Author: Clare Wood

“Police have urged everyone to download a smartphone app they say has already saved several lives. What is it and how does it work?” (BBC News August 2019)

What3words essentially points to a very specific location. Its developers divided the world into 57 trillion squares, each measuring 3m by 3m (10ft by 10ft) and each having a unique, randomly assigned three-word address. It cuts out all ambiguity about where a person’s exact location is and enables help to reach them.

A smartphone is needed to download the free app. Once downloaded, the app does not need a phone signal to tell someone their three-word location.

The emergency services have successfully assisted members of the public by being provided with the three words that enables them to be located.

Solihull Council is required under the Electoral Registration and Administration Act 2013, to carry out a review of all its polling districts, polling places and polling stations that fall within the Borough of Solihull and within the Parliamentary Constituency for Solihull and Meriden.

The review requires SMBC to seek to ensure that all the electors in a constituency have such reasonable facilities for voting as are practicable in the circumstances and to seek to ensure that,so far as is reasonable and practicable, every polling place is accessible to all electors. If you wish to comment on the review you can use the link below.

https://www.solihull.gov.uk/About-the-Council/Voting/pollingreview

If you have any time between 10am and 12noon it would be wonderful if you could help litter pick around the village. Please bring your own gloves. Litter pickers and bags will be provided by SMBC.

We have, for a number of years held Spring and Autumn events, but we would like to make this one a little different by making it a family event, so please come along and join like minded families who care about their environment.

With our environment in mind, there will be a variety of activities for children to do; why we should look after our community/environment/planet and making it a fun morning which will be in the Pavilion in the recreation ground.

The topic of our environment is on the Parish Council agenda for discussion on Thursday 19th September 2019. The meeting begins at 7pm so if you have a view, then do come along, all are welcome.

If you plan to join the street clean, please let me know by Tuesday 10th September so I have an idea of numbers. Please text ‘count me in’ for the street clean and/or “children and how many’ if you plan to join our fun packed morning to 07591 954002.

Many thanks for taking the time to read this and I look forward to hearing from you.

Solihull Council has published a Summary of Representations to the Draft Local Plan Review (Supplementary Consultation). This was reported to Cabinet Members on 18th July 2019. The summary of representations document provides an overview of all of the comments submitted and is arranged by question or site reference. This document can be found here www.solihull.gov.uk/lpr

A paper copy of the ‘Summary of Representations’ will also be available to view in Solihull Council’s libraries and walk-in centres during normal opening hours.

Solihull Council will use the outcome from the consultation to shape the next version of the plan. This is generally referred to as the ‘submission draft’. It is the version of the plan that Solihull Council intends to submit to Independent Examination. Before being submitted for examination it will be subject to further consultation. It is the representations made at this later stage that will be the focus of the Examination.

Solihull MBC will consider whether and to what extent the timetable for the local plan review needs updating in light of the representations made. Any change to the timetable will be published on the main Local Plan Review pages at www.solihull.gov.uk/lpr.

Transport for West Midlands (TfWM) will be attending the Parish Council Environment Meeting tomorrow (Wednesday 10th July 2019) at 1.30 pm in the Pavilion. TfWM will be able to discuss the proposed route and timetable changes. Members of the public are always welcome to attend and discuss issues. You have until 17th July 2019 to comment on the proposed route and timetable changes.

Message from West Midlands Police on measures to take to tackle knife crime.

If you have young family members or friends please share this message this message with their parents/guardians to help us to tackle knife crime. Thank you. Let us help you talk to your child about knife crime now. Did you know? Just 30 seconds can change a life. Knife crime in the West Midlands isn’t a gang issue. If you carry a knife, you’re 51 per cent more likely to have it used against you.   Last summer the West Midlands Police Chief Constable and the Police and Crime Commissioner pledged that officers would have conversation with every child about knife crime. A year on and we are still dedicated to that pledge and talking to your children, but we would like you to back us in having that conversation at home too. We want to help you do that… Watch our short video http://youtu.be/RVJZC83gxYk of local parent’s Mark and Beverly Brindley whose son James was stabbed by a teenager, giving simple tips on having that conversation. Explore our new #LifeorKnife site http://lifeorknife.west-midlands.police.uk/, which is full of helpful tips and information for both you and your child. Look at our simple 10 step image http://lifeorknife.west-midlands.police.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/10-steps-guide-rectangle-graphic.jpg on how to have a conversation with your child. Remember you can talk to us on our webchat http://www.west-midlands.police.uk/ us or report anonymously through CrimeStoppers http://crimestoppers-uk.org/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIzrL68r-d4wIVirvtCh04EQ5tEAAYASAAEgJmxPD_BwE   Together we can all tackle knife crime and keep our children safe over the holidays.

TfWM are proposing to change the Landflight bus service to Hockley Heath from 1st September 2019 following customer and Parish Council feedback. You can view the changes here:

https://www.networkwestmidlands.com/ways-to-travel/bus/solihull-changes/

The changes proposed are for the A7/A8 to connect Hockley Heath to Knowle (also maintaining the connection to Solihull town centre). The A3 would no longer serve Hockley Heath.

There are also timetable changes which can be viewed by clicking on the above link.

PLEASE COMMENT ON THE PROPOSALS BEFORE 17TH JULY 2019.

HHPC

Solihull Council recently forwarded the results of the speed monitoring and vehicle flow for School Road, carried out over a 7 day period commencing on 6 November 2018.

The data shows that the average speed recorded in the proximity of the school was 26 mph. The percentage of vehicles travelling 35 mph and over was 6.9% , with 0.3% of vehicles travelling in excess of 45 mph.

To view all the data click on the link below:

The Parish Council will continue to work with SMBC to reduce speeding in the Village.

Click on the link below to view the Notice of Election. This document has also been displayed on the three Parish Council noticeboards within the Village. Candidates must submit nomination papers to SMBC before 4 pm on Wednesday 3rd April 2019.

What do Councillors do?

Councillors have three main components to their work.

1. Decision making – Through meetings and attending committees with other elected members, councillors decide which activities to support, where money should be spent, what services should be delivered and what policies should be implemented.

2. Monitoring – Councillors make sure that their decisions lead to efficient and effective services by keeping an eye on how well things are working.

3. Getting involved locally – As local representatives, councillors have responsibilities towards their constituents and local organisations. These responsibilities and duties often depend on what the councillor wants to achieve and how much time is available, and may include:
• Going to meetings of local organisations such as tenants’ associations.

• Going to meetings of bodies affecting the wider community.

• Taking up issues on behalf of members of the public.

• Running a surgery for residents to bring up issues.

• Meeting with individual residents in their own homes.

Contact the Clerk at hhpc2009@hotmail.com to find out more about the role of a Councillor at Hockley Heath Parish Council. WALC also has a brief guide on the Parish Council elections and the role of Councillors as follows: https://www.walc.org.uk/information/become-a-councillor

The Parish Council of Hockley Heath has been able to take decisions to improve the village, here are just a few of the actions taken:
– extra security at the recreation ground- resurfacing areas of the park car park

– purchasing new play equipment for children and teenagers – planting daffodils in the recreation ground

– working with SMBC to obtain speed monitoring cameras- providing grants to community groups

– making repairs and internal decorations to the Pavilion- obtaining grants to purchase a defibrillator

– approving the installation of broadband in the Pavilion- working with SMBC to improve the local environment

– working with the Gardening Club, Residents’ Association and the Hockley Heath Social Club to enhance the village through tree planting and Christmas lighting

Local Parish Councillors are needed to continue making decisions on how the precept is spent within Hockley Heath to improve the village for all residents. All training will be provided for elected Councillors. Prospective candidates must submit nomination papers to SMBC between 26th March and 3 April 2019.