Transforming Breckland - Spring 2016

Transforming

Spring 2016

Breckland A Breckland Council publication for all residents

Inside this issue: Early support for families – p3 Can you get better broadband? – p5 Are you recycling right? – p8 Pay for your garden waste bin online – p9 Win a family ticket for Truck Superprix – p11

www.breckland.gov.uk

First Words

Welcome to the first edition of Transforming Breckland As a forward-thinking council, we’re always looking at how we can work smarter and more efficiently to achieve our vision for Breckland to be a place of opportunity and ambition for everyone.

Like all councils, we need to save money and be efficient, while continuing to deliver value-for-money services that meet residents’ needs. At the same time, we want to be less reliant on government funding; by generating more income through property assets and by trading some of our services to other organisations, we can help to safeguard community services and support.

On pages 6–7, you’ll find a summary of our budget plans, and how this affects your Council Tax. We want to continue to be an innovative council, delivering services differently to make the most of new technologies and more efficient ways of working. That’s why we’re making it quicker and simpler for you to do business with Breckland online – by relaunching our website.

It’s now even easier to book and pay for more services online, such as buying a garden waste bin. Find out more about our digital plans on pages 4–5.

It’s also important for us to grow the district, making the most of opportunities for regeneration, new jobs and housing – so Breckland is a great place to live, work and do business. One of the many ways we’re doing this is by creating and promoting an A11 Technology Corridor, which you can read more about on page 14.

To achieve these ambitions, we need to transform the way we work as a council: your council. That’s why we’ve launched Transforming Breckland – to keep you updated and informed on these changes and allow you to access more council services when and how you prefer.

We hope you find it a useful, helpful guide to the services and support we are here to provide – and we welcome your feedback on what you would like to see covered in future editions. Let us know at contactus@ breckland.gov.uk

Contact us...

Transforming Breckland brings you news and information on the services and support provided by Breckland Council and its partners. Your comments and ideas are very welcome.

Email contactus@breckland.gov.uk or call 01362 656870. If you need this magazine in large print, or in an alternative version, please contact Breckland Council on 01362 656870.

Link-Up: Blind or partially sighted, or know someone who is? Transforming Breckland can be sent on a memory stick with the independently produced Link-Up, a free, fortnightly audio newsletter. To subscribe, email: contact@ linkupbreckland.org.uk or call 01842 755131.

Delivery issues? If you know someone who has not received their copy of Transforming Breckland please contact us on 01362 656870.

Transforming Breckland is printed on chlorine-free paper from managed forests. We are planning a future edition at the end of October 2016.

www.breckland.gov.uk 2

Community

Photos: Anita Staff

Our Day Out When you’re caring for someone with dementia, it can be all too easy to ignore your own needs and to forget that you matter too.

The Our Day Out project provides popular dementia-friendly events and activities that both the carer and the cared for can enjoy together, helping to improve their quality of life. Developed by Breckland Council, the project is delivered by Creative Arts East. Groups meet monthly in Dereham, Attleborough and Watton. Find out more at www.breckland.gov.uk/ ourdayout or contact Lea Schiller on 01953 713390 or email lea@creativeartseast.co.uk.

Leisure Centre Discounted Carer Membership: For carers and cared for who like to stay active, our Leisure Centres offer discounted joint membership. For just £25 per month, both can enjoy unlimited swimming, gym and all classes except pilates.

Early help for families Everybody needs a bit of extra support from time to time – and getting help early can stop minor issues from becoming a major crisis. That’s why a number of organisations that help residents and families in our district, are joining up to launch a new Early Help Hub in Thetford.

The Help Hub, which will be opening at Breckland House later this year, is about making sure people get help as soon as they begin to experience difficulties, so they can get their life back on track as quickly as possible.

Most people will be referred to the Hub by a professional, such as a GP, school welfare officer or support worker, who thinks they may benefit from a little extra help. Once the Thetford Hub, which will cover the town and south of the district, is up and running work will start on creating a similar hub to cover Dereham and the north of the district.

Find out first: We’ll have more news about the launch of the Early Help Hub soon – find out first by signing up to our online news alerts at www.breckland.gov.uk

Sandy and David’s story David and Sandy Wheal enjoyed an active and busy retirement, playing lawn bowls and taking dancing classes. But when Sandy was diagnosed with dementia, it had a significant impact on their life together, with David becoming her carer as well as her husband.

Our Day Out has proved a real lifeline, enabling the couple – who celebrated their golden wedding this year – to gain support and friendship from others in a similar situation.

To date, they’ve enjoyed printmaking, African drumming, a trip to Gressenhall Museum and archive film screenings in Dereham.

David said: “We really enjoy the ‘Our Day Out’ events because you don’t get judged.

Everyone is in the same position, so you can feel totally relaxed, and at ease with people – you can let your hair down, and it really lifts you up.”

Useful links Find out more about caring for someone with dementia at: • www.dementiafriendly norfolk.com • www.ageuk.org.uk/norfolk • www.carers.org/localservice/norfolkcarers

Enabling stronger, more independent communities

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Digital

Enter the pod...

As well as launching a brand new website, we’re making it easier for residents to ‘go digital’ by installing a selfservice ‘pod’ at our head office in Dereham.

New look and features on relaunched site Residents and businesses can now do even more online, with the relaunch of Breckland Council’s website.

As well as offering a host of new features, our site (www. breckland.gov.uk) has been given a fresh, clean new look to make it easier for residents and businesses to find what they need, including information on local services, breaking news, or upcoming events.

Designed to work on a wider range of devices, including tablets and smartphones, it’s now even easier to access our services at a time and place that suits you – whether it is on your smartphone on your way to work, or on your tablet late at night while you’re relaxing at home. This is the first stage of our website redevelopment and you will notice further improvements over the coming months.

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Visit our website to: • Search for planning applications • Report a flytip or other nuisance • Register to receive Council Tax bills online • Set up a direct debit to pay invoices, Council Tax and business rates • Apply for benefits • Request a postal vote • Tell us about a change of address • Create or renew a subscription to our garden waste collection service New for 2016 Thanks to our new website, you can now sign up to our Garden Waste Collection Service online, rather than having to visit a council office or call us during office hours. Read more about this on pages 8-9.

Not seen the new site yet? Go to www.breckland.gov.uk to try it for yourself!

The pod provides visitors with electronic access to Breckland’s services, so they can report any issues, find out information, and pay for services safely and securely. Our friendly staff are on hand to help, if needed.

In addition to the private pod, eight computers – including one with disabled access – are available to use at Elizabeth House reception. This means even those without computer access at home can make use of our improving online facilities.

More services under one roof Visitors coming to Breckland’s head office in Dereham can now speak to staff from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) at the same time.

Bringing the two organisations together under one roof means residents can discuss a wider range of issues in a single visit. It also

helps our staff to work more closely with DWP colleagues to provide more efficient, joined-up services and support. The move is part of a national initiative to co-locate DWP staff at council offices across the country.

DWP operates on an appointment basis – for more details call Dereham Job Centre on 0345 604 3719.

Better broadband boost for Breckland

From shopping and keeping in touch with friends, to accepting business orders and contacting suppliers, better broadband has become a ‘must-have’ for more and more of us.

properties were able to get basic broadband. Part of the Better Broadband for Norfolk’s Super-Fast Extension Programme, the funding will be matched by government, meaning an extra £1.9m will be spent on broadband in Breckland.

So Breckland Council is helping to open up access to even more homes and businesses across the district by investing £950k to significantly increase the proportion of Breckland properties able to access superfast broadband, to around 94% over the next few years. As recently as 2013, only 30% of commercial and residential

The district is also set to benefit from a share of a £5.3m rebate from an earlier Better Broadband for Norfolk deal, further increasing the total spend.

Can you get better broadband already? Use the postcode checker at www.betterbroad bandnorfolk.co.uk

Do you need help to get online?

Do you want to get online but don’t know where to start?

Maybe you have experience of surfing the web but now want to expand your web skills? If so, Norfolk County Council’s libraries have a course for you.

Most of the county’s libraries offer a range of courses for a variety of ages and abilities and many are absolutely free. The training can help beginners use a computer for the first time including how to use a keyboard and mouse. Other courses

show how to move around websites, fill out forms and applications online, and how to set up and use email.

There is also training available to shop online, research your family history, save and retrieve digital photographs, use social media – like Twitter and Facebook – and search for a job.

To find out more visit your local library, go to www.norfolk.gov.uk/ libraries or call 0344 800 8020.

Providing the right services, at the right time and in the right way

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Budget

The Budget for 2016/17 Breckland Council has agreed a budget that will protect frontline services while investing in the district’s future, including a net revenue budget of £11.1m and a capital investment programme of £10.3m.

Despite a reduction of £0.7m in government revenue support

grant in the year ahead, and rising inflationary costs and demand for services, we’re on track to deliver a balanced budget.

As well as keeping the amount residents pay through their Council Tax at the lowest rate in the country for a district council, the budget also means we can invest in our market towns, protect community grants and support, and back local businesses.

By making a small increase in Council Tax – the first for three years – our budget doesn’t rely on our reserves, and is backed by a sound financial plan for the future.

Where the money comes from... % 11 Council Tax

18%

Government grants

raised

13%

Fees, charges and similar

Savings through innovation

Your Council Tax is collected on our behalf by ARP – an innovative partnership made up of seven local councils, including Breckland.

By bringing together staff, IT and accommodation, we have not only significantly improved services, but also made annual savings of at least £2.5m.

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% 13 Rental and

Commercialisation income

% 13 Business Rates retained and collection fund

Do it online Your Council Tax Bill explained. By now you will have had your Council Tax bill for 2016/17. Inside, you should have had a leaflet which explains how your bill is calculated and what you need to pay. To see a digital version of this guide to your bill visit www.angliarevenues. gov.uk/services/counciltax/ understanding-your-counciltax-bill.cfm

% 32 Other income and grants

Your Council Tax

Here’s where each £1 of your Council Tax goes…

What it means to you: Breckland’s share of the Council Tax will increase by just over 9p each week for a band D property. However, with the majority of our district’s homes falling within the A-C band, over three-quarters of residents will pay no more than an extra 8p each week.

Find out more online at: www.breckland.gov.uk/ yourcounciltax

Pay online

76p Norfolk County Council

14p Norfolk Police and Crime Commissioner

5p Breckland Council

£

5p

It’s quick and easy to pay for your Council Tax online, either by monthly direct debit or a one-off payment. By registering online, you can also apply for a reduction, discount or exemption, or let us know about a change of address. Find out more at: www.breckland.gov. uk/payforit

Your Town or Parish Council

Supporting communities to thrive Our budget keeps a firm focus on supporting communities and vulnerable people, meaning: • Community grants and support are protected, to help communities remain strong and independent, while making sure the Council is still there when needed.

• Vulnerable families will get help sooner by launching Early Help Hubs – working with partners to provide joined-up support to those who need it most.

• Extra support for armed forces veterans by disregarding all war pension income, rather than the statutory £10, when we work out their housing benefit.

Investing in ecomonic growth and jobs One of the Council’s top priorities is supporting economic growth and boosting employment opportunities. We are doing this by investing in: •T hetford Riverside: Now well under way, the development will provide a major economic boost and new jobs for the town, delivering a three-screen cinema, a 62-bed hotel and new restaurants/food outlets.

Find out more on page 12.

•B usiness Rates Reduction scheme: Currently being piloted in Dereham, the scheme is part of our wider plan to work with partners to reinvigorate all five of our market towns (Attleborough, Dereham, Swaffham, Thetford and Watton).

• A11 Technology corridor: Attracting investment and new jobs to the whole district by promoting the A11 corridor between Cambridge and Norwich as a great place to live, work and do business. See page 14.

Supporting Breckland to develop and thrive

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Recycling and Waste

You can recycle these in your black recycling bin:

Residents urged to ‘leave it loose’ People living in Breckland are being reminded of the importance of leaving their recycling loose in their black household recycling bin, rather than putting it in bags.

materials, such as paper, making those materials unrecyclable. Putting recycling in bags also slows down the sorting process as the content has to be emptied and sorted by hand, rather than automatically by machine.

Please don’t put any plastic bags in your recycling bin – either as empty items or as filled bags – as carrier bags and bin bags can ruin materials which could otherwise be recycled.

Bags which aren’t removed by the sorting staff can also cause costly jams in the sorting machinery, further slowing the sorting process and making it less efficient.

For example, if a bag is put in the bin and gets accidentally shredded at the processing plant, the plastic can become mixed up with other

Help us to recycle as much as possible – remember to ‘Leave it Loose’!

Having a clear out?

Holes in your socks?

Clothing, bedding and shoes can’t be recycled in household recycling bins, but can be recycled at locations throughout Breckland.

Find your nearest recycling point at: www.recyclenow. com/recycling-locator More information about what can and can’t be put in your household recycling bin is at www.breckland.gov.uk/recycle-right. Also look out for our #RecycleRight messages on Facebook and Twitter.

Did you know Plastic carrier bags aren’t recyclable in your household bin. However, many supermarkets collect carrier bags.

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?

• Paper • Cardboard • Food and drink cans (rinsed, not crushed) • Plastic bottles (any, rinsed, including lids) • Aerosol cans (empty) • Plastic pots, tubs and trays (clean) • Shredded paper, wrapping paper and greeting cards • Food and beverage cartons • Glass bottles and jars (including lids) • Foil and foil food containers (clean)

These should go in your general rubbish bin:* • Plastic bags (including bin bags and carrier bags) • Polystyrene • Tissues and kitchen roll • Crisp packets, food wrappers • Lightbulbs • Mirrors • Window panes • Plant pots • Composite foil and laminate pouches (e.g. pet food)

Plastic food tubs can be recycled – but please rinse them first.

*Some materials which can’t be recycled at home, such as window glass, can be taken to local recycling centres instead.

Food waste isn’t recyclable. If put in a recycle bin it can ruin recyclable items like cardboard, making them unrecyclable too.

Details at: www.recyclenow. com/recycling-locator

Go online to book your garden waste bin It is now quicker and easier than ever to sign up to our Garden Waste Collection Service. As part of Breckland Council’s drive to ‘go digital’ (see pages 4 & 5), we’re now offering residents • the ability to go online to subscribe to this • service or renew their existing • subscription.

Garden waste bins can be used for common waste created in the garden, including hedge clippings,

grass cuttings, weeds and plants, leaves and shrub prunings, cut flowers, and twigs and small bracken. Over 19,000 Breckland residents already have a brown bin subscription.

F ind your address Fill in your contact details Make your payment • Receive your brown bin!

As people can now sign up online, the service has become accessible 24/7; it only takes a few minutes to complete the four simple steps to create a new subscription or renew an existing subscription at a time that suits you.

The online system means you can now pay securely online using a debit card, with credit card payments due to be introduced soon, and previously offered payment options – paying by cheque or by debit or credit card over the phone – still in place.

The annual subscription is £42 for a standard (240 litre) wheelie bin, which is collected fortnightly throughout the year.

For more information, go to www. breckland.gov.uk/gardenwaste

Help us recycle as much as possible We would like to say a big ‘thank you’ to the vast majority of residents, who are mindful of sorting their rubbish so only the recyclable material goes into their black recycling bin.

We can only accept recyclable items in a household recycling bin. If non-recyclable items are put in your recycling bin, our collection crews

won’t be able to empty it. A red tag may be put on the bin to explain why it couldn’t be emptied – so you can take all the non-recyclables out in time for the next collection.

Please continue to sort your rubbish so we can recycle as much as possible – and to make sure you don’t get tagged!

Foil or film? Do the scrunch test!

Crisp packets aren’t recyclable as they are made from metallised plastic film. If you’re not sure whether your item is foil or metallised plastic film, do the scrunch test! Scrunch it in your hand – if it remains ‘scrunched’, it is foil and can be recycled; if it springs back (like a crisp packet does) it is probably metallised plastic film and not recyclable.

Supporting Breckland to develop and thrive

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Win a family day out at Gressenhall

Community

Whatever the weather, Gressenhall Farm and Workhouse is a great place to visit – and we have 10 family tickets to give away.

Photo: Kimberley Hipperson

A right royal clean-up Our district has had a real spring clean thanks to community-minded volunteers, who carried out litter-picks, cleared vegetation, planted bulbs and spruced up bus stops and village halls, ahead of The Queen’s birthday in April, as part of the national ‘Clean for the Queen’ campaign.

To thank these volunteers for their hard work, we awarded ‘The Queen’s 90th Birthday Celebration’ grants to help fund tea parties, family fun days, a royal-themed quiz night and a piano recital – all held over the weekend of the Queen’s birthday.

Children from Garboldisham Primary School (pictured above) cleaned up

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their village and created anti-litter posters, later celebrating at a tea party held with older village residents.

In Thetford, litter-pickers organised by the Charles Burrell Centre collected 60 bags of rubbish and celebrated with a family party.

Although this grant scheme has closed now, we can still support groups who want to clean up their local area by providing litter-picking equipment, as well as helping them to dispose of the litter.

To find out more visit: www.breckland.gov.uk/ litter-picking-equipment-loan or email: contactus@breckland. gov.uk or call 01362 656878.

Take your family or friends to the 50-acre site and discover the story of rural Norfolk at this fascinating museum and traditional farm with rare breed animals, beautiful grounds and exciting adventure playground. Whether you want to learn about the lives of Norfolk people in the past or relax and have a good time, you’ll need a whole day to begin to discover all its wonders.

Enjoy the fresh air on a cart ride round the farm or a walk along the river. See a re-creation of a 1930s cottage and wander through the delightful kitchen garden and traditional orchard. Browse around old village shops, stocked with household goods from times gone by. Gressenhall also holds special events throughout the year. For more details visit www.museums. norfolk.gov.uk/gressenhall How to enter To be in with a chance of winning a family ticket to Gressenhall – which admits up to five people – send your full name, age, address and contact phone/email details, quoting ‘Gressenhall Competition’, to: communications @breckland.gov.uk or post them to Gressenhall Farm and Workhouse Competition, Communications Team, Elizabeth House, Walpole Loke, Dereham, NR19 1EE. You must be 18 or over and living in Breckland to enter - the competition deadline is 31 May. For full competition terms and conditions, visit www. breckland.gov.uk/Ts-and-Cs

Get in gear for this truck-tacular prize!

The biggest machines in motorsport return to Norfolk in September and your family could see all of the action absolutely free!

We’ve teamed up with MotorSport Vision, the operator of Snetterton Circuit, to offer one lucky family tickets to see the annual Truck Superprix spectacular when it returns to the track on 10 and 11 September.

Weighing five-tonnes, with 1,000 horsepower and acceleration that rivals a Porsche 911, racing trucks are a truly unique spectacle.

The races are renowned for wheelto-wheel action at speeds of up to 100mph and an abundance of thrills and spills!

The winner of the family ticket – comprising weekend entry for two adults, and two teens (under 13s free) – will see up to ten races across the weekend, which will be headlined by a British Truck Racing Association Championship event.

There will also be plenty of familyfriendly off-track entertainment, including Monster Truck rides, a showtruck display, and a pre-race grid walk and autograph session.

How to enter Contact us by post or email specifying that your entry is for the Truck Superprix competition.

Provide your full name, age, address and contact phone/email details.

Email them to: communications@ breckland.gov.uk or post them to: Truck Superprix Competition, Communications Team, Elizabeth House, Walpole Loke, Dereham NR19 1EE. You must be 18 or over and living in Breckland to enter – the competition deadline is 31 May. For full competition terms and conditions, visit www.breckland.gov.uk/ Ts-and-Cs

Bid for your community’s share of £310,000 fund Time is running out to apply for a share of a massive £310,000 Outdoor Sport and Play Fund, so make sure you don’t miss out on the chance to give the outdoor playing spaces in your area a boost!

The money is available to provide brand new free-to-access children’s play areas and outdoor sports provision across the district or to enhance existing facilities. This includes climbing frames, swings and slides, multi-use games areas, sports pitches, tennis courts, bowling greens, sports pavilions and changing facilities, or parking related to the provision of these facilities.

Working in partnership with Norfolk Community Foundation, we recently invited town and parish councils to submit bids for a share of the money. Community groups, sports clubs, charities and schools are also welcome to apply, as long as members of the public will have access to the new sports and play resources.

We received the funding over the last few years from housing developers who, as part of their planning permission, are often required to make money available to help improve local play and sports facilities.

How to apply Outline project proposals and funding bids must be received by 13 May. After the initial proposals are assessed, selected applicants will be invited to submit a full application. The process will be managed on our behalf by Norfolk Community Foundation. Full details and proposal forms at www. norfolkfoundation.com/funds/ breckland-outdoor-sport-andplay-fund

Enabling stronger, more independent communities

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Housing and Leisure

Take a peek!

New ‘peep-hole’ hoardings have been installed around the site so passers-by can look in and see construction underway.

Alternatively, take a look at the site via the live webcam at: www.breckland.gov.uk/ thetford-riverside

Shaping Breckland’s future

We’d like to thank everyone who took part in our consultation on Breckland’s draft Local Plan.

Bridging the housing and leisure gap People in Breckland will soon benefit from access to a new £8m cinema, hotel and restaurant complex, as well as a number of new homes, thanks to an innovative partnership initiated by Breckland Council.

We have joined up with expert developer The Land Group to form Breckland Bridge, a joint venture to deliver projects which make the best use of the Council’s existing assets to drive growth and regeneration for everyone’s benefit. Income from these projects will also help us keep Council Tax low and safeguard frontline services. The partnership is currently working to breathe new life into Thetford Riverside, on Bridge Street, where an £8m regeneration scheme will see a three-screen cinema, 62-bed hotel, and five restaurant/food outlets open by the end of 2016.

In January, construction of 11 new homes in Mileham got underway to provide new housing for the district. Breckland Bridge also has plans to build new homes in Attleborough.

Once adopted in 2017, this Plan will shape housing growth and development in Breckland until 2036.

Almost 1,240 people called in at our drop-in events or went to Local Plan meetings organised by their Parish Councils to find out more, ask questions and give their views.

What happens next?

We received over 2,600 comments in total. These are being considered carefully before being reported back to your elected councillors, who will also take into account the views of expert organisations such as Natural England and the Highways Agency.

As a result of all this feedback, the Council will then decide what changes to make to the draft Plan.

A final consultation will be held later this year before the Plan is submitted to the Planning Inspectorate for examination and final approval.

Find out more at www.breckland.gov.uk/ emerging-local-plan.

To be notified of key planning consultations fill in our online form: www.breckland.gov.uk/ consultee-database-eform

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Keeping active in Breckland Keeping active is important for everyone’s general health and wellbeing and our leisure centres, which are run for us

by Parkwood Leisure, have excellent facilities and enjoyable activities to help you do just this.

Whether it’s toddler splash, badminton, boxercise, indoor bowls or Over 60s Keep Fit, our centres have something to suit all ages and abilities.

Find out more about the facilities near you at: www.leisurecentre.com

Free family swim pass and goody bag for 10 lucky readers!

Parkwood Leisure is offering ten readers a free family swim pass, together with a goody bag containing a towel and swim float; one lucky reader will also win a free ten-week sway dance course at Dereham Leisure Centre.

How to enter Contact us by post or email specifying that your entry is for the Family Swim Pass Competition.

Provide your full name, age, address and contact phone/email details. Email them to: communications@breckland.gov.uk or post them to: Family Swim Pass Competition, Communications Team, Elizabeth House, Walpole Loke, Dereham, NR19 1EE. You must be 18 or over and living in Breckland to enter – the competition deadline is 31 May 2016.

For full competition terms and conditions, visit www.breckland.gov.uk/Ts-and-Cs

Thetford Parkrun – a runaway success!

If you’d like to give running a try, you can be sure of a friendly welcome and masses of encouragement at Thetford Parkrun.

Photo: Archant

Every Saturday at 9am complete beginners, more experienced runners, parents with buggies and grandparents, start their Saturday morning with a bracing 5k run in Abbey Meadows. Parkrun supports people following a couch to 5k plan so, if you want to walk as well as run, that’s fine. Find out more at: www.parkrun.org.uk/thetford

Supporting Breckland to develop and thrive

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Growth Thousands of new jobs could be created as part of a new project to promote the A11 corridor between Cambridge and Norwich as a great place to live, work and do business.

Breckland Council plans to attract investment and new jobs to the whole district by creating a ‘technology corridor’ made possible by the A11 dualling, improving transport links.

Photo: Archant

‘Technology corridor’ vision could create thousands of new jobs Shipdham

Working in partnership with neighbouring councils in South Norfolk and Forest Heath, the project aims to create economic growth at key sites along the A11.

KingsFleet will see up to 5,000 homes being built over the next 20-30 years...

The project would focus on advanced manufacturing, engineering and agriculturetechnology.

Watton

Thetford Sustainable Urban Extension

4

13

A

The recently approved KingsFleet development – previously known as the Thetford Sustainable Urban Extension – also lies within the proposed Technology Corridor area.

Here, new jobs are set to be created on 19.5 hectares of business land.

ch wi

Snetterton Heath

• New jobs • 19.5 hectares of business land • 5,000 new homes

• Project to improve power supply • Enable existing businesses to grow • Attract new businesses • Create jobs

1

or to N

A1

Attleborough Attleborough

Snetterton

1

A1

Banham

It could include two new primary schools, with healthcare and sport provision, new roads, cycle paths and public transport being planned.

East Harling

Thetford

ri mb

a to C

e dg

Thetford Enterprise Park • Around £1m allocated to support growth • 1,500-2,500 new jobs

Another site which could form part of the Technology Corridor is the Thetford Enterprise Park (TEP) which, if created, could deliver between 1,500 and 2,500 jobs.

‘Victory’ for Attleborough

We have allocated around £1m to kick-start the TEP and are now seeking further investment from other partners.

Residents and businesses in Attleborough will soon benefit from a boost to the local economy and more jobs in the town.

We are also looking to unlock the potential of Snetterton Heath, to enable existing businesses to expand in the area and attract new businesses, by improving the power supply.

One of East Anglia’s largest construction companies, RG Carter Construction, has bought land on London Road, informally known as ‘Victory Park’, from Breckland Council and plans to use the

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industrial land for its engineering company. The deal is expected to bring jobs to the town, as well as benefiting local businesses which could potentially form part of the supply chain for the site.

To make the site more suitable for business use and enable the growth within the district, we put in place roads, streetlights, sewerage and a power supply.

Developing the local economy to be vibrant with continued growth

Vote

Did you know Being registered to vote can improve your credit rating.

?

Registering to vote If you’ve not already done so, it is now too late to register to vote in the Police and Crime Commissioner Election. However, you can still vote in the EU Referendum if you register by Tuesday 7 June or, if you would prefer a postal vote, by 5pm on Wednesday 8 June.

The quickest way to register is online: www.gov.uk/register-to-vote You will have the same Polling Station for both the election and the referendum, and this will be shown on your polling card. If you have any questions, please contact our Elections Team: telephone 01362 656875 or email elections@breckland.gov.uk

Useful links

Make sure you have your say

Find out about the Police and Crime Commissioner candidates: www.choosemypcc.org.uk Find out about the role of the Police and Crime Commissioner: www.apccs.police.uk/ role-of-the-pcc

Find your councillor

Breckland Council has 49 councillors, who are democratically accountable to the residents of their ward or electoral division.

If you have an issue you’d like to talk to them about, you can find out who they are and how to contact them at: www.breckland.gov.uk/findyourcouncillor

Everyone’s vote makes a difference, so make sure you use yours in the Police and Crime Commissioner Election on 5 May and the European Union Referendum on 23 June.

The results of these two events will make a big difference to Norfolk residents. Once elected, it will be the job of the Police and Crime Commissioner to make sure that Norfolk residents get a good service from their Police service, and decide how the budget is spent.

In June, you will have the chance to vote in the referendum on the United Kingdom’s membership of the European Union.

Enabling stronger, more independent communities

15

Directory of online services Quick Reference Directory You can find out about our services, submit applications, make payments and report problems at: www.breckland.gov.uk

Apply for it!

You can apply for lots of things via our website at www.breckland.gov.uk/applyforit Direct links to some of the most commonly used application forms are below: Housing and Council Tax £ Benefits Apply, manage or pay for Breckland Council benefits and services: www.angliarevenues.gov.uk/ breckland Building Control Inspection:

Request a site inspection from our Building Control department: www.breckland.gov.uk/ building-control-inspectionbooking Bus Pass: The free passes are available to residents who meet the age or disability requirements: www.norfolk.gov.uk/ roads-and-transport/ public-transport/ buses/concessionary-travel-pass Garden Waste Collection Service Create or renew a subscription to have your garden waste collected every fortnight: www.breckland.gov.uk/ gardenwaste Library Service: Find your

nearest library, search for a good read, and more! http://norlink. norfolk.gov.uk Register for E-billing: View your account and receive Council Tax bills online: https://selfservice. angliarevenues.gov.uk/ BRpublicaccesslive/selfservice/ citizenportal/login.htm Postal Vote request: If you can’t

get to your polling station on election day, you can still vote by post: www.breckland.gov.uk/ postalvoterequest Register to vote: To vote in future elections you must be on the electoral register: www.breckland.gov.uk/ individual-electoral-registration

Report it!

Come across an issue? Let us know using our Report It tool: www.breckland.gov.uk/reportit A number of key issues are listed below for ease of reference, but you can do even more on our website.

Abandoned Vehicles: Let us

know about a vehicles that has been abandoned on public land without lawful authority: www.breckland.gov. uk/abandoned-vehicles

£

Benefit Fraud: Suspect a resident of Benefit or Council Tax fraud? www.breckland.gov.uk/ report-suspected-fraud Change of Address: For when

you are moving and staying in the district or moving out of Breckland: www.breckland.gov.uk/ tell-us-youre-moving Change of Circumstances: Let us know if something changes eg. you get married, have a child, your partner moves in, your pension is different: www.angliarevenues.gov.uk/ breckland Compliments, Complaints, Comments: Let us know what’s working well and how we can improve further: www.breckland.gov.uk/ compliments-complaintscomments Damaged Wheelie Bin: We’ll repair or replace your wheelie bin ASAP: www.breckland.gov.uk/ damaged-wheeled-bin Dog fouling: Let us know of any

incidents of dog fouling in public areas: www.breckland.gov.uk/ litter-and-dog-fouling

Fly Tipping: Let us know if you see

fly tipped waste or saw somebody dumping rubbish: www.breckland.gov. uk/flytip Full Public Litter Bin: Has a litter

bin near you been filled but not emptied yet? www.breckland.gov.uk/ full-public-litter-bin Highway Problem: Report problems with roads, pavements, cycle paths and Public Rights of Way: https://apps. norfolk.gov.uk/highwaysdefect Litter: Seen piles of dropped litter?

Let us know: www.breckland.gov. uk/litter-and-dog-fouling Missing Wheelie Bin: Has your

wheelie bin been lost or stolen? www.breckland.gov.uk/ missing-wheeled-bin Noise or Nuisance: Report loud music, barking dogs, industrial noise, bad smell, artificial light, smoke or bonfires, and more: www.breckland.gov.uk/ noise-or-nuisance Street Name Plates: Tell us if you’ve seen a street name sign that is unreadable, missing letters, missing the name plate, or damaged: www.breckland.gov.uk/ street-name-plate-problem

Find out first!

Want to receive the latest information as soon as it is available?

Sign up to receive email alerts about the things that matter to you: from news and events, to council and committee papers, consultation documents and job vacancies.

Subscribe/amend your existing preferences at: https://public.govdelivery.com/ accounts/ukbreckland/subscriber/ session/new

Faulty Street Light: Pass on

details about street lights which are damaged or not working: norfolkstreetlighting.amey.co.uk

Keep in Touch!

Pay for it!

If you need help or advice, contact our expert Customer Contact Centre staff at: contactus@breckland.gov.uk

Visit our website to pay invoices, Council Tax, business rates or benefits overpayments online.

You can also set up a direct debit to pay your Council Tax on a monthly date that suits you.

You’ll be able to pay for more things online soon, reducing the need to call during office hours or visit us in person. www.breckland.gov.uk/payforit

Twitter: @BreckCouncil

Facebook: Breckland Council Post: Breckland Council, Elizabeth House, Walpole Loke, Dereham, NR19 1EE. Local centres: www.breckland.gov.uk/visit-us Customer Contact Centre: 01362 656870