I?m pleased to see that rates of Covid-19 remain low in Nottingham. However, while the virus is still out there, I would ask that we all continue to stay vigilant. Regular testing, checking for symptoms and applying ?hands/face/space? wherever possible, should be part of our regular weekly routine as we move into the autumn. Please remember these steps:

• Test regularly with the free rapid Lateral Flow home testing kits ? Sunday and Wednesday nights are recommended. Even those people who have been vaccinated can still pass on the virus, so it is vital to still take regular tests
• Take a free PCR test if you have symptoms of Covid-19 (fever, cough, loss or taste/smell) or have a positive rapid Lateral Flow test. You should also isolate immediately
• Take a free PCR test if you have been in contact with someone who has tested positive.

You can book PCR tests by visiting www.gov.uk/get-coronavirus-test or by calling 119. Let?s all do our bit to look after ourselves and each other this autumn and winter.

Today is Car Free Day, an annual, global campaign to improve air quality and reduce carbon emissions, by encouraging people to use more environmentally-friendly public transport, walk or cycle instead.

Like many sectors, public transport has been hard hit by the Covid-19 pandemic, but our bus and tram operators have been fantastic throughout. Now it?s our turn to show our support, both for them and our environment, by choosing a greener way to travel.

We?re proud to have one of the greenest public transport networks, with electric trams powered by renewable energy, the world?s largest fleet of biogas buses, and the electric Linkbuses.

Operators continue to take enhanced measures to keep everyone safe, and we?d urge people to keep wearing face coverings.

For shorter journeys, could you walk or cycle instead of taking the car?? Over the next couple of years we?re delivering an ambitious programme of schemes through the Transforming Cities Fund to make choosing active travel even easier.

Whether you walk, cycle, use the bus or tram, you?ll be helping the city achieve our goal of becoming the first in the UK to be carbon neutral, which is so important for the health of our residents and visitors.

Need more reasons to get on board? Find out more

It was great to see Nottingham?s first Pink Plaque, celebrating LGBT+ heritage in the city, unveiled this week. My fellow councillor Angharad Roberts helped to unveil the plaque at The New Foresters, which was a safe space for the LGBT+ community at a time before the decriminalisation of homosexuality. Nottingham is an inclusive city which welcomes and celebrates diversity and this is a fitting recognition of the role that venues like The New Foresters have played and continue to play in that. The pub was publically nominated from a shortlist of venues. More here