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25 April 2024
A church service and vigil will be held in West Northamptonshire to mark the second anniversary of the Knife Angel visit and remember those who have died through knife crime and serious violence.
A time of reflection will take place at All Saints Church in Northampton on Friday, 17 May at 7.30pm, led by Father Oliver Coss, and will be followed by a candle-lit vigil on the church plaza.
Speakers at the event will include Cheri Curran, the mother of Louis-Ryan Menezes who was fatally stabbed in Northampton in 2018, and Detective Superintendent Andy Glenn, the force lead for Serious Violence. Local anti-knife crime ambassador Quinton Green will also perform a spoken word tribute ‘Where The Angels Walk’.
The Knife Angel statue, the National Symbol Against Violence and Aggression, visited Northampton in 2022 as part of its nationwide tour to highlight the issue of knife crime in the UK. The 27-feet-tall statue has been created by using over 100,000 knives and blades confiscated by the UK’s 43 police forces.
I invite people to join us as we stand side by side with all those who have suffered or lost loved ones due to knife crime.Cllr David Smith, Cabinet Member for Community Safety and EngagementLet’s take this opportunity to come together as a community and not only reflect, but also educate people on the devastating impact of knife crime and serious violence.
Together we can make a difference and make it clear that there is no place for violence in any form on the streets of West Northamptonshire.
We take the issue of knife crime incredibly seriously and supporting events such as this vigil are vitally important, particularly for those directly impacted by knife crime.Detective Superintendent Andy GlennWe have seen a significant reduction in knife crime in Northamptonshire in the last year, however we want to do more, which is why we’re working hard with other organisations as part of the Northamptonshire Serious Violence Prevention Partnership.
This week we’ve joined together with police forces across the UK as part of Operation Sceptre, which is aimed at preventing knife crime and tackling those involved. This has included visiting schools, hosting knife amnesties, supporting young people at risk of becoming involved in this type of crime and using all of our resources to pursue those people we believe are involved in knife crime.
Police urge anyone with concerns to visit the knife crime pages of the Northants Police website
Anti-knife crime charity Off The Streets and Meditech Global will be be holding a series of free Critical Bleed Training Sessions across Northamptonshire.
Please email [email protected] to register or follow Off The Streets on social media for further information.
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26 April 2024
Residents across West Northamptonshire are reminded that they can sign up for optional, chargeable garden waste collections.
The annual subscription charge for the fortnightly service is £58 per bin and can be made online.
Residents can sign up for an annual direct debit to save having to remember to renew every year. Residents who are unable to access the internet can subscribe to the service by phoning the council on 0300 126 7000.
Once households are signed up to the service, they will receive their new 2024/25 garden waste permit which they will be asked to stick on their garden waste bin. Any bins that have not subscribed will not be emptied.
People who do not wish to sign up to the service have the option of composting their garden waste at home, either in a traditional compost heap or by purchasing a compost bin by visiting www.getcomposting.com and typing in their postcode to see offers available in their area.
People can also recycle garden waste for free at any of the Council’s household waste recycling centres.
A comprehensive list of FAQs are also available on the Council’s website here.
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22 April 2024
People with a passion for governance, financial management, and risk assessment are invited to step forward and become independent co-opted members of the West Northants Audit & Governance Committee.
West Northamptonshire Council (WNC) is seeking two dedicated individuals as independent co-opted members to join its Audit & Governance Committee.
The independent members will play an essential role in promoting excellence in governance, risk management, financial reporting, and counter fraud. They will actively participate in Committee meetings and provide independent assurance to the Council's members, residents, and stakeholders.
These non-voting members will assist in overseeing internal and external audit arrangements, reviewing financial statements and statutory accounts, and assessing the governance, risk management, and control arrangements of the Council.
" We are excited to invite individuals who have strong knowledge and experience in financial management, accountancy, audit, governance, or risk management to join our Audit & Governance Committee. Your expertise will be critical in ensuring that our governance practices remain robust and effective for the benefit of our residents."Cllr Malcolm Longley, Cabinet Member for Finance
The appointments will initially be for a four-year period, with the potential for extension. Successful candidates will receive an annual allowance of £500 and are expected to attend approximately six in-person Committee meetings per year.
For further information and to download an application pack, please visit the WNC website. Applications should be submitted by Wednesday, 8 May 2024.
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19 April 2024
From Tuesday 23 April visitors to Northampton Town Centre arriving by car will be able to use car parking payment app ‘Pay by Phone’ across all on and off-street parking spaces.
West Northamptonshire Council will be starting a 12 month trial of Pay by Phone across all of its car park spaces in Northampton Town Centre from Tuesday 23 April.
Pay by Phone offers a cashless parking solution for on-street parking greatly enhancing the cash only option currently available, as well as providing an additional option to the Councils non ANPR (auto-number plate recognition) off-street car parks.
Signage will be clearly displayed at all locations under the scheme and options will remain where currently available to continue to pay using cash and cards.
Pay by Phone will require a short sign up process for any visitors that do not already have the app, and then a ticketless, cashless parking experience.
Pay by Phone offers visitors flexibility in their visit with optional reminders about parking time due to expire and the ability to remotely top up a parking stay.
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18 April 2024
Low-income off-gas households with an annual income of £36,000 or less across West Northamptonshire are urged to find out if they could access essential funding to help them deliver energy efficiency upgrades and install clean heating systems.
The funding is made possible through the Home Upgrade Grant Phase 2 funding bid secured by West Northamptonshire Council (WNC).
Responding to feedback and a thorough review of the program, the Department of Energy and Sustainable Net Zero (DESNZ) has increased the household income threshold to £36,000, up from £31,000, to ensure that more families can benefit from this vital initiative.
The expanded eligibility criteria are anticipated to increase the number of eligible households by approximately 19% nationally within the scheme. This means more families will have access to the support they need to improve energy efficiency, reduce fuel poverty, and contribute to the UK’s Net Zero commitment by 2050.
WNC is partnered with Agility Eco to be able to offer this scheme to the people of West Northamptonshire this opportunity by arranging and carrying out the improvement assessment and all the retrofit work.
Local installers in each region will guide customers through the application journey, helping them understand and establish eligibility for the scheme. If eligible, the installer will identify which improvements for the home will provide the greatest benefits and arrange any necessary surveys and installations.
The home must also be heated by alternative fuels including electricity, oil, liquid propane gas, and solid fuels. The energy efficiency criteria will be determined by the Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of the property and residents will be supported with this part of the eligibility process during application. Residents will be provided with a free EPC where they do not already have one.
The scheme allows funding per property to provide a range of energy and cost saving upgrades, depending on the specific circumstances such as the fuel source, energy efficiency and EPC rating of the home, with the most funding available for the least efficient homes heated by the most polluting fuel sources.
“With energy costs continuing to place severe pressure on household budgets, this scheme is an important chance for local residents to improve their homes, save money on their energy bills and reduce their carbon emissions. I would encourage anyone who thinks they might be eligible to get in touch to find out more.”Cllr Adam Brown, Cabinet Member for Housing, Culture and Leisure at West Northamptonshire Council
How to Check Eligibility:
You can check if your property has an EPC and learn about your SAP score by at Find an energy certificate - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
West Northamptonshire Council understands that energy efficiency needs may change over time. If work has been done on your property since your last EPC assessment, your SAP score may have improved. Our dedicated installers will be able to verify your eligibility during your assessment.
You can access information and apply
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