Waste Collection fiasco

There have been a lot of people complaining about the new waste collection service from Enterprise Managed Services Ltd. Due to the mess that the new service has caused residents the Borough Council and Enterprise Services Ltd have released a joint statement.

"An extra bin collection will take place next week (June 13/14) for people who would have faced a long wait between household waste collections due to this week’s service changes.
A new partnership for environmental services between Northampton Borough Council, Daventry District Council and Enterprise Managed Services Ltd began on Monday 6 June.
To get both areas aligned on a new schedule, collections days have changed for the majority of people. Unfortunately, this has meant that some were facing a gap of more than two weeks between their last black bin collection under the old system, and their first under the new one.
In response to concerns expressed about the situation, Enterprise will be carrying out a one-off special collection for around 18,000 affected homes.

Evidence Shows That Fixed-Term Tenancies 'Won't Work'

Government plans to bring in fixed-term tenancies to free up social housing have taken a knock after a report claims that where they have been introduced they aren't working. The news comes as the Localism Bill - which contains the reform - reaches the House of Lords this week.

If legislated, Councils could soon offer social housing on fixed-length terms (minimum of two years), with tenants' eligibility assessed at the end of the term to see if the home is still required. However, campaigners say it will stop tenants bettering themselves for fear of losing their home.

The report which looked closely at the Australian model used in New South Wales (NSW) - which heavily influenced the Government’s policy - showed that less than 1% of fixed-term social tenancies have so far been terminated. There is now mounting pressure in NSW for the policy to be reviewed.

Homelessness charity, Shelter, like the authors of the report Heriot-Watt University, fear that tenants won't improve their circumstances because they won't want to lose their home.

As the Localism Bill travels through the Lords this week, growing pressure urges the Government to rethink these plans, rather than create yet more insecurity for people in these difficult times.

Free Car Parking In Town Centre.

Northampton Borough Council’s new cabinet is expected to approve plans for free car parking in the town centre from October for the benefit of shoppers and retailers at its second meeting next week (16 June).

The plans will mean shoppers and visitors will be able to park at St John’s, St Michael’s and the Mayorhold multi-storey car parks for up to an hour for free and the cost of parking for a second hour will be reduced by 25 per cent.

Under the proposals prices in other premier town centre car parks, including the Grosvenor Centre car park, will be also reduced by 25 per cent for the first two hours.  Parking on Sundays will be free in all car parks.

On street parking, which is managed by Northamptonshire County Council, cannot be included in the plans as they are outside of the Borough Council’s control.

Area Housing Meeting - Area 4

Date:  28th Jun 11
Time: 6.00pm - 7.45pm
Location: Doddridge Centre, 109 St James Road, Northampton. NN5 5LD

An open invitation to all council tenants in this area to attend an open meeting to seek your views on the housing services Northampton Borough Council provide, how NBC can improve them and how you can get involved. This is one of four housing area meetings.  Tenants from housing area 4 only are invited to attend.  This includes tenants from:

Collingtree, Hardingstone, Spring Boroughs, Wootton, Delapre, Far Cotton, Racecourse, Semilong, Caledonian House, Dovercourt, kingsthorpe Hollow, St James, Briar Hill, Camp Hill, Overslade House, Hunsbury Heath, The Bungalows, Overslade Close, Hunsbury Heath.

These events will give you a chance to meet officers, find out more about what is happening within the Housing Service and on your local estate and provide you with an opportunity to let your views and opinions be known. 

Should you wish to meet with a housing or repairs officer to discuss any housing issues, we will be holding hot desk sessions which will start at 5:15pm until 6:00pm.

To register your attendance please call the Customer Engagement Team on 01604 837836 or email participation@northampton.gov.uk

Advertising Space On The SJRA Web Site

If you have a local business and you want to advertise your company why not think about letting us do it for you. The SJRA wish to help local businesses advertise their company for very competitive rates. To find out more why not drop us an email at tim@sjra.info (web Designer + Committee) or go to our web site http://www.sjra.info/.

Chair - SJRA

Helping To Make A House A Home

A new furniture re-use scheme has been set up by Northampton Borough Council to help council tenants gain access to second-hand furniture when moving into a new home. The Furniture and Social Enterprise Scheme, gives tenants access to unwanted furniture that is in good enough condition to re-use that has been left behind by previous tenants.

The Borough Council and a local charity, Spencer Contact will inspect the furniture, and store it until we are ready to offer it to tenants in need.

Portfolio Holder for Housing, Councillor Christopher Malpas said: "The introduction of this re-use scheme is superb. To be able to offer furniture to council tenants who otherwise would have nothing when moving into their homes and reduce the need to dispose of unwanted furniture via landfill is fantastic.

New Northampton Byelaws Come Into Force Soon

New byelaws to tackle low-level anti-social behaviour in Northampton come into force on Monday 6 June. The move follows a lengthy public consultation by Northampton Borough Council to introduce eight new byelaws that will replace the existing ones which had not been looked at for more than 30 years. Earlier this month the Secretary of State gave his approval for the new byelaws to be introduced and from Monday restrictions will be placed on an assortment of low-level anti-social behaviours.

Music Festival Returns To The Market Square

This weekend live music will return to the Market Square as part of the town's week-long Music Festival (4 - 12 June).

Last summer's Northampton Music Festival Sunday was hugely popular with hundreds of people coming into the town centre to enjoy over ten hours of live music in the Market Square. This summer promises to be even better as once again an eclectic mix of bands will be play across two stages from midday to 10pm on Sunday 12 June.