Like many businesses, our bus and tram operators have been hit hard by the pandemic, with fewer people travelling during multiple lockdowns and restrictions, and a nervousness around travelling in enclosed spaces. Despite this, public transport has played a crucial role in keeping Nottingham moving, ensuring that key workers have been able to get to work, and residents to shops and places of education.

Now we?re calling on the Government to extend support grants for public transport to aid a greener recovery from Covid-19, as the current recovery grants are due to be withdrawn after March 2022. We're asking the Government to extend support grants for at least another six months, to enable a full recovery from the Omicron variant, and to allow time for people to regain confidence in the safety of public transport. Without further support, it?s very difficult to see how the ambitions of the Government?s National Bus Strategy, economic recovery, and climate change goals can be achieved.

Read more: www.transportnottingham.com/support-for-public-transport

We continue to have a high number of Covid-19 cases in Nottingham. Please think carefully about how best to stay safe over the next few weeks and months as we move out of winter:

• Get vaccinated: two doses and a booster gives you the best protection. Book your jab here Book Coronavirus Vaccination
• Keep testing: take a regular lateral flow test at home to make sure you are Covid-free. Find out where to get tests: Covid-19 testing
• Take care: please consider continuing to wear face coverings in busy indoor public spaces like shops and public transport.

Let?s all take the next steps carefully together; please continue to take care of yourself and each other.

I'm really looking forward to the return of Light Night on Friday and Saturday this week with free activities for the whole family right across the city centre and getting the chance to explore our ?Rebel City.? It?ll be especially fun for me as I?ll be taking my granddaughter to her first one.

Many of the installations have a green or eco theme including Ridewise who will be on King Street where you can meet the team to find out how the cycling revolution started in Nottingham and how you can play your part in it, or a beautiful installation in St Mary's Churchyard; The Telling of the Bees explores extraordinary facts about bee behaviour with magical sound and light. On Friday ? it?s your last chance to visit the Bridlesmith Gate Green Light in the City pop-up to learn about local projects helping to tackle climate change. Slightly further afield, you can enjoy Waterway Splendour at the Canal wharf on Friday with the Canal & River Trust or visit Arkwright Street Community Gardens in The Meadows on Saturday to see the community gardens beautifully lit.

There is a guide which you can download or print and some will be available on the day or you can use the Light Night app which also has some ?roar?some augmented reality with a chance to get a pic with the Council House's left lion Leo. Don?t forget to tag and share your pics #NottinghamLightNight. All the information on this event can be found at the What?s On Nottingham website

The Government has today announced its long-overdue Levelling Up plans. I cautiously welcome these plans as they outline the steps to devolution but unfortunately they do little to reverse the damage that twelve years of unprecedented Government cuts has inflicted on Nottingham.

We?ve always been pro-devolution in Nottingham, but detail in terms of additional powers and new investment must be forthcoming. If Government is serious about genuine devolution for our area it has to be about more investment, better transport infrastructure, higher skills for local people and creating more good jobs in our area.

In April many of the people I represent will see big increases in National Insurance, steeply rising prices for home-energy and the Government?s adult social care levy added to Council Tax bills yet again. But today?s announcement gives no detail as to how the enormous pressures on household finances will be dealt with.?

I urge the Government to work with us, to adequately fund local public services, which continue to be under severe strain, to invest in the huge potential of Nottingham and the East Midlands and to start to deliver for local people.