Dear Resident
It’s been a busy few months since my last newsletter but the past few weeks have been over-shadowed by the situation in Ukraine. The District Council unanimously approved a motion of support for Ukraine at its meeting this month. The war and subsequent sanctions are going to have a further negative effect on the cost of living. Already, we were expecting increases in domestic energy costs, fuel for cars, transport of goods, and so on.
That is why I have produced the leaflet you find with this newsletter, outlining sources of help. This is a fast-moving situation so, of course, there will be further changes even as this leaflet is printed. But I will endeavour to keep you up-to-date via my Facebook page (Hazel Brand BDC) and in future newsletters. I also post a lot of relevant information on Misterton Parish Council’s Facebook page and West Stockwith’s Parish Clerk uses items from my weekly news bulletin. So I hope that the word gets around!
Community grants
The District Council has again awarded councillors £1000 for the financial year 2022/23 to assist local organisations and charities. However, this year councillors have been asked to support activities that relate to the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.
Grants made in the financial year just ending are as follows:
| Organisation | £ |
|---|---|
| Misterton & West Stockwith Burial Committee (historic grave renovation) | 190 |
| Misterton Bowls Club (repairs to green) | 200 |
| Huntington’s Charity (towards an interpretation board) | 150 |
| Misterton OAPs’ annual lunch | 200 |
| Misterton Gardeners Club | 100 |
| Youth Club (holiday trip) | 80 |
| Adult swimming club | 80 |
| Total | 1000 |
The next round of grants is usually available from May onwards but I have asked if funds could be available earlier so that grants can be made in a timely way to support activities around the Jubilee weekend. An application form will be available at The Misterton Centre (call 890646 or e-mail the-mistertoncentre@outlook.com).
Commitment to dealing with litter
The District Council is extending its commitment to make our District a cleaner place to live, visit, and work thanks to a new environment enforcement partnership. From 1 February, the Council has been working with Waste Investigations Support & Enforcement Limited (WISE) to target people who deliberately drop litter and fail to clean up after their dogs. Over the last 18 months, the Council has been taking a firm approach to littering and dog fouling by working with environmental enforcement officers, who have the powers to issue Fixed Penalty Notices (FPNs) of up to £100 should they witness people littering or failing to clean up after their dog. In this time, officers have issued 86 notices for dog fouling and 3735 for littering.
Pictured are enforcement officers with Cllr Julie Leigh, Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods.
The environmental enforcement officers wear body cameras to capture interaction between officers and members of the public. You can find more information about WISE and the Council’s policy of issuing FPNs by visiting the Environment Crime section of Bassetlaw District Council where you will also find a handy list of Frequently Asked Questions. You can also visit WISE.
Waste bin service standards
From 1 February, rigorous enforcement of Recycling & Refuse Service Standards began. Bassetlaw District Council (BDC) collects waste from over 53,000 properties each week; that’s over 2.7m bins each year. Notts County Council is the waste disposal authority and specifies what can be recycled and what can’t. Historically, BDC has not performed well in comparison to others: the contract target for contamination is 5%, which no Notts authority has met. BDC’s rate has averaged 15% in the last half-year. And the % of household waste sent for recycling in Notts has plateaued at 43/44% compared to a national average of 45.5%. Bassetlaw has performed much worse—at around 25% for a number of years dropping to 23.6% in 2020/21 (despite the growth in garden waste).
So, the Refuse & Recycling Policy has been rigidly enforced from 1 February. Insisting on flat lids may seem petty—but it wasn't when I picked up dozens of items that had blown out of an over-full bin. I won’t say whose!
Bassetlaw Food Bank
Generous donations by a Misterton resident of the equivalent of dozens of carrier bags of food items has boosted the total number of bags taken to the Food Bank to well over 3000.
The Food Bank’s website lists the items that are currently needed (bassetlawfoodbank.org/food-we-need/), which is also on its Facebook page.
Donations may be left in Misterton Co-op or All Saints’ (open Sundays and Wednesdays) and St Mary’s churches.
The Food Bank also runs the @NHSHealthyStart scheme, which entitles eligible families to weekly support towards fruit and veg, milk, infant formula milk, pulses, and healthy-start vitamins. Go to www.healthystart.nhs.uk to see if you’re eligible.
Four donations to local organisations
I successfully completed the 135-mile Tyne Trail last year and raised £1000 for four local churches and organisations that had missed out on
Government grants during lockdown. Cheques for £250 were presented to Misterton’s Parish Church and Methodist Church, and West Stockwith’s Village Hall and Parish Church. The last of the four cheques went to Stephanie Baines, Churchwarden, St Mary’s.
Cut out food waste
Globally 25-30% of total food produced is lost or wasted. Progress has been made in reducing food waste from households and businesses in the UK, but it still accounts for around 9.5m tonnes a year. And 70% of this waste was intended to be eaten by people (30% being inedible parts of food).
These were among the hard facts presented to members of the Misterton & West Stockwith Parish Councils’ Green Group last month. An average family can save around £60 a month by reducing the amount of food they throw away. And with food prices likely to rise, waste is something we can do without. Here are some very simple measures that can help us all reduce food waste:
- make a new meal from leftovers. Check out recipes at www.lovefoodhatewaste.com
- cooked or prepared too much? Freeze it!
- plan meals, and only visit the supermarket once a week
- we do not need to eat as much as we think so watch portion sizes
- know what you need to buy! Create a list and stick to it.
The Environment Act received Royal Assent in November 2021. Local authorities will now have to change all bin collections to meet new requirements (assuming there are no exemptions given by Government). These changes will include kerbside glass collection, changes in dry
recyclable materials collection, free garden waste collection, weekly food waste collection. Any changes are unlikely before 2023/24 and may still be subject to exemptions.
Community activities What makes a community? People living together that share something in common. There are plenty of opportunities in Misterton and West Stockwith so get involved! Here are just three examples:
- West Stockwith’s Village Hall was bequeathed to the village by the late Gertrude Morris; it is run by a committee of trustees and more are needed so. Find out more on its Facebook page and send a message
- Misterton Gardeners Club re-opens after the winter break on Tuesday 3 May with a talk on container gardening. For more information, contact Sandra (07808 480892) or Jo (07962 147 853)
- Misterton Ladies Group has been running for 50 years. Now a new chair and secretary are needed. Go to the AGM on 15 March if you can help
- both parish churches have a programme of social and fund-raising events with Easter bingo on Friday 8 April and coffee morning on Saturday 21 May in Misterton, and a concert in West Stockwith on Sunday 8 May.
Surgeries
Anyone wanting to see me must now make an appointment via The Misterton Centre (tel: 890646). Residents can also contact me in one of these ways:
- e-mail: hazel.brand@cllr.bassetlaw.gov.uk
- via the Democratic Services Office on 01909 533 533
- phone: (01427) 891376
- Facebook page: Hazel Brand BDC.
Last word
If there are elderly residents struggling with disability, or mobility or other problems, don’t forget that the Goodwin Trust has funds and may be able to help.
Money advice and practical help.
Last Updated on Wednesday, May 8, 2024