Shropshire Council is seeking your views on proposals to introduce charges to garden waste collection and changes to Household Recycling Centres.

If you are interested in more information about Shropshire Council's budget proposals for 2024/25

https://www.shropshire.gov.uk/get-involved/garden-waste-and-household-recycling-centres-consultation/

This survey should take approximately 18 minutes to complete. The consultation will close at 11:59pm Monday, 20th May.

Thank you

Shropshire Council’s Affordable Warmth & Energy Efficiency team have seen an alarming rise in cold calling and canvassing by companies offering free energy efficiency improvements.

If you or someone you know is in doubt about a letter or a call you or they have received, or to check the authenticity of a scheme or a contractorplease contact Keep Shropshire Warm on

0800 112 3743 or emailksw@mea.org.uk.

Sustainable Warmth Shropshire is the name of the council’s own managed energy efficiency grant scheme. To find out more about Sustainable Warmth Shropshire and to see whether you're eligible for grants for energy efficiency improvements, visit

https://next.shropshire.gov.uk/housing/private-sector-housing/affordable-warmth-and-energy-efficiency/sustainable-warmth-shropshire-expression-of-interest/

To find out more about Keep Shropshire Warm visit

https://next.shropshire.gov.uk/housing/private-sector-housing/affordable-warmth-and-energy-efficiency/

Healthwatch Shropshire responds to the Government plan to recover NHS dentistry

The NHS and the Government have published a plan to recover NHS dentistry setting out a major new focus on prevention and good oral health in young children, and an expansion of dental workforce.

Healthwatch Shropshire, the local health and social care champion has been receiving feedback for years about how people are struggling to access NHS dental care in Shropshire. They have been sharing this with their parent body, Healthwatch England, who has used it as evidence to support their work to persuade the government to provide NHS dentistry that is more accessible and affordable.

What's in the plan?

• NHS dentists will be given a ‘new patient’ payment of between £15-£50 (depending on treatment need) to treat around a million new patients who have not seen an NHS dentist in two years or more.
• People will be able to see which practices in their local area are accepting new patients on the NHS website and the NHS App. The government will roll out a marketing campaign encouraging anyone who has not been seen by a dentist for the past two years to access treatment.
• A new ‘Smile For Life’ programme will be rolled out to offer parents and parents-to-be advice for baby gums and milk teeth, with the aim that by the time children go to school, every child will see tooth brushing as a normal part of their day.
• Dental vans will help deliver dental treatment to people in rural and coastal areas.
• A water fluoridation programme will be rolled, which could reduce the number of tooth extractions due to decay in the most deprived areas of the country. Subject to consultation, the programme would enable an additional 1.6 million people to benefit from water fluoridation, first expanding across the North East.

Lynn Cawley, Healthwatch Shropshire Chief Officer, said, “I would like to thank all of the people in Shropshire who have taken the time to share their experiences of accessing NHS dental care with us. We hope that this plan will improve the ability of Shropshire residents to access NHS dental care. It is early days and we don’t yet know how it will affect services in Shropshire but hopefully this will become clearer. As it does we would still like to hear from people so we can feed their experiences back to the local NHS and to Healthwatch England to help build up a picture of how the plan is working.”

Healthwatch England CEO, Louise Ansari, said "Across England, we have seen major access issues in NHS dentistry. The rising cost of living has had a real impact, with our latest data showing that one in five people have avoided going to the dentist because they can't afford it. A year ago, this figure was one in ten*.

“The dentistry recovery plan is a good start in addressing these serious problems. To widen access to NHS dentistry to those experiencing the greatest health inequalities, it’s vital dentists take up the new premium payments, promote availability of appointments to new patients and prioritise slots to people most in need.

“We also welcome the move to incentivise dentists to work in ‘dental deserts’ with golden hellos, to use dental vans in remote areas and to roll out more prevention schemes for children.

“However, in the long run more radical solutions are needed to get NHS dentistry back on track. We welcome the Government’s to commitment to consulting with the profession on the contract and urge this to happen as soon as possible.”

“We know that people will generally welcome the plan, but ultimately, they would like to be be able to register with a local NHS dentist in the same way as they can with a local GP, developing a trusted relationship with a dentist who can prevent poor oral health and treat any new problems or emergencies.”

Healthwatch Shropshire is the independent health and social care champion in Shropshire. It gathers the views and experiences of patients, service users, carers, and the general public about services including hospitals, GPs, mental health services, community health services, pharmacists, opticians, residential care and children’s services. It also has statutory powers that it can use to influence service provision by encouraging improvements.

* Healthwatch EnglandNHS Dental Recovery Plan - our response | Healthwatch

Ends

Support service helping to keep people well this winter 2023/24

Shropshire Councils winter support service is running until the 31^st March 2024. During the coming months the service will assist residents (18+) who may need a little additional support to maintain their independence and remain well at home or following a hospital discharge.

The aim is to support people to avoid a health and care crisis over the winter period.

Shropshire’s Winter Support Service will be run by Shropshire Council, in partnership with British Red Cross, Shropshire Mental Health Support, Age UK Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin, Qube (in Oswestry), Mayfair Community Centre (in Church Stretton), Royal Voluntary Service and, new to the partnership this year, we are delighted to welcome Hands Together Ludlow.

For more details and information on the range of support that the service can connect residents to, please see here: Winter Support Service | Shropshire Council

Each year Oswestry Rural Parish Council awards grants to voluntary organisations and community groups, which in the opinion of the council is in the interests of the local community.

All applications are considered on their individual merits and grants are awarded in accordance with how the council considers funding to be of benefit to the local community.

Please see attached policy and application form for completion.

The Flood recovery framework was triggered on 25 October 2023 in response to the severe flooding events that have occurred as a result of Storm Babet, and is available to those affected between 19 and 25 October 2023.

Shropshire Council is eligible to provide Government funded support under this framework due to more than 50 properties locally reporting internal flooding as a result of Storm Babet.

The following support is available to support both residents and businesses impacted by flooding as a result of Storm Babet, providing certain conditions are met.

Shropshire Council website link to find details/application form for flood grants:

https://www.shropshire.gov.uk/drainage-and-flooding/storm-babet-flood-relief/#:~:text=The%20Property%20Flood%20Resilience%20Scheme,normally%20be%20covered%20by%20insurance

Introduction

Like councils up and down the country, Shropshire Council faces a very tough financial position, and we need your help in shaping some difficult decisions that lie ahead.

The latest reporting shows that we are 80% of the way towards our £51.4m spending reductions target for this financial year, with five months left to report on. Our plan is to build on these strong foundations to overcome thechallenges that still lie ahead into the next financial year and beyond.

Our biggest pressure is that the funding we have to deliver our services hasn’t kept pace with the increasing demand that we are seeing, especially in adults’ and children’s social care, which makes up nearly 80% of the council budget. Just as an example, the number of children in care in Shropshire has nearly doubled since 2018 and 30% of ourresidents are now over 60, with a growing number who need support. The cost of delivering this support is alsohigher than ever, due to stubbornly high rates of inflation.

Essentially, we are having to do much more with less so we can carry on supporting the most vulnerable people in our communities. To keep doing this, we will have to make some difficult decisions.

We will need to change the way we deliver some services, whilst others may need to stop altogether.

We want to understand your priorities, as residents, businesses, employees, or stakeholders, so that any future decisions are made with these in mind.

This budget consultation is an opportunity for you to share your thoughts on how we can achieve the £50m spending reductions that we must make before 2025, which includes the 4.99% council tax increase that the Government allocation assumes we will make.

The themes include demand management, increasing efficiency, increasing income, reducing third-party spending, and making sure that we are the right size as an organisation.

The survey is based on the Medium Term Financial Strategy. Please be sure to read the full introduction and check out the related documents on the Consultation page before taking the survey.

The survey will take approximately 15-20 minutes to complete. We appreciate you sharing your thoughts.

https://www.shropshire.gov.uk/shropshire-council/promotional-materials-for-partners/

ORDINARY MEETING OF OSWESTRY RURAL PARISH COUNCIL

“CANCELLED”

Members of Full Council decided to cancel the Ordinary Meeting of the Parish Council scheduled to be held on Thursday 14 December 2023 at Trefonen Village Hall.

Meetings will resume as planned in January 2024

Kathryn Lloyd CPFA

The Clerk & RFO

Oswestry Rural Parish Council

Date: 6 December 2023

NOTICE UNDER LOCAL GOVERNMENT ACT 1972 (SECTION 87(2))

VACANCY FOR A COUNCILLOR

PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN

That a casual vacancy has occurred in the office of Councillor for the Trefonen with Treflach Ward in the parish of Oswestry Rural following the resignation of Councillor John Davies.

Rule 5(2) of The Local Elections (Parishes and Communities) (England and Wales) Rules, 2006 now applies.

The rule allows TEN ELECTORS for the ward in which the casual vacancy has arisen to request the Returning Officer to hold an election to fill the vacancy.* That request must be made within FOURTEEN DAYS, calculated in accordance with the rules, ** of the date of this notice. The fourteen-day period ends on 29 December 2023.

What if a request to hold an election is not received during the permitted time?

Rule 5(5) of the above Rules will apply. The Parish Council must, as soon as practicable after the expiry of the fourteen-day period, co-opt a person to fill the vacancy.

The Returning Officer’s address is:

Electoral Services, Shropshire Council, The Shirehall, Abbey Foregate, Shrewsbury SY2 6ND.

The telephone number for further guidance is 0345 678 9015.

This notice is dated 7 December 2023

Issued by:

Kathryn Lloyd CPFA

The Clerk

Oswestry Rural Parish Council

The Cooperage

28 Hillock Lane

Gresford

LL12 8YL

01952 884372

clerk@oswestryrural-pc.gov.uk

* There is no form of words for this request, which might simply be a letter headed with such words as “We the undersigned being electors for the Ward of Trefonen with Treflach of Oswestry Rural parish, call for an election to fill the vacancy arising from the resignation of Councillor John Davies ”. A template entitled “Request for an Election” is available to download from Shropshire Council’s website –www.shropshire.gov.uk – under “Current Council Vacancies”. It is helpful if the ten signatures are accompanied by printed names and addresses.

** In calculating the notice period, day one is the day following the date of this notice; a Saturday, Sunday, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Good Friday or Bank Holiday or day appointed for public thanksgiving or mourning shall be disregarded, and the period closes at midnight on the fourteenth day after the date of this notice. Rule 5(2) of The Local Elections (Parishes and Communities) (England and Wales) Rules, 2006 now applies.

Shropshire Council is due to commence a review of polling districts and polling places in accordance with the Representation of the People Act 1983 (as amended).

Representations are invited from stakeholders, partners and other interested parties such as electors, elected members, local political parties and organisations that have expertise in relation to access to premises for people with different forms of disability.

I would like to invite the Council to consider this review and make comments, if required, on polling places within your parish.

When making suggestions, please ensure the following:

1. That electors have such reasonable facilities for voting as are practicable in the circumstances, and;

1. As far as is reasonable and practicable, that polling places are accessible to all electors, including those who are disabled, and, when designating a polling place, have regard to the accessibility needs of disabled persons.

The review commences on 2 October 2023 and the deadline for the submission of comments is 30 October 2023. This will allow for sufficient time to enable any alterations to be made to the revised register before it is published. A report outlining findings and final recommendations will be submitted to Council on 14 December 2023.

Call out for Hedge Creation Sites in Shropshire!

https://www.cpreshropshire.org.uk/hedgerow-project

CPRE Shropshire are seeking sites where they can plant new, native hedgerows this winter in the county.

They do not plant in garden settings, but are keen to find smallholdings, farms, community spaces, wildlife reserves/projects that are interested in having a new hedgerow this winter. Hedges are provided totally free of charge and the hedge whips are sourced locally in Shropshire. Planting is done by volunteers with an experienced lead. Tree guards are provided if needed. Unfortunately, our budget does not extend to providing livestock fencing.

We are also seeking existing (young – up to 15 years old) hedgerows that would be suitable for hedge-laying training for beginners.

Contact Sarah Jameson, CPRE Shropshire, for more information –admin@cpreshropshire.org.uk

Customer Service Centre Opening Times Consultation

Shropshire Council is consulting on proposed changes to its Customer Service Centre (CSC) opening times.The Customer Service Centrehandles telephone and other forms of contact from customers for around 50 different council services and is currently open from 8am to 6pm Monday to Friday and 9am to 1pm on Saturdays.

The Customer Service Centre handles some complex issues for Shropshire’s residents in relation to Adult Social Care, concerns for children, risk of homelessness or financial crisis affecting families. These types of contact from people will always need a skilled adviser and will not be affectedby the proposed changes.However many other calls are for the more “generalist” side of Shropshire Council’s Customer Service Centre (CSC) and are for relatively simple requests that can be made another way, particularly using online requests.It is the opening hours for these services that form the proposal for change. Existing calls data has been used to identify proposed changes in opening times. Under proposals, the CSC would still be open six hours a day, five days a week for those who still want to contact the council this way but there are different options. The consultation seeks views on the options for proposed opening times.

Opens: 13^th March for 6 weeks

Closes: 23^rd April 2023

How you can give your views:

· Online at https://www.shropshire.gov.uk/CSCconsultation (opens Monday)

· If you can’t go online, copies of the consultation are available at the following Shropshire Council libraries; Bayston Hill, Bridgnorth, Church Stretton, Gobowen, Library at the Lantern, Ludlow, Market

Drayton, Much Wenlock, Oswestry, Pontesbury, Shrewsbury, Wem and Whitchurch

· At Shropshire Council’s Shropshire Local sites in Ludlow and Shrewsbury

If you would like the survey in an alternative format, please emailTellUs@shropshire.gov.uk to request a copy or call 0345 678 9077 and explain any support you need to allow you to respond.

Following a successful two years, the Shropshire HAF (Holiday Activities & Food) programme is continuing in 2023, offering more opportunities for eligible children and young people to access free holiday activity during the three main school holidays.

Were thrilled to announce that existing HAF clubs which have been running across the county during the last 6 months, will be happening again and the programme has been extended to include six new areas of the county (Claverley, Much Wenlock, Cleobury Mortimer, Bishop’s Castle, Morda and Whitchurch).

Bookings for the Spring/Easter HAF (Holiday Activities & Food) Programme 2023 are now open.From 3 to 14 April 2023, eligible children and young people are invited to take part in a range of fun activities, happening at 45 venues from across the county.

The clubs offer a range of activities such as sports, arts, cooking, forest schools, den building and dance. There is something on offer for everyone. Free nutritious meals are provided at each session, as well as information on nutrition to benefit the whole family.

See the Spring/Easter promo film to get a taster of the activities on offer Spring 2023 Promo v2 - YouTube

Start Date:7th February 2023

End Date:17th April 2023

Purpose:Excavate to install 370m of new 150mm sewer pipework and 7 manhole chambers - Road Closure.

Works Promoter: United Utilities Water

Works Promoter Ref:HZ70380063034-ADV0091-01

Enforcement pattern for Broomhall Lane, Oswestry:
24 hrs

You can view the closure and diversion route by clicking here: https://one.network/?tm=132044421

Start Date:19th February 2023

End Date:21st February 2023

Purpose: Road Closure - Works to rectify defective reinstatement.

Works Promoter: SP Energy Networks

Works Promoter Ref:GY0022100677642C-10

Enforcement pattern for Middleton Road, Oswestry:
All the time

You can view the closure and diversion route by clicking here: https://one.network/?tm=131944395

Dear Stakeholder

To ensure we are meeting our statutory duties under the Education Act 2006, a revised policy for assessing unsafe walking routes to school is being proposed (attached) and a consultation on this proposed policy will run until the 10^th February 2023. We do not anticipate that the revised policy will change the entitlement to free school transport for new or existing pupils and will not have any financial impact for the Council.The consultation is available to view and respond to atGet involved | Shropshire Council alternatively, you can send your commentsto tellus@shropshire.gov.uk or use the following address:

• Transport Consultation,

Feedback and Insight Team,

Shropshire Council,

Shirehall,

Abbey Foregate,

Shropshire

SY2 6ND

Once the consultation period ends all the feedback gathered will be considered and summarised in a report to Cabinet in March 2023.

Budget Consultation 

As you may be aware, the council’s budget proposals are now out for public consultation.

We’re asking for the public’s views on our budget plans which seek to make more than £50 million of savings from the Council’s budget and to bring this into balance.

Most of the savings proposed will come through a transformation and efficiency programme that will save £50.6 million in the next year, while reducing costs and protecting services as far as possible particularly those for the most vulnerable.

Ongoing impacts of COVID and broader economic conditions, particularly the effects of inflation and rising energy costs, are at the root of the budget challenge facing the council, with inflation alone having a £43 million impact on the council.

The Council hope that you will be able to help publicise the consultation within your community and encourage as many people as possible to take part..

The online survey through which people can give views on the proposals is at Budget consultation 2023/2024 | Shropshire Council

The consultation is open until 30 January 2023.

Feedback from this will then inform the final budget proposals, along with consideration of any alternative budget proposals, which will come back to the council in March.

For anyone who’d like the survey questions in an alternative format, please email TellUs@shropshire.gov.uk or call 0345 678 9077

Mobile Vaccine Bus is coming to

Walk up Service - Clinic may reach capacity before the end of the stated time

If you’re unable to attend you can check www.ShropshireTelfordAndWrekin.nhs.uk for you nearest vaccination location.

Trefonen

We’ll be at Trefonen Village Hall, SY10 9DG

on Tuesday 6th December between 9:00 and 13:00

1st Booster vaccination available for anyone 12+ Autumn Booster available for anyone eligible

Autumn booster available for those 50 and older, immunosuppressed individuals, pregnant women, and Health & Social Care staff. A minimum of 92 days since last vaccination is required.

Road Closure: Broomhall Lane, Oswestry

Start Date:7th February 2023

End Date:17th April 2023

Purpose:Excavate to install 370m of new 150mm sewer pipework and 7 manhole chambers - Road Closure.

Works Promoter: United Utilities Water

Works Promoter Ref:HZ70380063034-ADV0091-01

Enforcement pattern for Broomhall Lane, Oswestry:
24 hrs

You can view the closure and diversion route by clicking here: https://one.network/?tm=132044421

Should you have any queries regarding this closure, please call Customer Services on 0345 6789006, or contact the Street Works Team on streetworks@shropshire.gov.uk

The Parish Council wishes to remind residents to be vigilant at this time of year.  Please remember to keep your property, garages, sheds and outbuildings secure.  

If you suspect any unusual activity or notice a person's behaviour which appears to be out of the ordinary, please report this to your local Police Community Support Officer or contact the Police on 101.

Keep Oswestry Rural Parish Community Safe.

The JSNA seeks to identify current and future health and wellbeing needs in the local population and identify strategic priorities to inform commissioning of services based on those needs.

Find out more at :

https://www.shropshire.gov.uk/information-intelligence-and-insight/facts-and-figures/health-and-wellbeing/

The road will be closed from 31 October to 2 November 2022 to allow Severn Trent to renew 25mm long comm pipe.

Diversion details.

The road will be temporarily closed to enable Openreach to renew a frame and cover.

Diversion route.

There will be a temporary road closure to enable Openreach to carry out essential works to swap a replacement pole in the verge.

Diversion route.

There will be a temporary road closure from 11 August to 12 August 2022 to enable Openreach to renew a frame and cover.

Diversion route

There will be a temporary road closure between 09:00 and 16:00 from 11 August until 12 August 2022 to allow Openreach to renew a frame and cover.

Diversion route.

Kier plans to carry out repair works near Trefonen Village Hall from 22 July 2022 when traffic lights will be in place.  Access to residential and business properties will be maintained during the works.

Further information.

There will be a temporary road closure at Wern Y Wiel, Treflach to enable Openreach to renew poles.

Diversion route.

You can help to reduce and prevent crime by marking your property with Smartwater. Smartwater helps to reduce crime and makes it easier to find stolen goods. Smartwater is a unique forensic property marking solution made up of a florescent green substance with 85% water 10% polymer and 5% other elements. It looks similar to a lip gloss and is used to mark property. The mark cannot be seen by the naked eye but shows up under an ultraviolet light. It can be put on any item including skin. Each solution is unique and can be traced by scientists to its origin.

You can find out more about this product at: Smartwater