Newsline Spring 2012

7/28/2019 Newsline Spring 2012

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NEWSLINE SPRING 2012

Page 2

Localism is now a term that regularly is used as part of our everyday vocabulary.

What it means for local communities varies however. With the Localism Act nowpassed, communities can have more influence in affecting decisions at a local level

and becoming part of the solutions they wish to see in their local communities.

This issue of Newsline sets out to identify the key opportunities for local

communities under the Localism Act and provides examples of localism in action. In

both counties communities are engaging with this new agenda and Community First

is sup[porting communities on a range of projects some of which are highlighted in

this issue.

The challenges for us is to ensure that communities supported effectively. This

challenge is for us at Community First to provide the advice and support that

communities need and make requests of us for to ensure they are equipped to take

this agenda forward. IN response to this need we are establishing our Rights

Support package (watch this space) and

are in the process of a feasibility study to establish a Oil Buying Group. This has

come about through requests from Communities and the evidence nationally that the

group buying power to drive better prices, especially around group oil buying.

The savings for people buying oil through a group buying scheme are considerable.

Over 50% of Rural Community Councils across the country have now set up group

buying schemes and we are at the moment assessing the community need for this.

If you live in a rural community and would be interested to find out more about

joining such a scheme, please get in touch with

Lorna Pearcey

Development Manager Sustainable Communities

[email protected]

NEWS PAGE 3

Get CyclingSpring has sprung and with free adult cycle training on offer from HerefordshireCouncil theres now no better time to travel around Herefordshire by pedal power.Training sessions are run on a one-to-one basis and tailored to individual needs andwill focus on choosing the best routes, bike security and guidance on buying a bike.


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The free sessions will provide people with a host of useful tips from riding safely tohow to choose the right bike.Also on offer are new parent and child training sessions; workplace sessions andcommunity or group training.For further information or to book, please call 01432 260514 or [email protected]
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]


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The budget at a glance.

Please see below ACEVOs key point summary of George Osbornes 2012 Budget

announcements made yesterday, particularly that of relevance to the voluntary sector:

The Chancellor reiterated his desire to support working families by taking

them out of income tax altogether with a goal to raise the personal allowance

to 10,000. In two weeks time, the personal allowance will rise by 680 to8,105. From next April, this will go up by 1,100 to 9,205.

From April next year, the top rate of income tax will drop 5% to 45%.

The Government will make 20 million available to the not-for-profit advice

sector in 201314, and again in 201415 to support the sector as it adapts to

changes in the way that it is funded.

The government is exploring enterprise loans for young people to start new

businesses.

HM Treasury will conduct an internal review looking into the financial

barriers to social investment.

There will be a cap on currently uncapped income tax reliefs, including relief

for charitable donations, from 6 April 2013. For anyone seeking to claim more

than 50,000 of relief, a cap will be set at 25 per cent of income. The

Government have said they will work with the charity sector to ensure this

does not have a harmful impact on donations.

From April 2013, the Government will relax the CITR on-lending

requirements that currently place conditions on the speed with which

Community Development Finance Institutions must on-lend the funding they

receive, and introduce new rules to allow investors to carry unused relief

forward. (Finance Bill 2013).

Gift Aid: The Government will work with the charity sector to simplify the

administration of Gift Aid in the context of charity shops. As announced atBudget 2011, from April 2012 the Government will withdraw

Self Assessment Donate for tax returns for 201112 onwards and where

taxpayers donate a pre-eminent object or collection of objects to the nation and

that object is accepted, the taxpayer will receive a reduction in their tax

liability based on a set percentage of the value of the object they are donating.

For individuals the tax reduction will be 30 per cent and for companies 20 per

cent.

Furthermore, theGovernment will introduce a new Gift Aid small donations

scheme from April 2013 to enable charities to claim a Gift Aid style top-up

payment on up to 5,000 of small donations, without the need to collect Gift

Aid declarations.

We are always pleased to hear from our members and to understand the issues of

importance to you right now. Feel free to contact us, we may be able to help.

Community First and The Changing Futures Fund

Thrilled that customers we have supported have already been successful in securing

a voucher
http://www.comfirst.org.uk/changing_futures_fundhttp://www.comfirst.org.uk/changing_futures_fund


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Community First are thrilled to announce we have already supported organisations to

submit successful applications to the Changing Futures Fund. We are currently

supporting 13 organisations who contacted us about Changing Futures. We are either

helping them apply for a voucher, or we have found they are eligible for other

coaching and support they can access from us immediately.

Ring Community First now if you want our support to apply for a voucher to access

free specialist professional advice, support and coaching across a range of packages

that will help you to develop your organisation.

Community First are also approved providers of Growing the Social Enterprise Sector

and the Co-operative Enterprise Hub, for Herefordshire, Worcestershire and further

afield in relation to Co-op start ups and support. So even if we find out you are not

eligible for the Changing Futures Fund, we may still be able to offer the coaching you

need.

The Changing Futures Fund may be for you, if you are:

- starting a voluntary or community sector organisation, including social

enterprise or co-operative, to deliver services in Worcestershire,

OR

- you are already delivering services in Worcestershire;

OR

- you need our First Aid package, for organisations in difficulty, seeking to

safeguard valuable services;

In the first instance contact Andrea Cooper on 01684 312730 so we can signpost you

to the right advisor for you.


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Localism in action 4/5

This edition of Newsline will focus on the Localism Act, in particular the partsof localism that relate to and impact on local communities, and howcommunities are responding and shaping this new agenda through collectivecommunity action.

So what are the Opportunities and Challenges for our local communities?

We will focus on What the changes are in terms of national planning policy,Neighbourhood Planning and Community Rights: Community Right to Build andAssets of Community Value.


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Changes to planning system the National Planning Policy Framework

In March 2012 the new NPPF was published. The Government committedthemselves to simplifying the planning guidance which govern how development cantake place. The new NPPF will replace all current national guidance and the aim is toencourage communities to engage with the planning system and re-establish a plan-led system in which local planning authorities, developers and communities should allhave confidence.

Although the NPPF retains its main thrust as a pro-growth planning framework it alsoprovides:

Clarity about transition arrangements, which help determine the status if

existing local plans and emerging plans over the next 12 months

A more balanced approach to defining and promoting sustainable

development in achieving social, environmental and economic objectivesthrough the planning system

Specific policies that enable communities to value and protect particular areas

of rural hinterland from unwanted development, provided the community has

allocated sufficient sites to cater for its future housing and employment needs

Confirmation of the retention of rural exception sites to acquire adequate

affordable housing, but adding the potential of cross-subsidy from open

market housing

A more coherent vision of rural community sustainability more attuned to the

rural economy and the need to retain services and facilities within the

community.

For more information on your local plan, contact your district council

The Localism Act is one of the key pieces of legislation introduced by theGovernment. It is a radical shift of power from central government to localcommunities. The aim is to give power back to people and communities andcreate the conditions for the Big Society.

There are 5 measures in the Localism Act:(1) Community Rights(2) Neighbourhood Planning

(3) Housing(4) Empowering Cities(5) General Power of Competence

Different parts of the act will come into effect at different times.

The Government views the NPPF as a key part of their reforms to make theplanning system less complex and more accessible, to protect the environmentand to promote sustainable growth.


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Neighbourhood Planning

There are two main mechanisms for Neighbourhood Planning-Neighbourhood Plans and Neighbourhood Development Orders

Neighbourhood Plans

The focus of a Neighbourhood Plan is on land use and spatial planning. Developing aNeighbourhood Plan can help the community to:

Develop a shared vision for the parish/community

Choose where new homes, shops, offices and other developmentshould be built.

Identify and protect important green spaces

Influence what new buildings should look like.

How are Neighbourhood Plans different to other community led plans such asParish Plans?

Parish Plans focus on all aspects of community life and interest, not just the land useelements. Parish Plans identify actions that communities can often take forward bythemselves as well as working in partnership with other agencies and local

authorities to achieve the outcomes identified.

Critical to the success of both Neighbourhood Plans and Community LedPlans and Parish Plans is high level of community engagement.

Neighbourhood Development Orders

This can help implement a shared vision by granting planning permission to certaintypes of development in certain locations without the need to submit a planningapplication to the local planning authority.

The process for developing a NP or NDO is similar and both allow for the community

to plan for the future of their own community.The process of developing Neighbourhood Plans will rely on active communityinvolvement.

Neighbourhood Planning: We will introduce new rights for communities to shapetheir local areas through neighbourhood planning. Communities will be able to useneighbourhood development plans to set policies for the development and use ofland in their neighbourhoods and through the use of neighbourhood developmentorders can permit development in full or in outline.A Plain English Guide to the Localism Bill Communities and Local Government

Neighbourhood Planning empowers communities to shape the development


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and growth of a local area through the production of a Neighbourhood Plan,Neighbourhood Development Order or a Community Right to Build

Top tip from CPRE/NALC

If you have already been involved in public consultation when the Local Planwas being prepared, all your concerns and aspirations may already bereflected in your Local Plan. If you are happy with what the Local Plan says,then you may decide that there is no need to prepare a Neighbourhood Plan.

Community Right to Build

Under the Localism Act provisions, a Community Right to build order allows a localcommunity group to bring forward a small development for one or more purposes,

including new homes, business and community facilities, but it must be small scaleand comparison with the size of the settlement.

This method of improving local communities and local facilities is easier than the NProute and could bring about the changes the community have identified.

Worcestershire

Community First launch new package of support

In Worcestershire, in response to the requests for support that communities have

requested over the last year for advice and support on Community Led Planning,Parish Planning and Neighbourhood Planning, Community Land Trusts and othercommunity engagement requests, we are now responding to this need by launchingour new social enterprise.This will enable us to provide support for communities in the following areas:

Community Led Plans

Neighbourhood Plans

Public Consultation / Engagement

Surveys ( digital / postal / face to face

Business Plans

Financial Plans

Administration / Coordination Service for local groups

Options Appraisals

Project and viability assessments

Statements of Community Involvement

Presentations

Planning advice

Facilitation

Training

Community Land Trust

The Rights Package

Please look out for our publicity.


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In the meantime if you would like to find out more, please contact:Lorna [email protected] 267820

Herefordshire

In Herefordshire, communities are actively engaging with community led planningthrough the Parish Plan process, in order to establish what the range of issues arefor local communities. This process will then determine how communities respond tothe issues identified. If land use and special planning issues feature very stronglythen a neighbourhood plan or a community Right to Build project may then beembarked upon.

Outlined pn pages 10/11 are some examples of community engagement activitiesundertaken through the development of Parish Plans.

FUNDING FOCUSCHANGING FUTURES

FUNDING FOCUS PAGES 6/7

BBC Children in Need

BBC Children in Need provides grants for up to three years to organisations (including

schools) working with disadvantaged young people aged 18 or under.

Within the BBC Children in Need grants programme, organisations can apply for Small Grants

of 10,000 or less per year for up to three years and for Main Grants of over 10,000 per year

for up to three years.

Funding is available to organisations that work with young people who are suffering from:

Illness

Distress

Abuse or neglect


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Are disabled

Have behavioural or psychological difficulties

Are living in poverty or situations of deprivation.

Examples of projects that recently received funding include:

Oasis Academy Lord's Hill Southampton which received a grant of 19,467 for a

project that will work with 5-11 year olds who have poor school attendance and

behaviour issues. Through drama and dance workshops they hope to increase their

self esteem, communication and team working skills.

The Colonel Frank Seely School in Nottingham which received 11, 560 the project

runs an after-school club for children and young people who are at risk of getting

involved in anti-social behaviour or left alone while parents are working.

Relate Northamptonshire which received a grant of 58, 589 to provide counseling for

disadvantaged children and young people in six schools in Northamptonshire, who

have experienced domestic abuse, drug and alcohol abuse and family break up.

The next closing date for applications is the 15th July 2012.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/pudsey/grants/general_grants.shtml

The Ashden Awards

The Ashden Awards have announced that they will re-open for applications on the 1st June

2012.

Through the awards, non governmental organisations, schools and businesses both in the UK

and internationally are able to compete for prizes and that reward and recognise practical and

innovative sustainable energy schemes. During last years awards a range of prizes of up to

40,000 were available for projects in the categories of the UK, International and Sustainable

Travel.

Previous winners have ranged from:

An enterprise bringing clean stoves to rural Africa to a Cornish school embracing energy-

saving across its learning and practice.

http://www.ashdenawards.org/
http://www.bbc.co.uk/pudsey/grants/general_grants.shtmlhttp://www.ashdenawards.org/http://www.bbc.co.uk/pudsey/grants/general_grants.shtmlhttp://www.ashdenawards.org/


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Funding for Summer Playschemes The Hilden Charitable Fund has

announced that its Summer Playscheme Grants Programme is now open for applications to

help community groups run Summer Playschemes for the benefit of children from refugee and

ethnic minority families.

Funding of up to 1,000 is available for Summer Playschemes for children aged 5 - 18 years

lasting for 2 - 6 weeks with strong volunteer support. The funding is available to voluntary

agencies with an income of less than 120,000. Some priority will be given to projects which

show they are inclusive of children from refugee families, and show BME involvement.

The closing date for applications is the 18th May 2012.

http://www.hildencharitablefund.org.uk/summer%20playcheme%20guidelines.htm

Healthy Hearts Grants

Heart Research UK has announced that its Healthy Heart Grants programme will re-

open for applications on the 1st July 2012. The Healthy Heart Grants programme

supports innovative projects designed to promote heart health and to prevent or reducethe risks of heart disease in specific groups or communities. Grants of up to 10,000

are available to community groups, voluntary organisations and researchers who are

spreading the healthy heart message.

The closing date will be the 31st August 2012.

http://www.heartresearch.org.uk/grants/healthyheartgrant

Call for Proposals - Sustainable Industry Low Carbon Scheme

The European Commission has announced a new Call for Proposals under its

Competitiveness and Innovation Programme (CIP) for the Sustainable Industry LowCarbon (SILC) initiative. The objective of the call is to provide support for

technological and/or non-technological innovation measures that are needed to

achieve reductions in the specific Green House Gas emission intensity, while

maintaining the sector's competitive position and jobs. The closing date is the 25th

June 2012.

http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/newsroom/cf/itemdetail.cfm?

item_id=5811&lang=en&tpa_id=0

Ecohere Project - One year on!

The Ecohere team are now supporting various types of sustainability activity in eight

different rural communities in Herefordshire, and there are more waiting to join us asI write! We are working with Parish Councils, Community led Planning
http://www.hildencharitablefund.org.uk/summer%20playcheme%20guidelines.htmhttp://www.heartresearch.org.uk/grants/healthyheartgranthttp://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/newsroom/cf/itemdetail.cfm?item_id=5811&lang=en&tpa_id=0http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/newsroom/cf/itemdetail.cfm?item_id=5811&lang=en&tpa_id=0http://www.hildencharitablefund.org.uk/summer%20playcheme%20guidelines.htmhttp://www.heartresearch.org.uk/grants/healthyheartgranthttp://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/newsroom/cf/itemdetail.cfm?item_id=5811&lang=en&tpa_id=0http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/newsroom/cf/itemdetail.cfm?item_id=5811&lang=en&tpa_id=0


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Steering/Action Groups, schools, and other community action groups and individuals

as they look at the future of their local community and make moves to improve it for

themselves and their children and grandchildren. Some are creating sustainability

action plans for the local area, and holding awareness-raising and consultation events

with innovative approaches. Others are focusing on particular projects such as

community gardens or allotments, bulk-buying oil or other goods, or local renewableenergy. These all lead towards saving money, saving energy and creating a more

resilient local community. We are finding the energy and enthusiasm of these groups

and individuals inspiring, and the links we are making between groups doing similar

projects, as well as with local and national expertise, are creating a sense of action and

networks of support that will benefit communities who receive Ecoheres support

from now on.

Why should you join the growing number of communities receiving Ecoheres

support?

Rural life has its challenges, but there are many ways in which we can act and plan toensure that its many benefits are enjoyed and enhanced, both now and for future

generations. This is an exciting time for rural communities, with local and national

resource, advice and funding possibilities for energy-saving and community-based

initiatives springing up all the time. Developing a local Sustainability Action Plan for

your community will embed ideas supporting local life in the communitys future, and

could serve as evidence to feed into a Neighbourhood Plan, ensuring that local

sustainability themes (such as energy efficiency or local services) are central to local

planning decisions made in the future. If you have a specific idea that will improve

your communitys present and future resilience, such as setting up a local service (eg.

a village shop or garden) or a bulk buying scheme (saving money on goods such as

house insulation, food or other goods), we could support you in this by linking you

with the specific resources and help you may need. Any local action or planning

process involves members of the community coming together with a common goal,

and in the current economic and energy climate there are goals that are undoubtably

common to us all. By working together on these issues we can be stronger and make

more of a difference than many of our personal efforts to save money, fuel and

energy, and the new friendships and sense of community that this can create are of

course strengthening to local life in itself, as well as being wonderfully enjoyable!

What to do next?

If you have any ideas, as a community group, organisation or as an individual, thenjust get in touch and we will support you in any way that we can! You can visit our

website (www.comfirst.org.uk/ecohere) to find out some of our work with other

Herefordshire communities, or simply get in touch with either Rebecca

([email protected] 262963) or Mary (

[email protected] 881060) for an informal chat about how

we could help you in your local area. We look forward to hearing from you!
http://www.comfirst.org.uk/ecoherehttp://www.comfirst.org.uk/ecoheremailto:[email protected]:[email protected]://www.comfirst.org.uk/ecoheremailto:[email protected]:[email protected]


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8/9 VH

Buildings are SO boring

Heres a springtime rant for you. Bear with me there is a punchline.

Buildings are boring. They go wrong, they cost more and more money to heat but

they leak heat to a scandalous degree, and then the users complain about them and go

somewhere else for their yoga. And the poor management committee spends more

and more time talking about them and how they can be fixed and wheres the money

to do that and is it worth it? And boring meetings make for less people prepared to sit

on committees makes for one fine day the hall closes. OK OK Im, exaggerating. But

I know there are plenty of you out there nodding.

My dream is the day that village hall committees dont talk about their building any

more. They just talk about the things they want to do in it . Because they have got

their building costing not much to run and - to use the ghastly phrase fit forpurpose.

This could be done and the benefits are very real believe me. Regular readers will

know about the smart alecs in my village who put PV on the roof when the going was

good and now make 1500 a year from the sunshine. I am back on the committee and

watching the difference unfold. Now we can afford new curtains and to get our

storage problems sorted . The hall looks good. The committee is talking about what

more can happen in our hall. Our tin shed is on the up. Yes, sadly, that particular

opportunity is no longer there but there are plenty of other ways of saving and making

money to get the buildings.

In Herefordshire 60 halls ( about 40% of the county total ) have just had environmental

audits done. We have the results. Most of the recommendations are about insulation anddouble glazing of course. A few halls have got serious problems which will be expensive to

fix. But the great majority are highly fixable. The total works estimate for the 60 halls is

around 600K which works out at 10k average per hall. And that s equal to one

maximum Awards for All Grant.

So I am rolling up my sleeves to back up those 60 Herefordshire committees in making

their buildings less boring. And encouraging those who havent got the evidence for what

needs doing to look for help to sort that out.

Which is where my colleague, in Worcestershire comes in. Over to you Richard,

Thanks Rob ---


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A well done energy audit is a crucial tool to inform your committee in setting its priority

list for improvement. And a well done energy audit is also crucial to securing funding.

But how to get one done and how extensive and expensive does it need to be?

The answer, in our experience is that a reasonably simple survey will get you theinformation you need for most items of interest - including:

Insulation to walls, floors and ceiling spaces

Double/triple glazing,

draught proofing,

fuel choices,

better heating controls

heating systems that dont require new construction like boiler types

more efficient lighting

Providing that halls employ good contractors for installation work and you heed their

professional advice this sort of audit should give you a sound idea for what can be easily

achieved in your building.

Working with template surveys and our experience of the 400 halls in Hereford and

Worcestershire we can complete surveys for you. Then seeking funds from Awards for

All and others will be all the simpler. Get in touch to find out more about how we can

help.

Of course, if halls are undergoing major refurbishment, are pursuing solar, wind or other

renewable energy installations such projects often entail their own energy / feasibility study

requirements. We can signpost village hall committees to consultants who can produce

reports and recommendations with the required bells and whistles on them.

So lets get our buildings in shape make them easy to run, warm and comfortable places

to be in and finally get on organising fun things for our communities to do in them!

Richard

PAGES 12Localism and Community Led Planning (CLP) in Herefordshire

The Localism Act will come into operation in Spring/Summer 2012, but whatdoes this mean to us as individuals/community groups and how will itempower us? The aim of the Act is to take control over decisions that affectour day to day lives away from Central Government and empowercommunities to take local decisions in partnership with Local Authorities andParish and Town Councils.

The Act introduces new rights for communities, one of which is The Right to

Plan - Neighbourhood Planning representing a fundamental shift in the way


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planning decisions are made and providing greater power at community levelto influence local planning decisions.

Community Led Planning fits well with the Localism Act, which is about peopletaking greater responsibilities for their areas. CLPs cover all local issues, but if

there is support for parishes to do a Neighbourhood Plan in Herefordshire,development issues highlighted in the CLP can be taken forward as aseparate Neighbourhood Plan.

Across England and indeed Herefordshire, people are volunteering their timeand energy to help shape their communities. By evidencing local needs,exploring solutions, and implementing a plan of action they are generatingsustainable communities and relying less on local authorities to get thingsdone.

Just recently.

Bishops Frome held their Planning for Real events. Planning for Real is wherea large map of the parish is constructed and participants place flags on themap indicating what they want to see happen and where (e.g. a newplaygroups, speed restrictions, improve broadband). This is a focus for peopleto put forward and begin to prioritise ideas on how their areas can beimproved. The parish of Bishops Frome does not have a school and theywanted to find a way to ensure as many families as possible would attend theevent and participate. As a method of engaging with the community, theSteering Group hired a mobile zoo which proved to be a huge success. Over100 residents came along to place their flags on the map, showing theirsupport for their community and engaging with the CLP processnot tomention enjoying playing with the baby meerkat, snake, lizard, hairyarmadillo


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Trevor Hill Birds and Animals at Bishops Frome Planning for Real March 2012

Planning for Real map filling up with ideas and issues Bishops Frome March 2012

The CLP story so far

66% of Herefordshire parishes have produced or are producing a CLP

Facts & Figures:-

65 CLPs have been published in Herefordshire

28 plans are under development Includes plans for villages and remote rural areas

Includes all 5 market towns and Hereford City

Current plans cover over 80% of county population

7 parishes have started or completed their 2nd CLP

By the end of March 2011 9 new CLP groups were supported

By the end of March 2012 another 9 new CLP groups have formed

6 CLPs were completed and published in 2011 and 2 so far in 2012

these groups are now working on implementing the objectives in theirAction Plans.

Neighbourhood Planning front runners in Herefordshire:- Leominster are developing a Neighbourhood Plan


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- Golden Valley area are developing a NeighbourhoodDevelopment Order.

For further information on Community Led Planning contact Sophie Pryce,CLP Development Officer on 01432 262973 or email [email protected]

-------------------------------------------

PAGE 13/14Community Right to Challenge

Under the community right to challenge voluntary and community groups, parishcouncils and local authority staff will be able to take over the running of local publicservices.For more information, please contact your County Associations for Local Councils:

Halc and CALC details

Assets of Community Value

Under the Community Right to Bid important local amenities and buildings such as

town halls, community halls or the last village shop or pub can be nominated for

listing by the local authority as assets of community value. If listed assets come up

for sale, communities will have extra time to prepare a bid, making it more possible to

keep much loved assets in public use and part of local life. The Co-operative

Enterprise Hub and the Plunkett Foundation provide advice and support to helpcommunities develop projects.

Community First, through the Co-operative Enterprise Hub, is supporting The

Pheasant Inn Community Pub group in Neenton, South Shropshire to develop a joint

project with South Shropshire Housing Association to purchase the derelict local pub

and land to provide affordable local housing and secure the only public building in the

village other than the local church. This will provide economic and social re-

generation, increase social facilities and create local jobs and much needed new

housing. An example of using the new planning regulations to benefit the community.

Community Asset Transfer

For a start we can tell you what it means.

Its a legal procedure invented by the previous government that enables local

authorities to sign over building assets they can no longer afford to own and manage -

or no longer have a use for- to community groups to own and make good use of.

Over the last couple of years local authorities have been looking increasingly hard at

their building stock and finding community groups who could take them on.

Herefordshire have been in the forefront of this process and Community First hasbeen working very closely with them in making CAT work for everyones benefit.
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]


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In the last issue we gave a case study of one such transfer a redundant youth centre

given new life as a locally run community centre - but we are building up a wide

variety of experience. Down by the Wye in Hereford there is a field owned by the

Council and home to a wonderful society of model railway enthusiasts who have built

passenger carrying circuits, run public fun days, train young people in much needed

engineering skills. With our support it will very soon be their field and they will havethe security to develop long term plans. Further down the river in Ross theres a sports

pavilion used by a variety of sports clubs and much in need of an upgrade. It was

Council property but now its been assigned with our help -to a recently formed

company in which all the user clubs have a stake and has just secured its first 50K

grant for refurbishment. In Ross and Hereford we are working to transfer Council

owned buildings used by the local mental health charity to provide residential support

of their clients. Up in Kington there is an old police station used by a highly

successful community IT project and a number of small businesses. It makes no sense

for the Council to own it. Soon hopefully , with our help, they wont. In all these

cases and there are more coming through all the time- the result is highly positive:

community assets which can now grow in value.

There are many more Council owned buildings in Herefordshire and Worcestershire

than you might think. So if you have a community project crying out for a home and

you start looking at local property resources and wondering Who owns that? Get in

touch with us. We have the expertise you need to help you move from the question to

a positive answer.

Oil Buying group

Community First are in the process of a feasibility study to establish a OilBuying Group. The savings for people buying oil through a group buyingscheme are considerable. Over 50% of Rural Community Councils across thecountry have now set up group buying schemes and we are at the momentassessing the community need for this.

If you live in a rural community and would be interested to find out more aboutjoining such a scheme, please get in touch withLorna Pearcey

Development Manager Sustainable [email protected]

Fuel poverty/Affordable Warmth

A household is in fuel poverty when it needs to spend at least 10% of its income toheat its home to an acceptable level (normally 21oC in the main living area).

Three main factors contribute to whether a household is fuel poor the householdincome, the energy efficiency of its property and the cost of energy.

Fuel poverty remains more prevalent in rural areas, as is the number of vulnerablehouseholds (those that include a child, an elderly person or someone disabled or


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with a long term illness). The prevalence in rural areas is linked to particular ruralcharacteristics such as older detached properties with solid walls, higher numbers ofoff-gas properties and lower average wages. During 2010-12 Calor UK has beenfunding National Energy Action (NEA) technical advisors and RCAN regional bodieson a joint project to offer independent information and advice to off-gas gridhouseholds and communities to help improve energy efficiency and reduce theircarbon footprint.

Please see the recently published final report of the Fuel Poverty Review

http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/funding/fuel_poverty/hills_review/hills_review.aspx

A consultation on this new approach to fuel poverty will take place in the summer.

In Herefordshire

Fuel poverty has hit the news a lot over the winter and will continue to do so in winters tocome. We only get to hear about the extent to which buying fuel to heat our homes eats intoour hard earned during the short dark days between November and March. The reality isthough that every year more people especially those on low incomes, or those with poorlyinsulated older properties are joining the ranks of the fuel poor, spending more 10% of theirincome on heating their homes. This problem is set to increase drastically into the future asconventional energy prices continue to rise. Community First whilst working in partnershipwith Shropshire RCC and Calor FREE funding are fighting the good fight and attempting tosupport communities especially those in the North of Herefordshire specifically in the of gridMortimer Ward As part of a creative approach to engage the community the project officer

has worked with a variety of groups. One the most exciting projects has been working withLeintwardine Youth Group where young volunteers have been instrumental in building ayouth/visitor shelter using local materials including willow. Whilst doing so the willow resourcealong the river corridor has been increased with a view to harvesting wood fuel for domesticuse into the future.
http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/funding/fuel_poverty/hills_review/hills_review.aspxhttp://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/funding/fuel_poverty/hills_review/hills_review.aspx


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.

Keep Herefordshire Warm

Free loft and cavity wall insulation is now available for all Herefordshire residents.Around 20,000 homes in the county still lack these measures, which can reduce fuel

bills and increase home comfort as well as reducing carbon emissions.

'Keep Herefordshire Warm' has been developed by local charities Marches Energy

Agency and New Leaf, in association with Herefordshire Council and VNR

Contracting. It builds on similar successful schemes in neighbouring counties. The

project is funded by the big six energy companies through a government obligation to

reduce carbon emissions.

The scheme runs from May December 2012. We are aiming to work with upwards

of 10,000 householders in this period.


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In addition to loft and cavity wall insulation, the project will also provide an

opportunity for householders to explore other money-and energy-saving activities that

are available in the county. This includes further energy efficiency measures as well

as those relating to food, renewable energy, transport, waste and the local economy.

This great opportunity may not appear again, so to sign up for a free survey andinstallation, please call 0800 677 1432.

In Worcestershire

New project: Rural Affordable Warmth Project

We are delighted to announce that we have been successful in obtaining funding tosupport the Rural Affordable Warmth Project in Worcestershire and Warwickshirefrom The ScottishPower Energy People Trust.The project will begin in May andis aimed at providing support and advice toindividuals and communities in rural locations to reduce fuel poverty through avariety of measures, which will increase household income and/or reduce householdexpenditure. The primarily role will be to provide advice and disseminate informationon measures that will reduce fuel poverty through energy efficiency. This will bedone by employing Rural Energy Outreach Agents (REOAs) located in targetcommunities. In addition, these REOAs will also look at offering support and advicein respect of:

Increasing household income

Reducing household outgoings.

They will act as a local signposting service to other support agencies such as CAB,Benefits Agency and others.The overall aim of the approach that we plan to take in delivery is to use the

successful Village Agent model to engage with existing community networks and usethese to impart information and advice as well as the identification of individuals inneed.

The Village Agent model of working has been recognised as a successful andeffective method of engaging with groups and individuals particularly hard toreach groups and the use of this method will ideally lend itself to the successof this project.

This project is a collaborative project delivered by Community First and WarwickshireRural Community Council. Up to ten parishes will be supported in each county overthe two year lifetime of this project.

For more information about this project please contact:Karen Humphries

This project is funded by The ScottishPower Energy People Trust.

DEFRA have just published a paper entitled The cost of fuel in rural areas. This paper looksat the impact of high fuel prices on rural communities, and sets out what the Government isdoing to ensure the needs of rural residents are taken into account as relevant policies andprogrammes are developed and implemented.

The paper can be found on the publications section of the Defra website, or by clicking on the


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attached link:

http://www.defra.gov.uk/publications/2012/03/30/pb13741-rural-fuel-costs/

DECC has announced the publication of its Heat Strategy:

http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/news/pn12_034/pn12_034.aspx

The Heat Strategy sets out the Governments plan for achieving the decarbonisation of UKbuildings and industry, so that the UK remains on track to meet its target to cut emissions by80% by 2050. This is important, since the energy we use to heat and cool our homes andbuildings, provide heat for hot water and cooking, and to drive our manufacturing, isresponsible for a substantial part of the UKs energy use, and its greenhouse gas emissions.Costs for households off the gas grid are higher than for those on the gas grid, leading tohigher levels of fuel poverty in many rural areas (although of course this is not the sole reasonfor high levels of fuel poverty).

There are numerous references in the Strategy to the particular issues faced by rural

communities, and those off the gas grid, together with an acknowledgement that thesehouseholds face specific problems and increased costs in heating their homes. The Strategysets out what the UK needs to do during this decade, as well as longer term. This includeswork to complete all practical cavity wall and loft insulation, and deploy solid wall insulation inup to 1.5 million buildings. The Strategy also links to the Green Deal and the EnergyCompany Obligation, the Renewable Heat Premium Payment and the Renewable HeatIncentive, with a recognition that the RHPP and RHI will drive early uptake of low carbonheating, especially where these technologies are displacing more expensive and highercarbon producing heating fuels like oil.

Other info

Consultations

The Office of Fair Trading has today issued a call for evidence to see whether the homeinsulation market is working well.

http://www.oft.gov.uk/news-and-updates/press/2012/25-12

responses are requested by 2 May.

West Midlands Rural Community Action network (WMRCAN)

The four Rural Community Councils in the West Midlands Region:Community First in Herefordshire and Worcestershire,Community Council of Shropshire,Warwickshire Rural Community Council
http://www.defra.gov.uk/publications/2012/03/30/pb13741-rural-fuel-costs/http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/news/pn12_034/pn12_034.aspxhttp://www.oft.gov.uk/news-and-updates/press/2012/25-12http://www.defra.gov.uk/publications/2012/03/30/pb13741-rural-fuel-costs/http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/news/pn12_034/pn12_034.aspxhttp://www.oft.gov.uk/news-and-updates/press/2012/25-12


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Staffordshire Rural Community Council

In addition to the changes that communities are facing through the Localism agenda,the operating environment of the voluntary and community sector, as a whole, isalso undergoing significant change. These changes to the regional operatingenvironment, over the last year, have had significant impact on the role and functionof WMRCAN. In particular:

With the changes to the regional infrastructure, the influencing and advocacy

work has diminished significantly as the agencies are no longer in place to

influence at a regional level. This in turn means that the local agenda and

influencing at a local level has increased and the RCCs individually are best

placed to lead on this.

Focus on sub regions has involved focus on business boards and LEPs at

local and sub-national level.

RCCs developing collaborative projects with partners with in the RCC network

outside of the regional geography and based on shared interest rather than

close geographical proximity.

The regional network has had to consider their role going forward in response tothese changes and four key priorities were identified as important at this time to focuson. These are:

(1)Mutual support

Mutual support to maintain the integrity of the network

Sharing good practise and replicating successes across the RCCs.(2) Regional/sub regional projects

Developing sub regional and regional projects that enable members to access

funding that wouldnt be possible independently.(3) Collaboration

Exploring opportunities for greater development within the WMRCAN region

and in the wider area.(4) Engagement with the LEPs.

Exploring how are RCCs engaging with the LEPs and sharing any successes

that can be replicated.

Network Co-ordination

In light of the changes in focus, the network will operate in a different way. The fourRCCs will continue to meet on a regular quarterly intervals and network brand will beretained. The website will reflect these changes and provide a presence for referral toindividual RCCs.Sally to forward photos and contact details of 4 CEOs.

COMMUNITY RIGHT TO BID


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Under the Community Right to Bid important local amenities and buildings such as

town halls, community halls or the last village shop or pub can be nominated for

listing by the local authority as assets of community value. If listed assets come up

for sale, communities will have extra time to prepare a bid, making it more possible to

keep much loved assets in public use and part of local life. The Co-operativeEnterprise Hub and the Plunkett Foundation provide advice and support to help

communities develop projects.

Community First, through the Co-operative Enterprise Hub, is supporting The

Pheasant Inn Community Pub group in Neenton, South Shropshire to develop a joint

project with South Shropshire Housing Association to purchase the derelict local pub

and land to provide affordable local housing and secure the only public building in the

village other than the local church. This will provide economic and social re-

generation, increase social facilities and create local jobs and much needed new

housing. An example of using the new planning regulations to benefit the community

PAGE 15

Hereford Makes Up!


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Hereford Make is a pioneering new social enterprise that aims to provide accessible

and affordable workspace available to newly qualified metal craftspeople and those

seeking start up, incubator or temporary workspace.

As a Community Interest Company, Hereford Make has a social and environmental

purpose. For many newly qualified craft metal workers setting up their own studio,

forge or workshop is prohibitively expensive, Hereford Make aims to enable people

who are studying in Hereford to be able to live and work in Hereford on completion

of their studies. Many arts graduates leave the county to find affordable work

premises or shared space in other towns and cities across the UK. Hereford Make

aims to offer a vibrant and dynamic workspace right in the heart of the city.

James Baker is the social entrepreneur at the heart of this enterprise and he, along

with his co-directors, have succeeded in obtaining over 15,000 in grant awards from

Hereford City Council and Unltd, the social enterprise funding body, to develop a

pilot. There is already significant interest from students who are soon to graduate and

James is being regularly stopped in the street and asked when the workshops will be

available. James says It is a little daunting, having had the idea, we now find that we

can make it a reality. Its a great opportunity for Hereford to show off the talent thats

in the county.

James has been receiving business support from Organisational Development Coach

Nick Comley, Nick says, Hereford Make is a great example of where the VCS and

social enterprise support services in the county can combine their talents and

resources to support an individual to realise their potential and aspirations. By

working closely with Michael Hancock of Herefordshire Voluntary Actions Here for

the City team and Elaine Edwards at Herefordshire Council we have been able to co-

ordinate support and make the most of limited resources.

James is in negotiations with a local landlord to bring a redundant building and yard

into use and providing an alternative use for property that would otherwise remain

unlet. A good example of where social enterprise can deliver social and

environmental benefits in the arts and crafts, re-generation and sustainability.


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Newsline Spring 2012

Documents

Transcript of Newsline Spring 2012