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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 |
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Proposed development of an Eco Park at Charlton Lane, Shepperton A public meeting will take place on Wednesday 20 October from 7.30pm at The John Crook Theatre, Halliford School, Shepperton. A special meeting of Spelthorne Council's Overview and Scrutiny Committee has been called to discuss the proposed development of an Eco Park at Charlton Lane, Shepperton. The Eco Park proposal is to divert as much waste as possible away from landfill and use waste that cannot be recycled to produce energy. The meeting will cover three main areas:
Committee Chairman Councillor Philippa Broom from Spelthorne Council will chair the meeting. From Surrey County Council:- Trevor Pugh (Director for Environment and Infrastructure) Cllr Lynne Hack (Portfolio Holder for Environment) Ian Boast (Head of Waste and Sustainability) From SITA:- Emma Beal (SITA Project Manager) Alison Bennett (Communications Manager) Gareth Phillips (Planning Manager) Gareth Swain (General Manager for SWM) Tina Wolter (AD Technology) Jean-Claude Sartenaer (Advanced Thermal Treatment Technology) Consultants:- Stephen Othen (Fichtner) Matthew Colledge (Studio E) In addition Spelthorne Council has arranged for the following independent witnesses to assist in the debate.
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Trevor Baker - an appreciation It is with the greatest sadness that Spelthorne Council has to announce the death of Trevor Baker on the evening of 6 October 2010. He leaves a wife, daughter, and two grandchildren. Trevor was Principal Committee Manager and had recently notched up 40 years of service with the Council. He was only 61 years old. Trevor was known, not just to staff and councillors, but to the community at large as he met countless people in his role - he attended over 2,000 council committee meetings serving on almost every one. He started work at Woking in 1965 and joined Staines Urban District Council in 1970 where he earned the princely sum of £2,235 a year. In the last year he was promoted to Principal Committee Manager, and launched himself with customary gusto into the associated new challenges. He was a diabetic, a condition that caused him to go blind in 1975 and he actually lost his sight while driving to work. None of this affected his interest in, and commitment to, work despite a difficult train journey. He used specially adapted IT equipment to help him in his job and was always looking to use new technology to make things more efficient and effective in the office. He was meticulously helped, for the last 10 years by his support worker, Gillian Hobbs. Over the years Trevor had a number of amazing guide dogs, the last of whom, Wispa, was with him to the last. For his colleagues, Trevor was an inspiration largely because of his determination not to let disability stop him doing what he wanted. He was modest and self-effacing and shunned special attention, just wanting to get on. He used grit and determination to ensure that his work was always of the highest quality – and gained praise and respect from staff and councillors. Trevor was fantastically fit and often walked into the town centre at lunchtime stopping, frequently, on the way to pass the time of day with the locals who knew him so well. Trevor prepared agendas and minutes for Council committee meetings. He did innovative work for new licensing legislation when it was introduced a few years ago including producing a training DVD for councillors and leading a seminar on the Gambling Act. It became a mantra in the Council Offices at Knowle Green that, whatever the question ‘Trev will know the answer’. He had a huge capacity for seeking out challenges, parachuting and becoming a transvestite for Children in Need, to mention but two. His inspired cross-dressing arising from his love for the Rocky Horror Picture Show. He was always interested in helping young people and was instrumental in establishing the Spelthorne Youth Council and the Borough Youth Awards. As a member of the local Woodcraft Folk he led many youth delegations to Europe promoting the integration of different cultures. One of his notable successes was bringing together a delegation of Palestinian and Israeli young people on a trip to Brussels one year. The weekend was also memorable for a mistake of some note when Trevor and the delegates mistook a State Registered Brothel for a Chinese Restaurant and had to beat a hasty retreat when the mistake became evident. His international work with young people also involved him in controversial issues and when his support for a South American youth group cause prompted the attention of the American Government, Trevor was proud to show people his letter from the United States Government telling him that he was not welcome in the USA. Trevor was also nominated for the Local Government Channel’s Council Worker of the Year Award in 2008 and got through to the finals. Trevor will always be known for his dry and self-deprecating sense of humour which came in handy on some of his ‘adventures’. Trevor was never keen on using the lifts at the Council Offices, and he nearly plummeted to his death one morning when, oblivious to the engineers jamming the doors open, he strode purposely into it only to find himself, in double quick time, on the lift roof 12 feet below. With considerable sang-froid, Trevor avoided the obvious cry of ‘help’ replacing it with the more nonchalant and casual ‘hello is anybody there?’ An engineer soon arrived to ask the rather superfluous question ‘how did you get there?’ to which Trevor replied ‘by the express route’. These and other scrapes were referred to by Trevor as though they were everyday occurrences, but on several occasions Trevor’s journey to work had nearly turned to disaster when he fell off the station platform onto the train lines. Spelthorne Council and particularly his colleagues in the Committee Services and Legal Sections, are stunned and heartbroken by Trevor’s untimely death. Irreplaceable is an over-used word, but in this circumstance it has true meaning. He was both a friend and a revelation. Trevor put his soul into Spelthorne and was its beating heart. Farewell Trevor – truly an ‘extra’ ordinary man. If you would like details of the funeral arrangements please contact Michael Graham at Spelthorne Council on 01784 446227. Trevor's family have requested no flowers but have asked us to organise donations to the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association. We have set up a JustGiving webpage for any donations and this can be found at: http://www.justgiving.com/Trevor-Baker (external website) |
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Update from the Council's Planning Team Stanwell NewStart A planning application has been received for phases 2, 3 and 4 of the Stanwell Regeneration scheme. It is for 304 residential homes comprising both affordable and private houses and flats with an extra care facility for older people, a community centre, car parking and landscaped public open space. A significant proportion of the new housing will be affordable and it will all meet modern day standards and be of a higher quality than the existing dwellings, many of which do not meet decent homes standards. On Wednesday 13 October Spelthorne Council granted the outline application, subject to an agreement to ensure the key benefits above are provided. A detailed application is expected to be submitted towards the end of this year which will set out in detail the mix and type of houses, along with information on the design of the units, play areas and soft landscaping. The application site comprises an existing housing estate with a mixture of privately owned and socially rented houses and flats. The developer, A2D, has also secured government funding of around £4.5 million to help with bringing forward the development. |
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Garden waste bins - price lowered Do you know that brown garden waste bins currently cost £25 rather £45. This reduced price covers the service until 31 March 2011. We can take your orders now, please call Customer Services on 01784 451499 or send us an e-mail. |
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Together, fighting crime in Ashford The next Spelthorne Safer Stronger Partnership Action Day will take place in Ashford on Wednesday 27 October 2010. Partnership Action Days offer the public the chance to see how the various organisations involved in community safety, work together to tackle community safety issues such as crime and anti social behaviour. There is also an opportunity for the public to speak to representatives from organisations including, Surrey Police, Spelthorne Borough Council Community Safety and Licensing Team, Neighbourhood Watch, Age Concern and Surrey NHS. During the day, traffic speed checks, vehicle inspections, checks on licensed premises and other enforcement activities also takes place. Community safety and the fear of crime is shown to be one of the principal concerns of local residents, so these days are an important way of bringing the key people together. There will be an exhibition trailer situated in Church Road, Ashford, (outside of Jack’s Fish Shop) staffed by Police and Community Safety Officers offering advice on home security, personal safety, neighbourhood watch, crime prevention and fire safety. There will also be displays/information from Surrey NHS, Age Concern, Surrey Police Authority, Domestic Abuse Awareness, Surrey Fire and Rescue Services and Spelthorne Neighbourhood Watch. A particular focus for this event will be around Halloween and Bonfire Night safety, so people will be able to enjoy the coming celebrations safely and without having a negative impact on the lives of others. For further information contact Steve Appleby, Partnership Community Safety Officer on (01784) 444226. |
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Independent Custody Visitor Vacancies Surrey Police Authority are looking to recruit new volunteers to participate in its Independent Custody Visitor Schemes across Surrey. Independent Custody Visitors are members of the public recruited by the Police Authority to visit police stations at random to check on the treatment of people held in custody by the police. As an Independent Custody Visitor you would have a vital role in ensuring the welfare of persons in police custody in Surrey. You will be assigned to a panel and, together with another Independent Custody Visitor, be asked to visit police stations in that panel area unannounced to check on the treatment of people being held in custody. The role is voluntary (unpaid), although travelling expenses are paid. A police check will be conducted on all applicants Who can apply? - You must be over 18 and live or work in the Surrey policing area - Own transport is needed (travel expenses will be paid) - No previous experience required - You will need to be observant, impartial, able to record detail and talk to people without judging - Where there could be a conflict of interest (e.g. if you are also a magistrate) you will not be considered suitable Time commitment - An average of 3 to 5 hours a month - Appointments last for three years - Custody visitors are re-appraised and appointments extended every three years Training and support - Full training is provided including classroom training sessions and training visits to custody - On-going training is provided - Custody visitors meet up in panels every quarter to discuss visits - Annual events and conferences are available Interested? For an application pack and more information visit SPA's website: www.surreypa.gov.uk/vacancies.asp (external website) Or contact the Independent Custody Visitor Scheme Manager at SPA on 01483 630200. |
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Rotarian prepares for polio eradication trip to India It may be too hot for some to handle, but not for Karen Sutton of the Rotary Club of Shepperton Aurora! She is practising for her trip to India in November by enjoying a curry with fellow Rotarians Mike Gicquel and ex-Mayor of Spelthorne Caroline Spencer at Shapla restaurant in Shepperton. After 20 years of hard work, Rotary International and its partners are on the brink of eradicating polio, but to get rid of this tenacious disease forever a strong push is needed NOW. Rotary is well on its way to raising $200m to add to the $355m already pledged by the Bill Gates Foundation. This $555 million will DIRECTLY support immunization campaigns in developing countries where polio continues to infect and paralyze children, robbing them of their futures and compounding the hardship faced by their families. Karen, 33, of Limelight Marketing in Brooklands, is travelling to New Delhi on 11th November to take part in a 3 day programme which could save 1.5 million children from being infected by polio. Karen said: “This will be a life changing trip. I believe that everyone should try to experience something like this once in their life. When the western world is constantly talking about a recession, seeing how other communities live really puts things into perspective.” John Dumbrell, President of Shepperton Aurora Rotary Club said “Rotary International has worked extremely hard all over the world to vaccinate children under 5. Over 60 British Rotarians will be travelling to India on this trip alone and dedicating their time to the project. Many people find it hard to believe, but polio was only eradicated in the West in the mid 1990s; all thanks to Rotary, it’s members and the Bill Gates Foundation” Each member funds their own trip which costs around £1500. Karen is raising the funds through Just Giving. All additional proceeds will be donated directly to Rotary Foundation to help towards the $200m target. “We are very proud to have one of the youngest members in the district within our club.” said Pauline Hedges, PR committee chairman for Shepperton Aurora. “Almost 50% of us are still working and we also have a large female membership so Rotary isn’t just for the retired male community.” When Rotary began its eradication work, polio infected more than 350,000 children annually. In 2008, fewer than 2,000 cases were reported worldwide. To donate to this worthwhile cause go to: www.justgiving.com/polio-eradication |
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Possible Council Tax scam Spelthorne Council is warning residents about a possible Council Tax scam doing the rounds in Surrey. Victims, usually elderly people, receive a phone call from someone with a foreign accent claiming to be from the Council Tax office at the Council and saying that there is a large council tax refund due to the person. They are asked either for their bank details, or in one case, to make a payment from their debit card, so the refund can be processed. Contact by the Council is usually made in writing. The Council never ask people over the phone for their bank details in order to make a refund on Council Tax nor does the Council ever charge to process a Council Tax refund. The Council advises that residents receiving similar phone calls should make contact on 01784 446490 and not divulge any information. Bogus calls should be reported to the Police. Police Constable Mark Howells, the North Surrey Crime Reduction Officer, said: "There are many scams out there that use different means to try and encourage people to part with their money. Examples of these include lotteries, prize draws, get rich quick investments and in this case a Council Tax refund. "Unfortunately scammers can be very compelling and can con anyone into believing that they are legitimate so always remember to be on your guard when passing on any private information to a third party." If you think you may have been a victim of a scam then notify your Bank or Building Society immediately so they can put a stop on any transactions that may happen as a result. I would also advise that you check your credit report to make sure no credit has been applied for in your name by the scammer. Remember if it sounds too good to be true then it probably is!" |
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Mayor's Engagements The Mayor will be undertaking the following official engagements from 14 October 2010:-
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