2016 contactBRAINTREE RESIDENTS’ MAGAZINE livewell in the Braintree District “Keeping myself fi t has been good for my mind” Investing in our district Supporting our small businesses www.braintree.gov.uk CAN YOU GET A BETTER gas and electricity DEAL? SIGN UP to Braintree’s Essex Energy Switch Braintree’s Essex Energy Switch: • Very simple and free to register • Average savings of £262 per year Applying is very easy: • No obligation to switch • Apply online at www.braintree.gov.uk/ essexenergyswitch If you’ve never switched energy supplier • Fill in your annual energy usage and current tari , before or haven’t done so for a number of found on your energy bill or annual statement, together with your name and address. years, you may be missing out on cheaper tari s and opportunities to x your energy • After the auction, you will be sent your personal o er showing the potential savings. You will have bills. Braintree District Council is urging around 4 weeks to decide if you want to switch. residents to sign up to Braintree’s Essex • If you do decide to switch, iChoosr will do the work Energy Switch. for you. The scheme is delivered by the Council and iChoosr, an • The iChoosr helpline number is 0800 048 8285 lines independent specialist provider in collective energy are open Mon-Fri 8am-5.30pm. switching. Auctions are held quarterly with energy • Residents who do not have internet access can ask companies o ering their best possible tari s. a relative, neighbour or friend to assist who can register using their own e-mail address. The next dates are: • If you require assistance please contact Braintree District Council on 01376 552525 and ask for the Register from 2nd August – 10th October 2016 Sustainability Team for support with signing-up. Auction on 11th October 2016 www.braintree.gov.uk/ Register from 6th December 2016 – 13th February 2017 essexenergyswitch Auction on 14th February 2017 Register from 4th April – 22nd May 2017 Auction on 23rd May 2017 2 Contact us inside... Braintree District Council Braintree District Council Causeway House, Braintree, Essex CM7 9HB E: [email protected] W: www.braintree.gov.uk T: 01376 552525 www.facebook.com/ braintreedistrictcouncil Investing in Supporting our @BraintreeDC 4 our district 6 small businesses If you require this document in another format please let us know Your child’s Our 10 health 14 community Join our People’s 10Protecting our Restoring Panel environment historic gems for the Braintree District 16 19 For more information www.braintree.gov.uk/ peoplespanel Welcome... or email marketing@ This, our annual residents’ magazine, is a chance to show braintree.gov.uk you some of the different things we are working on and or call 01376 552525 Re Text Recycling & Refuse textsome messaging of the challengesservice we face. and quote People’s Panel To say the last six years has been turbulent for us in local government would be a massive understatement. We have to do more with less, focus really tightly on the services we provide while maintaining high standards. Keep in I’m pleased that our customer satisfaction survey revealed that your satisfaction with our services remains high and on top of that, we have touch retained the Customer Service Excellence standard. Register for text message So on behalf of myself, my fellow Councillors, our staff and volunteers, updates e.g. services, please know that we are all passionate about making the district a better bin collections, special place for you and your family to live, work and play. announcements, offers and Re Text customer feedback. Text Recycling &Graham Refuse Butland text messaging service your postcode and house Leader of the Council number (or house name) to 07797 803 203 SIGN UP for our e-newsletter www.braintree.gov.uk/econtact 3 INVESTING IN OUR We’re not a health provider and we don’t “manage our congested main roads but we have land and through prudent financial “ management we have money which we want to invest in the district. Cllr Graham Butland Leader of the Council As a council we’ve started to invest £28 million on improvements to health We are looking for other provision, our town centres, new investment businesses, roads and infrastructure in opportunities a unique step described as “imaginative” throughout the district and “prudent” by our MPs. specifically those that help us improve: • health provision • our three town centres In May Braintree District Council Leader of the Council • our most congested roads approved plans to invest £28 Cllr Graham Butland said: • opportunities for new million to support our district’s “I want the best for residents in business growth and infrastructure both now and in the our district. We can’t just stand employment future. on the sidelines knowing things in our district could be better. With significant housing and We’ve got to put our money employment growth in the district where our mouth is and I hope over the next 18 years we want this encourages other partners James Cleverly, Braintree MP, to use the money we have to to do the same. said: “This is an imaginative improve and invest in our district. approach and a prudent use of “We’re in a position to invest taxpayers’ money. It will help Like many organisations in the money to deliver the improvements public sector we have had to to unlock improvements in the we all want and need and we delivery of public services, tighten our belts, but through will use that investment to create prudent management we are support new health facilities returns that we will continue to and provide an opportunity to in a good position to tackle the plough into our communities for challenges ahead. regenerate and boost our town years to come.” centres.” 4 DISTRICT What we’re doing Braintree Health in Witham Improving health regeneration Helping the NHS provide residents provision in Braintree with better access to GPs in The first part of the investment will Witham will be tackled through our As well as providing a modern see Braintree Town Centre receive investment plan. We’re looking to healthcare facility for current and a multi-million pound boost with the invest £3 million in Witham primary future patients of Mount Chambers redevelopment of the land behind care by using money from the sale as part of the Braintree Town Braintree Town Hall. of the old Bramston Sports Centre regeneration scheme, Braintree in Bridge Street to help the NHS District Council is also working on It will transform the area with a and local GPs deliver new medical another health facility. modern and welcoming complex facilities for the town. providing a good occupier mix to In partnership with NHS England, complement our town’s existing we are working on plans to create shops and services. It will also a new health facility within college be home to a modern healthcare premises in Church Lane. This facility which will give patients of will be home to the St Lawrence Mount Chambers a fit for purpose Surgery. doctors’ surgery. Cllr Butland said: “Improving The new development, which we healthcare provision in our district hope will be in place by 2020, will is a priority for our residents, it is mean new places to socialise and the one thing above everything relax with friends, colleagues and else that I know residents are really family. concerned about. By working with the NHS, we want to invest in our GP surgeries so that our residents The planned move has been get access to good healthcare. welcomed by the town’s MP Priti Patel and NHS Mid Essex CCG who will be working alongside Witham GPs to progress the proposals for the new health care premises. Priti Patel, Witham MP, said: “Witham is a growing town and in need of new health facilities. Cllr Tom Cunningham, I have been campaigning for a new Cabinet Member for Economic multi-purpose healthcare centre Development at Braintree District to be established in the town and Council said: the commitment being shown by “Redevelopment of this site Braintree District Council with “We have the opportunity to is the key that unlocks further this investment is welcome. Our improve the situation at St. regeneration for Braintree. partners in the NHS and other Lawrence Doctors Surgery. Residents can look forward to a services should now have the Through investing in a modern first class new health facility and confidence to come forward and surgery at The College at Braintree we can get to work to really support the delivery of new health the building will be redesigned invigorate Braintree.” services in the town from the new to provide a facility fit for current facility the Council is supporting.” demand and future growth.” 5 Business As a council we work closely with businesses everyday advising them on licensing, environmental health, Name Kat Berale business rates, trade waste, commercial premises, Business: Cabello an all council contract opportunities and more. Natural, Eco Friendly AVEDA Hair and Beauty Salon in Witham. Here we meet just some of our local How is it going? business people: Having broken even within just 3 months, Witham has been a profitable place for us. The Name: Merle Baker population here is increasing Business: Mango Twist – retailer for children’s clothes with new housing, which continues to attract many new Why did you open the shop in Halstead? customers. There are lots of I opened my business 15 years ago with my friend Vicky Stapleton. community days, such as I was pregnant at the time with my daughter and Vicky had a four year the carnival, the International old little girl.