A newly-elected councillor and former Army tank commander has called for Armed Forces personnel to be given priority when affordable homes are allocated. Ben Stokes was elected in May onto South Gloucestershire Council as Conservative councillor for Boyd Valley. He previously served in the Queen’s Dragoon Guards of the British Army, who are currently on tour in Helmand Province in
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Avon and Somerset’s new Volunteer Police Cadets donned their uniforms for the first time at a launch event on Monday 31st October 2011. The teenagers, aged 14 to 17, chose to parade in front of senior officers, sponsors and their families at Downend Day Care Centre instead of joining friends to enjoy the Halloween festivities. The 10 young women and
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South Gloucestershire’s road safety team is urging local people to come forward to help tackle a shortage of crossing patrol staff – better known as ‘lollipop’ people – across the district. More than nine of the vital part-time posts are currently unfilled after staff retired or moved on to other jobs – and so far no new recruits have come
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Voluntary and community groups in South Gloucestershire are being invited to bid for help with the running costs of projects that benefit local people. The council’s small grants revenue scheme allocates up to £3,000 per project to help with running costs such as venue hire, staff costs or publicity. Any scheme that meets local needs will be considered and applications
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South Gloucestershire residents could see their council tax bills frozen for a second year running. At its next meeting, the Council’s Conservative Cabinet plans to ask residents for their views on a second council tax freeze as part of a consultation on next year’s council budget. Council tax rises have fallen steadily since the Conservatives started running South Gloucestershire Council
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Hundreds of delegates have today descended on the Bristol & Bath Science Park for Venturefest Bristol 2011, organised by Science City Bristol. The aim of the event is to bring new, technology and innovation based business ideas together with the funding and support required to make them grow. Core to Venturefest Bristol 2011 is the ‘Innovation Showcase’ where new businesses
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South Gloucestershire residents who need help with managing their debt or claiming welfare benefits are being helped thanks to a local advice service. South Gloucestershire Council has awarded a three-year contract to a partnership of five local organisations to provide a free advice service for its residents. The partnership is made up of voluntary and community sector organisations including Avon
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Payments for council services made through South Gloucestershire’s post offices and local shops have rocketed by 59 per cent in the last year, new figures reveal. Despite strong opposition from Labour and Lib Dem councillors, the authority’s Conservative administration transferred its cash payments service out of council’s three offices and into the larger existing network of local shops and post
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A number of voluntary groups have won a share of £125,000 in grants from South Gloucestershire Council. The grants were allocated across all five local area forums – Frome Vale, Kings Forest, Severn Vale, Southern Brooks and The Chase – for projects which directly benefit the community. Earlier this summer, the council increased the funding for these grants by £200,000
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Staple Hill’s ‘Christmas on the Hill’ Festival will be taking place this year on Saturday 10th December. The annual festival has become a firm fixture in Staple Hill and always promises to be a fun day for all the family. Free entertainment takes place throughout the afternoon at venues around Staple Hill, however the highlight of the day is undoubtedly
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