Issue 22
Autumn 2010
PLUS 4-page pull-out budget consultation questionnaire
Page 2
Welcome... ...to the latest issue of Your District Council Matters. We’ve got a bumper edition for you this time packed with the latest news from Lancaster City Council. Much of this edition focuses on perhaps the most important issue faced by the council; how will we cope with the after-effects of the recession and the likely cuts to the money we receive from the Government. You’ll find more information on this from pages three to six. We’d really like to know your views and on pages seven to 10 there’s a questionnaire for you to share your thoughts and ideas.
Contacting us YOU can contact Lancaster City Council for information by: • Telephone: 01524 582000 • Email: customerservices@lancaster.gov.uk • Website: www.lancaster.gov.uk • Post: Lancaster City Council, Town Hall, Dalton Square, Lancaster, LA1 1PJ. • In person: At one of the customer service centres at Lancaster and Morecambe town halls between 9am and 5pm, Monday to Friday
On the front cover: z This month’s front cover shows Lancaster’s annual fireworks spectacular, as seen from Ryelands Park. For more information on this year’s festival read page 15. If you would like a large print or audio version of Your District Council Matters, please call 01524 582041. Printed on recycled paper.
City council elections LANCASTER City Council elections will be held on Thursday May 3, 2011. City council elections, for all 60 councillors, are held every four years so this is your chance to elect the people who will represent you on the city council until 2015. Parish and town councils throughout the district will also be holding elections on May 3. In order to make your voice heard you must be registered on the Electoral Register, which will be published on December 1. Every household in the district will have received an electoral registration form in August asking for their details. If you haven’t responded yet please do – as well as entitling you to vote the electoral register is used by credit agencies so if you’re not on the register you may not be able to get a loan or mobile phone. Please remember that if you move house you MUST re-register. To check whether you’re on the register, or to change your details, telephone the Elections Office on 01524 582905. As well as voting in the election, being on the electoral register entitles you to stand for election. Becoming a local councillor can be a very rewarding experience – it offers a unique opportunity to represent your local community and to help shape, direct and monitor the services which affect the people who live in, work in and visit the Lancaster district. For more information on how to stand as a councillor call the elections team on 01524 582905.
Connect to the Council LANCASTER City Council has launched a new online newsletter. Called Connect, the newsletter is designed to keep you up to date with the latest news and events from the council. If you would like to sign up to receive the newsletter please visit www.lancaster.gov.uk/newsletter. If you have a Twitter account make sure you become one of our followers @lancastercc.
Page 3
Council spending: help us to make every penny count LANCASTER City Council faces a series of enormous challenges with the predicted reduction in the money received from the Government to help run its services. The same is true across the whole of the public sector. At the start of the financial year we estimated that next year the council would have to make savings of £771,000 to keep future council tax increases at 3.75%. In addition the Government has also indicated that it wishes to see councils freeze council tax in the next financial year. If this was to take place it could have further serious effects on our budget and the services we provide. Our challenge is to ensure that the council is able to continue to deliver its priorities, whilst responding to the financial difficulties that lie ahead.
We are currently reviewing everything that the council does and changes are already underway as we try to continue to provide good, value-for-money services that are important to our communities. Striving to be more efficient has meant some tough decisions have already been taken and there is a growing acceptance that the city council simply can’t continue to do everything that it currently does. We fully appreciate that some of the decisions that have been taken, and will continue to be taken in the coming months and years, may be controversial and disappointing to those who have previously benefited from those services which have been affected. These decisions will not be taken lightly, but they are necessary given the financial circumstances in which the council and the country currently find themselves. In the coming pages you’ll read more about how the council’s budget is spent and where there are areas where savings could be found.
We want to know what you think and the centre pages of this magazine contain a questionnaire which we would like you to fill in to give us your views on the areas that are most important to you. We’ve also set up a special email address for you to suggest ways that the council can make savings, or how you, as citizens, can help to make a difference. Send them to suggestions@lancaster.gov.uk If you want to play a more active role you can attend one of the public listening days which will be taking place in Lancaster, Morecambe and Carnforth. Representatives from the city council and other public sector organisations will be on hand to answer your questions and listen to your views. Details of these are below: • Morecambe: October 19 at the Arndale Centre, 10.30am to 2pm • Lancaster: October 21 at Marketgate, 1pm to 4.30pm • Carnforth: October 22 at the Civic Hall, 1pm to 4.30pm
More detailed information on the council’s budget and corporate plan can be found at www.lancaster.gov.uk/corporateplan
Page 4
THE way the city council is financed is complex and the variety of issues facing the council cannot all be examined in detail in just a few pages.
But to try and explain some of the issues the council is facing we’ve put together a list of frequently asked questions.
finance FAQs... Q. I pay more than £1,000 in council tax – why so much? A. While you may pay more than £1,000 in council tax, Lancaster City Council only keeps a small proportion of it – roughly 13p in every pound. For the average Band D property for 2010/11 that’s £192 a year. Q. So what happens to the rest of it? A. The vast majority of your bill is made up of charges from Lancashire County Council to help fund their services. These include highways, waste disposal, social services, schools, youth activities and much more. This year the average Band D council tax charged by Lancashire County Council is £1,108.30. After the city council, Lancashire Police Authority takes the next largest amount at £146.27, with Lancashire Fire and Rescue the smallest amount of £63.65.
Lancashire County Council 74%
If you live in a parished area then you will also pay an amount (known as a precept) to your local parish council. Again, this varies from area to area. Q.What does Band D mean? A. Each dwelling is assessed for council tax by the Valuation Office Agency and is allocated to one of eight valuation bands. The council sets its council tax on
Lancaster City Council 13% Police 9% Fire 4%
the basis of a Band D property, with properties in Bands A to C paying a lower proportion and Bands E to H paying a higher proportion. Band D is therefore the average council tax paid across the district. Q. So how does the amount I pay to Lancaster City Council compare with what other people pay to their district councils? A. Very favourably. In the Lancaster City Council area for 2010/11 people pay, on average, £192. This compares with: Preston £260 Burnley £257 Rossendale £253 Pendle £240 Hyndburn £231 South Ribble £203 Fylde £186 West Lancashire £184 Chorley £180 Wyre £180 Ribble Valley £141
Page 5
z Workers from across the city council provide a range of value for money services to the public Q.So there are at least five councils in Lancashire that charge less than Lancaster? A. There are – but there are six that charge more. Q.£192 still sounds quite a lot – what do I get in return? A. A range of value-for-money services! As well as the well-known services such as collecting refuse and recycling (we collect more than seven million bins and boxes every year) and street cleaning, Lancaster City Council provides many other services that you might not realise. Did you know, for instance, that we inspect restaurants and other food businesses to ensure that they comply with hygiene regulations? Without this service the possibility of people getting food poisoning would greatly increase. The city council also provides swimming pools, markets, museums, cemeteries, allotments, markets, coastal protection, parks, children's playschemes and much more. The council also works very closely with other public services and the private sector to lead the regeneration of the district, bringing in jobs and investment. Q. Ok, so what’s the problem? A. Currently the amount received in council tax only pays for a proportion of our services. Much of the remainder (more than 60% in total) comes from Government grants. The Government has made it clear that its priority is to reduce public spending. If the grants we receive from the Government reduce (which they almost certainly will) then the council will have less money to spend. The cost of its services increases every year because, no matter how efficient the council is, inflation will always mean that it
has to spend more to keep provision at the same levels. So if the cost of providing services goes up, but there is less money to spend, the council is left with little option but to reduce service provision or stop doing things. Q. Couldn't the city council make further savings by employing fewer people? A. Staffing makes up the majority of the council’s budget, but then you would expect it to because without trained and committed people, the services just couldn’t be provided. If the council was to employ fewer refuse collectors then collections would take longer and it wouldn’t be possible to collect everything to a standard that the public wants and that the council wants to be able to provide. If we were to employ fewer street cleaners then our streets would inevitably be dirtier. The same is true of other services. It is, however, recognised that the council can be more efficient and through a a number of organisational changes the council has cut a number of posts. It is anticipated that employee numbers will reduce further as funding reduces and services are reduced.
The council already jointly delivers some services with other authorities and is doing a lot more work in this area with a view to reducing staffing costs and making savings through more efficient ways of working in partnership. Q. So what’s the bottom line – how much do you have to save and what services are you going to cut. A. If nothing changed the council is projecting a 13% council tax increase based on current activities and anticipated Government funding. Clearly this is not acceptable either for you, the Government or indeed the city council, so we need to make savings. Each 1% increase in council tax brings in about £83,000, so a 0% increase would leave us with having to make savings of £1,083,700. There are a number of options open to the council to reduce spending but we want you, the public, to get involved and give us your views. That’s why we’ve launched this budget consultation and suggestion scheme – to find out what’s most important to you.
Page 6
Our budget AS a district council we have responsibility for a large number of important public services. The city council does not, however, have responsibility for everything and things like street lighting, education (including schools), social services and libraries are the responsibility of Lancashire County Council. Of the services the city council does provide, there are many it has to by law, like deciding planning applications, registering people on the electoral roll, collecting refuse, free bus travel for the over 60s. Other services, such as economic development, festivals and events, cultural and leisure activities, museums, subsidising the arts, public toilets and tourism etc are what we call ‘discretionary’. This means that the city council does not have to provide them but does so because they are the sorts of things that the community has said are important. Many of these discretionary services provide a great benefit to local people and the district’s economy. But given the council’s current financial position, and the potential for our funding to be cut in the future, it has to take a serious look at which services it should continue to provide and at what levels. In the centre section, you’ll find a questionnaire asking for your views on where the council should be concentrating its resources in the future. But how much do you know about what the council does now? Here are just some examples of where the budget is spent:
• Local planning and development control As the Local Planning Authority, the council determines hundreds of planning applications made by householders and businesses. We also ensure that buildings comply with the building regulations and other relevant legal requirements in respect of health, safety, welfare and energy efficiency.
• Environmental inspection and enforcement activities Every year the council inspects around 700 restaurants, takeaways and other food establishments to ensure they follow hygiene regulations. • Licensing The council is responsible for the licensing of alcohol and entertainment, taxis and private hire vehicles and gambling. We also licence a number of miscellaneous trades and activities such as acupuncture and tattooing, dog breeding, second-hand dealers, cinemas and street cafes.
• Domestic waste removal Each year the council collects around eight million wheelie bins and recycling boxes from households across the district. In 2009/10 we reused, recycled or composted 36% of all waste. The introduction of food waste collections will boost this rate even further. • Grounds maintenance Every year the council grows 460,000 plants and maintains 320 flower beds across the district. In 2010 our grounds maintenance team won a gold medal at the RHS Tatton show and appeared on BBC Gardeners’ World, providing nationwide publicity for our district. • Providing council housing and generally promoting good quality housing provision The council is the biggest housing landlord in the district and provides housing in 3,800 properties, including 580 flats and bungalows in 16 sheltered housing schemes to help older people live independently.
• Promoting tourism in the area The council’s Visitor Information Centres in Lancaster and Morecambe provide information and advice to visitors to the district. In 2009/10 the two centres answered more than 500,000 enquiries in person, by phone or email. • Providing parks and swimming pools Thousands of children enjoy playing in the 77 play areas and two skateparks that the council maintains. We also provide five parks and look after Morecambe promenade and beach. The council owns Salt Ayre Leisure Centre and, on behalf of Lancashire County Council, manages the three community pools in Hornby, Carnforth and Heysham, which combined are used by more than one million people a year. • Museums and arts Lancaster City Council owns the City, Maritime and Cottage museums in Lancaster and also provides grants to arts organisations in the district.
Making
every penny count
Budget consultation
pull-out and fill in questionnaire
What would YOU do if you were in the council’s shoes? TO get an idea of the services the council provides and the decisions it is facing, please read pages three to six then spare a few minutes to complete this questionnaire. Lancaster City Council can no longer provide all of its services at the current level and has some extremely difficult decisions ahead about which services to reduce or stop providing altogether. The council needs your help in this and would like you to tell us which services you would be prepared to see reduced or stopped altogether.
Statutory services LANCASTER City Council has to provide a number of services by law, these are called statutory services.
Beach cleaning Bus passes – administration of reduced travel costs for those over 60 years old Cemeteries
THE council chooses to provide many services which it does not have to provide by law. These are called discretionary services and are provided because they are important for our citizens, businesses and partner organisations. They also support the delivery of the council’s priorities. Please choose 10 services that you would be prepared to see a reduction in the level of service or it being stopped altogether and then rank them from 1 to 10 (with 1 being the service you’d most like to see reduced) Business advice and support
Although statutory, the council does have some degree of flexibility in the level of service it provides in these services. That is why reviewing the levels of these services is a priority. Please choose five services where you would be prepared to see a reduction in the level of service. This would mean a reduction in the quality of the service currently provided to you. Once you have done this, please rank them from 1 to 5, (with 1 being the service you’d most like to see reduced). Examples of reducing statutory service provision could include less frequent litter or recycling collections, longer processing times for benefit claims, housing benefit claims and planning. Allotments
Discretionary services
Car parks Children’s play areas
Grants to arts organisations (such as the Dukes, Ludus and More Music)
Christmas decorations Climate change – preparing the district for effects of changing climate and weather and reducing our energy use to improve our environment and make financial savings Closed circuit television in Lancaster and Morecambe town centres the district are protected from flooding and erosion
Grants/donations to voluntary sector organisations (such as Citizens Advice Bureaux, Council for Voluntary Services and Shopmobility International Youth Games – attendance at our annual twin towns youth games and hosting the games every four years
Homelessness – provide housing advice and practical support for homeless people within the district
Community safety – working with the police, fire and rescue service, NHS, county council, women's aid and many other support organisations to reduce crime and anti social behaviour in our district
Housing and council tax benefits – help those on low incomes meet council tax and rental payments
Community Pools – Hornby, Carnforth and Heysham (managed on behalf of Lancashire County Council)
Land drainage – including maintenance of our rivers and streams
Cycling improvements
Mayor, events and duties
Economic development/regeneration projects (for example, Luneside East, West End regeneration) – supporting our local economy
Museums – Maritime, Cottage and City museums
Leisure development – provision of playschemes and children's activities both in term time and during school holidays Markets – management of Lancaster market hall, assembly rooms, Morecambe Festival Market and street markets in Lancaster Maintenance of flower beds and grassed areas
Collection of household waste Collection of bulky waste Conservation – preservation, management and care of natural landscapes and heritage assets within our district
Licensing – administration of a variety of licenses and permits including gambling, alcohol and entertainment, taxi and private hire
Council housing (including sheltered housing) Electoral registration and elections Emergency planning – plans to support emergency services and to provide welfare and help in the event of a major disaster Environmental health services – monitoring of air/water/noise pollution, pest control, food safety, dog wardens Flood/coastal protection – making sure that Morecambe and other coastal areas within
Making every penny count
Planning policy and enforcement – assessing planning applications and enforcing planning regulations Recycling services Strategic housing – regulating private rented housing Street cleaning Vandalism, fly posting, graffiti cleaning and abandoned vehicles
Entertainment venue – The Platform at Morecambe (pictured below)
Parks/ gardens/open spaces etc – including Happy Mount Park, Williamson Park, Ryelands Park and many more Public toilets
Festivals and events Recreation and sport/leisure facilities including Salt Ayre sports centre Supporting the LDLSP (Lancaster District Local Strategic Partnership) working with organisations from the public, private, community and voluntary sectors to identify savings and improve service delivery Tourism
Making every penny count
Comments If you want to comment on your choices, or have any suggestions which could help improve the council’s efficiency and effectiveness, please use the space below
LANCASTER City Council’s public sector partners are also keen to hear from you. Lancashire Police Authority: LOOP (Lancashire Opinions on Policing) will give local people the opportunity to get on-line and influence the way in which local policing is delivered. Simply log on to www.getintheloop.co.uk and follow the simple instructions to answer a range of questions about policing, community safety and neighbourhood issues.
• What is your age group? 16 to 19
20 to 29
30 to 39
40 to 49
50 to 59
60 to 69
70 to 79
80 or over
WIN shopping vouchers to spend at
Lancashire County Council works closely with Lancashire's district councils and is keen to hear your comments and suggestions on what matters to you. Contact us on enquiries@lancashire.gov.uk Lancashire Fire and Rescue: Do you have a working smoke alarm in your property? Yes
No
Have you had a FREE Home Fire Safety Check from Lancashire Fire & Rescue Service? Yes
No
North Lancashire Primary Care Trust: Would you like to have your say on local healthcare services? If so, join NHS North Lancashire’s Affiliate Scheme by visiting the orange Affiliate zone at www.northlancshealth.nhs.uk You can also submit your suggestions on how Lancaster City Council or its public sector partners can look at saving money by emailing suggestions@lancaster.gov.uk
About you (optional)
RETURNED questionnaires will be entered into a free prize draw to win vouchers to spend in-store at Booths, the local supermarket where fresh products are always in abundance. The first name out of the hat will win £50, with £25 and £10 vouchers for the runners-up. Questionnaires should be returned to: Budget Consultation, Communications, Lancaster Town Hall, Dalton Square LA1 1PJ. You can also complete the questionnaire online at www.lancaster.gov.uk/consultation Completed questionnaires must be received by Monday November 1. Name: ........................................................................... Address: ....................................................................... ........................................................................................ Postcode: .....................................................................
To ensure the council is meeting the needs of all residents it is important we ask you a few questions about yourself. The information will be used to analyse responses amongst broad groups, for example residents over 60. The information you provide will be treated anonymously. • Are you? Male
Female
Making every penny count
Daytime telephone number: ................................... Do you want to get involved and have your say on council services? Sign up to the council’s community consultation register and get involved in future consultations. You can do this by emailing consultation@lancaster.gov.uk, by phoning our consultation officer 01524 582268 or by visiting www.lancaster.gov.uk/consultation
Page 11
How Bulky Matters makes a difference FOUR years ago Lancaster City Council and local re-use charity Furniture Matters got together to form Bulky Matters. Bulky Matters collects unwanted household items such as furniture and domestic appliances for a small fee. Items are then reconditioned and sold at low cost to low income families. The income goes back into Bulky Matters to provide training and volunteering opportunities for local people. To celebrate the success of Bulky Matters, two special promotions are running this autumn. During October you can get four items collected for the price of three, and throughout November residents in rural areas will be able to take their items to various collection points for
half the normal price. For more details visit www.lancaster.gov.uk/ bulky matters To book a collection or for more information telephone 01524 582491. Collections can be booked for during the day Monday to Saturday and Thursday evenings.
We’ve changed. Have YOU? BACK in August we introduced a new way of recycling, there is now less sorting to do, making it easier to recycle. Paper and cardboard can now be combined together in one box and plastic bottles, glass, tins, cans and foil can be mixed in another box. If you do not have a spare box and need to put extra recycling out you can use carrier bags, just put them out for collection along with your recycling boxes, however glass must always be kept in the recycling boxes. Did you know you can recycle textiles at the kerbside? Just put them in clearly labelled carrier bags with your recycling for collection. No shoes, duvets or cushions please. For more information call our customer service team on 01524 582491.
Food waste update OVER the next few weeks Lancaster City Council will be introducing food waste recycling across the district. In November the majority of households will be receiving a kitchen caddy to put your food waste in. Once full, it can be emptied into your green garden bin. Properties unable to accommodate green garden bins will be delivered an outdoor caddy. Food waste, both cooked and uncooked, that can be recycled includes: • • • • • • •
Meat, bones and carcases Plate scrapings Fish Dairy Tea and coffee grounds Bread and pastries Fruit and vegetables
Once processed the food and
garden waste will produce compost that can be used in parks and gardens. Food waste makes up approximately 25% of household waste. When sent to landfill food waste produces harmful greenhouses gases that contribute towards climate change. By recycling your food waste you can help reduce the waste we send to landfill and help reduce the effects of climate change. Please note there will be no suspension of green garden waste collections over the Christmas period and no changes to your collections in the week between Christmas and New Year. However collections in the first week of January will be one day later than your usual collection date. For more information visit www.lancaster.gov.uk/bins
Page 12
A helping hand for businesses OVER the years Lancaster City Council has supported many established businesses, and has given a helping hand to a number of new ventures as well. The council can provide access to business advice, help to find premises, and financial assistance. A Rent Grant scheme is currently open to applicants, who may be eligible for a grant of up to 50% of their first year’s rent in commercial premises. One local company which is going from strength to strength is Printed Space, based on White Lund Industrial Estate (www.printedspace.com). Established in 2004, Printed Space produce canvas prints, bespoke digital wallpaper, photographic cushion floor and blinds using wide format digital printing. They have developed the world’s first
Photographic Vinyl Cushion Floor and one of their biggest projects to date used this to cover London’s Millennium Bridge with pictures of notes and coins for one of MasterCard’s advertising campaigns (see above). The business got off to such a good start that last year they expanded into a 4,000 sqft unit with help from the city council’s Rent Grant. Earlier this year Printed Space won the ‘Creative Business of the Year’ award at the
BIBAs hosted by NW Chamber of Commerce. Businesses that have been trading for less than three years and operate in sectors such as manufacturing, ICT, digital and creative industries and environmental technology, may be eligible for a Rent Grant if they are moving into commercial premises. Visit www.lancaster.gov.uk/ business or call 01524 582081 to find out what help is available for local businesses.
Shaping the district’s future development LANCASTER City Council needs your help in shaping the future development of the district. Help us decide where future housing, retail and employment sites should be, which areas of the district should be protected from future development, and the main criteria that we should take into account when deciding whether to grant planning permission for new development. We’ve already established the overall vision and strategic planning policies for the district and we now need to add detail through the preparation of the following: • Land Allocations document – this concerns the allocation of land for future developments, including housing and employment, retail and leisure. • Development Management Policies document – this will establish the detailed planning policies that the council will take into account when it decides whether or not to grant permission for new development. • Morecambe Area Action Plan – this concerns the development, conservation and change needed to secure lasting regeneration gains for central Morecambe.
Over the past few months we’ve been talking to local residents about the general issues that will need to be addressed, the geographical area that should be covered and the time period to be covered. Through public drop in sessions, workshops and visits to local schools, people have been able to share their views and get involved. From this we have been able to build up a picture of some of the key issues affecting the district and the areas that you would like to see addressed in future planning policies. To get involved visit our websites at www.lancaster. gov.uk/ldf and www.lancaster.gov.uk/morecambeaap
Page 13
The cycle of the seasons THE nights may be drawing in, and the temperature falling but there’s no need to put your bike away in the garage until the spring. There’s plenty of great riding to be had throughout the autumn and winter months, you just need to consider a few points.
Regiment’s homecoming parades SOLDIERS from the Duke of Lancaster’s regiment will be marching through Lancaster on December 2 as part of a series of homecoming parades. The regiment has been based in Afghanistan for the last six months and will be marching through the city to celebrate their return home. The march begins from the Priory Church and will go through Lancaster City Centre before ending at Lancaster Town Hall, where they will take the salute from the mayor. More information will be available nearer the time at www.lancaster.gov.uk.
z Be Seen – it’s essential that you have a good set of lights on your bike (front and back). You could also consider attaching extra lights to your rucksack, helmet etc., and get the family kitted out with high viz vests (see below*). z Choose the right clothes – it’s possible to cycle on very cold days as long as you make sure you’re wearing the right stuff such as a good pair of gloves and a thin hat to fit under your helmet. Cold toes can often be a problem so think about overshoes. Layering is the key here, but remember you will generate heat. z Keep your bike clean and well lubricated and check your brakes You might want to consider fitting mudguards to keep you – and those riding behind you – a bit drier. For information or advice about any aspect of cycling, from equipment to training, get in touch with the Cycling Team on 01524 582392 / 582616 – celebratingcycling@lancaster.gov.uk or visit www.celebratingcycling.org * Free high-viz vests in adult and children’s sizes are available from Lancaster and Morecambe Customer Service Centres.
Working in partnership to put customers’needs first LANCASTER City Council is working in partnership with Lancashire County Council to provide access to a wider range of services under one roof. Customer service staff from the county council are working in the city council’s customer service centres at Lancaster and Morecambe Town Halls. This means that you can now speak to an advisor face to face about a range of services including highways matters (for example reporting street lighting or pothole issues), blue badges and many others. County council staff are available at the following times: Lancaster Town Hall Monday and Tuesday (9.15am to 4.30pm) and Wednesday (9.15am to 12pm)
Morecambe Town Hall Wednesday (1pm to 4.30pm), Thursday and Friday (9.15am to 4.30pm) Lancaster City Council’s customer service centres deal with enquiries about household waste collections, bulky waste, missed bins, fly tipping, litter bins, abandoned vehicles, street cleansing, allotments, planning and licensing. Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit enquiries are also dealt with at both centres. z Did you know that you can also access an increasing number of our services on our website, www.lancaster.gov.uk? You can pay Council Tax, report missed bins, view planning applications and much more.
Page 14
Our Fairtrade District LANCASTER district is a Fairtrade district. Lancaster City Council with Lancaster, Morecambe and District Fairtrade Group work together in our community to support and promote Fairtrade. Fairtrade aims to tackle poverty by enabling disadvantaged producers from poor countries to receive a better deal. All sorts of amazing hand-crafted items and other products from all around the world carry the FAIRTRADE Mark; from pasta to cotton and from soap to wine – you can buy it all in our Fairtrade district!
Williamson Park café and shop recently underwent a make-over and now sells Fairtrade certified and fairly traded items – check out the great products on offer and treat yourself to a trip round the butterfly house whilst you are there! For your copy of the Lancaster and Morecambe Fairtrade District Directory please contact Lancaster, Morecambe and District Fairtrade Group on 01524 751965 and for more information on Fairtrade, please visit www.lancaster.gov.uk/fairtrade
New information on
climate change LANCASTER City Council has reduced its carbon emissions by 7.2% in 2009/10. This is a total saving of 340 tonnes of CO2 – or the equivalent of 30 return flights to Australia! We want to help you save carbon and natural resources too. You can visit our web pages on climate change at www.lancaster.gov.uk/climatechange for loads of information. • Are you keen to save water in your home and garden? Download our free publication from our climate change website; just follow the link to ‘Saving Water’.
• Got any burning questions about climate change? Visit the climate change pages and follow the link to ‘Climate Change FAQs’ for all the answers. • You can also visit these pages to find energy saving tips, learn about what Lancaster City Council is doing to tackle the challenges of climate change and much more.
Another helping hand... GET your FREE copy of the Little Book of Sustainable Living – your one-stop guide to environmentally friendly living in Lancaster district. It’s jam-packed with positive and easy steps to help you reduce your impact on the planet. For your copy and to find out more visit the Recycling Forum stall at the Storey Gallery, Lancaster from Friday October 15 to Sunday October 24. You can also download a copy at www.lancaster.gov.uk/sustainability or contact the Sustainability Team on 01524 582061 to request a copy.
If you would like to request any of the above information, or have any other related queries please contact Lancaster City Council’s Sustainability Team on 01524 582061 or sustainability@lancaster.gov.uk
Page 15
Fireworks ready for launch LANCASTER’S annual Fireworks Spectacular will take place on Saturday November 6. And this year’s is shaping up to be bigger and better than ever before. During the day there will be a host of city centre events, including themed walks, lantern making, and street entertainment. For the first time Ryelands Park will act as one of the official viewing areas and will include a fairground, refreshments and entertainment. BBC Radio Lancashire will be broadcasting live from the park from 7pm so come along and meet presenters Graham Liver and Gilly. The other official viewing areas are Williamson Park, Giant Axe field and Salt Ayre Sports Centre.
An action-packed summer for the kids HUNDREDS of children across the district enjoyed a variety of different activities over the summer holidays, thanks to Lancaster City Council. Eighty-eight different workshops over the summer holiday saw 454 children take part in activities such as archery, volleyball, BMX biking, swimming and cheerleading. In addition, more than 400 children took part in playschemes and National Playday at Williamson Park saw more than 700 people enjoy a day of free play activities. * A programme of holiday activites will be taking place during the October half-term holidays. For more information visit www.lancaster. gov.uk/holidayprogramme
Salt Ayre will also be hosting a fun fair during the evening from 4pm. If you can't get to one of the venues, watch the fireworks, which start at 8pm, from wherever you are in the district and listen to the specially coordinated music on BBC Radio Lancashire – 104.5FM. As an added bonus there will be
free parking after 6pm in all of Lancaster City Council’s car parks in Lancaster and at Salt Ayre Sports Centre. Please note that the castle and priory precinct will be closed and not available for viewing the fireworks. This follows a review of previous years which found that the area was not best suited to accommodate the increasing number of people attending the event. More details of the daytime events and the official viewing areas will be available from the Visitor Information Centres in Lancaster and Morecambe and online at www.lancaster.gov.uk/ fireworks Please do not bring sparklers or alcohol to any of the official venues.
Fun autumn antics at the Festival Market MORECAMBE’S Festival Market will be holding fun events for all the family in the Autumn and Christmas shopping period. On Saturday October 16 there will be a dog show organised by Save a Pet and Animal Care. Entry forms are available from either of the Festival Market pet shops or from Animal Care or Save a Pet. For further details call 01524 425616 or 01524 65495.
The market will be getting into the Halloween spirit later this month with a free colouring competition and a ‘Go find the Ghost’ competition. Both run from Saturday October 23 to Sunday October 31. Entry forms are available from outside the market office. Pop along for the Santa’s Grotto, which will be open every weekend in December up to Christmas from 11am to 3pm.
We’re switching on to Christmas! THE traditional switch-on of Lancaster’s Christmas lights will take place on Thursday November 25. The date will also mark the start of late night shopping in the city. There will be free evening parking after 6pm on Thursday and all day Sundays from November 25 on the run-up to Christmas in all Lancaster City Council’s car parks. There will also be free parking in the city council’s car parks in Morecambe on Sundays (evening parking is already free).
What’s On: October to December October
17: Morecambe Brass Band Association Christmas Showcase – Platform 7.30pm £5 18: Morecambe Band – Brass at Christmas – Platform 7.30pm £7.50 21,22,26 & 27: Sleeping Beauty – Family Pantomime – Platform 2.30pm each day £7/£6, Family £22
Ralph McTell
15: Wilko Johnson Band and support – Platform 8pm £14/£13 16: Carol Ann Duffy’s ‘The Princess’ Blankets’ – Platform 10.30am £7/£5 advance, £8/£6 on door 16: Dog Show – Festival Market, Morecambe
Also Alexei Sayle
Every Thursday at the Platform – Old Time and Modern Sequence Dancing 2pm to 4pm £2.50
November
16: Alexei Sayle – Platform 7.30pm £13/£12 22: Off The Wall – Pink Floyd tribute – Platform 8pm £16.50 26: Blood Donor Sessions – Platform 2pm to 4pm and 5.30pm to 7.30pm 27: How the Koala Learnt to Hug – Platform 2pm £6/£5, Family £20 29: Tim Quinn – Aargh! The Ups and Downs of Life as a Comic Book Creator 7.30pm £10 Also Cartoon Workshop at 2pm £5 (suitable all ages) 30: Hot Running Soul – Geno Washington and Jimmy James – Platform 8pm £16 advance, £18 door 31: Ghoulish Goings On – Festival Market, Morecambe 31: Hallowe’en Fright Night (Morecambe Live Event) – Winter Gardens 7pm to 10pm Free
Zulu
5: Ralph McTell – Platform 8pm £16 6: Lancaster Fireworks Spectacular 8pm 7: The Babymaze Baby & Toddler Show – Platform 10am – 3pm Free 12: Brian Kennedy – Platform 8pm £15/£14 13: Remembrance Concert – Platform 7.30pm £6 14: Remembrance Parades 19: Start the Car! Bumble Takes to the Road (David Lloyd, legendary cricket commentator) – Platform 8pm £15 20: 3 Bonzos and a Piano – Platform 7.30pm £15 (students £10) 21: Morecambe & Heysham Canine Society Dog Show – Platform 10am 24: Blood Donor Sessions – Platform 2pm to 4pm and 5.30pm to 7.30pm 25: Christmas lights switch on – Market Square, Lancaster 26: Climax Blues Band – Platform 8pm £13/£12 28: Promenade Concert Orchestra – Music For You presents ‘An Invitation to Dance’ – Platform 3pm £12/£10 Children £5
December 2: Revd Peter Owen Jones – More TV Vicar! – Platform 8pm £15 3: Zulu – Platform 8pm £14/£12 4: Martyn Joseph – Platform 8pm £14 5: Animal Care Christmas Fair – Platform 12.30pm to 3.30pm Admission free 11: Christmas with Elvis – Platform 7.30pm £16.50 16: Maddy Prior & The Carnival Band – Carols & Capers 2010 – Platform 8pm £16
Weekends in December up to Christmas – Santa’s grotto – Festival Market, Morecambe
HANS Christian Anderson’s classic coming-of-age tale is brought to life in a wonderful new production of The Snow Queen at The Dukes this Christmas. Stunning puppets, spectacular projections and fantastic performances combine with all the sparkle of a magical Christmas extravaganza. The story follows best friends Kai and Gerda as they are transported to an exciting new world ruled by the wicked Snow Queen. To book, ring The Dukes box office on 01524 598500 or online at www.dukes-lancaster.org
www.lancaster.gov.uk/whatson Published by Lancaster City Council. Designed by ONESTOP Media Services Ltd. Tel: 01782 338396. Printed by Harmsworth Printing Ltd. Tel: 01332 595607