Your District Council Matters - issue 35

LANCASTER

CITY COUNCIL

Your District Council

Promoting City, Coast & Countryside

Matters Lancaster City Council’s Community Magazine

Issue 35 • Spring/Summer 2018

Inside Win tickets to the Platform and a spa thermal journey How we’re tackling anti-social behaviour About your council tax

Volunteers help to keep our district clean

Look who’s monkeying around in Williamson Park

@lancastercc facebook.com/lancastercc

www.lancaster.gov.uk

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Your District Council Matters Spring/Summer 2018

Your District Council Matters Spring/Summer 2018

Help us wage war on litter Do you want to give something back to your community and do your bit to help keep our district clean, tidy and a place we can all be proud to live?

Lancaster City Council helps local groups to organise litter picks to tackle the scourge of litter on our streets, parks and public places.

As well as the free loan of all the equipment and taking away the litter collected at the end of the day, you will also be given the information you need to carry out a safe and successful litter pick.

Staff, students and volunteers from Capernwray Hall recently undertook a litter pick along the Lancaster to Morecambe cycle path.

The group borrowed some litter picking equipment from the city council and set to work on a very wet and windy January afternoon.

More than 100 people took part, collecting around 220 bags of rubbish and various other items including bikes and wooden pallets.

Litter picks are also in the process of being organised by police cadets and other community groups as part of their commitment to helping keep the district clean.

For more information on how to get involved visit www.lancaster.gov.uk/litter.

If you would like to organise a litter pick in your area, telephone 01524 582491 or email PublicRealm@lancaster.gov.uk

Operation Peregrine swoops down on fly tippers We all want to see our streets and public spaces clean and free of litter.

That’s why we’ve launched a new campaign, Operation Peregrine, to step up action against those responsible for the illegal dumping of waste.

The council’s new enforcement team of specialist crime investigators will be leaving no stone unturned in tracing illegally dumped rubbish back to its owner so action can be taken.

Lead environmental enforcement officer, Dave Vickers, said:

“Fly tipping blights our communities and spoils our countryside and we all need to work together if we have any chance of winning the war.

Key to this operation is the collaboration and support of local communities to gather information, intelligence and evidence for the team to investigate.”

✓

How satisfied are you?

An online residents’ survey will be launched on Monday April 2 to help us monitor satisfaction within communities, the council and some of its services.

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The survey will include questions on street cleanliness, parks and open spaces, refuse collection and household recycling.

The maximum fine for fly tipping is £50,000 in a magistrates court and unlimited in the higher courts, and up to five years imprisonment.

Householders and businesses are also reminded that they have a duty of care to check the legitimacy of the person taking their waste away. Failing to use a licensed waste carrier can lead to a fine of up to £5,000.

The results will be monitored to help to review how the council is performing and may prompt further investigation with customers and staff.

If you want to join in the battle against the hideous crime of fly tipping and can offer any information which might lead to an offender being identified and caught, please call 01524 582491, email customerservices@lancaster.gov.uk or use the online reporting form at www.lancaster.gov.uk/fly-tipping.

If you want to take part, or would like to receive emails about other online consultations, please sign up to our Voice Your Views Panel at www.lancaster.gov.uk/views.

Alternatively you can post a photo of the rubbish at Facebook.com/lancastercc or Twitter @lancastercc and someone from our enforcement team will get in touch with you before investigating.

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Your District Council Matters Spring/Summer 2018

New team gets to grips with anti-social behaviour A new team of experts has been created to crack down on the sort of activities and behaviour that can ruin the lives of individuals, communities and the environment on a daily basis.

Funded by a variety of sources, including Morecambe Town Council, the council has established a new AntiSocial Behaviour Team of experienced officers to provide communities with a rapid and effective response to people being affected by persistent and unacceptable behaviour.

Exercising its powers under the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act, behaviour dealt with by the team will include noisy, intimidating or abusive neighbours, drug misuse or drug dealing and youth anti-social behaviour.

Having already worked closely with the Neighbourhood Policing Teams in Lancaster and Morecambe, the team has already been successful in closing an address associated with drug dealing, prosecuted a parent who was not taking responsibility for the behaviour of her child who was causing anti-social behaviour in the West End of Morecambe and is currently in the process of prosecuting a second parent for a similar offence.

The team has also carried out numerous informal interventions relating to neighbour disputes, noise complaints and cannabis smoking affecting addresses.

Taking a firm hold of the reins and with 30 years in the police force under his belt is former local inspector Geoff Tagg. Geoff will be working alongside retired police officer Jamie McGraw and Amanda Gervais who has a degree in psychology. Amanda will be researching how mental health can be a root cause of some anti-social behaviour and alternative methods of dealing with related issues.

Youth officer Rebecca Hutton (currently taking a degree in policing and criminal investigation at UCLAN) completes the team.

Your District Council Matters Spring/Summer 2018

Geoff explained how the work of the team will make a difference to communities:

“Everyone has the right to live peacefully and safely in their homes. If people are being subjected to persistent activity which leaves them feeling alarmed and harassed we would urge people not to suffer in silence.

Anti-social behaviour can only be tackled if people speak up and tell us about it so that we can investigate the cause of the problem and decide on which course of action would be the most effective way of making the behaviour stop.”

The council is also developing plans, in consultation with local young people, to provide safe and enjoyable places where they can socialise with their friends instead of being the subjects of reports relating to ASB. You can report antisocial behaviour in a number of ways: Online: www.lancaster.gov.uk/asb By email to: environmentalhealth @lancaster.gov.uk By calling: 01524 582935 Any information you provide will be treated in the strictest confidence.

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New state-ofthe-art CCTV being installed A new and improved state-ofthe-art CCTV system will help to combat crime and anti-social behaviour on the streets of Lancaster and Morecambe.

The new system replaces the district’s existing CCTV cameras but is more advanced, allowing remote access by council authorised officers via any device connected to the internet.

In addition to providing vital evidence to the police in the event of a crime, the council will use the system to monitor public areas to assist in managing events and identifying issues relating to litter, vandalism and dog fouling.

New mobile CCTV cameras will also be used at fly-tipping hotspots to help catch offenders.

Initially one of the cameras will be based in Morecambe and another in one of the district’s rural areas, but will move around known problem areas.

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Your District Council Matters Spring/Summer 2018

Your District Council Matters Spring/Summer 2018

Garden waste subscriptions open now

Recycling reminder

Residents can now subscribe to the garden waste collection service for 2018/19.

Here’s a reminder as to what items should and shouldn’t be put in your recycling boxes:

In January last year, the collection of garden waste from households in the Lancaster district became a subscription-only service as a result of losing funding from Lancashire County Council towards the recycling service, along with ongoing reductions in funding from central government.

During its first year of operation, the subscription service was used by more than 21,000 households, with some residents sharing bins with neighbours to halve the cost of the service and others not requiring the service at all.

For 2018/19, the subscription cost is £40 per bin, for collections from 1 April 2018 to 31 March 2019.

To renew your subscription, or to join the garden waste collection service, visit www.lancaster.gov.uk/ gardenwaste.

Although the majority of residents are confident about what household items are currently recyclable, when contamination does occur it can cause an entire bin load to be rejected and sent to landfill.

YES PLEASE! BOX 1 (Paper and Card)

✓

✓ Toilet & kitchen roll tubes ✓ Shredded paper ✓ Telephone directories ✓ Gift wrap and cards ✓ Newspapers & Magazines ✓ Office paper ✓ Junk mail ✓ Cardboard packaging (please fold down large pieces)

BOX 2 (Glass, Cans and Plastic Bottles) ✓ Clean foil ✓ Aerosols ✓ Metal sweet/biscuit tins ✓ Cleaning product bottles ✓ Toiletry bottles ✓ Perfume/aftershave bottles ✓ Glass bottles and jars ✓ Plastic milk, water, squash and pop bottles ✓ Food tins and drink cans

NO THANKS! ✗ Drink cartons

✗ Polystyrene

✗ Nappies

✗ Food waste

✗

✗ Plastic pots, tubs, trays and carrier bags

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The writing’s on the wall for weeds and plastic bottles Graffiti is a problem that can blight communities but can be difficult to remove – until now.

The city council has taken delivery of a new ‘grafitti buster’ machine to blast graffiti from walls using a high pressure water jet or sand.

It’s all part of the city council’s investment in maintaining the cleanliness of the district’s streets and public spaces, which has also seen the purchase of specially adapted quad bikes to tackle the perennial problem of weeds.

Previously weeds were sprayed using a hand operated wand and backpack system, but the computerised system used by the quad bikes ensures a more controlled release of the weed control chemicals.

They are able to do the job quicker and more effectively and will be spraying highways and byways across the district to reduce weeds on roads and paths.

Over the next few months the council is also looking to recruit two additional cleaning staff and an additional enforcement officer to give it even more capacity to help it in its mission to keep the streets clean.

Working with Lancaster University, the city council is also working to tackle the growing issue of plastic pollution.

After councillors voted to support a motion to tackle the vast amount of plastic ending up in landfill and polluting the world’s oceans, the city council approached the university for help.

The university was able to issue this as a challenge for business leaders working on an initiative called the ‘Low Carbon Innovation Forum’, which is run through the Lancaster University Management School and aims to provide small and medium sized businesses with the tools and techniques they need to innovate and reduce their carbon footprint.

The over use of plastic and single use coffee cups is something that’s affecting the globe, not just the Lancaster district and by working with businesses, academics, schools and local residents, it’s hoped an innovative range of solutions can be found.

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Your District Council Matters Spring/Summer 2018

The power of three Three councils have pledged to work more closely to attract greater investment and employment into the Morecambe Bay area.

The new partnership between Lancaster City Council, South Lakeland District Council and the Borough of Barrow in Furness will enable more effective economic development activity and bring fresh opportunities.

The first step towards collaboration has already been taken with the leaders of each council signing a Joint Statement of Intent to work together on economic development opportunities.

Consultants Mickledore found that an unusually high proportion of the workforce both live and work within the combined area and, whilst the economies of South Lakeland, Lancaster and Barrow have significant differences, there are clear benefits from collaborating on economic development and other important initiatives.

By working together the partner authorities will share a bigger economic picture; demonstrating strengths in marine engineering, energy generation, nuclear skills, advanced engineering and higher education.

Ideas include the creation of a Prospectus of Opportunity, setting out the strengths and opportunities for investment and growth across Morecambe Bay and the joint promotion of the area as a great place to live, study and build a career.

The three authorities will now work on developing an action plan. Councillors and officers from all three authorities met recently (pictured) to discuss the next steps.

© Joe Mather

Your District Council Matters Spring/Summer 2018

Explore Nature’s Amphitheatre Online

West End Two gets underway

The visitor economy is growing in the Lancaster District. It’s now worth £243million with over 7.4million annual visitors. In support of this continued growth, visitors to Morecambe Bay will now be able to log onto a brand new website to find out about the Bay’s unique places and attractions available to visit.

The website, www. exploremorecambebay.org.uk has been designed specifically for mobile and tablet use so visitors can get some inspiration and practical guidance for exploring this unique coastal area.

The site complements the Lancaster visitor website www. visitlancaster.org.uk and provides everything a visitor would need to plan a short break with user friendly filter options to find the perfect place to stay, visitor attractions and restaurants.

The website will work effectively alongside our Visitor Information Centres and social media feeds in promoting and responding to enquiries across a variety of channels.

Lancaster City Council is working with Placefirst, a specialist build-to-rent developer, to regenerate blocks of Victorian properties just off Regent Road.

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Work has begun on the second phase of a project to breathe new life into properties in Morecambe’s West End.

The first phase, West End One, won the Sunday Times British Homes Award for Best Refurbishment of 2017, and work has now begun on the second phase, West End Two. West End Two will offer 51 new ation of this terrace West End One saw the transform homes including two, three, homes. on Albert Road into new family four and five-bedroom homes for rent at competitive prices that reflect the standard, quality and level of the refurbishment.

Works initially commenced first on the Albert Road terrace and are progressing across the site with the first homes expected to be ready by this summer.

The completions are phased and will be released to the market as the development progresses with the final properties completed by the autumn.

West End Two will offer 51 new homes created through comprehensive remodeling of 23 long-term empty properties.

The development will offer a diverse choice of new homes from two-bedroom apartments to five-bedroom townhouses, and will preserve the rich heritage features of the Victorian properties, whilst transforming the interiors to offer a truly modern living experience and high quality rental offer in the wider West End of Morecambe.

West End Two includes Kenilcote, a large house on Chatsworth Road built in 1891 and designed by William Woodhouse (1857-1939), a Morecambe artist nationally renowned for his landscape and animal paintings. Kenilcote will be restored into a large 5-bedroom house.

Anyone interested in the new homes at West End Two can register their interest by calling Placefirst’s resident service team on 0300 555 5564, or online at www.placefirst.co.uk.

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Your District Council Matters Spring/Summer 2018

Your District Council Matters Spring/Summer 2018

WHAT’S ON

New Season at the Platform Fans of 1960s music are in for a treat with a host of iconic bands from the famous decade announced in the new season at the Platform in Morecambe.

Audiences can take a trip down memory lane with classic acts such as The Searchers and The Fortunes as well as former members of The Kinks performing the band’s famous hits as Kast Off Kinks. Monty Python fans can enjoy The Rutles, the band created by Eric Idle and Neil Innes, who famously parody The Beatles.

There is plenty on offer for lovers of 70s and 80s music too with the likes of Showaddywaddy, John Coghlan’s Quo, The Real Thing, Ruby Turner and Big Country.

For comedy fans, actor, author, One Show reporter, former MP, QI, Have I Got News For You and Countdown star Gyles Brandreth returns with his new one-man show Break a Leg! - a celebration of all things theatrical.

Jazz enthusiasts can look forward to The Ronnie Scott’s All Stars “Ronnie Scott’s Soho Songbook” direct from the famous London Jazz club, and there will also be performances from the Grimethorpe Colliery Band and the Glenn Miller Orchestra.

We have a pair of tickets to a show of your choice to give away. To be Experience the timeless tunes of musical icons in with a chance of winning simply as well with the highest quality tributes to The Jersey Boys, Kate Bush, George Michael, Bon Jovi, answer the following question: The Carpenters, Bob Marley, Michael Jackson and Which Monty Python member The Beach Boys. founded The Rutles?

With numerous community events and the Send your answer by email to annual, free lunchtime concerts line-up in late communications@lancaster.gov.uk spring, the Platform season offers something for along with your name and everyone. For the full line-up of events, including telephone number or post the dates and prices, visit www.lancaster.gov.uk/ answer and your contact details to platform. The Platform spring/summer 2018 Communications Team, Town Hall, brochure is out now and can be picked up from Dalton Square, Lancaster, LA1 1PJ. Lancaster and Morecambe Visitor Information The deadline for entries is Centres or downloaded from the website.

Friday 27 April 2018.

Competition

@theplatformlcc MUSIC | COMEDY | DANCE | THEATRE | CABARET CHILDREN’S SHOWS | COMMUNITY EVENTS

/Morecambeplatform

at the Platform April 1: Club Tropicana, 8pm, £10 (18+) 3: Lost and Found Children’s Show, 2pm, £7/£25 for group of 4 6: Oh What A Night – The New Jersey Boys, 7.30pm, £16 7: Morecambe Band “Brass at the Platform”, 7.30pm, £12/£10/£6 14: The Manfreds, 7.30pm, £22 19: Michael Chapman, 8pm, £14 20: Brian Kennedy, 7.30pm, £17.50 (16+) 21: Grimethorpe Colliery Band, 7.30pm, £19 27: Big Country – Up Close and Personal, 8pm, £22 (16+)

May 4: Stephen Dale Petit, 7.30pm, £14 5: Cloudbusting – The Music of Kate Bush, 7.30pm, £16 10: TJ Higgs – UK’s Foremost Psychic Medium, 7.30pm, £17.50 11: Show of Hands (Duo Tour), 7.30pm, £22 12: Showaddywaddy, 7.30pm, £20 18: Beyond Faith: George Michael Tribute Concert, 7.30pm, £20 (16+) 20: PCO – Last Night of the Proms, 3pm, £15/£13/£7 25: John Coghlan’s Quo, 8pm, £18.50 (14+) 26: The Searchers, 7.30pm, £21 30: The Rutles, 7.30pm, £20 (18+)

June 2&3: Around the World in 80 Days Steampunk Festival, 11am – 4pm, £3 on the door 8: The Ronnie Scott’s All Stars, 7.30pm, £19.50 9: The Bon Jovi Experience, 8pm, £17 (18+)

15: Carpenters Gold, 7.30pm, £20/£18.50 16: The Lancashire Hotpots, 7.30pm, £15 (advance), £17 (on the door) 22: The Raymond Froggatt Show, 7.30pm, £15 29: The Real Thing, 7.30pm, £22.50/£20 30: Armed Forces Day, 11.30am – 4pm

July 5: Ruby Turner, 8pm, £20 6: Kast off Kinks, 7.30pm, £20/£18 (14+) 7: Choral Stimulation, 7.30pm, £18 8: Gyles Brandreth “Break A Leg”, 7.30pm, £17.50 13: The Fortunes “Past and Present Show”, 8pm, £20 14&15: Freestage, 12pm – 4pm, Free 20: Heidi Talbot & John McCusker, 7.30pm, £15

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Details correct at time of going to press. Please check with the venue before making a special journey.

21: Rock Back the Clock, 7.30pm, £20 (14+) 25: The Giant’s Loo Roll Children’s Show, 2.30pm, £10 (£35 for a family of 4) 27: The Glenn Miller Orchestra, 7.30pm, £22

28: The Marley Experience – Tribute to Bob Marley, 8pm, £15

August 3: The King of Pop starring Navi, 7.30pm, £20/£15 4: Live at the Platform featuring Massive Wagons, 7.30pm,| £15 (18+) 11: 90’s Sorted, 8pm, £10 (18+) 12: Model Railway Exhibition, 12pm – 4.30pm, £1 on the door (under 5’s free) 17: Badfinger, 7.30pm, £18 (14+) 18: Magic of the Musicals, 7.30pm, £17 24: The Story of the Beach Boys – A Tribute, 7.30pm, £17 25: The Moonlight Serenade Orchestra, 7.30pm, £15 26: Juke Box Jive, 12pm – 5pm

Tickets available online at: www.lancaster.gov.uk/platform or call the box office on: 01524 582803

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LANCASTER

Your District Council Matters Spring/Summer 2018

CITY COUNCIL

Promoting City, Coast & Countryside

Draft budget sets out future priorities Lancaster City Council’s Cabinet has proposed a wide-ranging programme of investment to ensure the district thrives as a vibrant regional centre.

While the council only faces a small budget deficit for 2018/19, this rises to £0.9M in 2019/20 and £2.3M in 2020/21.

In addition to a proposed council tax increase of around 12p per week for a Band D property, the budget (which was due to be confirmed as Your District Council Matters went to press) includes innovative ways to generate income to protect vital services and be in a position to progress major regeneration projects.

A key project will see the recruitment of additional staff to help keep the streets clean and take action against fly-tippers, as part of a wider project to transform the way services like cleansing and grounds maintenance are delivered.

Other proposals include investing in key regeneration sites, including the Heysham Gateway, to make them suitable for inward investment while generating an income for the council.

Proposals for Williamson Park include investing to make it a top regional attraction by creating a “Lost Castle” or treetop trail to increase day visitors and generate additional income for the council.

Economic development also features heavily in the budget, with proposed investment to increase business start ups, grow existing businesses and open up the district to new national and international trading opportunities.

The city council’s portion of tax is set to rise by 2.99%, which equates to an estimated £6.40 a year for a Band D property.

While as the billing authority Lancaster City Council collects Council Tax, it only receives around 13% of the total bill to spend on its services.

Excluding parishes, of the remaining bill, the majority goes to Lancashire County Council (73%), with precepts from Lancashire Police Authority (10%) and Lancashire Combined Fire Authority (4%) making up the rest.

73%

13%

10%

4%

Lancashire County Council

Lancaster City Council

Lancashire Police Authority

Lancashire Combined Fire Authority

About your Council Tax

2018/19

2 | About your Council Tax 2018/19

About your Council Tax 2018/19 | 3

About your Council Tax Council Tax is charged on most homes, whether rented or owned, lived in or not. There’s one bill per home, whether it’s a house, bungalow, flat, maisonette, caravan or houseboat.

Each home is in a Valuation Band, A-H, based on what it would have sold for on 1st April 1991. The Valuation Office Agency, not the council, allocates a valuation band to every home. The council uses this to work out your Council Tax bill.

You may be able to appeal against the valuation band if: • You have moved into the property in the last 6 months; or • There has been a change in the building, or the physical state of the local area, which could reduce the value of your dwelling.

Properties that don’t have to pay Council Tax Council Tax is not charged on homes which: • Only students live in; • Only people under 18 live in; • Only people who are severely mentally impaired live in; • Dependent relatives live in as an annexe to the main property (granny flats);

Council Tax is not charged on empty homes which: • A charity owns (exempt for up to 6 months);

For more information write to: Manchester Valuation Office, Manchester One, 53 Portland Street, Manchester, M1 3LD. Phone: 03000 501501 Email: ctnorth@voa.gsi.gov.uk Website: www.voa.gov.uk

• The person who lived in it is in prison, in hospital or in a residential home;

The law requires that you must continue to pay your Council Tax.Second

• The trustee of is waiting for probate or letters of administration to be granted;

Second homes (furnished dwellings in which no one resides) in this district are charged full Council Tax.

• Is subject to repossession proceedings;

If your second home is job-related (unoccupied because you are required to live elsewhere in a property provided for you as a result of your employment), you will be charged 50% of the full Council Tax.

• The person who lived in it has gone to live with someone else to receive care, or has moved to care for someone else;

Discounts The council is required to make sure discounts are being granted to the right households, in the right circumstances. We may do this by sending out forms asking for information. If you get a form asking about discounts, you don’t have to return it, but if you think you’re eligible, returning the form may speed up the decision. When we send your Council Tax bill to you, unless we have information that a discount should apply, we will assume that two or more adults, none of which come under any of the disregarded groups listed below, are resident in the property and issue a bill for full Council Tax. Alternatively, if we have made the assumption that a discount does apply, your bill will state the amount and reason for the discount, and whether this is due to there being only one resident, or because all except one resident is not counted for Council Tax purposes.

In all cases, we will continue to assume that a discount does, or does not apply on every day of the period stated on your bill. You must tell us if this assumption is wrong.

If there is no discount and you think you should get one, you should write to us explaining why. We will tell you what evidence you may need to provide in support of your claim.

Who is not counted?

• A student or student nurse;

• A student owns and was the last person to live in;

• An apprentice or youth training trainee;

• A trustee in bankruptcy is responsible for;

• A long-term hospital patient;

• An 18 or 19 year old who is at or has just left school;

• Nobody can live in by law; or

• A permanent resident of a care home, nursing home or hostel;

• A minister of religion is waiting to occupy.

• Severely mentally impaired;

Council tax is no

t charged on stu

dent properties.

• A care worker on low pay (usually working for charities); • A carer for someone with a disability who is not their husband, wife, partner or child under 18; • A member of a religious community; • In prison; or • A member of visiting forces.

Most of these categories have conditions which must be met and verified to qualify to be discounted, therefore we may need to request certain information before any discount is applied. In the absence of such information and verification, the council may assume that a discount does not apply, so we would recommend that you contact us to check individual circumstances.

Discounts for Empty Dwellings Previously certain types of empty homes were exempt from paying Council Tax, but the Government made changes to regulations which abolished these exemptions from 1st April 2013, and gave councils powers to decide on local discounts instead.

4 | About your Council Tax 2018/19

About your Council Tax 2018/19 | 5

Discounts are available for empty and unfurnished properties, and for those undergoing major repairs or structural alterations. This are reviewed annually so please check the website at www.lancaster.gov.uk/council-tax/counciltax-reductions for the latest information.

• A room other than a bathroom, kitchen or toilet, needed by the disabled person;

Annexes that meet certain conditions qualify for a 50% discount.

If you:

Empty Property Premium

If our assumption about the Council Tax liability is wrong, or you think you may be entitled to any discount, exemption or relief, please contact us.

• Don’t pay anything; or

Properties which have been empty and unfurnished for two years or more will be charged an additional 50% premium on top of the full Council Tax. Exceptions may apply for empty annexes and property left empty by service personnel. Further details can be obtained from the Council Tax section.

Other Discounts/Reductions The council has discretionary power to award a discount, subject to application, if special or exceptional circumstances apply.

If someone in your home is disabled and the property has facilities to specifically meet their needs, you may be entitled to pay less Council Tax. These facilities are:

If you can’t bring your payments up to date then please contact us and we will try to help you. We might be able to make an arrangement with you to pay what you owe.

• A second bathroom or kitchen for the disabled person; or • Sufficient space to use a wheelchair indoors.

If you are no longer entitled to a discount, exemption or relief, or a smaller discount should apply; you must notify us within 21 days or may face a penalty of £70. This penalty may also apply if your property is subject to a premium and you fail to notify us that it should not apply, or the amount is incorrect.

Appeals If you have been refused a discount, exemption or relief or do not think you should be responsible for paying Council Tax, you can appeal to us in writing telling us why you think we have got it wrong. Our contact details are on your bill.

We will look at your case again and might ask for more information. If we don’t change our decision and you still don’t agree, you can appeal to the Valuation Tribunal. See www.valuationtribunal.gov.uk.

• Make an arrangement but don’t keep to it; • Pay something but not all of it we will send you a summons for the Magistrates Court, and costs will be added to your account.

If you are struggling to pay your counci l tax, please give us a cal l.

Bills issued at the start of the financial year will show payments in 10 monthly instalments. If you wish to pay over 12 months instead you must contact us in writing before 15th April 2018 to make this request. Our contact details are on your bill.

Applications received after this date will have their instalments extended until March 2019.

If you wish to receive your council tax bills by email, please see back page for more information.

Paying Your Council Tax

and it has e is disabled in your hom be entitled ne ay eo m m u so yo If to help them d te ap ad been ount. to claim disc

The bill we send you will tell you how much you have to pay, how much your monthly instalments are and how many instalments we have given you to pay the bill in. Details of how to make your payments are on the back of your bill. It’s important that you pay the instalments on or before the day they are due.

What if I don’t pay on time?

If you don’t pay your instalments on time we will send you a reminder. This will tell you to bring your payments up to date within seven days.

You must pay the full amount shown on the summons, plus the costs, before the date of the hearing or contact us to make an arrangement for payment if you can’t pay the full amount.

Before we will make an arrangement with you, we will ask you about your financial situation and who you work for and look at your previous payment record. You will still have to pay the summons costs and we will not cancel the court hearing, but you will not have to appear at court.

If you don’t pay the amount shown on the summons in full, plus the costs, before the hearing we will ask the Magistrates to grant a liability order against you, and additional costs will be added to your account. This order shows that you’re liable for the amount of Council Tax shown on the summons and allows us to take further action to recover the money from you.

If you have made an arrangement with us we will still ask the court for the order, but we will not use the powers it gives as long as you keep to the arrangement.

6 | About your Council Tax 2018/19

Once we have a liability order from the court we may write to you and ask you for financial information.

If there is no contact or arrangement to pay, we can take action against you including: • Make deductions directly from your wages/salary; • Make deductions directly from your Income Support, Employment Support Allowance, Job Seekers Allowance, Pension Credit and Universal Credit; • Pass your account to our enforcement agents to recover full payment. This will mean more costs being added to the debt; • Take bankruptcy proceedings against you.

You could have to pay additional costs of up to £20,000 or more and lose your home; • Obtain a charging order against your property and ask the court for an order for sale. You would have to pay the council’s costs and may lose your home to pay the debt; • Ask the court to consider sending you to prison for non-payment.

We always prefer to make suitable payment arrangements, but if you don’t contact us we will be forced to choose one of the above actions to recover the debt. However, it is the council’s policy to use committal to prison as a last resort.

If you are having difficulty paying your bills and need independent advice, we can refer you to a money advice worker at the Citizen’s Advice Bureau or you can contact them direct:

About your Council Tax 2018/19 | 7

Lancaster Citizens Advice Bureau 87 King Street, Lancaster, LA1 1RH Tel: 0344 488 9622 Email: enquiries@northlancashirecab.org.uk.

Morecambe and Heysham Citizens Advice Bureau Oban House, 87-89 Queen Street, Morecambe, LA4 5EN Tel: 0344 488 9622 Email: enquiries@northlancashirecab.org.uk.

You can also get independent advice from the Welfare Rights Service: Welfare Rights Service Lancaster and Wyre Area Team, White Cross, South Road, Lancaster, LA1 4XQ Tel: 0300 123 6739 Email: lancasterwrs@lancashire.gov.uk.

Financial Information Information regarding gross expenditure and Council Tax requirements of the billing authority can be found on the council’s website: www.lancaster.gov.uk/counciltax.

A hard copy of this information can be sent to you free of charge on request.

Council tax information for Lancashire County Council is available at www.lancashire.gov.uk.

Relevant financial information for the Police and Crime Commissioner for Lancashire can be found at www.lancashire-pcc.gov.uk.

A hard copy of this information can be sent to you free of charge on request. Please telephone 01772 533587.

The financial information for Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service can be found at www.lancsfirerescue.org.uk.

How we can help you pay your Council Tax From April 2013, the national Council Tax Benefit Scheme was abolished and a new Local Council Tax Support Scheme was introduced for working age people, through which we may be able to provide help for you to pay your Council Tax. The scheme has now been reviewed and details of the scheme for the year starting 1 April 2018 are shown on our website. Please note that the Second Adult Reduction previously allowed in the scheme no longer applies for working age people from 1 April 2014.

New Claims from 1 April 2018 If you are on a low income, you should make a claim directly to the council. If you are claiming Universal Credit the DWP do not pay any support towards your council tax, you will need to claim this separately from Lancaster City Council. The amount of support you are entitled to will depend on your income and household circumstances.

You cannot receive localised council tax support if you have savings or other capital of more than £16,000 unless you are receiving Guarantee Credit from the Pension Service.

Child Benefit, War Pensions, War Disablement Pensions and some other social security benefits such as Disability Living Allowance (and Personal Independence Payment) and Attendance Allowance will be ignored when we calculate council tax support. It is important that you claim as soon as possible as delays in claiming may mean that you lose out on any support you may be entitled to. If you are in any doubt as to whether you can claim, please seek advice using the contact details shown.

If you are of pension age, you may still be entitled to up to 25% off your council tax bill if other adults (not partners) live with you and they are in receipt of a low income, claiming Job Seekers Allowance or claiming Income Support. The other adults must not be paying rent to you.

The council is keen to ensure that people claim the support to which they are entitled.

You can claim at www.lancaster. gov.uk/eclaim.

Helping you claim

the support you’r

e entitled to.

Access your Benefit, Business Rates or Council Tax account online

You can contact the Benefits Team in any of the following ways: • By post to: Revenue Services, P.O. Box 4, Lancaster LA1 1QR • By telephoning the Benefits Team on (01524) 582965 between 9am and 5pm, Monday to Friday (Wednesdays 10am to 5pm) • By personal visit to the Customer Service Centres at Lancaster or Morecambe Town Halls between 9am and 5pm, Monday to Friday • By email to benefits@lancaster.gov.uk • Customers with hearing difficulties who have a minicom machine can contact us through Typetalk on 18001 01524 582965.

Alternatively, you can visit the benefits page of the council’s website at www.lancaster.gov.uk/benefits for further information.

Did you know that you can register to receive future council tax bills and benefit letters by email?

Our online self-service facility is available via the Council’s website where you can securely view your Benefit, Business Rates and Council Tax accounts.

Landlords can also check details of payments of benefit for their tenants.

What information can I check?

You can check how much Housing Benefit and/or Council Tax Support you are receiving and how it has been worked out. The system shows tenants and landlords when payments were made and how much they were for. You can view details of overpayments and copies of letters we have sent to you.

You can see how your Business rates or Council Tax bill has been calculated and your outstanding balance. The system also shows when your payments are due and you can set up a direct debit to pay your bill.

The website is available 24 hours a day, is 100% secure and it is real time information.

Some transactions are also available such as setting up direct debits. You can also report a change of address and make payment arrangements.

How do I access my account?

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It costs at least 33p to print and post bills and letters. Sending them by email is free and the most efficient and cost effective way for us to contact you.

If you would like to receive your bills and letters by secure e-mail please let us know by sending an email to customerservices@lancaster. gov.uk or fill in the online form at www.lancaster.gov.uk/ebilling providing your name and address and the email address you would like us to use. We will then contact you with further information and instructions.

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You will first need to register at www.lancaster.gov.uk/revenuesselfservice using your email address and like most online services, you will need to create a username (this can be your email address) and a password to register.

The registration process is completed with us asking you to answer some security questions and to enter the reference numbers of the accounts you want to view. You will find your account reference number on your Benefit award letter or Council Tax or Business Rates bill.

If you are a landlord registering for access to your tenants’ payment details you will need your payment reference number (creditor number) to complete your registration. You can find this on the payment schedule that we send you showing details of your payments.

If you need any help with the registration process, you will be able to email revenuessupportteam@preston.gov.uk where someone will be happy to help.

Your District Council Matters Spring/Summer 2018

Greyhound Bridge closure A page has been created on the Lancaster City Council website with useful links to all the information you need during the closure of Greyhound Bridge.

Located at www.lancaster.gov.uk/greyhound the page includes links to traffic and travel information, The bridge is closed until early August for major maintenance.

Lancashire County Council is undertaking the refurbishment to maintain the capacity of the bridge and to prevent the implementation of restrictions to abnormal loads and all HGVs. The total estimated cost of the works is around £4 million and includes replacement or renewal of a number of features including: • Installation and maintenance of temporary traffic management • Concrete repairs, including installation of galvanic cathodic protection and, recasting of large areas at the joint positions • Replacement of buried joints • Replacement of expansion joints • Repainting of parapet, piers and superstructure • Deck waterproofing • Carriageway and footway resurfacing • Maintenance repairs to two adjacent bridges and a sign gantry Greyhound Bridge was constructed in 1911 as a railway viaduct. It was converted to a road bridge in 1972 with the addition of a reinforced concrete deck on top of the original steel construction.

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Closure of lower St Leonard's Gate car park In addition to the closure of Greyhound Bridge, the lower St Leonard’s Gate car park is closed for a period of 17 months to help relieve expected congestion from nearby construction work.

Nearby St Leonard’s House is being adapted into student accommodation and as a result St Leonard’s Gate needs to be closed due to the heavy equipment that will be used during the construction period.

Traffic travelling westwards from Bulk Road to the city centre will be diverted through the car park. A diversion is in place along Moor Lane/Edward Street for those heading towards Bulk Road from the one way system.

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Your District Council Matters Spring/Summer 2018

Make life easier with a disabled facilities grant

Your District Council Matters Spring/Summer 2018

Mrs Richardson of Westgate in Morecambe, wh o was able to have adapta tions done to her home , including installation of a ram p.

Lancaster City Council is stepping up its campaign to help people with disabilities remain independent and safe in their home.

Thanks to Government funding, our Home Improvement Agency (HIA) team is keen to hear from local residents who are struggling to get into and around their homes so it can help them apply for a Disabled Facilities Grant.

Adaptations can include stair-lifts, walk in showers or ground floor toilet facilities.

As the grants are means tested, applicants will be offered a no obligation financial assessment to determine your eligibility before being taken through the application process.

If you could benefit from adaptations to your home please contact our Home Improvement Agency on 01524 582257. One of our caseworkers will then contact you to discuss your needs and explain the availability of grants further.

For more information visit www.lancaster.gov.uk/homeimprovement

Empty properties get a makeover Owners of empty properties are being urged to work with Lancaster City Council to bring their vacant assets back into use.

Funding is available to bring properties back into use through a partnership between the city council and Methodist Action North West.

The partnership started in 2012 and has seen 21 long term empty properties successfully brought back into use with the help of grant funding.

Get healthy and lead an active life Active Lives is a service designed to help educate and motivate members of the community to achieve and maintain happier and healthier lifestyles.

There are two main programmes - Physical Activity and Healthy Lifestyles – which are designed to accommodate your health problems and challenges and provide you with the knowledge on how to improve your lifestyle.

Physical activity programme The Active Lives 12 week physical activity programme is specifically designed to benefit your health, fitness and medical conditions. If you are accepted onto the programme, you will be entitled to one free gym / swim session, fitness class per week for 12 weeks.

Physical activity and exercise can benefit your health in a variety of ways: ✓ Reduce your risk of a heart attack and decrease your risk of raised blood pressure ✓ Promote healthy blood sugar levels to prevent or control diabetes ✓ Reduce the overall risk of cancer ✓ Improve good cholesterol levels and reduce bad cholesterol levels ✓ Help to decrease stress and anxiety levels ✓ Help you to lose or maintain weight

Healthy Lifestyles Course

Methodist Action, with the support of the city council, offers a ‘one stop shop’ approach for owners, including 'enabling’ financial contributions to the building work costs and co-ordination of the refurbishment process.

Healthy Lifestyles is a free 12-week course aimed at people of all abilities with a BMI between 25 and 34.9.

For the homeowner, the programme provides a low risk, low cost option for bringing their empty property back into use. For the community, it helps reduce the effects of anti-social behaviour, vandalism and theft, associated with empty properties.

Each session lasts up to 1½ hours and includes interactive weight management, information and exercise.

If you are aware of a problem empty property in your area or own a property that you would like to discuss, please contact Claire Taylor on (01524) 582321 or cdtaylor@lancaster.gov.uk.

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Clients are able to access a discounted membership package at Salt Ayre Leisure Centre and Lancaster University. For 12 weeks you will be entitled to swim for £2, try the gym for £5 or various exercise classes for £3.

In order to be accepted onto the Active Lives programmes you must be completing less than 30 minutes exercise three times per week. If you suffer from any additional illness or injury please speak to a member of the Active Lives team, or your doctor, to discuss if you are eligible for the programme.

You can self-refer onto either of course or you may need to be referred onto the programme by your GP. For more information contact the Active Lives team on 01524 582052 or at activelives@lancaster.gov.uk.

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Your District Council Matters Spring/Summer 2018

Afternoon tea and tours Lancaster Town Hall will open its doors to the public again this summer with a series of guided tours.

Visitors to this Edwardian building will explore areas often off-limits to the public including the council chamber, the mayor’s parlour, and its subterranean prison cells. Visitors will also get a chance to see Ashton Hall, which includes a concert organ and a collection of heraldic art.

If that wasn’t enough, select tours will offer afternoon teas following the tour,

Your District Council Matters Spring/Summer 2018

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Total wellbeing comes to Lancaster Tours of Lancaster Town Hall include the Mayor’s Parlour and its collection of civic regalia.

giving you the chance to be treated in confines of the Mayor’s Parlour with a fine selection of sandwiches, sweet pastries and cakes.

The one-hour tours take place from June to August and can be booked at Lancaster’s Visitor Information Centre on (01524) 582394 or online at www.lancaster.gov.uk/townhalltours.

Museums to return to city council control Work is progressing to return three of Lancaster’s museums back to the city council.

Currently the city council pays Lancashire County Council around £520k a year to run the City Museum, Maritime Museum and the Cottage Museum.

Last September city councillors unanimously agreed to end the partnership on September 30 2018 and bring the running of the museums back in-house.

The city council is now working with a range of partners on proposals to improve its museums offer following their transfer.

Works are also taking place to replace the roof of the City Museum as part of a maintenance programme to preserve some of our oldest and finest public buildings.

Although the works mean that a number of stalls at the city’s Wednesday and Saturday Charter Market have been required to move from their usual pitches adjacent to the City Museum, shoppers are being signposted to their new temporary locations just a short distance away further down Market Street.

Normal access to Lancaster Library remains unaffected by the works and are via a tunnelled entrance within the scaffolding framework.

The works are scheduled to be completed by May.

Relax, unwind and rejuvenate at Tranquil Spa, the latest edition to the multi-million pound redevelopment of Salt Ayre Leisure Centre.

Providing the perfect haven to escape the stresses of day to day life, the spa offers a range of therapeutic and rejuvenating face and body care treatments, using only the best products with the finest ingredients from brands such as Elemis and Ishga.

The team of experienced and highly qualified therapists will be happy to put together a treatment package designed specifically for your needs and offer advice on your requirements.

Embark on our thermal journey, including a salt inhalation room which cleanses the skin and stimulates circulation; aroma steam room to ease muscular tension and clear your mind; herbal sauna to help you to unwind and relax; ice chute to cool, tone and refresh your skin and a watermill sauna, the first of its kind in the UK, which soothes aches and pains whilst detoxing the mind and body.

Treatments and thermal journey usage must be pre-booked and are subject to availability.

For further information please visit www.lancaster.gov.uk/tranquilspa or call 01524 582916.

The opening of the spa signifies the completion of a £5M development project at Salt Ayre Leisure Centre which began back in March 2016 and has seen the centre transformed with new and exciting facilities including Energy indoor soft play, Xheight indoor climbing, and a revamped 100 station gym and fitness suite.

Competition To be in with a chance of winning a spa thermal journey simply answer the following question: What is the name of the new spa that has opened at Salt Ayre Leisure Centre?

Send your answer by email to communications@lancaster.gov. uk along with your name and telephone number or post the answer and your contact details to Communications Team, Town Hall, Dalton Square, Lancaster, LA1 1PJ. The deadline for entries is Friday 27 April 2018.

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Your District Council Matters Spring/Summer 2018

Your District Council Matters Spring/Summer 2018

Bailrigg plans start to develop

Local Plan progresses

Plans are moving forward to develop proposals for a new settlement, known as Bailrigg Garden Village, between Lancaster and Galgate.

Lancaster City Council has formally published its new Local Plan.

This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to design a new sustainable settlement from the ground up to create a place where future generations can enjoy secure homes, plan a family and live healthy lives.

Work is now underway by both city and county councils to get the fundamentals right and set a strong framework for development in an Area Action Plan - to be part of the council’s Local Plan.

This Area Action Plan will direct what land is needed as greenspace for drainage systems, for recreation and enjoyment and for habitats and wildlife. It will direct what land can be developed and what transport infrastructure and community facilities are needed.

As an ‘action’ plan it will set out how the village is to be achieved and identify delivery responsibilities and programme actions.

It will also address how travel demands are to be met and how transport is to work with bus, cycle and walking routes in relation to the city centre, Galgate and surrounding areas and set out how public and community assets - land and buildings - will be managed over time.

The council will be working with a wide range of organisations, community, landowners and prospective developers on the key issues, with outline options due this May.

A series of consultation events are in the process of being confirmed – keep an eye on www.lancaster.gov.uk or follow us on Facebook or Twitter @lancastercc for details.

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Local authorities are required by law to prepare a Local Plan to set the local planning framework for their area.

The plan, which has been subject to extensive consultation, will guide development in the Lancaster district until at least 2031 and sets out a strong vision for the future to enable people to thrive and prosper, wherever they live in the district.

The final draft plans for just over 12,000 new homes across the district and also includes details of where new housing and employment sites will be built to help create potentially 9,500 new jobs.

It also includes land allocations for the open spaces, shops and community facilities necessary to create places people want to live, work and do business.

As part of the extensive consultation which helped develop the final proposals, the council organised a series of events across the district. More than 1,500 people attended the 15 events between January and March last year to view and comment on the Local Plan documents and supporting evidence.

The Local Plan documents, the comments received following the publication of the plan and the evidence which supports the documents are likely to be submitted to the government in early May. It will then be subject to an independent examination, which involves local hearing sessions when a government appointed inspector invites some of the people who have made representations to a discussion session.

If the inspector is happy that the plan is sound then the council can adopt the plan, usually with some changes that he has recommended. If the inspector does not think that a plan document has been properly prepared then the council will have to prepare a revised plan and try again.

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Your District Council Matters Spring/Summer 2018

Your District Council Matters Spring/Summer 2018

New business Become a market guide set to trader for free launch

Council Housing Housing of Choice

A new business guide is due to be published shortly, showcasing the district’s economy, commercial sites and upcoming regeneration plans.

Over 300 households a year choose Lancaster City Council as their landlord.

The guide will act as a tool to promote the Lancaster district as a place to work and invest in, as well as a fantastic place to live and provides valuable information to new businesses on the services and support available.

It will be available online on the council website, and printed copies will be available from Lancaster and Morecambe Town Halls and by emailing econdev@lancaster.gov.uk.

The guide is an integral part of a new business directory, called It’s Local Lancaster District, which will makes it easy to find local companies, view their location, visit their website and link with their social media, all from one place.

Businesses based in the district can register themselves on It’s Local free of charge by visiting www.lancaster.gov.uk/ businessdirectory.

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If you’re looking to rent a new home, think council housing.

Last year we were able to offer 150 one bedroom homes, over 100 two bedroom homes, 57 three bedroom homes, and 3 four bedroom homes.

If you’ve ever fancied being your own boss or bringing your business to the high street, trading on one of our three markets in Lancaster and Morecambe might just be the answer.

Charter Market, Lancaster Budding entrepreneurs are being offered free pitches for a month to get a taste of being a market trader. The offer applies only to Wednesday trading and to new traders introducing something different to the market.

Assembly Rooms Emporium, Lancaster The Assembly Rooms on King Street in Lancaster has a space waiting for you for free for a whole two months of trading. The pitches can also be used as studio space for crafters to make, showcase and sell their creations.

Festival Market, Morecambe Several stalls and a small number of shop units are available at a discounted rental of just £100 per month for the first three months of trading.

Commodities must be new or currently absent from the markets.

Contact us: For more information visit www.lancaster.gov.uk/traderinterest or contact the market office on 01524 414251.

The average rent for a council house is just over £71 a week and, unlike in the private sector, you do not need to put down a deposit.

The council advertises all its available properties through the Ideal Choice Homes website and you are free to bid on a property if it suits your needs and is in an area you want to live.

You can go online at any time and browse through the properties available at www.idealchoicehomes.co.uk.

You can look for a home without registering, but registering is important if you want to express an interest (bid) in any particular home being advertised.

A recent survey of council housing tenants showed an increasing satisfaction with the services council housing provides and also being excellent value for money.

Tribute unveiled to WW1 hero A tribute to a local hero of WW1 has been set in stone with the unveiling of a commemorative plaque.

Private Albert Halton VC, who was born in Warton in May 1893, was awarded the Victoria Cross for gallantry during an attack near Poelcappelle, Belgium on October 12 1917.

After the war Albert Halton worked for many years at the Lansil Works in Lancaster until his retirement in 1961. Towards the end of his life he lived at Westfield Memorial Village in Lancaster. He was a staunch supporter of the Regimental Association and attended most functions until his death on July 24 1971. Full military honours were provided for his funeral at Lancaster and Morecambe Crematorium.

To honour his courage, a plaque has been placed at the small public park located between Mill Lane and Sand Lane in Warton.

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Your District Council Matters Spring/Summer 2018

Williamson Park welcomes two new furry friends Williamson Park is excited to welcome two common marmosets to its small animal zoo.

Colin (aged 5 years) and Leo (aged 4 years) joined the park in January from Monkey World in Dorset, a collection that specialises in caring for primates rescued from the pet trade.

Common marmosets are members of the Callitrichidae monkey family and are native to Brazil in South America, mainly feeding on insects and plant sap and gum.

You can come and meet the latest members of the Williamson Park clan with entry to the Butterfly House, Mini Beast Cave and Small Animal Zoo, available from the Gift Shop.

The animal attractions are open from 10am until 4pm between October and March and until 5pm between April and September. For more information visit www.lancaster.gov.uk/williamsonpark or follow the park on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter @williamsonpark.

Your District Council Matters Spring/Summer 2018

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Celebrate your special day in an historic venue Make a splash in Happy Mount Park Happy Mount Park’s popular Splash Park will re-open on Tuesday May 1.

Come and cool down with multiple water jets, a carousel of buckets spills, water arch and cannons.

A one hour 45 minute session costs just £1 per person and can be booked in the green kiosk in the park.

There are also plenty of other free attractions on offer in the park including a play area for young children and an adventure play area for older ones.

If you’re planning a special occasion, wedding, conference or business meeting, we have a range of historic and modern venues in Lancaster and Morecambe that will meet your exact requirements.

Lancaster Town Hall The magnificent Edwardian town hall houses the Ashton Hall, Reception Room and Banqueting Suite, as well as a catering kitchen and a number of smaller meeting rooms. The perfect venue for your wedding, concert, convention, celebration dinner or business meeting.

Ashton Memorial Celebrate your wedding day in Lancaster’s most iconic and romantic building. Stunning marble floors, sweeping staircases and panoramic views across Morecambe Bay and the Lake District - Lancaster’s most exclusive venue for weddings and civil partnerships.

With shady woodland areas for quieter moments, sunny spots with beautiful flower beds and plenty of spaces for picnics, there is something for everyone.

The Platform Uniquely located within the restored Edwardian railway station on Morecambe promenade, offering live performance, conference and exhibition facilities. Fully accessible 350-capacity theatre with in-house PA and lighting system.

Happy Mount Park is open year round, but the Splash Park closes for the season in September.

The Storey Historic arts, education and performance venue in central Lancaster, close to the railway station. The Storey has a range of modern, fully-equipped rooms and spaces, including a lecture theatre, auditorium, gallery, music room and in-house catering. The Storey now holds a wedding licence so you can get married in style and stay at the venue for your reception.

For more information about Happy Mount Park, visit the web page at www.lancaster.gov.uk/ happymountpark or www.facebook. com/happymountpark.

For more information on any of our venues and how to hire them, visit www.lancaster.gov.uk/roomhire.

How to contact us Did you know that information on all the services provided by the council can be found online at www.lancaster.gov.uk

Below is an at-a-glance guide to our most frequently used telephone numbers.

You can make payments, report issues and make applications for a number of council services using our website too.

01524 582000

You can also email us with your comments and queries at customerservices@lancaster.gov.uk.

Customer Services Domestic Waste and Street Cleaning

01524 582491

However, if you don’t have access to the internet or need to speak to one of our advisers you can contact us:

Council Tax

✓ In person at Lancaster and Morecambe Town Halls (9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday).

Elections

✓ By telephone: 9am to 5pm weekdays (10am to 5pm on Wednesdays).

Please note that our customer service centres are closed on all bank holidays. And don’t forget to follow us on Twitter and facebook @lancastercc for all the latest news from the council.

Location, Location, Location At the touch of a button, and at any time of day or night, you can find out when your bins are collected, when your street is cleaned, where you can recycle things, where the nearest public toilet is, and much more.

01524 582900 01524 582905 Housing Standards and Homelessness

01524 582257 Ideal Choice Homes

01524 582005 Council Housing

01524 582929 Tell Us Once

01524 582000

Just visit www.lancaster.gov.uk/mylocation and enter your address.

Out-of-hours Emergencies

Our My Location service covers every address in the district and gives you 24/7 access to a wide range of location-based information.

Markets

01524 67099 01524 414251

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