I?m really pleased that at our Executive Board yesterday, we were able to give the go-ahead for Nottingham Castle to reopen its gates to the public in June.

Ever since the devastating news last November that Nottingham Castle Trust who operated the site had gone into liquidation, we have been working hard to find ways to open this much-loved site back to the public as soon as possible.

Ahead of the site?s full reopening, we?re proud to announce a series of preview events, kicking off with a Coronation Day Picnic and a Celebration Concert which will take place in the grounds of Nottingham Castle over the weekend of May 6 and 7. Free open days are also planned in May. I know that many local people are keen to reconnect with the site and these events ? and more to be announced ? will be a great way to do that. More details will follow soon.

Under our proposals, the castle will once again come under the management of the council?s Museums & Galleries service who will run it alongside our successful heritage venues of Wollaton Hall and Newstead Abbey. We have also committed to undertake a full assessment to determine the best option for the site?s long-term operation. I have no doubt that Nottingham Castle can become a destination of national and international importance, just as we had envisaged when the ?31m of improvements were completed.

More here

There are just two days left to give your views on a new plan to increase the choice and quality of student housing to help keep more homes for local families.

There are benefits to having two world-class universities, but it can also create some challenges, and the city, in any case, doesn?t determine how many student places the universities offer. Therefore it?s of critical importance that? Nottingham City Council, the University of Nottingham and Nottingham Trent University have formally committed to work to tackle any issues and work towards shared priorities.

We want Nottingham to be a safe, exciting, and welcoming place to live for all residents. To do this, they have set out three main priorities to make sure there is sufficient quality student accommodation available, that the impact on communities can be minimised and that students become valued members of the wider community.

We know the quality and management of shared housing is a concern for all residents, as well as students and their neighbours. Our Selective Licensing Scheme currently covers 45,000 properties and helps to improve the standard of private sector housing and better inform renters about their rights.

A public consultation closes on Friday 24 March 2023.?Find out more and have your say on the Student Living Strategy Consultation webpage.?

Social workers are dedicated professionals who deliver services to some of the most vulnerable in society and their dedication is recognised during Social Work Week and World Social Worker Day, which was yesterday.

A recruitment drive is underway at the City Council to attract more people to this challenging and rewarding profession. In January, we had had the first cohort drawn from our own staff starting on the Social Work Apprenticeship Programme. They will be joining our dedicated professionals in the community, working to improve the general safety, well-being and quality of life of those who need it. Experienced social workers are always welcome to apply for advertised jobs and the council also works with universities to recruit newly-qualified social workers.

I would like to say ?thank you? and also how much I appreciate the work that our social workers do for the citizens of Nottingham.? I?d also encourage you to take a minute to find out about social worker roles and training. It?s really important that the people who support us when we need some help understand our communities so have a think about whether that could be you!

For further information about social work at Nottingham City Council, go to www.nottinghamcity.gov.uk/socialworkjobs

We have adopted a new Waste and Resources Strategy for Nottingham. It outlines how waste and recycling can be managed differently in the city with the aim of improving recycling rates, saving resources and reducing carbon emissions.

We published our draft strategy last October and asked for your opinions, which have helped shape the vision, objectives and ambitions set out in the final strategy. We recognise that improvement must be delivered in the waste collection services provided, that the range of items collected to be recycled must be broader, and that better information has to be available to encourage everyone to do the right thing. We must also maintain a waste management service that protects public health and delivers clean and tidy neighbourhoods for people to live in.

Our ambition is to deliver a significantly better solution to managing our resources and waste. Our new strategy sets out what the City Council can achieve with your support. By working together, the small improvements in the decisions we take can all make a significant contribution to reducing our environmental impact on our city and the world.

More here

As we enter the pre-election period from next week, this will be my last Deputy Leader?s email to you in this council term.

I hope you have found these useful and a good source of news and links to advice and help during the cost of living crisis. As, in common with places like ours, many people are struggling to make ends meet, there?s been an emphasis on money advice and sources of help in my emails. It?s also a key focus of our Health and Wellbeing Board joint strategy, with financial wellbeing underpinning, as we all instinctively know, our ability to live healthily.

I?m pleased that we have been able to protect our network of advice centres and the council?s internal welfare rights service that many more Nottingham residents need as the rising cost of food, housing? and energy is making life so difficult for many in our city. We?ve tried too with our Money Pup campaign to get more people accessing the help and advice they need ? and to get people talking about it. If you are struggling to heat or eat, you are sadly in the company of many people in our city, and there is help that people like you are getting right now.

A great source of advice is the Council?s?Ask Lion Money pages. Whatever your financial situation, do your city a good turn and share this advice. I think it helps to get people talking too, which is never a bad thing.