The newspaper for Bolsover District Council’s residents and businesses
Serve yourself – the
safe and easy way
From August 2015 the way you pay bills at our
Contact Centres will change.
To help reduce queues and offer a greater
selection of payments, we’re introducing selfservice machines where you can pay bills by
cash, cheque or debit card.
The machines will replace the cash desks
that we currently have and can be used to pay
your council tax, business rates, rent, council
invoices and planning application fees. It’s
quick and easy and you will also get a detailed
receipt for your records.
Illustration of how the new
payment machines could look
The easiest way
to pay your bill is
Direct Debit
The new machines will be installed at all four
of our Contact Centres and will be available to
use on 11 August (Clowne and Shirebrook) and
18 August (Bolsover and South Normanton).
During the installation there will be some
disruption to services. Shirebrook and Bolsover
Contact Centres will be closed to the public on
10 August and 17 August respectively. Clowne
and South Normanton will remain open but no
payments will be accepted on 10 August and
17 August respectively.
Cabinet Member for Customer Services,
Councillor Terry Connerton
said, “We are always
looking at ways to improve
our services and make
them more efficient for
our
customers.
There
will be some disruption
for customers while the
machines are installed and
we apologise in advance
for this. But these new
machines will make it a lot
easier and give people
more choice of how to pay
their bills.
“We appreciate that it will
be a big change for some
people, so we will have
instructions on how to pay
at the side of the machines
and officers nearby to
help anyone who needs
assistance.”
Issue 31 July 2015
100-mile Row-athon
for charity
20 members of staff went that extra mile
recently as they took part in a Row-athon
challenge to help raise awareness and
money for Stroke Awareness during their
recent ‘Action on Stroke Month’. Page 2.
Residents thanked for
Recycling
Residents across the District are being
thanked for helping to improve the quality
of recycling and reducing the amount of
waste being sent to landfill. Page 4.
Bringing
Communities Together
A new Community Cohesion Officer has
been appointed to help foster relations and
provide better understanding of cultures
across the District. Page 7.
Balanceability
Success
Children aged between 3 - 6 years old are
being given the chance to learn how to
ride a bike following the introduction of
Balanceability sessions. Page 14.
We speak your language
Polish
Mówimy Twoim językiem
QQ You don’t need to remember to pay every month or
spend money on postage or bus fares to get to our
Contact Centres.
Slovak
Rozprávame Vaším jazykom
QQ We offer a variety of ways and a range of dates to suit
you.
Chinese
我们会说你的语言
QQ It’s completely safe - you are protected by the Direct
Debit Guarantee.
To arrange to pay Council bills by Direct Debit and find out more
about the Direct Debit Guarantee, visit www.bolsover.gov.uk or
pop in to our Contact Centres and pick up a form
If you require this publication in
large print or another format
please call us on 01246
242424
Page 2
July 2015
New Leader...New Cabinet...New Council
Councillor Ann Syrett has taken up the main role of
Council Leader, becoming the first female Leader
in the Council’s history.
Joining Councillor Syrett is Councillor Mary
Dooley who was elected as Deputy Leader of the
Council and they replace retired councillors, Eion
Watts OBE and Alan Tomlinson respectively.
Councillor Syrett said, “I would like to thank the
Council for putting their trust in me to lead them
over the next four years. It has been an education
and a pleasure to work with Eion and Alan during
their leadership, and they will be a hard act to
follow. I wish them all the best in a well deserved
and happy retirement.
“Despite the austerity measures, we are in a
good position. We have plans to improve our
leisure facilities, build new council houses, attract
further business investment and create jobs. But
we cannot kid ourselves, we have got some really
tough decisions to make over the next few years
so I will sit down with my Cabinet and senior
officers and make sure the plans we have in place
are both deliverable and sustainable.”
Councillor Syrett has been a district councillor
since 2003 and represents the Pleasley ward. One
of her first jobs as new Leader was to decide upon
the roles for the Cabinet members.
The Cabinet (Executive), made up of six
councillors, is the ruling group responsible for
guiding the Council in agreeing policy and making
sure it achieves its aims and objectives.
Councillor Syrett added, “To make sure we keep
moving forward and meeting the needs of our
communities, we need the right people in place
to make the right decisions and I believe that the
Cabinet is key to this so we can make sure we
continue to keep moving in the right direction.”
The remaining thirty-one councillors will serve on
the Scrutiny Committees and act as a ‘watchdog’
with powers to call in and challenge Cabinet
decisions and have a major responsibility to hold
Cabinet to account for its actions.
The following councillors have been named as the
Cabinet along with their portfolio responsibilities:
Cllr. Ann Syrett
Leader and Economic
Growth
Cllr. Mary Dooley
Cllr. Terry Connerton
Deputy Leader and
Customer Services,
Corporate Plan, HR and Revenues and Benefits
Leisure
Cllr. John Ritchie
Housing and IT
Cllr. Brian Murray-Carr Cllr. Karl Reid
Health and Wellbeing
Community Cohesion,
Audit, Legal and
Governance
This portfolio includes finance,
partnerships, economic
development, regeneration,
planning, property and estates.
This portfolio includes
monitoring the performance
of the Council through its
Corporate Plan, HR related
issues, social inclusion and
leisure activities.
This portfolio includes all
housing services including
repairs, rents, voids and
sheltered housing as well as ICT
provision within the Council.
This portfolio includes
environmental health, waste and
recycling, grounds maintenance
and public health.
This portfolio includes Contact
Centres, communication,
consultation, FOI, Data
Protection, revenues and
benefits.
This portfolio includes
community safety and cohesion,
governance arrangements in the
council including committees
and the constitution, auditing of
our services and functions and
any legal issues.
COUNCIL STAFF ROW 100-MILE FOR CHARITY
Our staff certainly went the extra
mile recently as they rowed 100
miles in 12-hours to mark the Stroke
Association’s ‘Action on Stroke
Month’.
After 12 hours of blood, sweat and
tears, the 20 members of staff – who
were in teams of four/five – successfully
achieved the target and rowed 100.5
miles in the allocated time.
The event also provided people
with the chance to get free blood
pressure checks and Health MOT’s
and a whole host of other advice and
information on stroke awareness and
healthy living.
Council Leader, Councillor Ann
Member of staff undertaking
the rowing challenge
Syrett opened the event along with
Mandy Chambers, Chair of Bolsover
Partnership.
Councillor Syrett said, “This really
was a mammoth effort by all involved.
It was touch and go as to whether we
would reach the 100-mile target but
credit to everyone who took part - we
did it!
“Raising awareness of Action on
Stroke Month was the main aim of the
event and hopefully we have done
that and raised some valuable funds
along the way.”
Mandy Chambers said, “The event
had been a great opportunity to
showcase how work places can support
their staff to be healthier,
benefiting the individuals
and organisations.”
Throughout the day all
the partners involved:
• Raised £231 for the
Stroke Association
• Took 66 blood
pressure checks with
26 people (39%) being
advised to follow up with
a GP
• Bolsover Community
Hospital recruited 12
new members within
Derbyshire Community
Health Service
Foundation Trust
•45 people received free
Health Checks
•25 people were
consulted on physical
inactivity.
A local resident who got
a free health check at the
event said, “This is really
good. I only came in to
sort my rent out and have
had my blood pressure
checked too. It’s high, so
I need to see my doctor.
My neighbour had a stroke
because they never went
to the doctors for anything Pictured is Councillor Syrett (right)
so I’m going to make an presenting the cheque to Sophie Dawson
appointment today.”
from the Stroke Association.
Sophie Dawson from the
Stroke Association, said: “There are for all their wonderful support;
around 152,000 strokes a year in the together we can conquer stroke.”
UK – that’s around one every three
It is now hoped that events raising
and a half minutes. It is vital that we the profile of health and wellbeing
have people to help raise funds and will become a regular feature at the
awareness. We’re really grateful to Council.
the team and everyone involved from
Bolsover District Council and partners
Page 3
www.bolsover.gov.uk
BOLSOVER TOWN
RE-DEVELOPMENT UPDATE
News that Morrisons had put the
Sherwood Lodge site in Bolsover on
the open market for sale was met with
complete surprise by our members and
officers.
We had worked closely with
Morrisions to bring forward this major
regeneration opportunity within the
town and are surprised by this approach
to put the site up for sale.
We were informed of the sale
particulars for the site by a third party
and have already expressed our
disappointment that Morrisons have
made this major decision, especially
without talking to us or the local
community first.
Council Leader, Councillor Ann Syrett
said, “We are extremely disappointed
by this announcement. We have
all heard in the media that the big
supermarkets are struggling and the
last we heard from Morrisons on the
store we were told they were reviewing
all their development sites and that no
decision had been made on Sherwood
Lodge.
“We are not sure what implications
this has for the site, but we will be
seeking to talk to Morrisons as soon as
possible to clarify the situation and get
the best possible outcome for the local
community and town of Bolsover.”
This will not affect our plans to relocate
our Contact Centre and the Police into
the town centre which are central to our
continuing plans to improve the area
for residents and visitors alike.
Councillor Syrett added, “We remain
committed to providing a Contact
Centre in the town and we have dealt
with the problems associated with the
Middle Street car park.”
We remain committed to working
with the local community and other
partners to ensure that the Sherwood
Lodge site is redeveloped in a manner
which benefits local residents, the
local economy and supports the
wider established programme of
regeneration in the town.
While the set back in respect of the
redevelopment of the Sherwood Lodge
site is a major blow, this was only one
aspect of our commitment to support
the local community in the regeneration
of the town. The Castle is of growing
importance as a visitor attraction and
the investment of nearly £1million
secured from the European Regional
Development Fund (ERDF) has seen
improvements to the cenotaph area
and provided new paving, new signage,
new street furniture and staging a wide
variety of events to help attract visitors
to the town.
We are also continuing to progress
work to secure funding from the
Heritage Lottery Fund to restore New
Bolsover Model Village to provide
sustainable, quality housing with clear
links back to the history of the town.
£200K FOR OUTDOOR
SPORT AND RECREATION
Over £200,000 will be invested in sports and recreation schemes across the
District.
The money, which is from various Section 106 agreements with developers,
will be used to improve sports pitches and recreation grounds in Carr Vale
and South Normanton.
In South Normanton, £79,963 will be used to fund drainage works to the
football pitches on Common Meadow and South Street Recreation Grounds.
Over recent years the drainage has become worse, meaning an increased
number of games are being called off due to waterlogged pitches.
£60,000 has been allocated to replace the surface and perimeter fencing
of the existing 7v7 multi-use games area (MUGA) at Frederick Gent School
in South Normanton. However, the FA (through the Football Foundation)
are keen to invest in upgrading the facility to a 3G pitch to accommodate
local football clubs and the £60,000 could be used as match funding for this
proposal.
A further £83,000 has been earmarked for the improvement of Vale
Park in Carr Vale which caters for a wide age range of people. Suggested
improvements include a MUGA, a bike track, new play equipment and
additional seating/picnic tables.
All the works on these projects are expected to start in the next few months.
The Section 106 monies have come from the following developments: South
Normanton - Birchwood Lane (£25,086), Carnfield Close (£11,526), Carter
Lane East (£28,004), Joint Service Centre Development (£60,000) and Thornhill
Drive (£15,347) and; Carr Vale - former Mercol Site (£83,000).
Stay Connected
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that matter to you.
Visit www.bolsover.gov.uk and click
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How do I sign up?
Sherwood Lodge
• Go to www.bolsover.gov.uk
• Click on the Stay
Connected icon at the
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which looks like this
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Page 4
July 2015
Residents thanked for recycling efforts
Residents across the District are being
thanked for helping to improve the
quality of recycling and reducing the
amount of waste being sent to landfill.
Over the past few years we have
improved the way you can dispose of
your waste and increased the items you
can recycle and compost. Recycling
figures continue to show a reduction
in waste that is taken to landfill (73% in
2007/08 down to 58% in 2014/15) and
this coincides with the introduction of
the green and burgundy bins.
The burgundy bins have proven
extremely popular and are generally
always full when put out for collection,
whilst the introduction of raw and
cooked food waste into your green
bins in May 2014 has proven to be
another huge and popular step
forward in reducing the amount of
waste landfilled.
Councillor
Brian
Murray-Carr,
Cabinet Member for the Environment
said, “The figures speak for themselves
and we would like to thank local
residents for all their efforts. Wherever
I go, people speak about how good
the burgundy bins are and how they
would not be able to manage without
them now. We are always looking
at ways to improve our service and
we are talking to our contractors to
include waxed packing later in the
year, so watch this space.”
Contamination
While the majority of residents do
dispose of their waste in the correct
bins, there are still issues with
contaminated material. The main
items mistakenly included are nappies,
food waste, plastic bags and film.
Any contaminated material, which
is anything other than what’s on the
accepted list (please see below),
means the load will not be accepted
by the recycling contractors and must
be sent to landfill at an extra cost to
the Council.
Councillor Murray-Carr added,
“Reducing contamination in our
burgundy and green bins is a key
area as this can dramatically affect
our recycling rates. So we regularly
send out information to households
informing them of what can and what
cannot be put into each bin to avoid
any confusion.”
Our crews regularly check bins for
any contamination and if any is found
then they will not empty the bin and will
post a note on the bin informing why
their bin has not been collected and
to remove the contamination ready for
their next scheduled collection.
What can I put in my green bin?
Yes please:
✓✓Grass cuttings, flowers
and weeds
✓✓Leaves, hedge and plant
clippings, prunings
✓✓Left over fruit, salad,
vegetable waste, egg
shells
✓✓Pet bedding from small
animals such as rabbits,
guinea pigs and hamsters
✓✓Cooked food left overs
– bread, pastries, pasta,
meat fish (raw and
cooked – including bones)
plate scrapings, tea bags
and coffee grounds
(Food can be placed in
PAPER bags manufactured
to the British standard
EN13432 ONLY)
No thanks:
card packaging
- these go in your
burgundy bin (see
overleaf)
Wallpaper and wrapping
paper
Waxed packaging – such
as juice cartons.
Stone, rubble, soil or
turf, stones
Dog and cat waste
In the burgundy bin:
Inner box:
✓✓ Mixed plastics (i.e. bottles,
✓✓ Newspapers
food trays, yoghurt and
margarine tubs)
✓✓ Empty food tins and drink cans
During green bin suspension weeks, please place food waste
in your black bin.
Cardboard boxes and
What can I put in my burgundy bin?
Disposable nappies
Plastic of any sort – these
go in your burgundy bin
All TYPES of bin liners,
carrier bags, packaging,
foil or polystyrene
Bottles, cans and
papers - these go in your
burgundy bin
Timber or plywood
Ashes
✓✓ Glass bottles and jars
✓✓ Flattened cardboard
✓✓ Empty aerosols
✓✓ Textiles and shoes
(in a clear plastic bag)
✓✓ Brown paper envelopes
✓✓ Magazines
✓✓ Paper
✓✓ Telephone
directories
✓✓ Catalogues
✓✓ Junk mail
✓✓ Glossy pamphlets
✓✓ White envelopes
✓✓ Small household batteries
(in a clear plastic bag)
✓✓ Foil and foil food trays
(washed and squashed)
Extra recycling, that won’t fit in your burgundy bin, can be
presented in a clearly labelled box or bag at the side of the
burgundy bin on collection day. Large cardboard packaging may also be put at the side of your burgundy bin.
No thanks:
Plastic / Carrier bags
Waxed cartons (tetra paks of milk, orange juice etc)
Windowpanes, cookware, pyrex, windscreens
Plastic films, polystyrene, shredded paper
Household waste – such as nappies, food waste,
dog waste etc.
Wrapping paper and greeting cards
Page 5
www.bolsover.gov.uk
Annual Canvass 2015
The way we register to vote changed in June 2014
making it the responsibility of the individual rather
than a member of the household.
To register to vote you must now provide your
national insurance number and date of birth to confirm
your identity.
To maintain the accuracy of the electoral register we
will be sending out household enquiry forms during
July to all addresses in Bolsover District. You must
ensure that you return your completed registration
form detailing everyone who is eligible to vote (or will
become eligible to vote by December 2016) within
your household without delay. You are required by law
to supply the Electoral Registration Officer with this
information.
The easiest way to register is online at www.gov.uk/
registertovote but there will be a variety of ways you
can provide the requested information – on the form
supplied and returning it in the pre-paid envelope
provided; by internet, by telephone or by SMS.
Please help us to save costs by providing the
information promptly without us having to send
reminders and a canvasser to visit your property. If
you fail to return the registration form, you and other
members of your household will not be included in
the revised Register of Electors and will not be able
to vote.
In addition, if you do not complete the registration
form it is likely to prevent you and other members
of your household obtaining credit as certain
organisations use the Register of Electors to confirm
your identity and address – this may include opening
a bank account, making online purchases or obtaining
a mobile phone contract.
More information: 01246 242435 or 242427
or [email protected]
Visit bolsoverier.latestinfo.co.uk/ for more information
Tackling Empty Properties
We have joined forces with North East Derbyshire
District Council to tackle the problem of long term
empty properties across both districts.
Properties become empty for a number of
reasons, but if left empty for long periods they can
become a wasted resource and cost the owners
a large amount of money through lost income,
council tax, insurance and expensive repairs.
To combat this problem we have appointed a
joint Empty Property Officer who will help owners
of empty properties return them to use through a
variety of means.
These include:
•Assisting with renovation works, including
finding a contractor, information on reduced
VAT schemes and advising on works required.
•Help to let or sell a property, including advice
on letting standards and property condition
surveys and information for prospective
landlords and tenants.
We will also be able to help with accessing funding
opportunities, as and when they arise, to help bring
properties back into use.
We are currently exploring the development of
a Private Sector Leasing scheme, where owners of
empty properties may be able to lease the property
to us in return for a guaranteed rental income
(subject to terms and conditions).
Our web pages have also been redeveloped
and provide further information relating to Empty
Properties, including how you can notify us of an
empty property near you.
It also includes a form where prospective
developers or people looking to purchase empty
properties can register their details.
More information: email
empty.propertyofficer@ne-derbyshire.
gov.uk
BOLSOVER
FESTIVAL OF BRASS
Sunday 4th October 2015
BOLSOVER
Brass Summer School
Council Retains
Excellent Standard
for its Services
An external audit of our services has found that
we are providing ‘excellent’ services to our
local communities.
We successfully achieved the national
Customer Service Excellence Standard back in
2011 and have since been subject to a number
of annual assessments, the latest being April
2015.
This latest rolling assessment saw an Assessor
test a third of the standard together with the
partial compliances carried over from 2014.
The emphasis for this assessment was
policies and strategies and the Assessor
spent time talking to customers, citizen
panel members, staff, managers and partner
organisations and concentrated his on-site
time on the following service areas – Contact
Centres, Environmental Health, Revenues and
Benefits.
The Assessor said in his report: “The last
twelve months has seen some improvements
in the front line telephony service and the
introduction of improved quality monitoring”
and “Commitment to customers remains
strong within the 2015/19 Corporate Plan and
customer focus is well embedded within the
authority”.
We were assessed against 57 elements
and we are now compliant in 53, compliance
plus for two and partially compliant in two.
The number of partial compliances has been
reduced by five since the last inspection in
2014.
Cabinet Member for Customer Services,
Councillor Terry Connerton said, “We are
delighted to have retained the Standard and
this proves we are a good customer-focused
organisation.
“External assessments are always good as
they give you a bench mark as to what level
you are actually at - not where you think you
are at! We’ll now look at the areas we need to
improve upon and make sure the plans we put
into place continue to provide good quality
services for our local communities.”
An action plan has been put together to deal
with the partial compliances and help improve
our services further.
at Heritage High School,
Boughton Lane, Clowne
S43 4QG
Great Britain’s largest
brass band entertainment contest
For more details email [email protected]
or telephone 07979 240423
www.bolsover.gov.uk
Page 6
July 2015
The Tangent – An Unmissable Opportunity
The Tangent Business Hub in
Shirebrook is fast becoming the
place to be for businesses as it is
bucking all the trends and attracting
new firms all the time.
This £4.7million state of the art
enterprise centre was built on
Brook Park in 2012 and despite the
economic downturn it has seen an
upsurge in companies wanting to
relocate to the Tangent.
Occupancy levels are now above
80% and with businesses ranging
from building firms to training
providers the Tangent is proving
it can cater for a wide range of
companies.
The Tangent is not like any other
business centres in the area as it
offers its tenants a wide range of
additional services to help them
keep their costs down and their
overheads to a minimum, something
which Council Leader, Councillor
Ann Syrett believes gives it its
advantage.
Councillor Syrett said, “This really
is a true success story. The fact
that we offer that little bit extra is,
I believe, the difference and why
the Tangent is doing so well. We
understand that money is tight for
everyone - businesses included –
that’s why we go that extra mile
and offer our tenants centralised
administrative
support
in
an
environmentally sustainable building
to try and keep their operating costs
down.
“But we don’t stop there. We also
encourage networking and actively
find new ways to see if tenants can
help or assist each other in any way.
It helps foster good relationships
and gives them a chance to share
ideas and best practice.”
There is a full conference
and meeting room with video
conferencing facility within the
Centre and a management suite
offering business administration
support through the provision of
shared services including meet
and-greet reception, franking and
photocopier equipment.
This is also the first environmentally
friendly building for us achieving
BREEAM ‘Excellent’ accreditation,
offering
modern
renewable
technologies that provide additional
efficiency savings for our tenants.
The Tangent contains a total of
34 units, along with three meeting
rooms and a training room, offering
growing businesses a mix of flexible
workspaces between 200sqft and
750sqft. It also includes conference
facilities offering the latest in modern
technology and communications.
There are just three workshops
and one office up for rent now so
if you want to take advantage and
join a growing and thriving business
community, then we are sure you
will agree - The Tangent really is an
unmissable opportunity.
More information: 01246 242308
or visit
www.thetangentbusinesshub.co.uk
Two of the many successful businesses located in the Tangent have gone from strength to strength recently and have achieved both success and growth.
Barley Associates
Power Saving Solutions
Barley Associates pride themselves in providing a wide range of services
from matching employers with fresh, talented people who are eager to start
or progress their careers to funded training programmes covering health and
safety, business administration and retail.
This drive and commitment to help provide a top quality bespoke service to
other companies led to their Managing Director, John Barley being nominated
for an award.
John was nominated for the ‘Young Business Person of the Year’ award
via a local newspaper’s annual business awards. The category encourages
nominations from any business,
team or organisation who feel
they have a young person aged
between 16 – 30 years, who
excelled in their field during
2014.
The judging panel included
successful
local
business
people and a representative of
the Chamber of Commerce and
John eventually came out as
the winner. Since then, based
on this success, John has been
shortlisted for the City Region
awards which celebrate the
importance of business in the
region’s fast-growing economy.
The last few months have seen a huge upturn in business for Power Saving
Solutions after they made a decision to start hiring out their Hybrid Power Pod
directly into the market.
In May alone they received orders for 18 Pods, their main buyer being J
Murphy Group. As their presence spread, their enquiries grew with a number
of large plant hire companies wanting to take their product to market.
They are also rolling out a number of lithium based Pods to be used by
Land and Marine Engineering on the Haweswater Aqueduct Tunnels Project.
The nature of the project meant they could not use diesel so Power Saving
Solutions managed to design and build a bespoke system that delivers power
to the workforce, 24 hours a day without the need for a diesel generator.
They have also recently completed consultancy projects for a Telecoms
company in Nigeria and Saudi
Arabia and have been involved
in the design and production
of a power unit for a lubrication
system for Network Rail which
is the only one of its kind in the
world.
One incredible space. One incredible opportunity.
The Tangent Business Hub has it all.
Telephone 01623 749700 for more details.
Page 7
www.bolsover.gov.uk
Bringing Communities Together
nationalities
from
European
countries coming to live, work and
integrate into our communities. To
help us we have appointed Mariola
Babinska as our new Community
Cohesion Officer.
Appointed in April 2015, Mariola
will help foster relations and
provide better understanding of
cultures across the District.
She will predominantly be
working within the Shirebrook area
to provide support to the different
nationalities in the local community
as well as encouraging better
integration and engagement with
each other.
Cabinet Member for Community
Cohesion, Councillor Karl Reid
said, “We see this as a positive
step forward to assist and support
Mariola Babinska
Multi ethnic communities are
common place up and down the
country and we are no different
here in Bolsover District.
Over the past few years we
have seen an increase in different
manner and not land banked for
future development.
“As a Council it is essential
that we do all we can to help
provide good quality housing,
that meets the needs of the
local communities, is affordable
and helps young people and
families get their first step onto
the property ladder – we believe
schemes such as this meet these
aims.”
Futures
Housing
Group’s
Strategic Director of Assets,
Martin Sherman, said: “We’re
delighted to be working with
Bolsover District Council again
to build these much needed
affordable new homes in South
Normanton and Pinxton.
“Our local operating company,
Futures
Homescape,
which
provides around 6,000 homes
across Derbyshire, will be taking
over these properties when they
are finished to help local people
get access to quality affordable
housing.”
Step into Sport
OGRAMME
PR
ON
TI
UCA
AND ED
More information: 07796
300355 or email mariola.
[email protected]
Residents in South Normanton and
Clowne have been receiving help
and advice on their money matters
from Budget Buddies.
Budget Buddies is a one-to-one
mentoring/coaching
provision
that Release has pioneered to
assist people in dealing with debt
problems and money management.
It not only deals with the immediate
debt problem (such as recovery
action and eviction) but is able to
provide a packaged solution which
addresses the underlying causes of
why people have ended up in this
situation.
This is proven to break the cycle of
debt poverty; it works by providing a
level of support based on individual
needs for as long as the individual
requires it. Each client is assessed
and a ‘care-plan’ is devised to meet
their needs and requirements.
Budget Buddies benefits all
people, but particularly those who
are low waged, unwaged and who
are struggling to cope financially.
Many families are struggling to
cope with low income and a debt
(which is often at high interest). The
charity can help and support people
to get their finances under control
and make informed decisions on
how to spend, manage and control
their money.
The effect of debt and money
worries is well proven. It often
leads, for example, to poor health,
relationship issues, or the ability to
hold down or secure a job.
With the Welfare Reform changes,
benefits are due to be paid monthly
and many need to be equipped with
the life skill of handling their money
whilst making informed decisions.
Peoples’ finances, when out of
control, have a detrimental effect on
the quality of their lives.
Full training is provided to equip
an individual to be a ‘Budget Buddy’
(whether as volunteers or part of
another organisation) and on-going
support. Release also intend to set
up a network for Budget Buddies to
share good practice.
For
more
information
contact
Release
Financial
Charity on: 01773 306289 or
[email protected]
Course
Date
Time
Venue
Safeguarding and
Protecting Young
Children
Tuesday
08/09/15
6pm – 9pm
The Arc, Clowne
Increase your awareness of safeguarding and protecting
young children along with safeguarding yourself.
Emergency Aid
Monday
05/10/15
6pm – 9pm
The Arc, Clowne
Learn the basics, it could help save a life. Workshop will
cover CPR and sports injuries.
Equity in your Coaching
Monday
09/11/15
6pm – 9pm
The Arc, Clowne
This workshop is designed to assist current or future
coaches in becoming more aware of the barriers many
people face in taking part in sport.
FUNdamentals of
Movement
Monday
18/01/16
6pm – 9pm
Heritage High
School, Clowne
This workshop will help coaches to observe, analyse and
coach good movement patterns within a sport scientific
environment.
TRAINING
TS
OR
BOLSOVER
SP
More information: 01246 242363
Community Safety Partnership
has also supported the post with
funding from the Police Crime
Commissioner’s Community Safety
Grant.
If you have a problem/issue you
do not know how to deal with or
need advice, then please contact
Mariola. She will be available every
Friday at the Shirebrook Christian
Centre between 10am and 2pm
and will also occasionally be
available at Sports Direct and our
Contact Centre in Shirebrook.
Budget Buddies
Derelict Sites Set to
be Regenerated
We have agreed to dispose of two
disused sites in South Normanton
and Pinxton to Futures Housing
Group so they can build up to 21
new affordable homes on them.
The new homes will be delivered
and managed by Futures Housing
Group, supported by the Homes
and
Communities
Agency
through their Affordable Homes
Programme.
The two sites were identified
through
our
program
of
bringing forward new housing
development sites in the District.
This programme looks at unused
Council owned land, assesses
the suitability for development
and either we build new council
housing or we sell the site to a
residential developer.
Cabinet member for Housing,
Councillor John Ritchie said,
“This is an exciting project and
by working with a development
partner such as Futures Housing
Group it will mean that the land
will be developed in a timely
both existing and new communities
across the District. We know there
are challenges in certain areas, but
we have to put these behind us,
work together and find solutions to
remove them.
“We know the problems will
not disappear overnight, but the
appointment of Mariola is a good
start and she is already working
hard and talking to the local
communities to find effective and
innovative solutions to promote
community cohesion.”
The post is initially for a two-year
period and has been funded from
partner agencies including Bolsover
District Council, Derbyshire Police,
Hardwick Clinical Commissioning
Group, Derbyshire County Council
and the Bolsover Partnership. The
Description
Page 8
July 2015
Have you got the Ambition?
work placement to help get
them work ready, will help them
achieve their milestones.
I now think more positively about
The aim is to get them into
employment by week 13 where
myself instead of putting myself
they will continue to receive
down. I’ve taken on board the
one-to-one support both to help
good things that people have said
them stay in work and also to
progress in work for a further 26
about me.
weeks.
Client comment
The experienced Ambition
team – a Team Leader, four Key
Workers plus specialist support
to include a Health Support
Young people aged between 18 and 24 years old Adviser and a Financial and Debt
are being asked what their Ambition is as part of Adviser – provide the personcentred support for young
a new programme to get them back into work.
The Sheffield City Region (SCR) funded people within their communities.
Council
Leader,
programme is tailor made oneCouncillor Ann Syrett
to-one support programme for
said, “This is a very
young people who have been
personal
one-toJSA claimants for three months
one experience for
or more. Participants on the
There should have been something
the
young
people
scheme will have their own
aimed at getting them
individual development plan
like this at school to help
work ready and into
which is tailored to their short
with interviews.
employment.
and long term job goals.
“No one size fits all,
Intensive weekly support
Client comment
so we need to make
from the participants own
sure the information
Key Worker and a 12-week
and support we provide
employability
programme,
is tailored to meet the
which includes an eight-week
Scott had the Ambition
After his temporary contracts
he was prepared to complete a
at
and
placement which could lead to a
production companies came to
job for the right candidate. His CV
an end, Scott Wilson was keen
was sent off and he was invited for
to get back to work as soon as
an interview the following week.
various
warehousing
possible.
Young People Offered Way Into Work
Scott was offered the work
He had good GCSE grades
experience placement as the
and experience of working in
employer felt he had the relevant
warehousing environments, so
experience and was able to
back in May 2015 he joined the
get this across at his interview
Ambition programme.
more so than some of the other
Straight
individuals and the employers needs. We have
had a really positive response to the start of
the programme with nearly sixty young people
already coming forward and talking to us and the
feedback we have had has been really good.”
The programme is looking for employers to
give supported and fully motivated young people
opportunities to include work placements,
apprenticeships and employment.
So if you are aged 18-24 and have been a
JSA claimant for 3 or more months or you are
an employer who could offer an opportunity to
a young person, please telephone 01246 217833
or email [email protected]
away
he
received
candidates.
help and support with skills
Scott was incredibly positive
identification and his CV was
about the whole process and
updated. The job search focused
started
on
in
determined to show how capable
warehousing and improved his
he was in the hope of landing a
interview skills and emphasised
full-time, secure position at the
the importance of letting an
end of the placement.
permanent
positions
immediately.
He
was
employer know how experienced
He had been put with a buddy
he was by giving examples of
and shown two different aspects
tasks he had done before or
of the job and received positive
problems he had solved at work.
feedback from the buddies he
A work experience opportunity
has worked with. He has already
at Kingfield Electronics came
been offered an extra day, which
up and even though Scott was
means he will complete four
keen to get a job to increase his
days a week on placement and is
income with a baby on the way,
thoroughly enjoying his job.
Pictured are some of the trainees
receiving their certificates
Young people aged between
16-18 years old are being given
a path into the working world as
part of our new Traineeship and
Apprenticeship Programme.
Launched in 2014, the scheme
has already seen 20 young people
attend the traineeship scheme, with
nine of these going on to secure
apprenticeships.
The project is aimed at those not
currently in training or education
and living in Bolsover District. The
intention of the unpaid traineeship
is to provide young people with a
breadth of work experience and
confidence to help them to become
work ready either within the Council
or with another employer.
Whilst on the programme the
trainees benefit from up to 26-weeks
work placement (two days a week)
within the Council and when not
working on placement the trainees
will undertake vocational studies
concentrating on employability
skills, English and Maths and
nationally recognised functional
skills qualifications up to Level 2.
From each group of trainees
we hope to recruit up to four
apprentices who will be provided
with one year employment
contracts who will all work towards
an NVQ Level 2 within their chosen
frameworks/service areas.
Over the life of the four-year
project we aim to recruit up to 48
trainees and 16 apprentices and we
are hoping to recruit the next group
of trainees in August 2015.
More information:
01246 242412
Page 9
www.bolsover.gov.uk
Talent Match Changing Lives
Another scheme we have to help
young people secure a job is Talent
Match.
Talent Match is a Big Lottery funded
five-year initiative that aims to provide
assistance to young unemployed
people aged between18-24 who are
furthest away from the jobs market.
This project aims to support longerterm unemployed young people who
need additional support to develop
the skills that employers typically
require and it has three core aims:
The programme is delivered
by 4 Talent Match Coaches who
work across Bassetlaw, Bolsover,
Chesterfield
and
North
East
Derbyshire who help young people
to develop their skills and confidence
to secure real jobs. Key elements of
the programme include:
•One-to-one support
•Barrier busting budget to help
with costs like transport
•Peer mentoring
•Work experience
•Basic skills training
•Access to enterprise support
•Wage subsidies
Since it was launched in June 2014
young people across Bolsover
District have actively engaged in the
scheme and are now gaining skills,
undertaking work placements and
finding employment.
The figures below give the latest
position on the numbers of young
people in the scheme:
•49 young people engaged
•8 securing employment
•1 gaining an apprenticeship
•11 undertaking work placement
•19 undertaking basic skills
training
•5 undertaking volunteering
Council Leader, Councillor Ann Syrett
said, “We are doing all we can to help
young people back into work and the
statistics prove this.
“The scheme gives young people,
who are struggling to get onto the
job ladder the chance to learn new
skills, improve their confidence and
self esteem to help them secure
long-term employment in a labour
market that has become increasingly
more competitive.”
So if you are aged 18-24 and have
been out of work, education or
training for 12 months or more, or
you are an employer who could offer
an opportunity to a young person,
please telephone 01246 242302 or
email [email protected]
Naomi Shows Talent To Land Job
After
achieving
various
qualifications in Hairdressing
and Health & Social Care at
Chesterfield College, 21year old Naomi Lee found it
difficult to get a job.
Naomi has always been
a bubbly and committed
person, who was really
interested in setting up her
own business in a care based
setting but didn’t know how
to get started.
Since studying Hairdressing and
Beauty at Chesterfield College in
2013, she has found it difficult to
find employment opportunities
locally that would provide her
with a rewarding role and the
opportunity to progress.
Since working with Talent Match
Naomi was referred to the Prince’s
Trust for Enterprise Skills support
and found the sessions invaluable
as they really helped with her
ideas and planning for setting up
her own business selling hair and
beauty products in the future.
In addition to her business ideas
Naomi was also keen to find work
and met with her coach regularly
to update her CV, complete
application forms and do interview
skills and preparation.
An opportunity came up through
the Talent Match Work Fund for a
Passenger Assistant with Clowne
Community Transport. Naomi
really wanted the job and she
worked with her coach to apply for
the role, research the organisation
and prepare for the interview.
Due to Naomi’s enthusiasm,
commitment
and
out-going
personality she was offered the
position and is due to start in the
near future. An In-Work action plan
with Naomi and her Line Manager
has been completed and she will
receive support and training with
First Aid, Manual Handling and
Passenger Assistant Training.
Naomi said, “I so excited about
starting, I wouldn’t have been able
to do this without Talent Match and
I would recommend it to anyone”.
Naomi has received funding
from the Barrier Busting Budget
to purchase suitable work clothes
and is all set to start her new role.
Local disabled
entrepreneurs smash targets
A scheme that helps people with
long-term health conditions or
disabilities get back into work
has been hailed a huge success
after over 80 new businesses
were set up over the last three
years.
The specialist ‘Work for
Yourself’ programme exceeded
all its targets and supported
many people to happier and
more fulfilled lives.
Funded by the European
Regional Development Fund,
Bolsover District and Chesterfield
Borough Councils, the project
has helped many businesses to
become established and seen a
70% sustainability rate over the
last 12-months.
Project-lead Penny MelvilleBrown of Disability Dynamics
said, “We celebrated the
enthusiasm and achievements
of these newly self-employed
people earlier in June: it was an
evening of laughter and even
some tears as people talked
about how the project had been
‘life changing’.”
Freelance writer Leonie Martin
described how she has already
had three books published
alongside articles in local and
specialist media despite her
multiple sclerosis.
Noreen Maynard gave a
demonstration of the Emotional
Freedom Technique therapy she
offers and Trevor Johnson was
hugely enthusiastic about the
‘spider web’ climbing frame he
had constructed with his recycled
safety nets.
Working can still be a struggle
with a health condition but
Davina Bates continues with her
knitting even when she has to
stay in bed and her ‘reborn dolls’
are selling well. Overall, her
sales are already four times her
original forecast. Award-winning
David Harding is pursuing new
contracts and will be featured
in the next series of the BBC’s
‘Saints and Scroungers’ due for
broadcast in October.
Penny added, “The pictures
of the event and products such
as Estelle Winfield’s wedding
novelties were all taken by
Catherine Foster who is setting
herself up as a photographer.
One of the big success for us
is that quite a few of the new
business owners are now thinking
about taking on others as their
ventures grow – their versatility,
determination and creativity is
just remarkable.”
The new businesses have
resulted in many new full
and part-time jobs and are
increasingly contributing to the
local economy. Although some
of the project’s participants
decided that self-employment
wasn’t for them, nearly 50 have
gone on to get jobs or moved in
to training.
Council Leader, Councillor Ann
Syrett said, “We were very proud
to host the celebration and are
delighted so many people have
benefitted from the scheme. We
have been leaders in offering
this alternative work opportunity
and it has paid real dividends for
our communities.
“For the BBC to repeatedly
showcase our local successes
demonstrates what a success the
project has been and that the
demand for Work for Yourselftype support is growing across
the country.”
Amongst 326 English local
authority areas, Bolsover district
has the fourth highest level of
disabled people and Chesterfield
Borough is not far behind, and
both areas fall below the national
level of self-employed disabled
people, this project has made a
strong contribution to improving
their prospects.
You can read more about
other
businesses
helped
by
the
programme
at
www.businessability.co.uk
July 2015
Nottingham Choir Sing
Their Way to Success
Nottingham High Infant and Junior School have
sung their way to success and scooped the title of
2015 Bolsover District Council School Choir Festival
Champions.
The choir won over the audience and judge Steven
Roberts, with their performances of Chariot-a-comin
and Superheroes at the annual Bolsover District
Council School Choir Festival held at the Heritage
High School in Clowne on Wednesday 17 June 2015.
They take home £500, the coveted championship
trophy and the chance to perform at the Christmas
Concert of Chesterfield Philharmonic Choir at the
Winding Wheel, Chesterfied.
Over 1,500 children representing 24 schools
from across Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire, with
hundreds of friends and family cheering them on,
attended the competition making it one of the
biggest and best school choir festivals in the East
Midlands.
Runners-up were the previous year’s winner,
Swanwick Primary School who won a plaque and
£250 and Shirebrook Model Village Primary School
won the trophy for the highest placed school within
Bolsover District.
Cabinet Member for Leisure, Councillor Mary
Dooley said, “Wow – what a competition. It was
amazing. To see so many young people out there,
singing their hearts out was just heart-warming.
Every one of them from the smallest to the tallest all
sang beautifully and with a smile on their face.
“It was a really close competition and my
congratulations go to not only the winners, but every
school and every child that took part for making this
a wonderful occasion.”
Adjudicator, Steven Roberts is Musical Director
of Sing Live UK, one of the country’s largest
independent adult singing organisations, as well as
being Conductor and Musical Director of Altrincham
Choral Society, Chesterfield Philharmonic Choir and
Honley Male Voice choir.
He is also an adjudicator member of The British and
International Federation of Festivals and regularly
adjudicates throughout the United Kingdom as
well as being a music mentor for Music for Youth.
He is also a member of the Board Trustees of the
Federation.
The full results of the competition are available on
our website www.bolsover.gov.uk
Online Services
You can now report issues like dog
fouling, fly tipping and litter on our
website as part of our drive to make it
easier for our residents to contact us.
We launched a new selfservice
site (Online Services) where you can
report issues at the touch of a button,
24 hours a day. And if you register for
an account, we’ll remember your details
so you don’t have to tell us every time
you get in touch. You can also contact us
anonymously with complete confidence.
Our new ‘Online Services’ allows
people to report issues that affect their
daily lives at a time and place that suits
them. So if you are out taking a walk with
the family or shopping in your nearby
town and see something that is clearly
not right, all you have to do is pick up
your mobile phone or ipad, visit our
website, report the problem and we’ll
do the rest.
Page 10
DANCE DIGITAL BRINGS
OUT PUPILS CREATIVENESS
A week long digital arts project got the creative
juices of pupils from Frederick Gent School in
South Normanton flowing as they created a
‘Digital Dance’
The project – funded from our Public Arts
budget and organised by Junction Arts - took
place during the school’s “Enrichment Week” for
Year 9’s (29 June – 3 July 2015) and involved over
60 participants, culminating in an interactive and
bespoke performance.
A team of artists were brought in to the school
to provide the participants with a variety of skills
and techniques and included dance, digital arts
projects using IPad’s and film making.
The students created a DVD of the performance
and it will be available digitally through Social
Media and websites.
Cabinet Member for Leisure, Councillor Mary
Dooley said, “This was a very exciting project
that bought together the traditional forms of art
such as dance and music and mix it up with more
modern forms such as digital film making.
“We wanted to give the school the chance to
bring the arts into the community and help them
learn new skills which they then can use for their
own future projects. The pupils and teachers
had great fun working with the professionals
and the performance at the end of the week was
amazing.”
Comments wanted on
new Enforcement Policy
We want your views on our new joint Enforcement
Policy that we are developing with North East
Derbyshire District Council.
The policy details the enforcement principles
we use in determining when enforcement
action will be taken, either against commercial
businesses or an individual member of the
public.
The policy will also outline the main
government guidance which is followed in
arriving at a decision and provide an outline of
the possible enforcement options available to
us.
The joint policy has been developed from the
existing Statement of Enforcement Policies and
updated to incorporate the requirements of the
Regulators’ Code which came into force in April
2014 which was made under the Legislative and
Regulatory Reform Act 2006.
The document can be viewed on our website
www.bolsover.gov.uk telephoning 01246 217873
or email [email protected]
and responses are required by 20 August 2015.
Page 11
www.bolsover.gov.uk
Bolsover District Councillors 2015-2019
Barlborough
Hillary Gilmour
01246 812840
Barlborough
Brian Watson
01246 810704
Blackwell
Clive Moesby
01773 872067
Blackwell
Dexter Bullock
01773 779237
Bolsover
North West
Paul Cooper
01246 826389
Bolsover
North West
Sue Statter
07933 396216
Bolsover South
Eric Hall
01246 828543
Bolsover South
Toni Bennett
01246 826032
Bolsover West
Mark Dixey
01246 241667
Bolsover West
Rose Bowler
01246 827350
Clowne North
Gwyneth Buxton
01246 464717
Clowne North
Terry Connerton
01246 810925
Clowne South
Jim Smith
01246 570311
Clowne South
Karl Reid
01246 811344
Elmton-withCreswell
Duncan McGregor
01909 721505
Elmton-withCreswell
Jim Clifton
01909 724114
Elmton-withCreswell
Rita Tuner
01909 721663
Pinxton
Tom Alexander
01773 775406
Pinxton
Mary Dooley
01773 409453
Pleasley &
Glapwell
Ann Syrett
01246 850215
Pleasley &
Glapwell
Pauline Bowmer
01623 811492
Scarcliffe
Jen Wilson
01623 742354
Scarcliffe
Malcolm Crane
01246 769211
Shirebrook East
Brian Murray-Carr
01623 743427
Shirebrook
Langwith
Ken Walker
01623 742889
Shirebrook
North West
Steve Fritchley
07976 707075
Shirebrook
South East
Andrew Anderson
07764 452670
Shirebrook
South West
Sandra Peake
07971 374397
South
Normanton East
Andrew Joesbury
07444 135291
South
Normanton East
Tracey Cannon
07580 635493
South
Normanton West
Paul Barnes
07772 534597
South
Normanton West
Phil Smith
01773 782875
South
Normanton West
Emma Stevenson
07925 500936
Tibshelf
Deborah Watson
07817 288953
Tibshelf
Ray Heffer
01773 872805
The Council has 37 councillors, also known as members, covering 20 wards. Each councillor is elected for a
term of four years; the last election took place in May 2015.
Councillors are elected to represent their constituents and to take decisions upon the Council’s services
and policies. Councillors can claim allowances for carrying out Council duties. Some councillors also receive
special responsibility allowances for undertaking specific roles such as Portfolio Holder (Cabinet Members
only), or Chairman of a Committee.
Whitwell
Tom Munro
01909 720812
Whitwell
John Ritchie
01909 726605
The current political representation of the Council is:
Labour - 32, Independent - 4, Non-Aligned Independent Member - 1
Page 12
July 2015
Residents help needed to clampdown on
environmental crime
We’ve all seen it – a crisp packet blowing in the
wind down the street, an old tyre dumped in a
hedgerow or a pile of dog mess left in the middle
of a pavement! But what can we do about it?
Well we want you to report issues like this to us
so we can take action. Now we know you shouldn’t
have to as it shouldn’t be there in the first place,
but the acts of a few mindless individuals is costing
us, and ultimately you the taxpayer, thousands of
pounds each year to tidy this mess up.
So we are asking for your help to catch these
people who spoil our countryside, streets and
open spaces with litter, fly tipping and dog mess.
We want you to report any of these problems to
us as soon as you see it, or better still, provide us
with details of the person who is doing it so we
can catch and prosecute them.
You can do this by logging onto our website
and using our new Do It Online portal to report
issues of this kind or phone us on 01246 242424.
In Court...
February 2015
David Hallam (52), of The Woodlands,
Langwith has been prosecuted for claiming
almost £6,500 in benefits he was not entitled
to.
Hallam pleaded guilty to claiming Housing
Benefit based on his partner’s earnings but
failed to declare it when he returned to work
from April 2013 and also when he changed
employers in October 2013. He must repay
the amounts he wrongly claimed, was fined
£370 and ordered to pay costs of £100 and a
Victim Surcharge of £37.
April 2015
Tina Evans (42) of Thickley Close,
Shirebrook has been handed a Community
Order for claiming over £3,200 in benefits
she was not entitled to.
She falsely claimed Housing Benefit and
Income Support between 1 November 2012
and 17 April 2013, after failing to declare she
had moved into another address with an
employed partner.
Evans pleaded guilty and in addition to the
Order, she was ordered to pay costs of £85,
a Victim Surcharge of £60 and a Collection
Order was made to recover the amounts she
has falsely claimed at £10 every fortnight.
May 2015
Kim Gibbons (29) of Olive Avenue,
Shirebrook pleaded guilty to claiming
Housing Benefit and Council Tax Support
dating back to July 2013.
Gibbons’ offences came to light after a
data-matching exercise showed that she had
started employment in July 2013 and that
her husband had also changed employers in
May 2014.
In addition to having to repay the amounts
she wrongly claimed, Gibbons received a
fine of £200, was ordered to pay costs of
£100 and a Victim Surcharge of £20.
May 2015
A second offence of benefit fraud within
Cabinet Member for the Environment
Councillor Brian Murray-Carr said “When I was
a child we were told to put litter in our pockets
and take it home and if we didn’t then woe betide
us! So what’s changed? Why do people feel it is
acceptable to drop litter or not pick up after their
dog? People need to start taking responsibility
for their own actions and fast.”
Over the past few years we have tried to raise
awareness and send out clear messages with
hard-hitting posters but even with the possibility
of a fine or imprisonment it does not seem to
deter these people.
Councillor Murray-Carr added, “It costs a small
fortune (£346,000) to keep the District clean, but
because of government cuts our budgets are
under pressure all of the time and the amount of
money we have to spend on cleansing will only
reduce.”
18-months of his first one landed Ricki
Brooks (27), formerly of John Street, Creswell
with a two year Conditional Discharge.
Brooks received just under £950 in
Benefit and Support between 26 May and
13 October 2014 after failing to declare he
had started secondary employment and a
change in his circumstances. He received
a two-year Conditional Discharge, was
ordered to pay costs of £100, a £15 Victim
Surcharge and must pay back the benefits
he had wrongly claimed.
June 2015
Angela Crumplin (53) of Stanhope Street,
Bramley Vale, claimed over £11,500 in
Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit she
was not entitled to over a three-year period.
After pleading guilty, she was sentenced
to a 12-month Community Order, must
repay the benefits, pay Court costs of £100
and undertake 60 hours unpaid work.
Crumplin had failed to declare she had
been living with an employed partner
between August 2011 and September 2014
whilst she still claimed the benefits.
June 2015
A 12-month suspended prison sentence
is hanging over Tommy Oakton (50) of Vale
Drive, Shirebrook after he falsely claimed
over £6,000 in benefits.
He had claimed Council Tax Benefit of
£6,145 between December 2000 and March
2013 to which he was not entitled.
Oakton also pleaded guilty to knowingly
allowing his partner to make a claim for
Employment Support Allowance totalling
£5,118.53 between January 2012 and
November 2014, which he knew was false.
He received a12-month suspended prison
sentence, with a requirement to undertake
100 hours unpaid work.
Oakton, had repaid the Council Tax
Benefit he had been over allowed before
he appeared in Court and was ordered to
repay the £5,118.53 in Employment Support
Allowance to the DWP within 14 days
and pay Court costs of £100 and a Victim
Surcharge of £80.
Contact Centres and Locations
You can speak to a Customer Advisor between the
hours of 9.00am – 5.00pm Monday - Friday
Bolsover Contact Centre
Sherwood Lodge, Bolsover
Derbyshire S44 6NF
Clowne Contact Centre
High Street, Clowne
Derbyshire S43 4JY
Shirebrook Contact Centre
2A Main Street, Shirebrook
Notts. NG20 8AW
South Normanton Contact Centre
The Hub – Joint Service Centre, Shiners Way
South Normanton, Derbyshire DE55 2AA
Web: www.bolsover.gov.uk
Email: [email protected]
Tel:
01246 242424 Fax: 01246 242423
Automated payment service: 01246 242205
Intouch Delivery
This publication is delivered to every household across
Bolsover District. If you are having problems receiving a
copy or do not receive a copy at all, please telephone 01246
242323 or email [email protected] with your
address and postcode so we can rectify the problem.
Page 13
www.bolsover.gov.uk
Customers
Satisfied
with Benefits
Service
Cycle Fest is the Best!
Over 500 people had a wheelie great time at our first
ever Cycle Fest held at Shirebrook Academy on Sunday
31 May 2015.
The event was organised to promote the newly
created Archaeological Way, a 11km multi-user trail that
passes through some of the most beautiful countryside
within Bolsover District.
The event drew in cycle lovers who enjoyed a fun
filled day out with activities such expert team demos
from within the cycling world, ‘have a go’ sessions, led
rides along the Archaeological Way, cycle films and
talks, bike workshops and countryside activities.
Castle Cycles , J.E. James and Todays Cyclist also
provided a cycling retail village with promotional
stalls and stands offering a chance to get to know
local cycling related businesses, whilst local cycling
clubs and promotional organisations were on hand to
provide information to the keen cyclist.
Cycle Fest was also part of The Big Bike Revival, a
fun two weeks of family-friendly events that took place
across the country earlier this year and designed to
help you get that unloved bike back into use, learn how
to look after it for yourself and rediscover how much
fun cycling can be.
We’ve been overwhelmed by the complimentary
messages received from satisfied cyclists and Mr Lloyd
from Sheffield said, “Just wanted to say a very big
thank you for the cycle festival you held at Shirebrook.
Myself, my wife and ten-year old son had a great time,
we spoke to a number of other visitors and all seemed
to have enjoyed it.
“What we particularly liked was the variety of events
you had on offer from guided rides which we took up
the offer and enjoyed thoroughly to being able to test
out a variety of different styles of bikes from penny
farthings to electric fat bikes.”
The event was organised by the Council in
partnership with Limestone Journeys (a landscape
partnership project funded by the Heritage Lottery
Fund).
Our Benefits Service is viewed as performing
extremely well after it received a Customer
Satisfaction Index score of 92.88 following a
recent survey.
Between August and December 2014, 100
customers were surveyed over the telephone
and asked to rate how satisfied they were
with a range of aspects of the service.
Satisfaction was highest with: how polite
and respectful staff where (9.66 out of
10); staff having the relevant knowledge
to provide the service (9.42 out of 10) and
protection of personal data (9.69 out of 10).
Customers were also asked to rate how
important the same aspects of the service are
to them and this information was combined
with the satisfaction scores. We are securing
a level of public satisfaction from our benefits
service which is far higher than the average
for similar public services.
We have used the results to identify areas
for improvement which are:
1.accuracy of processing your details, and
2.things being explained in a way you can
understand and feeling able to ask the
questions you want to.
Progress has already started to address
these priorities and we have held refresher
training sessions for staff to improve the
accuracy when processing customer details
and reviewed some of the information on our
website.
Cabinet Member for Customer Service,
Councillor Terry Connerton said, “We are very
pleased with this high level of satisfaction,
particularly in light of all the recent changes
to the benefits system our staff have had to
deal with.
“We have drawn up an action plan to
address the areas where improvement is
needed and have made good progress to
deal with these issues so we can continue to
provide our customers with a good quality
and efficient benefits service.”
The
full
report
is
available
on
the
Ask
Derbyshire
website
www.askderbyshire.gov.uk
Report dog fouling,
litter and flytipping
www.bolsover.gov.uk
online services
Page 14
July 2015
GET YOUR NOMINATIONS IN FOR SPORTS AWARDS
Dedicated local sportspeople and sporting
achievements are set to be recognised as we
launch our search for those sporting successes
over the past 12-months with our annual ‘Bolsover
District Sports Awards’.
Celebrating the sporting success of athletes and
those involved in sport from the loyal supporter to
the title winning champion, the awards are a way
2014 Sports Awards winners
of recognising the achievements of local athletes
and those involved in sport at all levels, who either
live in Bolsover District or who attend clubs or
schools within the District.
The ‘Awards’ are split into 16 categories,
including Sportsman and Sportswoman of the
Year, Team of the Year, Community Champion,
Disabled Sportsperson, Young Sports Leader and
Young Sports Coach with each
category up for grabs.
Cabinet Member for Leisure,
Councillor Mary Dooley said,
“This is our tenth anniversary
and the awards are as popular
as ever. People from all walks
of life, play, enjoy or contribute
to sport and it is these unsung
heroes or those achieving
success that we want to
celebrate and recognise.”
Each category has qualifying
criteria and must be based
upon
performances
from
September 2014 to August 2015.
Nominations can be received
Balanceability Success
Children aged between 3 - 6 years old
have been learning how to ride their
bikes – thanks to our Balanceability
sessions.
Over 70 children have taken part
and completed their Level 1 or Level
2 Balanceability courses since we
introduced them in April 2014.
The youngsters attend weekly
sessions which are constructed
around games, challenges and new
experiences using ergonomic balance
bikes providing fun and physical
activity.
Balanceability is the UK’s first and only
progressive accredited ‘learn to cycle’
programme for children between 3 and
6 years. Sessions are provided by our
own staff in partnership
with Bolsover & District
Cycling Club.
Demand
for
the
sessions
is
proving
extremely high and we
have recently trained
seven more members
of staff as instructors
which means we can now
extend the programme
to new locations across
the District.
More information:
01246 242364
You Girls Can!
We have launched the Us Girls Club
which runs alongside the Creswell
Doorstep Sports Club (see page 15)
on Wednesday evenings 7 – 8pm and
linked it to the nationwide This Girl Can
campaign.
The club provides activities for young
women ranging from sports to keep fit,
football to Zumba.
To help attract girls to the club and
sport in general there are incentives
(branded gear and shopping vouchers),
rewards (trips and event tickets)
leadership and voluntary opportunities.
There is also the chance to attend
the Us Girls Rocks festival where girls
can try traditional and non traditional
sports alongside other activities aimed
at health and wellbeing and beauty
treatments.
More information:
01246 242362 or visit
www.usgirls.org.uk
from any individual, club or team involved in
schools or sports organisations within Bolsover
District and the nominee must be involved in a
sport recognised by Sport England.
Councillor Dooley added, “It could be that your
team has made a clean sweep of the trophies last
season, or a member of your club has displayed an
outstanding level of personal achievement or your
club secretary has made a lifelong commitment
to sport in Bolsover District – whatever it is, we
want as many nominations as possible so we can
recognise and reward those involved in sport.”
The awards ceremony will take place at Tibshelf
Community School on Friday 2 October 2015 and
the winners of the Bolsover District Awards will be
submitted to the Derby Telegraph Sports Awards.
We are also looking to secure sponsorship
from local organisations/businesses to sponsor
individual awards and if anyone is interested
please contact 01246 242364.
Nomination forms are available from the
Council’s offices, leisure centres, by telephoning
01246 242364 or can be downloaded from our
website www.bolsover.gov.uk
Gymstart to a Healthy Lifestyle
Fifteen youngsters from Heritage High School have been taking part
in Gymstart to help them be more active.
The programme was aimed at pupils who were not engaged
in school PE activities and were looking for an alternative form of
exercise.
The youngsters aged between 15 and 16 years old attended the
B-Active fitness suite at Clowne Sports Centre for eight weeks. They
were given tailored individual exercise plans which were downloaded
onto their own wellness key so they could track their progress and add
any exercise that they were taking part in outside of their Gymstart
sessions.
They had their fitness measured on the centres ‘In Body’ fitness
body scanner at weeks 1 and 8, so they could measure their progress.
To encourage them to continue attending the gym both boys
and girls were offered the opportunity of a stepped membership,
beginning with 4 weeks free membership, followed by 4 weeks at half
price before being encouraged to sign up to a full junior membership.
The scheme was held between April and June 2015 and was funded
through Sport England’s Sportivate programme.
More information: 01246 242362
Super Tots
Sessions start week commencing
7th September 2015
@ Clowne Sports Centre, S43 4JY
for 18 months +. Open play sessions as well as
Mini Dribblers and Balanceability sessions
Keep a look out for our free taster sessions
during the summer holidays
Bring this advert along to get
a FREE session*
(* cannot be redeemed against Balanceability sessions)
Call 01246 242364 for more information
www.bolsover.gov.uk
Like us on Facebook at Active Bolsover District
Page 15
www.bolsover.gov.uk
EXTREME WHEELS KEEP
YOUNGSTERS ON THE MOVE
Over the past ten years thousands of youngsters have
been on the move thanks to our ‘Extreme Wheels’
Roadshow.
The demand for skating and cycle activities across the
District is still increasing and the wide range of activities
on offer make our Extreme Wheels roadshows the
perfect venue for young people to show off their skills or
try something new.
The roadshow regularly tours the District offering
sessions which include kmx, bmx, sidehacks, body zorbs,
laser quest and training workshops and it will also form
part of our busy summer holiday activity program.
The roadshow is self contained. It just pulls up, opens
its doors, up goes the assortment of ramps and grind
rails, music is turned on and then its open for business,
giving participants a fun-filled action packed activity.
Youngsters can bring along their own bikes, scooters
or skateboards or we have a wide range of equipment
available to use, including safety equipment which must
be worn at all times.
Cabinet Member for Leisure, Councillor Mary Dooley
said, “Skateboarding, cycling, BMX’s…whatever your
choice, our Extreme Wheels roadshow has it all and is the
place to be. It has been an over-whelming success over
the years and continues to be very popular as whenever
we ask young people what they want they always say the
Extreme Wheels roadshow.
“One of the good things about this roadshow is that
the staff are all experienced in a wide range of extreme
sports. They know what to do, how to do it and can pass
this experience on to other people, so it’s not just a case
of turning up and having a go as you will learn new tricks
and tips as well.”
The team has also been taking the roadshow out to
the nation as they attend many major events up and
down the country helping to raise its profile on a national
platform through the delivery of demo shows.
We also have a team of bmx riders as well as mountain
bike and trials bike riders that provide a wow factor at
many events and we are also launching new products
all the time including slacklining, trials biking and bmx
flatland workshops.
Did You know?
Did you know that you can hire the Extreme Wheels
roadshow for a private booking? This might be for a
birthday party, an event or or just give your party the
‘extreme’ fun element that it has been missing and
provide a great entertainment for your guests.
More information: 01246 593059 or visit
www.bolsover.gov.uk or the Extreme Wheels
Facebook page
Cricket Proves A Hit
Three separate cricket schemes are
hitting us for six as we try and increase
the number of people playing the
sport.
• Following the success of cricket
sessions
delivered
by
the
Derbyshire Cricket Board (DCB) at
Shirebrook Academy, Shirebrook
Cricket Club is offering youngsters
the chance to continue to play the
game with further quality coaching
by the DCB. There will be outdoor
coaching over the summer and
also indoor nets in the winter. The
club are hoping that there will be
enough interest to establish a new
team section at the club for the
2016 season. Contact Stan Green,
07773 255287 or Tom Warriner,
Secretary 07454 822825.
• A brand new 20 over competition
for under 17’s and 19’s is to be
introduced this summer based
along the lines of the Indian
Premier League, the Australian
Big Bash and the ECB NatWest
T20 Blast. Whitwell (Warriors) and
Clowne (Centurions) have entered
the competition which promises
to be an exciting addition to
the cricket calendar featuring
big hitting power plays, music,
dancing girls and colourful kits.
Anyone who fancies playing please
contact Alan Draycott, Whitwell
CC, 01909 723024 or Joe Kinsey,
Clowne Town CC, 07825 914270.
• The Districts girls and ladies have
not been forgotten either as they
have been given the chance to
play the game for the first time
or improve their skills if they
were already playing. England
and Notts ladies cricketer Abbey
Hawkins was drafted in to deliver
sessions at Heritage High School
and at the Rookery, Whitwell’s
cricket ground. The project has
been so successful that Whitwell
CC have now formed a district girls
and ladies team which will play a
number of friendlies this summer
and it is proposed to establish a
girls and ladies cricket team, which
will be based at Whitwell CC. Girls
can also play mixed cricket at both,
Clowne Town and Whitwell Cricket
Clubs. Contact Alan Draycott,
Whitwell CC, 01909 723024 or Joe
Kinsey, Clowne Town CC, 07825
914270.
TEENAGE DROP IN
Bolsover Youth Hub is a new project
based at Hillstown Village Hall which
allows youngsters to play outdoor
sports on the MUGA, table tennis, pool
and table football indoors.
There are indoor activities to join in,
music to listen to, a TV/Film room
and a coffee bar. The Hub’s doors are
open from 6.15 to 7.45pm on Monday
evenings and young people from all
over Bolsover are welcome.
More information: 01246 242362 or
Dean Barr (Youth Service) on 07785
257913
STOP HANGIN’ AROUND
Turn up, take your pick of a sport and
take part – that’s Street Sports for you.
Street Sports sessions will be held in
the following areas over the next few
months: Pinxton, Clowne, Elmton with
Creswell, Pleasley, Hodthorpe/Belph,
Whitwell, Glapwell, Tibshelf, Palterton,
Whaley Thorns and Doe Lea.
More information contact 01246
242362
CALLING UNDER 12 AND 13 PLAYERS
South Normanton Athletic FC is
looking to establish a junior section to
represent the club in the forthcoming
season.
They are working closely with us and
South Normanton Colts JFC to offer
young players the opportunity to play
football and get involved with one of
the Districts highest placed clubs in
the football pyramid. They are looking
initially at under 12/13 age groups.
More information: Steve Harris on
07505 366136
CRESWELL DOORSTEP SPORTS CLUB
The Doorstep Sports Club offers the
chance to meet friends, have fun,
keep fit, develop leadership skills and
provides voluntary opportunities for
those that want them.
The club is for young people by the
young people, so they get a say in how
the club is run, the activities provided
and the future of the club.
Weekly activities take place at Creswell
Youth Centre and on the Junior
School Sports Field between 7-8pm
on Wednesday evenings. During the
Summer holidays on Wednesday 29
July and 5, 12, 19 and 26 August with
exciting activities taking place between
11am- 2pm.
More information: 01246 242362 or
Tony Pattison (Youth Service) 07812
666493.
Page 16
July 2015
DEVELOPMENT PARTNER CHOSEN
FOR PROPOSED NEW LEISURE FACILITY
Proposals to build a new £4million enhanced
leisure facility in Clowne have taken a step
closer to becoming reality after a decision
was taken to appoint Pulse Fitness as our
development partner.
Following a procurement exercise, the
contract to build the facility has been awarded
to Pulse Fitness, a company who have over 35
years experience in developing leading edge
solutions for the leisure industry.
The proposal for a new and
improved leisure facility will utilise the
existing sports facilities at the Arc on
High Street, Clowne (4-badminton
court sports hall, outdoor sports
pitches, fitness suite) and will see the
addition of the following:
•A 25m x 13m swimming pool
•A smaller teaching pool
•A water slide feature
•A 100+ station gym
•An informal cafeteria
•A children’s soft play zone
•A thermal suite including sauna
and steam rooms
•A spin studio
•2 x dance studios
The proposed facility will offer local
communities high quality sporting facilities and
provide a wider range of activities that assist
in improving people’s health and wellbeing
meeting both current and future needs. With
a more efficient modern building coupled with
a wider range of activities the new facility is
projected to save in excess of £4 million over
Artists impression of the new leisure facility
the next twenty years.
Cabinet Member for Leisure, Councillor
Mary Dooley said, “With the backdrop of
the government austerity measures and cuts
to Council budgets, this is one of the best
opportunities that we have developed. It will
ultimately save us money whilst providing
better choice and better quality facilities for
our residents.
“We are delighted to have awarded
the contract to Pulse Fitness, a
company who have a vast amount
of experience and proven track
record. This facility will provide our
communities with first class, modern,
health and leisure facilities that will
help us tackle obesity levels and
encourage people to live healthier
lifestyles.”
A District-wide consultation took
place in 2014 which showed that
78.6% of people who responded
either strongly agreed or agreed
with our proposal to increase
opportunities for participation in
sport and active recreation.
Great Work Rolls On
Bolsover
District
Bowls
Development Group is going
from strength to strength after a
reported increase in both adult
and junior memberships across the
District’s bowling clubs.
Junior
memberships
have
increased by 20% and adult
memberships by 17% showing that
bowls is one of the fastest growing
sports across the area.
The Bolsover District Bowls
Development Group has been
actively
encouraging
people
to play the sport through fun
taster sessions in schools, junior
competitions and open days at
clubs.
The development group will
continue to stage the only schools
indoor bowls competition in the
country in November and are also
looking to establish a junior league
early in 2016.
If your club is interested in
becoming members of the Bolsover
District Bowls Development Group
then contact Tony Heap at tony.
[email protected]
Summer Holiday
PROGRAMME
2015
e in
Get activ
istrict
Bolsover D r!
e
this summ
« Clowne Sports Centre
« Creswell Leisure Centre
« Frederick Gent Sports
Centre
« Pleasley Vale Outdoor
Activity Centre
« Extreme Wheels
« Street Sports
« Super Tots and more...
For more information
visit www.bolsover.gov.uk
or call us on 01246 242366
outdoor activity centre
Designed by Bolsover District Council 0002