Parish Connect -December 2015

Local Government Boundary Commission Electoral Review of Winchester

Draft – The Winchester (Electoral Changes)
Order 2015

A draft of the proposed Statutory Instrument to implement
the Commission’s final recommendations has now been laid before Parliament, for
approval. The forty day period for its consideration expires on 14 December
2015. It is subject to the negative procedure – which means that it is made in
the event that neither House passes a resolution that it be not made. The
procedure also does not allow for any drafting changes to be made eg to names
of wards.

A copy of The Winchester (Electoral Changes) Order 2015
No. has been published to legislation.gov.uk: http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/ukdsi/2015/9780111140208

Article 4 makes provision for a whole City
Council election in 2016. Subsequently, the Council will revert to the existing
system of election by thirds. That article also provides for the order of retirement
of councillors in 2018, 2019 and 2020 and the election of their replacements.
In each ward the councillor with the highest number of votes in 2016 will
remain in office for the longest period.

Names
of district wards and number of councillors

• Alresford & Itchen Valley – 3
• Badger Farm & Oliver’s Battery – 3
• Bishop’s Waltham – 3
• Central Meon Valley – 3
• Colden Common & Twyford – 2 –
  Elections in 2018 and 2019
• Denmead – 3
• St Barnabas – 3
• St Bartholomew – 3
• St Luke – 2 – Elections in 2019 and
  2020
• St Michael – 3
• St Paul – 3
• Southwick & Wickham – 3
• The Worthys – 3
• Upper Meon Valley – 2 – Elections in
  2018 and 2019
• Whiteley & Shedfield – 3
• Wonston & Micheldever – 3

For Parishes, the following provision
is made for parish wards:

Wards of the parish
of Littleton & Harestock – for election in 2019

• Harestock – 8 councillors
• Littleton – 3 councillors

Wards
of the parish of Shedfield – for
election in 2016

• Shedfield – 6 councillors
• Waltham Chase – 8 councillors

Wards
of the parish of South Wonston – for
election in 2019

• South Wonston – 7 councillors
• Worthy Down – 1 councillor

Wards
of the parish of Southwick & Widley –
for election in 2016

• North East – 1 councillor
• Southwick & Widley – 8 councillors

The map defined in article 2 shows the
new city and parish wards. It is available at

https://www.lgbce.org.uk/current-reviews/south-east/hampshire/winchester

A further update will be given when the period for Parliamentary
consideration expires.

The LGBC is also undertaking a separate review of County
Electoral Divisions – with the final recommendations expected by April 2016.
Thereafter, the City Council will consider whether to undertake a programme of parish
Community Governance Reviews – to consider issues raised by some parishes.

REMINDER
Local Plan Part 2 – Development Management and Site Allocations 

Consultation closes midday 21 December 2015

On 21 October 2015, Winchester City Council agreed changes to Local Plan Part 2 so that it can be published for formal consultation on ‘soundness’ matters. The  consultation commenced on 6 November 2015 and runs through to midday on 21 December 2015. At this stage, in line with Government regulations, the Council is required to focus the consultation on the matters of ‘soundness’ which require the Plan to be:-

• Positively prepared
• Justified
• Effective
• Consistent with national policy

The Plan must also comply with both legal and procedural requirements and have been prepared in accordance with the Duty to Cooperate. Therefore, the comment forms have been designed to reflect these requirements and to help you direct your responses to these matters.

The Plan and other supporting information can be viewed online on the City Council’s website – www.winchester.gov.uk/planning-policy/local-plan-part-2

A paper copy of the Local Plan and the non-technical summary of the sustainability appraisal can be inspected at:

• Winchester City Council’s City Offices, Colebrook Street, Winchester, SO23 9LJ Monday to Thursday 8.30am – 5.00pm and Friday 8.30am – 4.30pm.
• the following libraries:-

– Winchester Discovery Centre, Jewry Street, Winchester

– Stanmore Community Library, Carroll Centre, Somers Close

– Alresford Library, Broad Street, New Alresford

– Bishops Waltham Library, Free Street, Bishops Waltham

– Waterlooville Library, The Precinct, Waterlooville

– Eastleigh Library, The Swan Centre, Eastleigh

– Fareham Library, Osborn Road, Fareham

Please check Hampshire County Council website for up to date opening times.

Comments should be sent in writing, preferably using the form provided on the website, and be submitted online or by email to LPP2@winchester.gov.uk

Completed paper forms should be returned to City Offices, at the above address, all responses must be received no later than 12 noon on 21 December 2015.

Armed Forces Community Covenant Grant Scheme now open

The Armed Forces Community Covenant Grant Scheme is now open and taking
applications.  Grants of up to £20,000 are available for projects that
support one of three priorities – community integration; the coordination and
delivery of support to the Armed Forces community; former service personnel in
the criminal justice system.  It is likely that most applications from
communities in Winchester District would be for projects which help integrate
Armed Forces and civilian communities.

The deadline for applications – 17 December 2015.

For more details or to make an application please view the following
link – https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/covenant-fund

Winchester: A 21st century historic city

Speech by Cllr Stephen Godfrey, Leader of Winchester City Council:

There has been much debate about change in Winchester, sparked by a range of new developments including housing at Barton Farm and Pitt Manor, the town centre regeneration of Silver Hill, the extra care scheme at Chesil surface car park and ambitious plans for commercially-led development at the Station and Cattle Market.

More about the article on http://www.winchester.gov.uk/n/planning/winchester-21st-century-historic-city/

Winchester
marks success of food hygiene rating scheme

The Food Hygiene Rating System is now 5 years old and the City
Council is celebrating its success. 98% of food businesses locally have a
rating of 3 and above with over 500 having the 5 rating. The scheme is designed so that anyone anywhere can
check the rating of local food premises whether this is in Winchester, York or
Cardiff.

The Food Standards Agency is
keen that more people ‘look-before-they-book’ by checking the hygiene rating
before deciding where to eat.

The ratings are determined by
local authority food safety officers and are given following an inspection.
There are 6 ratings 0 – 5, with a 5 rating meaning very good food hygiene
standards.

Find out more at http://www.food.gov.uk/business-industry/caterers/hygieneratings

Saturday
is Santaday at the Tourist Information Centre

The Visit Winchester team is hosting their first Father Christmas grotto at the Tourist Information Centre – based on artwork in the children’s
picture book ‘The Night Before Christmas’ by internationally renowned
children’s illustrator Christian Birmingham.

The Winchester Grotto is open every Saturday leading up to Christmas. Pre-bookable tickets are available between 10am and
1:15pm.  From 1:15pm – 4:30pm the grotto
will be operating on a first come first served basis, tickets are purchased on
arrival at the Grotto and cannot be sold in advance. Tickets cost £5 per
person.

Clean
for the Queen

Wickham turned out in
force as Box 459 lights the square on Remembrance Day

The mayor of Winchester led a ceremony in her home parish of Wickham on Remembrance Day and over 100 parishioners gathered around the Box 459 light installation for a moment of reflection.

Box 459, commissioned by Winchester City Council has been installed in the historic square of the rural village and will remain for a year before continuing its tour of the district. The sculpture was unveiled on 4 August 2014 to mark the Imperial War Museum’s LIGHTS OUT event and has received international recognition for the team who created it at AR Design Studio Ltd in Winchester.

The steel light installation, which was inspired by the 1921 inscription on Winchester Cathedral’s War memorial that recorded a total of 459 fallen soldiers from the city, won a Surface Design Award in 2015. Box 459’s dimensions mark Armistice Day – it is a 1100mm engineered steel cube. An internal light source projects powerful shafts of light through 459 apertures representing the city’s lost generation from this era of history. A further 43 apertures have coloured filters – these represent the fallen soldiers of Winchester District’s 43 parishes.

Over 100 local people attended the short ceremony with representatives of the Royal British Legion, 1st Wickham Scouts Group, Wickham CofE Primary School, Wickham Parish Council, Wickham Chamber of Trade and Winchester City Council and AR Design Studio all laying wreaths at the foot of the installation. Revd Juliet Montague from St Nicholas Church and Fr Andrew McMahon from Park Place Pastoral Centre both read prayers before laying their wreaths. The Leader and Deputy Leaders of Winchester City Council and Chief Executive Simon Eden also attended and spoke to parishioners and representatives from the Royal Navy in a short reception hosted by Greens Wine Bar following the event.

Council helps business get digitally savvy

Winchester City Council is offering small businesses from
across the Winchester District the chance to perfect their on-line marketing.

Digital Business Skills
is a tailor-made suite of three training sessions specifically designed to help
small businesses develop their knowledge of the internet, social media and the
benefits of getting their business online.

Winchester City
Council is providing this training free of charge to any Winchester District
based small or medium sized businesses.

All three free workshops
take place at Guildhall Winchester from 4pm to 8pm and are run by the
Association of Town Centre Management (ATCM).

The first session on Thursday 14 January 2016 entitled Understand your customer and digital marketing covers the important basics of marketing right through to online channels.

Developing your business online is the subject of the second session on Thursday 28 January 2016.  This gives an introduction to online, e-commerce and multi channel marketing.

The final session on Thursday 11 February 2016, Grow your business through Social Media, gives an introduction to blogs, social media and rich content which will keep your customers engaged with your business.

For maximum benefit, it is recommended businesses sign up to all three
modules.

Places are limited to one
per business and are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis so book
early to avoid disappointment.  A
cancellation charge of £85 is applicable for attendees who register but do not
attend.

To find out more
about the course visit: www.winchester.gov.uk/business/business-support-advice/training-networking/.  To
book email businessgrants@winchester.gov.uk

The are a variety of ways for you to keep in touch with Winchester City Council.

Corporate Communications
Winchester City Council
City Offices
Colebrook Street
Winchester
Hampshire
SO23 9LJ
Tel: 01962 848 504
Tel: 01962 848 251

communications@winchester.gov.uk