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01 February 2024
People who illegally drop their litter, dump items by fly-tipping, graffiti and do not follow their household duty of care will now face higher fines as West Northamptonshire Council (WNC) rolls out increased fines for environmental crime.
The higher amount that anyone found committing these crimes in West Northamptonshire increased on 1 February 2024. To help strengthen councils in their fight against waste crime, Government has laid a statutory instrument increasing the upper limits for various fixed penalty notices (FPNs). The costs for these crimes in West Northamptonshire will be:
- The maximum amount those caught fly-tipping has increased from £400 to £1,000
- The maximum amount those who litter or graffiti has increased from £150 to £500.
- The maximum amount those who breach their household waste duty of care could be fined has increased from £400 to £600. For example, using an unlicensed waste carrier to remove rubbish which is then fly-tipped illegally.
WNC is one many Councils adopting these increased fine levels, while some other local authorities will follow in April.
Fly-tipping and other environmental crimes are unacceptable and impact every one of us in our communities. They spoil our streets, parks and open spaces, create an environmental hazard, and the clean-up costs and work involved to remove waste place a significant financial burden both on our council and on private landowners.Cllr David Smith, Cabinet Member for Community Safety, Engagement and Regulatory ServicesThrough the hard work of our environmental crime team, we have made a head start on creating a cleaner community for everyone and the increased penalty for these crimes further supports our commitment to tackling this.
To find out more about householder duty of care, and to report an environmental crime visit www.westnorthants.gov.uk/cleaner-communities
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01 February 2024
People are being encouraged to share their views on proposed changes to the council’s Home to School Transport services for Post 16 students across West Northamptonshire.
By law, students are required to continue in education or training until the age of 18 years. While local authorities have no statutory duty to provide transport for students over the age of 16 years, they must publish an annual transport policy statement setting out how they will support young adults to access education and training.
West Northamptonshire Council (WNC) has reviewed the current Post 16 Transport Policy Statement and proposed changes which apply to young people of sixth form age and young people with Education, Health and Care plans (EHC) up to age 25.
Today (1 February), a 9-week consultation has launched inviting residents to share their views on the proposed changes to this service, with any changes coming into effect from September 2024. The consultation runs until midnight on Monday 1 April, with residents encouraged to take part via the council’s consultation hub.
The changes are the first proposed in a decade and aim to address the high demand and operating costs of the service while providing greater flexibility for parents and carers, supporting young people’s independence and helping to promote sustainable travel.
Key proposals to the policy include greater support for young adults undertaking apprenticeships, increased use of Personal Transport Budgets (PTB), providing transport provision only at standard school and college start and finish times, and increasing the parent and carer contribution towards the cost of Post 16 transport.
Similarly to other local authorities, we are in the process of reviewing our transport services to ensure they respond to the needs of our young people, parents and carers and are both financially effective and environmentally sustainable.Cllr Phil Larratt, Cabinet Member for Environment, Transport, Highways and Waste, saidWe recognise circumstances for each young adult and family are often different, therefore we want to know how each of our proposals may affect them. We will also be seeking views from schools and colleges and welcome feedback from West Northamptonshire residents and other interested stakeholders.
By holding this consultation, we are hopeful that we will be able to give all families a better choice in how any proposals might work and I strongly encourage anyone with an interest to take part in the survey and get involved.
The findings of the consultation will be published and presented to WNC’s Cabinet in May 2024. Feedback will help to inform any decision by the council on the proposed changes to the Home to School Transport policy and how transport assistance is delivered.
The consultation will last nine weeks and residents can take part in the following ways:
- - Complete the online survey here.
- - Email: [email protected]
- - Write to: Home to School Transport Consultation 2023, West Northamptonshire Council, The Guildhall, St Giles' Square, Northampton NN1 1DE
For more information on Home to School Transport please visit the School travel assistance webpage.
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Northamptonshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner Stephen Mold has proposed an increase of 2.99% a year in the council tax precept paid for Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue Service.
An increase of 2.99% amounts to £2.19 a year for the average, Band D household. This increase is lower than the level of inflation, and is the maximum amount suggested by the Government in their financial settlement.
Northamptonshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner Stephen Mold said that the increase means that Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue Service can continue to deliver and develop its current level of service and will be able to make some investments to improve the service this year.
But as Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue Service is one of the poorest funded in the country, it will face financial challenges in the future.
Stephen Mold said: “Our Fire and Rescue Service is the third lowest funded in the country, with the second lowest precept levels.
“The Service has worked hard to reach a stable financial position – it is efficient and effective and keeps people safe. Thanks to that, we can manage within the budget and invest in some improvements, but future years look more challenging.”
The Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner said that local taxpayers contribute most of the Service’s funding – 63%. Local business rates contribute 12% and 25% comes from the Government.
“Because taxpayers contribute most of our funding, the council tax precept makes an enormous difference to our budget,” Stephen Mold said. “Our budget survey showed that people were prepared to pay even more than the 2.99% I am proposing, and I am very grateful for that support.”
Over the last four years since the Fire and Rescue Service transferred to the Office of the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner, there has been an increase in the number of firefighters and a £10m programme of capital investment has transformed the Service.
Eight new fire appliances and a 42-metre turntable ladder have joined the fleet, and four more will be delivered soon, ensuring that firefighters have the best possible equipment to keep the county safe.
Money is being set aside in the 2024/25 budget for work that will make further changes to improve the way the Service works, to improve support services to make the Service more efficient, and to improve the culture of the organisation and the wellbeing of firefighters.
The Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue precept accounts for around 4% of the council tax paid by a Band D household in Northamptonshire.
The council tax precept proposals will be discussed by Northamptonshire Police, Fire and Crime Panel at a public meeting on Tuesday 6 February.
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A group of wholetime firefighters who joined Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue Service last autumn have officially graduated from the Fire Service College after an intense training period.
The four new apprentices had been welcomed to the Service in October before heading to College at Moreton-in-Marsh.
Jon-Lee Fielding, William Hand, Max Titmuss and Matthew Weston concluded their eight weeks of training with their Passing Out parade on December 21.
The new firefighters successfully put in to practise their new skills as they carried out a drill on an oil rig where they had to both put out a fire and rescue casualties.
After that, they were able to celebrate with family and friends, who made the trip to the Fire Service College in the Cotswolds.
Watching on and congratulating them on their achievements in person were Area Manager Mick Berry and Station Manager Rich Walding.
Area Manager Mick Berry said: “We are absolutely delighted to welcome these new recruits to Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue Service.
“It was a privilege to be able to celebrate with them and their families on what is an incredibly proud day in any firefighters career.”
After completing their three-week conversion courses, the four new recruits will be posted to their stations in early February.
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30 January 2024
Work to make the former Balloon Bar in Bridge Street, Northampton, safe have been agreed between West Northamptonshire Council and the site’s owner.
During a First Tier Tribunal hearing this week the building owners, following discussion with the council, agreed that they would carry out initial work by 12 April 2024.
This will include installation of a retaining structure to the front wall of the building to prevent collapse, and clearance of loose fire damaged material to allow safe access.
We’re pleased to have reached an agreement with the site’s owner which will result in necessary work being carried out, which will take us a significant step closer to reopening Bridge Street.Cllr David Smith, Cabinet Member for Community Safety, Engagement and Regulatory Services
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