Your Breckland - Spring 2024

Your

Breckland A Breckland Council publication for all residents

Spring 2024

Spring

into action

In this issue Are you registered to vote? – P2

Where should new houses be built? – P8

How Artificial Intelligence (AI) is enhancing services – P3

Enhancing our high streets – P9

Council balances the books – P4

Thanks to our pandemic heroes – P14

Read more on our website breckland.gov.uk

Scan here to find out more

Are you registered to vote?

To have your say in future elections you must be registered to vote. But if you’ve registered in the past, you only need to re-register if your details change, for example if you move house or your name changes.

The next scheduled election is due to be held in May when the Police and Crime Commissioner will be elected. Whether you’re registering for the first time or updating your existing registration, it is quick and easy to do online. You’ll be asked to provide some basic information such as your address and national insurance number, so make sure you have these to hand.

Find out more at www.gov.uk/register-to-vote

Supporting our

Armed Forces

community

Breckland Council fully upholds and supports the Armed Forces Covenant, which is a promise that those who serve or have served in the Armed Forces, and their families, are treated fairly.

Around 6% of Breckland residents have served in the Armed Forces and our efforts to repay the debt of gratitude to serving and former personnel have seen the council granted Gold status through the national Covenant initiative.

If you are from the Armed Forces community, currently serving, retired or an Armed Forces family, support is available. Find out more at www.breckland.gov.uk/armed-forces-community Later this year we will be joining others across the country in marking the 80th anniversary of the D-day landings. Breckland has made £25,000 of grants available to help local groups hold special community events and light beacons, which will bring local people together.

2

Scan here to find out more

Bobbie is

here to

help you!

Breckland Council has welcomed a brand-new recruit to the team, to help assist our district’s residents 24/7.

Bobbie the Phone Bot is our latest technological innovation.

It uses Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology to provide answers to your questions over the phone.

Bobbie’s initial training has been on council tax issues and questions, so when you give us a call, you may initially get through to Bobbie. Later in 2024, Bobbie will also be able to answer questions about housing information, business support, and planning matters. As Bobbie is live all day, every day, it makes information about our services much more accessible. Of course we still have humans to answer the phone during normal office hours too, but they can now focus more of their time on helping people with more complex cases, so our most vulnerable residents get even better support.

You can call Bobbie (and our human Customer Services staff!) on 01362 656870. We’ve already had a positive response to Bobbie on the phones, but if you prefer, you can also chat with Bobbie via written webchats on our website www.breckland.gov.uk.

Your voice matters Did you know that you can use our Report It webpage to easily notify us about any issues in the district?

Whether it's graffiti, a fly-tip, or any other concerns, reporting issues helps us maintain a vibrant community together. Your feedback ensures a cleaner, safer, and more beautiful neighbourhood for everyone.

Scan here to Let us know at www.breckland.gov.uk/reportit find out more

Working together to

help your finances

We’ve funded support which is helping hundreds of Breckland residents manage their challenging financial situations. Working with the Citizen’s Advice Bureau, dedicated Debt Advisors are now based at our offices in Dereham and Thetford. They are helping people by assessing their debt, negotiating with creditors, setting up repayment plans, budgeting and maximising income, finding benefits they may be eligible to receive, and discussing Debt Relief Orders and bankruptcy. If a face-to-face or telephone appointment could help you, call us on 01362 656870.

3

Investing in

Breckland services

Breckland Council is expected to set a balanced budget for the coming financial year (2024/25) which protects local services and will see further investment in areas that matter most to you. This is despite the uncertainty caused by unprecedented financial pressures.

15p 75p

5p Your town or 5p parish council

The majority of households pay around £114 for a whole year’s worth of district council services, but in return you get around £890 of services for an average property. We can continue to keep our district council tax in Breckland low – it remains among the very lowest in the country – thanks in part to the efficiency savings we’ve made and the income we bring in by renting out properties we own, such as offices and shops (see page 5).

But we’re all facing rising costs and the council isn’t immune to this. That means we need to raise district council tax rates from April. They will be going up by £4.95 a year for a Band D property, though you are likely to see a smaller rise as most residents live in Band A-C homes. People living in homes that are Band E and higher will pay a slightly higher rate for services. You can check your council tax band at www.gov.uk/council-tax-bands

Financial help available In addition to trying to make your money go as far as possible, alongside our partners we continue to provide a range of support for people facing financial hardship. This includes: help from experienced Debt Advisors (page 3); reduced Council Tax if you're on a low income or claiming benefits; funding for people struggling with their utility bills; access to food and energy vouchers; applying for Universal Credit; Pension Credit for residents of State Pension age on a low income. Find out more at: www.breckland.gov.uk/article/20420/Financial-Support

As part of our balanced budget we will: • Support Breckland residents facing mental health issues, loneliness, or domestic abuse by committing £2.3m+ to support initiatives under our ‘Inspiring Communities’ programme.

• Secure even more national funding for local projects, after recently bringing in £7m and with a further £5m currently being pursued.

• Continue to make changes to our services so they are modern, efficient and as accessible to you as possible (see p3).

4

Who does what?

Your guide to local government services

County Councils: These are responsible for services across the whole of a county

Education

Highways

Fire and Public Safety

Social Care

Libraries

Waste Management

Trading Standards

Birth, Marriage and Death Registration

Breckland and other District Councils: These provide services to their individual district

Benefits

Housing and Homelessness

Licensing

Wellbeing and Leisure

Business Support

Environmental Council Tax Health Collections

Rubbish and Recycling collections

Planning Applications

Town & Parish Councils: These manage a number of local issues

Play Areas

Allotments

Public Clocks

Cemeteries

Town Halls and Venues

Markets

Generating income to help

pay for services

Breckland Council provides more than 100 services, services that local households rely upon.

These include regular household bin collections, the assessment of local planning applications, licensing of the district’s taxis and restaurants, providing housing support, processing benefits claims, and much more.

To minimise the amount we ask you to pay for these services through district council tax, we always look for alternative ways to pay for them.

One way we do this is by renting out more than 200 shops, offices and other units we own, which brings in around £3.8m each year. This compares to around £5m which we raise through district council tax. This money from renting properties helps to keep council tax rates as low as possible and ultimately allows

us to continue to offer services that you use every day and which support your health, community and livelihoods.

It also contributes to us being in a financial position to fund a range of extra schemes which are making a real difference to Breckland residents. This includes committing around £2.3m into our district-wide Inspiring Communities programme, which is focused on helping Breckland residents affected by domestic abuse, mental health issues, social isolation and loneliness, and poverty (pages 6 and 7).

Other additional projects we’ve delivered include the Thetford Stage and Screen Festival, our Net Zero and environmental programme, and our community grant funding programmes (see page 2 for details about our D-Day grants).

5

Community investment

is changing lives

Supported

1,000+

survivors of Domestic Abuse

Helped

2,000+

residents access low-cost food

Trained

300

Mental Health Champions

Breckland Council has committed another £1.3m into initiatives which support some of the most vulnerable residents in our communities.

We call the range of projects this will fund our Inspiring Communities programme and it is aimed at helping Breckland residents to lead healthy and happy lives. This significant new funding comes after around £1m was previously invested over the last three years on schemes which helped our residents, including those who have experienced domestic abuse, mental health issues, or financial hardship.

The services include: • Social Prescribing – working with local GPs to combat loneliness and isolation by connecting people with social activities and support networks • Welfare Support – helping people access valuable resources and services that enhance their health and wellbeing • Mental Health Awareness – raising awareness of improved mental health support through our ‘Mindful Towns and Villages’ programme • Community Health Workers – knocking on doors to see how we can provide personalised support and resources directly to families in their homes • Breckland Mobile Food Store and community supermarkets – helping people in our towns and villages access affordable, healthy food Over the past three years, our award-winning programme has blossomed, gaining national recognition for its innovative approach by supporting our residents with groundbreaking projects.

Find out more at www.breckland.gov.uk/community

6

Supported

200

residents with welfare support calls

We are launching new grant and funding opportunities this year! Follow us on social media (@BreckCouncil) or check out our website for more information.

Inspiring Communities has not just changed lives and saved lives, but also saved public money. The initial investment of around £1 million has resulted in a substantial saving of £1.8 million to public bodies, including the council and NHS, by helping people before their conditions worsen and they need extra support.

Looking ahead, the new-look programme's vision is focused on working closely with a number of our partners to provide joined up care and support.

This includes collaborating with mental health experts Norfolk and Waveney MIND to deliver a new Early Help Hub in Dereham, enhancing our healthy, low-cost food delivery across our towns and villages as our Mobile Food Store service evolves. And we’ll be investing in Anti-Social Behaviour resources, creating safer public spaces for everyone.

Helped

90+

young people with their mental health

Over £250,000 raised for local groups Your local charity needs you! Through the Our Breckland Lottery, local players have now raised an impressive £250,000 to support various good causes across the district.

Money raised through ticket sales is helping more than 100 charities and local groups, including Thetford Town FC, Dereham Cancer Care, PACT Animal Rescue, and domestic abuse charity The Daisy Programme.

The funds generated by the lottery mean these organisations and many more across Breckland can make a tangible and meaningful difference in the lives of Breckland residents.

Search for a charity close to your heart on our website, buy your tickets for just £1 a week and be in with a chance of winning a top prize of £25,000! If you are part of a local group, you may be eligible to be a beneficiary of ticket sales.

Find out more at www.ourbrecklandlottery.co.uk Our Breckland Lottery is licensed by the Gambling Commission. Account number 50579

7

Pictured left: New mixed tenure homes recently built in Great Hockham by Broadland Housing

Your views on shaping our district Breckland Council is currently updating its Local Plan, which maps out how the district will grow and be shaped over the next 25 years.

The views and opinions of local people, gathered through community consultation, will help develop a shared vision for Breckland. The Local Plan considers things like sustainability, planning where new homes should be built, community facilities, supporting businesses and job opportunities.

Thousands of local people have already shared their views at events and online via our consultation website – www.brecklandlocalplan.commonplace.is – but some key areas are still being refined.

During an extra consultation phase in February, residents helped us determine a development strategy, which outlines how and where growth could be accommodated across the district.

What’s new?

•W e’ve shared different scenarios to help local people make an informed decision about where new houses and businesses could go in the future.

•F urther consideration will be given to strategic sites – previously-developed, ‘brownfield’ sites that could be suitable for new homes and could lend further protection to Breckland’s countryside, natural spaces and villages.

•F ollowing last year’s ‘Call for Sites’, a new assessment criteria has been put forward to help consider which pieces of land might be suitable for future development.

What happens next?

•W e’ve heard from thousands of residents already, but you haven’t missed your chance to have your say! Visit our CommonPlace website to submit your views and sign up for news alerts.

•A fter the feedback we’ve received has been assessed, a full draft of your new Local Plan will be published later this spring.

8

Scan here to find out more

Making

Future Breckland

even better

Breckland Council’s Future Breckland initiative sets out a shared vision to transform the district.

Pictured below L-R: A vision of how Dereham marketplace could look in the future.

Swaffham’s Assembly Rooms have been refurbished using funding secured from Historic England.

In addition to our overall plan for the district (page 8), after speaking with residents up and down Breckland and engaging with a range of partners through our Future Breckland programme, we have created a list of priorities for each of our towns.

The aim is to help Breckland to thrive, through sustainable growth, protecting and creating jobs, and enhancing community services and facilities.

Thanks to Future Breckland, initiatives like the Meanwhile Project have helped to tackle empty shops in our towns by making them available to start-up businesses and creating more choices for shoppers on our high streets.

high street, refurbish the Assembly Rooms, and enhance public spaces.

And we are working on plans to secure even more funding in the future so we can do even more!

We continue to work on schemes which will regenerate our towns and villages and enhance infrastructure, green space accessibility, and support public events such as the successful Stage and Screen theatre and cinema festival held over the last few years in Thetford.

To find out more about the plans for your town, visit www.breckland.gov.uk/ business-growth/future-breckland

The Future Breckland plans have also helped us secure around £700k by working with Historic England to rejuvenate Swaffham's historic

9

Recycling right in 2024

Do you know that clean glass bottles and jars, aluminium and steel cans and plastic bottles, pots, tubs and trays can all be placed in your household recycle bin?

Plastic bags, crisp packets, and batteries are among the things that can’t.

If you’re not sure, you can check the list of items on our website. It is important that you place rubbish in the correct bin, as keeping our recycling uncontaminated means we can recycle as much as possible and minimise the cost of the recycling process.

Find out more at www.breckland.gov.uk/rubbish Ever wondered what happens to your waste? See how it gets sorted http://tiny.cc/67ykwz

What goes in which bin?

Black recycling bin

✓ Paper ✓ Plastic bottles and pots ✓ Glass bottles and jars ✓ Metal cans, clean foil, aerosols

✘ Plastic bags ✘ Nappies ✘ Cling film ✘ Tissues ✘ Crisp packets

Green waste bin Your green bin is for household and food waste and items which cannot be recycled. Check our website for details: www.breckland.gov.uk/rubbish

Get ready for summer!

Enjoy a year’s worth of stress-free gardening with your very own garden waste collection. Order your new bin for just £58 a year at www.breckland.gov.uk/rubbish/garden-waste

10

Higher fines

for fly-tippers

The maximum penalties that Breckland Council is able to issue for fly-tipping and littering has more than doubled.

To further deter people from damaging our district’s environment, the maximum penalty we can charge for fly-tipping has been raised by Government from £400 to £1,000, while littering will now carry a maximum penalty of £500, up from £150. The money will be reinvested into further enforcement activity, helping us catch others and further protecting Breckland’s environment.

Breckland’s Enforcement team is now using cameras to help catch fly-tippers and has launched a brand-new webpage which features CCTV images of individuals who may be able to provide information on unsolved cases. You can find out more at www.breckland.gov.uk/environment/surveillance You can also report a fly-tip at www.breckland.gov.uk/reportit

Check your new bin collection date We are making changes to some of the collection routes for our household waste, recycling and garden waste collection routes.

Working with our supplier, Serco, the changes are from 26 February and have been prompted by the closure of the previous waste drop-off site. We took the opportunity to replan some of our routes to ensure we collect your waste in the most efficient way, travelling as few miles as possible to collect rubbish from existing and new homes in the district. In addition, the increasing popularity of our Garden Waste service means these routes were updated to ensure they are environmentally-friendly and efficient as possible.

Around half of Breckland households now have a new collection day and half have stayed the same.

Collections for all bin colours continue to be collected alternate-weekly. If you need to double check your collection day, find out more at www.breckland.gov.uk/rubbish/collection-changes

Time for a clear out?

While small electricals and batteries can’t be placed in your normal recycle bin, did you know we can still recycle them for you?

For over 12 months we have been collecting small electrical waste items and batteries, including toasters, irons and laptops, as part of our kerbside collection service.

To use the service simply place your small electrical items inside a loosely tied carrier bag and leave it on top of your normal bin on collection day. We have limited space on our collection vehicles, so we may not be able to collect all items the first time they are put out. To find out how you can benefit from the free service visit www.breckland.gov.uk/rubbish/electrical-waste

11

Providing more than just

bricks and mortar Breckland Council continues to tackle a familiar challenge – making sure all of our residents have a place to call home. Our work in this area is one of our highest priorities, as we know that having a home is much more than just having a roof over your head; it is a place of safety, a space for your family, and your part within your local community.

And while the challenge remains significant, instead of succumbing to the pressure, we’re proud to say that we are unphased in rising to meet local people’s housing needs.

In recent months, the increased pressures on everybody’s finances has unfortunately meant more people are turning to us to help them find a home.

We’ve also seen more people reaching out to us who have experienced domestic abuse and need help finding a safe home.

Meanwhile, a number of landlords have made the decision to sell the houses that they have previously rented out, reducing the number of houses that are available to private renters and increasing rent for the remaining homes. This makes it harder for renters to find an affordable home or stay in their existing property.

What have we done so far?

To help tackle this issue, we have boosted the number of staff working in our Housing team, so we have more officers than ever to provide housing advice and assistance.

We have invested millions of pounds in increasing the housing resources available in Breckland. This includes purchasing 10 flats and a 7-bed shared home, which we’re using to provide much-needed temporary accommodation to some of our most in-need and vulnerable residents.

In 2022 we invested £1.8m on the refurbishment of a disused community building in Thetford to create our new Elm House site. It has since been providing 17 households at a time, including single people, couples and families, with a temporary place to live while a permanent home was found for them.

As well as helping people find a place to live, did you know we can also help with a range of other housing-related areas?

Jack contacted us about a mould problem that his landlord had not been able to resolve.

We worked with him and the landlord to identify the changes they should make and ensured the work was done to resolve the issue.

Ruby’s parents asked her to leave their home.

After speaking with them, we were able to understand the reasons for their disagreements and helped them agree ground rules so that Ruby could stay for longer and plan her next steps with her parents.

Mark said he no longer felt safe in his home.

We ensured he had support to leave his home safely and helped him find somewhere suitable to live.

Find out more about support available at www.breckland.gov.uk/housing

Struggling to afford your existing home?

See if we can help before your situation worsens.

12

Where can I get a FREE assessment

for my business’ waste needs?

Breckland Council now collects rubbish from more than 330 businesses across the district and our affordable Business Waste Collection Service could help your business too! We already collect the rubbish for a broad range of customers, ranging from town councils, takeaways, schools, and even for one-off events.

We provide a reliable and cost-effective collection service for businesses large and small, with containers ranging from 240, 360, 660 and 1100 litres. Not sure what you need or how we might be able to save you money?

Why not get in touch for a complimentary, no-obligation personalised waste assessment from our experienced team?

Our local team might be able to help spot ways to reduce your costs and make how you deal with your waste and recycling more sustainable and cost-effective.

Why sign up with us?

• Affordable service • Responsible waste disposal • Tailored service • Extra collections for one-off events • No hidden charges • Seasonal collection programmes • Breckland-based Customer Services Team To find out how we could save your business money and get a no-obligation quote, go to waste.breckland.gov.uk.

Providing space for Breckland

Special offer

businesses to thrive Save 10%!

Breckland Council owns more than 200 commercial buildings across the district and rents them out to a broad range of local businesses.

This approach provides affordable space to local employers while bringing in income that we can use to support local services.

Our units include office space, industrial use, and storage, and range from 120 to 3000+ sqm. So whether you’re looking to unleash your entrepreneurial spirit and set up a new Breckland business, or your existing business is seeking to expand, we have the space for you!

Why rent from us?

Looking for a commercial space in Swaffham? If you rent one of our 1500 sq ft units on Turbine Way before the end of April 2024, we’ll slash your rent by 10%* for the first year! Find out more and submit an enquiry via property@breckland.gov.uk See it for yourself:

• Competitive rates • Reliable landlord • Various lease terms available • Potential discount for commercial waste provision • Rent supports local services See our latest list of available properties and get in touch with our team via www.breckland.gov.uk/commercial-property *Details correct at time of going to print. Offer subject to terms and may be withdrawn.

13

Taking action to protect the environment Breckland Council has been working with local partners and volunteers to complete a programme of works at Scarning Fen, near Dereham, which will help maintain the natural habitat and encourage even more biodiversity.

We have been working with the Norfolk Wildlife Trust, Mid-Norfolk Conservation Trust and local volunteers to cut the meadows and allow more space for local animals and plants to flourish.

Under the coordination of the Norfolk Wildlife Trust, specialised hand-powered machinery has meticulously cut overgrowing foliage growing in the water meadows. The collected materials, including wood chips, hedge and grass cuttings, have been transported to a biomass power plant to be turned into clean energy

Woodland of thanks

for frontline workers

Breckland Council has joined forces with the National Trust to plant around 2,400 trees at Oxburgh Hall, near Swaffham, to create a Woodland of Thanks. It is in recognition of the frontline workers who worked so hard during the pandemic to keep people safe and to give people a peaceful space in which to reflect.

With help from the Green Light Trust and other partners and volunteers, the broadleaf trees have been positioned across seven acres of land and have been fenced off to prevent hungry local deer enjoying succulent saplings. The scheme supports our mission to reduce carbon emissions by 2035.

Keeping your ditches

free flowing

14

If you have a watercourse running along the boundary of your property or through your land, such as a ditch, stream or river, you should safely check it is free from rubbish, garden waste or other blockages. This can keep water flowing freely and reduce flood-risk. You can also report a flood via Norfolk’s Flood Hotline on 0344 800 8013. See tips and other advice at www.breckland.gov.uk/emergency-planning/flooding

Fruitful funding More than a dozen new orchards are being planted across the district, funded by grants worth almost £20,000 which have been distributed by Breckland Council.

A total of 16 community groups and town and parish councils were successful in their bids for the funding, which ranged from £100 to £5,000. The money was secured by the council from the King’s Coronation Living Heritage Fund and is supported by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. The new orchards will create beautiful community spaces across the district, provide new habitats for wildlife, and contribute to the council’s efforts to combat climate change.

Funding for your community Over the last few years, we’ve released significant funding to community groups and businesses across the district.

Whether it is a grant to enhance community facilities, cash to help groups hold events for special occasions, funding to help make our district more environmentallyfriendly, or support to enable our businesses to thrive, we continue to invest in Breckland and your future.

Visit www.breckland.gov.uk/funding-map to see who has benefited from funding near you.

Have you heard of StreetSafe?

This Police service allows you to report safety concerns about public places anonymously, including poorly-lit streets, abandoned buildings, or vandalism, as well as instances where you feel unsafe. StreetSafe is not for reporting crimes or emergencies but can be used to help improve our communities together.

Read more at www.police.uk/pu/notices/streetsafe You can anonymously report a crime via www.crimestoppers-uk.org

Expand your skills Breckland Council provides Health & Safety, Food Safety, and Personal Licence Holder training courses to enhance your skills and ensure compliance for your business at a competitive price.

Expertly crafted to enhance individual and team capabilities, these courses feature Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) and other well-recognised, leading qualifications.

Find out more at www.breckland.gov.uk /training-courses

15

Your Breckland Council contact directory

Find out about services we provide, submit applications, make payments and report your concerns online at www.breckland.gov.uk

Apply online!

See it. Report it. Sort it!

You can apply for lots of services we provide at www.breckland.gov.uk/ applyforit By clicking online you can apply for housing and council tax benefits, building control inspections, garden waste collections, council tax E-billing, voting registration and more!

Come across an issue that affects you, your property or your community? Let us know by using our quick and efficient online reporting system at www.breckland.gov.uk/reportit

Waste enquiries

For queries about missed bins or new bin orders, contact Serco on 0330 109 9220

Pay for it

Visit our website to pay invoices, council tax, business rates or benefits over-payments online. You can also set up a direct debit to pay your Council Tax on a monthly date that suits you. www.breckland.gov.uk/payforit

Sign up for Direct Debit

Paying your Council Tax by direct debit is safe, hassle free and reliable with the protection of the Direct Debit Guarantee. Sign up at www.angliarevenues.gov.uk/breckland

Find out first

Receive email alerts about the things that matter, from news and events, to council and committee papers, consultation documents and job vacancies - as soon as possible. You can subscribe or amend your existing preferences at www.breckland.gov.uk/email-updates

Your 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.

If you need this magazine in large print, or in an alternative version, or you know someone who has not received their copy, please get in touch by calling 01362 656870 or via www.breckland.gov.uk/contactus Your Breckland is printed on chlorine-free paper from managed forests. Information correct at time of going to print. Breckland Council, Elizabeth House, Walpole Loke, Dereham, NR19 1EE. Local centres: www.breckland.gov.uk/visitus PEFC/16-33-533

Keep in touch

If you need help or advice, email our expert Customer Contact Centre staff at www.breckland.gov.uk/contactus or call 01362 656870 Breckland Council @BreckCouncil