Different ways to vote at the local election
 On Thursday 5 May, residents in the Bradford District will go to the polls to have their say on who represents them at a local level.
If you are not able to vote at the polling station on Thursday, 5 May, you can apply to vote by post or proxy (someone else to vote on your behalf). If you already have a postal or proxy vote in place, you do not need to reapply.
The deadline for applying for a postal vote is 5pm on Tuesday, 19 April.
The deadline to apply for a proxy vote is 5pm on Tuesday, 26 April.
Could you be missing out on 15 hours of free childcare for your two-year-old?
We are set to remind parents of eligible children aged two that they can access 15 hours of free child care and how they can register for the summer term.
The Terrific Twos campaign, which will launch on Monday 18 April, raises awareness of the 15 hours of free childcare available to families of two-year-old children who qualify. It also highlights the many benefits to children of accessing early education at a nursery or with a childminder.
You can now apply for Clean Air Zone exemptions
 We have now launched the most extensive exemptions programme of any CAZ authority in the UK to help Bradford householders, businesses and organisations adjust to the Clean Air Zone. The process to apply for an exemption is now open for Bradford District residents and businesses with non-compliant vehicles and certain businesses based outside the District. Getting an exemption means that they will not have to pay to drive in the Bradford Clean Air Zone.
The Government is introducing Clean Air Zones across England to improve air quality and the health of people who live and work there. There will be a daily charge to drive into the zone for vehicles that do not meet the required emissions standards. The Government has not set a start date for the Clean Air Zone in the Bradford District but it will be announced soon. Key points to remember are:
- You will never be charged to drive a passenger car or motorbike in the Bradford Clean Air Zone. This means that you do not need to take any action or apply for an exemption and it’s the same for people who live outside the Bradford District. They will not be charged for passenger cars or motorbikes either.
- Households in the Bradford District can apply for an exemption if they own a non-compliant commercial type vehicle for private use, such as a van or a lorry. This is in addition to campervans, motorhomes and horseboxes which are also exempt.
- Bradford businesses are eligible for up to 3 vehicles being exempt so most businesses, as long as they apply, won’t have to pay. Businesses with up to 250 employees can apply including Small & Medium Enterprise (SMEs) self-employed, sole-traders, and registered organisations.
- There are also “sunset” exemption periods for businesses that have upgraded vehicles on order but are not yet delivered. They won’t have to pay charges on the old vehicle whilst they are waiting for the new one to arrive.
Sign up to get a £7 discount on garden waste collections
 You can now sign up to getting your garden waste collected. The service will run from 1 June, 2022 to 31 May, 2023 which includes 12 collections, one every four weeks.
If you sign up and pay by 31 May, you will get a discounted price of just £37 for 12 collections, the same price as last year. From 1 June, the price to sign up will be £44.
If one bin isn't enough, you can get extra bins emptied for just £18.50 each if you pay before 31 May. From 1 June, the full price for each extra bin will be £22
After you sign up
Once we've received your payment we will send you a licence letter and bin sticker to confirm you have paid for the service. It may take up to 4 weeks to arrive. Please put the sticker on the lid of your brown bin so that it is clearly visible for the crews. Any bins put out without a valid bin sticker will not be emptied.
If you would like further information about garden waste collections visit our website.
Supporting those who are pregnant to access stop smoking services in the Bradford district
 Are you willing to take part in a short survey to help identify how we can support those who are pregnant in Bradford to access stop smoking services?
Anyone who is pregnant, currently smokes, lives in the Bradford District and is aged 18 or over can take part in the survey. It is anonymous and you can take part by visiting the survey page. It will take about 10 minutes to complete.
This research forms part of a Professional Doctorate in Health Psychology and has been reviewed by, and received ethics clearance through, the Liverpool John Moores University Research Ethics Committee.
Please email N.J.Knowles@2019.ljmu.ac.uk for further information on the study.
Valley Parade Memorial Tournament
 Our Valley Parade Memorial Football Tournament takes place this weekend at Marley Activities and Coaching Centre in Keighley.
The tournament has been held since 1986 to commemorate the 56 people who lost their lives in the fire disaster at Bradford City’s Valley Parade ground during a match with Lincoln City FC on 11 May, 1985.
Organised by our Community Sports Development Unit and supported by the Prison Officers’ Association, academy teams from Bradford City AFC and Lincoln City FC will play games against a host of junior clubs from across the district. Saturday 16 April sees the Under-12s teams play their games and on Sunday 17 April it’s the turn of the Under-14s teams.
The first games on both mornings kick off at 9am, preceded by a minute’s silence in honour of those affected by the tragedy. The final on both days is held at 2.30pm followed by presentation of individual medals to every player. More information here.
Inspirational Bradford sportswoman to be a Batonbearer for the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games
 Inspirational Bradford sportswoman Harleen Kaur, has been chosen to be one of the Batonbearers for the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.
The Birmingham 2022 Commonweath Games has today released the names of nine of the thousands of inspirational people from communities across England who will take on the role of Batonbearer in the Queen’s Baton Relay this summer.
Batonbearers have been selected in all nine regions of England and embody the diversity in communities across the country. From local heroes to inspirational school children, the Batonbearers come from all walks of life, backgrounds and vary in age - with children as young as 12 taking part - and each take on issues that matter most to them.
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