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Winter 2017

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• Britain’s Got Talent finalists, Boogie Storm • The Snow Queen and the Princess • Father Christmas

Forge Mill Needle Museum & Bordesley Abbey Visitor Centre

PLUS don’t miss spectacular performances from local artists and our special Christmas Parade lead by a traditional brass band.

Needle Mill Lane, Riverside, Redditch, B98 8HY

#SoMuchMore

Inside:

For full event information visit kingfishershopping.co.uk

Recycling ready top tips Festive dates

Shop | Eat | Enjoy

Redditch Borough Council

Christmas Waste and Recycling Collections 2017 Normal collection day

Revised collection day

Tuesday 26th December

Saturday 23rd December

There are no more planned changes to collections throughout the festive season. PLEASE MAKE SURE ALL BINS ARE OUT & READY FOR COLLECTION BY 7AM AT THE LATEST We will not return where residents have not presented their bin for this time. We will continue to collect your grey and green bins on alternate weeks throughout the Christmas period. However, if we experience snow and icy weather and cannot get to you on collection day, please leave your bin out and we will return as soon as we can.

Winter weather service alerts Keep up to date with live alerts on our website and social media (see below), and via the local press. For alerts on County Council services like transport and gritting or schools, go to www.worcestershire.gov.uk

GET IN TOUCH

INSIDE...

Visit us

Active Redditch Card - get leisure conessions: page 6

Walter Stranz Square, Redditch, Worcs, B98 8AH Monday - Friday 9am - 5pm Saturday - 9am - 12pm (Cashiers & Town Hall)

Call us

Redditch Crematorium Revamp: check out the new look: page 7 Give Peace of Mind - Lifeline is here for you: page 11

Customer Services: 01527 64252 Out of Hours emergency: 01527 67666

Write to us

Redditch Borough Council, Town Hall, Walter Stranz Square, Redditch, Worcs, B98 8AH

Click on www.redditchbc.gov.uk North East Worcestershire Telecare Service

Redditch Borough Council @RedditchMatters

We Dish you a Merry Xmas - festive leftover recipes: page 14

If you want this magazine in a different format, e.g. audio CD, or language, call 01527 881296. The council does not endorse any of the products or services advertised in this magazine by external customers. To advertise in this magazine call 01527 881296.

A message from the Leader Hello and welcome to this winter edition of Redditch Matters. This magazine gives me the opportunity to share the good things there are to do across the borough – and reminds me how proud I am of Redditch. As well as festive dates for your diary there’s information about opportunities to increase your fitness and mobility, whatever your age. We’ve also made some big decisions as a council so far this year, including looking into the possibility of creating a Local Authority Trading Company to run some of our leisure facilities. It will be considered further in March. The magazine also provides an insight to the latest recycling scheme, where we are striving to encourage residents to recycle correctly. There are lots of top tips to help you to do this. I hope to see you at some of the festivities over the next few weeks, and would like to wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Cllr Bill Hartnett, Leader of Redditch Borough Council

Town Hall Xmas Opening Hours

Whatever The Civic Suite the occasion... For enquiries please contact

For Weddings, Parties, Exhibitions, Conferences and more!

civic.suite@ bromsgroveandredditch.gov.uk or call 01527 881478

Civic Suite, Redditch Town Hall, Walter Stranz Square, Redditch, Worcs B61 8DA

Date

Open/Closed

Friday 22nd December

Open as normal 9am - 5pm

Saturday 23rd

Closed

Sunday 24th Christmas Eve

Closed

Monday 25th Christmas Day

Closed

Tuesday 26th Boxing Day

Closed

Wednesday 27th

Closed

Thursday 28th

Open as normal 9am - 5pm

Friday 29th

Open as normal 9am - 5pm

Saturday 30th

Closed

Sunday 31st January

Closed

Monday 1st January New Year’s Day

Closed

Normal services resume from Tuesday 2nd January 2018

STICK ME ON YOUR FRIDGE! What can go in my green bin? We can recycle: Paper and Card

Aerosols

Glass Bottles and Jars

Plastic Bottles

Cartons

Plastic Pots

Drinks cans

Plastic Tubs

Food cans

Plastic Food Trays We are unable to recycle items that contain food or are bagged up â€“ make sure to swill your recycling if it contains food or liquids and then put it in your bin loose!

These things should go in your grey bin â€“ we cannot recycle them! We regularly find these items in with our recycling but they should go in your grey bin: Plastic bags

Batteries

Film

Electrical items

Pouches

Toys

Bubble wrap

Coat hangers

Polystyrene

Crisp packets

Clothes and shoes

Lightbulbs

Foil

Black plastic

Foil takeaway containers Wood Tissue Baby Wipes Nappies Garden Waste

Film / Pouches

Tissu

Polystyrene

Get recycling ready We’re urging all of our residents to think twice about what they are putting in their recycling bin as part of a County-wide initiative to reduce the amount of recycling that HAS to be thrown away. Here’s the truth behind some of the questions we get asked on a regular basis:

What is the tagging scheme?

Our bin tags are designed to communicate with residents about what items are accepted in the green bin. It is a waste of time and resources if collection crews are emptying recycling bins that are full of rubbish that is then thrown away anyway. If your bin is tagged you should also find your crew has written on the tag to let you know what materials they identified in your bin that we don’t accept. Residents are then asked to sort the bin out in time for their next collection.

I pay my council tax you should take my bin whatever!

Whilst we have a statutory duty to collect your bin, there are also things that you have a duty to do as a resident, which if refused revokes our duty to collect. We want to work together with our residents to recycle properly.

Why should I bother washing my recycling when it gets done at Envirosort anyway?

Very often people don’t realise how many problems are caused by not washing your recycling. By putting just one unclean baked bean can or a half empty tin of paint for example, you could contaminate numerous paper goods in the truck from residents who have recycled properly, meaning that their waste can’t be recycled either. Poor recycling from one resident can affect the quality of everyone else’s which is unfair.

Everything goes to landfill anyway – why bother?

It definitely doesn’t! ALL the green bin waste is taken to EnviroSort where Severn Waste Services sort and bale it; it is then collected by reprocessors to be made into new products. Rejected items that cannot be recycled are transported to Envirecover where they join the rest of the grey bin waste. In fact, no grey waste goes to landfill nowadays, it goes to Envirecover or the Energy from Waste Plant in Hartlebury.

I didn’t get a leaflet – it was probably in the paper I didn’t get – I can’t do it if I’ve never heard of it?! Prior to the scheme starting in September, all residents received a reminder about what could be recycled in their council tax leaflet which was delivered in the post directly to everyone. A further leaflet was delivered more recently in November along with newspaper adverts. You can also follow us on Facebook and Twitter to receive regular updates and useful information on recycling.

But I thought I could recycle this?

Sometimes residents put additional materials in their green bin with the best intentions but if it is not something that can be recycled in our system it is classed as contamination and HAS to be thrown away. For example – food waste and grass cuttings, whilst they can be composted they can’t be recycled as we can’t turn grass into something else! Why not buy a compost bin for at home? If it’s not on our list opposite, we cannot recycle it regardless of any symbol on the item.

You keep changing what I can put in my bin – I’m confused!

The items we can accept to be recycled are generally the same. Over time we have been able to expand the range of materials we can collect such as cartons and plastic pots, tubs and trays. Use the list opposite as a reminder.

It’s never been a problem in the past – why change now?

Contaminated recycling has always been a big problem for Redditch and the recycling rules in place have been the same for many years. We have tried numerous ways to encourage residents to recycle properly, with fun videos and campaigns, and unfortunately we’ve had to resort to the tagging scheme as people have ‘always done it this way’ and don’t want to recycle properly or think that ‘it will be ok’.

For more information about the tagging scheme, contact Environmental Services on 01527 881188.

New Active Redditch Card available now The new Active Redditch Card scheme starts in January, for concessions of up to 25%, 50% or 100% off selected Redditch Borough Council leisure & culture services. It’s one of our ways of supporting those who need it most. For just £9.99 a year, the Active Redditch Card provides 25% off our standard rates if you’re in receipt of Universal Credit (in work) or Housing Benefit, increasing to 50% off selected Abbey Stadium activities if you are over 60 or disabled. Or it provides a higher 50% off our standard rates if you’re in receipt of Jobseekers Allowance (Income Based), Income Support, Employment Support Allowance (Income Related), Universal Credit (Out of Work), Incapacity Benefit, or PIP, increasing to 100% off selected Abbey Stadium activities if you are over 60 or disabled. Get an Active Redditch Card or find out more from the Abbey Stadium today - just remember that you’ll need to take along proof that you meet the eligibility criteria when you buy your card.

Selected services at: • The Abbey Stadium • The Redditch Palace Theatre • Forge Mill Needle Museum and Bordesley Abbey

 • Community centres • Borough council arts & events programmes • Allotments

Council plans company to run leisure services

Redditch Borough Council has agreed in principle to create a ‘Local Authority Trading Company’, or LATC, to operate its leisure facilities. Councillors have asked to see a full business case for a separate company that could be set up and solely owned by the borough council to run its facilities. That could include the Redditch Palace Theatre, the Abbey Stadium, Pitcheroak Golf Course, Forge Mill Needle Museum and Bordesley Abbey, community centres, and allotments. The LATC would be required to help more people get more active more often, while leaving all land and buildings in the hands of the borough council - which would also retain influence over strategy, pricing and programming. It would deliver significant savings and protect the pensions and terms and conditions of existing staff. The LATC model was chosen after being shown to be the best fit for the council’s priorities while making savings of over £400,000 a year. The business case for it is now expected to come before the Executive Committee in March.

Redditch Crematorium gets £400k makeover The main building at Redditch Crematorium reopened in the autumn after an extensive £400k refurbishment took place over a 13 week period between 24th July and 20th October. The original 1970’s design has had a complete overhaul bringing it right up to date and the building now boasts a new upgraded chapel with brand new seating and the option to use coloured lighting - should service users wish to – to enhance a colour theme throughout their ceremony. The toilet facilities in the building have also been completely remodelled to make them modern and fit for purpose. The construction of a new waiting area separate from the main ceremonial facilities now means that where previously there were issues with noise being overheard in the chapel, this should no longer be a problem. High quality acoustic grade interior fittings have also helped create three distinct spaces for waiting, ceremony and post ceremony. The upgrades to the facilities now mean that the council’s Bereavement Services Team can provide an even higher level of service to the bereaved. The modern facilities will now provide more options for service users, at what is a particularly sensitive time, to ensure that the celebration of their loved ones life is exactly as they would want it. For more information about the redevelopment or to find out more about what services are now available please contact the office on 01527 62174 or go to www.redditchbc.gov.uk/crematorium

Sharing best practice Environmental Services Officers from Sandwell Council visited some members of our Place Teams in November after hearing about a new and inventive way we’ve created to deal with weeds. Our teams shared best practice and showed their counterparts at Sandwell how we now spray and treat weeds using quad bikes! The new way of working reduces the amount of time and resources spent on weeding and it’s turned out to be more effective, win-win!

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Needle Mill Lane, Riverside, Redditch, B98 8HY

CHRISTMAS STARTS HERE… TOWN CENTRE LIGHTS SWITCH ON! Saturday 25th November 2pm-6pm With special guests: • Britain’s Got Talent finalists, Boogie Storm • The Snow Queen and the Princess • Father Christmas PLUS don’t miss spectacular performances from local artists and our special Christmas Parade lead by a traditional brass band.

#SoMuchMore For full event information visit kingfishershopping.co.uk

Shop | Eat | Enjoy

No to Hate Crime We urged residents to ‘say no to hate crime’ as part of National Hate Crime Awareness Week. It ran from October 14th to 21st and in Redditch the council joined representatives from the North Worcestershire Hate Incident Partnerships to pop up a shop in the Kingfisher Centre. It included a special stall where people could get advice and information from professionals, pick up information leaflets and cards and pens. Special ‘say no to hate crime’ wristbands were also distributed. Visitors also found out more about hate crime interactively with street theatre provided by Zoe Haworth Theatre Company. A Hate Crime or Incident is any behaviour that you think was caused by hatred of disability, sexual orientation or gender identity, religion or faith and race.

Hate Crime can be: Damage to your house, car or property Name calling

Attacks or violence Graffiti Arson or fire

The Deputy Police & Crime Commissioner Tracey Onslow with Council Officers, PCSO’s and Zoe Haworth and her street theatre

For more information on the Hate Crime Awareness Week visit www.unitedagainsthate.co.uk

Natural play for Matchborough children Following the success of the recent clearance works within the open space alongside the Ispley Brook, the council are now working on this area to provide natural and informal recreational play elements for residents and families to enjoy. The new natural play park is being created using large natural stone forms set within the landscape and working with local artists and schools to create tree and stone carvings using the existing willow stumps and other natural features. The recreational elements of the park will be surrounded by mown pathways leading through the site to create areas of interest and imaginative play opportunities for very young children within the open space. Works commenced in October with local school children from Matchborough First School, Arrow Vale School and Kingfisher School who were consulted and have helped to develop the designs. The work is expected to be finished at the end of November with an official opening in December. With the review of the Matchborough District Centre regeneration this valuable area of public open space provides key green infrastructure links to the centre which benefit the local community and children coming to and from school. Here are some pictures of the development of the new play area…

North East Worcestershire Telecare Service

Give peace of mind this Christmas NEW Lifeline is a telecare service available 24 hours, 365 days a year to any vulnerable people living within Redditch Borough as well as surrounding areas. It allows residents such as the elderly, disabled or those with serious health problems to continue to live independently in their own homes. A Lifeline unit installed in the resident’s home and a portable pendant allows the user to call for help in an emergency at any time of day or night. Our Monitoring Centre Operators will receive the call and assist the user with their emergency.

Give peace of mind this Christmas to a loved one and your family by subscribing them to the NEW Lifeline telecare service.

For more information on this and our other services please call 01527 534060 or email: lifeline@bromsgroveandredditch.gov.uk

Youth theatre sends casting call Are you parent or guardian to a budding young star? Would they enjoy being part of theatre group for youngsters? Then sign them up today to audition for the Palace Youth Theatre Group’s (PYT) summer performance of the classic ‘Goodnight Mister Tom’. Set during the dark and dangerous build-up to the Second World War, Goodnight Mister Tom follows sad young William Beech, who is evacuated to the idyllic English countryside and builds a remarkable and moving friendship with the elderly recluse Tom Oakley. All seems perfect until William is devastatingly summoned by his mother back to London. PYT will be performing the Samuel French version of this show which includes some singing and dancing numbers and is based on the classic book by Michelle Magorian. It will be performed on the 12th, 13th and 14th July with rehearsals starting in January. The group is inviting children and young people aged 8-18 to join the youth theatre for the chance to get involved in their July production at open auditions at Redditch’s Palace Theatre on Tuesday 19th December. Auditions will run from 5pm 6:15pm for 8-11 year olds and 6:15pm - 8pm for 12-18 years. Auditionees need to prepare a short (30s-1min) section of any song they like, which they can do acapella or to a backing track, to perform for the audition. The acting element of the audition will be in the style of a workshop so does not need any preparation improvisation and script work will be done on the night. If there is anyone that doesn’t want to sing there are plenty of non-singing parts which they can be considered for. Anyone interested in auditioning should register by emailing their name, age and parent or guardian’s email address to pyt@redditchbc.gov.uk and they will be sent an application pack. Performing can be great fun and a great privilege to be a part of, especially performing on the Palace Theatre Stage. Help your children to make new friends, build confidence and try something new by signing them up today! Youth theatre sessions for young people, which are run in groups according to age and requirements, take place at the Palace Theatre on Wednesday evenings during school term time. For more details around fees per term please go to the Palace Theatre website.

Strength Strength and Balance and Balance Classes Classes

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Clinical Commissioning Group

Wyre Forest Clinical Commissioning Group Worcestershire Health and Care

Redditch and Brosmgrove Clinical Commissioning Group

Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust

Funded/supported by

South Worcestershire Clinical Commissioning Group

To help reduce your risk of falling

Funded/supported by

South Worcestershire Clinical Commissioning Group

NHS Trust

Clinical Commissioning Group

The Sports Partnership Herefordshire and Worcestershire is a company Ltd by Guarantee and

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What happens when the course finishes?

The Town Hall,

Walter Stranz Square,

Alcester Road,

REDDITCH,

B98 8AH

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Your instructor will be on hand to help and advise you on suitable activities you can go on to.

Walter Stranz Square,

Alcester Road,

REDDITCH,

B98 8AH

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Every Tuesday 3.45-4.45pm First session you attend is FREE, £3 per person thereafter Please wear comfortable leisurewear and trainers (no jeans) Reddi Support, Rear of Faraday Business Centre, 57 Windsor Road, Redditch, B97 6DJ

For more information or to book contact Jo on 01527 61638

For more information please contact Hayley Gwilliam on 01527 881404 Active or email hayley.gwilliam @bromsgroveandredditch.gov.uk Redditch

Active Redditch

Zumba For All Redditch

or email info@reddisupport.com

Active Redditch

Keep Active Oakenshaw Oakenshaw Community Centre Castleditch Lane, Redditch, B98 7YB

Webheath Village Hall

80 Heathfield Road, Redditch. Mondays, 12.00pm - 1.00pm £3.25 per session.

Windmill Community Centre

Rye Glass Lane, Walkwood, Redditch. Tuesdays, 2.15pm - 3.15pm £2.80 per session.

Astwood Bank Club

Dark Lane, Astwood Bank, Redditch. Friday, 10.30am - 11.30am £3.25 per session.

The Space

Winyates Centre, Redditch. Friday, 12.00pm - 1.00pm £3.25 per session.

Monday

10.30am Ladies 50+ Exercise 12.00pm Mixed Fitness

Thursday

11.30am 60+ Exercise* 12.30pm Beginners Yoga

Classes are £3.25 per session, pay as you go *60+ exercise £2.80 a session no need to book just turn up!

For more information contact Hayley on 01527 881404 or email hayley.gwilliam@ bromsgroveandredditch.gov.uk

Active Redditch

For more information please contact Hayley Gwilliam on 01527 881404 or email hayley.gwilliam @bromsgroveandredditch.gov.uk

Active Redditch

We dish you a Merry Christmas By New Year’s Eve most of us have emptied our wallets and we’re fed up of cooking and eating! So here are some handy, moneysaving, ideas to see you through to the New Year without eating dozens of dry turkey sandwiches…

Never Ending Turkey Soup

Make stock from the turkey bones and freeze in 1 pint portions (rinsed out plastic milk cartons work well). Add veg, meat and leftover cream. You can either blitz together to make a chunky soup or leave thin and add pasta to make ‘turkey noodle soup’.

New Year…New You!

Have a fridge clear out and finish up any leftovers or excess food in healthy soups, salads and omelettes. Clear out the kitchen in preparation for the New Year before making a resolution to love food and hate waste all year round.

Christmas Day - The Works

We all go to town and cook too much on Christmas day so make sure that after the meal, you keep all leftovers in air tight plastic containers in the fridge ready to use for other meals.

Extravagant Sandwiches

Make a sandwich from leftover cold meats; add some crispy fried bacon, chutney, leftover salad leaves, crunchy carrots or pickled cabbage. Spread bread with chilli jam, onion marmalade, mayonnaise or mango chutney.

Will you get a TEN out of ten for your Christmas event? Are you hosting a Christmas or New Year event this year? Make sure you submit your TEN (Temporary Event Notice) to your licensing authority! As part of the Licensing Act 2005, any organised function is legally required to take out a TEN. The notice covers up to 499 people for a maximum of 168 hours. If your event includes any of the following you will need a TEN: - Selling Alcohol - Indoor sporting events - Playing of music or films - Plays and theatrical performances - Dancing or entertainment (excluding carol singing) A ‘Standard’ TEN must be submitted at least 10 days before the event but sometimes different rules apply for Christmas and New Year. For more information on Temporary Event Notices, go to the Home Office website www.homeoffice.gov.uk or email wrslicensing@worcsregservices.gov.uk

Worcestershire Regulatory Services delivers services including Environmental

They’re pups, not presents

A Christmas wish from Worcestershire Dog Wardens

Christmas is nearly upon us but unfortunately ‘the season to be jolly’ causes concern for Worcestershire Regulatory Services’ dog wardens. The dog warden service work tirelessly all year round to try and combat animal welfare cases, push responsible dog ownership and try to educate people to neuter their pets. Sadly the post-Christmas period often sees more unwanted animals dumped after that cute kitten or puppy present turns out to be a lot more hard work than expected. It also sees a rise in illegal pet sales. So please, please, please do not buy online and be extra vigilant for the signs of illegal sales. Always request to see the puppy with its mother to reduce the risk of purchasing from a seller who may be dealing with farmed puppies and all pups should be microchipped – so if it is, do some research to make sure it wasn’t implanted abroad and imported illegally. We would like to remind everyone at this time of the year that, as cliché as it may be, a dog really is for life – not just for Christmas. If you can’t take care of a dog or any other pet in the long term, please be responsible and don’t get one. If you are struggling to look after an animal or suspect someone you know is abusing their pet, please contact the dog wardens so that we can save them before it is too late.

Thank you

Eat safe this Christmas The festive period means that most of us eat out more, whether it’s for a works Christmas lunch or celebrating New Year with our families. We know that pubs and restaurants get booked up quick but just because you might have to go somewhere that isn’t your preferred choice doesn’t mean that you have to accept lower standards of food hygiene. The local Food Hygiene Rating Scheme listings can help you make an informed decision of where to eat safely at Christmas and the listings can be seen by going to www.food.gov.uk/ratings and carrying out a search to see how local businesses are rated. Businesses are rated on a scale of 5 (very good) down to 0 (in need of major improvement). Don’t accept second best this Christmas, check before you book!

Health and Licensing services throughout the county, hosted by Bromsgrove District Council.