Rates of Covid-19 are still low in the city ? however, as with other parts of the country, we are starting to see a slight increase in the number of cases of the virus. It is too early to predict if, in Nottingham, this increase will level off or if this is the beginning of a sustained increase as we?ve seen in other areas. Our best defence against the virus is to get vaccinated.

The good news is you can do this now - without booking. This weekend, the QMC hospital is offering walk-in jabs of the Pfizer vaccine for anyone over the age of 30. You can get on the tram and head straight for the special hub from 8am-7pm on Saturday and Sunday. The vaccination hub is located in the South Block of QMC, on A floor. The nearest entrance is opposite the Eye, Ear, Nose and Throat Centre. At all other vaccination sites in the city, anyone over the age of 40 can walk in without an appointment and get their jab. The vaccine is there waiting for you? the NHS has plenty in stock.

We know that one dose of the vaccine offers good protection, even against the new variants being detected. The second dose offers even better protection. So please get your jab ? and follow-up with your second jab. Find out more about vaccination sites in the city here: https://nottsccg.nhs.uk/covid-19/covid-19-vaccinations/covid-19-vaccination-in-nottingham-and-nottinghamshire/

Last Saturday I joined my co-councillors and local volunteers for a community litter pick to make Dales, Sneinton and Bakersfield cleaner places to live. One of the key priorities for the council is ensuring that we keep Nottingham clean and tidy and that neighbourhoods are as clean as the city centre. Litter is one of the issues that will be tackled during our Days of Action, taking place across the city over the next year.

In addition to the waste disposal and cleaning services the council provides, Nottingham is lucky to have thousands of people who take pride in their area and give up their time to help make our communities cleaner. There are over 3,000 Clean Champions who help keep our city clean and I would like to thank every one of them for what they do. If you want to be a Clean Champion you can find out more here.

The use of food banks in Nottingham has surged during the pandemic with increased demand significantly above normal levels. Today I visited Himmah, one of the many organisations in our city which have worked tirelessly to support our communities during this pandemic, providing vital resources to those who have needed it.

It was great?to meet volunteers at their base just off Forest Road where is Himmah finding different ways to help those who need it. I?m very grateful for the work Himmah and other organisations do to help those in need in Nottingham. If you or anyone you know is in need of support, you can find information for foodbanks and social eating projects on the council website.

I felt incredibly proud this week to hand over the operation of a rejuvenated Nottingham Castle to its new custodians the Nottingham Castle Trust. It was an historic moment for this historic monument, following a project that?s been many years in the planning - culminating in three years of transformative construction and renovation works?led by the City Council.

The team behind this work has done an amazing job to not only conserve and enhance Nottingham?s shining jewel, but also turn it into a major attraction that will continue to attract thousands of visitors in the years ahead. Having seen it for myself, there are some wonderful features which I have no doubt will have people returning again and again. Tickets can now be booked.

The Castle?s redevelopment and reopening later this month is a cornerstone of the city?s regeneration, which makes Nottingham well placed to recover strongly as a city post-Covid. Those regeneration efforts are already well underway, with huge potential still to unlock such as at Broad Marsh, and will set a fresh, ambitious direction for Nottingham for generations to come. More here

You can watch the stunning new lighting of the Ducal Palace which?shines out over the city from atop Castle Rock in this short film.

June is officially Pride Month and I?m always proud of how inclusive and friendly our city is ? a place where the LGBT+ Community is supported and celebrated. We have installed a permanent ?Rainbow Road? on Broad Street in Hockley which continues to be enjoyed by visitors, residents and businesses.

As a council, we?ve been shortlisted in the PinkNews Awards Public Sector Equality category, but are not complacent and remain alert to homophobic hate crime which won?t be tolerated in Nottingham.

Whether you?re a regular library visitor of haven?t visited in years, you can be part of the conversation as we write The Next Chapter for Nottingham City Libraries. There is just a week to go on this consultation so if there?s something important to you or something else you want from a modern library service, please complete the survey before Friday 11 June.

All responses will be entered into a prize draw, with the chance to win a family ticket to the Titus: T.rex is King exhibition at Wollaton Hall & Deer Park this July.