Council Tax Energy Rebate

By tomorrow (Tuesday 5 July) everyone eligible for the £150 energy rebate should have received their payment.

The one-off government rebate was for households in council tax bands A-D. For customers who pay by direct debit the money will have been paid directly into your bank account. Everyone else should receive a voucher in the post by tomorrow.  

Vouchers are valid for three months and any uncashed vouchers will have the £150 credited to the household’s council tax account once expired. This will be before Tuesday 30 September.

We are now looking to process energy rebate vouchers under our discretionary scheme for Council Tax Reduction Scheme claimants in Bands E and H. We are using our discretionary funding to give a one-off payment of £150 to households in council tax bands E – H and who are in receipt of Council Tax Reduction.

We are also giving a single top up payment of up to £37 to any household in council tax bands A – H which also receives maximum Council Tax Reduction. This is 80% for working age claimants and 100% for pension age claimants.

Go Electric!

Not long now until our Go Electric event but you still have time to register!

We are working in partnership with the Energy Saving Trust to offer an ultra-low emission vehicle information event on Thursday 14 July, 7pm-8pm.

During the online session you can learn about electric vehicles, including types, charging options and the financial incentives available.

An independent specialist will answer your questions and you can learn about the benefits of choosing a Zero emission vehicle.

Brinton Park litter pick

The first litter pick will take place on Thursday 7 July at 6pm. Join in for a stroll around the park, meet some new people and make a difference to your local community.

Fancy a coffee in Brinton Park?

Local mobile coffee van business, Peaky Grinder, will be visiting Brinton Park over the summer.

Emma from Peaky Grinder is planning to be in Brinton Park three or four times a week.

To find out dates and times, keep an eye on the Peaky Grinder Facebook page.

Splashpad update

The splashpad at Brinton Park will be closed until further notice. We have worked with a third-party contractor to resolve the major electrical failure, but there is now a major leak.

To fix this issue we need to replace the splashpad’s main pump and filter as it poses a major health and safety risk. When that work is complete, we must let the filter run for a month before it can safely reopen.

We are aiming to reopen the splashpad during the school summer holidays, we will update you when we have more news on a reopening date. Thank you for your understanding.

Stourport Town Council by-election

A by-election is being held on Thursday 14 July in the Central ward of Stourport Town Council.

The polling station is at Stourport Workmen's Club, Lickhill Road, Stourport-on-Severn, Worcestershire, DY13 8SB. It will be open from 7am to 10pm.

New district councillor elected

On Thursday 16 June there was a district council by-election in the Franche and Habberley North ward. The by-election was to fill the vacancy following the resignation of Councillor Anna L’Huillier.

The Conservative Party candidate, Ben Brookes was elected.

There was a turnout of 24.5%. You can find the full election results on our website.

Neighbourhood Plan

Chaddesley Corbett residents are being urged to comment on the draft updated Chaddesley Corbett Parish Neighbourhood Plan.

The original Plan came into effect in September 2014 and now the Parish Council has submitted an updated document to Wyre Forest District Council.

The Plan sets out policies to guide development within the Parish.  It suggests specific details on the type of housing that can be built within the Parish and sets out policies to guide the design of development and retain the characteristics of the Parish.

Residents and interested parties have until 5pm on Wednesday 27 July to have their say. 

Localism update

We are continuing with our Localism programme which supports town and parish councils as well as other organisations to take ownership of assets or to run services. 

Our latest plans are to transfer the ownership of Baxter Gardens, Broadwaters Park and St George’s Park to Kidderminster Town Council.

A public notice about this appeared in the Kidderminster Shuttle on Thursday 23 and Thursday 30 June.

A final decision will be taken only after any responses to the public notice have been considered and the terms of financial support have been finalised with the Town Council. The deadline for responses is Thursday 7 July.

Any objections to the proposals should be made in writing to Steve Brant, Head of Community and Environment Services at The Depot, Green Street, Kidderminster, DY10 1HA.

Improving town centres and high streets, promoting the visitor economy and helping people back into employment are a few of the priorities we are planning to support as part of our UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) Investment Plan.

We have received almost 30 proposals seeking funding from the district’s share of the UKSPF.

Wyre Forest landlords urged to come forward

We are urging landlords who own properties in Wyre Forest to contact us if they can provide safe accommodation for survivors of domestic abuse.

We are committed to making sure domestic abuse survivors and their children are given the support and assistance they need to live their lives free from abuse and harm.

We would like to hear from landlords who own a self-contained 1-or 2-bedroom flat or house in the district available to lease for 2 years.

Jubilee round-up

We hope you had a lovely long Bank Holiday weekend celebrating the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee last month.

It was great to see so many events taking place across the district. Our Jubilee Grant Fund supported 15 community groups to put on their celebrations.

Take a look at some of the amazing events we supported by visiting our Platinum Jubilee round-up webpage.

Cherry Fair

The Museum is holding a free Cherry Fair and 1940s weekend on Saturday 23 and Sunday 24 July from 10am to 4pm.

Bewdley was once the centre of a flourishing cherry trade which goes back more than 200 years! You can take a step back in time and learn about about the history of cherries. This event is being organised with The Civic Society. 

You can also enjoy live music over the two days, purchase a wide variety of local cherries and enjoy 1940s craft stalls showcasing fashion, classic cars and much more.

Children’s summer activities

There are lots of children’s activities going on at Bewdley Museum this summer. They run from Monday 15 July to Friday 2 September, 10.30am to 2.30pm.

The first week of activities will be focused on history, followed by garden and nature week and ending on sea and space week.

Each session costs £6 per child. No need to book. All children must be supervised by a parent or carer at all times.

Much Ado About Murder

Don your detective cap and join Heartbreak Productions for a performance of Much Ado About Murder.

On Sunday 7 August from 5pm, an original murder mystery performance will take place in the Green Theatre. It will set five suspects under the spotlight and will depend on the audience to find answers.

This is an outside performance so check the weather, dress appropriately, and bring a picnic and picnic chairs.

Tickets cost £14 per adult and £9 per child. You can book online or by calling us on 0845 607 7819.

Vikings: fact or fiction exhibition

Explore all things Viking at Bewdley Museum this summer!

You can find out about how they impacted the world, not just through raiding and conquering. The exhibition looks at how their craft-making and trading brought change too.

From the clothes they wore to the activities they did for fun; experience one thousand year old artefacts that help paint a vivid picture of Viking life.