Councillors Messages
District News
Welcome to this edition of District News
Crime Prevention and Safety Advice
Analogue home phones (landlines) are being phased out.
Did you know that the UK’s telephone network is being upgraded, and landline services are changing. For most people the changeover will have happened by January 2027 and switching over will have been straightforward, but some people may need new equipment or support to make the changes.
BT is currently switching customers that:
• haven't used their landline in the last 12 months,
• haven't contacted an Alarm Receiving Centre in the last 24 months,
• live in an area where specific measures are in place to check if people have a telecare alarm system,
• aren't known to be vulnerable or have additional needs.
Whilst researching this matter check out the good, easy to read advice from Age UK which may help you, or your friends and relatives. (click on the link)
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If someone is dependent on their landline phone – for example, if they don’t have a mobile phone or they live somewhere where there’s no or poor mobile signal, then their telephone provider must offer them a 'resilience solution' to make sure they can make emergency calls during a power cut. This could be a mobile phone (if they have mobile signal) or a battery-backup unit that connects to the newly digitised landline phone and provides power in case of a power outage.
It might be a good time to read up about this, via the below link, AND before the fraudsters start creating scams posing as BT or other telecoms companies to steal money for bogus new equipment, new services or simply threatening to cut people off...!
Changes to landline telephones
Analogue Alarms
If you have other devices or services connected to your existing analogue phone line such as a burglar or fire alarm system that connects to an alarm receiving centre or other remote service, there is a possibility it may be affected by these changes. Some alarm systems that use analogue telephone lines may not continue to work on the new digital service, whilst others may do so with some minor modifications. It is likely your alarm system will need reconnecting to the new phone service after it has changed. The security systems sector is well aware of all the changes and NSI approved installers are already working to ensure the ongoing security of domestic properties is not compromised. Whether you are approached by your telephone provider to upgrade your phone service or voluntarily decide to upgrade to a faster fibre based broadband service, you should contact your alarm/maintenance provider before your line is upgraded to check whether your alarm system requires adaptation or replacement, to ensure compatibility with the new IP network.
• If your alarm system provider approaches you to upgrade your system, make sure you receive a detailed quote from them explaining why the change is necessary.
• Not all alarm systems will be affected by the change, and it may not be necessary to replace or upgrade your system.
• Always check that any proposed changes will be ‘compatible’ with the new digital services.
• Choose a professional alarm system provider approved by an independent accredited Certification Body such as NSI or SSAIB
(This alarm information has been taken from the approved National Security Inspectorate (NSI) website: UK transition from analogue to digital landlines)
Please help spread the word as many people are not yet aware of this. (N.B. other information is also out there, but not always easy to find!)
Visit: https://www.essex.police.uk/Crime prevention advice
You may also be able to obtain information from
Citizens Advice East Herts (Bishop's Stortford) - 01920 459944
https://www.citizensadviceeastherts.org.uk
Citizens Advice - Saffron Walden - 01799 618840 https://www.uttlesfordca.org.uk
Apply for a council or housing association home
Check if you are eligible, find out how to apply and search for available council and housing association homes.
You can apply for council housing in Uttlesford through the Home Option partnership. You'll usually have to join a waiting list and you're not guaranteed to get a property.
Check if you can apply
You must be 16 years old or over to apply for council housing and have a local connection to Uttlesford.
A local connection can be if you have:
Continuously lived for 3 years in the district, family who have lived in the district for 5 years and who you are supporting, been working in the district for at least 24 hours a week for the last 3 years.
Eligibility can also depend on:
Your nationality, immigration status and if you've recently lived abroad
This is because the law says that there are some people who arrive in the UK from abroad that we cannot rehouse.
Who cannot apply
You cannot apply if you have sufficient funds to meet your housing needs. If you are applying for sheltered housing, though, we will not take your funds into consideration.
We will not accept your application if you have a history of unacceptable behaviour that will make you unsuitable as a tenant This includes:
Rent arrears, antisocial behaviour, criminal activity or damage to property.
Chimney safety
Essex County Fire and Rescue Service are advising that a clean chimney can help prevent fires and structural damage to your property.
Most chimney fires are preventable. Keeping your chimney clean can help prevent fires and structural damage to your property.
Chimney safety advice
Essex Fire and Rescue Service has advice for keeping your chimney safe:
Have your chimney swept at least once a year, or more frequently if you burn wood.
Do not stack fires too high and remember to let them burn down well before you go to bed.
Use a fire or spark guard.
Do not place objects on or over the mantelpiece which may cause you to lean over the fire to reach them.
Inspect your chimney regularly - particularly in the roof space - to ensure that it is sound, and that sparks or fumes cannot escape through cracks or broken bricks.
Avoid burning soft woods as resin and soot builds up more quickly, buy suitable fuels.
Using the wrong type of fuel on a liner will cause corrosion and reduce the life of the liner.
Regular inspections and cleaning of your chimney or flue will prevent the build-up of soot and clear any obstructions such as bird nests, leaves and debris.
Wood burning
New evidence has uncovered that wood burning actually hurts your health, wallet and the planet.
Harms your wallet: Wood burning is almost always more expensive than other forms of heating.
Harms your health: Lighting fires in our homes is the largest source of harmful small particle air pollution in the UK.
Harms the planet: Wood burning creates more harmful CO2 emissions compared to other forms of heating and we cannot reproduce trees fast enough to offset the CO2 emitted by burning wood.
Uttlesford District Council Customer Charter
Our Customer Charter tells you about the standard of service UDC aim to provide in Their day-to-day dealings with you.
They will ensure equal access and opportunity to quality services to meet the needs of everyone in the community without prejudice or discrimination.
If you wish to comment on a service, give a compliment or make a complaint, you can do so on the Compliments, suggestions and complaints page on the UDC website
Telephone enquiries
Objective: To deal with all telephone enquiries in a timely, courteous and helpful manner.
Their promise to their customers:
We will provide a prompt and informative telephone service.
Where appropriate, we will provide suitable alternative contact details to ensure your enquiry is dealt with
Written communications
Objective: To provide a clear, full and timely response to all letters and emails.
Their promise to their customers:
We will aim to respond to letters and emails within 10 working days of receipt where appropriate*
We will provide a timely response using plain English and respond to all points raised.
Face-to-face enquiries/visits
Objective: To provide a welcoming, supportive and knowledgeable service for all face-to-face contacts.
Their promise to their customers:
If you visit our offices for an appointment, we will aim to see you within five minutes of your appointment time.
If you visit us without an appointment, we will try to keep your waiting time to a minimum.
We will consider all requests for us to visit you, and if we can do so will always agree an appointment time and advise you if we are going to be late.
Customer feedback
Objective: To encourage feedback** from our customers ensuring we acknowledge any relevant communication and strive to learn from all comments made.
Their promise to their customers:
We will listen to, consider and learn from feedback we receive from our customers.
We will ensure that we respond fairly to customers who take the time to contact us.
Accessibility
Objective: To provide the required level of assistance to ensure all customers have equal access to all services.
Their promise to their customers:
We will ensure our facilities meet all relevant legislative requirements.
We will provide alternative methods of communication and access where appropriate.
Online services
Objective: To provide council services and information via the website and other online methods.
Their promise to their customers:
We will ensure website information is up-to-date and easy to find.
We will offer payment and other services to help customers interact with the council without you having to make a visit or phone call.
*Please note the council is unable to respond to some written communication, including written representations on planning applications. Some forms of written communication have national timescales in excess of UDC's 10 day target, such as FOI requests.
**Feedback can include Freedom of Information (FOI) requests, Data Protection requests, Environmental Information Regulations requests, complaints, comments, compliments, consultation responses and general enquiries.
What we ask of our customers
We ask you to: Always treat our staff with courtesy and respect.
Whenever possible make an appointment if you want to visit us.
Understand that you may have to wait if you haven't made an appointment when visiting our offices in Saffron Walden, Dunmow or Thaxted.
Tell us when we do not meet your expectations - we can only make improvements if we understand your problem.
Provide the right documentation and information we need to be able to help you.
Understand and accept that it is not always possible or practical to agree to your requests owing to legislative, financial or regulatory limitations.
If you have cause to complain, ensure that you do so in a respectful way. Abusive, persistent or vexatious complaints will be dealt with according to the council's policy.
Ward surgeries
This month’s Ward surgeries will take place on the first Tuesday of the month at Great Hallingbury Village Hall, 2 – 4pm (03 December).
And the third Friday of the month at the Dukes Head PH, Hatfield Broad Oak also between 2 – 4pm (20 December).
And the normal reminder, should you need to contact us, you can email us on the following addresses.
cllrdriscoll@uttlesford.gov.uk or cllrreeve@uttlesford.gov.uk
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Connecting Essex cycling network survey
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Essex CC have launched a consultation asking residents to give them their views on their proposed Connecting Essex cycling network. The consultation will end on the 10th of January 2024. They particularly want to hear from residents about whether the routes provide the right strategic links and whether there are any important routes not shown.
The page in the link below takes you to the consultation survey and video which explains, what a Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan is; and why they want to hear the views of residents and businesses about how to connect together local cycling networks across the county to gradually create a cohesive cycling network that will link a number of towns and villages across Essex.
In addition, residents of Uttlesford are being asked for their feedback on a number of cycling and walking routes in their area.
Residents have already given feedback on routes in Basildon, Braintree, Brentwood, Castle Point, Chelmsford, Colchester, Rochford, Witham, Maldon, Waltham Abbey, Loughton (including Buckhurst Hill and Chigwell), Jaywick/Clacton and Harwich/Dovercourt. Essex County Council’s Safer, Greener, Healthier team now want to hear the views of residents about the remaining networks in Essex which will connect all the routes together as well as link up rural areas. Their ambition is to have an Essex-wide final network of potential walking and cycling routes which can be developed in the future.
The routes are designed to create a network of sustainable, interconnected linking routes which enable more walking and cycling. They ensure a long-term approach is taken for planning future investment and are reviewed approximately every three years as part of the Government’s Gear Change strategy. By identifying key routes and then seeking funding for high quality infrastructure, They hope that cycling and walking will become the safe and easy choice for travelling, either for shorter, local journeys or as part of a longer one. By switching to more sustainable forms of travel, residents will have more choice in how they get around.
They are keen that local communities and stakeholders have their say and help them shape the future of their streets and would ask all to promote the consultation and encourage as many participants as possible to respond.
The consultation can be found at:
https://letstalkessexsustainabletravel.co.uk/uttlesford-lcwip?preview=true
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Act now to keep emergency personnel numbers and equipment levels to the required maximum's
Two more weeks to have your say on future funding for policing and fire and rescue in Essex People who live or work in Essex have two more weeks to give their views on future funding for Essex Police and Essex County Fire and Rescue Service. You can complete the PFCC Precept Survey 2025 here: https://url.uk.m.mimecastprotect.com/s/2sGUCv2l0cJW8ySQfgHQodtm?domain=smartsurvey.co.uk/
Since Friday 25th October the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner (PFCC) for Essex has asked county residents for their policing and community safety views to identify public appetite in maintaining the current strength and ability of Essex Police and Essex County Fire & Rescue Service to keep communities safe.