New rules are in place at polling stations for the May 2022 local elections – don’t get caught out!

VOTER ID AT POLLING STATIONS

What is this?

From 4 May 2023 onwards, the Elections Act 2022 requires voters who are on the Register of Electors to show photographic identification at polling stations before they are given a ballot paper.

What are the accepted forms of photo ID?

This is the list of items that can be used as photo ID at polling stations:-

• A passport issued by the UK, any of the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man, a British Overseas Territory, an EEA state or a Commonwealth country

• A photo-driving licence issued by the UK, any of the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man or an EEA state

• A biometric immigration document

• An identity card bearing the Proof of Age Standards Scheme hologram (a PASS card)

• Ministry of Defence Form 90 (Defence Identity Card)

• A Blue Badge

• A national identity card issued by an EEA state

• An Older Person’s Bus Pass

• A Disabled Person’s Bus Pass

• An Oyster 60+ Card

• A Freedom Pass

• A Scottish National Entitlement Card issued in Scotland

• A 60 and Over Welsh Concessionary Travel Card issued in Wales

• A Disabled Person’s Welsh Concessionary Travel Card issued in Wales

• A Senior SmartPass issued in Northern Ireland

• A Registered Blind SmartPass or Blind Person’s SmartPass issued in Northern Ireland

• A War Disablement SmartPass or War Disabled SmartPass issued in Northern Ireland

• A 60+ SmartPass issued in Northern Ireland

• A Half Fare SmartPass issued in Northern Ireland

• An Electoral Identity Card issued in Northern Ireland

• A Voter Authority Certificate or a temporary Voter Authority Certificate

If you have one of the above documents and it has expired, it may still be accepted as long as the photograph is still a good likeness of you.

What if you don’t have one of these forms of ID?

If you do not have any of these photo ID items, you will be able to apply for Voter Authority Certificate – a free photographic identification document specific for the purposes of voting.

Applications for Voter Authority Certificates will be accepted from 16th January 2023. You will be able to apply either

• on-line at https://www.gov.uk/apply-for-photo-id-voter-authority-certificate ; or
• by downloading an application form from https://www.gov.uk/apply-for-photo-id-voter-authority-certificate ; or
• by applying in person to Stratford District Council.

When you apply, you will need the following

1. A passport quality photograph;

2. Your National Insurance Number; and

3. Your date of birth

What if you can’t produce photo ID and don’t want to apply for a Voter Authority Certificate?

As someone who is on the electors list, if you feel that you might not have any photo ID and do not wish to apply for a Voter Authority Certificate, you can always apply for a postal vote.

What are the deadlines?

If you wish to apply for a Voter Authority Certificate in time for the District and Parish Elections on 4 May 2023, the deadline is 5pm on 25 April 2023. You can apply after that date for a Certificate for future elections.

Are there any other different forms of Voter Authority Certificate?

Yes. If you are an Anonymous Elector, there is a different form and you should contact the Stratford DC Elections Office for advice on 01789 260874.

Any concerns about stray or out of control dogs, please report to Stratford Dog Warden:

• https://www.stratford.gov.uk/online-forms/dog-warden-form.cfm

A designated Environmental Protection Technician is employed from Monday to Friday to deliver a professional service, promoting responsible dog ownership and enforcing existing legislation by:

• responding to all complaints as soon as possible
• collecting and returning stray dogs ; where strays are microchipped  or wearing visible ID and information is up-to-date, every attempt will be made by the Environmental Protection Technician to reunite them with their owners (£25 statutory fee is payable before dog is released back to owner). Please note, if a dog is seized on more than one occasion, the dog will be impounded and owners will be charged with additional costs
• transferring stray dogs with no visible ID or microchip to Birmingham Dogs Home to serve the statutory seven-day holding period. Owners reclaiming their dogs during this period will be charged a £25 admin fee, along with daily kennelling fees. This is payable to Birmingham Dogs Home upon collection of the dog. Once their suitability has been assessed, dogs that have not been claimed within the statutory holding period will become available for rehoming
• promoting responsible dog ownership through patrols, interaction with dog-owners and dog-walkers, and talks to local groups
• enforcing dog-related by-laws and the Public Spaces Protection (Dog Fouling) Order 2020,  which may result in the issuing of Fixed Penalty Notices
• signposting customers to relevant services where applicable (such as Environmental Health, Streetscene )
• working in conjunction with a range of external professionals and agencies including local veterinary practices, Orbit Housing , the Police , RSPCA , K9 Search UK , DogLost  and rescue and rehoming establishments

The Law

The Control of Dogs Order 1992  states that ‘any dog in a public place should wear the name and address of the owner either inscribed on the collar or name plate or disc attached to it’. A telephone number is optional but advisable. Remember, this is your pet’s fastest ticket back home should they go missing. Dog ownership is a privilege that must be taken seriously.

Since 6 April 2016, all dog owners have been required to have their dogs microchipped  and registered on an authorised commercial databases. Failure to comply could lead to a £500 fine. As part of this, dog owners are required to register the details of any new owner before they sell or give their dog away. Dog owners also need to keep their contact details up-to-date on the microchip database.

Dangerous Dogs

The amended Dangerous Dogs Act 1991  came into effect on 13 May 2014. This law applies to every single dog owner in England and Wales, regardless of the dog’s size or breed. Under Section 3, it is a criminal offence for the person in charge of the dog to allow it to be ‘dangerously out of control’ in a public place. A dog does not have to bite to be deemed dangerous in the eyes of the law. Generally, if a dog bites a person, it will be presumed to have been ‘dangerously out of control’; however, even if the dog does not bite, but gives the person grounds to feel that the dog may injure them, the law still applies.

If you have been attacked by a dog, please contact the Police. Dog-on-dog attacks are a civil matter and you may wish to seek legal advice.

Avon Dassett Parish Plan was adopted in May 2022. To find out progress made on the action plan since then, please go to:

https://www.avondassettparishcouncil.com/avon-dassett-parish-plan/

The next parish council elections will be held on 4 May 2023. To find out more about becoming a parish councillor, go to:

• https://www.avondassettparishcouncil.com/parish-council-elections-2023/

Over the next two months Healthwatch Warwickshire are looking into the impact of delays, rising costs and experience of pharmacy when accessing health and social care. You could win a £25 voucher by telling us your experiences, both good and bad.

Fill in our smart survey here – Share your views with our 3 Quick Questions: https://www.healthwatchwarwickshire.co.uk/news/2022-12-08/winter-outreach-3-quick-questions 

For more information see this poster:

• 3 Questions

Call us on 01926 422 823 to share your views over the phone or to request a paper copy of the questions. Written responses can be sent back to us at: FREEPOST Healthwatch Warwickshire. Further information about our work can be found at www.healthwatchwarwickshire.co.uk

Would you like to become an Independent Panel Member to hear School Admission Appeals?

What is the role?

Warwickshire County Council are seeking volunteers to become independent panel members to hear school admission appeals. Independent Appeal Panels consider appeals by parents against school admission decisions in relation to schools within Warwickshire and some neighbouring counties. This is an important role and panels are required by law.

Panel Members need only dedicate as much time as they are willing to offer to the role, our busiest time for appeal hearings is from April to July each year. Hearings are held during the day, in term time.  At the moment we are hearing appeals virtually, however this may go back to in person and hearings will be held at various locations across the County and travel expenses are reimbursed.

What experience will I need?

We are looking for (1) Lay Panel members (people without personal experience in the management of any school or provision of education in any school) and (2) Non-Lay Panel members (people with experience in education, acquainted with educational conditions in the area or parents of a registered pupil at a school).

Panel Members must exercise good judgement and demonstrate sound reasoning skills to ensure fair consideration of every case. You will need to be interested in schools and education and prepared to undertake training for the role – which will be provided by Warwickshire County Council. Current or former members, officers, and employees of the Local Authority, (except teachers and teaching assistants), are excluded from becoming independent panel members.

How do I apply or just find out more?

We are inviting expressions of interest to be submitted to us by e-mail to schoolappeals@warwickshire.gov.uk by no later than 20^th January 2023.

If you have any questions about this role, please do not hesitate to telephone either Tania Martin or Jayne Comerford on 01926 736381 or 01926 412082, or alternatively we will be holding an open day where you may come along for an informal discussion on the role and meet the Team. You will also have an opportunity to talk to existing panel members about their experiences.  Provisionally this will take place week commencing 30^th January 2023.

Some enormous vehicles and their abnormally large loads were escorted into a multi agency vehicle check site at the M6 Corley Services on Thursday 8 December to be checked by officers from Warwickshire Police’s Abnormal load team, CMPG and DVSA colleagues to ensure they are as safe as possible as they travel through the county.

During the operation, police motorcyclists intercepted 14 abnormal loads travelling on the M6 and escorted them into the check site to ensure compliance with movement orders and that the driver and vehicle are safe and legal on the roads.

Seven loads were prohibited from moving until faults on the vehicle were rectified and 9 Traffic Offence Report forms were issued for a variety of offences, including insecure loads.

One overweight vehicle was prohibited from moving until the load was safely reduced. This meant the driver had to organise for another vehicle to come to the check site to take some of the load. Overweight vehicles are particularly dangerous because they will take longer to brake in an emergency and the load is more likely to shift increasing the danger to the driver and other road users.

The drivers of two vehicles with insecure loads were required to secure them safely before being allowed to continue their journeys.

The DVSA also dealt with a number of tachograph offences including driver hours and speed.

Officers also took the opportunity to test drivers were below the legal limit for alcohol and we are pleased to say they all passed.

Inspector Dan Hicks said “In terms of making our roads safer, it was a hugely successful morning where a number of drivers were dealt with for a variety of traffic offences.  We also spoke to many drivers about the safety issues to help them avoid being stopped in future. These operations are so important because ensuring these oversized loads are moved correctly throughout the county reduces the risk they pose to the drivers themselves and to other innocent road users.

“We will continue to work with partners to organise regular operations to check all aspects of driver and vehicle safety.”

Starting on Monday, Avon Dassett Community Benefit Society, in conjunction with Warwickshire Rural Community Council (WRCC) will be offering a warm welcome at the Yew Tree.

Until the end of March, we aim to open every weekday from Monday to Friday, from 12.00-15.00, during which times the pub will offer warm hub facilities to all Avon Dassett residents and shareholders. Initially there will be selected warm drinks and biscuits available, free of charge and guests are free to make use of the library, games, wi-fi and facilities at the Yew Tree. When the kitchen is open we will also offer soup and a roll.

Guidance about support schemes, information sources and energy saving, and useful services will be made available and specific information sessions are being planned. Details will be announced once available.

We realise that until we start operations, we will not fully understand residents’ needs, but we are committed to providing a vital service and will listen to all feedback and try to develop the service.

As part of the grant funding that we have received from WRCC, we need to provide data on usage, so we will be issuing cards to guests and volunteers and logging attendance together with any feedback.

We are looking to recruit volunteers to help to operate the facility by providing company for our guests, discussing their needs and helping to signpost them to useful information and guidance. Anyone interested should contact our Benefit Society Secretary, Michele Gill  michelegill09@gmail.com or 07796 446024.

We look forward to seeing you and working together to develop our warm hub facility.

Avon Dassett Community Benefit Society Limited

Only travel if you really have to say police as freezing temperatures continue

Warwickshire Police is warning drivers about snow, ice and fog affecting road conditions as we continue to be gripped by freezing temperatures.

The advice is to only travel if you really have to and if you do, make sure your windscreen is clear, and you have plenty of fuel.

Check the weather forecast and local travel news before you set off. This includes the forecast for your destination as it may be very different.

In the Stratford upon Avon area a high number of road collisions were reported over the weekend.

With the freezing weather set to continue, Inspector Richard Hobbs said “The whole area south of Stratford upon Avon is where we are seeing our worst driving conditions with Shipston and Tysoe particularly affected.

“There are a number of rural roads in the south of the county that are closed due to the snow and ice so we are asking drivers to please stick to the main roads and to slow down and drive according to the conditions.

“As well as being icy, these roads are shut because there are a number of abandoned vehicles that are unable to be moved and this makes them impassable until the weather improves.

The advice is for drivers to be prepared and pack a winter driving kit including food and water, de-icer and ice scraper, blankets, snow shovel, a fully charged mobile phone and car charger, warm clothes, boots and a torch.

If you do need to abandon your car, please ring the police on 101 to let them know the location of the vehicle and that you are safe. Please only call 999 in an emergency.

We’ll be having a couple of rehearsals in The Reading Room in Avon Dassett for all the performers and any singers so if you’d like to come along we’d be delighted.

Rehearsal dates:   Wednesday 7th December 5.30 – 6.30 and Thursday 15th December 6.30 – 7.30