February 2024

Council leader announces additional £5m boost to Wandsworth’s Cost of Living support fund  

• Support funding rises from £10m to £15m.
• London’s most generous scheme.
• Helping residents through country’s economic downturn.

Published: 29 Feb 24

Work Match celebrates getting its 2,500th resident into a job

• Council’s free job brokerage finds work for its 2,500th resident.
• Thousands of people have received job offers, apprenticeships and training since 2013.
• Local firms get help to employ Wandsworth people.

Published: 28 Feb 24

Free swimming lessons for children on free school meals

Free swimming lessons will be offered to children on free school meals from next month (April 2024), as part of the council’s work to ensure all our residents can access everything Wandsworth has to offer. 

Published: 27 Feb 24

Wandsworth London Borough of Culture bid to open up access and support wellbeing

Wandsworth’s bid to become London Borough of Culture 2025 will improve access to the arts and support better health and wellbeing in the borough.

Published: 27 Feb 24

Wandsworth Council freezes Council Tax while Wimbledon and Putney Commons Conservators propose 25% rise in commons levy despite squeeze on household budgets

• Wandsworth Council has announced a Council Tax freeze, meaning residents will continue to pay the lowest bills in the country.
• Council leader Simon Hogg brands 25 per cent tax increase plan as “totally unacceptable”.
• Proposed 25 per cent rise plus inflation would hit thousands of households in west of the borough, including Roehampton, whilst pressure on household budgets is still high.

Published: 26 Feb 24

How to access affordable housing

The council’s Home Ownership team will be holding an online web chat on February 29th with information and advice on schemes to specifically help Wandsworth council tenants access affordable housing.

Published: 23 Feb 24

Royal visit to celebrate Wandsworth Town charity shop’s 10-year milestone

Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal visited the borough this week to help a Wandsworth charity shop celebrate its tenth anniversary.

Published: 23 Feb 24

Clamp down on dog mess offenders

The council is clamping down on dog mess offenders following an increase in reports of dog owners failing to clear up after their pets.

Published: 23 Feb 24

Battersea road safety upgrade to tackle collision hotspot for pedestrians and cyclists

• Queenstown Road investment given green light.  
• Pedestrians and cyclists to benefit from safer travel route.  
• Road improvements as part of borough's decade of renewal.  

Published: 23 Feb 24

Consultation soon on plans for 13 new Quiet Cycling Routes across Wandsworth

Councillors have agreed to stage a detailed public consultation on proposals for a network of safer and quieter cycling routes that can be used by residents of all ages and riding skills.

Published: 22 Feb 24

Mega Skip Day this Saturday

The next Mega Skip Day will be this Saturday (February 24), with skips in seven locations. 

Published: 22 Feb 24

Ignite your business growth with new council support programme

• Free business support from Wandsworth Council. 
• Making Wandsworth a fairer place to start and grow a business. 
• Help for local companies to become more sustainable. 

Published: 20 Feb 24

Final bricks laid for 57 new homes as part of council’s pioneering 1,000 Homes for Wandsworth programme

The final bricks have been laid on Battersea’s Patmore estate - part of the next wave of homes under the council’s pioneering ‘Homes for Wandsworth’ initiative.

Published: 20 Feb 24

Council Tax freeze for Wandsworth means lowest Council Tax in the country

• Residents to pay the lowest Council Tax in the country. 
• Cost of Living support scheme most generous in London. 
• Council Tax freeze, decade of renewal for all.  

Published: 19 Feb 24

Taking proactive steps to improve standards in council homes

• New laws have come into effect to strengthen how social housing is regulated, ensure standards are met and actions are taken against landlords where these are not.
• The council is already taking proactive steps to improve the quality of council homes in the borough.
• These steps include the expansion of our specialist cleaning team to deal with more cases of damp and mould.

Published: 16 Feb 24

Mega Skip Day coming soon

The next Mega Skip Day will be Saturday February 24th, with skips in seven locations.

Published: 16 Feb 24

Final few days to have your say on cycle contraflow proposals

Residents living in five one-way streets are being reminded that a consultation on introducing cycle contraflows will come to an end on Monday.

Published: 16 Feb 24

New zebra crossings set to deliver safer walking routes to two more local schools

• Councillors set to approve safer routes to and from school gates.
• Action responds to appeals from parents, teachers and local residents.
• Safer walking and cycling routes at heart of borough’s Future Streets strategy.

Published: 16 Feb 24

Council grant to ensure Wandsworth foundation can plan for long term support of local heroes

•    Black Heroes Foundation (BHF) use the arts to tell the stories of Black Heroes. 
•    £10,000 grant will help ensure their future sustainability.
•    This year’s award, made as Wandsworth bids to become London Borough of Culture in 2025

Published: 15 Feb 24

Decade of renewal plan for Wandsworth roads and pavements

A 10-year programme of improvements will tackle the deteriorating condition of Wandsworth’s roads and pavements, under new proposals from the council’s transport cabinet member.

Published: 09 Feb 24

Schools event marks National Apprenticeship Week

·       Young people find out about apprenticeships at Wandsworth Council

·       Local school students meet current apprentices and council staff

·       Part of a package of apprentice support offered by the council

Published: 09 Feb 24

Council Leaders across southern England continue campaign on children’s cancer care

Wandsworth council leader Simon Hogg, and six other council leaders from across southern England, have written a joint letter to the Secretary of State for Health on children’s cancer services.

Published: 09 Feb 24

More eligible for free gym and swim scheme 

Residents are reminded that more people are now eligible for free gym and swimming sessions at council leisure and sports centres. 

Published: 08 Feb 24

Wandsworth team presents case to be London Borough of Culture 2025

• Expert panel today considers Wandsworth bid to become The Mayor of London's London Borough of Culture 2025.
• Bid reinforces drive to become a fairer, more compassionate borough.
• Access to arts and culture to be the same for people from all walks of life. 

Published: 08 Feb 24

Council leader pledges to act on local concerns at Battersea coffee morning

Local people from across Battersea packed out a community hall to get council advice and speak to the Leader of Wandsworth Council at the latest in a series of open coffee mornings around the borough.

Published: 08 Feb 24

Ambitious climate action plan proposes new grants to make the borough more sustainable 

• Updated Wandsworth climate change action plan reaffirms pledge to become net zero borough by 2043 .
• Extensive work carried out during 2023 to reduce emissions and new priorities set for 2024.
• New microgrants scheme set up to enable the community to join the climate fight.

Published: 07 Feb 24

Get your free NHS Health Check at a pharmacy 

Wandsworth residents can now get a quick, free health MOT at one of five borough pharmacies, as well as GP surgeries.

Published: 06 Feb 24

Celebrate Wandsworth’s outstanding businesswomen

Nominations are open for the 2024 Wandsworth Women’s Enterprise Awards.

Published: 06 Feb 24

Wandsworth Town Library celebrates beating heart of Wandsworth

• Official opening of Wandsworth Town Library breathes life into community
• Council investment continues into libraries to ensure public facilities remain open
• Libraries are a free place for people to go to feel safe, warm, and connected

Published: 02 Feb 24

Still time for local people to help shape borough’s updated licensing policy 

Local people still have time to contribute to the borough’s review of its licensing policy and help shape the council's policy on licence applications for Wandsworth’s pubs, bars, nightclubs, off-licences, members clubs and late-night refreshment takeaways.

Published: 01 Feb 24