On Monday, I took a Motion to our full council meeting to declare a cost-of-living emergency and to call on the Government to take further, urgent action to tackle it. Alongside the rise in the cost of everyday items such as food, fuel and energy, Nottingham people, like those across the UK, now face higher interest rates for mortgages and other borrowing due to volatility following the former Chancellor?s ?mini-budget.? Many are already dealing with rents elevated far beyond affordability.

For our part, as already vastly reduced council budgets face further pressure, we will prioritise our resources towards standing with and supporting our citizens through this crisis. We will continue funding services such as Welfare Rights and energy advice ? and we launched our cost of living campaign to raise awareness of all the help that?s available to people who are struggling. More here

We?re really pleased to announce that we?ve secured another ?3.5m for Nottingham to support vulnerable households this winter.

The money has come from the Government?s Household Support Fund and, in total, it means we will have distributed more than ?10m to local people in the past year.

This time, the focus is on further energy support and additional vouchers worth ?98 will soon be available to residents struggling with the current cost-of-living crisis. These will automatically be issued to all people who received them in the last round, but more details about where others can apply and access wider financial support is here

Nottingham City Council?s delivery of excellence and innovation in transport has once again been recognised and rewarded at a national level. The council won two categories and gained a ?highly commended? plaudit at two major award ceremonies recently. These were:

• Winner of ?Best New Car Park? for the Broad Marsh Bus Station & Car Park at the British Parking Awards ? recognising the ?outstanding design and construction techniques? that has created a landmark structure for Nottingham and delivered a truly revolutionary transport interchange with over 80 electric vehicle charging points, 720 solar panels and a state-of-the-art vehicle management system.
• Winner of ?Parking for a Better World? for the Workplace Parking Levy at the British Parking Awards ? to acknowledge how the WPL has ?improved the quality of the environment and encouraged a sense of wellbeing? by stimulating over ?1 billion of investment in sustainable travel in the last ten years, delivering significant, wide-ranging benefits to the city, businesses and our citizens.
• Highly Commended in the ?Public Transport Authority of the Year? category at the Electric Vehicle Innovation & Excellence Awards. This award ?celebrates the ? authority?s track record in managing EV uptake and adoption, its EV infrastructure track record, how the authority has engaged with consumers and the EV sector, and any investments it has made into the space.? It was also recognised that over half of the council?s own fleet is now electric - more than any other local authority in the UK - and that we?re now using that experience to help others in both the public and private sector reduce their transport emissions.

Many Nottingham residents are facing increasing financial pressures as the cost-of-living rises. The rate of inflation and household bills have soared, which can increase stress levels and have a serious impact on our mental health ? not only for you but for those closest to you.?

Poor mental health can make earning and managing money harder. And worrying about money can make your mental health worse. It can start to feel like a vicious cycle. Certain situations might trigger feelings of anxiety and panic, like opening the envelopes of bills or attending a benefits assessment. Worrying about money can also lead to sleep problems, a low mood and feelings such as anxiety and panic.

Mental health support and advice is available in Nottingham. You can visit www.asklion.co.uk/mentalhealth where you will find a number of online resources, advice and services near you.

We know that not everyone has access to the internet, so Nottingham City Libraries provide free access to computers with an internet connection. You will need to sign up as a library member to use them. But you can also connect to the library Wi-Fi for free on your own electronic devices such as laptops and smartphones.

Poppy banners have gone up on the Council House ahead of Armistice Day and Remembrance Sunday.

A memorial event is being planned for Remembrance Sunday at Victoria Embankment and more details will follow next week.