Many of our services will continue to operate over the festive period but there will be some that close or will have restricted opening times.

All of our leisure centres will close on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and the substitute bank holiday as well as New Year?s Day and the substitute bank holiday ? full details on opening times here.

Libraries in Bulwell, Clifton, Hyson Green and Wollaton will be open on selected days over the Christmas period. All our other libraries will be closed from Christmas Eve to Monday 2 January 2023. Click here for more information

Nottingham City Parks will be open over Christmas and New Year.? However on-site car parking may be restricted at some sites on Christmas Day. Weekends and bank holiday opening times will be 9am-4.30pm. More details here.

Next week is your last chance to grab yourself a festive gift at the Woodthorpe Plant Shop, which will be taking a well-earned break over Christmas, closing on Christmas Eve and reopening on Tuesday 3 January.

Our bin services will be running as normal apart from some substitute days ? see details here. Also, a gentle reminder that bin collections won?t be able to recycle festive items such as baubles and other Christmas decorations, bows and ribbons, foil wrapping paper, cards that contain plastic, takeaway containers or hard plastic toys. And remember, don?t put recycling in plastic bags or loose plastic bags into your recycling bin ? this means it can?t get recycled.

We have an online Teams Live event on Wednesday 4 January, from 6pm to 7.30pm for people to find out more about plans for devolution and the benefits.

The deal, which offers the region a package of new powers and funding worth ?1.14 billion, or ?38 million a year over the next 30 years, has the potential to make a real difference to people?s lives. Benefits include more investment in our area, more and better jobs and house, better transport and skills training and much more.

No need to sign up, just visit here Have Your Say ? East Midlands Devolution and click on the ?Join Teams Live Event Here? button.

There is also a drop-in event at the Council House this Wednesday (21 December), 6pm - 7.30pm (doors open 5.30pm) where you can find out more about Devolution proposals, learn about the benefits and put your questions to a panel. The event is open to everyone and is fully accessible, so if you know anyone who wants to find out more, please help spread the word.

The public consultation about Devolution for Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Derby, and Nottingham is now live and runs until next Monday, 9 January 2023. Find out more and have your say here ? www.eastmidlandsdevolution.co.uk/

I was pleased to join the Lord Mayor, Cllr Wendy Smith and a small number of brave souls in a chilly Arboretum yesterday for the Celebration of Christmas event. Carlton Male Voice Choir and singer Katharine Dryden beautifully performed a selection of Christmas songs and carols to get us in the festive mood.

Even though the weather was cold, the audience rose to the challenge of singing along to carols and even broke into dance during one of Katharine Dryden?s numbers. The Lord Mayor?s Chaplain, the Rev Peter Shaw, provided an engaging story for Christmas entitled ?The 100 Wise Men (and Women), while I read an extract from Gervase Phinn?s book about school nativity plays.

The event closed with the Lord Mayor wishing everybody a Happy Christmas and a rousing chorus of ?We wish you a merry Christmas.?

We always have a need for foster carers and you can find out more about fostering at an information stall in John Lewis in the Victoria Centre this Wednesday 21 December from 11am until 3pm.

This year?s John Lewis Christmas advert powerfully makes the point that fostering is so important for many children and also hugely rewarding for carers themselves. Go along on Wednesday or find out about fostering here: https://nottinghamcity.gov.uk/foster