Arrival of first Ukrainian families
With the arrival of the first Ukrainian families to their sponsors in Britain, I know you are preparing to help those sharing their homes and those who are arriving having escaped from this terrible war.
group leaders
Thinking beyond the pandemic
With the publication of ‘Levelling up the UK’ and its 12 quantifiable ‘missions’, which are to be achieved by 2030, we can now fully explain to the communities and people that we represent exactly what this agenda means for them.
Helping families with soaring living costs
In April, most families will be facing a perfect storm of soaring energy prices, rising inflation, and the extra burden of Conservative hikes to both National Insurance and council tax. Many will struggle to pay the bills – and Chancellor Rishi Sunak’s thin package of support simply does not go far enough for most.
Government plans to tackle sewage stink
Water companies pumped polluting and harmful raw sewage into water sources more than 400,000 times in 2020, according to Environment Agency data.
Levelling up means power to the few
The levelling up white paper has landed, heralding that bigger local government bodies, with power siphoned to the few, are better.
An end in sight to Omicron
I am writing this comment piece in the week that the Government has announced the ending of all restrictions that were introduced to combat the Omicron variant of the coronavirus.
It’s time to trust local government with more powers
One of the cornerstones of democracy is that the public can trust those that they have elected to govern, whether at a national or local level, and that those who make the rules will follow them.
A celebration of council housing
While out canvassing for a local by-election in my patch, I stumbled across the first council housing that was built in Gloucestershire, in the village of Mickleton.
Gearing up for the May elections
While we are still waiting for announcements on contentious levelling up and planning changes, Covid restrictions have been lifted.
The big issues that will shape our communities
I hope that all first readers were able to take some time off over the Christmas period, and I would like to wish you a happy new year and all the best for 2022.