Have your say on conservation area changes

In order to protect Iron Acton village most of it has been designated as a Conservation Area. This means it needs its own planning guidance which will identify its special characteristics and features which need to be protected.

You have the opportunity until October 18th to comment on South Gloucestershire Council’s proposals for this. The new PTSE Committee will then decide whether any changes should be made.

You can view the document at www.southglos.gov.uk/ironactonSPD. Hard copy is available at libraries and One Stop Shops and Iron Acton Parish Council has a copy.

If you do comment on it, please let Pat Hockey have a copy as she is a member of the Committee.

September bus service changes

Some changes are being made to local bus services from 2nd September 2012. Those that most affect us locally are:

The "Eighties services" 85, 87 & 88 have been replaced by a new service 222. This service will connect Chipping Sodbury, Yate, Iron Acton and Frampton Cotterell with Emersons Green, Kingswood and Longwell Green. Sections of the route in North Yate, Iron Acton, Ram Hill and the Emersons Green Treatment centre will be served on a Demand Responsive Basis, this means that the bus will only call at demand responsive stops if requested by a passenger on the bus, or booked in advance by calling 01454 868 368 at least 2 hours before departure.

The X27 Yate to Bristol has a minor timetable amendment to the first journey into Bristol to improve reliability.

Ram Hill Colliery - dates for your diary

The Friends of Ram Hill Colliery will once again be holding an open day as part of the South Glos Heritage Weekend. It will run from 10.30am-4.30pm on Sunday 9th September and light refreshments will be available.

If you fancy getting more involved, why not join them for a work day, 10am-4pm on Wednesdays and the second Sunday of the month from April to October. Or attend their next committee meeting at 7.30pm on Monday 3rd September 2012 in the Miners Institute Coalpit Heath.

Interested in policing?

Are you interested in community safety, policing or criminal justice issues?

In November, you will be able to elect a Police and Crime Commissioner who will oversee policing in the Avon and Somerset Area. The Avon and Somerset Police and Crime Panel will monitor and scrutinise the Police and Crime Commissioner and the panel is currently looking for two or more volunteers to serve as co-opted independent members.

The job advert says that key skills will include: the ability to think strategically, be analytical to be able to scrutinise and challenge and have the ability to communicate effectively. You will also have an understanding of equalities and diversity issues. You will work alongside councillor Panel members from across the Avon and Somerset Area.

You can find more information and an application pack online or request one by calling  0117 3521400. The closing date is 24 August 2012.

Chipping Sodbury Library to close for repairs

The Town Lands Trust who own the building that hosts Chipping Sodbury Library is carrying out urgent repairs to the floor. These will involve excavating the basement in the rear half of the library, so the service will be moved to the back of the Grammar School from Tuesday July 31^st until Wednesday August 29^th.  The library will be closed on four days -  Friday July 27^th, Saturday July 28^th, Friday August 31^st and Saturday September 1^st to move shelving, book stock and equipment.

Although the library will operate normally, there will unfortunately be no access to public computers or the fax.

Have your say on changes to Council Tax benefits and discounts

Councils across the country are currently developing schemes to replace council tax benefit.

South Gloucestershire Council is proposing a scheme which is broadly similar to the current council tax benefit, which maintains the premiums and allowances for 2012/13 with the exception of removing the second adult rebate. Currently, second adult rebate can be claimed by people whose own income is too high to receive council tax benefit but who have other adult(s) in the household whose income is low.

There will be no change to the amount of help pensioners currently receive. People who have reached the age for state pension credit will be assessed under a national scheme which will be decided by the government. The national scheme is likely to be very similar to the current one.

These proposals will not fully cover the reduction in central government funding for the scheme. Rather than reduce other services to meet this shortfall, the council is proposing to review some of the council tax discretionary discounts that are going to be introduced from 1 April 2013 and apply an additional levy on properties that have been left empty for two years or more.
For more information about the council’s proposals and to have your say, you can:

• Visit the council's website where you can download information and complete an online survey
• Pick up a copy of the consultation document and survey from one of the one stop shops or local library
• Email: consultation@southglos.gov.uk
• Call: 01454 868002

The consultation runs until 9 October.

Share your views on future of registration service

South Gloucestershire Council is reviewing the way it provides registration services for births, deaths and marriages.

Currently the service offers pre-booked appointments at Frenchay, Kingswood, Thornbury and Yate. The council now proposes to concentrate the service at two locations - Frenchay and either Kingswood or Thornbury.

You can find out more and have your say on the council's website. The consultation finishes on 3rd August.