Monday, February 20, 2006
Free funding on the web
Public, private, community and voluntary sector groups in Suffolk can now rapidly find potential funding opportunities, free of charge, through a new search facility on Suffolk County Council's website.
Grantnet is a user-friendly service which has been devised to assist organisations and individuals in identifying the funding sources available for specific projects. All users need to do is answer a few simple questions about themselves and the project which they wish to undertake; Grantnet will then provide an overview of all the schemes available.
As well as providing the enquirer with information on sources of funding, Grantnet also channels search results back to the external funding team at Suffolk County Council; this allows them to assess the likelihood of a successful application and helps them to provide tailored advice and assistance as required.Grantnet is an additional service provided by the market leading grants database, Grantfinder, which was established in 1985, and has become the industry standard. It is recognised as the most comprehensive and up-to-date database of grants, loans and other incentives operating in the UK. Currently it holds details on over 4,000 initiatives administered by a variety of funding providers, including the European Commission, UK Government Departments, local government, major charitable trusts and corporate sponsors.
To start using the free service click here.
Public, private, community and voluntary sector groups in Suffolk can now rapidly find potential funding opportunities, free of charge, through a new search facility on Suffolk County Council's website.
Grantnet is a user-friendly service which has been devised to assist organisations and individuals in identifying the funding sources available for specific projects. All users need to do is answer a few simple questions about themselves and the project which they wish to undertake; Grantnet will then provide an overview of all the schemes available.
As well as providing the enquirer with information on sources of funding, Grantnet also channels search results back to the external funding team at Suffolk County Council; this allows them to assess the likelihood of a successful application and helps them to provide tailored advice and assistance as required.Grantnet is an additional service provided by the market leading grants database, Grantfinder, which was established in 1985, and has become the industry standard. It is recognised as the most comprehensive and up-to-date database of grants, loans and other incentives operating in the UK. Currently it holds details on over 4,000 initiatives administered by a variety of funding providers, including the European Commission, UK Government Departments, local government, major charitable trusts and corporate sponsors.
To start using the free service click here.
Explore Card Now gives Proof of Age
Holders of Suffolk County Council’s Explore card have an extra benefit on their new travel discount card - they can now use it as an official proof-of-age card.
Following an audit, the Explore card scheme has been granted PASS accreditation. This represents the national Proof of Age Standards Scheme (PASS) and is the UK's national guarantee scheme for proof-of-age cards.
Younger Explore cardholders will be able to prove that they are eligible for child prices and the over-18s will no longer have to carry passports or driving licenses with them every time they go out to the cinema or a nightclub.
Over 2,000 Suffolk shopkeepers and pub landlords are being visited by officers from Trading Standards and Suffolk Police to raise awareness of the Explore card which can be relied on when checking the age of young people.
In September 2005 retailers were encouraged to adopt a policy of 'No PASS, no sale'. PASS cards are recognised, along with passports and driving licenses, as reliable proof of age. This makes checking ages much easier for retailers- they simply check the photo and date of birth on the card, and the sale can proceed.
Holders of Suffolk County Council’s Explore card have an extra benefit on their new travel discount card - they can now use it as an official proof-of-age card.
Following an audit, the Explore card scheme has been granted PASS accreditation. This represents the national Proof of Age Standards Scheme (PASS) and is the UK's national guarantee scheme for proof-of-age cards.
Younger Explore cardholders will be able to prove that they are eligible for child prices and the over-18s will no longer have to carry passports or driving licenses with them every time they go out to the cinema or a nightclub.
Over 2,000 Suffolk shopkeepers and pub landlords are being visited by officers from Trading Standards and Suffolk Police to raise awareness of the Explore card which can be relied on when checking the age of young people.
In September 2005 retailers were encouraged to adopt a policy of 'No PASS, no sale'. PASS cards are recognised, along with passports and driving licenses, as reliable proof of age. This makes checking ages much easier for retailers- they simply check the photo and date of birth on the card, and the sale can proceed.
Below is the paper about future investment in Haverhill town centre. I have highlighted the summary recommendations at the end.
Cabinet
16 February 2006
Capital Investment in Haverhill:
Cleales Car Park and Jubilee Walk
Two important capital investment projects are planned in Haverhill town centre.
1. Cleales Car Park Scheme
1.1 The construction of a new town centre car park and changes to the adjacent
access road has been planned for a number of years. This scheme is to help
facilitate regeneration opportunities elsewhere in Haverhill Town Centre by
providing additional town centre car parking. A budget allocation of £460,000 was
approved at the outset of this project in August 2002.
1.2 The scheme went through initial design and engineering investigations as well as
the tendering process but was not implemented at that time owing to the need to
resolve legal issues. Those issues have taken a considerable time to address but
have now been resolved and the scheme can proceed. The scheme is part of the
work programme for the implementation of the Haverhill Town Centre Master Plan
and the Haverhill Area Working Party are keen to see it proceed.
1.3 Members will also need to be aware that there have been contamination issues
that have needed addressing on the site, that legal and drainage complications
have resulted in increased costs in design and engineering investigations and
construction industry inflation has been running at 10% to 15% a year for the last
“few years”. Given all of this and because of the time between the issuing of the
original contract and resolution of legal matters the original budget has required to
be revised and a revised estimate of the works is shown below.
1.4 The project is the subject of an existing contract process dating back to 2002, it
appears however that because of the passage of time and the status of the
previous arrangement, re-tendering may now be necessary. Subject to budget
approval and re-tendering, these works are programmed for commencement in
summer 2006.
1.5 Revised budget estimate £
Demolition, engineering fees and contingency
(design majority already used) 165,000
Civil Engineering Works (including Supervision) 432,000
Electrical works (lighting, Pay and Display machines, CCTV) 52,000
Total £649,000
W561
- 2 -
1.6 The additional budget estimate of £189,000 necessary to carry out the works can
be funded from other existing capital budget allocations in Haverhill, namely the
£100,000 budget for Pedestrian and Cycle Links in Haverhill and the remaining
£89,000 from the £313,000 for ‘Works arising from Traffic Studies’. These
budgets are not fully expended at present and the completion of Cleales Car Park
is a priority. At the meeting on 16 January 2006, the Haverhill Area Working Party
noted the increased costs associated with this project and asked that the Cabinet
support the virement of capital funds from these other budgets to enable this
scheme to proceed.
2. Jubilee Walk
2.1 Jubilee Walk in Haverhill has been identified as a priority area for environmental
enhancement. This is a key project in the initial stages of implementation of the
Haverhill Master Plan for the regeneration of Haverhill Town Centre. An initial
allocation of £200,000 for this work is included in the current capital programme.
A further £12,500 has also been secured via a Section106 agreement associated
with planning permission for an extension to a nearby retailer.
2.2 The officers have produced initial concept plans for the enhancement scheme that
have been discussed with the Haverhill Area Working Party. The work programme
for the Master Plan implementation intended to undertake public consultation on
these designs in February 2006.
2.3 Preliminary investigation and design work has suggested that in order to achieve
an appropriate design and standard of scheme this level of investment of
£212,500 will need to be increased. The officers will be reporting back to the
Haverhill Area Working Party on 15 March 2006 with a number of costed options
for the Working Party to consider. It is already clear however that a reasonable
quality enhancement scheme over an appropriate area in Jubilee Walk, including
new bus shelters in the bus station will exceed the current budget.
2.4 Without prejudice to the Working Party decision, if the Working Party does wish to
proceed with the enhancement scheme along the lines of that already developed,
officers have identified that there is unspent capital of up to £249,000 in the
original budget for ‘Works arising from Traffic Studies’ that can be allocated to the
Jubilee Walk scheme if required.
2.5 As the Working Party wish to progress the Jubilee Walk scheme at an early stage
in the implementation of the Master Plan the Cabinet is, therefore, asked to agree
that the Haverhill Area Working Party has the discretion to determine at its
meeting on 15 March 2006 whether it needs to vire those funds to the Jubilee
Walk scheme.
- 3 -
3. Recommendations
3.1 It is RECOMMENDED that subject to the approval of Council:-
(1) that £100,000 be vired from the capital allocation for Enhanced Pedestrian and
Cycle Links, Haverhill Town Centre (Budget Code C415) and £89,000 from the
“Works arising from Traffic Studies” (Budget Code C398) to the Car Parking and
Rear Service Road scheme on the Cleales Site, Haverhill; and
(2) the remaining £224,000 capital allocation for “Works arising from Traffic Studies”
(Budget Code C398) be vired to the Jubilee Walk Enhancement Scheme at the
request of the Haverhill Area Working Party.
Cabinet
16 February 2006
Capital Investment in Haverhill:
Cleales Car Park and Jubilee Walk
Two important capital investment projects are planned in Haverhill town centre.
1. Cleales Car Park Scheme
1.1 The construction of a new town centre car park and changes to the adjacent
access road has been planned for a number of years. This scheme is to help
facilitate regeneration opportunities elsewhere in Haverhill Town Centre by
providing additional town centre car parking. A budget allocation of £460,000 was
approved at the outset of this project in August 2002.
1.2 The scheme went through initial design and engineering investigations as well as
the tendering process but was not implemented at that time owing to the need to
resolve legal issues. Those issues have taken a considerable time to address but
have now been resolved and the scheme can proceed. The scheme is part of the
work programme for the implementation of the Haverhill Town Centre Master Plan
and the Haverhill Area Working Party are keen to see it proceed.
1.3 Members will also need to be aware that there have been contamination issues
that have needed addressing on the site, that legal and drainage complications
have resulted in increased costs in design and engineering investigations and
construction industry inflation has been running at 10% to 15% a year for the last
“few years”. Given all of this and because of the time between the issuing of the
original contract and resolution of legal matters the original budget has required to
be revised and a revised estimate of the works is shown below.
1.4 The project is the subject of an existing contract process dating back to 2002, it
appears however that because of the passage of time and the status of the
previous arrangement, re-tendering may now be necessary. Subject to budget
approval and re-tendering, these works are programmed for commencement in
summer 2006.
1.5 Revised budget estimate £
Demolition, engineering fees and contingency
(design majority already used) 165,000
Civil Engineering Works (including Supervision) 432,000
Electrical works (lighting, Pay and Display machines, CCTV) 52,000
Total £649,000
W561
- 2 -
1.6 The additional budget estimate of £189,000 necessary to carry out the works can
be funded from other existing capital budget allocations in Haverhill, namely the
£100,000 budget for Pedestrian and Cycle Links in Haverhill and the remaining
£89,000 from the £313,000 for ‘Works arising from Traffic Studies’. These
budgets are not fully expended at present and the completion of Cleales Car Park
is a priority. At the meeting on 16 January 2006, the Haverhill Area Working Party
noted the increased costs associated with this project and asked that the Cabinet
support the virement of capital funds from these other budgets to enable this
scheme to proceed.
2. Jubilee Walk
2.1 Jubilee Walk in Haverhill has been identified as a priority area for environmental
enhancement. This is a key project in the initial stages of implementation of the
Haverhill Master Plan for the regeneration of Haverhill Town Centre. An initial
allocation of £200,000 for this work is included in the current capital programme.
A further £12,500 has also been secured via a Section106 agreement associated
with planning permission for an extension to a nearby retailer.
2.2 The officers have produced initial concept plans for the enhancement scheme that
have been discussed with the Haverhill Area Working Party. The work programme
for the Master Plan implementation intended to undertake public consultation on
these designs in February 2006.
2.3 Preliminary investigation and design work has suggested that in order to achieve
an appropriate design and standard of scheme this level of investment of
£212,500 will need to be increased. The officers will be reporting back to the
Haverhill Area Working Party on 15 March 2006 with a number of costed options
for the Working Party to consider. It is already clear however that a reasonable
quality enhancement scheme over an appropriate area in Jubilee Walk, including
new bus shelters in the bus station will exceed the current budget.
2.4 Without prejudice to the Working Party decision, if the Working Party does wish to
proceed with the enhancement scheme along the lines of that already developed,
officers have identified that there is unspent capital of up to £249,000 in the
original budget for ‘Works arising from Traffic Studies’ that can be allocated to the
Jubilee Walk scheme if required.
2.5 As the Working Party wish to progress the Jubilee Walk scheme at an early stage
in the implementation of the Master Plan the Cabinet is, therefore, asked to agree
that the Haverhill Area Working Party has the discretion to determine at its
meeting on 15 March 2006 whether it needs to vire those funds to the Jubilee
Walk scheme.
- 3 -
3. Recommendations
3.1 It is RECOMMENDED that subject to the approval of Council:-
(1) that £100,000 be vired from the capital allocation for Enhanced Pedestrian and
Cycle Links, Haverhill Town Centre (Budget Code C415) and £89,000 from the
“Works arising from Traffic Studies” (Budget Code C398) to the Car Parking and
Rear Service Road scheme on the Cleales Site, Haverhill; and
(2) the remaining £224,000 capital allocation for “Works arising from Traffic Studies”
(Budget Code C398) be vired to the Jubilee Walk Enhancement Scheme at the
request of the Haverhill Area Working Party.
Sunday, February 19, 2006
Children in Haverhill will get a close-up view of ceremonial regalia when the Mayor of St Edmundsbury visits three schools in the town.
Councillor Stefan Oliver will wear his robes and chain of office when he meets pupils at St Felix Roman Catholic Primary School on Monday 20 February and Castle Hill Middle School and Clements Primary School on Monday 6 March.
Youngsters will be shown the impressive Sword of State and items such as the mace which are carried at ceremonial events.
Cllr Oliver will talk about his duties at civic events and answer questions about local democracy. He will be accompanied by Councillors George Hatchell and Mary Martin.
Councillor Stefan Oliver will wear his robes and chain of office when he meets pupils at St Felix Roman Catholic Primary School on Monday 20 February and Castle Hill Middle School and Clements Primary School on Monday 6 March.
Youngsters will be shown the impressive Sword of State and items such as the mace which are carried at ceremonial events.
Cllr Oliver will talk about his duties at civic events and answer questions about local democracy. He will be accompanied by Councillors George Hatchell and Mary Martin.
Wednesday, February 08, 2006
Borough Council Tax to Rise Again
A Council Tax rise of 3.5% will be considered by Cabinet at its meeting on 16 February. St Edmundsbury's proposed rise follows a Government grant of 3%, after taking out the money which needs to be set aside for funding free concessionary bus travel in the coming year. Cabinet will make a recommendation on the Council Tax level to full Council, which will take the final decision on 23 February. If approved, St Edmundsbury's share of the Council Tax would be £161.64 for a Band D taxpayer (about 12% of the Council Tax goes to St Edmundsbury, the rest goes to the county council and police).
For more details of where your council tax is spent go to www.cb9.co.uk
A Council Tax rise of 3.5% will be considered by Cabinet at its meeting on 16 February. St Edmundsbury's proposed rise follows a Government grant of 3%, after taking out the money which needs to be set aside for funding free concessionary bus travel in the coming year. Cabinet will make a recommendation on the Council Tax level to full Council, which will take the final decision on 23 February. If approved, St Edmundsbury's share of the Council Tax would be £161.64 for a Band D taxpayer (about 12% of the Council Tax goes to St Edmundsbury, the rest goes to the county council and police).
For more details of where your council tax is spent go to www.cb9.co.uk
