Campaign for touch-free pedestrian crossings

Instead of pushing a button as a pedestrian, to get the lights to change, you move your hand under the button unit. Like touch free toilet flushing. The gadget detects the movement.

A simple way to avoid the button that is never cleaned and so many people touch so often - which is a COVID risk (and other infections)

The cost? £100 per pushbutton. So you could do every pedestrian controlled light in Yate for under £2000. So we suggested South Glos used some of the money it had been given for highways works resulting from COVID to do this. They refused point blank, even though other authorities have rolled this out. What do you think?

Have a look at:https://twitter.com/.../status/1322503676544585728/video/1

HAVE YOU DONE THE BIG YATE COVID-19 SURVEY YET?

 

Please will you help us by filling in our on line survey about COVID-19 and its impact on your family and our community. We have delivered 12,000 copies door to door to a sample of houses.

If you have not filled one in yet, you can help by doing the short survey on line - at southgloslibdems.org.uk/cv19-survey

Experts are telling us what we SHOULD be thinking, but this survey aims to find out what YOU think are the priorities and impacts round here - so we can press local councils and the MP to act on the things that are troubling YOU right now. This has been organised and funded entirely by volunteers - from the Lib Dem FOCUS team (as your councillors)

To every one of the high number of households who have returned the forms or completed on line so far - thank you, you are giving us a really good picture of the range of issues and impacts families in our town are facing - and what we could do to help

(Photo - Mike Drew with just one of the batches of survey forms)

BIG YATE LIB DEM COVID-19 SURVEY

Please will you help us by filling in our on line survey about COVID-19 and its impact on your family and our community. We are delivering 12,000 copies door to door to a sample of houses.

EVERYONE can help by filling in the short survey - on line (or on paper if one comes through your door) - at southgloslibdems.org.uk/cv19-survey

Experts are telling us what we SHOULD be thinking, but this survey aims to find out what YOU think are the priorities and impacts round here - so we can press local councils and the MP to act on the things that are troubling YOU right now. This has been organised and funded entirely by volunteers - from the Lib Dem FOCUS team (as your councillors)

(Photo - Mike Drew with just one of the batches of survey forms going to deliverers today)

Tory Councillors refuse to pay KEY WORKERS fairly.

How short are memories? During lockdown and shielding people depended on all sorts of key workers - and the gov and public praised them. But now, the Conservatives on South Glos Council have refused to increase pay to care workers and other key workers the Real Living Wages - £9.30 an hour. They were happy enough to agree to write to the PM asking for a medal for everyone who contributed during lockdown - but the Tories would not back Lib Dem & Labour Councillors who proposed the Council pay key workers a fair wage. Don't they get it is bread on the table key workers need?

We depend on them. We should pay key workers fairly.

https://www.southgloslibdems.org.uk/news

FOOD POVERTY AND FINANCIAL DIFFICULTIES

A reminder that support is available for those experiencing food poverty. There is a food banks in Yate for emergencies. Visit the One You South Gloucestershire website food support page for more information. Anyone in financial difficulty because of reduced income should check the information for residents page.

New round of Discretionary Small Business Support Grants

Applications are now open until 12 noon on Monday 13 July for a second round of Discretionary Small Business Support Grants.

The Discretionary Small Business Support Grants Fund provides support to some small and micro businesses with ongoing fixed property-related costs that are able to demonstrate a significant drop in income because of pandemic restriction measures. The grants help support businesses that did not meet the criteria for the existing Business Support Grant Schemes.

You can read more here:https://beta.southglos.gov.uk/business-support-grants-discretionary-fund/

PARKING & PUBLIC TRANSPORT

*** Parking restrictions are now being enforced again

*** From 15 June - next Monday - you will need a face covering to use buses or trains.

Here are a couple of links to guides on how to make them, whether you make a 1 layer basic or a 3 layer one. It also has links to where to buy them. But rather than using those sources to buy there are a number of residents in Yate who have been making and selling them.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-52609777

https://www.creativebloq.com/news/how-to-make-a-face-mask

NEW APP TELLS YOU IF BUS HAS SPACE

First bus is rolling out changes to its app - so it will tell you if there is space on the bus. They are running more buses, but because of social distancing they get full quickly. So this app will tell you whether there is space on the next bus. The app update will show a bus icon on a map depicting the live location and available capacity of each vehicle nearby.

Extended Self-Employment Income Support Scheme The government has extended the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme and confirmed next steps for furloughing. If you’re eligible for the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme, you will be able to claim a second and final grant in August worth 70 per cent of your average monthly trading profits. This will be paid out in a single instalment covering three months’ worth of profits, and capped at £6,570 in total. From 1 July 2020, businesses will be given the flexibility to bring furloughed employees back part time under the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme.

Extended Self-Employment Income Support Scheme

The government has extended the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme and confirmed next steps for furloughing.

If you’re eligible for the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme, you will be able to claim a second and final grant in August worth 70 per cent of your average monthly trading profits. This will be paid out in a single instalment covering three months’ worth of profits, and capped at £6,570 in total.

From 1 July 2020, businesses will be given the flexibility to bring furloughed employees back part time under the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme.

SMALL BUSINESS / ORGANISATION CASH

A new local emergency fund for Small Business has been launched. You can apply for a grant of up to £5000 through the 'Discretionary Fund for Small Businesses'. Deadline is 8th June to apply.

The fund will prioritise businesses in shared spaces (such as units in industrial parks, science parks and incubators which do not have their own business rates assessment), regular market traders, small charity properties that would meet the criteria for Small Business Rates Relief, and Bed and Breakfasts that pay council tax rather than business rates.

Other examples of the type businesses that could be eligible include:

• Independent businesses – those that are not eligible for Small Business Rate Grants due to payment to a landlord of all-inclusive rent

• Community organisations – those not eligible for Small Business Rate Grants due to payment to a landlord of all-inclusive rent

• Childcare Nurseries – those with a rateable value over £15,000 who will not have received business support grants to date, or that are not eligible for Small Business Rate Grants due to payment to a landlord of all-inclusive rent.

Applications are open until 8 June with eligible businesses expected to demonstrate a significant drop in income because of the coronavirus pandemic restriction measures.

For further information on eligibility, criteria, grant amounts and any other questions, please read the Discretionary Grants Fund FAQs www.southglos.gov.uk/discretionaryfund

Mortgage payment holiday extended

Homeowners struggling to pay their mortgage because of Covid-19 will be able to extend their mortgage payment holiday for a further three months, or start making reduced payments, in proposals published 22 May.

The availability of a three-month mortgage holiday was first announced in March as part of a package of support for individuals, businesses and the economy. Over 1.8 million mortgage payment holidays were taken up, and the first of these will be coming to an end in June.

You can read the full government announcement here.

The Financial Conduct Authority has published new draft guidance for lenders which you can read here. 

GOVERNMENT DITCHES SEND PUPILS

'We're all in this together' unless you are a child with special educational needs.A notice at the end of April told councils they would only need to show “reasonable endeavours” to fulfill their duty in pupils’ education, health and care plans (EHCPs) during May. The new powers also remove requirements to meet certain timescales around needs assessments, planning and review processes of plans until September 25. That means hitting the most vulnerable children - delaying them getting the support they need.

Now one brave teenager is challenging the government over this. It will directly affect her and she is now taking legal action against this temporary “relaxing” of the duty to our most vulnerable children.https://schoolsweek.co.uk/government-faces-legal-challenge-over-emergency-send-powers/

South Glos Lib Dem Councillors want the scientific advice on opening schools published

- so every single parent and individual schools can make an informed decision about the risks. This is our lives, our families, we should have the information we need to control our risks. For more info about what we are doing locally to try to get it published go to https://www.southgloslibdems.org.uk/school-opening-scientific-advice

https://www.southgloslibdems.org.uk/school-opening-scientific-advice

Confused about the new rules?

Confused about the new rules?

The simple advice is - if in doubt, don't.

If you’re confused about what you can and can’t do following the changes to the Covid-19 restrictions announced on Sunday night, you might find the answer to your questions in the FAQ published by the Government.

Don’t forget there are different rules in place in the other nations of the UK. So although you can now travel longer distances in England for exercise (without staying away overnight), you cannot nip over to Wales to exercise there.

The Government is now also advising people to wear face coverings in enclosed public spaces https://www.gov.uk/government/news/public-advised-to-cover-faces-in-enclosed-spaces?

Supporting your wellbeing

We are getting bombarded with advice.

Don’t forget the happy to chat fb page run by Yate Town Council and of course the local COVID support group fb page.

But here are some other resources:

South Glos have lots of advice and tips on how to maintain your mental wellbeing here. https://oneyou.southglos.gov.uk/stress-less/

They also have a dedicated website for supporting children and young people who may also be struggling with the uncertainty and impact of Covid-19. http://sites.southglos.gov.uk/mind-you/coronavirus-covid-19-useful-information/

If you would prefer to speak to someone to find out what support is available, call 0333 577 4666 or email communitysupport@southernbrooks.org.uk - between 11am to 7pm Monday to Friday, or between 12pm to 6pm Saturday and Sunday. Alternatively, Avon & Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership has a 24-hour helpline: 0300 3031320.

If you know of anyone who would benefit from this information please pass it on.

“Our  Frontline” is a new service formed by Samaritans, Mind, Shout and Hospice UK, supported by The Royal Foundation, providing round the clock support to all of those going to work as part of the national response to the Coronavirus. From supermarket staff to delivery drivers, social workers to police officers, Our Frontline provides mental health and bereavement support and tailored online resources. https://www.mentalhealthatwork.org.uk/ourfrontline/

Domestic Abuse

‘You are not alone’ - domestic abuse campaign

Next Link, to tell people that services are still open and isolation rules do not apply if you’re a victim of domestic abuse. You can view the video herehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pnei0znXyCc&feature=youtu.be&utm_source=South+Gloucestershire+Council+resident+update&utm_campaign=cc4abc7eba-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2020_05_05_01_09&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_fb4bc0c59a-cc4abc7eba-406237961

Call Next Link 0800 4700 280 or visit here: https://southglos.us3.list-manage.com/track/click?u=d80523c882d7ac64e89f5e037&id=90a47e4c0b&e=6e51487412

for help.

FREE courses are available

Still at home? Want to be better at numbers or computers? FREE courses are available

There are courses at all levels. The government is funding this, with courses picked carefully to suit YOUR needs.

https://theskillstoolkit.campaign.gov.uk/?utm_source=South%20Gloucestershire%20Council%20resident%20update&utm_campaign=cc4abc7eba-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2020_05_05_01_09&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_fb4bc0c59a-cc4abc7eba-406237961

New HMRC online tool for SELF EMPLOYED grant claimants

This new tool helps you find out if you are eligible to make a claim through the Self Employment Income Support Scheme. You will need your self-Assessment UTR (the long number you use for your tax return) and your national insurance number.

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/claim-a-grant-through-the-coronavirus-covid-19-self-employment-income-support-scheme?utm_source=South+Gloucestershire+Council+resident+update&utm_campaign=cc4abc7eba-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2020_05_05_01_09&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_fb4bc0c59a-cc4abc7eba-406237961

Fishing and Tennis

Fishing at Brinsham Lake

(Not a typo that is the correct spelling for the lake and park).

As angling is now permitted, a notice will be going up at Brinsham Lake containing guidance from: https://joinanglingtrust.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Phase-One-Individual-9.pdf

But remember, social distancing rules apply. Please remove all your rubbish - remember there are fewer people around to clean up after users of parks.

The Town Council announced last night:

Sunnyside Tennis Courts

A poster will be displayed at the tennis courts and online (social media/website) to advise that the tennis courts:

• are now available to be booked for public use subject to the hirer complying with the safe distancing rules (eg, playing with members of the same household or one other person staying two metres apart), full details of which can be found here;

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/staying-alert-and-safe-social-distancing?

• will be let at one court per booking so there will be no one playing on the other court at the same time (unless families from the same household wish to book both courts);
• bookings can be made on weekdays by emailinginfo@yatetowncouncil.gov.uk 24 hours prior to games being played and payment must be made via bank transfer.

We will be spacing bookings so there is a gap between them to reduce chances of social contact when one booking finishes/another starts (eg, booking 1 from 10am – 11am and booking 2 from 12pm-1pm etc).  

What difference with the new Gov strategy make? Changed arrangements?

What difference with the new Gov strategy make?Changed arrangements?

As local councils and firms wade through the 60 page document issued yesterday about what we are now allowed to do, and wait for the additional guidance coming today - it is unclear what it will mean for local services from tomorrow.

1. Don't expect sudden opening up of lots of things
2. Play areas and outdoor gyms will stay shut under government instructions
3. Courts eg basketball at Kingsgate, fishing, and possibly tennis (if cleaning arrangements can be sorted) will be open, but only on the strict social distancing rules, so groups playing a basketball game will still be against instructions
4. Picnics / sitting around with your household in the park will be allowed. You will be able to meet up with one person not in your household but only if you stay 2m apart. But remember things like park benches will not be sanitised so will present a risk - so best to avoid them

If you have any questions about what it means for local government facilities and services in the town, let us know, and we will get the relevant council to answer. They are working through the changes they can see the paper allows, but it would be great to get your requests and questions. We can't answer employment questions, but will try to get answers about facilities.......