To tackle the climate crisis, Nottingham set an ambitious target to be the?first carbon neutral city in the UK by 2028?(CN28). Nottingham City Council only contributes approximately 3% of Nottingham?s total carbon footprint, so it is vital that everyone plays their part to reach the city?s ambitious climate goal.

While the City Council manages the delivery of the Carbon Neutral Action Plan, the strong progress to reduce carbon emissions has been achieved thanks to partnerships with key organisations. For example, LeftLion announced this week that they have become a carbon neutral organisation this year! All organisations in Nottingham can help us to become a carbon neutral city by pledging to the ?We Support? campaign.

Residents also have a part to play and can get started on their journey to reduce their carbon footprints by signing up to the Green Rewards app. This handy tool has lots of easy suggestions to get started, and you can even win prizes for taking action.

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It?s good to hear positive outcomes from the Safer Streets scheme which has seen crime reduction measures carried out in parts of the Arboretum, Radford, Lenton, Bestwood, Top Valley and The Park, which had been hot spots for burglaries.

The Government-funded scheme has seen a range of measures carried out including video Ring doorbells, CCTV, motion sensor lighting and window restrictors fitted on local properties. The council?s burglary reduction officer has worked alongside Notts Police on the so-called ?target hardening? scheme.

One landlord who benefitted from thousands of pounds worth of free security equipment at his properties says the ?amazing? Safer Streets scheme has made his tenants and the whole community safer ? with burglary falling by 43%.

Break-ins and burglaries are a deeply upsetting crime which undermine people?s confidence and ability to feel comfortable in their own properties. These measures help to restore that confidence and comfort and deter further incidents in those neighbourhoods. The scheme has also funded a range of other projects including CCTV and street lighting to make people feel safer in public spaces, automatic number plate recognition cameras to allow police to track criminals.

Find out more here

The council continues to invite feedback on its proposals to close a ?32.2m gap in our budget for 2023/24. Setting a budget has been made harder than ever due to the impact of inflation, fuel and energy cost increases that everyone is experiencing.

We have also seen our main Government grant fall by ?100m over the last decade, meaning we increasingly rely on Council Tax for income to fund local services.?That?s why we felt we had no alternative but to propose an increase in Council Tax by up to the 5% permitted by Government, which includes a 2% precept towards the rising costs of adult social care.?

Most councils up and down the country are facing significant financial difficulties, and we have also looked at the budget in light of important changes that are needed for us to become a more efficient and effective council, putting forward a range of proposals.

If you have any general comments or suggestions about these proposals as a whole, you can click here to complete the survey. More information about the budget proposals and other ways to get involved in the consultation, which runs until January 25, is available here.

It?s 2023 and what better time than now to consider improving your health and fitness to help your overall wellbeing.

Making small changes such as including more nutritious foods into your diet can make the world of difference to help you feel your best.

Nottingham has a range of options suitable for all ages and abilities to help you stay active. Our award-winning Green Flag Parks have played a vital role for people over the last few years. Exercise can have a positive impact on your mental health, reduce stress and improve sleep.

Across the city we have created self-guided walks that can be completed at your own pace. Outdoor gyms are available across the city within some of our parks and open spaces, explore the Nottingham Adventure Trail? join Active Nottingham for a range of activities, fitness classes, gyms and leisure centres or try free cycling classes with RideWise for adults living in Nottingham.

Getting fit and healthy this year can be cheap and enjoyable, whether a fitness class where you can make new friends or a relaxing walk in a park or open space. I hope you find what works for you on your health and fitness journey.

I am very much looking forward to attending a Come and Sing concert on Sunday which is led by celebrated composer and conductor John Rutter. It?s the third year this has been held at the Royal Concert Hall and having thoroughly enjoyed the last two occasions, is sure to once again be an afternoon to lift the spirits.

It?s a chance for people who love either taking part or listening to choral singing. Not only that, but it?s for some great local causes, with proceeds from the concert going to Nottingham and Notts Refugee Forum, Nottingham Arimathea Trust ?and Host Nottingham.

There?s limited tickets still available if you would like to take part.