Voting and elections

Queen's Baton Relay coming to the Malvern Hills District soon

Crowds will soon be filling the streets in town centres across the Malvern Hills District to catch a glimpse of the Queen's Baton.

The 16^th official Birmingham 2022 Queen's Baton Relay will be coming through the district on 22 July, a journey which brings together and celebrates communities across the Commonwealth during the build up to the Games.

Kicking off on Thursday 2 June, The Queen's Baton Relay is currently travelling the length and breadth of England, before culminating at the Opening Ceremony for Birmingham 2022 on 28 July 2022.

There will be plenty of opportunities to see the Baton on the afternoon of 22 July and members of the public are encouraged to get involved with the celebrations. Here is the Baton itinerary:

Upton upon Severn - Between 2.30pm-4pm there will be live music alongside Waterside to greet the Baton which is being brought over by the Severn Area Rescue Association from Upton Marina at approximately 3.13pm. The relay will continue through the town to Old Street.
Malvern Town Football Club – Right after the Baton goes up to the Worcestershire Beacon. You can see it up close as it arrives at HDanywhere Community Stadium at approximately 4.09pm. Between 3.45pm-4:30pm there will be football skills on the pitch from members of the club.
Great Malvern – Between 3.30pm-5pm, Church Street will be hosting street games run by Freedom Leisure, live music and performances to welcome the Baton into the town. The relay will start in Priory Park at approximately 4.19pm and finish at Belle Vue Island.

There will be road closures in place along Waterside and Lower High Street in Upton, and possible delays through the town centre as the Baton comes through.

There will also be a road closure in place on Church Street in Great Malvern and possible delays in the surrounding roads as the Baton comes through.

Cllr Daniel Walton, Portfolio Holder for Economic Development and Tourism at Malvern Hills District Council, said: "The day is fast approaching where we welcome the Queen's Baton Relay as part of a worldwide, historic event. We are excited to see communities come together to celebrate the arrival and showcase our beautiful district. We are asking the public to show their support by lining the streets to welcome the Baton and to join in with the activities on offer".

Visit www.malvernhills.gov.uk/queens-baton-relay for more information.

Final chance to have your say on a new political map for Malvern Hills District Council

New boundaries are being proposed for council wards in Malvern Hills District Council.

The Local Government Boundary Commission wants to hear what residents and local organisations think about the new proposals. A final 6-week consultation on the proposals will run until 8 August 2022. This follows two previous periods of consultation.

The Commission is the independent body that draws these boundaries. It is reviewing Malvern Hills to make sure councillors will represent about the same number of electors, and that ward arrangements will help the council work effectively.

The Commission has published proposals for changes to Malvern Hills. It is proposing that there should be 31 councillors, seven fewer than at present.

They should represent residents across 15 wards.

There will be four three-councillor wards, eight two-councillor and three single-councillor wards across the district.

Launching the consultation Professor Colin Mellors, Chair of the Commission, said: "We want people in Malvern Hills to help us.
"We have drawn up final proposals for new wards in Malvern Hills. We want to make sure these new electoral arrangements reflect communities. We also want them to be easy to understand and convenient for local people. Residents and local organisations have already helped us in refining our earlier proposals. Now we would like them to let us know whether they agree with our proposals before we take final decisions.

"It's easy to get involved. Go to our website. Or you can e-mail or write to us. Just tell us what you think and give us some details why you think that. It's really simple, so do get involved"

The Commission has a dedicated section on its website where people can see the detail of the proposals and comment on the names of wards, their boundaries and the number of councillors per ward. Visit the Local Government Boundary Commission website.

People can also give their views by e-mail at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., and by post:

Review Officer (Malvern Hills)
LGBCE
PO Box 133
Blyth
NE24 9FE

Proposed wards for Malvern Hills. Credit: contains Ordnance Survey data (c) Crown copyright and database rights 2022

Councillors at Malvern Hills District Council reject pay rise

Councillors at Malvern Hills District Council have rejected a proposal to increase their allowance.

The 1.75% increase to the basic allowance for 2022/23 was recommended by the Independent Remuneration Panel at a Council meeting on 21 June.

This was rejected by councillors who didn't want to accept the rise during the current cost of living crisis.

The basic allowance will stay at the current rate of £4,650.

The Independent Remuneration Panel, separate from the Council, has been appointed to carry out reviews of the allowances paid to councillors, as required by the Local Government Act 2000 and subsequent legislation.

The panel has stressed that its recommendations are based on thorough research and presented what it considers to be an appropriate set of allowances to reflect the roles carried out by the councillors.

Cllr Natalie McVey, Deputy Leader of Malvern Hills District Council, said: "It isn't appropriate for councillors to accept this pay-rise amidst the current economic climate. We are currently going through a cost-of-living crisis where people across the district are struggling, the increase is unjustifiable."

Small Change, Big Difference campaign to support rough sleepers in Malvern Hills

A new campaign has been launched to encourage residents to support people sleeping rough in a way that will have the most impact.

Malvern Hills District Council is working in partnership with organisations to help prevent people from sleeping rough in the first place.

As well as to make the long-term changes needed to get rough sleepers off the streets for good if they do find themselves in that situation.

The Small Change, Big Difference campaign aims to highlight this work and encourage people to donate to projects already working to improve the lives of those on the streets or at risk of ending up there.

It will also encourage people to identify where they see rough sleepers using the Street Link service, so the council's outreach team can find those people and begin supporting them.

Projects involved in the campaign include the Maggs Day Centre which is a charity that runs day centres in Worcester and Malvern.

They provide homeless people somewhere warm and dry to go as well as access to the basics we all take for granted – a safe place to be, toilets, showers, a hot drink and someone to talk to.

They also provide hot meals, clothing and mentoring and support for those ready to make changes to get off the streets and back into mainstream community life.

Steve Kemp, Team Leader at Maggs Day Centre Malvern, said: "We are here to help vulnerable people with a multitude of issues, including housing, benefits, drug and alcohol abuse, but also people who are simply lonely and want some company. There are also facilities at the centre such as a kitchen where you can have a hot breakfast, a shower, a washing machine and more. The Small Change, Big Difference campaign is a great way of helping people who are sleeping rough or are homelessness by donating funds to an organisation who will provide dedicated support".

Cllr Natalie McVey, Portfolio Holder for Housing and Health on Malvern Hills District Council, said: "As well as giving to projects directly, the other way people can make a massive difference is by letting us know when they see a rough sleeper. They can do this by using the Street Link app, website or phone service. Our outreach team will then go and find them and begin working to make the long-term changes needed to get them off the streets."

Visit www.malvernhills.gov.uk/small-change for more information on how to donate. To report a rough sleeper, visit www.streetlink.org.uk/

Money donated will go direct to the charities themselves. The council will not receive or take anything. It is hoped more projects will want to be involved with the campaign in the future.

NEWS: Council Leader gives residents more say with new face to face surgery

The Leader of Malvern Hills District Council has opened a new regular Leader's Surgery giving residents more opportunity to have their say.

Cllr Tom Wells, who has been in the position as Leader for just over a month, will be holding a regular surgery on the first Monday of each month, between 10am - 12pm at the Council House in Malvern, beginning on 1 July 2022.

'Talk to Tom' is an opportunity for residents in the Malvern Hills District to meet Cllr Tom Wells and chat face to face about any issues they believe the Council can assist them with.

Cllr Tom Wells, Leader of Malvern Hills District Council, said: "These sessions are a great way to keep in touch with residents to discuss any matter of importance to them, and to also see if there are any improvements that can be made within the district. It is important that we not only listen to our residents but deliver results where possible. I am really looking forward to meeting new people and helping in any way that I can."

Visit www.malvernhills.gov.uk/talktotom to make an appointment via an online form.

Date published: 13 June 2022