Daventry Calling magazine autumn 2015

Issue 85 Autumn 2015

New festival of education to showcase our schools

Also in this issue…

Read our annual review of 2014/15 Rugby World Cup feature Our guide to what’s happening this autumn

Contact us

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All the latest Council news and information online Keeping in touch with us Daventry District Council provides a range of services including waste and recycling collections, street cleaning and grounds maintenance, Council Tax collection and benefits, elections, Homechoice lettings, economic development and regeneration, community safety, planning and development control and environmental health issues such as dealing with food safety, noise, pollution and environnmental crimes.

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Scan this image with your Smartphone to take you to DDC’s website – www.daventrydc.gov.uk

www.facebook.com/daventrydistrict Or visit the Daventry Country Park page at wwww.facebook.com/daventrycountrypark Daventry Calling is a quarterly magazine with the next issue due out in the winter.

We’re always keen to hear what you think about the magazine and any suggestions you have for future editions. Please contact us at news@ daventrydc.gov.uk or call 01327 871100 You can also read Daventry Calling online at www.daventrydc.gov.uk/ daventry-calling

Daventry Calling is available on request in large print, audiotape or in Braille.

Disclaimer: We care about accuracy and aim to correct any mistake in subsequent issues of Daventry Calling if you let us know where we’ve gone wrong. Every effort is made to ensure articles are accurate and up to date. No responsibility can be accepted for inaccuracies or omissions however caused. Contributed material does not necessarily reflect the opinion of Daventry District Council.

This magazine is printed on an FSC® certified material.

DDC cannot accept any responsibility for claims made by advertisers and their inclusion in Daventry Calling should not be taken as endorsement by Daventry District Council.

when you have finished with this magazine please recycle it.

Call: 01327 871100 Email: comments@daventrydc.gov.uk Web: www.daventrydc.gov.uk Write to: Daventry District Council, Lodge Road, Daventry NN11 4FP

Other useful contacts Northamptonshire County Council (NCC) NCC deals with many services including: roads, paths, street lighting and drainage, potholes, bus passes and bus services, Blue Badges, road gritting, social care, schools admissions, register of births, deaths and marriages, libraries, household waste and recycling centres.

Call 0300 126 1000 www.northamptonshire.gov.uk Your town or parish council Daventry District has 72 parishes and one town council covering services such as allotments, village halls and recreation grounds, grass cutting and street cleaning, cemeteries (outside of Daventry Town). To find out contact details for your parish, visit www.daventrydc.gov.uk/parishcouncils Northamptonshire Police Call 101 or visit www.northants.police.uk Always dial 999 in an emergency Northamptonshire Credit Union Call 01604 250016 www.northamptonshirecu.co.uk Daventry & District Housing Call 0300 4562531 www.ddh.org.uk Bromford housing advice Call 01327 701675 Job Centre Plus Call 0845 6043719 Government services and information www.gov.uk

Viewpoint

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Leading the way With summer behind us, it is maybe time for you to look at a scheme that has saved more than 300 households in Daventry District an average sum of £265 each on their annual energy bills.

The Big Switch scheme sees this Council work with switching partner iChoosr to use collective purchasing power to secure better energy deals for our local residents. The more people who sign up to each auction the better the deals offered by the energy companies - so here is your chance to register before the closing date of Monday, 12 October.

To put this in perspective, the average annual Band “D” precept for the District Council is £127.93 so the potential savings offered by our Council through this scheme represents a really good deal. You can find details of how to register on page 14.

We were delighted that a really proactive local partnership working together to deliver a new health facility in Brixworth on the back of new housing developments in the village has led to the Chief Executive of NHS England Simon Stevens stressing the need for the NHS to embrace the national growth agenda by supporting such schemes.

We set up two groups in Brixworth and Moulton which I chaired and involved representatives from NHS Nene Clinical Commissioning Group, doctors, DDC’s planning service, parish councillors, neighbourhood plan group members, developers and local district councillors.

We also had the excellent support of our MP Chris Heaton-Harris and this collective effort appears to be yielding positive results for our local communities which were unlikely to happen otherwise.

On Saturday 10 October this Council and our partners Northamptonshire County Council, Daventry Town

Council, Daventry UTC, Northampton College, Moulton College, and both local senior and primary schools, are unveiling our first Daventry Festival of Education to showcase the educational offer that already exists and celebrate their students’ successes. A variety of stands and activities are being planned, including a presentation ceremony for the inaugural Daventry Young People’s Awards. I hope as many parents as possible can attend to learn more about the varied education opportunities available in Daventry and offer their encouragement to our home grown talent. You can find out more about the event on page 15.

Following a recent decision by a Planning Inspector to overturn a local decision to refuse a planning application for 121 new houses in Weedon, many of you may have read that a petition of more than 1,000 signatures was presented to our MP which clearly displayed the strength of local feeling against the Inspector’s conclusion to approve. You may also be aware of another local planning decision to refuse five new houses on land in Barby, which was overturned by a Planning Inspector in May this year.

Having carefully studied the Inspector reports and the reasons for overturning these original decisions, and after taking Counsel Opinion, we have decided to legally challenge these two outcomes via Judicial Review. We never take such action without due consideration of all the implications, as costs will be involved, but we also have a duty as councillors, if a good case exists, to make a strong defence on behalf of our local communities.

It is at that time of year again when we start to set our budgets for the next

financial year against a very challenging public sector economic backdrop. We will - due to the excellent efforts of our staff - maintain our good services and continue with our bold long-term economic plans which are attracting further inward investment to our town and district whilst maintaining our low Council Tax precept.

Councillor Chris Millar Leader - Daventry District Council

Contents Annual Review and Summary of Accounts 2014/15: Find out how Daventry District Council performed and spent its money during 2014/15.

Pages 4-10 Community working: Read about the great work being done on Daventry’s Grange Estate thanks to volunteers and partner agencies.

Page 11 This sporting life: With the Rugby World Cup coming to our shores this autumn, Daventry Calling explores some of the ways local people can get involved in sport.

Pages 12-13 Celebrating our schools: A lookahead to the inaugural Daventry Festival of Education coming to the iCon Centre on October 10.

Page 15 What’s on: Our latest guide to what’s happening where in Daventry District this autumn.

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Daventry District Council Annual Review 2014/15

Welcome to our Annual Review and Summary of Accounts for 2014/15 Over the next seven pages we highlight some of the work Daventry District Council carried out during the past financial year towards its vision to ‘Develop a Better District’.

Not only do we intend to give you a flavour of the many services, projects and activities carried out during 2014/15, but also an outline of the money our Council received and spent towards achieving these outcomes.

All the work we do contributes to the four key objectives we set to help achieve our vision. To Improve our Business Economy, Learning and Skills; to Protect and Enhance our Environment; to Promote Healthy, Safe and Strong Communities and Individuals and to be an Effective and Efficient Council.

Looking back on 2014/15, we can be enormously proud of what the Council and its partners achieved. But it is also important to look forward, and you will find on page 10 a summary of what’s in store for 2015/16.

Councillor Chris Millar Leader - Daventry District Council

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An Efficient and Effective Council

• We successfully introduced Individual Electoral Registration across Daventry District, which involved major national changes to modernise the way people register to vote.

• With the number of people using self-service on our website rising by over a third, we took steps to make it even easier to access online services.

This included introducing new web accounts for benefits and Council Tax customers, more mobile-friendly web pages, improving forms and our online committee library.

• We continued to develop communications channels, increasing our reach and presence on social media to inform and engage a wider audience and setting out new guidance for people wishing to record our public meetings.

• In 2014/15 we collected 98.07% of Council Tax and 99.17% of Business Rates, achieving our targets for the year.

• Our strong workplace values and commitment to customers and staff were recognised with the national Investors in People Silver Award.

• We worked closely with JobCentre Plus on the successful rollout of the first stage of Universal Credit across Daventry District.

• We reduced our CO2 emissions by 9% in 2014/15 and secured government funding to buy electric vehicles (pictured left) and install more vehicle charge points.

• We consulted residents on a broad range of issues, from reviews on polling stations and the Council Tax Support Scheme to housing needs surveys and events and improvements at Daventry Country Park.

• Our Development Control Service performed effectively during an extended period of high demand for planning services and changes to national policy in 2014/15.

Daventry District Council Annual Review 2014/15 r Ouim A

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Promote Healthy, Safe and Strong

Communities and Individuals

• We trail-blazed the Eat Out Eat Well scheme, a new countywide initiative for local authorities to help encourage food businesses to offer healthier options on their menus.

• A number of play areas were enhanced for youngsters, including a new adventure playground at Daventry Country Park and a new play area and improved equipment in areas of Middlemore.

• We awarded over £165,000 of grant funding to 50 voluntary and community sector organisations, including revenue grants of £60,000 for Citizen’s Advice Bureau and £20,000 for DACT. Over £65,000 of capital grant money was awarded to 13 groups for projects district-wide and 21 local groups shared over £10,000 to deliver one-off community events. For every £1 we provided towards these events, community groups were able to raise £5 towards their good cause.

• We worked with partners to successfully deliver a range of community events including Wicked Wednesdays, Countryside Day, Cyclefest and the Family Cinema Day at Daventry Country Park, which attracted more than 1,000 people.

• The Christmas Helping Hampers and Clothes for Christmas campaigns with the Daventry & District Over Fifties Forum were a great success, with more than 1,000 food donations converted into 70 hampers and over 2,000 items of clothing collected for people in need.

• An effective multi-agency approach to improving community safety included a range of activities from Days of Action at Daventry, Moulton and Brixworth to the launch in Daventry of the Young Citizen Scheme and the Street Art Project.

Young Citizen Scheme

• We worked with organisations including Daventry Town Council and Danetre and Southbrook Learning Village on a variety of events and activities to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the First World War, including a centenary fete and sports day, schools wartime commemoration exhibition and remembrance event.

• Our Care and Repair service helped over 450 people during 2014/15 to carry on living independently in their own homes by providing repairs and minor works to their properties. The Council also distributed more than 200 Homes Repair Assistance and Disabled Facilities Grants and 288 households were found homes through our Choice Based Lettings service.

• Following on from the successful New Homes for Rent scheme, we embarked on feasibility work for another project in Daventry to help meet local demand for housing.

• We supported Everyone Active’s continued improvements to Daventry Leisure Centre including a £70,000 upgrade to the swimming pool. This enabled separate temperature controls for the two pools, creating a much warmer teaching pool for youngsters.

• Residents of all ages visited Daventry Leisure Centre more than 393,000 times in 2014/2015 for a range of sports activities, exceeding usage targets by 54%.

Cyclefest at Daventry Country Park

• We adopted a new Community Strategy with our partners to ensure that all organisations are working towards common goals and priorities for improving Daventry District.

• Everyone Active provided a comprehensive range of sports • The Council negotiated with activities throughout the district developers to deliver 82 affordable catering for people of all ages, homes across the District, including 11 fitness levels and abilities, including at Walgrave supported by £110,000 of things such as under 5 gymnastics, Council funding. trampolining, Nordic walking, street football and dancing. A total of 17048 • We prepared for the introduction of a new way to charge on sports development contacts were new developments to help fund made, exceeding targets by 34%. infrastructure - the Community Infrastructure Levy. This included a public consultation on the draft charging schedule.

Family Cinema day

• We reviewed our approach to allocating social housing to ensure people in housing need were able to access support and ran housing needs surveys in Kilsby, Norton and Weedon.

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Daventry District Council Annual Review 2014/15

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Protect and Enhance our environment

Volunteers took part in clean-up days as part of our Clean Up My Community campaign • The West Northamptonshire Joint Core Strategy was adopted in December 2014, providing a highlevel strategy for the area, including policies on the built and natural environment, economy, retail and the housing requirements for the period to 2029.

• We launched a Clean Up My Community Campaign, working with residents, parishes and community groups to tackle the blight of litter, dog fouling and fly-tipping. We supported a series of clean-up days and encouraged a growing number of volunteer groups to stage local litter picks by providing them with equipment, such as bags and grabbers.

• Motorists who throw their rubbish out of vehicles on the roads and laybys of Daventry District were targeted by the Don’t be a Tosser Campaign, run by local authorities countywide including DDC. • Our successful scheme to shame irresponsible dog owners into clearing up after their pets continued, with 28 parishes and four residents groups nominating volunteers to spray paint poop in their local communities. We also supported Keep Britain Tidy’s national We’re Watching You dog fouling initiative.

• We issued 56 fixed penalty notices including 49 targeting littering, three to address fly-tipping and three in response to dog fouling.

Daventry Country Park secured another Green Flag Award

The Big Poppy Plant

• The launch of our Big Switch initiative enabled more than 280 households to change their energy suppliers, to help them save an average of £225 on their energy bills.

• We achieved national recognition for our green credentials by retaining the Investors in the Environment Green Award for the second year running.

• Volunteers from 25 communities across Daventry District took part in our Big Poppy Plant, planting more than 2,800 square metres of wildflower meadows • Daventry Country Park continued to be among the best open spaces nationally, achieving the Green Flag Award for the 14th time in 15 years.

Daventry District Council Annual Review 2014/15 r Oum Ai

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Improve our Business Economy, Learning and Skills

• We continued to work with Northamptonshire County Council to bring forward plans for the Daventry Development Link Road, including an innovative funding package for its delivery and supporting the planning application.

• We pledged our support for fledgling businesses in our District, funding the launch of a new scheme by the Fredericks Foundation to provide start-up loans for local people who are having difficulties borrowing from the banks.

• Planning permission was granted for a 30,000sq ft extension of Hambleside Danelaw’s national headquarters at Long March, Daventry, which will be built by DDC and leased to the company on a long-term basis to enable the expansion of its business.

• More than 50 local businesses attended a ‘Meet the Buyer’ networking event supported by partners including DDC to highlight supply chain opportunities for public sector construction projects across Northamptonshire.

• We continued to support plans to improve education facilities in Daventry, providing land off Eastern Way/Ashby Road as the site for the new Daventry Hill School for children with special educational needs and agreeing to help forwardfund Northampton College’s new Daventry campus with £2.9m which will be reimbursed from developer

The new premises for Daventry MIND

contributions. We also agreed to fund the design and construction of the proposed primary school at Monksmoor, Daventry, with work to deliver the school ongoing.

• Construction work started on purposebuilt new premises for Daventry MIND off the Old Gas Works Car Park, which will enable their relocation from North Street to pave way for the Mulberry Place shopping development. We also continued preparations for the new shopping development and supermarket proposals (also known as Town Centre Vision Sites 1 & 5) by acquiring land of unknown ownership required for the schemes using a Compulsory Purchase Order.

• We stepped up our commitment to our district’s rural economy by joining the North and West Northamptonshire Local Action Group, whose grant funded LEADER programme successfully secured more than £1.8m of EU funding to award to businesses in the county’s rural parishes.

• We worked with our local enterprise partnerships SEMLEP and NEP to support successful bids for government funding towards significant local projects. This included Local Growth Fund money for the Daventry Development Link Road (£6m), Northampton College’s Daventry campus (£6.5m) and for a new Food and Drink Technology Centre at Moulton (£3.5m).

Hambleside Danelaw extension • Fresh opportunities were created for attracting new businesses into Daventry on land owned by the Council after planning permission was granted for 2,700m2 of research and development space at The Knoll in South March.

• Plans to extend and enhance the Phoenix Youth Centre moved forward with the approval of a business plan.

• We pursued options and sought people’s views on plans for another leisure centre in the eastern part of Daventry District, starting work on a feasibility study into the proposals.

• We stepped up efforts to promote our District as an excellent place to live, work and visit with the launch of ‘Love Daventry’, a campaign and website aimed at showcasing all the good things on offer for residents, businesses and visitors.

• We continued to engage with the owners of Overstone Hall in order to secure its future restoration.

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Daventry District Council Annual Review 2014/15

Summary of Accounts 2014/15 Our revenue spending for 2014/15 What is revenue spending?

This is the money that is spent on the day-to-day running of services including employee, premises and supplies and services costs. Before the start of each year, the Council sets a budget to finance the services it provides.

How was this money spent in 2014/15?

The table on the right shows the net expenditure for 2014/15 compared to the previous year and what amount of this was met from local and national tax income – for example Council Tax, localisation of Business Rates and the Revenue Support Grant the Council receives from Central Government.

How much of my Council Tax bill went to Daventry District Council?

We received a total of £3.852m from Council Tax – which equates to £138.41 per household* and 9.7% of your total Council Tax Bill. The remainder of the Council Tax went to parish councils (4.3%), Northamptonshire County Council (72.4%) and Northamptonshire Police and Crime Commissioner (13.6%).

What We Spent - Running our services (Revenue)

2013/14

2014/15

£’000

£’000

704 Central Service to the public (e.g. Electoral Registration, Land Charges, Financial Services regarding Council Tax, Business Rates and Benefits)

695

Cultural & Related Services

1,035

921

Environmental Services

2,528

2,591

Planning and Development Services

1,279

1,824

Highways, Roads and Transport

571

1,115

Housing Services

1,792

1,545

Corporate and Democratic Core (e.g. External Audit Fees and Management Costs)

1,530

1,839

Non Distributed Costs

72

2

Net Cost of Services

9,511

10,532

Other Operating Expenditure

(2,615)

(3,464)

Investment Income

(462)

(486)

Capital Expenditure financed from Revenue

33

179

Money taken to/from Earmarked Reserves for future use

1,664

1,817

Cost of Local Services met by Local and National Taxes and General Reserves

8,131

8,578

*based on DDC’s proportion of the Council Tax bill from an average Band D Property

In 2014/15 we collected 98% of Council Tax and 99.17% of Business Rates.

Where did the money come from?

After allowing for income such as rents and investments, fees and charges from services we provide, a total of £8.578m was spent on running services that were financed using local and national taxes.

The charts to the right show where this money came from:

How we paid for services 2013/14 £’000

How we paid for services 2014/15 £’000 (919)

(2,052) 3,790

2,331

3,852

2,501 3,892

Local Taxes - Council Tax National Taxes - Government Grant Business Rates General Reserves

3,314

Local Taxes - Council Tax National Taxes - Government Grant Business Rates General Reserves

Daventry District Council Annual Review 2014/15 Did we have any money left over?

The table to the right shows the net cost of services resulted in a surplus of £0.919m in 2014/15.

Future years, due to continuing central government funding cuts, show an underlying deficit position. The Council will be addressing the budget deficit, and the affordability and sustainability of future services as part of the 2016/17 budget preparation process and the Medium Term Financial Plan.

Income & Expenditure Account

2013/14

2014/15

£’000

£’000

Cost of Services

8,131

8,578

Income from Local and National Taxes

(10,183)

(9,497)

(Surplus)/Deficit for the Year

(2,052)

(919)

Our Capital Spending for 2014/15 What is capital spending?

What we spent - investing in property and land (capital)

2013/14

2014/15

£’000

£’000

Improvement to dwelling

738

828

Environmental improvements

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How did we spend this money in 2014/15?

Leisure

828

203

Offices

190

22

The table to the right shows the net expenditure for 2014/15 compared to the previous year.

Economic Development & Regeneration

2,786

907

Information Technology

175

209

Cemetery & Crematoria

2,069

79

Total Capital Expenditure

6,797

2,262

Where did the money come from?

2013/14

2014/15

£’000

£’000

Use of Capital Receipts

5,988

1,735

Use of External Contributions and Government Grants

776

348

Contributions from Revenue

33

179

Total Funding for Capital Expenditure

6,797

2,262

Total Net Worth

2013/14

2014/15

£’000

£’000

This is money that we invest in land and property, for its purchase and improvement and is accounted for separately from the day-to-day revenue expenditure.

What are we worth?

At the end of each year we draw up a balance sheet, which represents:-

Value of Land and Property

55,326

57,172

• How much our property and land is worth (i.e. the value of our assets);

Cash Investments and Cash at Bank

35,253

39,409

Money Owed to Daventry District Council

9,162

8,613

• How much cash and money we have invested;

Money Owed by Daventry District Council

(6,028)

(6,773)

• What money is due to be paid to the Council;

Pension Liability

(25,713)

(32,024)

Other Long Term Liabilities

(1,083)

(2,632)

Total Assets less Liabilities

66,917

63,765

• What money is due to be paid out by the Council.

Resources Statement As Daventry District Council’s statutory Chief Financial Officer, I can confirm that this year’s statement of accounts has been prepared in line with the CIPFA Local Authority Accounting Code of Practice. The figures in this summary of accounts have been compiled from the full statement of accounts, which is

currently being audited by our appointed auditor, KPMG. A full audited statement of accounts will be available as soon as the audit is complete on the Daventry District Council’s website at www.daventrydc.gov.uk/accounts Audra Statham Chief Financial Officer

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Daventry District Council Annual Review 2014/15

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What’s in store for 2015/16 • We will investigate having more electric lease vehicles and charge points for Council operations as part of plans to further reduce our carbon emissions. We will also continue to encourage businesses to join in the Investors in the Environment scheme and adopt low carbon technologies.

• We will continue to tackle fraud with a range of measures including reviewing benefits claims and introducing new technology making it easier for residents to report their suspicions of fraudulent activity.

• Our Big Switch scheme will continue to help households reduce their energy bills and, through the Northants Warm Homes partnership, we will work with other authorities towards helping more households out of fuel poverty through boiler and insulation schemes. External funding sources will also be explored.

• Work will be completed on our 30,000sq ft extension of Hambleside Danelaw’s national headquarters at Long March, Daventry, to accommodate the expansion of their business.

• Plans to extend and enhance Daventry’s Phoenix Youth Centre and gymnasium will move forward following the recent approval of a business plan for the project.

• The new building for MIND in Daventry town centre will be completed and we will continue work towards delivering Daventry town centre redevelopment sites.

• We will continue to support developments in education and skills, including proposals for a new Logistics Skills Centre at DIRFT III. • We will work with partners to investigate the feasibility of delivering the cycle track and footpath between Daventry and Braunston.

• Vandalised and damaged play equipment will be replaced at Ashby Fields public open spaces in Daventry and we will demolish the disused bowls pavilion in New Street Recreation Ground.

• We will begin to undertake road completion works at Middlemore in Daventry and upgrade and extend the car park at Daventry Country Park.

• In response to repeated high levels of complaints our officers will be patrolling dog fouling hotspots in the early hours of the morning and in the evening with the aim of catching and fining that small minority of dog owners who continue to fail to pick up after their pets.

• We will launch a new project aimed at reaching out to the most isolated and vulnerable older residents within our District and to help identify and break down barriers that cause such distress.

• Following the success of our wildflowers project, we will work with our environmental services contractor to explore plans to create more wildflower areas.

• We will be supporting renewable energy projects at village halls and community buildings district-wide, providing £25,000 in grant funding for these projects in addition to the annual £60,000 community grant funding available.

• We will introduce the Community Infrastructure Levy, a new way to charge on new developments to help fund infrastructure.

• Our Community Engagement Strategy will be reviewed to ensure we are involving local people in shaping the area where they live and the services they receive.

• Work on housing needs surveys will continue, to ensure housing is delivered where it is most needed.

Surveys will be delivered in Norton, Hannington, Old, Walgrave and Holcot. We will also revise our Affordable Housing Supplementary Planning Document to include all aspects of housing development, including affordable and market housing, specialist housing and provision for Gypsies and Travellers.

• A number of Neighbourhood Development Plans, which allow communities more control in shaping development in their area, are expected to progress. Both the West Haddon and Spratton examinations are expected to be carried out before the end of the year. Progress on Village Design Statements for Yelvertoft and Moulton is also expected.

Your Community

Working together on a clean sweep for estate It started with a good deed - fed up with people dropping litter on Daventry’s Grange Estate, Jacquie Ward decided to start picking it up.

But mighty oaks from little acorns grow and, two years on, the estate now boasts an army of volunteer litter pickers helping to keep it clean and tidy.

Six clean-up days organised by Jacquie and supported by Daventry District Council (DDC) and its partners have helped tackle historic litter in problem areas, while people are kept informed via a thriving online community including a popular Facebook page and the Your Grange website.

It’s been a huge effort involving residents, ward councillors, council officers and contractors, Daventry & District Housing, the Pike and Eel pub, The Grange Convenience Store, local police officers PCSO Paul Harris and PC Michelle Townsend and many more.

But speak to those who live on the Grange and they will tell you – the estate hasn’t looked better in 20 years.

“I still can’t believe the way it has snowballed,” said Jacquie.

“By pulling together as a community we’ve made huge improvements to our estate. Walking around now I can see that people are happier and it really is thanks to all the volunteers who have given up their time to help keep the estate clean and tidy.”

And it’s not just litter – dog fouling and other environmental issues are also being tackled thanks to a community effort.

Volunteers are pictured during a clean-up day focussing on Tamar Square.

Volunteers are involved in DDC’s successful spray painting initiative, in which brightlycoloured biodegradable paint is sprayed on dog mess to highlight the extent of fouling and shame irresponsible owners into clearing up after their pets. They are also supporting the ‘We’re Watching You’ glow-in-the-dark poster campaign to target night-time offenders.

Volunteers help keep the estate clean by contacting the Council with any other environmental concerns they may have, such as fly-tipping, which the council’s waste contractors aim to remove within 24 hours of it being reported.

The Grange Estate Facebook page is a thriving online forum for people to share information while a new website set up

Volunteers have worked in partnership with the Council and other agencies to make a difference.

by Jacquie – www.yourgrange.co.uk – contains a range of useful links and contacts and is also growing in popularity.

“I still walk around the estate litter picking, not that’s there’s much to pick up these days,” said Jacquie.

“The estate is massive, so it will take time, but what has been tackled looks amazing. In most areas there is now no litter problem and the dog fouling has reduced considerably.

“The credit for this goes to the good people who live in and around The Grange Estate, there are so many great people living here who care enough to make a difference.”

Councillor Jo Gilford, Environment Portfolio Holder at Daventry District Council, said: “Last year we launched the Clean Up My Community campaign in order to work more closely with residents to help keep communities clean and tidy.

“The work taking place on The Grange Estate really shows how communities can work together – with help and support from this Council – to make real improvements. Hopefully this success story proves an inspiration to other communities in our District.”

Find out more about staging a litter pick in your community at www.daventrydc.gov.uk/litterpick

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Get Active

World Cup offers grass roots opportunities The sport of rugby is coming home this autumn as England hosts the World Cup from September 18 to October 31.

One venue in Daventry District is even playing a vital role in the tournament, with Moulton College set to host the Uruguay national side during their preparations for their third group match against Fiji at the Stadium:MK on October 6.

The team is due to arrive at the College from September 28 to use its world-class facilities including pitches, sports hall and gym, complete with specialist gym equipment recently installed to cater for the national side’s needs.

And while the Northampton Saints’ Franklin’s Gardens stadium is sadly missing from the tournament’s list of match venues, fans in Daventry District need not travel too far to get involved in what promises to be a fantastic tournament.

Tag rugby festival for our schools Daventry Rugby Club will play host to this celebration of the game on October 8.

The annual competition organised

by Northamptonshire Sport has been given a World Cup theme this year, with the schools taking part each adopting a different nation from the tournament.

As well as taking part in a tag rugby competition, pupils will learn about the nations they are representing in the run-up to the event and put together posters on them as well as about rugby’s core values of teamwork, respect, enjoyment, discipline and sportsmanship.

Find out more at www. northamptonshiresport.org/southnorthants-and-daventry-ssp or follow @SNDSchoolSport on Twitter.

Northampton Saints players training at Moulton College

Visit your local club Daventry District is fortunate to have two well-run clubs, both boasting very strong junior sections.

Long Buckby RFC has mini and junior sides from under 6s up to under 17s, as well as two senior sides, with three full pitches (one floodlit) and four changing rooms.

Daventry Rugby Club has recently gone through some big changes thanks to an ambitious new management team and support from the Rugby Football Union (RFU) and Natwest.

It also hosts a number of fun events throughout the year including tag rugby tournaments, an annual beer festival and a fun day in aid of charity.

The clubhouse has recently benefited from a £50,000 refit and is proving an ever-more popular venue for community functions, while the club has also unveiled plans for two new changing rooms to meet the needs of the growing number of players joining the club.

As well as being part of the visit to Moulton College on August 10 of the coveted Webb Ellis Cup – the prize all 20 nations in the World Cup are looking to get their hands on – Long Buckby RFC is also holding a series of special events during the tournament.

The Station Road club will be showing all of England’s games on the big screen in its recently refurbished club house – hopefully all the way up to the final itself on October 31.

Find out more about the club at www. pitchero.com/clubs/longbuckby

Based at the Stefen Hill sports ground off Western Avenue, the club also boasts an impressive coaching set-up run by RFU-qualified coaches.

Its World Cup celebrations started with a fun day on the August Bank Holiday but continue throughout the tournament with all of England’s games being shown on the big screen and food and fun activities for children available.

New and old members, families and friends are always welcome. Find out more at www.pitchero. com/clubs/daventry or phone Paul Russell on 07771 627471.

Get Active

Half-term fun Fun rugby camps will be held at Daventry Rugby Club during half term, from October 26 to 30.

A sporting chance Daventry District Council works in partnership with Everyone Active to provide sports and leisure services in the district, offering opportunities for people of all ages and abilities to keep active.

As well as running the sports facilities at Daventry Leisure Centre and Daventry Sports Park, Everyone Active also organises a number of programmes which aim to encourage people to participate in sport.

Organised by Everyone Active and delivered by qualified Daventry RFC coaches, there will be sessions for children aged 5-12 from 10am to 3pm on both the Monday and Tuesday. Sessions for children aged 12 to 16 will take place on the Thursday and Friday during the same times.

Other sports camps being put on

by Everyone Active during the half term week include trampolining on Monday and Tuesday, tennis on Wednesday and Thursday, and basketball on Friday.

All of these sessions are for children aged 5 to 16 and run from 10am to 3pm, with the exception of trampolining which is on from 10am to 1pm.

All the camps cost £12.50 per day.

Children booking onto them can also pay £2.35 to join the Connections Club, which offers a variety of games and activities from 8.30am until the start of the camp as well as free hour swim between 1.30pm and 4.30pm To book phone 01327 871144 or visit www.everyoneactive.com/daventry

Rugby Fanzone To celebrate its status as the birthplace of the game, Rugby Borough Council is hosting an official Fanzone in Rugby town centre showing matches on the big screen. It is also hosting a Rugby Festival from September 13 to November 6, celebrating the town’s cultural and sporting heritage.

Find out more at www.enjoyrugby.co.uk

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They include sports camps running throughout the school holidays and offering youngsters the opportunity to take part in a wide range of sports including archery, athletics, badminton, basketball, boxing, cricket, football, netball, tennis, trampolining and more.

The free Rural Roadshow scheme takes fun events and activities out to villages across the district, while the Sports School Programme offers term-time after-school sports clubs for children aged 5 to 12.

The Daventry Sports leadership Academy helps 14 to 16-year-olds develop the skills they need to become high quality sports leaders, through workshops, training and volunteer opportunities. More than 70 young people have graduated from the academy since 2010, gaining nationally recognised awards in sports leadership and coaching. Of those, 21 have gone on to be employed by Everyone Active and elsewhere in the sports and leisure industry.

Everyone Active also runs the Daventry Disability Forum, to help ensure a range of sporting opportunities are being delivered for those with disabilities.

It supports the Daventry Parkrun, which regularly sees more than 100 people taking part in a run around Daventry Country Park, and also helps Rugby Triathlon Club deliver the annual Daventry Triathlon.

The sporting achievements of the districts sportsmen and women, coaches and volunteers are also recognised annually in the Daventry District Sports Awards, with this year’s presentation evening due to take place on Thursday, 22 October.

Councillor Alan Hills, Daventry District Council’s Community, Culture and Leisure Portfolio Holder, said: “Sport plays a crucial role in the lives of our residents. Not only is it important for physical and mental wellbeing and personal enjoyment, it has a key role to play in community cohesion.

“With the summer’s Ashes series and the 2015 Rugby World Cup being played on home soil, British sport once again finds itself in exciting yet challenging times to create sporting opportunities across the nation.

“Daventry District is no exception to this vision and as such, the Council is working with Everyone Active and other key partners to deliver a programme of activities that offers opportunities for everyone to enjoy sport and keep active.”

Find out more at www.everyoneactive. com/centre/daventry-leisure-centre or phone 01327 871144.

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News

Join in free Halloween hunt Ghouls and ghosts are expected to be out in force once again at Daventry Country Park when youngsters join in this year’s free Spooktacular Halloween Hunt.

Sweets and chocolate will be among the hidden treats up for grabs at the event, which takes place at the park off Northern Way from 3pm on Friday, 30 October.

Children are invited to wear Halloween fancy dress and register at the visitor centre to take part in a competition to find the best costumes – this year’s categories are for Scariest, Cutest and Most Creative.

The treat hunt will take place in the play area for the under 5s and around the wider park grounds for 5 to 12-year-olds.

All children must be accompanied by an adult during the event and will need to bring torches with them as it will be getting dark at that time of the afternoon.

Families wishing to take part are encouraged to fill in and cut out the coupon opposite and take it along to the event to register, with every child registering receiving a free gift.

Return of the Big Switch A scheme that has saved hundreds of Daventry District residents money on their energy bills has returned for an autumn auction.

More than 300 households across the district have changed their energy provider through the Big Switch since its launch last year, saving an average of £265 on their annual bill.

Councillor Jo Gilford, Environment Portfolio Holder on Daventry District Council, said: “The Big Switch scheme uses collective purchasing power to secure the best possible tariffs from energy companies. It has secured some big savings for our residents and we are pleased to be able to offer it again.”

People have until Monday, October 12 to register for the autumn auction at www.daventrydc.gov.uk/bigswitchdaventry or by phoning 01327 871100.

An annual energy bill is required to complete the process.

Register for our Halloween Hunt Please complete and bring this coupon along to take part in this year’s free Halloween event at Daventry Country Park on Friday, 30 October, 2015.

Name (s): .....................................................................................

Age (s): .......................................................................................

Postcode: ...................................................................................

Under the Data Protection Act 1998 we have a legal duty to protect any personal information we collect from you. We do not pass on your details to any third parties and this form will only be used by Daventry District Council to keep a record of registration to the Halloween Spooktacular event.

Come to a committee meeting All meetings below start at 6.15pm. For more information contact the Governance Team on 01327 871100 or email jfindlay@daventrydc.gov.uk For more visit www.daventrydc.gov.uk/committees To listen to an audio recording of a meeting, visit www.daventrydc.gov.uk/audiorecordings Committee

Date of meeting

Planning Committee

Weds, 23 September 2015

Corporate Governance Committee

Thurs, 24 September 2015

Council

Thurs, 1 October 2015

Planning Committee

Weds, 14 October 2015

Strategy Group

Thurs, 15 October 2015

Planning Committee

Weds, 4 November 2015

Scrutiny & Improvement Committee

Tues, 10 November 2015

Licensing Committee

Thurs, 12 November 2015

Planning Committee

Weds, 25 November 2015

Strategy Group

Thurs, 26 November 2015

Council

Thurs, 10 December 2015

News

15

New festival of education will showcase our schools

A new Daventry Festival of Education taking place this autumn will showcase the opportunities and celebrate successes of our schools and colleges.

The festival, which will be a celebration of the arts as well as educational achievement, will be held on Saturday, 10 October at the iCon Innovation Centre.

Schools and colleges across Daventry will be joining in the event, which will be open to the public and supported by Daventry District Council, Daventry Town Council, Northamptonshire Enterprise Partnership and Northamptonshire County Council.

A variety of interactive stands and fun activities are being planned, showcasing the wide range of educational opportunities on offer in Daventry.

There will also be a presentation ceremony for a new awards scheme recognising the achievements of young people and educational staff.

Schools and colleges are being encouraged to join in the festival by sharing their activities, specialisms and the talents of their students with visitors.

The event is being held as part of a wider campaign called Daventry Schools Matter, which was launched by the Daventry Express paper earlier this year and aims to support and promote the valuable contribution schools make to our community.

It is hoped the festival will become an annual event.

Ian Vincent, Chief Executive of Daventry District Council, said: “We all know the wonderful opportunities that our schools and colleges provide for the young people in the town and are delighted that these will be shared with local people.

“All partners involved in this unique event are keen to showcase the rich tapestry of education opportunities available in Daventry and provide greater recognition for our home grown talent through a new awards scheme.”

“It’s a great opportunity for parents to look beyond the Ofsted reports and see for themselves what our local schools have to offer.

For more information about the festival visit www.daventryschoolsmatter.com

What’s on

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Events in Daventry District this Autumn If you would like to include forthcoming events in the district in Daventry Calling please email news@daventrydc.gov.uk. Due to distribution schedules, some areas of the district may receive Daventry Calling later than the date of some featured events.

September 26

October 10

November 8

Festival of Education at the iCon Environmental Innovation Centre, Daventry. See page 15 for details.

Remembrance Sunday Parade and Service in Daventry town centre from 10.30am. Including two-minute silence at the War Memorial and Service of Remembrance at Holy Cross Church.

Daventry District Bellringers ringing at Badby from 3pm, followed by a short service and tea in the church, plus ringing from 7pm at Holy Cross in Daventry.

Visitors welcome to try ringing.

Scavenger Hunt at Naseby Village Hall at 2pm. Entry costs £10 per car or £2.50 per bike with prizes on offer. Book on 07884 345551 or email nasebyvillagehall@gmail.com

October 17

September 27

Autumn jumble sale at Lilbourne Village Hall (CV23 0SX) from 1pm in aid of All Saints’ Church. Entry 30p (primary school children free). Items for sale may be brought to the hall from 10am-midday.

Dahlia Festival at Kelmarsh Hall from 11am-5pm. Visit www.kelmarsh.com or call 01604 686543.

September 27-29

Jumble sale at Naseby Village Hall featuring a tea and cake sale. Set up from 9am. Tables cost £7.50 on 07884 345551 or email nasebyvillagehall@gmail.com

Family weekend at Nagarjuna Buddhist Centre at Kelmarsh. Find out more at meditateinnorthants.com

October 30

September 29

November 3

Behind the Iron Curtain – first of nine history sessions with lecturer David Price at Byfield Village Hall, cost £52. Call 01327 260180.

Film evening at Long Buckby Library – Screening of The Theory of Everything at 7.30pm. Tickets available in October from the library and Buckby Newsagents.

October 3

November 7

Memories of World War 2 exhibition at Daventry Museum, 10am to 4pm.

Bonfire display at Hollowell Rally Field.

Bonfire at 7pm, fireworks at 7.30pm, plus fairground. Entry costs £1 per person.

Mad Hatters Tea Party at Nagarjuna Buddhist Centre, Kelmarsh from 5.30pm.

Find out more at www.meditateinnorthants.com

October 4 Talk by garden historian Kristina Taylor on the women who shaped the Grade II-listed gardens at Kelmarsh Hall. Starts at 11.30am and includes a buffet lunch.

Tickets £45 on 01604 686543 or visit www.kelmarsh.com

Halloween Spooktacular at Daventry Country Park. See page 14 for details.

Memories of World War 2 exhibition at Daventry Museum, 10am to 4pm.

Firework display at Daventry & District Sports Club, Western Avenue. Gates open at 6pm. Display at 7.30pm.

November 11 Armistice Day - top of Sheaf Street, Daventry, at 10.45 am for a short service and two-minute silence.

November 14 Daventry District Bellringers ringing at Byfield from 3pm, followed by a short service and tea in the church, plus ringing from 7pm at Cropredy. Visitors welcome.

November 21 Christmas event in Bowen Square, Daventry from 1.30pm to 5pm.

December 3 Music and mulled wine evening at Long Buckby Library from 7.30pm, featuring the St Lawrence singers and guests. Tickets available from October in the library and Buckby newsagents.

December 5 Memories of World War 2 exhibition at Daventry Museum, 10am to 4pm.

December 6 Christmas Advent Trail from 4pm6.30pm at Naseby Village Hall. Entry costs £5 per family. For details call 07884 345551 or email nasebyvillagehall@gmail.com

December 12 Daventry District Bellringers ringing at Weedon from 3.30pm, followed by tea plus carol concert from 7pm.