In February, the Government announced that all households in council tax bands A to D are entitled to a one-off council tax energy rebate payment of £150. You do not have to pay this back.
The quickest way to receive your rebate
If you pay your council tax by direct debit, Wiltshire Council will use your bank details to pay the rebate straight in to your account. You do not need to do anything.
Look out for a letter if you don’t pay your council tax by direct debit
If you are eligible for the energy rebate but do not pay your council tax by direct debit, you will receive a letter through the post inviting you to submit your bank details via the Wiltshire Council website. This will ensure the rebate can be paid into your bank account. You do not need to call us; we will write to you in early May.
If you do not pay council tax
There are some households in Wiltshire that do not pay council tax because they receive a council tax reduction. We will be writing to these households and inviting them to provide their bank details so that the energy rebate can be paid to them.
Properties in council tax bands E – H
The Government has given the council a discretionary fund to help households on low incomes who live in properties in bands E-H. Visit the Wiltshire Council website for further information about the scheme.
Service: Climate Team Date prepared: 5 May 2022 Contact: climate@wiltshire.gov.uk
We wanted to update you on an innovative scheme that Wiltshire Council is driving forward locally called Solar Together Wiltshire.
We are working with independent experts iChoosr and Swindon Borough Council to give homeowners the opportunity to invest in renewables through a group-buying scheme for solar panels and battery storage.
This is a group-buying scheme which will offer solar panels with optional battery storage and EV charge points, as well as offering battery storage for residents who have already invested in solar panels and are looking to get more from the renewable energy they generate, as well as increase their independence from the grid.
Given the current cost of living, significantly impacted by the surge in energy prices, we feel this scheme will be worth consideration from eligible households and help provide longer term savings.
It is free to register and there is no obligation for people to go ahead with an installation. All residents living in the Wiltshire Council and Swindon Borough Council areas who own their own house (or have permission from the landlord to install a solar PV system) can register for the Solar Together group-buying scheme. Small and medium-sized enterprises (non- domestic) and community buildings meeting this requirement can participate as well. Planning permission may be required in some cases and we are directing people to this page for more information – https://www.wiltshire.gov.uk/planning-permission
The scheme works as follows: • Step one: From 9 May – 14 June, Wiltshire householders can register online to become part of the group for free and without obligation. Invitation letters will be sent to 60,000 Wiltshire households w/c 23 May. However, any eligible household/business/community building can apply irrespective of whether they receive a letter • Step two: Pre-approved UK solar PV suppliers participate in an auction. They are able to offer competitive pricing as the volume and geographic concentration makes it possible for them to make greater efficiencies, which they pass onto customers • Step three: After the auction, registered households will be emailed a personal recommendation later in June that is specific to the details they submitted in their registration. • Step four: If they choose to accept their recommendation, the specifics of their installation will be confirmed with a technical survey, after which a date can be set for the installation of their solar PV system. People can accept or decline their personal recommendation. If they choose to go ahead and accept with Solar Together, a £150 deposit is required, which is conditionally refundable.
As stated earlier, iChoosr will send out a letter from the week of 23 May to a selection of properties in Wiltshire that are likely to be eligible for the scheme to give them all the information they need to consider participating should they wish to. The scheme will be promoted using all the available council communication channels prior to this as well, including social media, press releases, newsletter articles and posters at public facing council buildings There will be no selling by phone or doorstepping of residents.
Our Wiltshire Climate Strategy is very clear that as a county we need to reduce the energy we use as well as using low carbon forms of energy. Within the strategy we aimed to encourage installation of renewables through group buy schemes and we’re pleased to offer this opportunity to residents to consider
If you are contacted by residents who want more information about this, people can visit www.solartogether.co.uk/wiltshire, email wiltshire@solartogether.co.uk or call 0800 048 8113. IChoosr are responsible for managing and rolling out the scheme and all enquiries about it will be going via them.
For those residents not eligible for this particular scheme, but who still want ideas on lowering their carbon footprint or information on how to access support or grants for energy efficiency in their homes, then there’s more information available at www.wiltshire.gov.uk/climate-change-individual. If you have any questions or queries, please don’t hesitate to contact climate@wiltshire.gov.uk We’d welcome and encourage you to share any council communications, such as social media posts and press releases, with your contacts and the local community to help spread the word about the scheme. We’ll keep you updated on the progress of this scheme.
The COURIER is the Magazine of the Parishes of Collingbourne Ducis, Everleigh and Collingbourne Kingston, click below to download/view the May 2022 edition.
The COURIER Office, and Editorial address for contributors: c/o 4 Sunnyhill, Collingbourne Ducis, Marlborough SN8 3EP Contact Details: ADDRESS for Contributions ONLY: cdkecouriercontribute@gmail.com ADMINISTRATION: Sandra Fisher (850363) cdkecouriersec@gmail.com ADVERTISING/FLYERS/LEAFLETS: Simon Gilford cdkecourieradvertise@gmail.com
The COURIER is the Magazine of the Parishes of Collingbourne Ducis, Everleigh and Collingbourne Kingston. Items for publication are most welcome but may have to be edited if space, etc, demands. All items published solely express the views of their author and are copyright of the COURIER unless otherwise stated. Whilst every care has been taken, no responsibility can be accepted for statements made by the advertisers. The deadline for June copy is 6.30 pm on 18th May 2022.
We are continuing to pay the £150 energy rebate to residents who pay their council tax by direct debit.
So far we’ve paid out over £12.8million to 85,438 households in Wiltshire and we’ll be making payments to a further 18,000 households that pay by direct debit next week.
If you don’t pay your council tax by direct debit, you’ll receive a letter in the post next month explaining how you can claim the energy rebate. More information about the energy rebateWaste and recycling Waste crews are working as usual this bank holiday, so if it’s your collection day, please make sure your bin is out for collection by 7am. Check your waste and recycling collection day Leader’s VlogRichard Clewer, Leader of Wiltshire Council gives a short update on what was discussed at our cabinet meeting earlier this week Local Community History Month Time to celebrate Wiltshire’s rich history! It’s Local and Community History Month in May and we’re celebrating with an array of events and exhibitions at libraries across the county.
Wiltshire’s up and coming sports stars of the future were celebrated earlier this week at the 2022 Sports Scholarship grant presentation ceremony held at County Hall, Trowbridge.
Sports Scholarship grants of £500 were awarded to ten young athletes aged between 8 and 18 years, who compete at either a regional or national level in their chosen sport. More information on the 2022 Sports Scholarship grant presentation ceremonyCareers event helps young people in care consider next steps
Young people who have experience of being in care or about to leave care had an opportunity to discuss their future plans at a careers event this week.
Twenty three stands representing universities, colleges, training providers and prospective employers were at the event at the Salisbury Arts Centre.
Hills Municipal Collections and GMB Union have confirmed they have reached an agreement, which means the waste collection strike has now concluded with immediate effect, and our recycling collections will resume next week.
Our contractor Hills Municipal Collections has confirmed those workers that were on strike will return to work on Friday 18 March. Therefore, our kerbside recycling collections will resume as normal from Monday 21 March.
Please put your blue lidded bins and black boxes out on your scheduled day from Monday 21 March. Due to the recent disruption there may still be slight delays to the collection due to the higher volumes of materials we expect, so if your recycling containers aren’t emptied on your scheduled day please leave them out, and they will be collected as soon as possible.
You will still be able to leave additional recycling that has mounted up during the disruption; please leave any additional recycling materials in non-black bags or containers (such as plastic crates) next to the recycling bins and the crews will collect them.
Household and garden waste collections will continue as normal so please put those bins out on your normal scheduled day. If those are not collected as scheduled they will be collected as soon as possible.
In summary, the key things you need to know:
Recycling collection services will resume from Monday 21 March
Please put out your black box and blue lidded bin on your scheduled day from 21 March
If recycling bins are not emptied on your scheduled day please leave them out, and they will be collected as soon as possible
Any additional recycling materials stockpiled during the disruption will be collected. Please put those items in non-black bags or containers (such as a plastic crate) next to your recycling bins
Household and garden waste collections continue as normal so please put those bins out on your normal collection day. There could still be slight delays so please leave your bins out until collected
If you’re unsure on when your collection day is, please visit our website.
Due to further industrial action confirmed by the GMB Union, we have made the difficult decision to extend our suspension of recycling collection services until the week of 4 April. This does not affect household waste or garden waste collections, which will continue.
The GMB Union, which is in dispute with our contractor Hills Municipal Collections, has confirmed they will be striking until at least 2 April.
This means that recycling collection services won’t resume until the week of 4 April, and not the previously stated 21 March. Please do not put your blue lidded bins and black boxes out until your next collection day from 4 April onwards.
When recycling services do resume from 4 April, waste crews will accept additional materials that don’t fit in blue lidded bins or black boxes, so please leave them in bags, bin bags and crates and they will be picked up if they are left next to the recycling containers. However, if you are unable to store additional materials at home you can take them to your nearest household recycling centre (HRC). All Wiltshire HRCs are operating as normal.
We have a dedicated FAQ page with a host of information and this will be updated for the duration of the industrial action with everything you need on any change or disruption to waste services.
Please continue to put out your household and garden waste bins out on your normal collection days, and if for any reason they aren’t emptied as scheduled then they will be the following day where possible.
If any additional industrial action is confirmed we’ll keep you updated on the possible impact to our services.
This dispute is between Hills Municipal Collections and the GMB Union and out of our direct control, and we hope it can be resolved as quickly as possible.
Apologies for the inconvenience this is causing, and we thank you for your patience.
Wiltshire Police is committed to ensuring our communities are at the heart of our policing model. This will help us meet the needs of those we serve in the most effective and transparent way possible.
We first introduced our Community Policing model in 2016 and, in the last five years, we’ve updated and adapted the model to reflect the changing needs of our community. This ensures our model continues to be effective for 21st century policing.
In 2019, we restructured the geographical Community Policing Team (CPT) areas and introduced dedicated neighbourhood officers.
At the time, the former Police and Crime Commissioner wrote to partners across the county to update on our modifications to the policing model, but I am conscious that in recent years, particularly with the ongoing global pandemic, there have been many changes within our communities, in our policing roles and with the ways we work, so I wanted to write and re-introduce the model and remind you of how we are policing your community.
The policing model
As a police force, we cover the whole county, across both local authority areas for Wiltshire Council and Swindon Borough Council.
The county is divided into eight Community Policing Teams (CPTs).
Each team is led by an Inspector and made up of designated Response and Neighbourhood officers.
Each CPT has five Response Teams with each one being led by sergeants. The main role of these officers is to respond to 999 and 101 calls and manage ongoing investigations.
Each CPT has a Neighbourhood Team. In Swindon this is divided into three areas. These are led by an Inspector and made up of sergeants, officers, Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs), volunteers and police staff.
Our Neighbourhood Teams play a valuable role as the main link between the Force and the community. They are the officers and volunteers you will come to recognise in your communities and will see at local meetings and events.
Our neighbourhood officers focus directly on working within the community, offering greater contact with the public and take a problem-solving approach to local community issues.
Your Community Policing Team
We continue to work hard to embed our neighbourhood officers within the town and parish communities and we are working to raise awareness of these teams and how the public and partners can best engage and communicate with them.
Below, you will find an updated list of all our CPTs, the Inspectors who lead them and how you can get in contact with them. You can also find out more information about the team and our policing priorities in the ‘Community Policing Team’ area on our Force website.
We need your help to spread the word
We want every resident to know who their local officers are and how they can contact their local Community Policing Team (CPT).
To help us achieve this please find attached two graphics (half-page and full-page versions) that I kindly ask you share with your local residents and include in any upcoming parish newsletters or communications. These graphics can be used up until May 2022. Following this please contact your local CPT for an updated copy, marking your email for the attention of Corporate Communications and Engagement.
Your support in spreading the word and informing local residents is much appreciated.
I know that many of you may already have regular contact with your local officers. We would like to build on this in 2022, so I would encourage you to share any ideas you may have on how we can work better together and develop this relationship and actively raise awareness locally.
We look forward to continuing to work with you to make our communities safer.
Some Hills Municipal Collection workers are currently taking strike action, and this is due to continue until 18 March.
As a result, we have taken the difficult decision to suspend mixed dry recycling (blue lidded bin) and glass (black box) collections between 7 and 18 March. If you have already put out your blue lidded bin and black box for collection, please take them back in until your next scheduled collection date.
We will collect additional recycling on or after 21 March, in your blue lidded bin and black box. Alternatively, you can take waste that will not fit in your bin to any of our household recycling centres.
Put your household waste and garden waste bins out on your scheduled collection day.
Please note: this change does not affect your general household waste or garden waste collections. During the industrial action period please continue to put your household and garden waste bins out by 7am on your scheduled collection day. If you’re not sure what day your collections are, visit the calendar page on our website and enter your postcode. If a household or garden waste bin is not emptied as scheduled, please leave it out and it will be emptied the following day, where possible.
Keep up to date
If there are any significant disruptions to services we will update our waste pages and please keep an eye on our Twitter feed. Please also read our latest news story on the ongoing situation.
We apologise for any inconvenience caused by this disruption, and we are working with Hills to minimise the impact as much as possible. This planned industrial action is completely out of our control.
Thank you for your understanding during this time.
Service: Waste Management Date prepared: 3 March 2022 Contact: martin.litherland@wiltshire.gov.uk
Service: Waste Management Date prepared: 3 March 2022 Contact: martin.litherland@wiltshire.gov.uk
We wanted to update you on possible disruption to our waste services from 7 March, as a result of planned industrial action by some workers by Hills Municipal Collections.
At this stage, GMB Union has confirmed that industrial action will take place from 7 March for two weeks. Although the previous planned industrial action planned for 28 February was suspended, Hills have now received confirmation from the GMB union that the latest pay offer has been rejected and that the industrial action will now take place from 7 March, and we are planning for that eventuality with the contractor. The number of union members who are likely to strike has been reduced following UNISON members accepting the pay deal.
The industrial action is out of our control and in the meantime, we are working with Hills Municipal Collections to mitigate disruption as quickly as possible. We are advising residents to put their bins out on their collection day by 7am and should they not be collected for any reason then we will arrange to collect them the following day where possible.
This is a fluid situation, but our main aim is to ensure that if for any reason our schedule slips, that we get back on track as soon as possible.
Despite this possible disruption caused by this, we are very pleased to say that our new waste round collections, which began on 28 February, have gone incredibly smoothly so far with very few issues reported. This gives us confidence that should any timings slip then we will catch up quickly.
If there are any significant disruptions to services we are asking residents to visit the council’s waste pages for updates Waste and recycling service changes – FAQs – Wiltshire Council or to keep an eye on our Twitter feed – https://twitter.com/wiltscouncil.
If you’re made aware of anyone not sure when their collection day is, please point them in the direction of the Waste collection calendar – Wiltshire Council. Many thanks for your support, if you have any questions please don’t hesitate to get in touc
Section 14 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 Temporary Closure of: A342 (part) Everleigh (TTRO xxxx) Notice is hereby given that Wiltshire Council has made an Order to close temporarily to all traffic: A342 (part) Everleigh; from outside property known as West Lodge to its junction with Tank crossing. To enable: Wiltshire Council to carry out urgent removal of Ash Dieback trees and associated works. Alternative route: via A342 unaffected length, A338, A303, A345 and Andover Road and vice versa. The closure and diversion route will be clearly indicated by traffic signs. This Order will come into operation on 23rd March 2022 and the closure will be required between the hours of 07:00 and 18:00 until 29th March 2022. It is anticipated that the works will take the stated duration to complete depending upon weather conditions. Access will be maintained for residents and businesses where possible, although delays are likely due to the nature of the works. The Order will have a maximum duration of 18 months. For further information please contact Wiltshire Council on 0300 456 0105.
29 April 2022
£150 energy rebate update
Waste and recycling
Richard Clewer, Leader of Wiltshire Council gives a short update on what was discussed at our cabinet meeting earlier this week 
Local Community History Month
Celebrating Wiltshire’s sporting future
Careers event helps young people in care consider next steps
