It?s brilliant that so many people are turning up to get the vaccine in Nottingham ? albeit this meant I had a long wait when I went to get my booster jab at the Forest Recreation Ground vaccination centre yesterday. While you can still turn up without an appointment, my advice would be to book to avoid the queues.

You need to visit the NHS website here to book either your first, second or booster jab. If you are eligible for the booster (over-50 or clinically vulnerable and longer than six months and one week since your second jab) then the advice is not to wait for a letter inviting you for the jab ? just go ahead and get one.

The Forest Rec site has free parking and good public transport links. It really is worth getting the vaccine to protect yourself from the virus.

Today I was pleased to virtually attended my first COP26 event; Investing to achieve Net Zero. The Net Zero agenda will require significant up-front investment to transition our existing carbon intensive systems, such as how we heat our homes and how we travel, to a lower carbon alternative and the session looked at where this investment needs to come from.

The council has already started investing in energy saving measures in our buildings. Our Carbon Reduction, Energy & Sustainability Division (CRES) have brought about a decrease in the use of electricity and gas. In the last four years we have seen our electricity consumption fall by almost a quarter and despite electricity prices rising significantly, our costs have fallen by 10%, with a similar positive picture on gas use. This is down to the excellent work by my colleagues in CRES in controlling our estate, delivering behavioural change training and taking advantage of public sector borrowing schemes to fund works to install low carbon technologies such as solar PV and LED lighting in our buildings. We?ve also invested in our council fleet and 45% the council?s vehicle are now ultra-low.

It was clear today though that leading experts in this field believe that achieving Net Zero in cities is beyond the financing capacity of local authorities and the public sector alone. There will be opportunities for the private sector to support the move to Net Zero but we really need a clear and bold plan from word leaders including central Government if Net Zero is to be achieved in time and to ensure that we all benefit reap the rewards of a cleaner, more sustainable world.?

On Saturday 6 November, as world leaders meet in Glasgow for the COP26 Global Climate Summit, people in towns and cities across the world will take to the streets demanding global climate justice. Nottingham people can join in. The Nottingham Hub of the COP26 Coalition has organised a march starting at the Forest Recreation Ground from 2pm, culminating in a rally at Old Market Square from 3pm. You can find out more on the event Facebook page. I will be on the march and speaking at the rally and hope to see many of you there.

Some of the worst weeks for air pollution are around Bonfire Night, because garden bonfires and fireworks can generate a lot of smoke and particles, both of which are harmful to our health.

If you are going to have your own bonfire, please consider how you can minimise air pollution. Please only use dry wood and do not put plastics or rubber on the fire which increase the amount of smoke and can release poisonous gases when burned. Also remember, the Firework Act 2003 and its regulations place a curfew on the times fireworks should be set off no later than midnight on 5^th November (and 11pm other days).

Most importantly, make sure you stay safe this Bonfire Night ? our Trading Standards team has provided some helpful tips and guidance on the do?s and don?ts for November 5^th, including the safe purchase and use of fireworks and sparklers.

So however you choose to celebrate; be safe, be considerate, and be a ?nice Guy?!

From next month, our bin calendars will be paperless for the first time, in an effort to make savings, save trees and reduce carbon emissions. We know the vast majority of people can access them online and stopping the printing of 130,000 calendars every year is overdue. However, we also know there are still people who do not have digital access, and we?re making sure that they can still get a printed version if they need one.

They can drop into their local library where the staff will download and print their calendar for free, or call the main council switchboard on 0115 915 5555 to request a calendar is posted to them. The change is made simpler due to residents? bin collection days remaining the same, even over Christmas.

To get your new bin calendar, for 1st December onwards, simply go to https://www.nottinghamcity.gov.uk/binreminders and enter your postcode to download it. There?s more information here.

I want to extend my warmest wishes for Diwali to all those who celebrate. Diwali is the festival of lights ? a time to celebrate the triumph of good over evil, light over darkness and hope over despair.?

I wish you a joyous and peaceful day and the very best wishes for the year ahead.