and body of the mill. emails www.braintree.gov.uk/tellmemore • The creation of a footpath linking The windmill, owned by Braintree Albert Moss car park to the Village Hall in District Council and cared for by the Rivenhall and playing fields which will volunteer group Friends of Bocking Save money at home on your energy bills make it much more accessible for all. Windmill, opens its doors to the public for a number of days throughout • Creation of gardens of remembrance Contact the Sustainability Team the summer months. on 01376 552525 or email within some of Braintree District Council’s [email protected] for cemeteries. impartial advice and information on saving • CCTV upgrades in Braintree and energy and water and available funding Halstead towns. 4 5 SCIENCE MAY HALF TERM 26 – 29 MAY Big Science Day Tuesday 26 May 10am – 4pm Science Crafts Wednesday 27 – Friday 29 May 10.30am – 12.00 Toddler Time Wednesday 27 May 10.30am – 11.30am Admission applies EXHIBITION Space: Fact and Fiction July to December 2020 Admission applies SPACE SUMMER HOLIDAYS 28 July – 28 August 2020 Join us at Space, science and sci-fi inspired crafts Braintree Admission applies HERITAGE OPEN DAYS Hidden Nature; The Sciences Museum of John Ray HANDS UP IF YOU’RE SAYING NO to celebrate a year of science with Saturday 12 September our action packed programme! Saturday 19 September TO SINGLE-USE PLASTIC... Free admission Activities and trails exploring the fascinating works by the ‘father of natural history’ John Ray. SCI-FI OCTOBER HALF TERM 27 – 30 October Sci-fi and Science Day Tuesday 27 October ...JOIN US AND TAKE THE ESSEX PLASTIC PLEDGE AT Crafts www.braintreemuseum.co.uk Wednesday 28 – Friday 30 October Toddler Time 01376 328868 loveessex.org/plasticpledge Wednesday 28 October museumbraintree Admission applies 6 7 your guide to your Council Tax We’re How your Council Tax is shared 72.5% 10.9% Essex County hiring Braintree District Council Essex Police Council collects the Council Tax on behalf of the District Council, 10.1% Braintree District Council Essex County Council, Essex Police, Fire & Crime Commissioner (Responsible 4% for Policing and Community Essex Fire & Rescue Authority Safety and Essex Fire & Rescue Authority) and the Parish and Town 2.5% Councils in the district. Parish or Town Councils Our part of the Council Tax bill explained… Did you know that just 10p in every pound of Council Tax you pay goes to fund the services Braintree District Council provides? Although you pay it all to Braintree District Council, most of it goes to fund other services – emergency services like police and fire, Essex County Council and even your local Town or Parish Council. So what does that 10p in every pound pay for? It pays for things such as waste collection and recycling, street cleaning, planning, leisure centres, economic development, running elections,housing, environmental health, emergency planning, parks and open spaces, cemeteries, car parking, markets and more. 8 9 Braintree District Council spending plan What is Council Tax? Comparison of figures for 2020/21 with 2019/20 Council Tax is a tax on homes collected by your local council to pay for local services.