Join us for some Christmas magic!
To kickstart the month of festivities, the Events Team led Christmas light-switch on is Saturday 2nd December starting at 4:30pm at Central Park. There’ll be a brass band, Santa’s grotto and the light switch on.
The Waverley outdoor Remembrance Sunday was held in November and led by our very own Reverend Philip from the Rivers Team Ministry. This year we also had a totem installed as a mark of respect for those we lost from COVID, conflict and to mark the Queen’s death. It is close to the memorial bench, as a location for residents to take a moment and remember loved ones who are sadly no longer with us.
FREE defibrillator training
There’s still time to join our defibrillator training sessions provided by Yorkshire Ambulance Service. There are two sessions to choose from; 4pm-5pm and 6-7pm on Wednesday 13 December at the AMP. Tickets are free of charge, though you can donate to the Yorkshire Ambulance Service on the day. Places are limited and must be booked in advance. Please contact clerk@waverley-cc.gov.uk or call on 07552 725732 to book your free place.
Number of homes on Waverley
At one of the last meetings with Harworth, they confirmed there’ll be around 3,000 homes built on Waverley. The implication is that the likelihood of the trigger for a second primary school being met is extremely low. However, the third form at the local Junior Academy is still being considered, and the WCC are pushing for this too.
The Head of Service Access to Education from Rotherham Council is attending our 10 January 2024 meeting. As always residents are welcome to attend and listen. There is no need to book, you can just show up just before 7pm at the AMP.
Gritting in winter
Most of the roads across Waverley remain unadopted. Adopted roads (Mitchell Way, Stephenson Way, parts of Wensley Road, Ashbourne Road and Matlock Way as well as all of Parwich Court) are the responsibility of RMBC to be gritted, but minor side roads won’t be gritted.
Harworth own Highfield Land and Lescar Road. This year Rotherham Council will grit these roads this winter, as well a Popular Way as usual.
The grit bins across Waverley have been left by various developers for residents. Grit bin locations include; top of Tideswell Walk, corner of Cressbrook Road with Stephenson Way, end of Rowsley Drive, Ashbourne Way (junction with Calver Way), and one on Ashford Court. Harworth will ensure these are refilled for residents before winter.
Harworth agreed to add three more grit bins on Highfield Lane including one near the school, another near Autumn Fields and one around Catcliffe corner. Residents are welcome to access the salt.
Residents can become a snow warden. Rotherham Council will provide you with equipment (snow shovel, hi-vis), grit and some training all for free. More information can be found on their website: www.rotherham.gov.uk/winter-roads/snow-warden
Precept
The WCC, like many parish and town councils, is funded by an annual payment, or precept, which in Waverley is part of your council tax bill from Rotherham Council.
The WCC have begun discussing the budget for the next financial year, with our precept request usually submitted to Rotherham Council by February 2024. Agendas and minutes of meetings are in the public domain via the website and residents are welcome to come and listen to meetings. Once agreed by the WCC members, the precept summary is placed on the website by February too. The April council tax bill will include the proportion of money to come to the WCC.
In the past year we’ve supported community groups, held another free joint event in June for residents, provided funding towards Aughton Early Years to support young families, and added the water supply to the community garden. We also raised funds and gained grants from the Ward Councillors for another defibrillator to be installed, as well as providing familiarisation training.
This year’s challenge is that the cost-of-living crisis has not dissipated, and the community centre is expected to be fitted out and in use. We cannot commence the fitting out of the community centre unless there are funds in place.
The WCC budget for 2024-25 is likely to be significantly larger, potentially 200% increase, than previous years, due to funding needed for the community centre project. Once a lease agreement is in place with Harworth for the community centre, we can commence large grant funding applications from organisations like the National Lottery.
If we are successful in getting a grant, this will off-set part of the precept request for the subsequent financial year (2025-26). Additionally, as the immediate vicinity of Olive Lane and the associated housing was not in the Master Plan, we‘ll receive funds from the Community Infrastructure Levy (CiL). However, because the building foundations are not in place, we do not know when the WCC will receive the funds.
If you are interested in the WCC proportion of your council tax bill, do come to the next two meetings. All details can be found on our website: www.waverley-cc.gov.uk/council-meetings
If you want to chat to any of the WCC members, you can find their email addresses here: www.waverley-cc.gov.uk/councillors
Rachel Graham, Clerk
