Like other councils up and down the country having a number of staff absent from work with Covid or due to self-isolation makes delivering services more challenging. Absence levels in some of our services are now higher than during previous stages of the pandemic due to the growing numbers of Covid cases in the city and the number of staff self-isolating.

Our frontline services, such as bin collections, street cleansing and parks maintenance are all still operating but some are now becoming very thinly stretched. We are doing everything we can to keep services running and I?d ask people to please bear with us if sometimes services don?t meet our usual standards. Our staff are doing their best in really difficult circumstances and my thanks to them for all of their hard work.

I would also ask everyone across our city to help us to help you in practical ways by doing some simple things that really make a difference ? putting your bins out on time, reducing your waste through composting, keeping our streets and parks clean by taking your rubbish home and checking on any of your neighbours who might need a helping hand.?

Finally but most importantly, I would urge anyone who has yet to be vaccinated to do so as soon as possible. The majority of people ending up in hospital or tragically dying from Covid are unvaccinated ? it?s the best way to keep yourself, your friends, family and neighbours and the rest of our community here in Nottingham safe.?

I?d like to say a warm and heartfelt Thank You to head teachers and school leaders, teachers and support staff, governors, all those working to support children and those preparing healthy tasty food or maintaining safe school sites. It?s been another year of extraordinary circumstances for schools, families and Nottingham?s pupils ? well done to all of them for keeping going, making sure our city?s children and young people continued to receive the education, care and support they deserve. I hope everyone is able to enjoy a summer break and stay safe.

The Summer Reading Challenge has started and runs until 11 September. The World Wide Fund for Nature is involved in this year?s programme and they have come up with a nature-themed challenge that will inspire children to stand up for the planet.

Children can take part in the ?Wild World Heroes? Summer Reading Challenge by joining up at any Nottingham City Library and then reading six books of their choice over the summer. There are stinky stickers and awesome rewards to collect and a medal at the end.

It?s totally free to take part and this year children can choose to do the challenge in libraries or online. Find out more

www.nottinghamcitylibraries.co.uk/summer-reading-challenge