Borough news Readers New survey Win panto or Narnia leisure tickets trail Plus: Explore the borough, staying independent at home, and more … Your magazine from Reigate & Banstead Borough Council Autumn 2017 KEEP IN TOUCH CONTENTS Welcome Follow us on social media From Cllr Victor We post our latest news and updates Broad, Leader on our social media. You can join in of Reigate & Banstead the conversation by following us on: Borough Council You’ll see a bit of an ‘outdoors’ Love Reigate and Banstead theme to this issue. Our cover story invites you to discover our magical @reigatebanstead new Narnia trail at Banstead Woods, which is already proving a hit with Banstead wildlife field families. Then on pages 12-13, we have highlighted some of the great @reigatebanstead suggestions on how to keep safe and all the different ways you can get places to visit in the borough. Why well this winter, see page 7, while involved and tell us what you think not explore somewhere you haven’t on page 10, you can learn about on page 11. Reigate & Banstead Borough Council been to before or try out a new some of the ways we support our activity in a green space near you. And finally, don’t forget to reply to communities, including the work of our letter checking who is registered Also in this edition, read on page our Community Development Team to vote at your property as part of 8 about how a company owned from team member Tracey Burrows. our annual check. Our article (page Borough News is the official by Reigate & Banstead Borough Knowing residents’ views is important 4) tells you more about ways to reply Apply, book and report it online magazine of Reigate & Council, Pathway for Care, is helping to us in making decisions on a whole and how to register to vote if you’re Banstead Borough Council. It residents to stay independent. For range of topics. You can find out not already. Our website is available 24/7 and you can access many of our services online. is also available on our website: So why not head to www.reigate-banstead.gov.uk when you’re looking to sign www.reigate-banstead.gov. up to our garden waste service, make a planning application, use another of our uk/boroughnews services or report issues. To advertise in Borough No access to the internet? You News please contact Contents can call us on 01737 276000 communications@reigate- or write to: Reigate & Banstead banstead.gov.uk 4 News 8 Banstead Woods’ magical 11 We’d like to hear from you… Borough Council, Town Hall, Advertisements do not imply world of Narnia How to tell us your views and Staying independent Visitors can expect a surprise at our stay informed Castlefield Road, Reigate, RH2 endorsement by Reigate & 6 How our company Pathway for new nature trail 0SH. If you have a hearing Banstead Borough Council Care can help 12 Great places to explore impairment you can text us on of any goods or services. ©Reigate & Banstead Centre page pull out: Readers survey Ideas for places to visit 07834 626468. Borough Council. 7 Ready for winter? across the borough Tips to help keep well, warm, safe Helping our community If you need information 10 What’s on and prepared Learn about the ways we support 14 in other formats, please Fireworks and outdoor cinema our residents contact our Customer are just a few of the events Contact Centre on coming up around the borough 01737 276000. 6 Staying independent 8 Visit Narnia in Banstead Woods 10 Supporting our communities Other useful contacts Raven Housing Trust Surrey County Council Surrey Police www.ravenht.org.uk www.surreycc.gov.uk www.surrey.police.uk Tel: 0300 123 3399 Tel: 03456 009 009 Call 101 to talk to your local police Email: [email protected] Minicom: 020 8541 9698 and report less urgent crimes. In an SMS: 07860 053 465 emergency always call 999. SMS 07786 Citizens Advice Bureau Email: [email protected] 204020 or 999 (Text ‘register’ to 999. You www.carbs.org.uk will get a reply with instructions to follow). Tel: 03444 111 444 2 www.reigate-banstead.gov.uk www.reigate-banstead.gov.uk 3 news Call out for young Registered Join the to vote? Youth Council performers Have you replied to Joining the Youth Council is a We’re looking for talented young performers to take part our letter about your chance to have your say on in 2018’s Star for a Night – the Council’s annual young registration to vote? important issues affecting young people’s variety show. Singers, dancers, musicians and We wrote to all households people in your area. You must be aged 13 – 19 actors wanting to develop their talent all have the chance in August checking the and live, go to school or attend a college or youth group of amazing professional tuition over eight weeks before details of people entitled in the borough of Reigate & Banstead. performing in front of a paying audience at Redhill’s to vote who live at the Harlequin Theatre. There’s also the opportunity to win a property. We do this every The Youth Council helps improve your community performing arts scholarship. year to keep our data up and make it a better place for young people. If you would like to join, please email Participants must be aged 11-18 (they must turn 11 by to date and encourage people who are entitled to vote but [email protected] the date of the final shows on 12 and 13 April) and live not yet registered, to do so. Be scam aware or go to school in the borough. Open auditions will take Please respond to our letter or reminders now if you haven’t place in the new year at the Harlequin Theatre. Don’t miss already. The letter tells you how to reply and has a security Scams are schemes to con you out of your money. They can Don’t let your waste be fly-tipped our updates on social media about the auditions, or keep code which you will need for your response. In the coming take place on your doorstep, by phone, letter, text or online. a look out at www.reigate-banstead.gov.uk/sfan. weeks we will visit homes of people who haven’t responded. Could you be unwittingly Scams promising council tax refunds have previously been contributing to fly-tipping? If you are a first time voter or have moved, register online at sent by email asking people to click on a link and provide By law, businesses offering www.gov.uk/reigster-to-vote. bank and other personal details. They can look very realistic to dispose of waste must but we already have council tax payers’ bank details so we register as waste carriers would not ask for these or other personal information. with the Environment Agency. Be alert if you are contacted out of the blue, asked for If someone disposes of Universal Credit personal information or to respond straight away. Never your waste for you, such as give your bank details to people you don’t know, especially after home improvements Universal Credit is a single monthly payment for people online. If you think something might be a scam, trust your or a garden clearance, you who receive benefits. It replaces current payments and is instincts: hang up, delete the email or throw away the letter. are legally responsible for checking they have a waste due to be rolled out in the borough from July 2018. If this carrier licence. You can be prosecuted for failing to do so, If you are scammed, don’t be embarrassed; report it. will affect you, it’s a good idea to start preparing now. particularly if the waste is later fly-tipped. Don’t get caught Search ‘Action Fraud’ online or call 0300 123 2040. There’s a gap of up to six weeks between payments out: whether they are your builder, someone you have found when you move on to Universal Credit. While you can Visit www.citizensadvice.org.uk and www.ageuk.org.uk through Facebook or recommended by a friend, just ask to apply for an advance payment, putting aside even a few and search ‘scams’ for more information. see their waste carrier licence. pounds a week now can help provide you with a buffer. Nearer the time, we will provide advice on the new system and how to manage your budget. Worried about your in brief abusive behaviour? You’ll soon from Surrey Fire and Rescue Service. Complete the Customer accounts are coming: People who abuse their partners are being offered help to and their children. Search ‘stepping up’ at be able to create an account on our website and use it to online request form at www.surrey-fire.gov.uk or change their behaviour through tailor-made sessions that www.ksscrc.co.uk to find out more. manage services such as your garden waste collection, call 0800 085 0767 to book yours. help them understand their behaviour and make changes. and to book and pay for things like sports pitches and kids’ Help for survivors: We are supporting White Ribbon Building control: Reigate & Banstead’s building The service, called Stepping Up, is run by Kent, Surrey activities. It’ll make things much quicker and easier for you. Day from 25 November with 16 days of action to educate control service is now provided by Southern Building and Sussex Community Rehabilitation Company on behalf and raise awareness of violence against women, and Landlords needed: NextStep is looking for Control Partnership, a local authority shared service of the Surrey Against Domestic Abuse Partnership.