NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT TO INSPECT PARISH COUNCIL ACCOUNTS

Each year the Parish Council's annual return is audited by an external auditor appointed by the Audit Commission. Any person interested has the right to inspect the accounts and make copies of the annual return.

For the year ended 31 March 2013, these documents will be available between 3 June and 28 June on reasonable notice by application to the Parish Clerk during parish office hours.

• Full information (pdf)

PERKINS' EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION AWARDS FOR 2013/14

The Governors of this charity, founded in 1656 by William Perkins of Salford Priors and London, invite applications for awards from young people under the age of 25. Grants are available to help with expenses in courses of study in further and higher education, vocational training such as apprenticeships, and in some circumstances, structured programmes of personal development such as overseas visits. Awards are not normally given to those under 17 years of age.

Applicants must have been resident in one of the following parishes - Salford Priors, Bidford, Kings Broom, Cleeve Prior or Harvington - for not less than two years immediately prior to their application.

Application forms are available, upon written request, from the Clerk to the Governors. Alternatively, an application form can be downloaded from the website: www.williamperkinscharity.org

Forms for applicants who wish to be considered for an award for the academic year 2013/14 will be available from 1 May 2013.

Completed forms should be returned to the Clerk not later than 15 October 2013.

No applications received after that date can be accepted for consideration by the Governors for the academic year 2013/14.

Applicants may be required to attend before the Governors for an interview at a time and place to be notified in due course by the Clerk.

Dated 1 May 2013.

The Clerk to the Governors
Perkins' Educational Foundation
10 Elm Court
Arden Street
Stratford-upon-Avon
CV37 6PA.
Registered Charity No: 528678

ELECTION RESULT

Here are the results of the County Councillor election held on Thursday 2 May 2013.

• County Councillor for Bidford-on-Avon (pdf)

BURIAL CHARGES

The document below lists the Parish Council's burial charges, effective from 1 April 2013.

• Bidford Parish Council Burial Charges (pdf)

CENSUS PROFILE FOR BIDFORD-ON-AVON

The document below contains information from the 2011 Census on Bidford-on-Avon, including statistics on population, health and care, ethnicity, education, housing, travel and econimic activity.

• 2011 Census Profile for Bidford-on-Avon (pdf)

SPONSORED WALK IN AID OF BIDFORD COMMUNITY LIBRARY

From Monday 15 April to Sunday 28 April 2013 Pat Atkins will be walking, in Tudor dress, from Shakespeare’s Birthplace to the Globe theatre in London along The Shakespeare Way Footpath (146 miles). Any money raised will go to Bidford Community Library.

If you would like to help the Library by sponsoring Pat's walk, please use the Sponsor Form below:

• Shakespeare Walk Sponsorship Form (pdf)

ELECTORAL REVIEW OF STRATFORD-ON-AVON DISTRICT COUNCIL

The independent Local Government Boundary Commission for England is carrying out an electoral review of Stratford-on-Avon District Council.

The first part of the review is for the Commission to consider the right number of councillors to represent Stratford-on-Avon in the future (currently 53).

Have your say. Please submit your views on this matter no later than 8 April 2013. More details can be read in the document below:

• Electorial Review of Stratford-on-Avon (pdf)

WELFARE REFORM FILM

Below is a link to a very interesting short film about changes to housing benefit which may well affect households in our area. This is one of a planned series of films, which is being produced via BRANCAB on behalf of the Warwickshire Financial Inclusion Partnership. The films are being used as another channel of communications for the forthcoming Welfare Reforms:

• YouTube: Housing Benefit Changes 2013 (external link)

VEHICLE CRIME INFORMATION SHEET

Warwickshire Police would like to offer the following advice to help the public protect themselves against vehicle crime:

• Vehicle Crime Information and Advice (pdf)

WARWICKSHIRE GRITTING ROUTES 2012/13

The maps below show the primary gritting routes for the county of Warwickshire for the 2012/13 winter season.

• Gritting Routes 2012/13 (pdf)

PUBLIC NOTICES FOR BARTON, BROOM AND MARLCLIFF RESIDENTS

Bidford-on-Avon Parish Council has agreed a Participatory Budget for 2013/14 and is inviting Barton, Broom and Marlcliff residents to send in proposals for an expenditure of up to £500 (ex. VAT) that will benefit its community.

The Parish Council looks forward to hearing the proposals put forward by the Barton, Broom or Marlcliff Residents which it will consider at its Parish Council meeting of 25 February 2013.

• Notice for Barton Residents (pdf)
• Notice for Broom Residents (pdf)
• Notice for Marlcliff Residents (pdf)

BIDFORD-ON-AVON HOUSING NEEDS SURVEY

Below are the results of the Housing Needs Survey carried out by Warwickshire Rural Community Council on behalf of Bidford-on-Avon Parish Council. The report is dated August 2012.

• Housing Needs Survey (pdf)

NOTICE OF CONCLUSION OF AUDIT

Notice is hereby given that the audit of accounts for Bidford-on-Avon Parish Council for the year ended 31 March 2012 was completed on 30 July 2012.

Elisabeth Uggerløse
Clerk to the Parish Council

• Full Notice of Audit (pdf)

MARLCLIFF FLOOD ALLEVIATION SCHEME

Commencing 30 July 2012

The Marlcliff Flood Alleviation Scheme work is starting on Monday 30 July. The Environment Agency has advised Marlcliff residents. Plans of the scheme can be read below:

• Proposed Site Layout (pdf)

LETTER FROM NADHIM ZAHAWI MP RE: INSURING PROPERTIES AT RISK OF FLOODING

The letter below was sent by Mr Nadhim Zahawi MP to the Director General of the ABI (Association of British Insurers) regarding insurance for properties that have been flooded in the past and addresses the concerns raised by the Parish Council on behalf of residents.

• Letter from Nadhim Zahawi, MP (pdf)

STREET LIGHTING - CHANGING TO PART-NIGHT OPERATION

WCC are carrying out changes to street lighting across the county, with 80% of county council owned street lights being put on a part-night basis (no lights from midnight to 5.30am).

The map below shows which lights will remain on all night and which ones will switch off:

• Bidford and Broom Street Lighting Map (pdf)

GUIDEPOSTS CARERS SUPPORT SERVICE

Do you help to look after someone?

Information and support for people who help care for others In Warwickshire. We can help with:

• Information on services available
• One to one emotional support
• Training sessions to help build on your strengths as a Carer
• Support groups
• Regular newsletter
• Carers Emergency Card
• Specialist staff for Carers from Black and Minority Ethnic communities, for Parent Carers and Mental Health Carers

Support is just a phone call away. Call us today on 0845 600 9980
Email:carerssupport@guidepoststrust.org.uk
www.guidepoststrust.org.uk

RESULTS OF POLLS: DISTRICT AND COUNCIL ELECTIONS ON THU 3 MAY 2012

The following notices give the results of the elections of Parish and District Councillors at the vote on Thursday 3 May 2012:

• Election Results for District Councillor for Bidford and Salford Ward (pdf)
• Election Results for Parish Councillors for Bidford Ward (pdf)
• Election Results for Parish Councillor for Broom Ward (pdf)

DONATION OF BOOKS URGENTLY NEEDED

Bidford Twinning Association has received an urgent request from the Gesamtschule, the secondary school in our twin village in Ebsdorfergrund. The school recently celebrated its 50th Anniversary and they want to establish an 'English' section in the school library.

They are asking Bidford residents if they have any unwanted non-fiction books or books for 11 to 16 year olds.

If anyone can help, please deliver any books to 11 Glebe Close, Bidford. Contact: Anne and Malcolm Dewsbury on 01789 772667.

A Twinning visit is due from Ebsdorfergrund from 2 to 7 June 2012, and they could easily take any books back with them on the coach. Hoping you can help.

DO YOU WANT FASTER BROADBAND?

Warwickshire County Council, along with Solihull and Coventry Councils have been allocated £4.07m by Government to help improve broadband connectivity. That amount has to be match-funded by the local authorities, and the private sector are expected to invest a considerably larger amount to ensure that all properties achieve speeds of at least 2Mbps and 90% of properties achieve at least 24Mbps by the end of 2015.

Faster broadband will facilitate a step-change in all our lives, including working from home; the provision of health and care facilities to help people stay in their own homes for longer; business benefits such as less travelling and cloud computing; and many, many more technologies which just a few years ago were unthinkable but which are available now – providing you have a fast enough connection.

In order to encourage the private sector to invest we need to show that they will get a return on their money and that people will actually use the service, and to do that we have set up two questionnaires, one for businesses and one for residential. If you work from home please complete both – just because a building doesn't have a sign over the door doesn't mean that there is no business activity inside! The survey can be found at www.cswbroadband.org.uk

We are also looking to recruit local Champions who will be able to promote the project within their own villages and to encourage others to sign up (resources will be provided). If you would be interested in becoming a Champion or have any other queries about the project, please email broadband@warwickshire.gov.uk

BUSINESS ADVICE ON TWITTER

Warwickshire County Council's Trading Standards Service has launched its own business advice twitter as a quick and simple means to help provide Warwickshire businesses with information and advice.

Twitter will help Trading Standards Officers keep in touch with small and medium sized businesses. Officers will be able to provide the business community with help and advice and promote fair trading and safety.

The Trading Standards Animal Health Team are also hoping to use twitter as another means to communicate with the farming community.

Follow us at: www.twitter.com/warkstss

LIBRARY VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

Progress with Bidford Community Library Ltd. is being made and it is envisaged that the new library/hub will open on 2 April 2012.

The parish council would delighted to hear from any resident who would like to volunteer to help at the new library. If you would like to volunteer, please complete the form below and return it to the Parish Clerk.

• Volunteer Details Form (pdf)

VOLUNTEER NEEDED

Funding has been granted to Act on Energy to deliver a project in six communities around the District, including Bidford.

The project will:

• Have a business fair when Residents can access energy advice and information and meet companies providing renewable energy solutions.
• Provide training for members of the community to help other residents with energy advice information and support.
• A free energy audit for a community building.

The funding for this project will have to be spent by the end of March.

To deliver this project, we would like to find a contact within the community to liaise and enable arrangements to take place.

If anybody would like to volunteer to be this contact, or would like more information please contact the Parish Clerk.

BIDFORD RESIDENTS GET CITIZENS ADVICE BUREAU OUTREACH SERVICE

The start of a new year is the ideal time to take advantage of the new outreach Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) service which has launched in the library.

Stratford district is one of the largest rural districts in England, and for many people making the journey into Stratford can be problematic. Stratford CAB is now operating a fortnightly service for Bidford residents at the Library and Information Centre on Bramley Way.

The service is available on the first and third Fridays of each month. It is free and completely confidential.

• Poster/More Information (pdf)
• Citizens Advice Bureau Advice Guide (external link)

WARWICKSHIRE TRADING STANDARDS: NO MORE 'CHARITY' COLLECTION BAGS PLEASE

Warwickshire County Council's Trading Standards Service is thanking residents for sending them huge numbers of dubious 'charity' collection bags in a recent blitz on unscrupulous collectors.

Hundreds have already been sent in and Trading Standards Officers continue to receive bags full each week. Officers now have the details of around 50 different collectors operating across the County.

The collection phase of the blitz has now ended and the investigation phase is now well under way. Trading Standards Officers therefore no longer need residents to send in collection bags but would like to thank everyone who helped to get the project off to such an excellent start.

For advice on charity bags, visit our website: www.warwickshire.gov.uk/scams

248 REDDITCH-ALCESTER-BIDFORD-EVESHAM BUS ROUTE

Below is the timetable for the Sunday bus service from Redditch to Evesham via Alcester, Wixford, Bidford, Salford Priors and Norton (and vice-versa).

The timetable is valid from 4 September 2011 until further notice.

• Bus Route 248 Timetable (pdf)

KIND DONATION FROM THE ORGANISER OF THE VINTAGE GATHERING

Following the very successful Vintage Gathering Event on the Big Meadow on 14/15 May 2011, the organiser, Mr Mark Smith, donated £1,000 to this year's elected charity - Bidford Youth Club.

The Parish Council, Bidford Youth Club and the people of Bidford would all like to congratulate and thank Mark for organising a wonderful weekend event!

VOLUNTEER DRIVING

We are in urgent need of volunteer drivers in Bidford and surrounding villages. This vital service helps mainly older people, with a genuine need for transport to attend their appointments at Hospitals, Doctors, Dentists, Opticians and Day Centres.

We average around 200 volunteer drivers across the Stratford District and cover approximately 28,000 passenger trips to Hospitals in Coventry, Warwick, Rugby, Birmingham, Worcester, Oxford. The local appointments are equally important especially for people who are in isolated villages.

This service is very much appreciated by the clients as they often say they would not be able to attend their appointments without our volunteer drivers.

Volunteer drivers can help as much or little as they would like and we work around what they can offer – even if it was on an occasional basis or half day a week. The mileage rate is 45p per mile for authorised journeys.

We have a local office at The Globe in Alcester which is mainly staffed by an excellent team of volunteers that covers the office 5 mornings a week. We work as a team and welcome new volunteers.

Wheel Chair Short Term Loan Service – We also hold wheel chairs at our Alcester and Stratford office for up to one month's loan, free of charge, but do appreciate a donation.

Our Alcester telephone number is 01789 763117 - AM only. If you require any further information we would be pleased to have a chat with you.

Clarissa Roberts MBE – Volunteer Services Manager - 01789 262886.

COMMUNITY SPEEDAWARE VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

Speeding is a major cause of collisions so reducing traffic speed is often a community priority.

You can make a real difference by becoming a Community SpeedAware volunteer and promoting safer speeds using our flashing slow down signs. Your presence with the sign will have a dramatic effect on the speed of traffic.

The only cost will be your time, as you will need to be close to our signs at all times when in use. You will also need to erect, dismantle and store the signs safely for the duration of the loan.

The Parish Council would like anyone interested in volunteering for this to contact the Parish Council Office.

• Poster and information (pdf)

BIDFORD CRICKET CLUB: VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

Bidford Cricket Club are looking for volunteers, who have a couple of spare hours on a Saturday/Sunday afternoon, during the summer, to undertake the occasional tea duty.

Contact Macer on 07952 356506 if you wish to help out.