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	Latest news from Spelthorne Council - 5 March 2010
	Welcome to the latest electronic newsletter.  If you have any questions or comments regarding the newsletter please e-mail us at news@spelthorne.gov.uk News Spelthorne Youth Awards 2010 Where unfound stars can shine! Do you know a special young person aged between 5 and 19 who is living or receiving education within Spelthorne and deserves recognition for his/her achievements? You may wish to nominate them for a Spelthorne Youth Award.  The categories for these awards are:- outstanding academic achievement personal achievement sports achievement community spirit triumph over adversity unselfishness, kindness and bravery Due to popular demand, we have also added an extra category this year for outstanding achievement in performing arts. Anyone can nominate a young person for an award.  A nomination form is available online or by telephoning Leisure Services on 01784 446433. The winners will be acknowledged at an awards ceremony during the spring of 2010. Spelthorne Council approved Budget Spelthorne Council has agreed the budget for the next financial year (2010/11).  Link to the press release. Spelthorne Council help fight polio Staff at Spelthorne Council have held a ‘dress down day’ and cake sale to raise £315 for the Rotary Club ‘Thanks for Life’ campaign which aims to eradicate polio in developing countries.  Read the full article Ashford resident prosecuted for fraud Spelthorne Borough Council has successfully prosecuted Clare Regan from Ashford for fraudulently claiming housing benefit from the Council and jobseekers allowance from the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP).  Link to full article Working wonders in Spelthorne Learn more about how our Housing team works. Staines 10k Road Race – Sunday 16 May 2010 If you would like to enter the Staines 10k Race go to www.staines10k.co.uk and complete your form online. The course is a single loop on public roads from Spelthorne Leisure Centre, Knowle Green.  Changing facilities, showers, parking and refreshments are available at the finish.  Minimum age to enter is 17.  Memento to all finishers, trophies for 1st male and female and category prizes. Team prizes to 1st male and female teams. Entry fee: £12 standard, £10 discounted (for holders of competition licence and a member of a club affiliated to UK athletics).  No entries on the day, maximum runners 600. General enquires: e-mail info@staines10k.co.uk Entry enquiries: e-mail staines10k@sportsystems.net The Mayor's community payback project The Mayor joined the Community Payback team in Fordbridge Park on Monday 1 March.  The team were brought in by the Mayor to paint the railings and plant bulbs in the Park.  The Community Payback Project is a nationwide scheme that replaces community service and gives offenders unpaid work to do in their community.  The Mayor said "They were very enthusiastic and all worked very well". Concessionary Fares – Proposed Change in Age of Eligibility From 6 April 2010, the Government is proposing that the age of eligibility for concessionary travel for women will be pension age and for men it will be the pensionable age of a woman born on the same day. The state pension age for women is rising by five years over a period of ten years. The age of eligibility will rise incrementally, that is, in stages, between 2010 and 2020. The earliest age for men and women to get bus passes will therefore rise gradually, from 60 on 6 April 2010 to 65 on 5 April 2020.The Government decided that this would be the fairest method, rather than introduce a one-off rise which would leave those currently close to retirement age facing a full five-year delay. The age of eligibility for the state pension is scheduled to rise by two months every one month. This means the earliest date on which you can get your bus pass will depend on which month you were born in and will not fall on your birthday. The table below sets out when those approaching the age of 60 will become eligible for their concessionary bus pass. Dates of Eligibility for Concessionary Bus Passes Period within which date of birth falls Day become eligible for concessionary bus pass Before and including 5 April 1950 Date of 60th birthday 6 April 1950 to 5 May 1950 6 May 2010 6 May 1950 to 5 June 1950 6 July 2010 6 June 1950 to 5 July 1950 6 September 2010 6 July 1950 to 5 August 1950 6 November 2010 6 August 1950 to 5 September 1950 6 January 2011 6 September 1950 to 5 October 1950 6 March 2011 6 October 1950 to 5 November 1950 6 May 2011 6 November 1950 to 5 December 1951 6 July 2011 6 December 1951 to 5 January 1951 6 September 2011 6 January 1951 to 5 February 1951 6 November 2011 6 February 1951 to 5 March 1951 6 January 2012 And so on... There is also a ready reckoner tool which enables people affected by the pension age changes to see at what age they become eligible for their state pension and associated benefits. You can find this on the DirectGov website at:  http://pensions.direct.gov.uk/en/state-pension-age-calculator/home.asp For the purposes of working out the date of eligibility for the bus pass using this tool, you should enter your gender as female. The date of state pension age calculated will be the date on which you become eligible for the concessionary bus pass. However if you are male, this will not necessarily be the same date on which you become entitled to the state pension. Off the Hook - Saturday March 13 Off the Hook is Spelthorne’s very own specialist skateboard programme. It runs from Spelthorne Leisure Centre and is for skateboarders and inline skaters aged 11 to 19. The aim of the event is to provide a safe indoor place for young people to come and practice their skills and try new tricks. Young local skaters are involved with organising the event and helping to set up ramps in the Leisure Centre for the other young people to use. All abilities are welcome and the young people can hire skateboards and helmets. Off the Hook runs on the second Saturday of each month during the winter from 6pm to 8.30pm and costs £4. For more information call Leisure Services on 01784 446433. 'My Spelthorne' My Spelthorne allows you to find out about the services and facilities in our Borough.  Simply set a location and use the My House, My Nearest or My Maps tabs to access a wealth of local information. Recent planning applications The provides a list of all the planning applications either validated or decided by us each week - View the planning applications Job vacancies Current job vacancies Events View the calendar of local events Calendar of Council Meetings View the Calendar of Council Meetings Publications Borough Bulletin Rubbish and recycling calendar Follow us on Twitter You can now follow us on Twitter, visit http://twitter.com/spelthornebc (external website) Find us on Facebook You can now find us on Facebook - visit www.facebook.com (external website) and search for 'Spelthorne Council'. Roadworks in Spelthorne Surrey County Council's website provides information on roadworks in Spelthorne. Useful contacts for those having difficulty in the downturn Money worries information page Age Concern (external website) - 0800 009966 Citizens Advice Bureau (external website) - 01784 444220 or 01932 765041 Revenues Team (Council Tax and Business Rates) - 01784 446490 Housing Section - 01784 446380 Housing Benefits - 01784 446374 Partner links Community web (external website) DirectGov (external website) Spelthorne Together Surrey County Council (external website) Surrey Alert (external website) Surrey Police (external website) Surrey PCT (external website) Media links Radio Jackie (external website) Star FM (external website) BBC Sussex and Surrey (external website) Eagle Radio (external website) Radio Wey (external website) Staines and Ashford News (external website)

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