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.
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Motion for the ocean
In November 2021, Plymouth City Council was the first in local government to make an Ocean Recovery Declaration using the ‘Motion for the Ocean’, a model motion ready to be adopted by local authorities across the UK.
Local government: the bedrock of democracy
The year 1997 was a very good one. It marked the start of a Labour government again after 18 years of Tory rule, and it was the time I decided …
Helping residents reduce their waste
In the wake of last year’s UN Climate Change Conference (COP26), which made such a mark on news headlines, the environment has become increasingly important to our residents.
Royal celebration can leave a lasting legacy
Councils are key to Her Majesty The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations, which will be taking place from 2- 5 June. As an official part of the weekend’s programme, The Big Jubilee Lunch is encouraging millions to get together to celebrate what matters to their community.
Living with covid
The requirement for people who test positive for COVID-19 to self-isolate has ended, with people expected to take personal responsibility if they may have the virus, as part of government plans to phase out all legal restrictions in England over the coming weeks.
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.