THREE RIVERS Autumn/Winter 2012 also in this issue . Police and Crime Commissioner elections page 5 THREE RIVERS TIMES AUTUMN/WINTER 2012 NEWS Three Rivers District Council Customer Service Centre and One Stop Shop Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday 24 Dec 25 Dec 26 Dec 27 Dec 28 Dec 29 Dec 30 Dec 31 Dec 1 Jan 2 Jan Christmas Christmas Boxing Day New Years New Years Eve Day Eve Day Three Rivers District 8.30am - Closed Closed 8.30am - 8.30am - Closed Closed 8.30am - Closed Normal hours Council Call Centre 4.30pm 4.30pm 4.30pm 4.30pm 8am - 6pm Three Rivers District 8.45am - Closed Closed 8.45am - 8.45am - Closed Closed 8.45am - Closed Normal hours Council One Stop Shop 4pm 4pm 4pm 4pm 8.30am - and Reception 5.30pm Three Rivers District Council Leisure Facilities Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday 24 Dec 25 Dec 26 Dec 27 Dec 28 Dec 29 Dec 30 Dec 31 Dec 1 Jan 2 Jan Christmas Christmas Boxing Day New Years New Years Eve Day Eve Day Rickmansworth Normal Closed 8am - Normal Normal Normal Normal 8am - 8am - Normal Golf Course 2pm 2pm 2pm William Penn 8am - Closed Closed 8am - 8am - Normal Normal 8am - Closed Normal Leisure Centre 4pm 4pm 4pm 4pm The Centre 8am - Closed Closed 8am - 8am - 8am - 8am - 8am - Closed Normal 4pm 8pm 8pm 7pm 7pm 2pm Sir James Altham 6.30am - Closed Closed 6.30am - 6.30am - 8am - 8am - 8am - Closed 6.30am - 2pm 6pm 6pm 6pm 6pm 2pm 6pm 01923 711063 Refuse and Recycling Watersmeet Box Office www.watersmeet.co.uk Sunday 2 December CLOSED Collection 2012 Monday 3 - Thursday 6 December 9am - 5pm There will be no collections during Christmas week. The Friday 7 December 9am - 7.30pm collection that would have been due will be made the following Saturday 8 December 10am - 6pm week. Please refer to your collection calendar. Sunday 9 December 12noon - 5.30pm We will only collect 2 bags of excess refuse on your first scheduled collection after Christmas. Real Christmas trees Monday 10 - Thursday 13 December 9am - 5pm will be collected on brown bin days. Friday 14 December 9am - 7.30pm If we have to make any changes to the collections due to Saturday 15 December 10am - 6pm bad weather, such as snow, we will keep Sunday 16 December 12noon - 5.30pm the website updated or you can ring the Customer Service Centre. Monday 17 - Thursday 20 December 9am - 5pm Please note that collection calen- Friday 21 December 9am - 7.30pm dars can now be downloaded from Saturday 22 December 10am - 6pm the website. Sunday 23 December 12noon - 5.30pm www.threerivers.gov.uk 01923 776611 Monday 24 December 9am - 5.30pm Tuesday 25 December CLOSED Real Christmas trees Wednesday 26 December 12noon - 5.30pm will be collected on Thursday 27 and Friday 28 December 9am - 6pm brown bin days Saturday 29 December 10am - 6pm Sunday 30 December 12noon- 5.30pm Monday 31 December 9am - 5.30pm Tuesday 1 January 2013 CLOSED Page 2 Contact us on 01923 77661 1 AUTUMN/WINTER 2012 THREE RIVERS TIMES Contents page News 2-5 SUSTAINABLE TOWARDS EXCELLENCE Community Safety 6-7 Changes to Council Sustainability 8-9 Tax Benefit Towards Excellence 10 From April 2013, the Government intends to abolish Council Tax Benefit, which is paid to low-income residents Community Action 11-13 to help towards the cost of Council Tax. Every council will have to replace this with a new local scheme called Council Tax Support. The Government is giving councils less Leisure and Culture 14-16 money to pay for the new scheme. As a result, the District Council has to save at least £600,000. The Council has Editor KEVIN SNOW Warmth been consulting residents about the different options for finding the savings - including a telephone survey. Designer DIANE BUGEJA Deputy Editor NINA HOSKING can save Pensioners who claim Council Tax Benefit have a guarantee that they will not be affected by these changes. Main Photographers SUE LACEY lives ANNIE SIMONS As winters spell an increase Cllr Matthew Bedford, Cabinet Member for Resources, said: in the death rate of nearly “The changes may mean that some people who currently don’t pay any Council Tax will, from April 2013, have to 20% compared to other We welcome your ideas and feedback on this magazine. pay at least part of the cost. The options available to the times of year, the District Council are very limited if we are to continue to maintain Ring 01923 727334 or email Council is appealing to all of our current services”. [email protected] businesses and residents to donate to the Beat the Front cover: Panto - see pages 5 and 15. Killer Cold campaign. TOWARDS EXCELLENCE Community films If you would like this information This local fund is run by A Royal Affair and translated into another language please the District Council and is Hope Springs are contact us on 01923 776611. in addition to the national Thrive just a couple of the Winter Fuel Payment films coming up at scheme. grants Watersmeet over Council Leader Ann Shaw the autumn/winter By Rosie Salkeld, period. said: “The cold can kill Thrive Homes elderly and vulnerable Friends of people. We give some extra In addition to our work as Watersmeet Film help to local pensioners. a local landlord, we have Society is run by With your help we can, the willingness and ability volunteers with quite literally, save a life to support local agencies matinee and evening this winter.” and projects and have the movies shown on the resources and experience third Thursday of The Council will give an to make a difference. each month. If you need this information extra pound to match Thrive Homes is keen to every pound donated – support local projects Tea, coffee and cakes in large print, braille or every pound you donate is that are making a real are on sale with a another format call doubled. difference to our residents bar open for evening and the wider community. performances. Donate by phone 01923 01923 776611 776611 or in person at the www.thrivehomes.org.uk/ See back page for District Council. grant dates and times. Printed on chlorine-free paper from sustainable forests. The Chairman’s This publication cost 20p per copy including delivery. Quiz Night will be on Think local Tuesday 4 December You can find out where you at 7pm at Three Rivers can buy local meat, herbs, District Council, honey and vegetables and also check times of Rickmansworth. markets in the district at Tickets £10. In aid of www.threerivers.gov.uk Nine Lives Furniture. Add your business to the 01923 727251 list 01923 776611. Fairtrade shopping p12 www.threerivers.gov.uk Page 3 THREE RIVERS TIMES AUTUMN/WINTER 2012 NEWS TOWARDS EXCELLENCE clients have access to a SUSTAINABLE range of services such as help with CV writing, online applications, skills Winter wonderland walks checks and preparation for interviews. The Job Club has become an invaluable service for the local community. As Frank said: “The job club means that I have access to free resources, am able to search and apply for jobs, gain new skills and all the Job club time gaining confidence to The Countryside Management Service continue their health walks throughout the do this because of ongoing winter months, where the spectacular scenery around Three Rivers is on full display. more than 50 support from the Job Club Please register to take part. Health Walks contact us at staff.” www.hertslink.org/cms/healthwalks 01462 459395 back to work Drop-in sessions are More on walking www.walkinginherts.co.uk www.ramblers.org.uk By Liz Fraser, Ascend every Friday between 1-4pm (excluding holiday Since its set up two years times) so no need to book ago, the weekly job club at beforehand. Ascend’s Job A new, free, friendly ASCEND in South Oxhey Club can be found at the service has started at Club bus boost has offered guidance Step Up building, 39 Oxhey Mill End Community People with disabilities, youth groups and pensioners are and support for many Drive, South Oxhey, WD19 Association in Church just some of those who will benefit from a new minibus job seekers in the area. 7SD Lane, 2.30 -3.30pm after a £14,800 grant was agreed by the District Council. To date, 57 clients have on Wednesdays. Help [email protected] Roundabout provides minibus hire to groups in Three successfully gained paid will be available with 02084201364 Rivers, Hertsmere, Watford and nearby areas. Most of employment as a result. on-line job searching, Name of client has been downloading forms, Roundabout’s minibuses are fully wheelchair accessible. Thanks to the dedicated changed for the sake of filling in applications, Lisa Burn from Roundabout said: “We’re grateful to Three staff and volunteers privacy. putting together CVs, Rivers. We’re replacing a bus that is 11 years old and hope looking for appropriate the new bus serves the community for as long as the old courses and ensuring one has.” The new bus is now on order. the job searches are ready for Job Centre Roundabout has also received funds from the West Herts visits. Charity Trust and building maintenance company, Maxwell Stewart, in Rickmansworth. 01923 493344 www.roundabouttransport.com More about District Council and other grants at www.threerivers.gov.uk www.grants4.info/threerivers Free 01923 776611. parking Double festival fun Three Rivers has resisted introducing charges for Following the success of the very first cookery festival short term parking in the in the district – November sees the return of the district’s towns and villages Chorleywood Lit Fest.