www.sevenoaks.gov.uk inThe newsletter ofshape Sevenoaks District Council ISSUE 85 Spring 2013 Grant scheme’s a hit with residents Holiday refuse Garden waste services Healthy Nordic collections Get ready for spring walking style with our garden Easter and Sandra puts Shape up May bank waste collection her best foot service Nordic holiday refuse forward with style arrangements a health walk Inside page 3 page 6 page 9 page 16 2 Advertisements Follow us on Twitter @sdc_newsdesk News 3 Easter and May Bank Holiday refuse collections Following the Easter and May bank holidays, there will be changes to your refuse and recycling and garden waste collection days Your revised collection days are: ●● Good Friday, 29 March – collections take place the next day, Saturday 30 March ●● Easter Monday, 1 April – collections this week will be one-day later than usual until Saturday 6 April ●● May Day Bank holiday, Monday 6 May – collections this week will be one-day later than usual until Saturday 11 May ●● Spring Bank Holiday, Monday 27 May – collections this week will be one-day later than usual until Saturday 1 June Please put your black and clear sacks and garden waste out by 7am on your collection day. New Council Tax collection dates From April, our Council Tax collection dates will be changing. From this date, you can choose to pay your Council Tax by Direct Debit on the 1st, 8th, 15th or 23rd of the month. Collections on 3rd and 28th will no longer be available. If you currently pay by Direct Debit on the 3rd of the month your Council Tax will be collected on 8th, unless you tell us otherwise. If you pay on 28th of the month your collection date will move to the 1st, unless you ask for another date. You will, for one year only, be offered instalments from 1 May 2013 to 1 February 2014 instead of 1 April to 1 January. If you pay by cash, cheque or debit card your payment date will also change from the 15th to 1st of the month form April. If you’d like to pay for your Council Tax by Direct Debit, please visit www.sevenoaks. gov.uk/counciltax or call us on 01732 227000 and we can set up your payments over the phone. www.sevenoaks.gov.uk 4 News Big Community Fund is a hit with residents Kemsing Boxing Club looks to be going the distance since it opened its doors last May thanks in part to a grant from our Big Community Fund. The Club was the brainchild of life- long boxing fan Kenny Libretto. His vision was to set up a club that was accessible to young people from every background. Kenny contacted one of his local District Councillors, Lorraine Stack, and last April she secured £3,000 from Sevenoaks District Council’s Big Community Fund to pay for “I’ve been overwhelmed by the The Big Community Fund was equipment, including head guards, community’s support. Many locals launched in 2011 to offer local gloves and punch bags. are giving up their time and raising people, groups and town and parish money and without them, the club councils funds for local improvements. The Club meets three times a week would not be possible. at St Edith Hall and has 25 regulars Since its beginnings, we’ve made aged eight to 26 charging just £2 a “We’re now running at full capacity nearly £100,000 available to 53 local session, making it affordable for most so we’re looking at options to projects. Applications are made via people. Sessions are run by qualified expand to keep up with demand. a local District Councillor and grants boxing trainers, including Kenny and In less than a year we’ve already worth up £3,000 for individual projects his fitness trainer Simon Kingy. produced winners and in January we are available. Neighbouring Councillors held our first ever boxing tournament bid for up to £6,000 for joint projects. Kenny Libretto told In Shape why he for clubs in the area.” set up the club, and why it’s proving To be successful, applications should so popular: “Being local I could see Cllr Lorraine Stack adds: “This demonstrate the benefits to the there was a need for extra activities has been one of my most proud community, value for money, how for youngsters and, with my love of achievements since I was elected in locals have been involved and long- boxing, this seemed the ideal thing. 2005. The Club appeals to many and term sustainability. is affordable and accessible to most “We offer youngsters a fun, safe children, whatever their parents’ For details of the Big Community environment where they can channel income or background.” Fund visit www.sevenoaks.gov.uk/ their energy in a positive and bcf. To contact your local District constructive way. Thanks to the two The club is also popular with the Councillor go to www.sevenoaks. councils’ funding, the young people community, including the local PCSO, gov.uk/councillors or call us on do not need their own expensive and since it began there’s been a 01732 227000. specialist equipment - they can just reduction in anti-social behaviour in turn up and train. the village. Follow us on Twitter @sdc_newsdesk News 5 Big Community Fund is a hit with residents Major changes to In just a few days’ time, Government welfare reforms will begin, affecting many working age Housing and Council Tax people who claim benefit. These changes, which begin on 1 April, will NOT affect you or Benefit just days away your partner if you’re aged 61 and six months or more on 1 April. Under-occupation reduction Changes to Council Benefit cap If you claim Housing Benefit and rent Tax Benefit The Benefit Cap is being phased your home from a housing association Council Tax Benefit will be in from April to September 2013. or other social landlord, you may see replaced by ‘Council Tax The maximum benefit allowable a reduction in your benefit if you have Support’ and the amount you will be £500 a week for single one or more spare bedrooms. can claim will be reduced. If parents and couples with or you currently claim Council Tax without children or £350 a week Housing Benefit could be reduced by Benefit, even if you pay nothing for single people unless you or 14% for one spare room or by 25% for at the moment, you will pay at your partner receive working two or more spare bedrooms. Local least 8.5% of your bill. tax credit or you, your partner housing associations are contacting or a member of your household tenants who are likely to be affected If you are liable to pay Council receive a relevant disability to offer support and advice. If you Tax, please do not ignore your benefit. think you’re affected, and you’ve not bill as doing so could result in yet been contacted, please speak legal action. Please contact If your total benefit exceeds the with your housing our Revenues maximum amount association as Team on 01732 allowed your soon as possible 227000 to Housing Benefit MAX £500 MAX to discuss your discuss payment payments will be £350 options. options. reduced. www.sevenoaks.gov.uk 6 Environment Garden waste collection service April 2013 to April 2014 Fortnightly Garden Waste Collection Service Calendar April 2013 - April 2014 2013 2014 Our popular fortnightly Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr garden waste collection Mon 1 1 service is a convenient Tue 2 2 1 1 way to dispose of your Wed 3 1 3 2 1* 2 grass cuttings and other Thu 4 2 4 1 3 2 3 compostable garden waste. Fri 5 3 5 2 4 1 3 4 Six thousand five hundred residents Sat 6 4 1 6 3 5 2 4 1 1 5 already subscribe to our green bin Sun 7 5 2 7 4 1 6 3 1 5 2 2 6 permit scheme and more than 140,000 Mon 8 6 3 8 5 2 7 4 2 6 3 3 7 garden waste collection sacks are purchased from us every year. Last year Tue 9 7 4 9 6 3 8 5 3 7 4 4 8 we composted nearly 4,000 tonnes of Wed 10 8 5 10 7 4 9 6 4 8 5 5 9 garden waste with the service. Thu 11 9 6 11 8 5 10 7 5 9 6 6 10 To use the scheme you must purchase Fri 12 10 7 12 9 6 11 8 6 10 7 7 11 garden sacks from us or one of our Sat 13 11 8 13 10 7 12 9 7 11 8 8 12 approved outlets or hold an annual permit. Sun 14 12 9 14 11 8 13 10 8 12 9 9 13 Garden waste collection sacks and Mon 15 13 10 15 12 9 14 11 9 13 10 10 14 green wheelie bins are collected Tue 16 14 11 16 13 10 15 12 10 14 11 11 15 fortnightly from the border of your Wed property on your collection day and 17 15 12 17 14 11 16 13 11 15 12 12 16 should be put out by 7am. Thu 18 16 13 18 15 12 17 14 12 16 13 13 17 Fri 19 17 14 19 16 13 18 15 13 17 14 14 18* Call us on 01732 227000 or e-mail [email protected] to join Sat 20 18 15 20 17 14 19 16 14 18 15 15 19 or find out if you are week 1 (green) or Sun 21 19 16 21 18 15 20 17 15 19 16 16 20 week 2 (blue) collection (as shown on the Mon 22 20 17 22 19 16 21 18 16 20 17 17 2*1 calendar) and your collection day.