Clean for The Queen Throughout February and early March the Vale of White Horse District Council is encouraging everybody to get together with their communities and make sure the neighbourhood is sparkling clean ahead of the Queen’s 90th birthday. The whole country is having a big clear-up on the weekend of 4 – 6 March. If you’re interested in setting up your own litter picking group, register on the Clean for the Queen website and email [email protected]. Biffa will contact you to give you some Clean for the Queen hi-vis gear, sacks and litter-pickers and some tips on how to make your clean up a success. Waste crews are also carrying out some extra clean-ups across the district – if there’s a particular ‘grot spot’ in your area that you think could do with a bit of a polish, give them a call on 03000 610610 or email [email protected], and you could be in with a chance of having your very own spring clean. Sign up for an online council tax account today! People who sign up to view their council tax bills online will have all the information they need in one convenient place and help to cut down on unnecessary printing and postage costs. Next month Vale of White Horse District Councils will send out bills to council tax payers. However, sending bills out by mail costs thousands in printing and postage costs and also takes up significant time. To help reduce this cost, and make it more convenient for people who like to keep a copy of their bills, the councils are urging people to register for a secure online council tax account. People who sign up for an online account can view their account details, make payments, view their billing history, set up direct debits and notify the council easily of any changes in circumstance. The service also has additional resources for landlords, business rate payers and housing benefit recipients. Once you have registered, each time a new e-bill is ready to be viewed on our website you will be sent a short email alert. To register to view your council tax details online please visit www.whitehorsedc.gov.uk/counciltax. Local Plan Examination due to conclude shortly Throughout February the Vale's Local Plan Examination in Public has been continuing at the Beacon in Wantage. The formal sessions are due to finish by 19th February, however it is still expected to be some weeks before the Inspector publishes his report. It is expected that the Council will have to consult on some modifications to the Local Plan, but the scale and timescale of any changes won't be known until the Inspector has given his verdict. Vale Council tax frozen for another year The District Council element of your council tax bill is to be frozen for yet another year at just £116.69 for a Band D property. Services are also being improved with scheme to enhance street cleaning, funding for community flood groups and celebrations of HM The Queen's 90th Birthday later this year. The Council will consider and vote on the detailed budget proposals on Wednesday 17th February. In the run up to the full council meeting the budget received cross party support for the council's Scrutiny committee. Monster Race – I still need your support Thank you to the many people who have already sponsored me for the Monster Race (a 5k obstacle race in aid of Special Effect) on 16th April. I'm more than half way to my initial target and appreciate any support you can give. Please sponsor me online at www.justgiving.com/MatthewBarberMonsterRace or Simply text MONS65 £5 / £10 to 70070 to sponsor me today.