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Archive for category: News

There is an opportunity for local organisations and charities to apply to the Parish Council for a small grant.

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Parish Council Grants (April 2020)

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There is an opportunity for local organisations and charities to apply to the Parish Council for a small grant. This could be to help fund some new equipment, improve facilities or generally help the organisation to keep operating, particularly during these difficult times of Covid-19.

If you would like to apply for a grant then please submit your request in writing to the Parish Clerk at parish.council@abbotsbromley.com or to the address below before 7th May 2020. Please include as much information as possible about the organisation, what the grant is required for, when the money will be spent and any supporting quotations.

All grant applications will be considered by the Parish Council and you will be notified if you have been successful. You will then be invited to a future Parish Council meeting to receive the grant. Applicants can only be accepted from non-profit making organisations.

Sarah Meads
Parish Clerk
Marsh Farm
Uttoxeter Road
Abbots Bromley
Staffs
WS15 3EJ

Victory in Europe 75

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A number of local events have been planned, including toasts in our pubs, bell ringing, VE Dance, Afternoon tea with the AB choir, and a Commemoration service at the War Memorial on the Sunday.

Sadly, due to the current COVID-19 pandemic and the Government guidelines, these planned events can now no longer take place.

It is a poignant reminder that once again in the Prime Minister’s words,

“We are at war with the virus. A war that we will win”

We are sure that people will want to mark the 75th anniversary of VE Day in their own way at home, through recalling the many sacrifices that the country made on our behalf during the 2nd World War.

Sid Slater
Abbots Bromley Branch – The Royal British Legion

Abbots Bromley Parish Neighbourhood Plan – April 2020

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A Parish Neighbourhood Plan is currently being brought to the Draft stage for public consultation. This is being severely affected by the current COVID-19 pandemic.

At this time there is little that can be done to positively progress the production of the Plan. However, the Neighbourhood Planning Group are communicating and working from home to continue as best as possible with the process.

Please see below a directive recently received by the Parish Council in relation to referendum arrangements associated with Neighbourhood Plans, which will inform of the advice and guidance that we must follow:

Regulations linked to the Coronavirus Act 2020 mean that No elections or referendums can take place until 6 May 2021. This includes Neighbourhood Planning referendums. These provisions will be kept under review and may be amended or revoked in response to changing circumstances.

Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government (MHCLG) recognises there will be delays in progressing Neighbourhood Plans due to the social distancing measures currently in place across the UK. The updated planning guidance also provides further advice on the implications for conducting publicity and consultation, and examinations.

MHCLG understands this will be frustrating for communities that have dedicated significant time and effort to the neighbourhood planning process and naturally want their plans to come into force as soon as possible. With this in mind, they have updated current planning guidance to set out that Neighbourhood Plans awaiting referendums can be given significant weight in decision-making.

Staffordshire County Council COVID-19 Support Fund

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A co-ordinated effort across community and voluntary groups in our county is making a huge difference to isolated and vulnerable people. Local people are also stepping up to put projects together make a difference.

Now the new COVID-19 Support Fund has been set up to help keep this happening. It’s rapid, flexible funding to support communities to do their bit and to make sure that the voluntary sector continues to thrive now and after the crisis.

Each county councillor has £2,500 to support community groups in their area to be resilient, safe and connected. No match funding is required.

Funding can be used by:

community groups to support new community activity (individuals that have come together to run a project – individuals cannot be funded) to help:

  • people self-isolating or in quarantine
  • the community to be resilient against the wider impact of COVID-19
  • develop community networks to support either of the above

existing volunteer/community groups to:

  • keep activity running that is supporting people through the Covid-19 crisis
  • keep running – e.g. if they have experienced a loss of income through a lack of participants and still need to pay overheads

Local groups can find the form and the guidance information at https://www.staffordshire.gov.uk/Coronavirus/I-can-help/COVID-19-Support-Fund/COVID-19-support-fund.aspx – along with a range of other information for communities about the coronavirus and the work taking place.

Temporary Relocation of Burton Children’s Wards

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The NHS is currently facing an unprecedented situation regarding the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) pandemic. University Hospitals of Derby and Burton is taking measures to maintain safe staffing levels, due to increasing numbers of NHS staff who are self-isolating, and to meet the additional demands on services.

From 1 April 2020, staff who currently work in the two children’s wards at Queen’s Hospital Burton, and all children receiving care there at that time, will move to Derbyshire Children’s Hospital at Royal Derby Hospital. While A&E services at Queen’s Hospital will remain open to both adults and children, if emergency care is needed, families are encouraged to take children to Royal Derby Hospital Children’s Emergency Department where they will receive quicker care as this is where they would be admitted if required. If travelling by ambulance, children will be taken directly to Royal Derby Hospital. The nearest car park is number 5 and people should use entrance 18.

The relocation of services is a temporary arrangement to help the Trust cope with extra pressures and demands being faced as a result of COVID-19. Royal Derby Hospital has its own children’s emergency department and, as a larger unit, has capacity to safely care for the children who would usually be treated at both sites.

Neonatal services will remain at Queen’s Hospital Burton.

Krishna Kallianpur, Interim Executive Chief Nurse said: “Our priority is to continue to provide safe care for children and to do that we must maintain safe staffing levels by bringing together our experienced paediatric nurses and supporting teams.

“We are grateful to our colleagues on these wards who are rightly proud of the fantastic services we offer to Burton and surrounding areas. We really appreciate them being flexible as we do the right thing to keep our patients safe.”

The interim arrangement will be reviewed in three months when we have a better idea of the evolving situation and services will move back to Queen’s Hospital as soon as it’s safe to do so.

The Trust is writing to parents and carers of all children who are open access patients to let them know about the temporary arrangements.

Covid-19 Update from Abbots Bromley Parish Council

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We have received offers of help to collect prescriptions, go shopping or do whatever is needed to help people get through this time. If you or someone you know needs assistance then please to get in touch with the PC and we will happily arrange for a volunteer to contact you. Contact the Parish Clerk, Sarah Meads on 01283 840891 or parish.council@abbotsbromley.com

As many people will be aware the playgrounds, outdoor gym and football pitch are currently closed. The Parish Council will continue to follow government guidelines and will open these facilities as soon as is allowed.

Many staff at both Staffordshire County Council and East Staffordshire Borough Council are continuing to work but some have been allocated to different roles during this current crisis. To check how services will be affected at East Staffs Borough Council https://www.eaststaffsbc.gov.uk/emergency-planning/coronavirus/esbc-services.

The Parish Council continues to work throughout this time, however, communication will be made remotely between councillors and members of the public and all meetings have been cancelled until the government restrictions change. Further updates on this will be provided via social media, the village website https://www.abbotsbromley.com and on noticeboards.

Thank you once again to the whole village for pulling together at this time.

Coping with Covid-19

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If you are self-isolating and unable to get out to buy groceries, go for a walk or pick up prescriptions or if you are an NHS worker struggling to get to the shops then do get in touch and we will do what we can to help.

There have been several volunteers that have come forward who are willing to help so if you need support then please do get in touch with the Parish Council and we can ask one of these volunteers to contact you.

Many of the pubs and cafes in the village are offering take-away meals and the Top Shop is offering free delivery of supplies to those that are vulnerable so do give them a call 01283 840210.

Please check that your neighbours are ok. If you haven’t seen them for a while pick up the phone and give them a call to see if they need any supplies. Please also pass on the contact details below so that they have them to hand.

For any other help call the Parish Clerk, Sarah Meads on 01283 840891 or email parish.council@abbotsbromley.com

Beware Coronavirus frauds – Neighbourhood Watch

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Neighbourhood Watch logo The majority of reports are related to online shopping scams where people have ordered protective face masks, hand sanitiser, and other products, which have never arrived.

Other frauds being reported include ticket fraud, romance fraud, charity fraud and lender loan fraud.

Phishing emails – We have also received over 200 reports of coronavirus-themed phishing emails. These attempt to trick people into opening malicious attachments which could lead to fraudsters stealing people’s personal information, email logins and passwords, and banking details.

Some of the tactics being used in phishing emails include:

  • Fraudsters purporting to be from a research group that mimic the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and World Health Organisation (WHO). They claim to provide the victim with a list of active infections in their area but to access this information the victim needs to either: click on a link which redirects them to a credential-stealing page; or make a donation of support in the form of a payment into a Bitcoin account.
  • Fraudsters providing articles about the virus outbreak with a link to a fake company website where victims are encouraged to click to subscribe to a daily newsletter for further updates.
  • Fraudsters sending investment scheme and trading advice encouraging people to take advantage of the coronavirus downturn.
  • Fraudsters purporting to be from HMRC offering a tax refund and directing victims to a fake website to harvest their personal and financial details. The emails often display the HMRC logo making it look reasonably genuine and convincing.

Protect yourself

  1. Watch out for scam messages:
    Don’t click on the links or attachments in suspicious emails, and never respond to unsolicited messages and calls that ask for your personal or financial details.
  2. Shopping online:
    If you’re making a purchase from a company or person you don’t know and trust, carry out some research first, and ask a friend or family member for advice before completing the purchase. If you decide to go ahead with the purchase, use a credit card if you have one, as most major credit card providers insure online purchases.

    For more information on how to shop online safely, please visit: https://www.actionfraud.police.uk/shoponlinesafely

  3. Protect your devices from the latest threats:
    Always install the latest software and app updates to protect your devices from the latest threats.

    For information on how to update your devices, please visit: https://www.ncsc.gov.uk/guidance/securing-your-devices

For the latest health information and advice about COVID-19 please visit the NHS website.

If you have any information please call Police on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111

Covid-19 Cancellations

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Due to the current circumstances with the Covid-19 virus, the Surgery scheduled for Saturday, 21st March 2020 and the Parish Council meeting due to take place on Wednesday, 25th March 2020 have both been cancelled.

If you have anything you would like to raise with the Parish Council then please email parish.council@abbotsbromley.com or call 01283 840891.

Vacancy for Parish Councillor – March 2020

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When a vacancy comes up on the Parish Council, it can be filled either with a by-election or by the existing members of the Council co-opting a new member.

As the cost of a by-election has to be borne by the Council tax payers of the village, the new member is most often co-opted to save this expense. However, if ten or more electors request an election, one will be held. Such requests must reach the Electoral Officer at East Staffordshire Borough Council before 9th April 2020.

Anyone interested in the vacancy can contact the Parish Clerk for further details and/or to register their interest. (Email parish.council@abbotsbromley.com)

A formal notice can be viewed Vacancy for Parish Councillor (14.6 Kb).

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