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Hampshire’s ‘growing’ Diamond Jubilee Plans
Hampshire’s ‘growing’ Diamond Jubilee Plans 06/02/2012 12:00:00 Schoolchildren across Hampshire will be planting hundreds of trees to commemorate Her Majesty The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee. To date 500 schools have accepted Hampshire County Council’s offer to provide them with a young tree to mark 60 years of The Queen’s reign. Schools also will be given stakes, fertiliser and information about tree planting and maintenance so that their pupils can celebrate this event and learn about the importance of trees within the ecosystem.
The Leader of Hampshire County Council, Councillor Ken Thornber, explained that the authority has been working with The Woodland Trust and the Hampshire Gardens Trust to provide the sapling trees which will be predominantly be oak trees.
“We have had a fantastic response and almost all of Hampshire’s 517 schools will be taking part in this tree planting scheme. It’s part of the Woodland Trust’s Jubilee Woods initiative whereby they want millions of people across the country to plant trees and create a lasting legacy of public woodland for future generations to enjoy.
“Hampshire County Council is offering young oak saplings to our schools, as the oak is one of the country’s most popular and traditional trees. The oak thrives well in Hampshire and was used extensively for shipbuilding in the past. Some schools will have restricted space for such planting and we can provide them with other species of tree or they may need to seek agreement with their local town or parish council to plant the sapling on any adjoining publicly owned land.
“The tree offer has also been extended to Parish Councils and so far 50 have said they would like one. We have also let the Parishes know that we have set up a dedicated website where people can post and share information on all the events and activities that are currently being planned across Hampshire in connection with The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.”
Marking 60 years of the Queen’s reign the Diamond Jubilee celebrations will culminate in an extended holiday weekend from 2 – 5 June 2012.
For further information please see: www.hants.gov.uk/diamondjubilee
www.woodlandtrust.org.uk
www.Jubileewoods.org.uk
www.hants.gov.uk/mediacentre
For media enquiries please contact:
Fiona Holgate, Corporate Affairs Manager
Corporate Communications Team
Tel: 01962 847115
Email: fiona.holgate@hants.gov.uk
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Cold snap sparks call from Insulate Hampshire to 'wrap up your home'
Cold snap sparks call from Insulate Hampshire to 'wrap up your home'
06/02/2012 12:00:00
In the face of plummeting temperatures, Insulate Hampshire is urging people to make sure their homes are insulated against the cold and a larger than necessary heating bill.
Free loft and cavity wall insulation
Currently, until 31 March, householders can apply for free loft and cavity wall insulation through the 'Winter Warmer' promotion. Insulate Hampshire is also open to tenants who rent privately, providing they have their landlord's permission.
One third heat loss through walls
Around a third of heat is lost in a house through the walls and over a quarter through the roof. According to statistics from the Energy Saving Trust, insulating a three-bedroom, semi-detached house with both cavity wall and loft insulation could save householders over £300 a year on their energy bills, as well as over 1000kg of CO2 every year.
Councillor Ken Thornber, Chairman of the Hampshire Senate, commented: “If a home is not insulated, people will be paying dearly to keep it warm when the impact of a cold snap could be lessened by taking advantage of the free insulation offer. I urge householders to apply for their free, no-obligation survey without delay so that they can seize the opportunity to reduce heat loss in their homes, keeping them warmer, and preventing their heating bill from being more expensive than it needs to be."
Free insulation is available for average sized properties or smaller and, in the case of loft insulation, homes that currently have less than 60mm (approx 2½ inches) of material. A free technical survey is provided for all properties as part of the scheme, but excess charges will apply for larger properties or those where other installation equipment is needed. Residents can now apply online at Insulate Hampshire, as well as by telephone on 0800 952 0037.
Insulate Hampshire is delivered by Hampshire County Council and 11 city, district and borough councils, in partnership with ScottishPower, the organisation funding the scheme.
Hampshire Area Based Insulation partnership
The Hampshire Area Based Insulation (ABI) partnership delivering ‘Insulate Hampshire’ is made up of the Hampshire local authorities in the Hampshire Senate plus Eastleigh Borough Council and Fareham Borough Council (does not currently include Portsmouth City Council or Southampton City Council).
The Hampshire Senate is a voluntary partnership made up of the County Council Leader, Leaders of most Hampshire Borough and District Councils; the Chairman of the Hampshire Police Authority, Chief Constable of Hampshire Police, Chairman of Hampshire Fire Authority and the Chief Fire Officer of Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service; the Hampshire Primary Care Trust; the Hampshire Association of Local Councils; and the Hampshire Economic Partnership. The voluntary and community sector and the Armed Forces also have seats. It aims to achieve better working, efficiency and coordination between public services to provide high quality, cost effective and efficient services for local residents.
www.hants.gov.uk/mediacentre For media enquiries please contact: Diana Leahy, Press Officer Tel: 01962 847666 Email: diana.leahy@hants.gov.uk
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Hampshire ready for icy conditions
Hampshire ready for icy conditions
03/02/2012 12:00:00
With ice and snow forecast in parts of Hampshire over the next few days, Hampshire’s highways teams are preparing to salt the roads round the clock.
Already this winter, Hampshire’s main routes have been treated on over 20 occasions when road surface temperatures have fallen below zero, and more than 3000 tonnes of salt has been used so far.
Salting lorries have already been out treating main and minor roads, and will be going out regularly over the weekend. Community routes will be treated on Saturday and Sunday to ensure these roads are clear for schools opening on Monday morning.
Roads are treated on a priority basis, with the main roads which carry 85 per cent of Hampshire’s traffic first on the list. These include A roads, and roads to major emergency services, major bus routes and larger schools. During times of prolonged severe weather, ‘priority two routes‘ which include B roads and single access to villages and ‘community routes’ ensure roads to smaller schools, GPs surgeries and areas of community activity are covered.
Additionally, approximately 3000 community salt bins around Hampshire were filled with salt in preparation for winter so people can help keep pavements and smaller roads clear from ice and snow.
Hampshire County Council began the winter with more than double the minimum amount of salt recommended by Government, including an extra 4000 tonnes stored at a new salt barn in Micheldever. Salt is stored at strategic points around the county, and Hampshire’s fleet of 60 salting lorries stock up with around five tonnes of salt each.
The Council is urging members of the public to continue being good neighbours by looking out for the welfare of any vulnerable and elderly people in their community, doing small tasks such as shopping for essentials or helping them get out and about if access to their home is icy.
To help keep warm have regular hot drinks and at least one hot meal a day if possible, eating regularly helps to keep energy levels up during winter. Wear several layers of warm clothes and ensure the room you are in is sufficiently warm. Keep as active as possible and remember to wrap up warm if you go outside.
 Councillor Mel Kendal, Executive Member for Environment and Transport at Hampshire County Council, said: “The forecast indicates that the South East may be in for some snowfall over the weekend and we are well prepared for cold weather.
“We all have a part to play in keeping Hampshire’s roads moving, and I would ask people to always consider if their journey is essential during bad weather, to drive according to the conditions and to remember that even if a road surface looks black it does not mean it is free of ice.
“I hope communities feel more resilient now to deal with cold weather – we have installed large capacity bins filled with salt and grit and have provided parish councils with snow shovels. I would ask people to check on vulnerable or elderly people in their community during times of bad weather, and if they have any concerns to call us on 0845 603 5630.”
Follow us on Twitter @Hantsconnect for the latest information on when roads are treated.
More information about road salting and salt bins http://www.hants.gov.uk/roads/winter-maintenance
To report an empty salt bin, please go online to: http://www.hants.gov.uk/index/transport/roadproblems
For advice about keeping warm in cold weather: http://www.hants.gov.uk/keepingwarm
If a school decides it needs to close it will update information for parents and carers on the County Council's website (Hantsweb) school closures page: http://www.hants.gov.uk/education/schoolclosures/
Winter maintenance work is carried out by Hampshire County Council and Amey, the County Council’s highway maintenance service provider. Other work Amey undertakes includes sorting out drainage problems, vegetation encroachment, maintaining footpaths, and ensuring road signs are clear and visible.
Amey is one of the UK’s leading public services providers who look after a range of services such as road and bridge design, waste, congestion management, rail track improvement and street lighting, just to name a few. With around 11,000 people working for the organisation, they manage vital infrastructure and business services across the UK.
www.hants.gov.uk/mediacentre For media enquiries please contact: Diana Leahy, Press Officer Tel: 01962 847666 Email: diana.leahy@hants.gov.uk
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Trading Standards Warning Over New Phonecall Scam
Trading Standards Warning Over New Phonecall Scam
02/02/2012 12:00:00
Hampshire County Council Trading Standards officers are warning people to be on their guard against a new UK cash voucher scam targeting residents across the county.
Fraudulent telemarketers are making unsolicited phone calls to consumers promising them ready cash in a lottery, sweepstake or even an insurance refund.
Seventeen incidents have been reported in the last four months from all over Hampshire.
The main locations targeted are listed below:
| | | Winchester/Eastleigh | 6 | | Alton/Denmead/Upham | 4 | | The New Forest | 2 |
The fraudsters often pretend to be bank officials, working for a government body, or lottery representatives, and try to convince consumers that their prize is genuine. To ‘release’ their winnings however, victims are told they must pay an upfront fee using a UK cash voucher to allow the transaction to take place. Using their postcode they are then informed of where they can locally purchase a voucher, and after supplying the voucher’s serial number to the cold caller, the victims are promised personal delivery of a cheque. Unfortunately once the scammer has the serial number, they are never heard from again.
This warning follows an incident in New Milton in which an elderly lady was swindled out of money after receiving a call from someone claiming to be from the Ministry of Justice. She was told that if she bought a Ukash voucher for £150, a representative would come to exchange the voucher for her insurance refund. The fraudulent caller phoned back and she innocently provided the serial number of the voucher but he did not come to the house with a refund and she did not hear from him thereafter.
Leader of Hampshire County Council, Councillor Ken Thornber, said: “This is a new scam which often targets vulnerable residents. In some cases elderly victims have been cheated out of hundreds of pounds as these cold callers can be so convincing with their stories.
“It is important that everyone is sceptical about any unsolicited offers, refunds or prizes, if it seems too good to be true, then it probably is. A genuine government body or lottery operator would never ask someone to pay taxes, insurance or any other fee before receiving their 'winnings'”.
The advice from Trading Standards is never to send voucher codes to anyone asking for an upfront fee. If you do receive a call about an offer that sounds too-good-to-be-true, contact Trading Standards via Consumer Direct on 08454 04 05 06 or visit the Consumer Direct website www.consumerdirect.gov.uk
For more information about how to protect yourself against scams, visit - http://www3.hants.gov.uk/tradingstandards/tradingstandards-scams.htm
www.hants.gov.uk/mediacentre For media inquiries please contact Anya Fisher, Press Officer Tel: 01962 846006 email: Anya.Fisher@hants.gov.uk
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Council to confirm its pay policy
Council to confirm its pay policy 02/02/2012 12:00:00 A cross-party committee of Hampshire county councillors will review a statement on pay policies next week, with the aim of further improving transparency and accountability.
It comes after draft guidance on the subject was issued by the Secretary of State after the Localism Act received Royal Assent at the end of 2011.
The Employment in Hampshire County Council Committee (EHCC) will be asked to ensure that the Council's draft annual Pay Policy Statement for 2012-13 is as clear as it can be on how decisions are made about pay and remuneration for the Council's workforce, from its lowest paid employees to chief officers.
Building on its drive to make available increasing amounts of information on its work and how public funds are used, the Council had already published its pay policies last year - well ahead of Government deadlines and the Localism Bill. It did so while making available on its website a raft of other transparency data around councillors, payments to suppliers, tenders and contracts.
The draft annual Pay Policy Statement for 2012-13 has been updated to give greater clarity to some areas in accordance with the Government's draft guidance. It will be reviewed by EHCC on 8 February prior to consideration by the Full County Council in February.
The Leader of the County Council and Chairman of EHCC, Councillor Ken Thornber, said: "People have been able to easily access our pay structure at a glance for quite some time now. This includes our pay scales, the pay of chief officers and the pension contributions made, together with the number of employees within particular bands. This latest pay statement reinforces our dedication to transparency and shows we have a policy that is comparable to any public service and salary levels that are lower than in comparable authorities.
"By providing information in this way residents can determine for themselves how we are making the best use of public funds. I hope that they will see that with Council Tax being kept at the same level for a third year running when it is already one of the lowest county council taxes in the country, with a substantially reduced pay bill, services that have been externally validated as excellent or good, and an efficiency programme that is saving £100 million, they are getting good value for money."
The County Council employs around 9,900 fte (full time equivalent) people and their average pay is £23,000 per year. The average pension paid is £3,995 per year. For the last two years, salary levels have been frozen. As part of its efficiency and expenditure reduction programme, the Council has significantly reduced its paybill over the last year, including a 25 per cent reduction in senior management. By the end of this financial year it will have seen a total reduction in its workforce of around 1,400 staff, most of whom chose to leave the Authority as part of structural reviews.
Notes
*The Pay Policy Statement excludes teaching staff and associated youth and school advisory roles where pay is governed by national consultation groups.
www.hants.gov.uk/mediacentre
For media enquiries please contact:
Kirsty Gunner, Senior Press Officer
Tel: 01962 847110
Email: kirsty.gunner@hants.gov.uk
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Funding helps sporting organisations soar for the Olympic year
Funding helps sporting organisations soar for the Olympic year
02/02/2012 12:00:00
Hampshire County Council is supporting local clubs and participants in 2012 by providing funding to voluntary sporting organisations.
At his latest Decision Day (20 January 2012), the County Council’s Executive Member for Culture and Recreation, Councillor Keith Chapman approved applications totalling over £30,000 to various sport associations around Hampshire.
Nine groups will receive financial support -
| | | Hampshire Archery Association | £2,000 | | Hampshire Squash Racquets Association | £3,000 | | Hampshire Cricket Board | £3,000 | | Canoe England Southern Region | £7,500 | | Hampshire Bowls Coaching Association | £3,000 | | Hampshire Amateur Swimming Association | £5,000 | | Hampshire Netball Association | £3,000 | | Hampshire Lawn Tennis Association | £3,000 | | Hampshire Gymnastics Association | £1,800 |
Organisations were awarded their applications based on their contribution to maximising wellbeing and increasing adult physical activity in the local area.
The Canoe England Southern Region Development Team have received £7,500 to focus on participation and competition in the sport and also to further develop clubs and their coaches and volunteers.
Councillor Chapman said: “Hampshire has a strong sporting heritage, with many exceptional sportsmen and women living in the county. It is a great honour to hold the Olympics in this country and during this exciting year, we are proud to encourage local athletes so that they can continue to thrive in their sporting activity and achievements throughout 2012.
“It is important that we encourage everyone to take an active interest and participate in sporting activity and living a healthy lifestyle, and supporting these organisations will give residents the opportunity to do so.”
Kevin Dennis, Chair of the Canoe England Southern Region Development Team, was delighted on receiving the news especially against the back drop of the Olympics, he said: “This grant will allow us to drive greater adult and youth participation through our club network, use of canoe trails around Hampshire's rivers and coastline and our "Go Canoeing" days. It will help us to continue to improve quality by supporting local clubs in achieving Sport England’s prestigious Club Mark standard as well as to recruit and develop our local pool of volunteer coaches and helpers. At such an exciting time we very much hope this may be the start of a Olympic champion of the future, or an opportunity for people to explore the best of Hampshire from the water.”
www.hants.gov.uk/mediacentre For media inquiries please contact Anya Fisher, Press Officer Tel: 01962 846006 email: Anya.Fisher@hants.gov.uk
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Calling All Volunteers!
Calling All Volunteers!
01/02/2012 12:00:00
Hampshire County Council’s Arts and Museum Service is inviting members of the public to play a more active role in helping their local community museums and historic sites, by becoming volunteers.
Throughout February 2012, the Service is encouraging people to apply for volunteering as Welcome Host Volunteers. For volunteers, by offering their time, they will make a valuable contribution to their local community and help safeguard the future of these services.
Helping Community Museums Flourish Into The Future
Working alongside museum professionals, Welcome Host Volunteers will actively support visitor services and be offered great opportunities to go behind the scenes and be directly involved in working with professional staff who look after and promote a wide range of fascinating collections and exhibitions covering many aspects of Hampshire’s outstanding rich cultural heritage. In addition, their role will involve assisting the Curator and Visitor Services Assistants with opening sites and welcoming visitors, help with retail and café sales, the presentation of the Museum, safety and security on site, and the maintenance of security of events, exhibitions and activities.
The County Council has a strong history of working with local volunteers. Building on the success of volunteer roles in a number of other sites, they will now play an important part of wider Museums Service restructure plans, contributing in a more formal role for a longer period of time, to the running of community museums and supporting the work of paid staff; helping to keep community museums open in the current economic climate. In this way, Hampshire County Council can continue to deliver excellent arts and museums services for local communities in the face on ongoing financial challenges from reduced levels of Government funding.
Volunteers are being sought for the following community museums and historic sites :
- Westbury Manor, Fareham
- Andover Museum and Museum of the Iron Age
- Aldershot Military Museum
- The Willis Museum, Basingstoke (except Touring Exhibition Gallery which will continue to be invigilated by professional staff)
- Red House Museum, Christchurch
- Burseldon Windmill
- Rockbourne Roman Villa, Fordingbridge
Around ten to fifteen volunteers will be needed for each community museum, and these will be selected in March from applications that are received. Volunteers will receive an induction and thorough training programme covering a number of areas such as visitor services, enquiries, booking procedures, and security, to ensure quality standards are met.
Supporting Hampshire's Rich Cultural Heritage
Hampshire County Council Executive Member for Culture and Recreation, Councillor Keith Chapman, said: “The work that is done by volunteers is extremely valuable and we are keen to encourage more people to volunteer in their local community – something that lies at the heart of the Government’s Localism Act.
“Anyone over the age of 18 can become a volunteer and we hope to ensure that as many people as possible who wish to volunteer, are able to do so. There are many benefits to volunteering, from being part of a team, to gaining valuable experience and knowledge, and some might also see volunteering as a stepping stone into higher education or full time employment. Others may wish to volunteer for social and leisure reasons. Placements offer a range of opportunities for people of all ages who have different interests and abilities, and volunteering is a great way for people to participate in the life of their community museums to help them flourish into the future, and to inspire, help and support visitors.”
To find out how to become a volunteer visit www.hants.gov.uk/volunteers or phone 01962 826700.
www.hants.gov.uk/mediacentre For media inquiries please contact Suzie Southgate, Senior Press Officer Tel: 01962 847367 Email: suzie.southgate@hants.gov.uk
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Keeping Hampshire moving as temperatures drop
Keeping Hampshire moving as temperatures drop
01/02/2012 12:00:00
With night time temperatures in Hampshire forecast to drop to at least minus seven degrees Celsius towards the end of this week (week ending Sunday 5 February), Hampshire County Council is ready to keep the roads salted and the county moving.
Over 3000 tonnes of salt used to date
Although this winter has been relatively mild, main routes have been salted on 22 days to date, using 3000 tonnes of salt so far. In anticipation of even lower temperatures, the County Council is advising drivers to be extra cautious when setting out on their journey and to drive appropriately for the road conditions.
Councillor Mel Kendal, Executive Member for Environment and Transport, commented: “We treat the main routes as a priority as these carry 85 per cent of the county’s traffic and provide essential access to hospitals, large schools and other critical infrastructure. They are treated in advance to achieve the most effective results but many people may not be aware that once the temperature drops below minus five, the salt is less effective.
“After the severe winter of 2009/10 we invested in providing 2000 more salt/grit bins to local communities for people to salt public roads and pavements. The bins will be refilled as regularly as possible during spells of freezing weather but people may have to be patient as our priority will be keeping the main network salted. When there is a prolonged spell of freezing temperatures and snow for, say five days or more, we also salt single access roads to villages, routes to other schools and those used by emergency and other services, that haven’t already been treated. This extends also to health centres, local shops and other essential community facilities.”
Over 2000 new salt bins in Hampshire's communities
The County Council started the winter season with salt stocks in excess of 18,000 tonnes - more than double the minimum amount of salt recommended by Government. An average salt run is 35 miles in length and takes three to three and a half hours to complete. There are 47 ‘priority one’ salting routes and 60 vehicles are used, each carrying approximately five tonnes of rock salt.
More roads able to withstand the effects of winter weather
Many of the county’s roads are also now better prepared to withstand the effects of winter weather as a result of Operations Restore and Resilience - the Council’s long term strategy for extensive highway improvements.
More information about road salting and salt bins can be found online at: Winter Maintenance
Government advice on how to drive safely in extreme weather can be found online at: Winter Driving
Listen to Cllr Kendal talk about how the County Council is prepared for winter weather http://www.hants.gov.uk/sound/winter-weather-cllr-kendal.mp3
Further information
Winter maintenance work is carried out by Hampshire County Council and Amey, the County Council’s highway maintenance service provider. Other work Amey undertakes includes sorting out drainage problems, vegetation encroachment, maintaining footpaths, and ensuring road signs are clear and visible.
Amey is one of the UK’s leading public services providers who look after a range of services such as road and bridge design, waste, congestion management, rail track improvement and street lighting, just to name a few. With around 11,000 people working for the organisation, they manage vital infrastructure and business services across the UK.
www.hants.gov.uk/mediacentre For media enquiries please contact: Diana Leahy, Press Officer Tel: 01962 847666 Email: diana.leahy@hants.gov.uk
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Council efficiencies enable capital investment
Council efficiencies enable capital investment
27/01/2012 12:00:00
Hampshire County Council’s Cabinet is to consider a budget for 2012/13 that freezes council tax, builds on the reductions in running costs already made, protects essential frontline services for the most vulnerable and paves the way for significant capital investment in key areas.
Hampshire County Council has planned to meet the funding reductions and budget pressures it faces over the Government’s four year comprehensive spending review period - in two years. This was to reduce uncertainty, capture efficiencies early and put the Council in a strong position. The Council is halfway through an ambitious £100million efficiency and expenditure reduction programme that has focused reductions on operating costs and looked to modernise service delivery rather than cut services.
Offsetting the risks
The approach the Council has taken is not without risks. Contingency funds were put in place to ensure services could be maintained and the Council remained within budget, even if some of the planned savings could not be achieved within the set timescales, or came in at a lower level than predicted.
The success of the savings programme over 2011/12 has meant that the Council is now able to free up contingency funds of £20.6million, together with other savings of £5.7million and use them for one-off investment projects. The Cabinet will consider how this money can be used to support the £124million required for high priority capital schemes. This will enable the Council to reduce the amount it needs to borrow and the associated costs of doing so. Contributions from reserves, the new homes bonus and the one-off council tax freeze grant will also be used to help fund these capital projects.
Funding for key capital projects
The funding will provide £10million for Extra Care Housing which offers housing solutions for an older population - helping individuals to maintain independence and avoiding expensive care in residential homes. This brings the Council’s direct contribution for this project to £13.2million. There will also be a contribution towards: the provision of more school places to meet rising birth rates; the identification of priority areas for coastal and flood defence work; the £4million cost of repairing, upgrading and replacing assets, including children’s homes, early years’ facilities, education study centres and school kitchens.
Councillor Ken Thornber, Leader of Hampshire County Council, said: “Despite the full year effect of this year’s savings, equating to around half of the 2012/13 budget gap of £45million, the Council still needs to save £21.7milllion next year. Once again there will be risks attached to any delays or non-delivery of our savings proposal, so new contingencies will be put in place to cover those risks. Should these not be needed, we can use them to invest in further capital projects or offset future funding reductions, including the loss of the council tax freeze grant at the end of the four year CSR period.
“It is as a result of our careful financial planning and our sensible approach to the risks involved in such an ambitious savings plan, that we find ourselves in a strong revenue budget position for 2012/13. We are also able to make contributions to capital that will enable key projects, such as Extra Care Housing to proceed and ensure required investments are made in IT and in improving the condition of our buildings to enhance services and further increase efficiency.
“However, despite our strong track record, we must not be complacent, all of the savings made in the early years of the transformation programme are needed for the further grant reductions to come and we have already been warned in the Chancellor’s autumn statement about difficult times ahead when the next CSR is announced from 2015/16 onwards.”
“Our budget proposals are about providing improved, modernised or transformed services, or changing the way we provide public services, and providing greater choice where possible. The process has not been painless and we have seen staff reductions and changes to services that have affected residents, but we have tried to keep compulsory job losses and direct impact on those who most need our services, to a minimum and we will continue to do so.
“The County Council will freeze council tax in 2012/13, which means it will have been at the same level for three years - at a time when household budgets are under pressure. Band D council tax will be £1,037.88, one of the lowest in the country, which means Hampshire continues to provide services at a lower cost per head than other county councils.”
Ongoing cuts in public sector spending led to Hampshire losing 14.3 per cent of its Government grant last year and will see an additional cut of 10.4 per cent in 2012/13, with further cuts yet to be confirmed for the next two years.
The Cabinet will debate the budget on 3 February and make recommendations to the County Council on 23 February when the budget will be set.
For further information please visit our budget web pages
www.hants.gov.uk/mediacentre For media enquiries please contact: Kirsty Gunner, Senior Press Officer Tel: 01962 847110 Email: kirsty.gunner@hants.gov.uk
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Faster broadband gets the green light in Hampshire
Faster broadband gets the green light in Hampshire
27/01/2012 12:00:00
Hampshire County Council has just heard that its proposals for faster broadband in Hampshire have been accepted. Hampshire is to get £5 million of the £8.4 million that the Government set aside for the region, including Portsmouth, Southampton and the Isle of Wight. The County Council submitted its revised local broadband plan to Broadband Delivery UK (BDUK) in November last year and the £5 million of government funding is to be matched by local public and private finance.
Enhanced speeds of 24Mbs for homes and businesses
The BDUK funding is part of government plans to ensure that everyone in the country will have access to broadband. Together with the planned commercial investment, the funding will bring enhanced speeds of at least 24 Mbs (Megabits per second) to at least 90 per cent of homes and businesses in the UK and provide universal access to standard broadband with a speed of at least 2Mbps.
50,000 households and 7,000 businesses in 'not-spots'
Today around 50,000 households and nearly 7,000 Hampshire businesses are in broadband 'not spots', with very slow broadband speeds of 2 Mbs or less. Everyone should see improvements over time, if they are below the minimum levels.
Responding to the news, Councillor Ken Thornber, Leader of Hampshire County Council, said he was proud that the County had secured this funding which is crucial for Hampshire's future social and economic prosperity.
“Today's news marks the start of the Hampshire broadband programme, Faster broadband, getting Hampshire connected, and the first question everyone will ask is when are they going to get an improved service. We've been waiting for this green light and are ready to go, but we recognise that this is a major project and results will not be seen overnight. Our immediate next steps are to secure a commercial partner to support and develop detailed implementation plans for the county. We can then publish a timetable for the planned roll out.
“In Hampshire it is estimated that only 80% of the county will be able to access faster broadband speeds by 2013 through the commercial market and further investment is needed to reach more people. Our role is to improve speeds for those people living in the predominantly rural areas that the commercial market currently doesn't reach. The public sector gap funding is designed to stimulate investment and finance the shortfall where there are too few potential customers to cover the costs of the upgrade to the network infrastructure.”
Project estimated to start January 2013
The contract for the commercial partner is expected to be awarded in December 2012. The broadband project will be phased, estimated to start in January 2013 with a three year implementation programme due to be completed by the end of 2015.
A vital component of the Hampshire broadband plan is collecting evidence of demand for improved broadband from within communities. For this reason, individuals and businesses are encouraged to continue to register their interest at: Faster Broadband.
www.hants.gov.uk/mediacentre For media enquiries please contact: Kirsty Gunner, Senior Press Officer Tel: 01962 847110 Email: kirsty.gunner@hants.gov.uk
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Funding Boost For Hampshire’s Village Halls And Community Centres
Funding Boost For Hampshire’s Village Halls And Community Centres
26/01/2012 12:00:00
Village halls and community centres across Hampshire are set to benefit from £39,363 of grant funding from Hampshire County Council.
At his Decision Day (20 January 2012), Executive Member for Culture and Recreation, Councillor Keith Chapman awarded grants to eleven Community Organisations and Village Hall Trusts, in the current financial year.
Supporting Valuable Community Facilities In Hampshire
The money will be used towards the upkeep of their buildings and to allow for improvements to be made to help ensure everyone in the community has the best possible facilities available to them.
The full breakdown of grant funding is as follows:
| Hall/Centre | District | £ | | Buckskin and Worting Community Association | Basingstoke | 2,236 | | Copythorne Parish Hall Trust | New Forest | 3,900 | | Denmead Community Association | Winchester | 665 | | Liss Community Association | East Hampshire | 4,902 | | Old Alresford Village Hall Trust | Winchester | 3,321 | | Pilands Wood Community Association | Eastleigh | 3,385 | | Portchester Community Association | Fareham | 4,797 | | Romsey Abbey Parish Church Council | Test Valley | 500 | | Sparsholt Memorial Hall Trust | Winchester | 859 | | St Matthews Church Parish Council | Gosport | 2,298 | | Winnall Community Association | Winchester | 12,500 | | TOTAL | | 39,363 |
A further £2,500 is also being made available to the Victoria Hall Trust in Sutton Scotney for financial support to allow them to purchase the car park next to the Village Hall which is earmarked for sale by its current owners. This will ensure that residents who use the hall, continue to have parking facilities on site.
Councillor Keith Chapman, said: “These grants are vital in helping local village halls and community centres to maintain a good level of service. They play a significant role in their communities, providing people with venues and facilities for a wide variety of activities and bring together people of all ages. This funding shows how much we value their important contribution and the support that they provide for the work of the County Council. It’s important therefore, that the buildings and equipment remain in the best possible condition.”
www.hants.gov.uk/mediacentre For media inquiries please contact Suzie Southgate, Senior Press Officer Tel: 01962 847367 Email: suzie.southgate@hants.gov.uk
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