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As this is my first Deputy Leader Update I?d just like to say hello to all, it?s a great honour to take on this role and responsibility. I?m really pleased to have inherited this platform as a way to speak to local people. As well as sharing council news I?m really keen to discuss the cost of living crisis with you, let you know what the council is doing to help tackle this and share ideas to save us money.
For example, if you are a parent of small children ensure that you are not missing out on the 20% childcare discount. Eligible households can qualify for 'tax-free childcare' to help cover the costs of having your children in nursery, with a childminder, in after-school clubs or breakfast clubs. Find out if you are eligible for this here.
I?m pleased we have been able to start to pay ?150 Council Tax rebates to local residents who pay by direct debit, through the Government?s Energy Bill Rebate scheme. Like all councils, Nottingham City Council is working hard to ensure that payments are received well within the Government?s deadlines.
The stipulation that councils need to make a payment rather than simply crediting Council Tax accounts has resulted in both significant additional work and the need to make changes to our IT systems. However, payments to up to 130,000 Council Tax payers are now underway and we expect to have made the majority of payments to those in Bands A to D (and certain residents in Band E) who pay by direct debit by the end of June.
Once this has happened, we will write to each household in those Council Tax bands who do not pay by direct debit and for whom we hold no bank details, on how to apply for their payments. Government expects local authorities to have made payments under this scheme by September 2022. Of course, we appreciate that people are facing a cost of living crisis now and we are doing all we can to make these payments as soon as possible.
Advice and support for anyone struggling financially is available from Citizens Advice and Money Saving Expert. More information is available at www.nottinghamcity.gov.uk/counciltax
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We saw a huge increase in people suffering from loneliness and isolation during the Covid pandemic. All those weeks in lockdown ? as well as the anxiety caused by the virus itself ? had a big impact on our mental health and wellbeing. It is important that we find better ways of tackling the epidemic of loneliness.
Mental Health Awareness Week (9-15 May) is raising awareness of the impact of loneliness on our mental wellbeing and the practical steps we can take to address it.
The Mental Health Foundation has help and advice on how to cope with loneliness and improve your mental health ? as well as how you can support other people who are feeling lonely: https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/campaigns/mental-health-awareness-week/loneliness-help-and-advice. Please take a minute to read through the advice. Let?s all try to do more to take care of ourselves and each other.
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The Forest Recreation Ground Vaccination Centre will be closing its doors at the start of June and moving to its new permanent base at The Courtaulds Building in Haydn Road, Nottingham. The site at Forest Rec was always a temporary structure and this will be decommissioned over the summer months, especially as preparations for the return of Goose Fair get underway. The staff at the Forest Rec site have done an incredible job of vaccinating people in Nottingham to keep them safe and I?d like to thank them for their dedication and commitment throughout the pandemic.
Before the vaccination centre moves base, you can still walk in to the Forest Rec without an appointment to get your Covid jab. It?s not too late to get your first, second or one of your booster jabs. You can also use the following link to book a venue/day/time to suit you: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/coronavirus-vaccination/book-coronavirus-vaccination. Please do everything you can to protect yourself from Covid-19.
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From 16 ? 22 May, Nottingham City Council will be supporting Dementia Action Week to raise awareness of dementia. This year alone, 209,600 people will develop dementia, that?s one person every three minutes.
Two ?in person? Dementia Friends Information Sessions will be held on Wednesday 18 May at the Royal Concert Hall at 10.45 am and again at 12.30 pm. To book your place or find out more please email [email protected]
Join us by taking part in Denim for Dementia Day on Friday 20 May. Simply don your denim for the day and help raise funds for Alzheimer?s Society. You can also share your dazzling denim photos on Facebook
Support is also available to anyone affected by dementia through Dementia Connect the new local service that?s free and easy to access.
A new Dementia Caf? in partnership between Dementia UK, and Nottingham City Libraries will launch on Thursday 19 May in the Community Room at Clifton Library and will meet every third Thursday, between 1pm and 3 pm. The caf? will be run by the local Admiral Nurse, who can signpost you to support and provide information and answer any questions you may have about living with dementia.?
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Please click?here?for some of the answers to questions we?ve been asked about what you should do, and what we are doing, to respond to Coronavirus.
 For all the latest news from Nottingham City Council visit our website: www.mynottinghamnews.co.uk
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