KINGSTON - BACK TRANSFORMING KINGSTON - Kingston Council
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Summer 2021
Look who’s
BACK
TRANSFORMING
KINGSTON
Kingston's
COVID-19
heroes
Your
KINGSTON
kingston.gov.uk
YOUR LOCAL PLAN / SPOTLIGHT ON THE COMMUNITY / SUPPORTING WILDLIFE / SUMMER EVENTS
The printing of this magazine is fully carbon YOUR KINGSTON SUMMER 2021
balanced in association with World Land Trust,
who offset CO2 emissions by protecting threatened
habitats that would otherwise have been lost,
avoiding the release of stored carbon. This also I became Leader just We are determined to plan for
the future to make our borough
Alongside this, we will continue to
invest in our parks and open spaces,
enables the regeneration of degraded habitats,
which gradually re-absorb atmospheric CO2. as the first lockdown an even better place to live work to reduce fly tipping and boost
took hold and I’m when COVID-19 is behind us. employment prospects across the
borough. More than 400 jobs have
When you have finished reading me,
please recycle me! immensely proud of already been set up through the
As we look forward, roll out of the National Kickstart
the council’s response there is so much for
Get in touch to the pandemic. the council to do in
Programme and we have launched
our new Work Match scheme with
our partners.
shaping a new vision
We started with a clear vision of what
COMMENTS needed to be done and we knew our
for Kingston. The past year has shown how much
AND FEEDBACK main focus was to protect residents we can achieve when we work
who were most vulnerable. We will do this through our Local together - the council is determined
Plan, reimagining the town centre to carry on working collaboratively
If you’d like to contribute to the magazine Our volunteer hub was called with all our partners - the health
and our high streets for a post-
or have any feedback, please contact: ‘Kingston Stronger Together’ and service, the voluntary sector, the
pandemic world, and by building
Welcome
communications@kingston.gov.uk could not have been more aptly business community and, most
homes for everyone through
named. our small sites programme and important of all, with residents.
DIFFERENT ambitious regeneration projects. In a hugely changed world, our
A
FORMATS Thank you to our partners in the community holds the key to us
voluntary sector and to everyone One of our biggest projects is building a stronger future. With
who volunteered to help our building a brand new leisure dwindling public funding and
If you require this document in a different communities through these centre on the Kingfisher site, with growing critical need, we should
format please contact us on 020 8547 5000. difficult times. decide together how we preserve
to our printed summer
swimming pools and other state-of-
the-art sports and leisure facilities. and enhance all the services we
While we’ve put our shoulder to It’s part of a plan to celebrate our cherish. It won’t be easy, but Kingston
SIGN UP TO OUR
edition of Your Kingston the wheel to tackle the impact of beautiful heritage buildings at is better placed than many to
E-NEWSLETTER succeed.
the pandemic over the past year, the library and the museum and
we have also been focusing on transform the whole space into
You can also sign up to our e-newsletter Kingston’s recovery. a leisure quarter. Councillor Caroline Kerr
at kingston.gov.uk/newsletter Leader of Kingston Council
Contents
LET’S
TALK
You can join our engagement portal to have
your say on local issues: kingstonletstalk.co.uk Have a look inside...
Summer 2021
CONNECTED Transforming Working Spotlight
KINGSTON Front Kingston
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together on the
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Look who’s
cover
KEEP
A FE
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KEEP
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A one-stop-shop for local activities and services S TO N H E A L
and a chance to connect with your community. TRANSFORMING 4-5 6-7 8
KINGSTON
Visit connectedkingston.uk Kingston's
11
COVID-19
heroes Bringing Your Working Summer
MORE
back the council towards events
INFORMATION
Your water vole a cleaner,
KINGSTON
kingston.gov.uk
greener
For more information about the council, to contact 9 10-11 12
us or to report an issue, visit kingston.gov.uk
YOUR LOCAL PLAN / SPOTLIGHT ON THE COMMUNITY / SUPPORTING WILDLIFE / SUMMER EVENTS Kingston
3
INVESTING IN KINGSTON’S FUTURE As part of making Kingston better YOUR KINGSTON SUMMER 2021
for everyone, we are committed to
delivering a brand-new, modern
community leisure, wellbeing and
cultural destination on the site of the SHAPING THE
Kingfisher Leisure Centre. This will be
accessible for everyone and offer a
FUTURE TOGETHER
range of top class facilities. Our vision for Kingston
2023 - 2041
TRANSFORMING
We will also be looking at the future
of our own accommodation, as
COVID-19 has highlighted that it’s
not being used to its full potential
KINGSTON
and the money we spend to
maintain it could be better used
on vital services. We are therefore
proposing the Guildhall site be
put up for regeneration with the
Guildhall itself being repurposed. Share your thoughts and ideas
by 30 September
We are pushing forward with www.kingston.gov.uk/localplan
Kingston is a unique Breathing new life into
Your suggestions emphasised the replacing the Kingfisher as soon as
possible, as we know many people
importance of creating a new leisure
and historic borough. Kingston town centre facility with a swimming pool. You are missing this valuable amenity.
We are ambitious We all know we have to build
also told us you’d like an attractive
destination with improved indoor and
Early designs will be shared with
you to get your feedback over the
These targets are not within our
control. We have no choice but to
Share your thoughts
to celebrate what’s a future for Kingston beyond outdoor public spaces and enhanced summer. For more information about deliver the set number of homes. We
shopping. High street retail will connections with Kingston Library the plans and how to comment on want to hear where you think these
special about it always be important but, as habits and Kingston Museum. them please visit kingstonletstalk. homes can be built.
Please get in touch with
your thoughts and feedback
and shape a future change, we need to find new ways co.uk/transform-kingston by Thursday 30 September
to attract people to the town. We We would like to work with you to 2021.
in which all our want to celebrate our rich heritage Many of you said Shaping the future help create our Local Plan, which will
residents can thrive. and promote our vibrant culture.
The council is encouraging everyone
you’d like more cafés, together: our vision run to 2041. It’s important we get it
right.
We are inviting the who lives, works and visits Kingston
restaurants and for Kingston WEBSITE
to reimagine the town centre and accessible, open areas
whole community, think about how we can embrace to gather with friends What should the borough
We started the process to shape
You can visit our website
a new plan in 2019 and we had
across the borough, opportunities to breathe new life and family.
look like in 20 years’ time?
over 1,500 responses - thank you kingston.gov.uk/localplan
into it. We want to build on our
to have their say in strengths and offer much more than The Local Plan is the key document
to everyone who took part. Your
views are being included in this
that future. traditional shopping to ensure the People were also keen on making which sets our vision and
objectives for future development
next stage. Since then, we’ve seen
EMAIL
town is well-placed to thrive in the more of the historic Hogsmill River, so much change - the London Plan
new social and economic climate. which runs through the Guildhall in the borough. It will define
has come into force and has set us You can email us at
complex. what’s important to have in our
a really challenging housing target, localplan@kingston.gov.uk
In the spring, we held a listening neighbourhoods, what kind of
COVID-19 has changed the way we
exercise to hear views from across homes we build and where they
all live our lives, the Government
the borough and from different should be, as well as where we need PHONE
has changed the planning rules and
communities on the future of medical centres, schools, parks,
Brexit has happened. As well as all of
the Kingfisher, Cattle Market community centres and much more.
this, we, as a council, have declared Or call our freephone call-back
and Guildhall sites. a climate emergency.
The London Plan, set by the Mayor service on 0800 008 6309.
More than 2,500 of you shared your of London, requires Kingston to
thoughts through our survey, and deliver 964 homes a year. This is our Local
further feedback was gathered Plan for our borough.
Have through a series of public webinars
your say We can all shape it.
and meetings. Thank you to
everyone who took part!
4 5
STON HEALT
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KI H
SPRING Over Between March and May 2020 more than
Y
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IN
&S
KEEP
A FE
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FE
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350 18k 21k 35k
IN
&
2020
KI
G
TH
Y
NG
S TO N H E A L
As the country moved
WORKING
into national lockdown, volunteers in gloves masks aprons
Kingston’s businesses, the KST Hub
charities and residents were delivered to care workers and other critical staff
TOGETHER
came together to look
after our most vulnerable.
Over Over About
to lead Kingston
through the pandemic 8k
calls, texts and letters
500
people became library
3100
households supported
were sent to council members as the service with food packages and
tenants offering support moved online prescriptions
Kingston Council has worked in collaboration
with partners to protect the most vulnerable
and lead our borough through the most
difficult times in living memory. As always,
our residents stepped up.
Spotlight on the Rangers WINTER
Our Neighbourhood Rangers have
been at the heart of our response,
2020-21
delivering food, personal protective
equipment (PPE), prescriptions and Our partners in the NHS worked tirelessly to begin SPRING
so much more to help our most
vulnerable residents. The Kingston
the biggest vaccine roll-out in their history, starting
with the most vulnerable. 2021
Stronger Together
(KST) Hub was set With cases rising in Kingston at
up to support those “The positive and open way in which
the time of print, it is especially
in need. partners in Kingston engaged and were important that we all get the vaccine
“Residents remember “One memory that prepared to ‘do what it takes’, from the when it is offered, and continue to
me mainly from all the stands out is of a family Leader of the Council to every one of the follow the latest guidance. Don’t let
volunteers, has been the highlight for me.” all of our sacrifices go to waste.
prescription and food who have been self-
deliveries, and often call isolating for over a
John Ryan - Borough Commander for
my name in the street. year. Although they Kingston upon Thames London Fire Brigade
The council really put couldn’t answer the For the latest guidance, visit
in a lot of hard work door to me, they always kingston.gov.uk/Covid19-
to help our vulnerable thanked me and left “I’m incredibly proud to have worked with so
many dedicated people from all our partner latest - for information about
residents, and it’s me a card, which I
been a privilege still have. It’s a very organisations, who truly are doing everything the vaccine, visit nhs.uk/
to be involved.” humbling experience.” they can to support those most vulnerable.” COVIDvaccine
Moon - Neighbourhood Ranger Jackie - Neighbourhood Ranger Jen Edwards - Acting Director of
Public Affairs, Kingston University
6 7
SUPPORTING PEOPLE TO THRIVE & PROSPER These included: Our overall budget of £145.7m MAKING KINGSTON BETTER TOGETHER
will concentrate on supporting
• Kingston Food HUB the most vulnerable and what
(meals on wheels) matters to communities. 55% will demand and offset reduced funding
be spent on Adult Social Care and from the Government. The Kingston
• Kingston Stronger Children’s Services. In February, we element of the increase is equivalent
Together Hub increased council tax by 1.99%, with to approximately £1.55 a week extra
an additional 3% to support Adult for a B and D household.
• Social Care Services.
SPOTLIGHT YOUR
The BRITE Box project
(healthy meal kits for families) Over the last ten years we have
The total increase in council tax for saved £117m with your help,
COUNCIL
2021-22 of 4.99% is to meet growing but we need to go further.
ON THE
Achieving for Children were key
partners in working with schools
and arranging deliveries.
What your money
COMMUNITY
Adult Social Care and Health - £48.7m
What are you We couldn’t do is spent on
Children’s Services - £31.5m
most proud of?
it without you £50m Waste and Street Cleaning - £12.3m
How we adapted, supporting those Leisure Facilities Management - £6.4m
in need, despite restrictions. Our
foundations are in choirs and Government £40m
Parks and Green Spaces - £2m
We value working supporting women. Like lots of charities, funding for
£30m
in partnership we had to work out how to still do this
while shutting our in-person services. Kingston Council
with charities and has been reduced £20m
community interest Delivering healthy meals to vulnerable/
isolated people, and helping with food over several years.
groups, bringing insecurity generally were significant We received £66m £10m
areas that we felt we could make a
people together difference. Our projects have grown of general funding
even throughout the from there. from central
pandemic. Here we What initiatives are you Government in Your council tax will help to pay for services like these:
speak to Sarah from running at the moment? 2010. This has
Voices of Hope. been cut year on LIBRARIES EMPLOYMENT
We run choirs for all ages and
What does Voices abilities and the Sisterhood Sanctuary, year and we now
open to all women but especially those We’re spending £1.8m on improving With jobless numbers expected to rise
of Hope do? who’ve been through health challenges, receive £0. This and maintaining our library services. by 3,800, we’re focusing on boosting
Hello Sarah makes us very
domestic violence, assault, or abuse. In order to stay in touch with our employment across Kingston. We’ve
We’re a young charity (established
residents we’ve created a digital paid out almost £49m in COVID support
2019) with a huge vision. Our aim
We’ve continued the BRITE Box Project dependent on offer including the country’s first live grants to nearly 9,000 businesses, with an
is to help build hope and inspire
change within our community.
and the Good Food Co-Op, which your council tax to streamed rhyme time, a virtual job additional £1.6m going to over 350 local
makes healthy food (fresh fruit and veg club, supporting schools with home firms. We’ve also launched our Work Match
We run projects to improve health.
boxes) accessible and affordable. We fund vital services. learning and much more. scheme, which links people with jobs, and
recently launched the Active Breathing set up more than 400 jobs through the
How do you work Course (ABC), a six week free course National Kickstart Programme.
For more information about this SOCIAL CARE
with the council? helping restore lung function and
year’s budget, visit kingston. FOR ALL
capacity through breathing and singing
gov.uk/council-tax-budget PARKS AND
We’ve really appreciated working exercises. We’ve run six courses helping
with Kingston Council throughout those suffering long COVID, long term GREEN SPACES
55% (£79.9m) of our budget will be
the pandemic. We’ve collaborated respiratory issues, or anxiety/fatigue. spent on social care. Our Adult Social
on a number of initiatives to ensure Care Services have been rated in We’re spending £2m on protecting and
that residents in need have access To get involved, become a the top 10% of local authorities for enhancing our parks and green spaces.
to healthy food. volunteer, donate or simply performance by the Impower INDEX. We have invested £1.3m into revitalising
£
find out more visit: voh.org.uk Alongside our Children’s Services, this playgrounds across the borough through
£ £
places us in the top 3% of councils our Community Parks Programme.
nationally for social care.
8 9CLEANER, GREENER KINGSTON What effect does fly tipping
have on the borough?
It has a negative impact on residents
and the environment. Dealing with fly
tipping diverts council resources from
supporting essential services.
WORKING TOWARDS
What is the council
Water vole doing to tackle fly tipping?
A CLEANER, GREENER
We’re working with our waste
contractor Veolia to identify and target
fly tipping hotspots by educating
KINGSTON
Bringing back the water vole residents and businesses about how
Fly tipping - the facts
and when to dispose of their rubbish
We are thrilled to say that water responsibly and legally. Where there
voles will be returning to the What is a fly tip? is strong evidence of fly tipping and
Hogsmill in Spring 2022. it is in the public interest to do so, the
Waste or items that have council will take firm action against
The project, led by the community been dumped illegally. those responsible.
We are embracing a greener future across the Supporting wildlife and coordinated by Citizen Zoo
(an organisation working to What are the consequences
borough from working to tackle fly tipping to restore nature and habitats) will of fly tipping? How can you help?
Introducing WildWays
boosting the borough’s rich biodiversity and see the return of the UK’s fastest
declining mammal. Thirty years It is a criminal offence and can • Report a fly tip
encouraging wildlife to thrive. To help boost local biodiversity
ago, the Hogsmill was teeming mean a £400 fixed penalty kingston.gov.uk/fly_tipping
and introduce some much needed
with this charismatic little rodent, notice, a fine of up to £50,000 or
colour to our highways, we are
now trialling a new approach
but unfortunately water voles a 12 month prison sentence if • Only put your bins out on
became extinct in Kingston convicted in a Magistrates Court. collection day and where they
to managing our roadside grass
in 2017. However, a group of are meant to go - kingston.gov.
verges.
dedicated volunteers have Examples of fly tipped uk/when-is-my-collection
been working tirelessly with our material:
Eight ‘WildWays’ sites have been
introduced across the borough
Biodiversity Officer, Elliott Newton • If you have rubbish that won’t
and, over time, rich wildflower
and the South East River Trust to • Materials left from home fit in your bin, book a trip to
improve the habitat and bring improvement, such as the Household Reuse and
meadows will form within
these important mammals back. furniture, mattresses, rubble Recycling Centre kingston.gov.
them, providing a source
and wooden planks. uk/recyclingcentre or a bulky
of forage for local butterflies
waste collection kingston.gov.uk/
and bumblebees. None of these projects • Black sacks, carrier bags Bulkywastecollections
would be possible if it of rubbish and cardboard
To find out more •
wasn’t for the amazing packaging left in the wrong Don’t leave items outside
Elliot Newton - Biodiversity Officer about the process place or left out on the charity shops.
involved and to commitment of
wrong day.
have your say voluntary groups
• Only donate items to charity
on the trials visit: and residents. • Items left outside charity shops when they are open
kingstonletstalk. shops. and can accept them.
co.uk/wildways
Thank you to everyone who
is working so hard to enhance
our local biodiversity and make
Kingston an even more wonderful
place to live and work.
To keep up to date with what
the council is doing to boost
biodiversity, please follow
our Instagram
@kingston_council
10 11CELEBRATING KINGSTON
SUMMER
EVENTS
Come and join in International Youth
the Summer of Fun! Arts Festival
Events will take place on the grass Organised by Creative Youth, the
area next to the Museum on International Youth Arts Festival
Wheatfield Way where the unique will be returning this summer
Umbrella Tree can be found. with live performances from 2-11
July. Find the full programme at:
Themed events will be: iyafestival.org.uk/iyaf-2021
22-23 July: Environment Achieving for Children
29-30 July: Environment Get ready for Wild
World Heroes - Summer Take a look at all the events taking
5-6 August: Storytelling place for children, young people
Reading Challenge for
and families over the summer
12-13 August: Wellbeing children
holidays by visiting
19-20 August: Heritage - kr.afcinfo.org.uk/events
Launching on 10 July and open to
Movement
all children aged 4-12, the Summer
26-27 August: Heritage - Reading Challenge has teamed up Planning to hold your
The Natural World with WWF to create a nature theme own event?
that will inspire you to stand up for
Plans may change due to COVID-19 the planet. Wild World Heroes will You can find guidance on how to
guidelines - please keep an eye feature amazing books, awesome hold an event in Kingston on our
open for posters, updates on the rewards and plenty of ideas for website. This includes how we
council website and social media taking care of our environment. can bring people together safely
@kinglibheritage #LetsDoKingston Sign up at your local library or at following COVID-19 guidance. For
for current information. summerreadingchallenge.org.uk more information visit kingston.
gov.uk/host-event-kingston
kingston_council If you have difficulty reading this
document because of a disability
RBKingston
or because English is not your first
@RBKingstonCouncil language, we can help you. Please
call our helpline on 020 8547 5000
kingston.gov.uk or ask someone to call on your behalf.You can also read
