Go Green! with SMBC libraries offering eBooks, magazines and newspapers

Solihull libraries are giving people the chance to save money, reduce clutter and go ‘green’ this New Year with digital magazine downloads, eNewspapers and eBooks.

People can read full colour digital copies of over 2000 newspapers and magazines from over 100 countries on their computer, smartphone or tablet, wherever they are, free of charge using their library card.

There are over 50 top magazines to choose from ranging from New Scientist to Cosmopolitan, Auto Express to BBC Gardeners’ World and TV Times to Hello! People can keep them for as long as they like and they can be downloaded at www.solihull.gov.uk/emagazines.

Daily newspapers are available to read online including the Telegraph, Guardian, Independent and Daily Mail at www.solihull.gov.uk/enewspapers. Regional newspapers along with thousands of papers from around the world enable people to keep in touch with news overseas and practise their language skills.

For longer reads, people can borrow an eBook for up to three weeks. People can choose from novels, biographies, true stories, children’s books and more. With books expiring automatically there is no need to worry about fines. eBooks can be downloaded at www.solihull.gov.uk/ebooks.

As if that wasn’t enough, people can also access the Virtual Reference Library at www.solihull.gov.uk/247library which has great resources such as Theory Test Pro for learner drivers and the Oxford English Dictionary.

Cabinet Member for Stronger Communities and Partnerships, Councillor Karen Grinsell said: “Our eLibrary services give people the opportunity to access the news and their favourite titles at anytime of the day or night, no matter where they are. They are particularly useful for people who find it difficult to visit a library.

“It also offers people the chance to save money as our eMagazines and eNewspapers are free to download and read. All you need is your library card number. If you are not a member, then it’s easy to join, simply go into your local library or go online to www.solihull.gov.uk/Resident/Libraries/joinalibrary”

Staff are on hand to help people access eResources at any library. People can find their local library at www.solihull.gov.uk/Resident/Libraries/Find-a-library

What is Social and Affordable Housing

Here at the Parish Council we are often quizzed on the differences between Social and Affordable Housing and what they mean.  Hopefully the below will help clear up any questions:

AFFORDABLE HOUSING

Affordable housing is social rented, affordable rented and intermediate housing, provided to eligible households whose needs are not met by the market. Eligibility is determined with regard to local incomes and local house prices. From April 2012 affordable housing is defined in the National Planning Policy Framework (prior to this the definitions in Planning Policy Statement 3 apply).

Affordable housing should include provisions to remain at an affordable price for future eligible households or for the subsidy to be recycled for alternative affordable housing provision.

Affordable rented housing is let by local authorities or private registered providers of social housing to households who are eligible for social rented housing. Affordable Rent is subject to rent controls that require a rent of no more than 80 per cent of the local market rent (including service charges, where applicable).

SOCIAL HOUSING

Social rented housing is owned by local authorities and private registered providers (as defined in section 80 of the Housing and Regeneration Act 2008), for which guideline target rents are determined through the national rent regime. It may also be owned by other persons and provided under equivalent rental arrangements to the above, as agreed with the local authority or with the Homes and Communities Agency.

INTERMEDIATE HOUSING

Intermediate housing is homes for sale and rent provided at a cost above social rent, but below market levels subject to the criteria in the Affordable Housing definition above. These can include shared equity (shared ownership and equity loans), other low cost homes for sale and intermediate rent, but not affordable rented housing. Homes that do not meet the above definition of affordable housing, such as ‘low cost market’ housing, may not be considered as affordable housing for planning purposes.

Temporary Traffic Regulation Order affecting Hockley Heath

Please find attached details of a forthcoming Temporary Traffic Regulation Order for the times specified below:

Grange Road, Dorridge – 9:30am Monday 4th Jan to 3:30pm Sunday 31st Jan 2016.

If you would like to discuss any technical aspect of the Order, please contact the Council’s Highway Services Division on 0121 704 8004. or for more information on Solihull’s permanent, temporary or experimental Traffic Regulation Orders, please visit:

http://www.solihull.gov.uk/Resident/Parking-travel-roads/roadworks-and-restrictions/tros

Hockley Heath Gardening Club Congratulations!

Congratulations go to Hockley Heath Gardening Club.  They have received 4th prize in the Solihull Neighbourhoods in Bloom 2015 competition in the Best Village Category.

Carol Clark from HHGC received the certificate and presentation gardening trowels at the last meeting of the Environment Group.

Hockley Heath Gardening Club is manned entirely by volunteers and they keep the village looking great with planting displays in borders and planters along the Stratford Road.

If anyone would like to join the club, please email them at hhgardenclub@gmail.com

New Time for Parish Council Meetings – 7pm

Hockley Heath Parish Council meetings are open to all residents, interested parties and the press.  However, the number of people attending recent meetings has  dropped.  This matter was discussed in September and Members took the decision to change the start time of the meetings in order to make them more accessible.  As a result, with effect from the 15th October 2015, monthly meetings will now start at 7pm at the Pavilion, Hockley Heath Recreation Ground.