Around 37 per cent more local people are now attending our regular neighbourhood forum meetings since they launched in September 2006. And, according to a recent survey, over 70 per cent are satisfied with what the forums had to offer. The forums are held every two months in local areas. From 6pm to 7pm people can discuss individual issues one to one with representatives from the council and other organisations. At 7pm we have a community debate on issues of local concern. Details of meetings are on the council’s website.

We’ve this week launched a major campaign to raise awareness of the need to safeguard vulnerable adults from abuse. The campaign encourages people to report any suspicions, which will be handled sympathetically, confidentially and with respect. 32 poster sites across Trafford are publicising the help available and how to find out more.

We’re also reminding local people to inform us if they are still claiming council tax discounts that they are not entitled to. The council awards a 25 per cent council tax discount to more than 33,000 households in the borough where one adult is resident. In the last financial year, more than £8 million was awarded in discount. But people’s circumstances change and, by law, they have to tell us if they no longer qualify for the discount. People can notify us of changes calling 0161 912 2220 or visit our website www.trafford.gov.uk for further details.

Thank you to everyone who voted this year. This year’s overall turn out was just over 38 per cent. Voting is extremely important for shaping local democracy. After the elections the council is: Conservative 39, Labour 19, Liberal Democrat 5.

More local people than ever before are attending Trafford Council's neighbourhood forum meetings to talk about the issues that matter to them. Over 70 per cent of those who took part in a recent survey said they were satisfied with what the forums had to offer. The survey was sent out to more than 1000 people who have been to the forums over the past year.

A project developer has been appointed to manage the next phase of the civic accommodation project. This phase will include the appointment of a team of internal and external advisers during the early stages of this project.
The financial aspects of the preferred option should be completed by 2009 and delivery and occupation of the preferred building option is late 2011. One of the project developers’ key tasks is to aim to shorten this process so that the council can take occupation of the new and improved civic office as soon as is practically possible.

Trafford Council is urging local residents to go 'green' on 7 May by supporting ‘Connect To Your Council Day’. The day aims to remind local people that they can easily get information on 'green' issues and a range of services by using the environment-friendly method of logging on to the council's website.

As part of the day, visit the council’s homepage www.trafford.gov.uk and click on the link to check the environmental impact of your own lifestyle by calculating your carbon footprint on the CO2 calculator. You’ll be challenged to reduce your carbon footprint by making simple lifestyle changes, which can have a positive effect on the environment and save you money!

This Thursday is local election day. Please use your vote to elect your local councillor representatives.

If you or someone you know is deaf or hard of hearing then there’s an ideal opportunity to get some advice. In support of National Deaf Awareness Week, we’re holding an information event on Wednesday 7 May from 10am-4pm at Sale Waterside. British Sign Language interpreters will be provided at the event.

More than £1 million has helped disabled people in Trafford to live independently. The council has provided 261 grants to disabled residents totalling £1.5 million last year. The average grant of £6,600 was used to provide facilities such as additional toilets, showers and extensions to property.

This year we’ve budgeted a further £1.6m to continue with this vital work and we will be working in partnership with Trafford Care and Repair and local housing associations to ensure that local disabled people are aware of what they are entitled to. More information on grants for disabled residents can be found on the council website at www.trafford.gov.uk

May 1 is election day and it’s important everyone uses their right to vote. Every household in Trafford should by now have received their Trafford Today election special, listing all the candidates in our 21 wards.

If you haven’t got yours, please ring the delivery helpline on 0161 908 3411.



Young people had their say about life in Trafford as part of the work of our scrutiny councillors looking at children’s and young people’s services.

Students at Trafford College had a visit from the council’s youth service bus and were encouraged to air their views.

Parks, education, shopping and sporting venues got the thumbs up and they also rated highly Chill Factor, the Trafford Centre, the borough's diverse communities, and the advice they have received from Connexions.
When asked what could be improved, their list included wanting to see less traffic on the roads, less people smoking and more facilities in place for young people including boxing gyms and a ski/skate park for Urmston. Among the most important issues for the young people were having things to do in their leisure time, plus opportunities for learning and jobs. They rated anti-social behaviour, bullying and binge drinking among the big issues of today.
These views will feed back into work our councillors on our scrutiny committee are doing. Scrutiny councillors are our ‘critical friends’, providing constructive challenge to council services and policies with the emphasis on improvement


People looking for a new rented home will have a bigger choice soon. Trafford is signed up to Pinpoint, an online system due to go live in July, to make it easier to move from one of the 10 local authority areas in Greater Manchester to another.

Available properties will be advertised on a dedicated website that has links to all participating landlords' own websites. There’ll also be private rented accommodation and Homebuy properties. Visit the website www.pinpoint.org.uk for more details.

Thousands of people have added their voices to Trafford’s sustainable community strategy – the document which sets out planned improvements in the borough until 2021. The strategy ‘Trafford 2021: a blueprint’, launched in 2006 was refreshed by the Trafford Partnership – of which the council is a leading member - following extensive consultations. Six clear priorities emerged from these conversations. These were safety and reassurance; a strong and diverse economy; stronger well connected communities; positive environmental impact; better homes and health and improved quality of life for all. You can find out more of the details at www.traffordpartnership.org

You can now recycle your food cartons, or Tetra Paks, as we continue to extend our recycling. The new carton recycling banks are now at a number of recycling centres - Timperley Library Car Park, Baker Street in Timperley, Jubilee Assembly Rooms Car Park, The Firs in Bowdon, George Carnall Leisure Centre Car Park, Kingsway Park in Davyhulme, B&Q, Redclyffe Road in Trafford Park and Manor Avenue Playing Fields Car Park, Firsway in Sale

Over three hundred and fifty local school children along with community groups and local businesses made a clean sweep in The Big Clean event in Old Trafford last week. The event was part of the ‘Pride in Our Neighbourhood’ campaign which aims to encourage people to take pride in their local environment.
The clean up activities were led by partners including Trafford Council, Groundwork, Manchester and District Housing Association, Trafford Housing Trust, Emerge and War on Waste, with children attending from all the schools in the Old Trafford area.

We have made a commitment to tackle climate change and a range of environmental issues with the launch of our sustainability strategy. Our first sustainability strategy is the result of over two years work following extensive consultations with local people. The three year plan focuses on issues such as climate change and fuel poverty.

Over half million tonnes of carbon dioxide is produced from homes in Trafford every year - that's about a quarter of the total emissions in the borough. The strategy will promote energy efficiency in existing homes in Trafford's 90,000 homes.

Reducing the council's own energy use and working with schools, leisure centres and housing associations to minimise their own impact on climate change feature in the plan. You can find more details of the new initiatives on the council's Trafford is my planet website www.traffordismyplanet.com

Rangers will be out in force patrolling our parks, highways and open spaces from anyone dropping litter or allowing their dog to foul without cleaning up after them. They will be patrolling the areas that are most affected such as playing fields after football matches, and hopefully encourage people to use the bins provided to reduce littering on parks and highways.

Small and medium sized business owners in Trafford are being invited to a free seminar about protecting their business this Friday. Business continuity is the ability to maintain operations or services in the face of a disruptive event and this seminar aims to give a practical insight into business continuity and how to incorporate this into business. To book your place email Paul.Foster@gmchamber.co.uk.