I am delighted that Nottingham City Council won Local Authority of the Year and came in second in the Fuel Poverty & Vulnerable Campaign Support category at the National Energy Efficiency Awards last week. This success was in recognition of the council?s Carbon Reduction, Energy and Sustainability Division (CRES) who are at the forefront of tackling fuel poverty, generating renewable energy and leading sustainability policy both locally and nationally.

The council?s fuel poverty strategy is firmly based on reducing energy bills, improving energy efficiency of homes, and ensuring that households across the city are comfortable for residents. With energy prices set to soar due to the Ofgem price cap rise in April, the team is committed to helping citizens keep their homes warm, while saving them money along the way.

If you or someone you know is struggling with the cost of energy bills visit Ask Lion | Prioritise and reduce your bills. Low-income homeowners and private renters in Nottingham can apply to the City Council to have solar panels fitted to their properties free of charge, take a look at the eligibility criteria and see if your household qualifies.

Our push to provide energy efficient council homes continues with proposals for 24 homes for affordable rent in St Ann?s given approval at our Executive Board meeting yesterday. They will be built to higher energy efficiency standards, creating warmer homes that use less energy, which is not only better for the environment, but will help support residents to keep their energy costs to a minimum.

The homes, to be managed by Nottingham City Homes, will include triple glazed windows, increased solar power, battery energy storage, mechanical ventilation with heat recovery and wastewater heat recovery to all baths. The scheme will also contain parking, car charging points and bike storage to encourage less car use.

It?s another step on our journey towards carbon neutrality. Find out more here.

Covid-19 restrictions will end tomorrow. This is thanks to the efforts of everyone in Nottingham who helped to reduce the spread of the virus in our city. Vaccinations, regular testing and following the rules on hands/face/space/fresh air all helped to keep people safe.

There is now thought to be a lower risk from the virus, although it is clear that Covid-19 will be with us for some time to come. We can learn to live with the virus if we all continue to take a few simple, sensible actions.

1. Get vaccinated: The Covid vaccine is the key to tackling the virus. If you have had two doses and a booster, you have the best protection. Please make sure you?ve had every dose available to you. Book your jab here: nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19
2. Everyday behaviour: The best advice to help prevent the spread of any virus is to keep applying the everyday behaviour we learned during the pandemic: regularly wash your hands, keep indoor spaces well-ventilated, meet other people outdoors
3. Face coverings: You can still choose to wear a face covering when you are inside busy public spaces or coming into contact with people you do not normally meet and public transport
4. Stay at home if you have Covid: If you feel unwell and have Covid symptoms you can still access free tests until the end of March and you should stay at home.

The full range of advice for living with Covid can be found here: http://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-response-living-with-covid-19

However you choose to take these next steps of the coming weeks, please go at your own pace ? and please be respectful of those, who like me, will go a little more slowly. Let?s all continue to take care of ourselves and take care of other people as we continue to live with Covid.

The cost of living crisis is a real concern for the council and we are determined to help where we can. You may not think it but our library service can help you if you are affected by this.

They?ve put together a page of online information Jobs, work & money support on a range of services in the city which are here to provide advice, whether on money, benefits, housing, restarting or starting a business,?food banks, or finding work.

They also work with a number of community partners to host Work Clubs in many of our libraries, giving you the opportunity to gain advice from an expert employment advisor, update your CV and apply for jobs using our free computers.

The role of our city libraries is not just confined to books ? at their heart our libraries are about supporting people and communities. Find out more www.nottinghamcitylibraries.co.uk

I?m really pleased to hear today that Splendour is returning this summer after two years of disappointing postponements ? and that it?s bouncing back bigger and better than ever with not one but two full days of entertainment for the first time.

It's also wonderful that festival organisers dhp have managed to keep most of the great artists scheduled to play the previously cancelled shows that people were really excited about seeing in the grounds of Wollaton Hall. They have then brought in some great new faces besides.? With double the stage time, there is going to be something to entertain the whole family.

As in previous years, the Nottingham City residents? discount is available across all ticket types with ?10 off per ticket up to a maximum of six. Existing ticket holders who rolled over are being given the opportunity to upgrade their day ticket to the full weekend for an additional ?25.

You can find out more including the full line-up announced so far, and book your tickets here, see you there in the summer.