Welcome to Heath Hayes & Wimblebury Parish Council - A "Quality Status" Council.
December 2008
This website is provided for the residents free of charge.
We are pleased to report the grant of £100 by District Councillor Keith Bennett to the Hayes Green Community Centre for the purchase of lightweight folding stacking chairs. These chairs increase the ease of use and flexibility of the Centre, allowing more residents to make better use of the facility.
Councillor Bennett lives in the area and as well as being a District Councillor, he has also served as a Parish Councillor and was instrumental in the Council obtaining Quality Status, the only Parish or Town Council in Cannock with this status. We are very grateful for this grant and for Councillor Bennett's continued support.
The Council has agreed to support a local fundraising group with plans to hold a "Party in the Park" in Heath Hayes Park on 18th July 2009. It is intended to have two stages with live music and displays and to raise funds for the Birmingham Children's Hospital.
If you have any issues or questions about the proposed wind farm, please see the page entitled "Wind Farm" or contact the Clerk.
Like all Councils, we have to be audited and have finalised our accounts for the end of the 07/08 financial year and some interesting and pleasing facts are
The "Value Added" that the Council brings to the area is £65,501.65.
We have spent £126,113 on a precept of £58,500
The precept has been reduced again and for the fifth year in a row, the tax burden has been reduced, now by a total of 25%
This years income at the Heath Hayes Cabin on £3,080 is the highest ever and monthly expenditure has reduced by £73 a month
At the Hayes Green Centre, despite losing our main source of income in July, we have still had £13,015 in hirings and a new nursery has started. Monthly expenditure has reduced by £115 from last year.
We have a fantastic new class at the Hayes Green Community Centre on Sundays between at 5.00pm to 7pm for 4 to 11 year olds. Please see our page on Martial Arts on the left of the screen under Web Pages or visit www.mattfiddes.com
We have an Open Day for Stepping Stones Nursery on 27th January, the nursery started at the newly refurbished Hayes Green Centre on 28th January.
We have donated £7,800 in grants to local organisations, to set up groups, to buy equipment and to improve facilities and opportunities in the area
AND - we have reduced the cost of the Council to residents for the FIFTH year in a row. The precept has been set at £58,400 with the BAND D cost now £13.76 per house per year. A reduction of 25% in five years.
Clerk Ray Smythe attended a course at Stafford on audit and risk assessment.
Refurbishment of Hayes Green Community Centre - December 2007
We are pleased to announce the completion of a major redevelopment of the Centre. Following the boiler replacement last year, we have now replaced the windows with double glazed units, which not only look better, but have also improved the appeareance. The whole buiding has been redecorated and the carpet replaced, there are new blinds in the main hall and meeting room. We have a new entry area, a new kitchen and refurbished male, female and disabled toilets. The work will cost in excess of £40,000 and has been funded by a private nursery and a £10,000 grant from the Parish Council.
Clerk asked to advise Parliament - November 2007
The Council was very pleased that Ray Smythe had been asked to address an All Party Parliamentary Group for Local Council Reform. He went to London on 14th November and after a planned speech, there was an hour long question and answer session. Ray was one of only two Clerk's nationally that had been invited to speak and the Council was very proud that Heath Hayes and Wimblebury Council had been represented in this way. Ray was very proud to have been asked and within the audience, were three Staffordshire MP's, including Dr T. Wright MP, who had been very supportive throughout.
Fair Lady Coppice - October 2007
We held the opening on Sunday 14th October, attended by District Council Chairman Councillor Ray Easton, displays by Five Ways and Gorsemoor Schools, Heath Hayes Scouts, historic vehicles, events and a large marquee. There was a free buffet with hot and cold drinks, provided by Tescos. It is hoped that the opening will promote use of the area and a healthier lifestyle.
Ray Smythe wins Clerk of the Year award - October 2007
The Council is very pleased to announce that Ray has won the Clerk of the Year Award from the National Association of Local Councils.
Chris Rolley, president of the Society of Local Council Clerks, a judge on the panel said "The judges believe that Mr Smythe should be Clerk of the Year because of his all round contribution to Heath Hayes and Wimblebury Parish Council. He achieved consistently high standards and clearly fulfilled the award criteria over the past 12 months. The panel were particularly impressed with his drive and determination to take this council forward, with the limited resources available to him."
The National Association of Local Councils is the national representative body for 10,000 community, parish and town councils throughout England and Wales.
Ray has now been asked to address an All Party Parliamentary Group on Local Government Reform at the House of Commons on 14th November.
If you have any comments or questions, please contact us on raysmythe@msn.com Your comments would be welcome.
Heath Hayes and Wimblebury Council is pleased to announce that it has been shortlisted for the NALC "Council of the Year" award for 2007. Also, Ray Smythe has been shortlisted for the "Clerk of the Year" award. The Council is extremely pleased at this recognition of the work that it does and hopes to continue to provide an efficient service for the local community.
The Council has achieveded "Quality Status" (QC 10-06-00338). This prestigious award puts the Council in the top 4% of local councils in England.
The government promoted scheme requires councils to meet numerous quality criteria. The council has been working to prepare the award for two years and was presented with the certificate at the Staffordshire County Council buildings on 4th November 2006.
Chair, Councillor Mick Doody said "It is laudable that we have submitted ourselves for scrutiny and we are all very pleased that Quality Status has been achieved. Out of 10,000 councils only just over 400 have this award and this achievement is something to be proud of, as it is not only an award for the Council, this is an award for the community. We have an efficient council, accountable to the community and engaging the community for the benefit of the area. Not only do we have more chance of being awarded grants, but Quality Status is a mark of a responsible and efficient council".
This web site is being developed on an ongoing basis and is intended to provide a relevant and up to date source of information about the Council and the area. If you have any suggestions for improvements, please let us know on raysmythe@msn.com.
It is intended;
- To allow another avenue of communication between the Parish Council and local residents.
- To share information about local clubs, activities, information, services and businesses.
- To advertise and promote the use of the Heath Hayes Cabin.
- To advertise and promote the use of the Hayes Green Community Centre.
- To exchange and provide information about local news and events affecting our area.
Information about the Council.
The Council comprises 13 Councillors representing the four wards of
Old Heath Hayes, New Heath Hayes, Hawks Green and Wimblebury.
The Parish Council is within Cannock Chase District Council and Staffordshire County Council.
In the 2001 census, there were 12,176 persons resident in the area. 6,066 males, 6,110 females and 4,603 dwellings.
At the 2007 election, there are 9,958 (9,671 in 2003) electors registered in the area.
Hawks Green 2,662 (3 Councillors), New Heath Hayes 2,210 (3 Councillors), Old Heath Hayes 3,737 (4 Councillors), Wimblebury 1,062 (3 Councillors).
The next elections are due to take place in May 2011.
Local Services and Organisations.
St John's Church is on Hednesford Road, Heath Hayes. 01543-450481 phone or 01543-278478 fax of on www.stjohnhh@fish.co.uk.
The Bourne Methodist Church is in Hednesford Road, Heath Hayes.
Hednesford Pentecostal Church is on Hill Street, Heath Hayes and John Tyrell can be contacted on 07866-093605. There web site is www.hednesfordaog.org.uk.