Report for Parish Councils – April 2023.
| South Cambs District Council
Bank Holiday bin collection changes The addition of the Coronation to the usual schedule of Bank Holidays for Easter and the two May holidays means that over half the bin collections in April and May will be delayed by one or two days. Bin collection dates can be checked for any postcode in the district at https://www.scambs.gov.uk/binday , which also provides links to add bin calendars to your mobile phone. The cardboard, plastic and aluminium foil from Easter eggs can all be placed in the blue bin. The council is also reminding residents that in the UK, around £140 million worth of used but still wearable clothing goes to landfill every year. Please try to keep your unwanted items out of landfill by passing them on to someone who needs them. This can be done through neighbourhood Facebook groups, Gumtree ads, charity shops – some of which offer collections for large items – and even phone apps, like Olio.
New Government funding to decarbonise Council homes South Cambridgeshire District Council has successfully bid for £1.7 million Government funding, to continue work to decarbonise Council homes. This will be added to the projects the Council has already started to improve the fabric of its Council homes. It will also support other measures being put in place to help the Council achieve its own and the Government’s Net Zero targets. The money is coming from the Government’s Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund. The Fund is designed to upgrade a significant amount of the social housing stock across the country, that is currently below Energy Performance Certificate C, up to that standard. The District Council owns and maintains around 5,600 Council homes in South Cambridgeshire. The new funding will go towards energy efficiency upgrades within these homes. Energy saving measures such as exterior wall insulation, cavity wall insulation, loft insulation, new windows and doors, draft proofing measures, as well as heat pumps and solar panel installation can be provided with the funding. These measures could save tenants between £220 and £400 a year on energy bills.
More than £2 million had already been allocated to continue work to retrofit the Council’s existing housing stock over the next two years, as part of ongoing carbon reduction efforts. Solar panels have already been installed on almost 2,200 South Cambs Council homes to help tenants generate their own electricity. Nearly 870 solid wall homes have been fitted with external wall insulation.
English classes for Ukrainians More than 100 Ukrainian guests have learned English to help them settle into life in a new country thanks to classes funded by South Cambridgeshire District Council. The classes have transformed life for the children and adults of all ages and are part of a wider package of support from the Council since families began arriving from war-torn Ukraine almost a year ago. Guests have received free lessons as part of the Homes for Ukraine scheme and have praised the Council for helping them find the confidence to settle into their new communities.
Public encouraged to add Coronation events to digital map Members of the public and community organisations across the UK have been invited by the government to share how they will celebrate the Coronation on a digital map launched on 4 March. The map can be found on the Coronation website, linked below. The map is designed to encourage people to add their own Coronation Big Lunches, street parties, Big Help Out plans and other Coronation activities so others in the local community can find out about events near them and get involved. The Coronation website also includes information for getting involved, a toolkit including templates, a playlist, recipes, and designs. The Coronation will take place on the morning of 6 May at Westminster Abbey. Throughout the UK, Coronation Big Lunches will bring communities together on 7 May. The weekend of celebrations will end with the Big Help Out on 8 May, which will highlight the impact of volunteering. This will encourage people to get involved with activities run by local community groups, organisations and charities. Digital map to add events: https://coronation.gov.uk/events/
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| Peter McDonald
April 2nd 2023 |