Council Tax energy rebate payments due to start in Charnwood
Council tax rebates to help with energy bills have started to be paid to Charnwood residents who pay by Direct Debit.
The Government announced a £150 council tax rebate payment to households in council tax bands A-D to help with rising energy bills.
For residents who do not pay their council tax by Direct Debit, the household will be issued with a single use Post Office voucher. This voucher can be taken to any post office and redeemed for the £150 cash payment.
Vouchers will be emailed if the customer has selected bills by email, otherwise the voucher will be sent out by post.
It is anticipated that the vouchers will be issued from May 18, 2022 onwards.
LGiU - Local Elections 2022 – Results
The LGiU have been busy analysing local election results from last week. Click here to read more on elections. In addition, they have created a webpage for resources for new councillors and while many Charnwood Borough Councillors are experienced, there is always something new to learn! Read more here.
ADSO – Remote Meetings Update
ADSO and LLG have just published a joint statement on remote meetings here.
ADSO are keeping the pressure up on Government to legislate to give Councils the choice of how to run their meetings. They are also working with communities to spread the word and encouraging them to lobby their local councillors and MPs.
LGA – Queen’s Speech
New energy legislation to support the UK’s transition to a low-carbon economy will be included in the Queen's Speech, it is reported. It is expected to consist of about 20 bills, including measures on levelling-up, financial services, and economic crime.
It is anticipated that new legislation for E-scooters in England could also be introduced.
LGA - Second Homes Council Tax Plan
Councils in England will be able to double council tax on unoccupied second homes to boost funding for local services, under plans to be confirmed in the Queen’s Speech this week. English councils will be given powers to levy a premium of up to 100 per cent on council tax bills for second homes that are furnished but not occupied as a sole or main residence. They will also be able to discourage owners from leaving other properties vacant for long periods by doubling the standard council tax rate after just one year.
Find the official UK government website for data and insights on coronavirus (COVID19) including data on testing, cases and vaccinations, with case information by region and local authorities here
Read EMC Policy Brief 6 May 2022
Helen’s Hike for Macmillan Cancer Support
The Council’s organisational Development Manager Helen Gretton is raising funds for Macmillan Cancer Support by taking on the 26-mile Norfolk Coast Mighty Hike on Saturday May 14. The hike starts at the seaside town of Cromer and finishes at the superb Holkham Hall estate.
If you would like to donate, you can do so via Helen’s JustGiving page
Free Webinars for loneliness for MHAW
This year, the focus of Mental Health Awareness Week 2022 (running from May 9-15) is loneliness.
Green Cross Training are offering FREE webinar sessions hosted by their learning and development manager for health and wellbeing, Ross Abbott. As well as nurturing positive change for mental health in businesses, Ross is also an active facilitator for programmes including MHFA England and Livingworks. He has taken the GCT Wellbeing offering to over 18 countries and our webinars have reached over 8,500 people.
The sessions will run on Monday 9, Tuesday 10 and Wednesday 11 May from 12:30pm - 1:30pm. If you would like to attend then please follow the link below to register.
Wellbeing Walk
Staff and councillors are invited on a lunchtime walk taking place on Tuesday May 10. The walk is being led by the Active Charnwood team and we'll be meeting outside Southfields main reception ready for a prompt start at 1pm.
The route will explore the town’s beautiful parks, paths and jitties. The full walk will last around an hour, with the option to head back after half an hour. All abilities welcome as it is an accessible route.
To help to manage numbers, please sign up via the link below.
Maps of old and new Southfields offices
Following the move of various teams at the council, old and new maps of the Southfields offices have been uploaded to the intranet.
Come and join an estate walk!
You are invited to join estate walks in the areas listed in the schedule below. The purpose of the estate walks is for residents to meet officers and members to highlight any issues they might have. It also allows for inspection of the estate, so that officers can address any physical issues.
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Date
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Estate
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Time
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Lead Officer
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19th May 2022
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Thorpe Acre, Loughborough
start at Wordsworth Road shops then do Wordsworth Road, Browning Road Tennyson Road
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Walk – 10am – 12 noon
12 – 1pm Drop-in session – Thorpe Acre Church & All Saints Anglican Centre, Thorpe Acre Road
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Gillian Hodgkinson
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22nd June 2022
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Warwick Way Estate, Loughborough – meet at Altogether Place then Milton Court, Lewis Road, Warwick Court, Epinal Court, Matthew Arnold Court, Copeland Crescent, Shelley Street
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Walk – 10am – 12noon
12 – 1pm Drop-in session – Altogether place
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Christopher Blackford
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9th August 2022
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Bell Foundry Estate, Loughborough – meet at MTC then Russell Street, Peel Drive, Chapman Street then back to the MTC for the drop in session
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Walk – 10am – 12 noon
12 – 1pm Drop-in session – MTC
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Leo Daniels
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8th September 2022
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Mountsorrel – start at Leicester Road flats, chestnut court, Hawthorn Road, Laurel Close, Beeches Avenue, Elm Close
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Walk – 10am - 12 noon
12 – 1pm Drop-in session – Mountsorrel Methodist Church, Church Hill Road
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Efit Karim
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12th October 2022
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Birstall – meet at Blenheim Road (near number 1 Blenheim Road) then Bramley Road (including the garage site) finishing at Lambourne Road.
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Walk – 10am - 12 noon
12 – 1pm Drop-in session – Birstall Methodist Church, Wanlip Lane
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Jane Dredge
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Covid-19 Precautions in meetings
Despite the recent changes in government guidance, Members are encouraged to continue to wear face masks (if not exempt) when attending in-person meetings at any internal or external venue. It is also strongly advised that members be mindful when in close proximity to others. Thank you for your continued co-operation.
External Training
LGA – Travellers site fund: Q&A session with Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, 11 May 2022, 2 – 3:30pm, online
The LGA is holding a webinar with the Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) to discuss the new funding available to local authorities in England for building new or improved accommodation for travellers who have their needs assessed under the Planning Policy for Traveller Sites or the National Planning Policy Framework.
Find out more here.
LGIU – Managing Conflict at Work (including post-lockdown implications), 13 May 2022, 10am – 1pm, online
This workshop is intended to develop an understanding of how conflicts arise and develop and what practical steps can be taken to resolve them quickly and confidently.
Read more here.
Councillors and Data Protection: Safety First: The GPDR Challenge, 24 May 2022, 10am – 12pm, online
Complying with Data protection requirements is a major challenge for councillors. Failure to meet the legal requirements can open councillors up to the legal challenge or a complaint under a Councils Standards scheme.
This course takes participants through the legal framework. It highlights the importance of key issues such as consent to share data. It covers the Data Protection principles. It covers Freedom of Information and the importance of keeping data safe and secure.
Fine out more here.
Community Engagement – New Challenges, New Resources, 25 May 2022, 2 – 3:30pm, online
This webinar will include presentations from those chosen as case studies as part of our refreshed community engagement guide: New challenges, new conversations.
Find out more here.
EMC – Cyber Security Workshop for Councillors in the East Midlands, 27 May 2022, 10-11am or 8 June 2022, 3-4pm, online
With the current news around global conflicts, we are seeing a real increase in targeted cybercrime, to combat this, we will cover topics around securing your digital footprint, securing your social media, how to work in public using technology and practical tips. You will gain a broad understanding of what additional services law enforcement can offer you! Hear from East Midlands Special Operations Cyber Protect Officers on the latest threats and on how you can keep yourself safe online.
Find out more here.
LGA - The Community Mental Health Framework and Local Government, 8 June 2022, 2:00-3:30pm, online
This webinar will provide a detailed outline of the new Community Mental Health Framework and will show how it is being implemented in local areas. Councils and council leaders are key to this approach. The webinar is an opportunity to develop elected member engagement with local strategies and alliances to improve mental health care and support in their communities.
Delegates will have the opportunity to hear from speakers from NHS England, Rethink and the Association of Mental Health Providers.
Find out more here.
If you would like to attend any of these courses please contact Democracy@charnwood.gov.uk
Find all sorts of relevant information in the Members Library here!
Up and coming Charnwood Member Training
- Carbon Literacy – two online sessions arranged for 9 /10 May (17:45 until 20:45) with selected councillors. There are 3 spaces now available. If you are interested email democracy@charnwood.gov.uk so we can send you the joining instructions
- LLR Mental Health proposals – awaiting a response from the trainer
- Cyber Security Awareness – specific topics be considered by the Audit Committee before confirming training
- Technical Briefing, Local Plan – provisional date 17th May (to be confirmed with officers)
Find sound recordings and presentations for recent member training here.
Please send any good news stories to the comms team at communications@charnwood.gov.uk
From the Democratic Services Team Charnwood Borough Council Tel: 01509 634781 Email: democracy@charnwood.gov.uk
Find sound recordings and presentations for recent member training here.
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