How to contact the council and get value for money from local services
2015-2016
Westminster City Council Westminster City Hall 64 Victoria Street London SW1E 6QP
westminster.gov.uk
How to contact the council
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Dear resident, It’s important you receive value for money from your council tax bill and this booklet sets out the services that are available to you as a resident of Westminster. For the eighth year running we have frozen council tax which makes the band D bill for services in Westminster £377.74. This year services will continue to change in response to the squeeze on public finances. But during these challenging times maintaining low tax, clean streets, new housing, creating job opportunities and supporting those that need our help most, will remain at the heart of what the council does. At the same time we want to help people and families to make the right choices so they can make the best of their lives.
westminster.gov.uk
My vision is to create a thriving city for everyone who lives, works and studies here as well as for the millions of visitors we see each year. But it’s more important than ever that you are involved in the future of your city, together we can create a thriving City for All.
Councillor Philippa Roe Leader of Westminster City Council
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What this means for you
Over the next five years we will build 1,250 affordable homes We will build the city’s first University Technical College with our partners We will help create jobs across the city
We will invest over ÂŁ1 million a year in services to help you live a healthy lifestyle We will reward those who volunteer in their communities with up to 50,000 credits over the next three years to spend on activities such as cinema visits and sport We will transform the way we engage with you, making it easier to do business with us
Find out more at westminster.gov.uk/cityforall.
Our 75 new City Inspectors will tackle anti-social behaviour and clampdown on irresponsible business practices Over 500,000 people will enjoy our best ever West End Live event celebrating world leading West End theatre We will keep the city moving in the lead up to the first phase of Crossrail opening in 2018
TAKE CONTROL of your council tax
SWITCH TO DIRECT DEBIT and win a life changing
ÂŁ25,000 in our prize draw
For more information, to view the Prize Draw terms and conditions, and the Direct Debit Guarantee, look out for details in your council tax bill or visit:
www.directdebit.co.uk/londoncounciltax
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LONDON COUNCILS
Your council tax bill 2015/16* Band
Westminster City Council
Greater London Authority
Total
A
£251.83
£196.67
£448.50
B
£293.80
£229.44
£523.24
C
£335.77
£262.22
£597.99
D
£377.74
£295
£672.74
E
£461.68
£360.56
£822.24
F
£545.62
£426.11
£971.73
G
£629.57
£491.67
£1121.24
H
£755.48
£590
£1,345.48
% change
0.0%
-1.3%
-0.6%
*Excluding levy for Montpellier Square Garden Committee and the Queen's Park Community Council levy.
Your council tax bill if you live in Queen’s Park For the residents of Queen’s Park ward an additional levy is applied for the Queen’s Park Community Council, created in April 2014. Find out more at westminster.gov.uk/ queens-park-council. Band
Westminster City Council
Greater London Authority
Queen’s Park Community Council levy
Total
A
£251.83
£196.67
£29.60
£478.10
B
£293.80
£229.44
£34.53
£557.77
C
£335.77
£262.22
£39.47
£637.46
D
£377.74
£295.00
£44.40
£717.14
E
£461.68
£360.56
£54.27
£876.51
F
£545.62
£426.11
£64.13
£1035.86
G
£629.57
£491.67
£74
£1195.24
H
£755.48
£590
£88.80
£1,434.28
For more information about your council tax and the council’s income and budgets, visit westminster.gov.uk/council-tax-service.
Council tax accounts for only 4% of the council’s annual income. To find out more about where our income comes from visit westminster. gov.uk/counciltax-service
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How to contact the council
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Contacting the council is easier than ever before Go online or call one of these numbers to find out about the services you receive through your council tax. Adult services page 10 Social care for vulnerable adults such as disabled or older people, or tell us if you are worried about someone.
westminster.gov.uk/adultservices 020 7641 2500
Business line page 11 For local businesses to enquire about planning, licensing, environmental health, commercial waste and business rates.
westminster.gov.uk/business 020 7641 7000
Children’s services page 11 Social services, childcare, fostering and adoption, schools, family support and information, or to tell us if you are worried about a child.
westminster.gov.uk/childrenservices 020 7641 4000
Council tax page 12 Pay, register, check your balance, set up a direct debit or make an enquiry.
westminster.gov.uk/counciltax 0845 302 3400
Housing page 14
westminster.gov.uk
Housing advice, applications and advice about being homeless. For tenant or lessee advice, or issues with your council accommodation please contact your local service centre (see page 15) or visit cwh.org.uk.
westminster.gov.uk/housing 020 7641 1000
Housing benefit and council tax support page 15 Find out how to claim housing benefit and council tax support, tell us about changes to your personal circumstances or make an enquiry about your claim.
westminster.gov.uk/benefits 0800 072 0042
Libraries page 17 Renew books and DVDs, find your nearest library and opening times, make an enquiry or find out about arts and culture.
westminster.gov.uk/libraries 020 7641 6200
Parking page 18 Find out about permits for residents, disabled badges and suspended parking bays. Pay or challenge a parking ticket.
westminster.gov.uk/parking 020 7823 4567
Planning, licensing and events page 18 Find out about planning permission, building control, licences or what you need to do to hold an event or film in Westminster.
westminster.gov.uk/planning westminster.gov.uk/licensing westminster.gov.uk/events 020 7641 6500
Registrars and electoral services page 19 Enquire about getting married in Westminster, register a birth or death, find out about the nationality checking service, book your British citizenship ceremony, register to vote or find out about elections.
westminster.gov.uk/registrar westminster.gov.uk/elections 020 7641 7500
Rubbish, streets and environmental health page 19 Find out about waste and recycling, pest control, food safety, health and safety and trading standards or report noise, graffiti, faulty streetlights and roadworks.
westminster.gov.uk/recycling westminster.gov.uk/report-it 020 7641 2000
Sports and leisure page 20 Information on sports activities, clubs and competitions.
westminster.gov.uk/sport 020 7641 2012
General enquiries 020 7641 6000
7 Receive exclusive offers and discounts every Friday. Visit westminster. gov.uk/vfm
CYCLING IN WESTMINSTER
Get on a bike, get healthy and love cycling Get free one-to-one City Cycling Courses to help you feel confident on your bike. Got your own bike? Get a free mechanical check at one of our regular events. Visit westminster.gov.uk/cycling to find out more
Westminster City Council Westminster City Hall 64 Victoria Street London SW1E 6QP
westminster.gov.uk/cycling
Access our services anytime, anywhere It is quicker and easier to access council services and find the answers to your questions on our website, westminster.gov.uk. Services online include: Report problems you see on the street and help us keep our streets safe and clean Check planning and licensing applications Apply for a Westminster City Save card to receive exclusive discounts and offers Find and contact your local Councillor Pay your council tax Renew and reserve library books Pay your parking ticket and see photo evidence to understand why you were issued a ticket Find your nearest Children’s Centre, leisure centre, library or community hub.
Don’t miss out on the latest news and free activities Receive the latest exclusive money saving offers, activities, what’s on and news on health and council services directly to your inbox with our regular enewsletter. Sign up at westminster.gov.uk/ stay-informed. Follow us on Twitter for news, free events, service and travel information @CityWestminster.
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How to contact the council
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A Complaints
(Adult services) 0800 587 0072
Adult social services westminster.gov.uk/adultservices 020 7641 2500 Adults with disabilities Adult social care services Freedom Pass Handyperson scheme Home care service Home meals service Older people Shopper service
Other adult social services numbers Adult education waes.ac.uk 020 7297 7297
Community supportive housing 020 7641 1000
Learning disability services 020 7641 7411
Safeguarding adults helpline 020 7641 2176
Taxicard
westminster.gov.uk
taxicard.org.uk 020 7934 9791
Business line westminster.gov.uk/business 020 7641 7000
B
Commercial waste
westminster.gov.uk/commercial-waste 020 7641 6180
Children’s services westminster.gov.uk/childrenservices 020 7641 4000 Abuse of children, or if you are worried about a child Adoption Childminding and nurseries Children’s Centres Family Information Service Fostering Youth council Youth offending team Young people and youth participation
Other children’s services numbers Children with disabilities 020 7266 7112
Play service, centre based and free play 020 7641 1107
School meals
020 7641 3412
Special educational needs 020 7361 3311
Student finance 0845 300 5090
School admissions 020 7745 6433
Schools (call the school direct) westminster.gov.uk/schools
C Complaints
(Children’s services) 0808 202 6210 020 7641 3482
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How to contact the council
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Children’s Centres Receive the latest money saving offers, activities, what’s on for your family and news directly to your inbox each month. Visit westminster.gov. uk/families-first
Visit your local Children’s Centre for advice, support and training. For a full list of centres visit westminster.gov.uk/childrens-centres.
North West Queen’s Park Children’s Centre 020 7641 5838 8 Bravington Road, W9 3AL 8
North East Portman Early Childhood Centre 020 7641 5435/5436 2-14 Salisbury Street, NW8 8DE
Central and South Churchill Gardens Children’s Centre 020 7641 5923 J ohnson Place, SW1V 3EU
Council tax
westminster.gov.uk
westminster.gov.uk/counciltax 0845 302 3400
How to contact the council
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H You can get free health advice and a wide range of events in your local library visit westminster. gov.uk/library/ health-events
Health westminster.gov.uk/public-health 020 3137 3373 Alcohol and drug problems Health trainers
Stop smoking service 020 3434 2500
Diabetes support 020 7736 0044 Other health services (NHS)
nhs.uk 0300 311 22 33 Dentists Doctors Health checks for adults aged 40-75 Opticians Pharmacies
Urgent medical assistance
111 If you need medical help fast but your situation is not life-threatening, call the NHS on 111 to speak to a trained advisor.
Housing 020 7641 1000
westminster.gov.uk/housing
Homelessness Housing options Private sector housing
Other housing numbers Rough sleeping
westminster.gov.uk
westminster.gov.uk/roughsleeping 020 7641 3841
CityWest Homes 020 7245 2000
Repairs (CityWest Homes tenants)
0800 358 3783 or 020 7245 2990 020 7286 7412 (out of hours emergencies only)
CityWest homes estate offices (please call your local service centre):
Central area service centre, Lilestone Street 020 7245 2801 For estates: Church Street, Lisson Green, Marylebone, St. John’s Wood.
South area service centre, Lupus Street
020 7245 2101 For estates: Churchill Gardens, Grosvenor, Lillington and Longmoore Gardens, Pimlico, Pimlico Street Properties, Soho and Covent Garden.
North area service centre, Lanark Road 020 7245 2231 For estates: Maida Vale, Mozart, North Street Properties, Queen’s Park.
West area service centre, Westbourne Terrace 020 7245 2911 For estates: Bayswater, Little Venice, Paddington Green, West Street Properties, Westbourne Park.
Housing benefit and council tax support westminster.gov.uk/benefits 0800 072 0042 Council tax support to help pay council tax Housing benefit to help pay rent
Complaints
(CityWest Homes) 0800 358 3785
There are more than 200 free and low cost activities on offer each week at our Community Hubs. To find your nearest hub, visit westminster.gov. uk/communityhub
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Your recycling guide Your mixed recycling collection is weekly
You can recycle:
For more information Visit: westminster.gov.uk/recycling • Call: 020 7641 2000
Westminster City Council Westminster City Hall 64 Victoria Street London SW1E 6QP
020 7641 6000 westminster.gov.uk
Libraries westminster.gov.uk/libraries 020 7641 6200 Archives and local studies Arts and culture Business Information Points Renewals and enquires
Home library service 020 7641 5405
Libraries
Archives Centre and Express Library 10 St. Ann’s Street, SW1P 2DE
Charing Cross Library including the Chinese Library 4-6 Charing Cross Road, WC2H 0HF
Church Street Library
67 Church Street, NW8 8EU
Little Venice Sports Centre Library (self-service) 1 0 Crompton Street, W2 1ND
Maida Vale Library
Sutherland Avenue, W9 2QT
Marylebone Library and Information Service Macintosh House, 54 Beaumont Street, W1G 6DW
Mayfair Library
25 South Audley Street, W1K 2PB
Paddington Library
orchester Road, W2 5DU (adults) P Clifford Hall, Porchester Road, W2 5DU (childrens)
Pimlico Library
Lupus Street, SW1V 3AT
Queen’s Park Library and Learning Centre 666 Harrow Road, W10 4NE
L Get free computer and internet training at your local Westminster library. Visit westminster. gov.uk/libraries
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How to contact the council
St. John’s Wood Library
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Parking
20 Circus Road, NW8 6PDF
Victoria Library and Westminster Music Library 160 Buckingham Palace Road, SW1W 9UD
Westminster Reference Library and Business Information Point 3 5 St. Martin’s Street, WC2H 7HP
P
westminster.gov.uk/parking 020 7823 4567 (8am-8pm, Monday-Saturday) Car Club Challenge a parking ticket Disabled parking permits Motorcycle parking Parking bay suspensions Pay a parking ticket (24 hours) Resident parking permits
westminster.gov.uk
Planning, licensing and events Over 500 people a day are downloading our free ParkRight mobile app. Join them and see how it makes it easy and quick for you to find and pay for parking in the city. Visit westminster. gov.uk/parkright
westminster.gov.uk/planning westminster.gov.uk/licensing westminster.gov.uk/special-events 020 7641 6500 Building control Conservation areas and listed buildings Licensing Markets and street trading Planning applications and permissions Planning enforcement Special events, holding an event in a park, open space or public highway, or filming in Westminster
Police 101 Report non-emergencies 999 In an emergency
Registrars and electoral services westminster.gov.uk/registrar westminster.gov.uk/voting 020 7641 7500
R
Births Citizenship ceremonies Deaths Elections Marriages and civil partnerships Register to vote
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Rubbish, streets and environmental health westminster.gov.uk/recycling westminster.gov.uk/report-it 020 7641 2000 Animal warden Bulky waste and special collections Cemeteries Drains Food safety Highways licensing including temporary structures, scaffolds and cranes Health and safety Noise complaints (24 hours, 365 days a year) Parks and gardens Pest control Potholes Recycling Roads and pavements Rubbish, bins and recycling collections Street cleansing Street lighting Trading standards Trees
You can now get married in the elegant rooms of Asia House, a beautiful 18th century Georgian townhouse. westminster.gov. uk/asia-house
Recycling saves around ÂŁ500,000 a year. Find out what you can recycle at westminster.gov. uk/recycling
How to contact the council
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S
Sports and leisure westminster.gov.uk/sport 020 7641 2012 I nformation on sports facilities, activities, clubs, competitions and sports.
Westminster had 3.7 million visits to its eight leisure centres last year, find your nearest centre at westminster.gov. uk/leisure-centreswestminster
Leisure centres Academy Sport
020 7121 0642 Westminster Academy, 255 Harrow Road, W2 5EZ
Jubilee Sports Centre 020 8960 9629 Caird Street, W10 4RR
Little Venice Sports Centre 300 street sweepers operate in Westminster 24 hours a day to keep the streets clean. Visit westminster.gov. uk/streetcleansing
020 7641 5111 10 Crompton Street, W2 1ND
Marshall Street Leisure Centre 020 7871 7222 15 Marshall Street, W1 7EL
Moberly Sports Centre
020 7641 4807 The Quadrant, Kilburn Lane, W10 4AH*
Paddington Recreation Ground 020 7641 3642 Randolph Avenue, W9 1PD
Porchester Centre 020 7792 2919 Queensway, W2 5HS
Porchester Spa
westminster.gov.uk
020 7792 3980 Queensway, W2 5HS
*Moberly Sports Centre is due to close in late spring 2015 for a multi-million pound redevelopment to create a state-of-theart centre. For more information visit westminster.gov.uk/ active-queens-parkmoberly
Queen Mother Sports Centre
020 7630 5522 223 Vauxhall Bridge Road, SW1V 1EL
Seymour Leisure Centre 020 7723 8019 Seymour Place, W1H 5TJ
St. Augustine’s Sports Centre 020 7641 3642 Randolph Road, NW6 5AW
Other useful numbers Complaints and comments Complaints and comments should be dealt with by the relevant service in the first instance. Contact us if you are unsure of the service you need. westminster.gov.uk/complaints 020 7641 6000
Councillors
westminster.gov.uk/councillors 020 7641 3255 T achbrook, Vincent Square, Warwick, St. James’s, and Knightsbridge and Belgravia 020 7641 4299 C hurchill, Westbourne, Queen’s Park, Harrow Road and Church Street 020 7641 3411 W est End, Bryanston and Dorset Square, Lancaster Gate, Hyde Park and Bayswater 020 7641 5371 M aida Vale, Little Venice, Abbey Road, Regent’s Park and Marylebone High Street
Cycling
westminster.gov.uk/cycling 020 7641 2016
Data protection
westminster.gov.uk/dp 020 7641 3921
Freedom of information
westminster.gov.uk/freedom-of-information 020 7641 3921
Volunteering
westminster.gov.uk/volunteering 020 7266 1992
Get free one-to-one or group training to help you cycle with confidence. Visit westminster. gov.uk/cycling
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Offers and discounts for Westminster residents Don’t miss out on fantastic offers and great savings on Westminster’s leading attractions with a free Westminster City Save card. To get your card register online at westminster.gov.uk/citysave, fill out an application form at your local library or leisure centre or call 020 7641 6000. Up to 70% off West End Theatre
20% off entry to Wellington Arch and Aspley House
Get great discounts on top West End shows. Visit these historic Westminster landmarks and receive a discount for up to six people. 020 7400 1234 0870 333 1181
Two for one walking tours
Two for one movie walking tours including Dr Who, Beatles and Harry Potter. 0844 247 1007
50% off Ripley’s Believe it or Not! Families can enjoy 50% off entry. 020 3238 0022
50% off tapas at Salvador and Amanda Authentic Spanish restaurant in Covent Garden. 020 7240 1551
Up to 65% off swimming Get up to 65% off swimming at any of the council’s five pools. 020 7641 2012
A NEW OFFER EVERY FRIDAY For fortnightly updates on new offers register for our Value for Money Friday enewsletter and like us on Facebook at facebook. com/valueformoneyfriday.
33% off Appleyard Flowers
Terms and conditions apply, full details can be found at westminster.gov.uk/citysave
Use code AWEST33 for 33% off flowers. 0844 880 0473
20% off Lord’s Cricket Ground Enjoy 20% off a tour for up to six people including entry to the museum. 020 7616 8595
Two for one entry to exhibitions at the National Portrait Gallery Browse the most extensive collections of portraits in the world for free and save on all paid exhibitions. 020 7306 0055
There’s a new way to apply for benefits
Go online for a better way to apply for benefits. You can now claim your housing benefit and council tax support from anywhere you can access the internet.
westminster.gov.uk/benefits