Schoolchildren in Gedling borough are to benefit from free school meals during October half-term
Nottinghamshire County Council has announced that it will continue to fund Free School Meals in the October half-term and the Christmas two-week break.
Councillor Tracey Taylor, chairman of Children and Young People’s Committee, said that the Council recognised the cost of living challenges were impacting on large numbers of people and was grateful to receive the funding to continue the support until the end of the year.
The £15-per-week vouchers will be distributed to those eligible by their schools.
It is estimated that more than 25,000 school children across the county will receive 250,000 meals this October half-term.
Councillor Taylor said that she was delighted the grant will help families who most need it during the school holidays.
Coun Taylor added: “This will be very welcome news to families across Nottinghamshire and it will be one less thing for them to worry about this winter.
“This council was one of the first in the country to support the Free School Meals initiative in March 2020 and I’m very pleased that we will continue to back it.”
Coun Taylor praised the efficient and effective way the vouchers were distributed by schools and the close working relationship between the council and head teachers.
She commented: “The Council’s budget is under huge pressures, and while this is not a long-term solution, Government has made the funding available to support low-income families across Nottinghamshire this winter and that is good news for hundreds of families.”
The local authority said it received complaints about a car sales business operating from Angela Close in April 2021.
It said photos and registration logs showed cars were being sold from the property by the tenant, with customers viewing cars and paperwork being exchanged on the driveway and the residential street.
The local authority said it received complaints about a car sales business operating from Angela Close in April 2021.
It said photos and registration logs showed cars were being sold from the property by the tenant, with customers viewing cars and paperwork being exchanged on the driveway and the residential street.
Internet adverts for the same vehicles demonstrated that a business was being operated from the address, the council said.
In addition, vehicles were being prepared for sale at the premises with vacuum cleaners photographed in use on vehicles and visits from valeting companies.
The activity was noted at various times of day, including late at night.
The council wrote to both the owner and tenant of the property in May 2021 advising that the business use was unauthorised and should cease immediately.
In response to the letter, the owner wrote to his tenant on June 3 advising that any business use ceases. Despite contact from the council and owner of the property, the business activity continued.
On August 24, there was another car on the drive for sale with an associated internet advert.
The car was later photographed being sold by the tenant on the street.
In September, the council received reports of another vehicle on the driveway awaiting sale.
At this time, the property had transferred ownership and the managing agent for the new owner said they had written to the tenant stressing that the activity ceases.
The tenant made first contact with the council via email on September 15.
He gave assurances that he would cease the activity. He admitted to selling “a few cars a month” but disputed it amounted to a breach of planning control.
The council has, however, received reports that cars are still being stored at the property in relation with the business.
Councillors met on Wednesday, October 13, at a planning meeting to agree that enforcement action is taken.
The council said: “Angela Close is a residential cul-de-sac within the built up area of Redhill comprising of detached two storey properties.
“Number 4 Angela Close is located at the end of the cul-de-sac adjacent to the turning head.
“The use of the premises to operate a car sales business is not incidental to the enjoyment of the dwelling house and requires planning permission. No such permission has been applied for nor granted.
“This area of Redhill is characterised by well-kept and well-presented residential properties. There is no other commercial use in the immediate vicinity. The operation of a car sales business is an alien feature at a residential property and is out of character for this residential street.
“It is considered that the level of activity on site and number of vehicular movements associated with the use is detrimental to neighbours’ amenities and will cause noise and disturbance to the occupiers of nearby dwellings affecting their enjoyment of their homes.
“It is considered the business is likely to cause an increase in vehicle movements, with customers viewing and purchasing vehicles.
“Evidence submitted to the council indicates that the highway is being used to park vehicles that are for sale as well as those of customers.
“It is noted that at times, vehicles associated with the business activity are being parked in the turning head of the cul-de-sac and across neighbouring driveways, resulting in little room for other users of the road to turn vehicles around or access property.
“Although the tenant has given written undertakings to cease the use of the residential premises for the car sales business, cars are still brought to the site for storage.
“In any case the operator of the business has been told numerous times since April 2021 to cease the business activities from home but failed to do so.”
The council will now commence enforcement action without delay by issuing a planning enforcement notice requiring the end of the unauthorised business.
It will also see the removal of the vehicles which are being stored for sale, and if the notice is not complied with then the council said proceedings should be taken in the courts if necessary.
Sainsbury’s has confirmed that its new supermarket in Colwick will be open in time for local people to do their Christmas shopping.
The supermarket giant says it expects to be able to announce the opening date in the next few weeks.
Construction is nearing completion on the new 50,000 sq. ft. Sainsbury’s supermarket on Loop Road.
The internal fit-out works are currently taking place, building signage has been installed throughout the store helping it to come to life, and the ‘Pay@Pump’ Petrol Station and external landscaping are also nearly finished.
Sainsbury’s has committed to investing £1 billion over 20 years to become a net zero business by 2040 at the latest and the new Colwick store is leading the way in sustainable development by featuring a wide range of measures to ensure that it is fit for the future.
Once open, Sainsbury’s new supermarket will use only renewable energy and be reliant on no fossil fuels. It will be highly energy efficient, using 25% less energy than stores of a similar size did 3 years ago, and will also feature the latest technology in refrigeration. Alongside a Sainsbury’s signature bee hotel, Electric Vehicle Charging Points will be installed in the car park, a proportion of which have been specifically designed to be more accessible to disabled customers and others who need additional space.
The store will provide an impressive selection of food and non-food products for local people, including Sainsbury’s popular Tu Clothing range, Habitat home products, and an Argos store inside the store, enabling customers to collect Argos purchases whilst picking up their groceries.
The new store is providing a substantial investment into the local area, delivering around 200 jobs for local people across a range of roles and levels. The new Store Manager, Paul Wain, has been successfully building his team over the past few months and looks forward to welcoming local people into the store.
Paul Wain, Sainsbury’s Colwick Store Manager, said: “It’s fantastic to see the new supermarket coming to life I’m looking forward to leading the new store team for this much-anticipated supermarket, which will improve shopping choice for local people. We’re working hard to make sure we can provide the best possible service for our customers and we can’t wait to open our doors to the local community in the near future”.
Sainsbury’s Property Director Patrick Dunne said:“I’m extremely pleased to see the progress we’ve made on the new supermarket in Colwick. We understand that local people are keenly awaiting the new store and we are looking forward to meeting all of our new customers before Christmas.
“We’re passionate about providing a store for Colwick that sets the bar for sustainability and responsible development, as part of our pledge to become a Net Zero Business by 2040 at the latest”.
An outpouring of tributes from Gedling borough figures has followed the tragic death of Conservative MP Sir David Amess.
The 69-year-old MP was attacked earlier today at Belfairs Methodist Church in Leigh-on-Sea with a 25-year-old man arrested at the scene by police on suspicion of murder.
Cllr John Clarke (Lab), leader of Gedling Borough Council, told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: “First and foremost condolescenes. He might have been a different political colour but he is a human being doing his job. I am absolutely appalled by the news.”
Nadia Whittome, MP for Nottingham East (Lab), said: “Horrific news. My thoughts are with David Amess, his family, friends and office staff.”
Tom Randall, MP for Gedling (Con), told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: “I’m shocked, completely shocked at this horrible news. Sir David was a committed MP; decent and kind. He will be much missed.”
Deputy leader of Gedling Borough Council, Councillor Michael Payne tweeted: “He was just doing his job. So utterly heartbreaking.”
— Michael Payne 🏴🇬🇧🏳️🌈 (@MichaelPayneUK) October 15, 2021
Ernehale councillor Councillor Roxanne Ellis tweeted: “Horrific news about David Amess. He was doing his job and serving his constituents at a surgery. My thoughts go out to his family and friends at this awful time.
The Ferry Boat pub in Stoke Bardolph will remain open despite the sale of land it occupies.
The land which houses the iconic riverside Public House and associated car park and football pitches was sold this week at auction by Nottingham City Council, who own the property.
The council were forced to sell in a bid to balance their books.
The guide price for the sale of the land was 180,000-200,000 and it fetched a price of £214,000 at auction.
It is not known who yet won the auction.
The auction guide states: “The Pub is subject to a lease and is not affected by this sale.”
PICTURED: The Ferry Boat at Stoke Bardolph
The pub owners Greene King has a lease agreement with 49 years remaining.
The pub is run under their Hungry Horse chain.
Nottingham City Council announced last month that it will now have to sell off some of its assets including land in order to claw back nearly £1bn of debt it owes.
The Council has been warned that Government commissioners could take control of the Labour-run authority if it does not make satisfactory progress on reducing its huge debt.
The Labour-run authority has three years to get its house in order on the back of a string of financial issues including setting up a failed energy company, Robin Hood Energy.
The pandemic has cost the authority £66.5 million due to lost income from leisure centres, parking income and the Theatre Royal and Concert Hall being closed at the height of restrictions.
Despite Government grants and compensation of £50.1 million, it has left the local authority with “an unfunded Covid-19 gap” which now stands at £19.4 million.
This is coupled with the high amount of external loan debt it has acquired of £932.7m, from which it has managed to shave off £141.8m over the last year.
Shoppers will now be able to pay up to £100 using contactless card payment services at some stores across Gedling borough from today.
You may remember that at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, the payment cap was increased to £45 to help reduce the need for customers to handle cards and cash due to concerns about the virus being transmitted via surfaces.
But today’s payment limit increase to £100, announced last week, is the most significant yet.
The latest increase was initially announced in March’s budget but will not be available everywhere straight away however, as some businesses and retailers still need to roll out changes to their technology, while others may choose not to adopt the new limit at all.
The British Retail Consortium said consumers should check with individual stores, as it could take “days, weeks or even months” for the change to be put in place.
Here’s what we know so far…
Why is the limit being increased?
The decision to increase the limit was taken by the Treasury and the City regulator, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), and was announced last week, but it was first teased during the Budget back in March.
Chancellor Rishi Sunak said the decision to increase the limit to £100 would not only be more convenient for shoppers, but it would also be a boost to the High Street following several lockdowns.
When contactless card payments were introduced in 2007, the transaction limit was set at £10 and designed as an alternative to small change – but the limit has been gradually raised five times over a number of years since then.
It increased to £45 last year, as the pandemic accelerated a move away from cash.
The increase also comes after it was found that more than a quarter of all payments in the UK were contactless in 2020, according to figures from the banking trade body UK Finance, with 83% of people using the technology.
Why can’t all retailers increase contactless payments?
Sadly, not every shop is ready to facilitate the new limit from today,
Due to the huge number of terminals which need to be updated, this means that Friday marks the first day of a gradual introduction of the new limit.
Andrew Cregan, who is Payments Policy Adviser at the British Retail Consortium, said: “It may take days, weeks, or even months for some retailers to make the necessary changes in their systems so that the new limit can take effect.”
“Some retailers may also choose not to adopt the new contactless limit,” he added.
“As a result, customers will need to take care when making payments to check what the maximum contactless limit is for individual stores.”
Are they any risks?
Some experts and organisations have spoken out to make shoppers aware of the risks as the limit increases to £100, warning that the change will make contactless cards more of a target for fraudsters, or cause problems for people who are struggling to stay in control of their spending.
Age UK has also warned that because the raising of the limit could increase the potential for fraud, it may therefore put some older people off using bank cards to pay for goods and services when they’re out and about.
Because of this, several banks across the UK have said they will also allow account holders to set a contactless limit of less than £100, or even turn it off altogether.
Gareth Shaw – Head of Which? Money – added: “While paying with contactless offers great flexibility and convenience for many people, some may be wary about the significant increase – so it is encouraging to see some banks allowing customers to set their own contactless limits from as low as £30.
“These changes may make contactless cards slightly more attractive for fraudsters, but encouragingly the risk of being defrauded via a contactless card remains low and if a fraudster does use your card details then your card provider should reimburse you.
“Consumers should be able to feel confident using them.”
More than 130 patients with Covid-19 are in Nottinghamshire’s hospitals – 16 of which are in a critical condition.
Public health managers also said the rate of infection is starting to now increase among the over-40s and over-60s and pleaded with people to remain safe.
Rosa Waddingham, from NHS Nottingham and Nottinghamshire’s Clinical Commissioning Group, said “a large proportion of people seriously ill with Covid” had not been vaccinated.
Public Health Nottingham said the lowest uptake in the city for the jab was among the ages of 25 to 40 – with around two thirds of the city now fully vaccinated.
Lucy Hubber, Director of Public Health in Nottingham, told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: “Trying to understand why that might be really begins to come down to some people’s individual risk assessment.
“That they think they are young enough to not get very poorly but they are old enough that they don’t really want to go into the nightclubs and the bars they will need the Covid passes for. So, really important we get across to people that Covid actually is still really serious and transmissible.
“The vaccine helps reduce serious illness and death and reduces the spread of Covid as well. So even if you think you are not likely to get very poorly you might spend time with people who are vulnerable and you taking the vaccine will protect them.”
She also praised the student population of the city who had gone in their droves to get both jabs.
Currently there are 137 beds occupied by Covid-19 patients across Nottingham and Nottinghamshire’s hospitals – 16 which are in a critical condition.
Booster jabs are now being offered from Saturday, October 16, at Mansfield Vaccine Centre and King’s Mill Hospital in Sutton-in-Ashfield.
The booster jabs will also be available from the Forest Recreation Ground from Thursday, October 21, for anyone who had their second jab six months ago.
Jonathan Gribbin, Public Health Director for Nottinghamshire, said: “Over the last few weeks there are increases (of positive Covid tests) in older age groups – over 40s and over 60s.
“What we are seeing is consistent with a picture of widespread community transmission. The advice to act carefully and cautiously is for everyone.”
In Gedling borough, the seven-day rate is 485.5 per 100,000 people.
He said the highest rates of infection remain in Bassetlaw, where there is a case rate of 671 cases per 100,000 people, and Broxtowe has the lowest at 460 cases per 100,000 people.
In the city, the rate is 250 cases per 100,000 people.
Staff at a care home in Arnold are to get a pay increase as a reward for their efforts during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Residential and dementia care provider, Ideal Carehomes, which operates Coppice Lodge has announced a £1.5M per annum investment in its team by awarding a 5% salary increase to all hourly paid staff.
This is on top of the 2% increase already applied in April this year and takes all salaries above the current real living wage.
All frontline care staff will benefit from the rise, which will mean over £1000 extra per year for a Care Assistant before tax, and Ideal Carehomes has put the increase in place as a thank you for their continued dedication.
Managing Director, Stacey Linn, said, “I am so proud of the whole Ideal Carehomes team.They put themselves on the frontline throughout the height of the Covid-19 pandemic and were full of courage and commitment at a time when we all knew very little about the virus.
“Our pay rates were already higher than average but this 5% extra is a thank you for everything our dedicated and highly skilled teams have done and continue to do.”
The pay rise comes shortly after Ideal Carehomes organised a glittering internal awards ceremony to celebrate team members who have gone above and beyond in their roles.
It also reflects the ongoing focus on supporting employees who have worked through recent challenging times. Staff have been given access to onsite counselling services, a wellbeing pathway has been put in place for physical and mental health and each team member received a HERO medal as a keepsake of the role they played on the frontline of the pandemic.
Linn added: “We are a people business and our people are at the core of everything we do.
“It is our job to ensure that they are rewarded for their dedication and commitment via employee recognition and pay but also by supporting them through the tough times.
“As we all welcome a return to our ‘new normal’, our team continues to provide outstanding care for our residents and we will continue to care for our team.”
GP surgeries across Gedling borough could soon be named and shamed in new league tables if they fail to provide patients with the appropriate level of “access”.
The NHS is planning to plough millions of pounds into a new package of measures aimed at improving access to GPs across the UK, with patients being given a new right to demand face-to-face appointments.
But practices which fail to provide an “appropriate” level of face-to-face appointments will not be eligible for the new funding.
Patients will also be able to rate their GP practice’s performance via text message.
GP telephone systems will also be upgraded to reduce long waits over the phone, social distancing in practices could be changed or reduced, and patients will be able to see nurses, pharmacists and paramedics at GP practices.
The measures will also see GPs freed from some red tape and other parts of the NHS will be called upon to help with some care – such as other healthcare workers being given new powers to provide patients with fit to work notes or DVLA checks.
NHS England said the measures, including a £250 million winter access fund, will enable GP practices to improve availability and increase the number of face-to-face appointments and same-day care.
Nottingham East MP Nadia Whittome, who represents residents in Mapperley, condemned the move.
She said: “Maybe instead of telling GPs how to do their jobs, Sajid Javid should get on with his job.
“Fund the NHS properly, recruit the 6,000 GPs he promised, and sort out the long waiting lists making GPs’ jobs harder.”
The British Medical Association (BMA) also slammed the plans, with General Practitioners Committee chairman Dr Richard Vautrey saying: “GPs across England will be truly horrified that this is being presented as a lifeline to general practice, when in reality it could sink the ship altogether.”
The Royal College of GPs (RCGP) called on the Government to fulfil its manifesto pledge of an additional 6,000 GPs and 26,000 other primary care professionals in the workforce by 2024 – a target that is highly likely to be missed.
Professor Martin Marshall, chair of the RCGP, said: “We know some patients prefer to see their GP face to face – but good care can and is being delivered remotely and some patients prefer it.”
Sajid Javid explained his new approach for NHS surgeries.
He said: “I am determined to ensure patients can see their GP in the way they want, no matter where they live.
“I also want to thank GPs and their teams for their enormous efforts in the most challenging times in living memory.
“Our new plan provides general practice teams with investment and targeted support.
“This will tackle underperformance, taking pressure off staff so they can spend more time with patients and increase the number of face-to-face appointments.
“Alongside this we are setting out more measures to tackle abuse and harassment so staff at GP surgeries who work so tirelessly to care for patients can do so without having to fear for their safety.”
The new blueprint will also include action on new efforts on how to tackle abuse of staff.
The NHS said it will work also with the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges to develop a zero-tolerance campaign on abuse of NHS staff, including GP teams.
