Author: northhorshampc

Changes To Applying For Concessionary Travel

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HDC LogoResidents who are applying for concessionary travel, such as bus passes or railcards, in the Horsham District from 1st April should be aware of changes to the administration of the service.

From 1st April 2013, the administration of the English National Concessionary Travel Scheme in West Sussex is changing and Horsham District Council will no longer be the point of contact for new bus passes or railcards.

For those residents who already have an older or disabled persons’ concessionary bus pass, no action is needed.  Current bus passes will continue to be valid and will be renewed automatically.

Those residents who require a new railcard or to renew an existing railcard will need to apply for a new one.  After Monday 1st April 2013, those residents who are applying for a new bus pass or railcard or have any queries about a current pass, should use the following contact details:

Telephone: West Sussex Bus Pass Information Line (local rate) – 0845 075 1018

Address: West Sussex Bus Pass, PO Box 212, Waterlooville, PO7 6ZN

Email: buspass@westsussex.gov.uk

For more information from Monday 1st April, visit the West Sussex County Council website www.westsussex.gov.uk/buses

In The Frame For Foster Caring

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West Sussex County Council LogoCould you provide a warm and loving home for some of the most vulnerable children in West Sussex? Could you become a foster carer?  Foster Care Fortnight, the annual campaign run by the Fostering Network to highlight the need for more foster carers, takes place this year from Monday 13 to Sunday 26 May.

West Sussex County Council runs monthly fostering drop-in sessions across the county, which are an ideal chance for anyone interested in finding out more about fostering to come along to.  You can speak to officers from the fostering team, and some drop-in sessions have foster carers present so you can speak to them directly and find out more about what being a foster carer is like.

Foster homes offer children a stable family environment while their own parents are unable to look after them. Could you help in providing this vital role?  There are many reasons why a child comes into foster care.  Their stay with foster carers could be short-term until they can return to their parents, or it might need to be longer term.

The County Council tries to place children with foster carers in their local area, so they can continue to stay close to their school, friends, people and places they know. This means the Council is always on the lookout for new foster carers to come forward from across West Sussex.

Foster carers come from all walks of life and from a range of cultural and ethnic backgrounds. People from a variety of backgrounds can apply to foster, regardless of their marital status or sexuality.  What is important is skills such as a good sense of humour, patience, energy and the ability to treat children and young people as individuals.

Foster carers receive a comprehensive support package from the County Council, including on-going training and financial allowances to meet the needs of the children in their care.

Are you interested and would you like to find out more? You can visit the website at www.westsussex.gov.uk/fostering for further information and details of all the drop-in sessions, or call 01403 229333.

Fostering drop-in sessions run from 10am to 4pm. The sessions taking place in West Sussex in 2013 are:

• Saturday 18 May, Worthing Library, Richmond Road, Worthing, BN11 1HD.
• Wednesday 22 May, Horsham Library, Lower Tanbridge Way, Horsham, RH12 1PJ.
• Wednesday 19 June, Burgess Hill Library, The Martlets, Burgess Hill, RH15 9NN.
• Tuesday 9 July, Chichester Library, Tower Street, Chichester, PO19 1QJ.
• Friday 16 August, Shoreham Library, St Mary’s Road, Shoreham-by-Sea, BN43 5ZA.
• Tuesday 17 September, Crawley Library, Southgate Avenue, Crawley, RH10 6HG.
• Tuesday 8 October, Worthing Library, Richmond Road, Worthing, BN11 1HD.
• Tuesday 12 November, Haywards Heath Library, 34 Boltro Road, Haywards Heath, RH16 1BN.
• Tuesday 3 December, Bognor Regis Library, London Road, Bognor Regis, PO21 1DE.

Eleventh Horsham Microbiz Takes Place In March

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Horsham MicrobizCalling all small business owners….. The 11th annual Horsham Microbiz, run by Horsham District Council, is being held on Saturday 9th March in Horsham town centre.

Microbiz will be held once again in The Drill Hall in Horsham town centre from 10am to 4pm.

Widely regarded as a treasure trove for a business, Horsham Microbiz offers:

  • FREE ENTRY for visitors
  • over 40 exhibitors offering a wide variety of business products and services
  • FREE business workshops all day offering top tips and inspiration
  • fantastic networking opportunities
  • a café running throughout the day

Horsham Microbiz is a MUST ATTEND event for any small business or anyone about to start a business with everything they need in one place on one day.

Since the first event in 2003, Horsham Microbiz has attracted around 450 exhibitors and over 5,000 visitors.  Feedback has always been a major feature of Microbiz as it helps the organisers, Horsham District Council, shape future events to ensure it caters for current business needs.

To obtain a programme, book a seminar, find out further information or tell the Council about a Microbiz experience, please use the contact section on the website (http://www.horshammicrobiz.co.uk), email business.development@horsham.gov.uk or call 01403 215264

Building Control Brochure

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Sussex Building ControlSussex Building Control, Horsham District Council’s building control team, has produced a new brochure specifically aimed at homeowners who are thinking of improving, converting or extending their homes.

It provides information about the types of things they need to consider when embarking on these projects to ensure that the work is carried out safely and the finished building will be safe, comfortable and energy efficient for their family to live in.

You can view the brochure here: www.extendingyourhome.com/sussex

Road Volunteers Needed

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WSCCRoad and path faults like potholes are top of the list of residents’ concerns – and so remain one of the County Council’s priorities to tackle.  Currently when a fault is reported and we don’t have enough detail to determine the next course of action, an officer has to make a site inspection.

The volunteers, who live or work locally, would inspect faults in their immediate neighbourhood and provide the additional information required.  This would speed up the process and enable repairs, where required, to be progressed faster.  Volunteers will receive training, guidance and appropriate equipment to undertake the inspections and will be supported by council officers.  They will need access to the internet, a camera and mobile phone.  To find out more:

Tel: 01243 777957
Email: cdbs.gatwick.diamond@westsussex.gov.uk