Spratton Conservation Area Consultation – Comments invited
SPRATTON
CONSERVATION AREA CONSULTATION
MARCH 15 TH – APRIL 26TH 2021
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC ARE BEING
INVITED TO COMMENT ON THE DRAFT
SPRATTON CONSERVATION AREA APPRAISAL
A VIRTUAL PUBLIC MEETING WILL BE HELD
ONLINE ON
THURSDAY 1st APRIL 6:30 – 7:30 PM
FOR DETAILS OF HOW TO ATTEND THE MEETING SEE
THE COUNCIL’S WEBSITE OR EMAIL THE ADDRESS
BELOW
www.daventrydc.gov.uk/conservationareas
Email: heritage@daventrydc.gov.uk
Census 2021 Census Officers Always ask for ID
The Office for National Statistics will shortly be carrying out the Census 2021 across England and Wales. Census Day is Sunday 21st March. After this day, in your authority, census officers will be:
- knocking on doors following up non-responders
- helping the public with queries
From 22nd March 2021 our field census officers will be working across England and Wales. We have recruited around 29000 members of staff to carry out home visits.
All our officers will be carrying official identification cards. The card will have a photograph and the officer’s name. The officers will work through the day to make contact with residents but will not call before 09:00 or after 20:00.
Any member of the public concerned that the person on their doorstep is not a census officer can call the number on the critical workers letter that the officer can show them.
Census officers will never ask for any money or bank details at any point during the conversation with respondents.
Our staff in the field are classed as key workers. The law allows that where there is a lockdown people can leave their home for work if they cannot work from home. As their role cannot be carried out by working from home, they are allowed to carry out the duties of their role.
The health and safety of the public and the census field force is of the utmost importance to us. Field force routines in Census 2021 have been planned with the health and safety of both the public and field staff front and centre. All our officers will work in a socially distanced way; they will all be wearing PPE and they will not enter anyone’s home.
The Office for National Statistics has several important studies and surveys continuing alongside the census (more details here). It is, therefore, possible that an address will be visited by staff working on other surveys too.
Census day is 21st March 2021
Every ten years the census takes place in England and Wales, providing insight into the people who live across the country and what their lives are like. This year, census day is on Sunday 21 March. You’ve probably already seen lots of advertisements and information on the TV, in newspapers and social media and you should have received your purple postcard in the post.
Look out for your Information Pack
Next week every house will be sent an Information Pack which will explain how to complete the census and contain a unique code which will give them access to the form using any digital device.
If someone doesn’t want to complete the census themself, a family member or a trusted person can do it on their behalf. People can also request a paper copy. Everything will be explained in the Information Pack.
Where can people get help?
Call the Census Help Line on 0800 141 2021 (from 1 March)
Calling the Help Line
When someone calls the Help Line they will hear a recorded message and be given three options. The system uses interactive voice response to make a selection.
Option 1: Requesting a Paper Questionnaire
This is an automated service. The person calling will not need to speak to anyone if this option is used. There is a unique reference number on each contact letter. This should be entered on the handset. A paper questionnaire pack will then be dispatched.
Option 2: Hear frequently asked questions (FAQs)
These FAQs are changed over time according to demand.
Option 3: Will enable the caller to speak to an adviser.
What special help is available?
Text Relay Service (18001) 0800 141 2021
Free language helpline 0800 587 2021
Help for anyone with accessibility needs such as Large print formats and Information in Braille Call 0800 141 2021
British Sign Language support is available online.
Does everyone have to complete the census form?
Yes. It’s a legal requirement to complete the census.
Postal voters urged to apply early for new Council’s historic elections
Residents in Daventry, Northampton and South Northamptonshire are being encouraged to apply early to vote by post for the first-ever elections to the new West Northamptonshire Council this spring.
On Thursday, 6 May voters across the three areas will go to the polls to elect a total of 93 councillors for the new unitary authority, which will be formed on 1 April this year, replacing the existing district, borough and county councils.
On Polling Day residents will also be able to cast votes for the Northamptonshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner and to elect representatives for many of their local parish councils.
Work is underway to ensure that residents can cast their votes safely during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, with a range of Covid-safe measures being planned for polling stations, alongside the other usual options such as voting by post or by proxy (when someone votes on your behalf).
People are urged to apply for postal votes as early as possible ahead of the deadline of 5pm on 20 April and those wishing to vote by proxy can also do this now before the deadline of 5pm on 27 April.
Anyone who is not yet registered to vote must do so by Monday, 19 April in order to take part in this spring’s elections.
Anna Earnshaw, Returning Officer for the West Northamptonshire elections and the Chief Executive of the new Council, said: “The Government has said they will be keeping the date of the elections under review which is right and proper given the fast-changing circumstances of the Coronavirus pandemic.
“We’re currently preparing for them to go ahead as scheduled on 6 May, including putting robust measures in place to ensure everyone will have the opportunity to safely cast their vote in these historic elections for West Northamptonshire.
“Despite these extra measures, anyone who is clinically vulnerable or does not feel able to visit a polling station on Election Day should register to vote by post or proxy as soon as possible.”
Polling arrangements are currently being organised by elections staff in Daventry District, South Northants and Northampton until the new West Northamptonshire Council is formed on 1 April. In the run-up to this, residents will still need to apply for postal and proxy votes via their existing district or borough councils.
Voters in Daventry District can apply by emailing electoralservices@daventrydc.gov.uk or calling 01327 871100, Northampton residents should email elecreg@northampton.gov.uk or call 0300 330 7000, and people living in South Northants should email elections@southnorthants.gov.uk or call 01327 322128.
Residents unsure whether or not they are registered to vote can check by contacting their local elections team on the contact details above. Those who need to register can do so at www.gov.uk/register-to-vote, where they will be asked to provide their name, National Insurance number and date of birth.
West Northamptonshire Council Draft Budget 2021-22 Consultation
The first draft budget for West Northamptonshire Council was approved for consultation by the Shadow Executive on 5 January 2021 and now they are seeking views on the proposals for when the council comes into existence in April 2021.
Please visit the website below for further details. The closing date for consultations is 2nd February 2021.
If you have any queries, comments or would like a copy of this questionnaire in another format (including paper, easy read or large print) you can contact West Northamptonshire Council by email, post or telephone. Their contact details are as follows:
Email address: futurenorthants@northamptonshire.gov.uk
Telephone: 0300 126 1000
Postal address:
- Budget Consultation Response
- West Northamptonshire Shadow Authority
- Consultation & Engagement Team
- One Angel Square
- 4 Angel Street
- Northampton
- NN1 1ED
All Change for Councils in Northamptonshire
All Change for Councils in Northamptonshire
Local government in Northamptonshire is changing. The existing system, which has been in place since the 1970s, is like a three-tier cake. The bottom layer is parish and town councils which typically cover one village or town. The middle layer is borough and district councils, which are responsible for things like planning applications, collecting the bins, tourism, and dealing with benefits. The top layer is the county council, which is responsible for things like social services, education, and highways.
From 1 April 2021 the top two layers of the cake are being replaced with one layer, known as unitary councils. There will be two in Northamptonshire: North Northamptonshire Council, and West Northamptonshire Council. Parish and town councils remain as they are.
West Northamptonshire Council will cover the area currently covered by Daventry District Council, Northampton Borough Council, and South Northamptonshire Council. The area contains the towns of Northampton, Daventry, Towcester and Brackley and nearly two hundred villages and hamlets. West Northamptonshire Council will be one of the larger unitary councils in England. It will be responsible for all the services currently being provided in the area by the district, borough, and county councils.
The main reason for replacing the district, borough and county councils with unitary councils is to save money. Northamptonshire County Council had well-publicised financial issues in 2017 and 2018, which led to a government inspection of the council. The inspector’s report recommended that creating unitary councils was the best solution.
Most people will not notice any difference, certainly in the first few years of the unitary councils. In fact, great efforts are being made to ensure that is the case. For example, the lorry collecting the rubbish might have a different logo on it, but the bins will still be collected. Council services will continue as normal, and any changes will be gradual.
From 2021 you will see three lines on your council tax bill. You will pay an amount for the parish or town council that looks after your village or town, an amount for Northamptonshire Police, and an amount for West Northamptonshire Council for all the council services it provides. The amount you pay to each body is set by that body.
West Northamptonshire Council will have 93 councillors, who will be chosen at the local elections on 6 May 2021. Some will be people who have been district, borough, and county councillors before; others will be new. Anyone over 18 and living in West Northamptonshire can put themselves forward to be a councillor. The councillors elected in 2021 will serve a four-year term of office and may seek re-election in 2025.
Council meetings are held in public, and all the information, reports, and papers for the meetings are published on the council’s web site. Councils are open and democratic bodies and are accountable to the people they serve.
If you are interested to find out more about the changes happening to local government in Northamptonshire please visit https://futurenorthantswest.org/.
CYBER AND FRAUD PROTECT WEEKLY SECURITY ARTICLE
This advice has been collated by East Midlands Special Operations Unit and is intended for wider distribution within the
East Midlands to raise awareness among businesses and the public.
If you require any further information, assistance or guidance please contact EMSOU Protect Team
Residents invited to take part in conservation area review
People with an interest in the history and heritage of Spratton are invited to get involved in proposals to create a conservation area in the parish.
An online exhibition organised by Daventry District Council will give people an opportunity to explore and share the history of the village, what makes it special, and how it can be protected in future.
It will be held over Zoom from 6.30-7.30pm on Thursday 7 January 2021 and is open to all members of the public. People who are interested in attending should email heritage@daventrydc.gov.uk for more information and joining instructions.
Thoughts and comments made during the event will help shape a Draft Conservation Area Appraisal and Management Plan which DDC is putting together for Spratton.
People will have a further opportunity to shape that document during a six-week consultation which will take place once it has been produced.
The event is being held as part of a review of Daventry District’s conservation areas – sites considered worthy of preservation or enhancement because of their special architectural or historic interest.
The purpose of the review is to ensure that the District’s conservation areas are fit for purpose. It looks at whether their boundaries should be changed, whether further controls should be introduced within them, and whether there are any locations where new conservation areas could be designated.
People can find out more information at www.daventrydc.gov.uk/ConservationAreas