St Edmundsbury Borough Council is asking for people's views on proposed changes to the Bury St Edmunds Town Centre and Bury St Edmunds Victoria Street Conservation areas. The consultation begins on Wednesday 29 February and lasts until Monday 30 April 2012.

Stage 2, Draft Vision, public consultation on options prepared from the results of the consultation in spring 2011.

Stage 2, Draft Vision, public consultation on options prepared from the results of the consultation in Spring 2011.

Stage 2, Draft Vision, public consultation on options prepared from teh results of the consultation in spring 2011.

This Development Plan document will replace many of the policies within each authorities Local Plan with locally–specific development management policies covering a wide range of topics including housing, employment, transport and the preservation of both authorities environmental areas, which will add to and complement national planning policy.

The consultation documents are being hosted on Forest Heath District Council's website: Forest Heath consultation website

The borough council's corporate plan is a key document which sets out our short to medium term priorities, commitments and actions. During 2011 we reviewed our corporate plan and priorities to ensure that it is fit for purpose. We are now consulting on a new corporate plan and priorities for 2012 to 2016.

Outline plans for the future of the Abbey Gardens will be on display in the café at the apex in Bury St Edmunds from 10am to 5pm, Monday 23 to Saturday 28 January 2012.

The Localism Bill will, when enacted, require local authorities to produce a Tenancy Strategy, which will provide guidance for registered providers working within the borough when framing their individual tenancy policies.

St Edmundsbury Borough Council will have £3.5 million less to spend from next year. This means changing some services, maybe stopping others, working in different ways or raising more income. This is your money we're talking about so make sure you have your say about where the savings could be made by taking part in the budget consultation. There are three £50 prizes on offer.

At St Edmundsbury, we are committed to improving consultation activity and engagement with our local communities. The draft Consultation and Community Engagement Strategy sets out how we will engage with all our communities in St Edmundsbury; ensure that local people can have their say through consultations; make the right information available to help people influence decisions; and ensure that people’s views are reflected in our priorities and service delivery.

To comply with the Review of Polling Districts and Polling Places (Parliamentary Elections) Regulations 2006, every council in England and Wales must undertake a review of all of the polling districts and polling places in its area by Friday 30 December 2011 with our review formally starting on Friday 1 July 2011.

Although the review is of polling districts and polling places it is accepted that polling stations are inexorably linked to the review and comments are invited re those stations currently used and/or any suggested alternatives ensuring that:

1. Electors have such reasonable facilities for voting as are practicable in the circumstances, and

2. As far as is reasonable and practicable, that polling places are accessible to all electors, including those who are disabled, and when designating a polling place, have regard to the accessibility needs of disabled persons.

If you choose to contribute and comment on the existing arrangements or wish to propose alternative arrangements you will need to do so in writing by the Friday 26 August 2011 to St Edmundsbury Borough Council.

Once the process has been concluded the final proposals will be considered by Council on the Tuesday 27 September 2011 with any amendments implemented onto the Register of Electors by the Electoral Registration Officer on Thursday 1 December 2011, the annual publication date.

Please note: Any observations made will form part of the public consultation and will be formally published along with all representations received. Personal data for example your name and address will be excluded from the review conclusion made available to the public.

The council is proposing to introduce a Supplementary planning document to provide guidance and advice in respect of development design and impact. This consultation is asking people for their comments , whether positive or negative.

The council is planning for the future growth of the rural areas for the next 20 years and needs to know what the issues, options and opportunities are for the rural areas.

The council is planning for the future growth of Bury St Edmunds for the next 20 years and needs to know what the issues, options and opportunities are for Bury St Edmunds.

The council is planning for the future growth of Haverhill for the next 20 years and needs to know what the issues, options and opportunities are for Haverhill.

This consultation asked people for their comments on the draft Rural Action Plan and consultees were asked for their thoughts on the specific projects suggested in the draft plan.

The council is consulting on its proposed amended policy and may revise it following consideration of responses received on or before the closing date. Please note that the Licensing and Regulatory Committee resolved on 9 November, to re-consult on the re-adoption of the special area policy, which was originally adopted in January 2009.

The council is consulting on its proposed policy and may revise it following consideration of responses received on or before the closing date.

You have the opportunity to comment on your current level of cleansing in your local area and suggest ways in which the service you receive could be realistically improved.

Forest Heath District Council and St Edmundsbury Borough Council are reviewing the way we clean your streets and open spaces, and empty bins throughout West Suffolk. We want to look at the service as a whole across both council areas because we believe we can work better, more cost effectively and still deliver your services, your input is therefore much appreciated.

You have the opportunity to comment on the future development of an important area of the town.

The area is at North West Haverhill which has been identified for development for a number of years.

A masterplan has already been adopted to guide future development of the site and Bidwells have now produced a revised document (masterplan) which allows for lower density housing and are seeking the views of the public. Take a look at Bidwells public consultation for North West Haverhill (below).

We would like to know:

1) What projects you would like to see take place in your village?

2) Do you have any spare time? Would you like to do more to support your community? Can you give examples of the support you could offer?

3) Is there anything else that you would like to let us know about?

Further consultation will take place once we have prepared the draft Rural Action Plan.

These proposed byelaws were created using Central Government's Model Byelaws as a template. There is no obligation for local authorities to have byelaws on their open spaces, however, the Borough Council in this instance felt the proposed byelaws would be a useful means of ensuring that the Council's Parks and Open Spaces are used and maintained in an orderly manner. Issues that the byelaws cover include opening times, ball games and overnight parking. The proposed byelaws also include more appropriate penalties for mis-use of the Parks and Open Spaces. The proposed byelaws do not cover issues such as the control of dogs or the consumption of alcohol in the Council's Parks and Open Spaces, as these issues are covered by different areas of legislation and cannot be duplicated in the byelaws.

Please let us know your views by completing the online form(below) for proposed byelaws for pleasure grounds, public walks and open spaces or by printing off the form and sending it to us at the address below, or you can hand it in at the Council offices in Lower Downs Slade, Haverhill or West Suffolk House, Bury St Edmunds.

For the first time in more than five years, a number of stakeholders in town – businesses, Haverhill Chamber of Commerce, West Suffolk College, Samuel Ward and Castle Manor Colleges, MENTA, the Job Centre, Abbeycroft Leisure and Town Centre Management have compiled a survey to find out what visitors and shoppers to Haverhill think about the shops and services on offer, and what they think could help them to spend more time – and money – in Haverhill, rather than travel to other towns. To get a wide range of views, we would like as many people as possible, of all ages, to fill out as much of the questionnaire as possible.

Let us know what you think about the shops and services on offer in Haverhill by completing the online shopper survey(below) or by printing off the PDF version below, and returning it to us by 30 November 2010.

We would welcome your views on any aspect of the draft Strategy as well as suggestions for areas for improvement, before it is formally considered and approved by our councillors. We will consider all feedback and ensure that, wherever possible, the final strategy is shaped by the comments we receive.

St Edmundsbury Borough Council has commenced a Community Governance Review (previously known as a parish review) with any changes agreed as part of the review coming into effect for elections in May 2011.

A Community Governance Review can consider all aspects of parish electoral arrangements from the creation of new parishes, grouping of parishes, mergers, the naming of parishes, the number of councillors, warding of parishes and parish boundaries. The legal framework for conducting a review is detailed in the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007. One major change to the review process is that the act gives district/borough councils the power to implement the outcomes (previously recommendations were sent to the secretary of state for ratification).

Letters were sent to all parish councils, borough and county councillors in early July asking for submissions to be considered.

A report asking for approval to consult was presented to the Democratic Renewal Panel on 9 September (see PDF below)

Letters and questionnaires were sent to all registered electors in areas that could be affected by the proposed boundary changes on 17 September with the consultation period ending on 5 November.

A report will then be presented to the Democratic Renewal Panel on 25 November and those recommendations that are approved will be implemented in the Register of Electors that is published on 1 December.

Timetable for Community Governance Review

• Submissions are invited from parish councils, borough and county councillors, local constituency offices and any other interested parties - Commencing 2 July 2010


• Deadline for submissions - 27 August 2010


• Draft Proposals are prepared - 3 September 2010


• Consultations begin - 10 September 2010


• Final Proposals are prepared - 5 November 2010


• Final Proposals are published - 1 December 2010

A number of local residents have contacted the Safer Neighbourhood team to say they are worried about young people congregating in the play area at night creating noise, litter and upsetting neighbouring residents.

The council has worked with the Safer Neighbourhood Team to tackle these concerns. Nearby trees and foliage were cut back to open up the area, making those using it more visible to people around them. The local SNT Police officers also increased their patrols of the area. They have dealt with a number of young people by disposing of their alcohol, taking their details for police records and sending letters home to parents. However, in spite of these actions, the team are continuing to receive complaints from residents. Lighting and CCTV have been considered as options but neither has been found to be viable, due the geography of the site and financial considerations.

One suggestion is to remove the play area altogether so that there is no reason or facility to encourage young people to congregate there at night (although there would still be an open space). Clearly this is a serious step and we would not do it until we knew the opinions of people living nearby, those whose young children play there or would simply like to see it remain on the estate (taking into consideration that there is an alternative play area at nearby Strasburg Square.

Please let us know your views by completing the online provision of play equipment consultation form(below) or by printing off the form and sending it to us at the address below, or you can hand it in at the Council offices in Lower Downs Slade, Haverhill.

The council is consulting on its proposed amended policy and may revise it following consideration of responses received on or before the closing date. Please note that the special area policy, which was adopted in January 2009, has been removed from the draft on the basis that there is insufficient evidence to support a special area policy.

We send out all kinds of information to residents, businesses and visitors which we aim to make understandable, available at the right time and in a format that suits them (such as large print).

Forest Heath and St Edmundsbury councils are looking to save money by working together to communicate this information. It would help us tremendously in planning how this would work if we knew what information was really important to you.

Suffolk County Council are proposing to amalgamate the current six registration districts to create a single district for Suffolk.

We are looking to improve the provision of play equipment at Hooper Square and Ridley Road, Bury St Edmunds.

Please let us know your views by completing the Westley Estate online play consultation (below).

Comments are being sought on the Draft Masterplan for the Local Plan allocation off Crown Lane, Ixworth RA2 (b). The Masterplan will inform the preparation of development proposals for the site, to ensure that any issues affecting the interface areas between the site and existing development are appropriately considered. The consultation period runs until 11 August 2010. The draft Masterplan can be viewed and comments made online.

The area of land at Hanchett End is an important gateway site on the western edge of Haverhill and has been earmarked for development in St Edmundsbury's Local Plan. St Edmundsbury has asking for people's views on the concept statement which will eventually be used by developers or landowners to draw up a masterplan which will shape the project.

To incorporate the obligations of the regulators compliance code, service specific policies and new guidance in respect of surveillance.