Open Committee Meeting on Monday, 4th July in the Leatherhead Institute 7.30pm – 9.00pm

Agenda

1. Apologies for absence

2. Notice of Matters for Any Other Business

3. Minutes of Committee Meeting on 6th June

4. Matters Arising,from the minutes which are not on the agenda below.

5. Correspondence

6. Localism

7. Reports from sub-committees and from other meetings.
   - Membership
   - Environment
   - Planning
   - Highways
   - Other meetings

8. Any Other Business (as agreed under Item 2)

Olympic Road Race - update

The County Council have planned some drop-in sessions to provide residents and businesses with an opportunity to ask questions and find out more about the Olympic Cycle Road Race that is coming to Mole Valley on the 28th and 29th July 2012 and more immediately about the test event known as the London-Surrey Cycle Classic which will take place on Sunday 14th August 2011.

The first of these sessions is planned for next week so I thought I would give you all the 'heads up'. The actual schedule is as follows:

23 June 3pm to 8pm             Mickleham Village Hall

28 June 2pm to 8pm             Headley Village Hall

30 June 3pm to 9pm             Box Hill Village Hall

12 July 3pm to 8pm              Dorking Halls, Masonic Room

29 July 3pm to 8pm              Park House, Leatherhead

I understand from County that a representative from them will attend along with a member of the Surrey Highways team. Someone from the London 2012 Organising Committee for the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) will also attend and I, or one of my team, will be there too.

It is expected that a press release will go out about this on Monday but I felt it important to notify you before the weekend so you could have the chance to let as many of your residents know as you can.

Whilst writing to you, I can also let you know that a cycling organisation has set up a website called 'ridetheroute.com'. They are encouraging cyclists to sign up to ride the Olympic cycle route on 7th August 2011. At present I don't know any more about this but we are investigating. I also understand that Surrey Police are aware of this event.

Kind regards

Louise

Louise Bircher
Customer Service and Communications Manager
Mole Valley District Council
Tel: 01306 879155

Surrey Waste Partnership: Get composting

Spring into composting

Whether you’re a keen gardener or just want to choose the greenest, most natural way to deal with your food and garden waste, composting is the perfect solution.

Grass cuttings, dried leaves, twigs and vegetable peelings are just some of the ingredients that can go into a compost bin or heap to make peat-free compost – ideal to use in potting or planting in your garden or allotment.

Getting started is easy. All you need is a compost bin or a small space in the garden to create a heap. Then just follow our easy guide to creating your own supply of natural food for your garden.

Get composting today – for a greener tomorrow.

Why compost?

Compost is a natural, nutrient-rich food product for your garden. It will help improve soil structure, maintain moisture levels, and keep your soil's PH balance in check while helping to suppress plant disease. It will have everything your plants need including nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium and will help buffer soils that are very acidic or alkaline. Compost improves your soil's condition and your plants and flowers will love it!

Because home-made compost is peat-free, it’s good for the environment outside your garden too. It reduces the need to buy peat products, which have been commercially sourced and extracted from peat bogs, resulting in the release of stored carbon from the bogs.

A step-by-step guide

1.Find the right site. Site your bin or heap in the garden on bare soil. If space is limited, put your bin on concrete, tarmac or patio slabs; but make sure there’s a layer of soil or existing compost on the bottom so garden creatures can colonise.
2. Add the right ingredients. Fill your kitchen caddy with the right ingredients such as tea bags, taking care not to compost cooked food, meat or fish.
3. Fill it up. Empty your kitchen caddy and your garden waste into your bin or heap. A 50/50 mix of greens and browns is the perfect recipe for good compost.
4. After 9-12 months. The ingredients you have put in your bin or heap should have turned into a dark brown, earthy smelling material at the bottom of the bin, which can be dug out, with the newer material being left. But don’t worry if your compost looks a little lumpy with twigs and bits of eggshells – this is perfectly normal. Simply sift out any bits and return them to your bin or heap.
5. Ready! Once your compost resembles thick, moist soil and smells very earthy, it’s ready to use.
6. Collect the compost. Instructions will be delivered with your bin. But all you have to do is lift the bin slightly or open the hatch at the bottom and scoop out the fresh compost with a garden fork or spade. If you have built your own, simply rake out the ready compost.
7. Use it. And watch your garden bloom. Compost can be used for all your planting needs – vegetable plants for allotments; general potting (if mixed with something like ordinary soil); flowerbeds and enriching new borders by mixing in existing soil; or around trees by spreading a layer around the roots. Or use it as mulch material, mix with a layer of soil, and help prevent plant diseases.

Get started

To find out more about how to build yourself a compost heap, or to buy a bin, starting from only £14.00 visit www.surreywastepartnership.org.uk or call 0844 571 4444. You’ll also find lots of other helpful tips and information there too.

Olympic Torchbearers - nominations open

Dear All

 

You may have seen on the news that the London 2012 Organising Committee (LOCOG) are looking for 8000 truly inspirational people to be Olympic Torch bearers. The Olympics are of course particularly significant for Mole Valley as we have the honour of hosting a large part of the Cycle Road Race  on 28th and 29th July 2012 and we think it would be a great opportunity if some of the torch bearers were from Mole Valley.

 

The purpose of this email is to let you know that you will shortly receive a letter or email from our Chief Executive encouraging you and your residents to make a nomination for the Torch relay. I wanted to let you know today that this will be forthcoming as the closing date is, unfortunately, on the 29th June - so there isn't much time.

 

We do hope that you will be able to encourage your residents to make a nomination. I realise that time is against us, but nonetheless, this is a great opportunity and one we wanted to make sure you knew about. For your information, the website is www.london2012.com/olympic-torch-relay  but Darren's letter will explain more.

 

Kind regards

 

Louise

 

Louise Bircher
Customer Service and Communications Manager
Mole Valley District Council
Tel: 01306 879155
www.molevalley.gov.uk