Rushcliffe

• Passport

• Driving licence (including

provisional license)

• Blue badge

• Certain concessionary

travel cards

• Identity card with PASS

mark (Proof of Age Standards Scheme)

• Biometric Immigration

document

• Defence identity card

• Certain national identity

cards

For more information on which forms of photo ID will be accepted, visit electoralcommission.org.uk/ voterID or call their helpline on 0800 328 0280.

If voting by post voters do not require photo ID, with other verification checks made to complete this form of voting.

BELLRINGING APPEAL. An appeal has been made for more bellringers at East Leake, particularly with the obvious need to have the bells specially rung for the Coronation of King Charles on May 6.

In a statement from the parish church earlier this year, residents were being told they have notices the bells were not being rung as regularly as they were.

“This is because we no longer have the strength in our band, partly through illness but also, along with most other groups in the country, due to the effects of the prolonged shutdown for Covid.”

In regard to the Coronation, the bellringing team say they expect to be fully in commemorating this.

An open evening was held recently by the ringing team for anyone interested in joining them.

The East Leake band of ringers also provides the Sunday service ringing at Rempstone and Stanford on Soar churches.

TACKLING RURAL CRIME. A neighbourhood police team is showing its ongoing commitment to tackle rural crime by visiting farms to offer vital crime prevention advice. Officers from the Rushcliffe South Neighbourhood Policing Team have produced Rural Crime Packs full of advice and information to hand out on visits to farms across the community.

The visits, in which neighbourhood officers speak with farmers individually, are already under way and the team hopes to visit every farm in the area over coming months. The initiative could also be rolled out across other parts of the county. Police Constable Cai Kemish and Sergeant Brett Price, of the neighbourhood policing team, came up with the idea after a number of thefts from farms in the autumn of 2022.

PC Kemish said: “We are always looking at ways to prevent crime before it occurs and this seemed a perfect way to engage with some of the most isolated members of our community.

“I have friends and family in the agricultural sector so have an understanding of how crime can impact farming communities through this as well as through my job.

“The visits are an opportunity for us to talk through any crime concerns they may have and discuss the issues which matter most to them.

“I have designed the pack to include information from Nottinghamshire Police and partner and charity organisations within the rural sector, as well as contact information for the rural beat officer who covers their area.”

The packs provide details on how farmers can appropriately report incidents and what information to relay to police. PC Kemish said: “Once a substantial number of farms have been visited, the information gathered can be used to assist officers and staff in the force control room to further understand rural crime.

“We also hope the visits will highlight previously less reported issues and allow us to evaluate whether the initiative has improved the communication, engagement and confidence between rural communities and the police.

“We are hoping this initiative will be a success and the idea is easily replicable in other rural areas across Nottinghamshire.”

Inspector Rob Lawton, neighbourhood policing inspector for Rushcliffe, said: “This is a fantastic initiative which will really help us to reach out to rural communities and have a two-way conversation about the crime priorities which matter to them.

“I am very proud of my officers for developing this initiative and it is a brilliant example of how neighbourhood policing can make a difference. We will continue to use every tactic at our disposal to tackle all rural crime and protect those who live in our more isolated communities.”

Nottinghamshire Police is focusing on the work carried out by officers in the community this week as part of neighbourhood policing week of action last month.

COUNCIL TAX. Rushcliffe Borough Council’s council tax level will again be the lowest in Nottinghamshire and those in bands A-D could see no increase in council tax for the 12 months from April, subject to a Full Council vote.

The authority’s Cabinet were to discuss the proposals at its meeting last night (February 14), where it was to set out figures which means its council tax charge could remain in the lowest 25% in the country and again the lowest in Nottinghamshire.

In a move to further reflect the cost-of-living crisis, the Cabinet were also to discuss proposals to discount council tax bills for those in bands A-D which includes over 60% of properties in the borough.

The discount will be applied from April when new bills are issued for the new council tax year.

It means most residents will not pay the proposed below inflation increase of £3.02 or 2% on a band D property for the Rushcliffe part of the bill.

The discount could be introduced in addition to central government’s Council Tax Support Fund providing up to £25 reduction on council tax bills for those in receipt of Local Council Tax Support.

The council’s cabinet portfolio holder for finance and customer access Cllr Gordon Moore said they were to discuss the proposed budget mindful of the current cost of living issues and were proposing to remain the lowest council tax charge in Nottinghamshire and within the lowest 25% in the country.

“Should it be agreed at Cabinet and then at a Full Council meeting in March, it will mean no increase in council tax for those residents in Council Tax Bands A to D.

“We need to ensure the council’s services and resources are sufficient to meet both current and future needs in the face of the challenge of a tough financial climate.

“However we are doing so without impacting further on a majority of resident’s pockets, appreciating the financial pressures households are facing.

“We are committed to providing excellent value services for our residents whilst delivering major new infrastructure include our new Bingham Arena leisure centre and Enterprise Centre, Rushcliffe Oaks Crematorium and a commitment to our climate change reduction initiatives.”

The Full Council meeting on March 2 will discuss the Cabinet’s proposed outcome on the budget from the meeting last night.