Autumn edition 2017 The newsletter for residents of the Selby District

A great place to grow: new schools investment

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A great place to do business: working together to support growth

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A great place to live: campaigning communities tackling waste

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Inside

Work is progressing well on the final phase of the reconstruction of Selby bypass.This will complete a three-phase scheme by the County Council to ensure the town has the bypass it needs to support its economic future.

County Councillor Don Mackenzie, North Yorkshire’s Executive Member for Highways, said: “This is the final stage of a project that local people campaigned for over several years. It will ensure Selby has a bypass fit for purpose to support the town’s economic growth.

“Members of the public were very patient during the first two phases, for which we are very grateful, and we thank local people for their continued patience during this final phase.”

The final phase from the A19 Brayton roundabout to the Thorpe Willoughby roundabout involves deep repair and reinstatement of the road, and requires the bypass to be closed along the stretch under reconstruction. During the closure, local and separate HGV diversions are in place.

Other sections resurfaced in this phase are:• Greencore roundabout and

a stretch of the A63 towards Osgodby roundabout;

• East Common Lane, and

• A63 from the Thorpe Willoughby roundabout going towards Hambleton over the railway bridge.

The anticipated completion date is 13 October.

Phase one of the scheme covered the A1041 Bawtry Road to the A19 at Barlby, and the second covered the A63 between and included the A19 Brayton roundabout and A1041 Wishing Well roundabout and their approaches. There is a £3m budget for the final phase of the bypass.

Cawood BridgeThe County Council has also carried out a £1m strengthening and maintenance scheme on Cawood Bridge that increases its capacity from 7.5 tonnes to 10 tonnes.

This investment will have long-term benefits for the local and wider community.

Next year, the County Council intends to replace the bridge’s motor and operating system with new, custom-made equipment.

Selby District Council and North Yorkshire County Council made this newspaper for you. We want you to have the information you need about your services and how we’re spending public money.

Making this newspaper together helps us to get information to you as cost effectively as possible. It’s just one small part of a much bigger link between our councils. This helps us to give you the best possible service and helps us to make the most of each and every pound.

We also work with lots of other organisations too, to deliver on our big priorities for the Selby district. This includes, for example, Local Enterprise Partnerships to support business growth. Check out the middle pages to find out more.

We publish Citizenlink twice a year, but you can keep up to date in other ways. Follow us on Twitter (@selbydc and @northyorkscc) or ‘like’ us on Facebook (facebook.com/selbydc and facebook.com/northyorkscc).

Bypass work paves way for growthWork to give Selby a bypass fit for purpose

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The library in Station Road, next to St Joseph’s Primary School, became community-managed in April as part of a transformation of North Yorkshire County Council’s library service that required all libraries to be run or supported by volunteers.

A steering group was formed and more than 30 volunteers recruited. Now they are established and are looking to the future, with the support of professionals from the County Council’s library service, creating a partnership that can help the library flourish.

Sara Gott, chair of the library trustees, said: “The open day will give people who don’t know the library or haven’t been in a while to discover just how much goes on. As well as the huge range of books and DVDs to borrow, there are public computers. We run IT sessions and the library is home to book groups and a knit and natter group. People can let us know what they would like to see here and perhaps get involved themselves.”

County Council library supervisor Julie Lakin said: “The enthusiasm of the volunteers, the commitment of the steering group and the amount of time they have put in is amazing. Between them, the volunteers and the steering group are keeping the library up and running and are doing so at a really good standard.”

The library will be open from 10am until 2pm on 7 October and there will be activities for children as well as an author-themed exhibition.

Leaders’ LeaderSupporting our businesses to thrive is really important. You told us so. And we continue to work with companies to help make this happen.

Growth brings opportunities, jobs and prosperity. This not only benefits people living here, but also other businesses based here too. It’s not just companies in the direct supply chain that benefit, but it also helps us to support thriving towns and communities across our area.

That’s why both the District and County Councils continue to work together to support major new investment. There are some key development sites in our area, and it’s important that both councils work alongside the private sector to support these. Some of these sites will help to deliver much-needed housing as well as opening up new business space too.

It’s important that new development is where it needs to be, however. The District Council now has in place land identified to meet housing growth needs over the next five years – this is an important target if we’re to protect against development in areas that aren’t suitable. That’s why reaching the five-year target has been such a major priority.

Business leaders have told us that the quality of life here in the Selby district is a key part of the success of their companies. It helps them attract and retain the best staff. It’s vital that the growth we support helps us to protect and enhance our quality of life. That’s why the long-term plans from both the District and County Council focus on making sure that it’s the right type of growth in the right place.

Leader of Selby District Council, Cllr Mark Crane

Leader of North Yorkshire County Council, Cllr Carl Les

Tadcaster community library to celebrate first six monthsTadcaster Community Library will celebrate six months of being run by volunteers with an open day on Saturday, 7 October.

The Selby district – a great place to be activeThe leaves may be starting to turn, but that’s no reason not to get out and about in this area over the autumn months. Here are just a few ideas…

Helping you to get online Selby library is responding to feedback from customers by making tablets and other touchscreen computers available for anyone to use. The County and District councils have teamed up to invest in the new devices, which will provide alternatives to the library’s standard desktop computers for people who’re more familiar with using mobile devices at home.

In addition, help will be on hand from library staff and volunteers to advise people on how to use and get the most from their tablets. This could be to help them use County Council or District Council services, look for a better deal on gas and electric, or home or car insurance, keep up to date with friends and family or find out what’s happening locally.

This is a pilot scheme, so before a decision is taken on whether to extend it to other libraries, library staff members want to hear from you about whether the tablets provide the best way to access information and services. So much is done online these days, but some of us could benefit from a helping hand to make the most of it. And what you learn at your library you can use at home too. If you are thinking about buying a tablet or mobile device, this will also allow you to test some different options at your library.

Other digital improvements at libraries include enabling you to print documents from your own device through the Council’s wi-fi. This is being tested at Selby and will be extended to all libraries across the county. You can also now scan documents to your personal email address in all libraries across the county. These improvements will help in such tasks as completing applications and printing tickets.

Sara Gott, chair of the trustees, right, and library volunteer Katherine Wells

You can find out more about things to do in the area via Selby District Council’s website: www.selby.gov.uk (search ‘tourism’). We’ve been promoting events and activities over the summer as part of our work to help business growth and to help you make the most of what’s on our doorstep.

Cycling countryThe Selby district has strong links with cycling and is home to Selby Cycling Club, one of the country’s oldest cycling clubs, which dates back to 1923. If you missed the Three Swans Sportive earlier in the month, then don’t forget that there are plenty of options for cycling in the area. Our landscape lends itself perfectly to both the avid road cyclist as much as to families.

The Transpennine cycle route passes through the district, used by both cyclists and walkers. This includes a spur from Selby to York, which passes through Riccall. It follows the former route of the East Coast Mainline railway north of Riccall and you can still see some of the old railway bridges and structures. Family walks

The pigs, cows and sheep that used to graze Barlow Common have been replaced in more recent times by people fishing or the local scout group, who are making use of the local nature reserve.

Brayton Barff, meanwhile, offers a different opportunity to get out and about in the countryside. With undulating paths and easy manageable walks, the Barff – which means ‘hill’ – offers an ideal opportunity for family walks. At the top of the Barff lies a covered reservoir.

Common landSkipwith Common, a popular spot for bird watchers, was previously occupied by RAF Riccall and the remains of WWII airfields can still be found at this important local wildlife area.

Today, on an autumnal Sunday afternoon walk across the Common we’re more likely to encounter cattle, sheep and ponies roaming free, rather than military aircraft. Although the more adventurous can get involved in paintballing or quad biking at the Common.

Indoor AdventureOpened in 2016, Summit Indoor Adventure could be the answer for the inevitable rainy autumn day. All under one roof, it boasts a BMX track, bowling, aerial trek, climbing walls, adventure play and an indoor ski simulator – which is the only one of its kind outside London.

It’s situated on the same site as Selby Leisure Centre, which opened its doors in 2015. This includes a 25m swimming pool and state-of-the-art fitness facilities.

Victorian GrandeurAt the heart of Selby, between the imposing Abbey and the railway station, stands Selby Park. It was a renowned Victorian park and the site of the town’s old swimming baths. Whilst you can now swim in more modern surroundings at the nearby leisure centre, the park still retains its own pavilion, bowls green, children’s play area, band stand and mini golf. It offers an oasis of calm in the busy town centre.

A series of walks designed to help people make discoveries on their doorstep are available around Selby. The Selby Trails, which are mainly flat, vary between about one and four miles. More details can be found at www.northyorks.gov.uk/selbytrails

Take a walk of discovery

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Between April 2016 and March 2017, Selby District Council gave permission for nearly 1,100 new homes. During this period around 560 new homes were finished. These were on a range of large and small sites across the district, which is a great place to live and continues to be attractive for house building.

There are a number of key sites for major house building in our area and we’re working with the landowners to ensure they’re delivered. At Olympia Park, Barlby, although not currently deliverable within the next five years, we continue to work with the landowners, the Homes and Communities Agency and Local Enterprise Partnerships to unlock development of this strategic site.

Meanwhile, an exciting new development is planned for Selby Paper Mill (the former Rigid Paper Site), which includes proposals for over 300 new homes. The District Council has been working alongside the developers to make sure the plans for the site deliver the best possible quality of homes and the range of properties we know are needed. The proposals include a new canal-side restaurant, new pedestrian bridge over the canal and a range of new public spaces. The development is subject to planning permission being granted.

Selby Canal is set to be the backdrop to a brand new development in the town centre offering high quality living spaces and great access to the town and transport links.

Housing Trust’s Tadcaster Homes Win Excellence AwardNew affordable homes in Tadcaster – developed by the Selby & District Housing Trust – have won a prestigious award for the best social housing development in North and East Yorkshire.

The homes on St Joseph’s Street in the town centre were recognised for their ‘outstanding’ construction and workmanship. The three properties are part of a number of new developments from the Trust in the town. Selby & District Housing Trust is an independent body that partners Selby District Council to build and manage new affordable homes for local people across the district. Speaking on behalf of the Housing Trust, Cllr John Mackman, explained, “When we developed these new properties we wanted to focus on creating the best possible quality of home for our tenants. It’s really important for the Trust to be able to support high-quality housing in the district, as part of our commitment to helping families and individuals in need of affordable homes.”

These new homes in Tadcaster have scooped a top construction award.

New Council homes to support your housing The first tenants have been given keys to brand new Council-built homes at Byram and Eggborough – the first council properties to be built in the Selby district for 25 years.

The new homes are part of the Council’s commitment to help deliver more affordable and accessible housing across the district. Five new bungalows have been built at Byram, with a further ten bungalows at Eggborough. The homes are specifically designed for older people and those who need additional support. The new homes will also have the added benefit of freeing-up much-needed family accommodation across the district.

One of the first tenants to receive keys to his new home was David Nicklin. David explained, “I used to have a three-bedroom home in the village, but as my own family have grown up I was more than happy to move into one of these bungalows, which helps families who need larger properties.”

Alan Bellwood, one of our new Eggborough tenants, has difficulties with mobility and his previous home presented him with challenges carrying out simple day-to-day activities. Alan explained, “I feel that I have a new lease of life. I can safely move around my new home without any worries or concerns.”

The right places for developmentThis autumn, through our Local Plan ‘pool of sites’ consultation, we’re intending to ask for opinions on the sites we think may be suitable for new homes and business growth. This means we can plan properly for the new development we need, involve you in decisions about planning in your area and help others decide where they need to invest in services and infrastructure. We’ve already set out how much new development is needed to provide homes and jobs in the district. This includes 7,200 new homes up to 2027, and between 37 and 52 hectares of employment land. We’re also looking to better support retail and leisure in our town centres to help them prosper.

A significant number of these new homes have already been built or have received planning permission, but we need your help to identify the right sites to meet the remaining demand. We’ll be setting out a list and maps of possible development sites and asking your views on which sites should be allocated for development. Not all sites put forward will be suitable and we need your help to determine which are appropriate.

At the time of going to press, it’s intended that the consultation will run during October and November. All the information will be on our website – www.selby.gov.uk – and there’ll be a series of drop-in sessions if you want to find out more in person. Details will advertised over the coming weeks. You’ll be able to find out more at your local library too, or you can sign-up for our mailing list to keep up-to-date: just send your details to localplan@selby.gov.uk or write to the Planning Policy Team, Civic Centre, Doncaster Road, Selby, YO8 9FT.

David Nicklin receives the keys to his brand new home at Byram from the District Council’s Director of Corporate Services and Commissioning, Julie Slatter.

Supporting sustainable housing growthHousing is a key part of making the Selby district a great place for business and a great place to enjoy life. We’ve got the biggest predicted population growth in North Yorkshire and we need to be able to meet the needs for all different types of homes.

North Yorkshire County Council is exploring the potential for expansion at a number of schools in the Selby district.

This is with a view to providing extra places where schools are expected to experience a growth in demand as a result of new housing developments. Some of these housing developments have already been approved and others are under consideration.

Some work at schools has already been completed or is under way.

Athelstan Community Primary School in Sherburn in Elmet has new classrooms in a two-storey extension following completion of an expansion programme. The school also has a new entrance from Milford Road as well as a new, larger kitchen, and other refurbishments, including new lighting and heating.

The expansion provides additional school places to meet housing growth in the area. The project has been undertaken by Sewell Construction and jointly funded by the County Council and housing developers.

Work has also started on site to add capacity at Thorpe Willoughby Community Primary School.

The scheme will remodel existing teaching spaces to improve their functionality and also provide three new classrooms in response to rising demand for places.

The construction project will be delivered in phases and is due for overall completion in spring next year. The project is funded by a combination of capital from the County Council and contributions from developers.

Expansion: an aerial photo showing the construction under way. Picture by Sewell Construction

Work under way to meet demand for school places

Ambitious plan to improve children’s life chances furtherThe County Council and its partners have set out an ambitious new plan to improve life chances for children and young people across the county.

Young and Yorkshire 2, which sets out a framework for change, builds on the previous plan adopted in 2014.

Its priorities – that children and young people should lead healthy, happy and achieving lives – remain the same. But it calls to action a wide range of partners – schools, families, communities, business, statutory agencies and voluntary groups – to be even more ambitious in tackling some of the more difficult challenges that can limit children’s life chances, be it the school they go to, the place they grow up in or the circumstances of individual young people and their families.

“We want this plan to make a difference, not just to the services we deliver but to children’s lives,” said County Councillor Janet Sanderson, North Yorkshire’s Executive Member for Children’s Services. “We have achieved a great deal over the last three years and have been applauded nationally for our innovative approach to improving services and supporting families and children.

“More of our children go to good or outstanding schools and we have reduced our care population by 20 per cent. But we want to broaden our reach. To make change happen we need collective action across all parts of the system.

“We really need to be a county that succeeds for all and delivers a generation better equipped for not only great work but for life.”

The plan has been produced by the North Yorkshire Children’s Trust Board. The board unites all the agencies working with children and young people across the county at both a strategic and local level.

Get help with weight lossHelp with managing your weight is available to eligible adults in the Selby district.The tier 2 weight management programme started in July following a successful pilot.

People aged over 18 and with a BMI (body mass index) of 25 or more can be referred by their GP or can refer themselves to the programme. Over 12 weeks, people will by advised on diet and exercise and supported to take up physical activity with a target of a five per cent weight loss. Those who are successful will be supported over a further 12 weeks to maintain the loss.

Anyone interested can find our more from their GP or at www.northyorks.gov.uk/tier2.

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The Skills Network, founded just eight years ago, has become one of the fastest-growing and most successful technology-based companies in the Selby district. Based in a small business park on the southern edge of Selby town, this enterprising company employs 800 staff, including 160 full-time staff, providing a serious boost to the area’s economy. The company has forged an excellent reputation on the global stage as one of the UK’s foremost providers of technology-enabled training and skills solutions.

In essence, the company wants to help all its clients to reach their potential by supporting educators, employers, local authorities and learners across the UK and internationally by developing and delivering effective and innovative skills training and published educational content. The goal of “reaching one’s potential” dates back to the Greek philosopher Aristotle, and is an often over-used slogan, but the success of the Skills Network suggests that the company has hit on a winning formula. Certainly the relaxed and informal ambience of its offices suggests a happy workforce and a company at ease with itself.

Director James Earl is tremendously enthusiastic about the growth and the success of the company, saying, “We may be a bit under the radar in the Selby district, although we do have strong links with the excellent Selby College. And that doesn’t mean we under-estimate the benefits of working in Selby, as there is a motivated labour force, superb strategic communications and an historic town centre on our doorstep. We never forget where we are – and where most of our staff come from”.

Our companies benefit from great road and rail connections and we’re also in easy reach of five international airports. This means our businesses can attract staff from a wide area and companies can distribute goods and services easily from a base within our district.

We’ve got big plans for opening up brand new business space. It’s more affordable here than our neighbouring areas too, which means companies get more for their money.

We’ve got a really well-qualified local workforce. This matters, because it means companies can recruit the skills they need within the local area, helping them to expand and

grow. And we’ve got the highest predicted population growth in North Yorkshire, which means a growing local workforce to support companies who are investing in new jobs.

We’ve also got a great quality of life, with a fantastic mix of vibrant market towns and picturesque villages, all set within rolling countryside but with easy access to the vibrant cities of Leeds and York. Our area encapsulates England’s traditional green and pleasant land, but supported by 21st century connectivity and opportunities.

People get more for their money here in terms of house prices. It means we can

attract families, which helps to grow our local workforce and our overall population to support local retailers, services and industries.

We’re one of the safest parts of one of the safest counties in England. Our families benefit from a top quality education sector. We’re home to one of the country’s leading further education colleges – ranked second overall in England. Our primary schools consistently perform well, and we have a great quality independent school sector. This means we’re a great place for families to grow and people to stay for the long-term.

But don’t just take our word for it…

The award-winning Lambert Engineering combines the pursuit of excellence with a strong commitment to its workforce and community, making the company a shining example of the great entrepreneurial spirit within the Selby district.

The Tadcaster-based company, which was founded in 1973 to make machine parts for the local paper and printing industry, has proved, beyond doubt, that the region is a great place to start and grow a business. After this humble beginning, Lambert now employs 180 staff, with a turnover of £23 million, which shows a 115 per cent growth over the past six years. The company has a global network of suppliers and technology partners and quality clients such as Nestle and Procter and Gamble. Lambert is a world leader in bespoke innovative factory automation projects for the FMCG (fast-moving consumer goods) and medical sectors.

“Engineering isn’t just our business. We’re passionate about it. We want to make sure that young people in the Selby area recognise the opportunities that a career in this sector offers and understand the skills that companies like ours are looking to nurture”, explained Warren Limbert, managing director.

When leading Yorkshire property developers Glentrool Estates embarked on Sherburn2, their most ambitious project to date, they had every confidence they would receive the support they needed. Crucially, they believed the Selby district was the ideal location for such a major development.

Jeremy Nolan, director of Ilkley-based Glentrool, is delighted to have been proved correct. With work now underway on the £105 million logistic and manufacturing park, which has the capacity to create 2,550 sustainable jobs, the partnership between Glentrool and the District Council is flourishing.

Sherburn2 is a 75-acre site at Junction 42 of the A1(M) Sherburn-in-Elmet and is wholly owned and fully funded by Glentrool. It’s next to the existing successful Sherburn Enterprise Park, whose occupiers include Debenhams, Sainsbury’s, Optare, Eddie Stobart, Kingspan and Legal & General Homes.

With its strategic location and enormous potential to grow the Selby economy, the project was kick-started with £2.95m infrastructure facility from the York, North Yorkshire and East Riding Enterprise Partnership and Government’s Growing Places’ Fund.

Jeremy Nolan commented: “The success of Sherburn as a destination for high-quality occupiers has underlined the strength of the location, both in terms of the labour force and transport links. It has proved that businesses in the Selby district get much more for their investment than elsewhere in the region.”

At first sight, Church Fenton Airfield is unremarkable. This ex-Royal Air Force base, originally home to the first RAF Eagle Squadron of American Second World War volunteers, looks like many other wartime airfields, whose best days are behind them. But looks are deceptive. For, if you step inside the imposing 34,000 sq ft hangar which dominates the airfield, you are transported into another world – the magnificent and glamorous world of film and television.

The airfield is now the home of Church Fenton Studios, managed and developed by Screen Yorkshire. The historic site is now being redeveloped for film and TV use and includes three hangars totalling nearly 100,000 sq ft of internal production space, plus additional workshops and offices. It also

has one of the biggest back lots in the UK – 440 acres of land with clear vistas, and a network of full width runways and roadways. Its scale and potential for production is almost unparalleled in the UK.

For over ten years, Screen Yorkshire has been at the forefront of championing the film, TV, games and digital industries in Yorkshire and the Humber. Its aim has always been to secure and support the very best projects, companies and individuals, helping to make Yorkshire and the Humber one of the most sought after destinations for production in the UK. As Sally Joynson, the chief executive of Screen Yorkshire, says: “We want Church Fenton Studios to become the Pinewood of the North.”

The main hangar now houses the stunning set of Victoria, ITV’s superb and highly-acclaimed

historical drama about one of our greatest queens. The lavish set depicting Buckingham Palace in all its lavish, glittering glory, takes the breath away. Another 27,000 sq ft hangar will soon be re-developed, which will radically increase the potential of what Screen Yorkshire can achieve.

Sally Joynson explained: “It has been a fascinating journey, from when we first approached the landowner with the idea of locating studios here to where we are now. And the part that Selby District Council has played in this journey is pivotal. It’s not every day that planners have to rule on a change of use from an old airfield to film studios, but the Council acted swiftly and decisively to supporting something that benefits the region.”

Selby – a great place to do businessWe think the Selby district is a great place to do business because we’re right at the heart of Yorkshire.

Lambert Engineering Sherburn2

Warren Limbert talks to staff at award-winning Lambert Engineering in Tadcaster

Jeremy Nolan, director of Glentrool, inspects plans for the Sherburn2 development

Church Fenton Studios

The Skills Network

Screen Yorkshire wants to make Church Fenton Studios the “Pinewood of the north”.

James Earl talks about the advantages of doing business in the Selby district

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• More than 500 of you backed our Bin it for Good initiative with Keep Britain Tidy and helped choose the final charity to benefit from the scheme –St Leonard’s Hospice.

• Support for our social media #1PieceofRubbish campaign from councillors, residents, local schools, sports clubs, Yorkshire Rows sporting heroes and local MP, Nigel Adams.

• Six hundred of you engaged with our food waste roadshows and events. We’ve supported litter picks by residents and community groups across our district.

• One hundred people came along to our pop up shop to encourage us all to reuse and recycle furniture.

North Yorkshire County Council backed the campaign by sharing information about reducing food waste and displaying new information about charges at their Household Waste Recycling Centres in Selby and Tadcaster.

Throughout the campaign we’ve been trying different ways to reduce or highlight the chosen issues. We’ve introduced new ‘Council aware’ and ‘witnesses needed’ stickers for fly tipping – this reduces repeat reporting but also lets residents know if we need witnesses. We’ve also created a new ‘Hall of Shame’ page on the District Council’s website for those convicted of fly tipping offences.

Our innovative clay faces, made with a local arts charity, are helping to deter fly tipping at known ‘hot spots’. Research shows that displaying artwork featuring faces can reduce anti-social behaviour. We’ve bought new mobile CCTV cameras which are now being used to catch fly tippers.

Following our focus on litter we saw a reduction in litter on the ground in Gowthorpe, Selby of 34%. And after we highlighted fly tipping issues we saw the first reduction in fly tipping incidents in April 2017 with just 37 fly tips – compared to 67 the previous month.

We’ve also been talking about the issue of dog fouling. The majority of dog owners always pick up after their pets but we’ve been reminding the few that don’t of the penalties if they’re caught. It’s easy to report offenders via the District Council’s website www.selby.gov.uk/dogfouling.

We’ve been running a popular competition to choose the furry face of our campaign – dog owners who pledged to be responsible and always pick up after their pets have been entered into a competition to win prizes supplied by Jollyes Petfood Superstore. We’ve also hosted four events with the Dog’s Trust, in Riccall, Selby town centre, Sherburn and Tadcaster, to promote responsible dog ownership, offering a free dog healthcheck, free poo bags, free on the spot microchipping and free ‘check your chip’ service.

In Riccall, we’ve been running a trial with the parish council who, as well as hosting one of our Dog’s Trust events, also added new stickers to existing bins in their village reminding dog owners that bagged poo can go in regular waste bins as well as dedicated dog poo bins.

Another initiative is new glow in the dark window stickers which will be offered to households in the village where there are issues outside their homes with dog fouling – which promise to report those who don’t pick up after their dogs.

The parish council is working with dog owners in the village in a new initiative that encourages responsible dog walkers to act as village wardens – the Green Dog Walkers Scheme. Dog walkers with green ribbons attached to their dog leads are identified as dog walkers with spare poo bags. These dog walkers will also report any dog walkers who don’t pick up after their dog to Selby District Council.

Next we’re turning our attention once again to litter – supporting litter picks all over the district and encouraging schools, businesses, community leaders and councillors to back direct action in their communities.

You can find out more online via www.selby.gov.uk – just search for Don’t be a Waster. There are plenty of ways in which you can get involved.

Thank you for supporting Don’t be a WasterThank you for helping make our Don’t be a Waster – Reduce, Reuse, Respect campaign a success.You’ve put your weight behind Selby District Council’s major campaign to encourage community pride and raise awareness of street scene issues such as litter, fly tipping, waste and dog fouling.

We’ve got lots more planned throughout the rest of the year but we’ve had fantastic support from across the district since the campaign kicked off in January.25 projects benefit from support

In the past year, the Stronger Communities team has invested more than £277,000 in 25 projects across the Selby district.This included support for the transformation of the library service, which has seen Sherburn in Elmet and Tadcaster libraries join Barlby as community-managed ventures.

Among other projects supported by Stronger Communities were:

• £14,700 for Hemingbrough Development Community Interest Company for professional support to support provision of a community hall;

• £15,000 for Community Furniture Store (Selby) Ltd to extend its work experience programme and develop volunteering for clients facing extensive barriers to employment;

• £4,325 for Rural Action Yorkshire (Now Community First Yorkshire) to develop and launch a peer support Village Hall Network across Selby district with additional support for three village hall committees;

• £1,000 to the Youth Well-being Fund for development support, including production of a training package to meet the needs of young people wishing to become trustees for YWF and promotional work;

• £840 for Kelcbar Social Centre to buy IT equipment to support centre users’ access of IT and digital services;

• £939 to Sherburn Festival for promotion of activities and volunteering through production of an event brochure with information about what’s on in Sherburn and how to get involved;

• £877 for Selby District Vision to buy learning materials to support the establishment of a Braille learning group at Selby library; and

• Under the Digital Neighbours scheme:

• £4,000 has gone to Sherburn in Elmet Community Trust to buy IT equipment and offer additional IT learning opportunities to local residents;

• £4,000 to Age UK Selby District for the extension of the “Connecting You” service providing support to people aged 50 or older wanting support to use IT;

• £3,710 to Horton Housing Association for peer support to encourage use of IT in one-to-one settings and at community cafés.

Council team working even more closely with communities

North Yorkshire County Council’s Stronger Communities team is taking a new approach to how it works with groups to support them in delivering services or activities that benefit people’s health and wellbeing.The team has launched its new investment prospectus, Inspire, Achieve, Innovate, which sets out how it aims to work even more closely with voluntary and community groups, operating in partnership as well as offering financial support.

The team, which was set up three years ago, strives to develop communities’ abilities to look after themselves even more effectively than they already do, reducing demand on services by investing in preventative activities and helping to mitigate cuts in public services.

It is keen to support a wide range of small projects, community events and local activities as well as partnering with and investing in organisations that want to develop larger scale services and projects that align with the County Council’s priorities.

County Councillor David Chance, Executive Member for Stronger Communities, said: “We are facing unprecedented financial challenges, so it is important to make sure that services and support are cost-effective, good-quality and high-performing. We know there are many community groups, voluntary organisations and service providers already providing good, cost-effective support for children, young people and families, people with disabilities and older people and that they have more ideas for developing new ways of working.

“We would like to see as many communities as possible benefiting from our Stronger Communities programme and have designed this investment prospectus to support their ideas and ambitions, whether it’s small one-off projects, piloting new ideas or developing large scale, long-term services.

“Above everything, we want to see this prospectus deliver action, build and strengthen strategic partnerships and encourage informal networks which help to reduce inequalities, increase social connections and improve the wellbeing of our communities.”

Stronger Communities’ new investment prospectus, Inspire, Achieve, Innovate, was launched at a series of roadshows where it was praised for its collaborative nature.At one of the roadshows are (from left, front) Barbara Lee and Eileen Bellett of Osmotherley Community Group and (back) County Council project manager Alice Batley, Stronger Communities delivery manager Adele Wilson-Hope, Cllr David Chance, head of Stronger Communities Marie-Ann Jackson and Leah Swain of Community First Yorkshire.

Find out more about fundingThe three programmes of funding available will support smaller community projects, the development of partnerships to deliver improvements and innovative projects that meet challenges to the delivery of services. The focus will be on the programme’s priorities of libraries, children, young people and families, community transport and older people and adults.

For more information about Stronger Communities, visit www.northyorks.gov.uk/stronger-communities or email stronger.communities@northyorks.gov.uk.

Also online at selby.gov.uk and northyorks.gov.uk 1110

Your County and District councils are continuing efforts to make savings and efficiencies by working together. This helps us to make the most of each and every pound.

By working like this, over £350,000 has been saved so far, with over £1m of future savings identified too.

This isn’t just about saving money, however, it’s also about making it easier for you to access services. Both councils run different services and we want to make it as easy as possible for you to get what you need, when you need it.

There are lots of different ways in which we’re linking up to make things more efficient. After a successful trial last year we’re making savings from combining our finance support into a single team that works for both councils.

The same principle has also been applied to our IT support. Councils are complex organisations and we run lots of different IT systems to support the wide variety of things that we do. But by working together on IT support, both councils are benefitting from the arrangements. Not only are there financial savings, but it also helps to make our IT more resilient and secure.

We’ve also relocated services together, enabling us to reduce rents and rates of office accommodation within the Selby area.

Follow the trading standards team on social media for more tips and advice: @nyccts on Twitter and North Yorkshire Trading Standards on Facebook. There will be a Twitter and Facebook giveaway of 20 handy plug checkers during Electrical Fire Safety Week #EFSW from 10 to 17 November.

Consumers can report problems to Trading Standards and get detailed advice via Citizens Advice on 03444 111 444.

There are fewer than 100 days till Christmas. Whether you are shopping now or will leave it until 24 December, the County Council’s Trading Standards team has advice to ensure you have a safe and scam-free Christmas.

Shopping online Research the seller before you buy – are they UK-based? Do you have a contact address if there is a problem? Do they have good or bad reviews? Use a credit or debit card or online payment providers to protect your money if things go wrong. Do not pay by bank transfer or ‘friends and family’ transfers on payment platforms.

Shopping on the high street Pop-up shops might offer bargains but are unlikely to be there in the New Year if purchases develop a fault. Pay by credit or debit card and keep receipts.Ask for a gift receipt so recipients can return presents if they don’t fit or are faulty.

Shopping safely • Take particular care if you are buying electrical items and toys. • Look for the CE mark and importer’s or manufacturer’s details on the label.• Check there are instructions and follow them.• Check plugs and cables for obvious faults and loose connections.• Keep button batteries and toys with small parts away from young children.

Closer working with the PoliceLater this year North Yorkshire Police will move their Portholme Road police station in Selby to the District Council’s civic centre, in a carefully planned move that will help both organisations free-up more money for frontline services.

As well as being cost effective, the move will help the police and Council officers work more closely together to tackle the issues facing our district.

As well as the changes to the existing building, work will take place to extend the staff car park too. This means parking for the hospital, which also shares the site, will be unaffected by the building work.

Chief Inspector Allan Wescott, operations commander for Selby and York with North Yorkshire Police, explained, “This move puts our officers in easy reach of both members of the public and the partner organisations we frequently work with.

“It also means we can run our buildings more economically by reducing our overheads and running costs.

“Working in this way ensures we can deliver a really high standard of policing for communities across Selby district.”

More for your money

When Kingfisher Place, Selby, opened in January 2014 managers Steve Burke and Jo Murphy made it their mission to get the garden going.Kingfisher Place is one of the County Council’s day services, which provides daytime support and activities for up to 12 adults with high or complex support needs.

More than 70 years ago a Halifax bomber collided with St James’ Church spire in Selby and devastated Portholme Drive. The victims were cared for at the former workhouse site that Kingfisher Place occupies. When the church commemorated the event, a collection was organised and £500 was raised to start a garden fund. A further £5,000 was received from Eggborough power station and Groundworks offered to help.

The garden now features a handmade table for sand and water activity, a swing, sensory edible herb patch, shaded area with awning and a water feature – all in a small space.

A party marked the opening of the garden. Visitors, users and staff tucked into homemade cake, local strawberries and scones and cream.

Good rating for respite centreTawny Lodge, a County Council respite centre in Selby, has received a “good” rating from the Care Quality Commission.County Councillor Michael Harrison, North Yorkshire’s Executive Member for Health and Adult Services, said: “We are very proud that the work that our highly professional and caring staff carry out at Tawny Lodge to support families with members who have complex and often challenging needs has been recognised by the CQC.”

Tawny Lodge, a four-bedded respite unit, with its own private garden, where people with complex needs can enjoy short stays while their carers take a break, was created four years ago. It is part of a £4m investment in care services in Selby, ensuring that people have access to modern, purpose-built facilities.

Cllr Harrison added: “Provision at Tawny Lodge is judged to be good across all five areas of the inspection: safe; responsive; well-led; caring and effective. In North Yorkshire, the care and safeguarding of vulnerable people is our highest priority and we are delighted to see the commitment of our staff commended in this way.”

A garden party to remember

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ContactsSelby District Council www.selby.gov.uk 01757 705 101

@selbydc www.facebook.com/selbydc

North Yorkshire County Council www.northyorks.gov.uk 01609 780 780

@northyorkscc www.facebook.com/northyorkscc

Policewww.northyorkshire.police.uk Non-emergency calls 101Emergencies dial 999

Health Non-emergency calls 111Emergencies dial 999

Citizens’ Advice Bureau www.citizensadvice.org.uk 03444 111 444

Traveline(independent advice about public transport services) www.traveline.info

Business supportLeeds City Region Enterprise Partnershipwww.the-lep.com York, North Yorkshire and East Riding Enterprise Partnershipwww.businessinspiredgrowth.com

Parish councilsFor details of your parish council, check via www.selby.gov.uk

Making a difference for your areaThe Community Engagement Forums (CEFs) in our district have their own ambitious community development plans in place to serve the needs of the areas they cover. Each CEF empowers people to make decisions on things that matter in their community.

You can get involved, and help to decide how money is spent on what matters most in your area. The CEFs each have a pot of funding for local initiatives, where these support the goals of the community development plan for their patch. Decisions on funding are made by the CEF Board, which comprises local residents, public services such as the police and highways teams, District Council staff and your local councillors.

During 2016/17 the forums distributed £213,689 to support local activities and groups. Examples of

some of the initiatives CEF funding has supported during the year include providing funding towards the Hambleton Community Cinema, a new ceiling for the Riccall Village Institute, an arts project at six schools across Selby, supporting the upgrade of the Visit Tadcaster website and a community cycle project in Monk Fryston and Hillam.

Why not get involved in your local CEF and help make a difference to your local area? It’s a fantastic opportunity to share your voice and help your community. To find out more about the CEFs and meetings planned for the year ahead please visit www.selby.gov.uk/cefs.

Committee looks at local issuesAll county councillors that represent divisions in Selby district sit on the Selby Area Committee, which enables local councillors to debate local issues.The committee works with the District Council and other bodies to promote community issues such as safety, transport, education and economic development. It is also involved in local highways issues. Topics at its recent meeting included a new approach to categorising public rights of way and an update on highways issues.All area committee meetings are open to the public and public questions can be submitted to meetings. The next meetings of the Selby Area Committee will be on 13 November and 26 March at Selby Civic Centre. Further details and agendas are published in the “about the council” section of the County Council’s website, www.northyorks.gov.uk, where you can find reports of recent discussions and decisions and details of forthcoming meetings.

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