I?m sorry if your bin hasn?t been collected on time, unfortunately some of our staff have Covid, others have been told to self-isolate and some are being moved from other services so we can focus on the main domestic bin collections. Garden-waste collections have become the latest area to be hit by Covid-related staff absences and once again I would urge people to bear with us and do what they can to help. Our frontline services are now becoming very thinly-stretched and garden waste in particular has been impacted and is likely to remain disrupted for the next few days.

We are advising that all residents place their brown-lid bin out as usual, but if it is not emptied then take it back in until the next scheduled garden collection. We would also ask that they reduce the waste that needs collecting, by composting, not cutting their grass for the time-being and taking some items such as garden waste to our recycling centre at Lenton, as well as putting bins out at the right time.

More information here

The City Council and our partners have supported hospitality businesses throughout the Coronavirus pandemic, with grant funding and business rates relief. However, as the restrictions begin to lift, many businesses?have told us that in order to reopen, they are in urgent need of staff, in all roles across their businesses.

The Nottingham Jobs service, which engages with job seekers and employers, is well placed to take action to support these businesses and anyone looking for work in the sector, by working collaboratively with partners, including D2N2 Skills Access Hub, Visit Nottinghamshire, BID and Nottingham Hospitality Association. They are running a Hospitality Works campaign during July and August to support employers and job seekers and raise awareness of the range and flexibility of hospitality roles.

More information here: https://www.nottinghamjobs.com/hospitalityworks?

It?s very pleasing that the City Council?s continued support of the Armed Forces has been recognised with a silver award today. The MOD Employer Recognition Scheme bestows Bronze, Silver and Gold accreditations on those employers who support the wider Forces community and their families, while aligning their values with the Armed Forces Covenant.

Nottingham has a proud history of support for the Armed Forces and the local men and women who have served their country. In recent years, the city has hosted a national Armed Forces Day event and, along with Nottinghamshire County Council, the authority became one of the first in 2013 to sign the covenant pledging practical help for military communities. I?m delighted that the council?s hard work and commitment to these pledges has resulted in a silver award for 2021.

More here

We?re really pleased to be able to offer nine Toyota Proace electric vans for businesses and organisations to try as part of our Electric Van Experience.

The scheme, funded by Highways England, is an opportunity for businesses to see how making the switch to a greener vehicle could save them money, and give them the confidence to make the change permanently. The aim is to help reduce harmful emissions and support the city?s ambition to become carbon neutral.

There?s a range of vans on offer to suit different needs, and the new Toyota vans make a great addition. They?ll be maintained by Nottingham Electric Vehicle Services (NEVS), our ULEV service centre, where all electric vehicle owners can also get MOTs, servicing and repairs.

I can?t hand-on-heart say that rap is my music genre of choice, but I was really impressed with the ?song ?0115? which premiered to significant acclaim during BBC Two?s coverage of Trent Bridge?s opening fixture in The Hundred.?It?s by local artiste Kingdom Rapper who used the worldwide stage of Trent Bridge to literally sing Nottingham?s praises.

The references to everything from sporting successes and cultural highlights to culinary delights and local landmarks are brilliant and instantly recognisable to anyone who knows and loves Nottingham. Nottingham people are rightly proud of their city and this comes through loud and clear in this rap.

I?d like to say congratulations to all Nottingham athletes who have made it to Tokyo - Nottingham is behind you and wishing you luck. On Monday, 27-year-old Emily Campbell of Bulwell will be competing in the women?s weightlifting, following success at the 2017 British Championships and 2018 Commonwealth Games ? best of luck to her. Check out this great Left Lion article to see the full list of Nottingham athletes to be proud of.