I am really pleased that after months of hard work, the walkway connecting Collin Street and Lister Gate has reopened, bringing back into use a key route between the train station and the city centre. When the Broadmarsh Centre was passed to the City Council, we said our first priority was to reopen this walkway safely and as quickly as possible.

The walkway is an important through route for the city and its closure has been inconvenient for a lot of people, and while the future of the Broadmarsh Centre is still to be decided with the public?s help, I?m really pleased we?ve been able to reintroduce this public right of way. Whilst it is still a route through a building site, I?m pleased that this signals a step in the right direction and is a start.

The withdrawal of intu from the site presents a financial challenge for the City Council at a time when our budget is under immense pressure. Equally this is a great opportunity to look again at the plans for this key site, taking into account different ideas. We won?t be able to do this by ourselves and we will need to work in partnership.

Following the publication of a Report in the Public Interest into the council?s governance of Robin Hood Energy by the council?s external auditor, an Action Plan has been adopted to implement the report?s recommendations.

We very much regret those failings raised in the report but we have agreed a clear and robust approach as to how we will not only review our current approach to company governance, but also build on the changes that have already been put in place over the last year, and demonstrate our resolute commitment to do what?s right for Nottingham people.

The full Action Plan agreed by councillors is available to view?here?

As you go out to enjoy Nottingham?s businesses and leisure facilities this Bank Holiday weekend, please remember to wash your hands, wear a face covering and socially distance in order to help keep each other safe. Due to the August Bank Holiday, there are some temporary changes to council services on Monday 31 August which you can read about by clicking here.

Next week all pupils will be returning to school in Nottingham for the first time since the lockdown began in March. I want to reassure pupils and parents who may be anxious about going back that schools in our city have put in a lot of hard work to? put measures in place to keep each other safe.

Steps taken will vary from school to school but the general measures put in place include; risk assessments, good sanitation, hand-washing, social distancing and learning ?bubbles?. I hope these measures and more will make what the start of the school terms always should be, an exciting and enjoyable time.