Changes to services for children and young people with special needs

From September 2014 the service for all children and young people with special educational needs or disabilities and their families will be changing as a result of changes in the law. South Gloucestershire Council wants to go further and is asking for input from everyone involved - the children and young people themselves, families and carers, service providers, the health service, schools, the voluntary and community sector and a wide range of professionals - to help shape the future service.

You can find out more about the proposals and comment on them on the council's website:

www.southglos.gov.uk/0to25disability

Information is also available from all South Gloucestershire Libraries and One Stop Shops until 24 February 2014 and there will be a series of events and workshops advertised on the website.

Renewables and landscapes - have your say

South Gloucestershire Council is currently running two consultations on planning documents - one on guidance for renewables the other on an assessment of our local landscapes.

The council is consulting on its Draft Renewables Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) until Friday 7th March. This is intended to help our area achieve its renewables targets, give guidance on what needs to be included in applications and how they will be judged and encourage communities to get involved in projects.

You can view the documents and have your say at:

www.southglos.gov.uk/renewablesSPD

Comments will help to shape the final document, which is expected to be adopted by the council in May.

Lib Dem planning spokesperson Pat Hockey explains, "Enabling a meaningful proportion of needs for electricity and heating to come from renewable sources is a key part of the Council’s Climate Change Strategy. It is important for residents to understand how it is proposed to do this and let us know whether they agree with it."

"The Landscape Strategy dates back to 2005 and there have been significant changes over the years. As renewable energy installations often have an impact on the landscape it seems a good idea to review the Landscape Strategy at the same time. We hope that local people will turn to the pages that assess the landscape that is familiar to them and let the Council have their views. This will be an important document for deciding on planning applications, not just those for wind turbines and solar farms."

You also have until Friday 7 March 2014 to comment on the Draft Landscape Character Assessment. You can do this online at:

www.southglos.gov.uk/landscapecharacterSPD

Red Cross Healthy Homes project

The Red Cross Healthy Homes project provides information and support with:

• keeping warm at home, energy efficiency and affording your energy bills
• preventing fires and falls
• maintaining independence
• promoting well-being

If you would like a free home visit and free winter warmth pack or if you would like them to visit a centre or group you attend to give a general talk about the Healthy Homes Project please contact Ellen Devine at H&SCWAG@redcross.org.uk or 0117 9415041.

Nibley Lane to close for cleaning

Nibley Lane is expected to close for cleaning from 9.30am until 2.30pm on Tuesday 14th January 2014.

Charfield leads the way on street lights

LED street lights are to be installed in Charfield this month as the first stage of a South Glos-wide roll out of the new technology.

Nearly 300 new lights are being installed in Charfield during January, reducing the parish’s street lighting costs from £11,000 to £3,500 per year and cutting related carbon emissions from 45 to 10 tonnes. Over the next decade, the new technology will be gradually installed in all of South Gloucestershire’s 30,000 street lights from May 2014, as part of a rolling investment programme.

Local councillor John O'Neill said, "Charfield has led the way with part night lighting and now with the new LED lighting technology. This will make for long term savings on our carbon reduction target and the South Gloucestershire Council budget which will benefit all Council Tax payers."

Last chance to apply for 2014 primary school places 15 January

Is your child due to start primary school this year? The deadline to apply for South Gloucestershire primary school places is 15 January. Applications can be submitted online or by post - for further information and an application form, visit www.southglos.gov.uk/primaryadmissions

Merry Christmas from your Focus Team

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all our readers from your Focus Team. We hope you have an enjoyable festive season.

You can find out about changes to council opening times and services over Christmas here.