Heading in the right direction Praise for the Council in Audit Commission report. Green Giants Waveney storms up the recycling ‘league tables’. Time marches on Extensive repairs on Beccles clock faces completed. table to become one of the country’s leading recycling authorities. Best Value survey Now, according to Portfolio Holder for the Built Environment, Cllr Ken Sale, Waveney have greater targets in their A Waveney sights. District Council survey could He said: “These figures reward the hard work undertaken by the Council and its soon be dropping on YOUR communities. Recycling plays an essential doormat. role in our ‘green’ strategy and this table proves how seriously we view the Approximately 5,000 households in the importance of looking after our local area will shortly be asked to take part environment. But we will not stand still and in a ‘Best Value’ survey to measure the with almost every Waveney property now satisfaction of residents and service users involved in the scheme we want to be in with the quality of services delivered by Green the top 10 nationwide for the period Waveney District Council. The survey will 2005/06.” also gauge residents’ satisfaction more Such a target is achievable, according generally with a range of ‘quality of life’ to Cllr Sale, in spite of the suspension of issues in the region. Waveney’s garden waste recycling service User satisfaction surveys play a vital Giants over Christmas which, he explains, will role in understanding what people think only have a modest affect on the figures about local services - what’s working and Waveney District at that time of year. what’s not - and Waveney wants to listen Council has made fantastic He said: “The suspension ensured that to YOU. Answers will be sought on a wide a large number of freighters did not have range of questions covering topics such progress up the ‘league to collect what amounts to very little waste as waste collection, recycling, transport, tables’ that measure and this, in turn, allowed for essential recreational venues, customer services authority’s achievements in maintenance of the 18-strong fleet, and more. thereby saving possible off-road time later Surveys such as these also provide recycling. in the year when there would be far valuable data about how views of local greater demand. services change over time, including Waveney District Council has made “The ODPM figures should leave no-one people’s preferences and expectations. outstanding progress in its efforts to in any doubt as to our commitment to This information can help us shape, become a ‘greener’ authority according to recycling and this suspension, though not deliver and improve local services around national figures published recently. ideal, is a practical and pragmatic solution the needs and wishes of our communities. Having been rated 307th in a league to a situation that needed addressing.” So if a survey drops on to your doormat table of local authorities for recycling in For more information about recycling in - don’t miss your chance. This is a real the period 2003-04, Waveney has shot up Waveney call the Recycling Helpline on opportunity for you to have YOUR say. We the table to 22nd in the country with an 01502 523561 or go to the Council's will listen to everyone and look forward to impressive 34.26% of all household waste website: www.waveney.gov.uk the responses. recycled. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM) has produced the table of data showing household waste recycling and composting rates for English councils Useful Numbers Opening Times from April 1, 2004 to March 31, 2005. They Town Hall, Lowestoft . 01502 562111 include the recycling rate (dry Beccles Local Office . 01502 713113 Main Offices recyclables), composting rate (green Bungay Local Office . 01986 892176 Mon - Thurs waste) as well as the total amount of Halesworth Local Office . 01986 873162 8.30am - 5pm combined recycling and composting for Southwold Tourist Fri the year. Information Centre . 01502 724729 8.30am - 4.30pm Abandoned Vehicles . 01502 523361 Blocked Drains (Office Hours) . 01502 523468 Local Offices “This progress proves Blocked Drains (Out of Hours) . 07770 267055 Mon - Thurs how seriously we view Car Park Enquiries . 01502 523377 9am - 1pm & 2pm - 4.30pm the importance of Central Control . 01502 515435 Fri Council Tax Enquiries . 01502 523435 9am - 1pm & 2pm - 4.00pm looking after our East Point Pavilion and Tourist environment” Information Centre, Lowestoft . 01502 533600 East Point Pavilion Councillor Ken Sale Fly Tipping . 01502 523468 and TIC, Lowestoft Housing Benefit Enquiries . 01502 523436 Winter These figures are even more satisfying Housing Repairs . 01502 523593 10.30am - 5pm when you consider that Waveney was still Marina Theatre Box Office . 01502 533200 Summer only part way through introducing its MOT Station . 01502 565626 9.30am - 5.30pm proactive recycling scheme during this Pest Control Service . 01502 523101 Waveney Leisure Centre, Lowestoft period. Just 66% of households were Refuse Collection . 01502 523460 Waveney Valley Pool, Bungay actually covered by the scheme in May Waveney Sports & Leisure Centre . 01502 569116 Ring for a timetable. 2004 and yet Waveney still climbed the 2 Heading in the right direction A report by the improve services and this assessment shows that the hard work is beginning to Councillor Mark Bee Audit Commission has pay off. There is clearly still much we need praised Waveney District to do and no-one will be resting on their Council suggesting a bright laurels, but I believe Waveney residents future ahead for the people can feel more confident that their Council is making genuine progress in its ongoing Welcome! of the region. efforts to create a safe, clean, attractive and prosperous environment for all our Waveney Leader Waveney District Council has received an communities.” Cllr Mark Bee has his sights encouraging report from the Audit Chief Executive Glen Garrod is equally set on a great year ahead for Commission following a recent Progress encouraged by the Commission’s Assessment review. findings. the District Council and its The report presents an analysis of the He said: “The positives in this review far residents. Council’s progress in the period following outweigh the negatives and after last last year’s Comprehensive Performance year’s assessment we have every reason Hello everyone and welcome to this latest Assessment (CPA) and compliments to be encouraged by the latest findings. It edition of In Touch Magazine. This edition Waveney for its better focus, streamlined shows that we are putting the necessary aims to bring you up to date with the priorities, good progress in priority infrastructure in place to genuinely Council's initiatives and achievements at services and for the profound effect of a improve outcomes for the people of the beginning of what promises to be a new management team. Waveney. challenging and exciting year for The Commission also believes that everyone. there is now better visibility both inside Prior to Christmas we received an and outside the Council, that performance “After last year’s encouraging report from the Audit is being managed more effectively and assessment we have Commission about the Council’s progress that difficult decisions are being faced and and you can read more elsewhere on this dealt with. every reason to be page. Suffice to say that this report shows Although the Commission suggests that encouraged by the we are starting to get things right and we it is taking time for residents to feel latest findings.” are confident that YOU will feel the tangible outcomes, it recognises that Chief Executive, Glen Garrod benefits. Waveney is now clearer about what needs Fantastic recycling figures indicate our to change and is working hard to make it commitment to looking after the happen. “There is still much to be done to reach environment and the building of a The Commission also confirmed that the high standards we set for ourselves breathtaking new Offshore Renewable this overall improvement ensures Waveney and for our communities but I am certain Energy Centre in Lowestoft will offer a real will not be subjected to a Progress that we are heading in the right direction boost for Lowestoft and its people. Read Assessment for under-performing with good people and partners capable of on to find out more. Authorities in the Spring. delivering the necessary improvements. We have also included a piece on the After the disappointment of last year’s introduction of state of the art computer assessment, which categorised the “And with early, un-audited, figures for systems to benefit residents, details of Council as “weak”, Leader Cllr Mark Bee 05/06 already showing significant other regeneration projects and believes these findings prove that improvement in performance, this, in information about exciting forthcoming Waveney is heading in the right direction. tandem with the report, presents clear events. I am sure that this latest edition He said: “The original CPA indicated evidence of an upturn in the Council’s will be both an informative and interesting that a lot of hard work was required to fortunes.” read. I hope you enjoy it! 3 College boost An exciting accommodate the engineering relationship between development and is looking at the Waveney District Council possibility of opening up the Waveney Sports and Leisure Centre to students as and Lowestoft College is they work their way through college. aiming to secure a Cllr Wendy Mawer, Portfolio Holder for prosperous future for Regeneration and Environment, said the Council was supporting the expanding business in the region. college in other ways, primarily by working with the local business community. Efforts to end Suffolk’s brain drain and satisfy the skills needs of the county’s “The College’s business community are being helped by a partnership between Lowestoft College development will help and Waveney District Council.