1. home and garden

How to
contact
the council
and get value
for money from
local services
Lowest
x
council ta
in the
country
Westminster City Council
Westminster City Hall
64 Victoria Street
London SW1E 6QP
2013-2014
westminster.gov.uk
westminster.gov.uk
1
Welcome to this year’s directory, which
sets out the range of services provided
by the council and how you can
access them.
This year, Westminster’s average council tax to pay
for these services is £377.74. This amount has not
increased for six years and is again frozen this year.
That’s because we are committed to taking the
absolute minimum that we require to fund our services.
Low tax and value for money are at the core of
everything that we do alongside well run, efficient
services. Unlike other councils, we have not slashed
frontline services or closed any leisure or children’s
centres whilst we have protected the services we
provide to the most vulnerable.
Our solution, through our Better City Better Lives
programme, has been grounded in a relentless
focus on efficiencies, renegotiating contracts to
achieve better deals and finding new ways of working,
such as the ground-breaking partnership we have
with The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea
and the London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham.
I believe that this approach is the one that the
people of Westminster wish us to deliver and that
is what we are doing.
Councillor Philippa Roe
Leader of Westminster City Council
2
westminster.gov.uk
Your council tax bill
2013/14*
Band
Westminster
City Council
Greater London
Authority
Total
A
251.83
202.00
453.83
B
293.80
235.67
529.47
C
335.77
269.33
605.10
377.74
303.00
680.74
E
461.68
370.33
832.01
F
545.62
437.67
983.29
G
629.57
505.00
1,134.57
H
755.48
606.00
1,361.48
0%
-1.2%
-0.6%
D
%
increase
* Excluding levy for Montpelier Square Garden Committee
What does my
council tax pay for?
Over 100 services including:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
2 children’s centres
1
9 leisure centres
9 play centres
13 libraries
49 parks, gardens and open spaces
52 schools
social housing
street cleaning
support for vulnerable adults and children
waste and recycling collections.
westminster.gov.uk
3
Contacting the council is now
easier than ever before
Go online or call one of these numbers to find out about the services
you receive through your council tax.
Adult Services
westminster.gov.uk/adultservices
020 7641 2500
page 10
Social care for vulnerable adults such as disabled or older
people, or tell us if you are worried about someone.
Business Line
westminster.gov.uk/business
020 7641 7000
page 11
For local businesses to enquire about planning, licensing,
environmental health and business rates.
Children’s Services
westminster.gov.uk/childrenservices
020 7641 4000
page 11
Social services, childcare, schools, family support and
information or tell us if you are worried about a child.
Council Tax
westminster.gov.uk/counciltax
0845 302 3400
page 13
Pay, register, check your balance, set up a direct debit
or make an enquiry.
Housing
westminster.gov.uk/housing
020 7641 1000
page 14
Housing advice, advice about being homeless or report
a problem with your accommodation.
Receive special
offers and discounts
every Friday.
Visit westminster.gov.
uk/vfm
4
westminster.gov.uk
Housing benefit and council tax support
westminster.gov.uk/benefits
0800 072 0042
page 16
Find out how to claim housing benefit and council tax
support, tell us about changes to your personal
circumstances or make an enquiry about your claim.
Libraries
westminster.gov.uk/libraries
020 7641 6200
page 18
Renew books and DVDs, find your nearest library
and opening times, make an enquiry or find out about
arts and culture.
Parking
westminster.gov.uk/parking
020 7823 4567
page 19
Find out about permits for residents and businesses,
disabled badges and suspended parking bays. You can
also pay or challenge a parking ticket.
Planning, licensing and events
westminster.gov.uk/planning
westminster.gov.uk/licensing
westminster.gov.uk/events
020 7641 6500
General enquiries
020 7641 6000
page 20
Find out about planning permission, licences, local
land charges or what you need to do to run an event
in Westminster.
Registrars and electoral services
westminster.gov.uk/registrar
westminster.gov.uk/elections
020 7641 7500
page 20
Enquire about getting married in Westminster, register
a birth or death, find out about the Nationality Checking
Service, book your British Citizenship Ceremony, register
to vote or find out about elections.
Rubbish, streets and environmental health
westminster.gov.uk/streets
020 7641 2000
page 21
Find out about waste and recycling, pest control, food
health and safety and trading standards or report noise,
graffiti, faulty streetlights and roadworks.
Sport and leisure
westminster.gov.uk/sport
020 7641 2012
page 22
Information on sports activities, clubs, competitions, sports
volunteering and school sport. Please contact leisure
centres directly (see page 22).
westminster.gov.uk
5
Budget
Where the council’s income comes from
Total General Fund Income 2013/14 £931m
Council Tax
£45m
Localised Business Rates
£79m
Revenue Support Grant
£119m
Trading and Other Income
£203m
Specific Grants and Contributions£485m
Total
£931m
How the money is spent
Total General Fund expenditure 2013/14 £933m
Childrens Services
Public Health
Adults Services £156m
£75m
£120m
Finance & Operations
£49m
SEB & Strategic Support £14m
Parking £23m
Corporate Items
£31m
City Management
£77m
Built Environment £27m
Sport & Leisure £5m
Libraries
£9m
Corporate Property
Housing
Transfer from Reserves
6
westminster.gov.uk
£25m
£322m
£2m
Total
£933m
Take it easy…
Pay your council tax by Direct Debit and
WIN a life-changing
£25,000
in our Prize Draw
westminster.gov.uk/payct
17
PARTICIPATING
LONDON COUNCILS
Deadline is 12th July 2013
Look out for details in your council tax bill or visit www.ddeasywinner.co.uk for more information,
to view the Prize Draw terms and conditions, and the Direct Debit Guarantee
westminster.gov.uk
7
Better City Better Lives
We have a five-year plan to improve
Westminster. It involves everyone
playing their part to make their area
better to live and work in. Ian Forde,
sports volunteer
Ian won the active volunteer award at last year’s
ActiveWestminster Awards.
“Find out what you enjoy doing then look for
opportunities to volunteer your time. For me
volunteering in sport gives me opportunities to
work with children and young adults to do
something constructive. It also helps people to
lead healthy and productive lives. It gives me
identity and self worth and helps create
opportunities for local people to take part in sport
that they would not usually do.”
Find out more at
westminster.gov.uk/
sport
volunteer.co.uk
8
westminster.gov.uk
For example attending area forums
to have your say on local safety,
volunteering to help people who are
vulnerable or simply by recycling.
To find out more visit
westminster.gov.uk/bettercitybetterlives
Mohamad Salam Perez,
Young Enterprise student
Westminster Academy pupil Mohamad took part
in the Westminster Young Enterprise programme
to gain business skills and experience.
“Because there aren’t many jobs about for
young people I think it’s important to get
involved in things that can help us enhance our
skills. Young Enterprise made me realise you
have to want to work and can’t be lazy about it.
The most important thing I’ve learnt is people
skills and if I need an interview I would approach
it with much more confidence.”
Find out more at
young-enterprise.
org.uk/london
westminster.gov.uk
9
A
Adult Social Services
westminster.gov.uk/adultservices
020 7641 2500
[email protected]
Abuse of vulnerable adults
Adults with disabilities
Adult social care services
Alcohol and drug problems
[email protected]
Freedom Pass
Free public transport for older and disabled people.
[email protected]
Internet
Handyperson scheme
[email protected]
Email
Home care services
Telephone
Home meals service
Postal address
Older people
Key
Shopper service
Complaints
(Adults services)
0800 587 0072
Other adult social services numbers
Adult education
[email protected]
020 7297 7297 waes.ac.uk
Learning disability services
[email protected] 020 7641 7411
Mental health services
020 7266 9500 (North Westminster)
020 7534 6685 (West End)
020 3315 2040 (South Westminster)
020 7886 1652 (out of hours)
Sheltered and supported housing
[email protected] 020 7641 1659
Taxicard
020 7934 9791
10
westminster.gov.uk
Business line
020 7641 7000
Other business numbers
Commercial waste
020 7641 6180
Children’s Services
westminster.gov.uk/childrenservices
020 7641 4000
[email protected]
Abuse of children, or if you are worried
about a child
[email protected]
Adoption
[email protected]
Childminding and nurseries
[email protected]
Children’s Centres
Please call the centre direct (see page 12)
B
C
Complaints
(Children’s services)
0808 202 6210
020 7641 3482
socialcare
complaints@
westminster.gov.uk
Family Information Service
[email protected]
Fostering
[email protected]
Schools (please call the school direct)
westminster.gov.uk/schools
School admissions
[email protected]
Youth offending team
Youth council
Young people and youth participation
westminster.gov.uk
11
C
Other children’s services numbers
Children with disabilities
020 7266 7112
Play Service, centre based and free play
020 7641 1107
[email protected]
School meals
[email protected]
020 7641 3412
Special educational needs
020 7641 5348/5350
Student finance
0845 300 5090
Visit your local children’s centre for advice,
support and training.
North West
Bayswater
020 7641 1350
Adjacent to St. Mary of the Angels Primary
School, Shrewsbury Road, W2 5PR
Harrow Road
020 7641 5804
Mary Paterson Nursery School, 13 Riverton
Close (off Ashmore Road), W9 3DF
Queen’s Park
020 7641 5838
88 Bravington Road, W9 3AL
Find out what’s on for
children every half-term.
Subscribe to your free
Children First magazine
Visit: westminster.gov.
uk/childrenfirst
12
westminster.gov.uk
Queensway
020 7087 4960 (option 4)
Hallfield Primary School, Hallfield Estate, W2 6JJ
Westbourne
020 7641 4312
Edward Wilson Primary School, Senior Street, W2 5TL
North East
Church Street
020 7641 5435/5436
Portman Early Childhood Centre,
12-18 Salisbury Street, NW8 8DE
Maida Vale
020 7641 5775/5679
St. Augustine’s CE Primary School,
Kilburn Park Road, NW6 5XA
C
Micky Star
020 7402 4854
58-61 St. Michael’s Street, W2 1QR
Paddington Green
020 7641 5675
Paddington Green Primary School,
Park Place Villas, W2 1SP
South
Churchill Gardens
020 7641 5923
Churchill Gardens Primary School, Ranelagh
Road, SW1V 3EU
Marsham Street
020 7828 4083
121 Marsham Street, SW1P 4LP
West End
020 7641 4301/020 7439 1578
Soho Family Centre, 23 Brewer Street, W1R 3FF
Council tax
[email protected]
(for street addresses A-K)
[email protected]
(for street addresses L-Z)
0845 302 3400
westminster.gov.uk/counciltax
Save paper and receive
your council tax bill by
secure email.
Email westminster.
counciltax1@secure.
capita.co.uk
westminster.gov.uk
13
H
Changes to
health services
From April 2013 responsibilities
for public health and some
health services will transfer
from the NHS to the council.
The council will be
responsible for providing
the following services:
•sexual health
•drug and alcohol treatment
•health checks for 40 to
74 year olds
•school nursing programmes
•giving up smoking
•childhood obesity including
the national child
measurement programme.
You should not expect any
major changes to these
services and you will continue
to receive them from the
same people and at the same
locations as before.
The changes do not affect
health care for the treatment of
injuries, illness or urgent medical
conditions which remain the
responsibility of the NHS.
To have your say on what you
think should be our priorities
for health and wellbeing, visit
westminster.gov.uk/health.
14
westminster.gov.uk
Health services (NHS)
020 7150 8000
Dentists
Doctors
Family planning clinics
Stop smoking clinics
Urgent medical assistance
111
If you need medical help fast but your situation is
not life-threatening, call the NHS on 111 to speak
to a trained advisor.
Housing
020 7641 1000
Homelessness
Housing options
Private sector housing
[email protected]
Rough sleeping
Other housing numbers
CityWest Homes (tenants)
cwh.org.uk
[email protected]
020 7245 2000
Estate offices
Please call the estate office direct.
Bayswater
[email protected]
020 7245 2169
Churchill Gardens
[email protected]
020 7245 2101
H
Church Street
[email protected]
020 7245 2753
Grosvenor
[email protected]
020 7245 2777
Lillington and Longmoore
[email protected]
020 7245 2620
Lisson Green
[email protected]
020 7245 2809
Little Venice
[email protected]
020 7245 2333
Maida Vale
[email protected]
020 7245 2201
Marylebone
[email protected]
020 7245 2710
Mozart
[email protected]
020 7245 2651
Paddington Green
[email protected]
020 7245 2511
westminster.gov.uk
15
H
Changes to
Council Tax benefit
You may have heard about
changes to Council Tax
benefit. In Westminster there
are no changes to the way you
receive your payment or to the
amount you receive.
From 1st April 2013 it will be
known as Council Tax Support
and not Council Tax Benefit.
If you are already receiving
council tax benefit you do not
need to reapply as you will
automatically qualify for the
new support.
Visit westminster.gov.uk/
benefits for more information.
Pimlico
[email protected]
020 7245 2800
Queen’s Park
[email protected]
020 7245 2651
Soho and Covent Garden
[email protected]
020 7245 2560
St. John’s Wood
[email protected]
020 7245 2451
Westbourne Park
[email protected]
020 7245 2571
Repairs (CityWest Homes tenants)
0800 358 3783
020 7286 7412 (out of hours emergencies)
Housing benefit and
council tax support
0800 072 0042
westminster.gov.uk/benefits
Council tax support to help pay council tax
[email protected]
Housing benefit to help pay rent
[email protected]
16
westminster.gov.uk
Your recycling guide
Your mixed recycling collection is weekly
You can recycle:
For more information
Visit: westminster.gov.uk/recycling • Call: 020 7641 2000
Westminster City Council
Westminster City Hall
64 Victoria Street
London SW1E 6QP
020 7641 6000
westminster.gov.uk
westminster.gov.uk
17
L
Libraries
020 7641 6200
westminster.gov.uk/libraries
[email protected]
Text phone/minicom 020 7641 8000
Archives and local studies
[email protected]
Arts and culture
[email protected]
Business information points
westminster.gov.uk/bip
[email protected]
Home Library Service
[email protected]
Renewals and enquires
Libraries
Archives
10 St. Ann’s Street, SW1P 2DE
Charing Cross Library including
the Chinese Library
4–6 Charing Cross Road, WC2H 0HF
Church Street Library
67 Church Street, NW8 8EU
Little Venice Sports Centre Library (self-service)
10 Crompton Street, W2 1ND
Maida Vale Library
Sutherland Avenue, W9 2QT
You can borrow over a
million books from libraries
in Westminster, Kensington
and Chelsea and
Hammersmith and Fulham.
Visit westminster.gov.
uk/libraries
18
westminster.gov.uk
Marylebone Library and Information Service
109-117 Marylebone Road, NW1 5PS
Marylebone Library will move location in August.
Visit westminster.gov.uk/newmarylebone
Mayfair Library
25 South Audley Street, W1K 2PB
Paddington Library
Porchester Road, W2 5DU (adults)
Clifford Hall, Porchester Road, W2 5DU (childrens)
Pimlico Library
Lupus Street, SW1V 3AT
Queen’s Park Library and Learning Centre
666 Harrow Road, W10 4NE
St. John’s Wood Library
20 Circus Road, NW8 6PD
Victoria Library and Westminster Music Library
160 Buckingham Palace Road, SW1W 9UD
Westminster Reference Library and
Business Information Point
35 St. Martin’s Street, WC2H 7HP
L
P
Parking
[email protected]
020 7823 4567 (8am – 6.30pm)
westminster.gov.uk/parking
Car Club
westminster.gov.uk/zipcar
Challenge a parking ticket
westminster.gov.uk/challengepcn
Disabled driver parking permits
[email protected]
Motorcycle parking
westminster.gov.uk/motorcycle
Parking bay suspensions
[email protected]
Pay a parking ticket (24 hours)
westminster.gov.uk/paypcn
Resident parking permits
[email protected]
You can charge your car
at 83 electric recharging
points, the largest
on-street recharging
service in the UK.
Visit westminster.gov.
uk/parking
westminster.gov.uk
19
P
R
Planning, licensing and events
020 7641 6500
westminster.gov.uk/planning
westminster.gov.uk/licensing
westminster.gov.uk/events
Building control
[email protected]
Conservation areas and listed buildings
[email protected]
Local land charges and searches
[email protected]
Markets and street traders
Planning applications and permissions
[email protected]
Planning enforcement
[email protected]
Special events, putting on an event or
filming in Westminster
[email protected]
Police
Report non-emergencies by calling
In an emergency always call 999
101
Registrars and electoral services
You can apply for a
planning application
online. We process over
12,000 every year.
Visit westminster.gov.
uk/planning
20
westminster.gov.uk
020 7641 7500
westminster.gov.uk/registrar
westminster.gov.uk/voting
[email protected]
[email protected]
Births
Citizenship ceremonies
Deaths
Elections
Marriages and civil partnerships
Register to vote
Rubbish, streets and
environmental health
R
020 7641 2000
Abandoned vehicles
[email protected]
Animal warden
Bulky waste and special collections
CCTV
[email protected]
Cemeteries
[email protected]
Drains and sewers
[email protected]
Fly tipping
Food safety
[email protected]
Health and safety
[email protected]
Highways licensing including temporary
structures, scaffolds and cranes
Noise complaints (24 hours, 365 days a year)
Parks and gardens
westminster.gov.uk/parks
[email protected]
Pavement and highways maintenance
You can recycle all
wax-lined, plastic-lined
and foil lined cartons,
including milk cartons
and Tetra Paks.
Visit westminster.gov.
uk/recycling
westminster.gov.uk
21
R
S
Pest control
[email protected]
Potholes
[email protected]
Recycling
[email protected]
Roads and pavements
[email protected]
Roadworks
[email protected]
Rubbish, bins and recycling collections
[email protected]
Skips
Street cleansing
[email protected]
Street lighting (except traffic lights, which are
managed by Transport for London. Visit tfl.gov.uk)
[email protected]
Trading standards
[email protected]
Trees
[email protected]
[email protected]
Sport and leisure
3 million people
visit council leisure
centres every year.
Find your nearest at
westminster.gov.uk/
sport
22
westminster.gov.uk
020 7641 2012
westminster.gov.uk/sport
• activities
• clubs
• competitions
• school sports and PE
• sports volunteering.
Leisure Centres
Academy Sport
020 7121 0642
Westminster Academy, 255 Harrow Road, W2 5EZ
Jubilee Sports Centre
020 8960 9629
Caird Street, W10 4RR
S
Little Venice Sports Centre
020 7641 5111
10 Crompton Street, W2 1ND
Marshall Street Leisure Centre
020 7871 7222
15 Marshall Street, W1 7EL
Moberly Sports Centre
020 7641 4807
The Quadrant, Kilburn Lane, W10 4AH
Paddington Recreation Ground
020 7641 3642
Randolph Avenue, W9 1PD
Porchester Centre
020 7792 2919
Queensway, W2 5HS
Porchester Spa
020 7792 3980
Queensway, W2 5HS
Queen Mother Sports Centre
020 7630 5522
223 Vauxhall Bridge Road, SW1V 1EL
Seymour Leisure Centre
020 7723 8019
Seymour Place, W1H 5TJ
St. Augustine’s Sports Centre
020 7641 3642
Rudolph Road, NW6 5SN
westminster.gov.uk
23
Other useful numbers
Complaints and comments
Complaints and comments should be dealt with by
the relevant service. Contact us if you are unsure of
the service you need.
westminster.gov.uk/complaints
[email protected]
020 7641 5000
Councillors
westminster.gov.uk/councillors
020 7641 3411
Bayswater, Bryanston and Dorset Square, Church Street, Hyde
Park, Lancaster Gate, Marylebone High Street and West End.
020 7641 3255
Churchill, Knightsbridge and Belgravia, St. James’s, Tachbrook,
Vincent Square and Warwick.
020 7641 4299
Abbey Road, Harrow Road, Little Venice, Maida Vale,
Queen’s Park, Regent’s Park and Westbourne.
Cycling
[email protected]
020 7641 3241
Data protection
westminster.gov.uk/dp
[email protected]
020 7641 3921
Freedom of Information
westminster.gov.uk/dp
[email protected]
020 7641 3921
Volunteering
volunteer.co.uk
020 7266 1992
24
westminster.gov.uk
Free swimming
for children and
young people
If you’re aged 19 or under, apply for a free
ActiveWestminster Passport for discounts at
your local council leisure centre.
Pick up an application form at your local
leisure centre or go online.
westminster.gov.uk/activepassport
Westminster City Council
Westminster City Hall
64 Victoria Street
London SW1E 6QP
westminster.gov.uk
020
7641 6000
westminster.gov.uk
westminster.gov.uk
25
Get a Westminster City Save card
for discounts on offers and attractions
in Westminster.
westminster.gov.uk/citysave
Offers and discounts for Westminster residents
Brit Movie walking tours
Two for one
0844 2471 007 or
britmovietours.com
Ripley’s Believe it or Not!
Piccadilly Circus
50% off for up to four people
020 3238 0022 or
ripleyslondon.com
Spa London at Marshall
Street Leisure Centre
35% off a three-hour relaxation
session at Spa London
020 7494 2208
26
westminster.gov.uk
St. Martin in the Fields,
Trafalgar Square
10% off afternoon tea at
Café in the Crypt
020 7766 1100 or smitf.org
£2 swimming at council
leisure centres
60% off swimming at five council pools
020 7641 2012 or
westminster.gov.uk/swimming
Westminster Walking Tours
£3 off (£5 instead of £8).
info@westminsterguides.
org.uk
Make the most of your council
and other local services with
weekly offers every Friday.
westminster.gov.uk/vfm
Sign up to receive an enewsletter
with previews of the latest offers
and discounts. Email vfmoffers@
westminster.gov.uk
A NEW OFFER EVERY FRIDAY
Zen China Restaurant,
County Hall –
20% off the a la carte menu.
Reservation required
020 7261 1196 or
zenchina.co.uk
£1 off entry to the Bupa
Westminster Mile
Sunday 26th May, St. James’s Park
Full price: £8 adults, £6 juniors
Categories for all ages and abilities
Sign up at
bupawestminster
mile.co.uk
Free use of X-Box,
PlayStation and
Nintendo Wii for
teenagers
Westminster Abbey
Free admission
Ongoing, Church Street Library,
69 Church Street, NW8 8EU
Ages 13-19
020 7222 5152 or
westminster-abbey.org
No need to book,
just turn up and play
westminster.gov.uk
27
There’s a new way to apply for benefits
Go online for a better way to
apply for benefits.
You can now claim your housing
benefit and council tax support from
anywhere you can access the internet.
westminster.gov.uk/benefits