Cheshire East joins forces with The Mersey Forest to boost tree planting ambitions

Cheshire East Council has become a member of The Mersey Forest partnership, supporting the council to significantly increase tree planting.

The council has an ambitious target of becoming carbon neutral by 2025, and influencing the wider borough to reduce their emissions. By partnering with The Mersey Forest, the council will have access to funding and expertise that can help Cheshire East to deliver on both their carbon neutral ambitions and the objectives set out in their environment strategy.

The announcement of this partnership comes during National Tree Week, which takes place from 28 November to 6 December and is the UK’s largest annual tree celebration, marking the start of the winter tree planting season (November to March each year).

Councillor Nick Mannion, Cheshire East cabinet member for environment and regeneration, said: “It’s great news that we have joined The Mersey Forest Partnership. This joint working will enable us to create high quality woodland that offsets our emissions as well as providing a range of other benefits to the natural environment, including engaging with and supporting community development.

“We are committed to taking action to tackle the climate emergency, but appreciate that planting woodland to offset carbon emissions is only part of the solution to the challenge of climate change.

“We are progressing other activities to address the emergency. This includes delivering innovative projects such as introducing green hydrogen into our refuse collection fleet, electrifying our highways vehicles and installing renewable energy onto our council buildings.”

Councillor Quentin Abel, Cheshire East’s climate change champion, said: “This is really good news and a positive step forward for us all, particularly as we are working to increase the number of trees within our borough.

“Trees, bushes and hedges do more than capture carbon – they also help to prevent flooding by holding water back and releasing it slowly into our streams and rivers. Trees can, and do, reduce pollution, support wildlife and help to keep soil nutrient-rich. They are directly and indirectly responsible for better health, both physical and mental.

“Walking in open woodland and even touching the soil have real positive benefits –improving skin and gut flora. A little bit of dirt does you good, as the old saying went.”

Paul Nolan, director of The Mersey Forest, said: “We have been growing The Mersey Forest for more than 25 years and are delighted that Cheshire East Council has joined us.

“We are looking forward to helping them on their journey to becoming carbon neutral by 2025 and supporting new woodland planting in their borough.

“The forest isn't just about carbon capture though. We've shown how trees and woodlands boost our local economy, reduce flooding, create new habitats for wildlife, improve health and wellbeing and increase community spirit.

“If you have land on which you would like to plant trees, please get in touch with The Mersey Forest for a site appraisal to check that the land is suitable – it’s all about the ‘right tree, right place'.”

You can view Cheshire East’s carbon neutral action plan and environment strategy at cheshireeast.gov.uk/environment.

Cheshire East Council to move to committee system form of governance

Cheshire East Council has voted to move to a committee system form of governance, replacing the current leader and cabinet model.

The new arrangements will take effect from May 2021 and will be legally binding for a period of five years.

At a special meeting of council on 19 November, members passed a formal resolution, which contained recommendations around the design principles and structure of the committees, the roles of both the leader and deputy leader and processes for decision reviews, including urgent decision-making.

The original notice of motion to move to a committee system form of governance was approved at a meeting of full council in May 2019. It called for the new arrangements to be developed during the 2019/20 municipal year with an implementation date of May 2020.

To ensure that a robust process could be fully in place prior to the new arrangements taking effect, group leaders took the decision in January this year to delay the implementation date to May 2021.

Councillor Sam Corcoran, leader of Cheshire East Council, said: “A change of decision-making arrangements by any local authority is a profound step and is a decision which is binding for five years.

“This is an important and significant change for Cheshire East, and to ensure we can adequately plan and drive forward preparations, the new system will now take effect from May 2021.”

Councillor Craig Browne, deputy leader of Cheshire East Council, said: “I would like to thank the constitution committee, and its working group, for the continued hard work done since May 2019 and also thank all councillors who continued to be engaged in the process and the officers who have supported and continue to support this process.”

Councillor James Nicholas, chair of the constitution committee, said: “I welcome this resolution to change our form of governance at Cheshire East.

“A committee system form of governance enables more elected members to be involved in decision-making – helping to ensure the process is fairer, with collective accountability across politically balanced committees.”

The period between now and May 2021 will provide time for the outstanding detail of the committee system to be agreed, and for extensive training and awareness for both officers and councillors.

The papers from the special council meeting can be viewed on the website at www.cheshireeast.gov.uk/council_and_democracy by selecting ‘Council meetings’.

Current Vacancies - Cheshire Constabulary

Current Vacancies - Cheshire Constabulary

---

Good afternoon,
Please see the Cheshire Constabulary Careers Current Vacancies List
https://mfss.taleo.net/careersection/mfss-external+cheshire+constabulary/jobsearch.ftl?lang=en
If the tab above does not work, this list can be accessed on our Cheshire Constabulary Website, at the bottom of the page on the left, it says Careers, press on this link, and then it will take you to the current vacancies list.
Thank you for your time and have a great day!
Kind regards,
PCSO Lizzie Jolley 22582
Haslington Police

Message Sent By
Lizzie Jolley (Police, PCSO, Crewe PCSO Haslington & Rural Villages in Cheshire East)

Weston Christmas Light Display

Weston Christmas Light Display

---

Good afternoon,
We wanted to make you aware of a local Festive Drive-Through events in Weston! This is being ran by local residents in our community, therefore we wanted to share this with you to show our support.
https://en-gb.facebook.com/westonlightdisplay/
Yesterday we helped to ensure roads were safe in the Weston Crewe, with Traffic Control.
We are simply politely asking that you please do not block the main road with queuing and come back at a later point in the evening if the traffic reaches the top of the drive way. This is to ensure that emergency vehicles and local residents can access their village.
Thank you and we hope that you enjoy the display.
Feel free to tell others about the Light Display, but remember to remind them to check their information about their tier system.
Kind regards,
PCSO Lizzie Jolley 22582

Improve Your Cyber Security By Taking Six Actions

Improve Your Cyber Security By Taking Six Actions

---

Dear Subscriber,
Due to coronavirus, more people will be doing their festive shopping online this year.
This means more opportunities for hackers to carry out cyber attacks. They often do this by targeting people and businesses using:
* email and website scams
* malware - software that can damage your device or let a hacker in
* If hackers get into your device or accounts, they could access your money, your personal information, or information about your business.
You can improve your cyber security by taking six actions:
1 - Use a strong and separate password for your email
If a hacker gets into your email, they could:
* reset your other account passwords
* access information you have saved about yourself or your business
* Your email password should be strong and different to all your other passwords. This will make it harder to crack or guess.
2 - Create strong passwords using 3 random words
When you use different passwords for your important accounts, it can be hard to remember them all.
A good way to create strong, memorable passwords is by using 3 random words.
Do not use words that can be guessed (like your pet’s name). You can include numbers and symbols if you need to. For example, “RedPantsTree4!”
3 - Save your passwords in your browser
Saving your password in your browser means letting your web browser (such as Chrome, Safari or Edge) remember your password for you.
This can help:
* make sure you do not lose or forget your passwords
* protect you against some cyber crime, such as fake websites
It is safer than using weak passwords, or using the same password in more than one place.
4 - Turn on two-factor authentication (2FA)
Two-factor authentication (2FA) helps to stop hackers from getting into your accounts, even if they have your password.
5 - Update your devices
Out-of-date software, apps, and operating systems contain weaknesses. This makes them easier to hack.
Companies fix the weaknesses by releasing updates. When you update your devices and software, this helps to keep hackers out.
6 - Back up your data
Backing up means creating a copy of your information and saving it to another device or to cloud storage (online).
Backing up regularly means you will always have a recent version of your information saved. This will help you recover quicker if your data is lost or stolen.
For more information, and step-by-step instructions, please visit cyberaware.gov.uk

Message Sent By
Action Fraud (Action Fraud, Administrator, National)

Destruction of Crewe Town part 2

Cheshire East Council’s local contact tracing service set to go live

Cheshire East Council’s locally supported Covid-19 contact tracing service is going live this week.

The new contact tracing service will not replace the national NHS Test & Trace system but is being designed to complement it.

The national test & trace team will provide the local team with a daily list of Covid-19 positive cases who they have been unable to contact within 24 hours. This can be for various reasons such as a lack of contact information or unavailability.

The council-run service will allow its own contact tracers to do welfare checks for residents who have tested positive and are required to self-isolate.

The purpose of the welfare check is to offer support, if required, during the isolation period. This support can include:

• Accessing essential supplies (such as food and medicines);
• Linking to social contact support services to prevent loneliness; and
• Financial support. If you are worried about falling into financial hardship as a result of having to isolate call 0300 123 5032 or visit https://www.cheshireeast.gov.uk/council_and_democracy/council_information/coronavirus/test-and-trace-support-payment.aspx

Dr Matt Tyrer, Director of Public Health for Cheshire East Council said: “It’s important that residents who have symptoms self-isolate immediately and only leave home to get a Covid-19 test.  If this test comes back as positive you must continue to self-isolate to avoid spreading the virus further. It is also a legal requirement. We are here to support our local residents in meeting that requirement and ensure they don’t suffer undue hardship as a result.

“Having the virus may make many people feel extremely tired, so it’s important that you drink plenty of water and rest to allow your body to fight off the virus and recuperate.

“Our local contact tracing team will be able to offer advice and information on where to access help and support should you need it.”

Councillor Jill Rhodes, cabinet member for public health and corporate services at Cheshire East Council, said: “This Cheshire East service will allow us to have a more personalised approach to contact tracing, our residents will be able to hear a friendly local voice at the end of the phone, who can offer tailored advice and support.

“We understand that when self-isolating many residents may need practical support such as shopping for food or financial advice to help with bills. Our People Helping People initiative links up local volunteers to offer community-based support. Full details about this and information on benefits and financial advice can be found at https://www.cheshireeast.gov.uk/council_and_democracy/council_information/coronavirus/coronavirus-covid-19.aspx”

If you need urgent, practical support to self-isolate, help is available in the form of a test and trace support payment. More information and how to apply can be found at https://www.cheshireeast.gov.uk/council_and_democracy/council_information/coronavirus/test-and-trace-support-payment.aspx

The Cheshire East Council service launches this week and will have a phased roll-out across the borough. If you receive a call from the Cheshire East Covid contact tracing team, please take the call as information gathered will help the council to stop outbreaks and bring case numbers down across Cheshire East. This will result in us all being able to get back to a more normal way of life more quickly.

A reminder of isolation requirements for households;

To reduce the spread of COVID-19 everyone who has symptoms must self-isolate at home and only leave to get a test. If they test positive, they must continue to self-isolate at home. This can save lives. You must by law take the following actions immediately;

• Self-isolate for 10 days;
• Those in your household must self-isolate for 14 days and;
• Inform your employer of your period of self-isolation if you are due to work during this period at any place other than where you are self- isolating

Self-isolation means:

• You must stay at home. Do not go to work, school or shopping;
• Do not send your children to school or nursery. They must stay home along with the rest of the household and;
• Do not invite friends or family into your home.

Failure to follow these instructions could result in a fine of up to £10,000.

Cheshire East welcomes government plans for ‘green industrial revolution’

Cheshire East has welcomed the government plan for a green industrial revolution, which supports the council’s ambitious target of being carbon neutral by 2025 and influencing carbon reduction across the borough.

The government’s plan sets out the approach that will be taken to ‘build back better’ – supporting green jobs and accelerating the national path to net zero carbon emissions. It brings together policies and significant new public investment to focus on ten priority areas aimed at tackling the climate emergency.

Among the ten points are plans to drive growth of low carbon hydrogen, accelerate the shift to zero emission vehicles, increase green public transport, cycling and walking and make buildings more energy efficient. The plan also details how the natural environment will be protected.

The council has already agreed a carbon neutral action plan and environment strategy, which clearly set out how Cheshire East can remain a green and sustainable place and highlight priority actions to reduce borough-wide emissions.

Councillor Nick Mannion, cabinet member with responsibility for environment and regeneration, said: “We are committed to taking action to tackle the climate emergency and welcome the plans the government has set out.

“The government plan complements our carbon neutral action plan, which focuses not only on how our 2025 carbon neutral target will be achieved, but also on how we will encourage all businesses, residents and organisations in our borough to reduce emissions. 

“We are already responding to the green industrial revolution through training staff and members on carbon and climate change and are developing resources to support town and parish councils to respond to this challenge.

“Cheshire East is delivering innovative projects such as introducing green hydrogen into our refuse collection fleet, electrifying our highways vehicles and installing renewable energy onto our council buildings.

“We have planted 6,000 trees this year and have joined the Mersey Forest, which will help us to deliver significant increases in tree planting to absorb our carbon emissions.

“We are committed to taking actions that will have a positive impact on the environment and create opportunities to benefit our borough and will continue to make the required transformational changes to tackle the climate and environmental emergency.”

Councillor Quentin Abel, Cheshire East Council’s climate change champion, said: “The measures announced by the government are a welcome step in the right direction.

“The ambition and the desires are there. It is not yet world-leading by any measure but hopefully the government is beginning to understand the real importance of climate change and the environment to the whole of humanity.

“Words sadly are cheap. It will be the actions that make the difference.

“I note the recent government increases in the defence budget, which is of course important, particularly in relation to cyber threats. However, I would urge government to put an even greater spending emphasis on climate change and the environment, which is ultimately about the defence of humanity.

“If we use this opportunity properly, we as a nation will be better protected, happier and healthier.

“What we really need though is foresight, real planning for the future. Or that future will not involve us.”

You can view the carbon neutral action plan and environment strategy at cheshireeast.gov.uk/environment.

Cheshire East Youth Council hosts virtual ‘Taboo’ mental health conference

Cheshire East Council has showed its commitment to mental health in young people by teaming up with its youth council for a special conference on Tuesday (24 November).

Cheshire East Youth Council named the conference ‘Taboo’ to highlight the stigma that is still attached to mental ill health, which can often lead to making the issue more difficult for young people to manage.

It’s one of many activities of a youth council campaign aimed at signposting young people to support services and encouraging them to talk about mental health issues and seek help if they are struggling.

The virtual event brought together more than 120 delegates including children and young people from 13 schools and frontline professionals from the council, health and community organisations. On the day young people took the opportunity to discuss mental health issues that affect them, and the ways in which professionals can best support them.

Workshops were delivered on the topics of resilience, mental health first aid, five ways to wellbeing, male mental and emotional health, transition into adulthood, and the impact of Covid-19.

Cheshire East Council, partners and young people have been working together to develop services that support the issue of happiness and mental health since the formation of the Cheshire East Children’s Trust in 2015. Listening to and acting on what children, young people, parents, carers, and people who work with families say, is a key element of their plans.

Ruben Barrow, Cheshire East member of youth parliament, said: “For the last three years, young people across Cheshire East have voted mental health as one of their top issues as part of the annual UK Youth Parliament ‘Make your Mark’ ballot. This ballot provides a voice for young people and helps to establish the biggest issues they face.

“Our Taboo conference is just one of the ways we’re reaching out to young people in Cheshire East and letting them know that they are not alone, and that help is available.”

Amelia Oldroyd, Cheshire East member of youth parliament, said: “Today has been about listening to the experiences of young people and working together with schools to share and learn. Our aim is to create a community which cares and to provide someone to talk to, who understands.

“As someone who struggled with mental health issues during high school, I know how important it is to stop the stigma, and create an open culture in schools where we can talk about these issues and make people aware that support is available for those that need it.”

Councillor Kathryn Flavell, Cheshire East Council cabinet member for children and families, said: “Young people told us that they want more information on mental health services that are easy for them to access.

I’d like to thank our members of youth parliament and the youth council for a fantastic event. I’d also like to thank all the children and young people, who shared their views and suggestions on how we can develop services to support mental wellbeing and improve access across Cheshire East.

“We know that the current restrictions and changes to daily life can lead to children and young people feeling frustrated, angry, scared, anxious and alone. Today’s event featured some useful tips and ideas to look after your mental health during the pandemic and recognised that it’s OK not to feel OK. 

“There is help and support out there and I ask children and young people to remember that they are not alone. Take the first steps and talk to someone today, we are in this together and lots of young people are feeling the same as you.”

To seek mental health support, children, young people and their families can find help at the council’s online mental health information point: www.cheshireeast.gov.uk/mentalhealthinfopoint

To get involved in the Cheshire East Youth Council visit: www.cheshireeast.gov.uk/livewell and search for ‘youth council’ or email participation@cheshireeast.gov.uk

Surge In Online Shopping Fraud

Surge In Online Shopping Fraud

---

Dear Subscriber,
Reports of online shopping fraud have surged by 30% over the pandemic as many of us continue to shop online in light of current restrictions.
Figures from Action Fraud show that criminals conned 17,407 shoppers out of almost £13.5 million over the Christmas period last year, an increase of over 20% when compared to the same period in 2018.
Action Fraud is warning the public to take extra care when shopping online, ahead of Black Friday and Cyber Monday, as shoppers search for bargains and gifts for loved ones in the run up to Christmas.
Top tips to shop online securely this festive season:
Where to shop:
Making a purchase from an online store you haven’t used before? Carry out some research first, or ask a friend or family member if they’ve used the site and about their experiences before completing the purchase.
Your information:
Only create an account if necessary or to save you effort if you’re going to use that site a lot in the future. Be cautious if the website asks you for details that are not required for your purchase, such as your mother’s maiden name or the name of your primary school.
Payments:
If you decide to go ahead with the purchase, ensure that the webpage where you enter your payment details is secure (website address starts with “https”). Using a credit card to pay online also means that should the worst happen and your payment details are compromised, your main bank account won’t be directly affected.
Phishing:
Some of the messages you receive about amazing offers may contain links to fake websites. Not all links are bad, but if you’re unsure, don’t use the link – go separately to the website. Report any suspicious emails you receive by forwarding them to: report@phishing.gov.uk You can also report suspicious text messages by forwarding them to 7726.
For more information about how to shop online securely, please visit:
actionfraud.police.uk/shoponlinesafely

Message Sent By
Action Fraud (Action Fraud, Administrator, National)

Cheshire East wants your views on first ever customer experience strategy

Cheshire East Council has launched a public consultation on its first ever customer experience strategy and is asking residents and businesses to share their views.

The consultation, which begins today and will end on 15 January 2021, seeks to engage with residents and businesses to gain their views on the council’s commitment to really consider their customers, delivering the best outcomes for the diverse range of people living and working in Cheshire East.

The strategy sets out the vision to put customers at the heart of everything the council does. The results of this consultation will help to ensure the strategy captures what a good experience should be for different types of customer – however and whenever they choose to make contact.

Cheshire East acknowledges that many services are delivered in partnership with other organisations, such as central government and the health service, and this strategy describes how the council will join up services where possible to provide value for money.

The customer experience strategy sets out how the council aims to:

• Work as one organisation to offer a clear and consistent experience for customers;
• Ensure staff have the knowledge, skills, capability and tools to deliver a positive experience, however and wherever a customer interacts with the council;
• Deliver what customers need at the first point of contact;
• Have clear information for customers to access on all services;
• Keep customers informed of progress and provide information which clearly sets out services, access routes and waiting times;
• Use innovative technology to support digital access to services, and;
• Provide value for money

Cllr Amanda Stott, cabinet member with responsibility for customer services, said: “With an estimated population of 384,000, Cheshire East is the third largest local authority in the North West, so it’s really important that we understand our people.

“Our customers may not have a choice of councils to deal with, but that doesn’t mean we can’t strive to ensure their experience with us is consistently of a high quality, that we adapt to changing needs and respond to feedback when designing and delivering our services.

“I am really pleased with the work that has gone into this strategy – the first of its kind for Cheshire East. Thank you to staff who took time to share their views during the internal consultation – their feedback has helped to further develop areas of the strategy before we launched this public consultation.

“This strategy is a great starting point in transforming the experience our customers have with us for the better. I look forward to helping the council really drive this forward.”

The consultation on the customer experience strategy starts today and will close on Friday 15 January 2021. To have your say, complete our consultation online.

New Funding Available For Community Safety Projects

New Funding Available For Community Safety Projects

---

Cheshire police and crime commissioner (PCC) David Keane has launched a new fund that police officers and PCSOs will bid for to work with local residents on projects which make their area safer.
Each of the 122 policing communities in Cheshire will be allocated a £1,000 grant for bids that address community safety issues. An additional £10,000 will be allocated to each of Cheshire’s eight Local Policing Units to support larger scale projects which address local issues.
This Community Police Fund links directly to the recently launched initiative to increase police visibility in every community by providing a dedicated Police Constable (PC) and Police Community Support Officer (PCSO) for all 122 areas.
The fund has been developed using money seized under the Proceeds of Crime Act (PoCA) 2002 to send a clear message to criminals that crime doesn’t pay.
PCC David Keane said: “By taking out the profits that fund crime and reinvesting them into community, we can help prevent further offences and increase community safety.
“This fund will empower each of our 122 community PCs and PCSOs to work directly with local communities on tailored projects which make a real difference to your local area.
“They will work with you and with key partners in the local authority to develop a problem solving approach to prevent crime and anti-social behaviour.”
Each local police team will work closely with their local community as they look to develop bids for the projects which also must meet the priorities in the Police and Crime Plan. Bids must be submitted to the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner (OPCC) directly by local policing teams.
Grants will be awarded to new, one-off projects that leave a legacy as opposed to continuous year-on-year commitments. This could be, as an example, a road safety project, community engagement activities or a project which supports vulnerable people.
For more information on this fund and how it could benefit your area, please contact your local police team by emailing crewe.lpu@cheshire.pnn.police.uk

Message Sent By
Daniel Millington (Cheshire Police / Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service, Media Officer, Corporate Communications)

Queens Park Crewe November 2020

New initiatives to help schools deliver remote learning

Cheshire East Council has been working very closely with its schools to develop programmes to help learners respond to the challenges of school lockdown.

Since the first lockdown was announced in March, there has been a period of great innovation in remote education to ensure that students don’t miss out on what would usually be delivered through face to face learning in school.

The council has established innovative practice, which directly helps learners to get the best remote learning opportunities, should children need to be educated away from their school setting.

One example of this is the ‘EdTech Demonstrator’ programme, where an initial take up of more than 30 schools have set up an action hub accessing bespoke training in information technology – co-ordinated through the council.

The council is also targeting more disadvantaged learners to give them the best learning opportunities. This work has involved a programme with the Educational Endowment Foundation, which collects all national research into what works best for learners when having to work remotely.

All schools are having to address gaps in learning and establish catch up programmes for pupils. The council has set up a 20-session training and development package for teachers to meet literacy needs through ‘Literacy Counts,’ with a similar programme being planned for numeracy.

Councillor Kathryn Flavell, Cheshire East Council cabinet member for children and families, said: “These initiatives show a clear local authority commitment to embrace collaborative working and the collective support to meet the needs of all our learners.

“It is really pleasing to see this in action with so many fantastic opportunities being accessed through these national and local initiatives. 

“The added pressures of Covid means it is very challenging to find quality time in schools to access training. I thank all staff and leaders, who are going above and beyond to embrace these fantastic opportunities to make a difference for their learners.”

All initiatives are available to maintained schools and academies.

the 12 Scam Saves of Christmas - Cheshire East Age UK

---

“Tis the season to save lolly!” - It may seem that there’s too much to go wrong in
cyberspace to bother shopping online; but fear not - with these 12 scam saves of Christmas you can enjoy the benefits for online shopping whilst avoiding scams too:
REMEMBER:
• If it’s too good to be true it usually is. Don’t fall for it!
• Always use reputable websites when shopping or searching online.
• Research a website or company as much as possible before buying goods from them.
• Create a different, strong password for each of your online accounts. A recommended method is to use 3 random words together. For extra security, set up two-factor authentication’ which means you get a code sent to your phone to use.
• Type in the website address (the ‘URL’) in full into Google or other search engines. Avoid clicking on a link in an email, text or post, as this may take you to the fraudster’s site instead.
• Pay securely - check the address bar at the top left of the screen to make sure that the website address begins “https”. The ‘S’ stands for secure. There should also be a closed padlock image in front of the ‘https’.
• Don’t be ‘click-happy’! NEVER rush in to making a purchase.
• Don’t pay for anything by transferring money directly to people or companies you don’t know. Use secure payment methods such as Paypal, ApplePay etc.
• When you’ve finished paying, make sure you log out of the page or app. Simply closing it may not log you out automatically.
• Check URL’s of emails to ensure they are genuine. Scam emails are usually littered with spelling and grammar mistakes.
• Avoid ‘free’ or ‘low-cost’ trials – whether slimming pills or the latest tech. Without thoroughly reading the small print and trusted reviews, you could be signing up for large monthly direct debits which are difficult to cancel.
• Check your bank account regularly for any unknown transactions.
If you have been a victim of an online scam, report it to Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040
or at www.actionfraud.police.uk.
If you are having issues with something you have ordered online, call Citizens Advice on
0808 223 1133.
Always contact your bank immediately if you have transferred money to the scammer in the last 24 hours or you think your account details or PIN have been stolen.
Many Thanks
Pcso Penny Probin

Have your say on Cheshire East Council’s household waste recycling centre consultation

Cheshire East Council is inviting residents to have their say on a household waste recycling centre consultation.

The council currently runs eight household waste recycling centres (HWRCs) for use by residents. The contract for this operation ends in 2023 and therefore preparation for the procurement of a new contract is starting to take place. 

Cheshire East Council’s approach to waste management is determined by its recently reviewed Municipal Waste Management Strategy.

The key aims of this strategy are to continue to encourage residents to reduce the amount of waste they produce, reuse any items, recycle and compost all they can and as a last resort, to place waste that cannot be managed any other way in the black bin. The council are striving to run a service that delivers the best for the environment.

Part of waste management is the provision of HWRCs, and the strategy shows that it is the council’s responsibility to ensure that the service remains fit for purpose and follows industry best practice.

The current contract comes to an end within three years and therefore the council will review the future service provision through Ansa, their wholly-owned environmental services company.

To have your say, complete the consultation online by using

https://surveys.cheshireeast.gov.uk/s/HWRCReview2020/

The deadline for completion is 5pm on Monday 4 January 2020
If you would like to receive this questionnaire in another format, please call customer services on 0300 123 5511, who will organise for a copy to be sent.
Once the consultation closes, the council will analyse all responses, produce a summary report of them, and publish this online on their consultation web pages.

Council urges hidden carers to register for support on Carers Rights Day

Cheshire East Council is urging the many thousands of unpaid carers to register for help and support via the Cheshire East Carers Hub on Carers Rights Day.

It is estimated that Cheshire East has more than 40,000 hidden carers, who are people from all walks of life, young and old who provide support to family or friends, who couldn't manage without this help. Many feel that they're doing what anyone would do in the same situation in caring for a mother, father, wife, husband, son, daughter or best friend. It is estimated that around three in five people will be carers at some point in their lives.

The Cheshire East Carers Hub provides information, advice and a wide range of specialist support services, designed to help adult and young carers continue in their caring role for as long as they choose and reduce the impact the caring role can have on their own health and wellbeing.

Anyone who thinks they are a carer is urged to register with the Cheshire East Carers Hub by calling 0300 303 0208, emailing enquiries@cheshireeastcarershub.co.uk or by visiting www.cheshireeastcarershub.co.uk. Help is on hand which includes a 24/7 carers helpline, support to access funds and grants, access to counselling and help with health and wellbeing activities.

The call for carers to register with the Carers Hub comes on Carers Rights Day on Thursday 26 November – a day that aims to ensure that carers are aware of their rights, lets them know where to get help and supports and raises awareness of their needs. 

Recent research by Carers UK shows that:

• Four in five unpaid carers (81 per cent) are currently providing more care than before lockdown;
• More than three quarters (78 per cent) of carers reported that the needs of the person they care for have increased recently;
• Most carers (64 per cent) have not been able to take any breaks at all in the last six months; and
• More than half (58 per cent) of carers have seen their physical health impacted by caring through the pandemic, while 64 per cent said their mental health has worsened.

Councillor Laura Jeuda, Cheshire East Council cabinet member for adult social care and health, said: “We recognise the impact that this pandemic is having on our unpaid carers, and without help and support, they can find themselves struggling and isolated with what can be very physical and emotional demands, and potentially risking their own health and wellbeing as a result.

“Whether you are a new carer or have been caring for someone for a while, it’s really important that carers understand their rights and are able to access the support that is available as soon as they need it.

“I ask anyone who thinks they are a carer to take those first steps to getting the support you are entitled to. Please get in touch and register with our Carers Hub, giving you access to a wealth of services and support including a caring voice at the end of a phone who really understands.”

Alec, a carer from Middlewich, said: “It took me a while to make that first step and register with the Carers Hub, and I’m so glad I did.  Through the hub, I talk to other carers where we chat about things ranging from dementia to cake-making!  It really does help me when I talk to other people who know what you are going through and pick up lots of hints and tips.

“You can be involved with the hub as much or as little as you want, it’s up to you really but it’s so reassuring that they are at hand if you need it.  For example, on Carers Rights Day we are receiving free advice from a solicitor on powers of attorney.

“It’s so important that people like me, who spend time caring for someone they love, look after themselves, which is where the Carers Hub comes in.  I would encourage anyone to give it a go. Nothing ventured, nothing gained.  They really do care and go the extra mile and I appreciate it.”