SOUTH LAKELAND DISTRICT COUNCIL

News release

9 August 2022

CHANGES MAKE DISABLED FACILITIES GRANT SCHEME MORE INCLUSIVE

South Lakeland's Disabled Facilities Grants (DFG) scheme has been modified to make it even more inclusive.

The scheme helps pay for changes so people can stay living independently, with South Lakeland District Council undertaking eligible works up to a value of £30,000.

Subject to a test of financial resource, households may be asked to make a contribution but the level at which the means test will now be applied to mandatory grants has been increased from £5,000 to £10,000. Where the adaptation is for a child or young person there is no test of financial resource for the first £30,000.

SLDC's Cabinet was told that the cost of DFG work in the past six months, particularly for level-access showers, which account for about 80 per cent of DFG grants, had been exceeding £5,000.

Councillor Helen Chaffey, Portfolio Holder for Housing, said: "This is a response to increasing costs and a definite move on our part to make this worthwhile scheme which makes a real difference to people's quality of life more accessible.

"Increasing the means test threshold will cut down waiting times for applications and the start of work.”

Typical DFG adaptations are:

• stair lifts
• wet floor shower areas
• access ramping.

SLDC can help with the planning and design of the work along with Cumbria Social Services and health occupational therapists.

You can apply if you are:

• registered or registerable as disabled (your social worker or occupational therapist can tell you this) and an owner-occupier or tenant. Social housing tenants may be able to get help from their housing association to adapt their homes;
• acting on behalf of a person with disabilities who lives in your home;
• a landlord acting on behalf of a tenant who has disabilities.

Councillor Suzie Pye, Portfolio Holder for Health, Wellbeing and Poverty Alleviation, said: "It is vitally important that this support is there for individuals who need it and that it is as accessible as possible. This change will remove any unnecessary delays which could cause inconvenience and suffering.

"I urge anyone who feels they could benefit from this scheme to have a look on our website and find out what is available and if they are eligible for this support."

For more information on the scheme, go to: https://www.southlakeland.gov.uk/housing/housing-support-and-grants/disabled-facilities-grants/

For advice and assessment from a county council occupational therapist if you live in South Lakeland, contact: 01539 713378/713343/713111/713334 or email kendalssd@cumbria.gov.uk

Ends

For more information, please contact the SLDC Communications Team on 01539 793300.

**Friends of the Elderly- Grants for Older People** Local Authorities can act as one of the specified referral agents

https://www.fote.org.uk/our-charity-work/grants-2/

-The funding is intended to support older people living on low incomes in England and Wales.

-Four grant streams are available to help with home essentials, digital connection, financial support and essential living costs.

-The maximum grant value for Digital Connections, Home Essentials or Financial Support is £400, or £500 for households where two or more people are eligible for grants

-The maximum grant value for Essential Living Costs is £250.

-Who can apply

- Applications are only accepted from a Referral Agent who knows the older person in a professional or community capacity, including

housing associations, Local Authorities, charities, community organisations, social workers, advice providers, health centres, cultural and religious centres etc.

-A doctor/GP surgery can be a referrer, but only if they are willing to submit the application and follow through on its outcome.

The older person must be:

-Currently residing in England or Wales.

-In privately owned, privately rented, or social housing (not in residential care or a nursing home).

-Of UK state pension age.

-On a low income and with savings of less than £4,000.

-Have not served in the UK Armed Forces.

8 August 2022

TIME RUNNING OUT TO APPLY FOR PANDEMIC BUSINESS SUPPORT FUND

South Lakeland's business rates relief scheme for firms affected by the coronavirus pandemic and previously ineligible for support closes at the end of this week.

South Lakeland District Council has £2,109,829 to distribute through the Covid-19 Additional Relief Fund (CARF) to businesses affected by Covid but ineligible for previous support schemes and not able to adapt – such as in the manufacturing, food distribution, wholesale or supply chain sectors.

Businesses can apply online and details about eligibility and a link to the application form can be found at: https://www.southlakeland.gov.uk/business-and-trade/business-rates/business-rates-relief-and-reduction/covid-19-additional-relief-fund-carf/

Applications close at 11.59pm on Sunday 14 August 2022.

Government guidance states that reductions should be made under the CARF scheme to assist those ratepayers who have been adversely affected by the pandemic and who were unable to adequately adapt to that impact.

Councillor Robin Ashcroft, SLDC portfolio holder for Economy, Culture and Leisure, said: "We have had a good response to the South Lakeland Covid-19 Additional Relief Fund but there is still time for eligible businesses to apply.

"The effects of the pandemic on businesses are still being felt and this scheme has the potential to provide much-needed support to sectors which were previously ineligible for government support.

"I would urge anybody operating a business which they think fits the criteria for support through this new scheme to check on our website and apply."

The CARF scheme will be open to all ratepayers who meet the following criteria:

• Not eligible (or would be eligible) for the Expanded Retail Discount (covering Retail, Hospitality, and Leisure), the Nursery Discount or the Airport and Ground Operations Support Scheme (AGOSS);

• Not a council (including parish and county councils);

• Not entitled to either Small Business Rate Relief or Rural Rate Relief granted at 100 per cent;

• Not entitled to mandatory relief (80 per cent) and discretionary (top up) of 20 per cent which is funded through business rates retention:

• The hereditament is treated as occupied by the council:

• The ratepayer confirms that they have been adversely affected by the pandemic and have been unable to adequately adapt to that impact;

• The ratepayer is not subject to subsidy control.

SLDC cannot award relief to:

• Businesses in receipt of, or eligible for, the Expanded Retail Discount and the Nursery Discount, for example: shops, restaurants, cafes, pubs, hotels, self-catering accommodation;

• Businesses that do not have a charge to pay in the 2021/2022 financial year due to the receipt of other reliefs;

• Businesses that are not in occupation in the 2021/2022 financial year;

• Businesses who have already received the maximum amount of subsidy allowed;

• Businesses that are in administration, insolvent or where a striking-off notice has been made.

Ends

Sustainable Warmth Cumbria Grants: Sustainable Warmth Cumbria Grants (carlisle.gov.uk)

Cumbrian district councils have secured funding to run the Sustainable Warmth scheme, which aims to install energy saving measures into over 1,300 homes across Cumbria.

You could be eligible for a grant up to £25,000 towards insulation and low carbon heating measures, if your household income is below £30,000 and your home has a low energy performance.

The scheme offers a range of energy efficiency improvements such as solid wall and cavity wall insulation, heat pumps, solar panels, underfloor insulation and first-time double glazing.

The grant is even available for private landlords to apply for qualifying tenants with up to £5,000 of funding available.

Free Energy Saving Advice from Cold to Cosy Homes Cumbria: Cold to Cosy Homes Cumbria - CAfS

Cold to Cosy Homes Cumbria is here to offer FREE energy saving advice and equipment to help you make your home warmer and more comfortable.

The Cold to Cosy Homes team has already helped hundreds of households to save money on their heating bills as well as do their bit for the planet by using less energy.

You or someone you know could benefit from a FREE advice phone call from a qualified assessor, who will advise you on the services you could benefit from.

These could include:

• Energy-efficient equipment such as FREE LED light bulbs, sent to you in the post
• Professionally installed draughtproofing
• Help with your energy bills and advice on switching energy tariff
• Referral to support agencies or for other grants

If you or someone you know has a health condition, is on a low income or is bereaved or moving in and out of homelessness, Cumbria Action for Sustainability can provide them with free advice and support. We can also help people in a range of other circumstances, including certain benefits. You can have a look at our broad eligibility criteria online, or just give us a call and we can advise.

You can apply for yourself, or for someone else.

At Cumbria Action for Sustainability, we have been helping people to save energy in their homes for more than 20 years. We run the service in conjunction with the Local Energy Advice Partnership (LEAP) and councils in Cumbria, supported by funding from the Energy Industry Voluntary Redress Scheme.

If you need more information, please contact a member on our team on 01768 216500.

Kind regards

Kate

NEW PANDEMIC FUND OPEN FOR BUSINESSES UNABLE TO ACCESS SUPPORT

Businesses in South Lakeland affected by the coronavirus pandemic and previously ineligible for support are being urged to apply to a new business rates relief scheme.

South Lakeland District Council has £2,109,829 to distribute to businesses affected by Covid but ineligible for previous support schemes and not able to adapt – such as in the manufacturing, food distribution, wholesalers or supply chain sectors.

Government guidance for the Covid-19 Additional Relief Fund (CARF) states that reductions should be made under the CARF scheme to assist those ratepayers who have been adversely affected by the pandemic and who were unable to adequately adapt to that impact.

There will be an online application process. Details about eligibility and a link to the application forms can be found at: https://www.southlakeland.gov.uk/business-and-trade/business-rates/business-rates-relief-and-reduction/covid-19-additional-relief-fund-carf/

Applications close at 11.59pm on 14 August 2022.

Councillor Robin Ashcroft, SLDC portfolio holder for Economy, Culture and Leisure, said: "The effects of the pandemic on businesses are still being felt and this scheme has the potential to provide much-needed support to sectors which were previously ineligible for government support.

"I would urge anybody operating a business which they think fits the criteria for support through this new scheme to check on our website and apply.

"Supporting businesses in South Lakeland is a key priority for SLDC and we are committed to doing everything we can to make the best and most effective use of this money."

The CARF scheme will be open to all ratepayers who meet the following criteria:

• Not eligible (or would be eligible) for the Expanded Retail Discount (covering Retail, Hospitality, and Leisure), the Nursery Discount or the Airport and Ground Operations Support Scheme (AGOSS);
• Not a council (including parish and county councils);
• Not entitled to either Small Business Rate Relief or Rural Rate Relief granted at 100 per cent;
• Not entitled to mandatory relief (80 per cent) and discretionary (top up) of 20 per cent which is funded through business rates retention:
• The hereditament is treated as occupied by the council:
• The ratepayer confirms that they have been adversely affected by the pandemic and have been unable to adequately adapt to that impact;
• The ratepayer is not subject to subsidy control

We cannot award relief to:

• Businesses in receipt of, or eligible for, the Expanded Retail Discount and the Nursery Discount, for example: shops, restaurants, cafes, pubs, hotels, self-catering accommodation;
• Businesses that do not have a charge to pay in the 2021/2022 financial year due to the receipt of other reliefs;
• Businesses that are not in occupation in the 2021/2022 financial year;
• Businesses who have already received the maximum amount of subsidy allowed;
• Businesses that are in administration, insolvent or where a striking-off notice has been made.

Ends

Summer is coming!!!

You've no doubt seen the publicity about a heatwave, even if there's not great sign of it in Cumbria just yet.

We're not currently due to get the hottest of the weather, but it is likely to get warmer, particularly from Sunday until Tuesday.

A couple of things to bear in mind here......

Young children and older people are more vulnerable to extreme heat, and it's sensible for everyone to stay out of the worst of it and well stay well hydrated. There are some public health graphics below, and some key public messages at the end of the Heatwave plan attached - feel free to use these on social media, etc, or to watch out for the messages from partners and share those.

Water safety is also a concern in Cumbria - swimming in our lakes, rivers and in the sea is great for those of us who are used to it, but as you'll know, it's very different to swimming in a pool, and people often get caught out by that.

There's a message from John Beard, Chief FIre Officer (and LRF Chair) below:

As the weather gets warmer, people are likely to seek cooler conditions by the coast, by lakes and by rivers. Unfortunately there have been many tragic incidents involving open water, and if partners could continue to share with #BeWaterAware message (Be Water Aware (nationalfirechiefs.org.uk)) it would be appreciated. Risks include Cold Water Shock, and more information can be found atCold Water Shock – the Facts | Royal Life Saving Society UK ( RLSS UK ). Guidance on Open Water Swimming can be found atOpen Water Swimming Safety Advice And Tips – RNLI.

SOUTH LAKELAND DISTRICT COUNCIL

News release

13 July 2022

SLDC COMMITS TO FURTHER GREEN BUSINESS SUPPORT

South Lakeland District Council has increased its commitment to supporting small businesses better manage their environmental impacts and reap the benefits of going green.

SLDC has increased its contribution to its partnership with Green Small Business (GSB) to offer a heavily subsidised deal for firms to get environmental advice and certification.

GSB provides streamlined environmental management systems and net zero support for small businesses. Their environmental action planning and certification package, which includes 12 months Green Small Business certification, usually costs from £299. SLDC is paying 50 per cent of these costs for businesses in South Lakeland.

Tim Maiden from GSB said "Green Small Business provides a straightforward, low-hassle, low-cost way for you to manage the environmental impacts of your small business with tailored environmental policies and plans, green certification and support for becoming a net zero business.”

"We enable you to take practical and meaningful steps to improve the carbon and environmental performance of your business.

"Green Small Business certification can enhance the reputation of your business among customers and staff, increase the markets you can access and save you money."

The package of support includes:

• A high-level but systematic review of the environmental impacts of the business (via video-call or phone);

• A draft environmental action plan and policy for the business, for you to adjust as necessary;

• 12 months Green Small Business certification.

The benefits to a small business of becoming Green Small Business certified include:

• Providing evidence of environmentally-friendly practices which can help secure contracts with government, public or private sector bodies;

• Saving money by understanding and managing how you use energy and water, where your raw materials come from and how you dispose of waste;

• Enhancing reputation by demonstrating commitment to the environment to clients, customers and potential customers;

• Improving your environmental performance by reducing resource use, energy use and waste.

Councillor Dyan Jones, SLDC's Portfolio Holder for Climate Action and Biodiversity, said: “It is great to see so many businesses in South Lakeland taking their environmental impacts seriously and taking steps to reduce them. We at SLDC are delighted to be able to extend our offer, through Green Small Business, of expert support which will see more enterprises become increasingly energy efficient and environmentally aware."

Councillor Robin Ashcroft, Portfolio Holder for Economy, Culture and Leisure, said: "Working with the environment in mind should not be seen as a blocker to success in business. Becoming Green Small Business certified can enhance a business’s viability, profitability and attraction to customers, clients and partners, and I would encourage any small business which hasn't already done so to consider SLDC's subsidised offer of help."

If you are a business based in South Lakeland, email info@greensmallbusiness.com to receive your discount code.

To find out more, go to https://greensmallbusiness.com/south-lakeland-business-support.

CUMBRIA COUNTY COUNCIL

MANOR OF

BROUGHTON IN FURNESS

PROCLAMATION OF THE FAIR

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN THAT THE
VICE-CHAIRMAN OF CUMBRIA COUNTY COUNCIL, COUNCILLOR BILL MCEWAN, WILL READ THE ANNUAL PROCLAMATION, ON BEHALF OF THE LORDS OF THE MANOR OF BROUGHTON, IN THE MARKET SQUARE, BROUGHTON IN FURNESS, AT 12NOON, ON MONDAY 1 AUGUST 2022.

Here at CAfS we’re currently recruiting residents across Cumbria to become Community Climate Champions.

This is a brilliant opportunity for enthusiastic people to develop their skills at the same time as empowering other members of their community to take action on climate change. We thought that the people in your parish might be interested? There is also grant funding available to support community actions designed to help reverse climate change – something that climate champions could potentially access for a project on behalf of the parish.

If one of your parishioners became a climate champion, this would be a fantastic way for your town or village to contribute to Cumbria’s ambitious net zero carbon plan by 2037 (click here for more details). Please don’t delay in sharing the message as the opportunity to apply closes 9am Weds 6th July.

The champions will attend our accredited Carbon Literacy course, worth £139, and get full support to put on their own events in and around their area.

We hope this is an opportunity you’ll be able to share in your networks and social media channels? To make it really quick and easy for you, we’ve written some social media posts for you to cut and paste to your social media channels, and optimised an image too. Feel free to edit the posts of course! If you’re planning on sending a newsletter soon and have space to squeeze us in, we’ve also included a short article that you might like to include. Feel free to send any of the posts in the word document attached, in a WhatsApp message as well.

I really hope that you’re able to share this opportunity. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Best wishes,

Clare Taylor

Community Climate Champions Coordinator

Cumbria Action for Sustainability

A number of bits of funding have been announced nationally recently to help with the rise in the cost of living - the national schemes announced by the chancellor are summarised here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/cost-of-living-support/cost-of-living-support-factsheet-26-may-2022

Locally, Cumbria County Council's Cabinet yesterday approved £2m fundingto support a range of measures, including more support linked to free school meals, including increases in school uniform grants:

https://news.cumbria.gov.uk/News/2021/schoolclothinggrantsreceive500kboost.aspx

We know there are likely to people who are eligible for free schools meals who aren't currently claiming them - so it'd be really helpful if people could publicise the information about how to do so, and the additional benefits that are linked to them - all in the press release above.

NEWS RELEASE – Announcing a New Service

Admin and More introduces a brand new service that gives assistance to people applying to the Access to Work Scheme.

Today, Admin and More announced the launch of their Access to Work Assistance Scheme an assistance service to truly give people a disability a cost effective and convenient way to apply for the scheme and relieve the stress that the Access to Work process can bring when going through the process.

“We’d do anything to help our customers” said Elizabeth Wright, Director of Admin and More, “so as soon as we found out that many of our customers were in serious need of assistance to help them apply for Access to Work as well as the ongoing claims process that wouldn’t break the bank, but would guarantee professional results, we knew we had to do something.

Admin and More’s new Access to Work Assistance Scheme is designed to overcome the problem of the stress and the very long process of applying to Access to Work. We help people with a disability by taking the hard work from them for the application process and claims process. We know from experience and the clients we work with that the process for applying for Access to Work can be stressful and can in some instances put people off from applying.

“The response from our customers has been better than we could have imagined” said Elizabeth Wright “not only are our customers enjoying professional results, they’re finding that they can free up their own time and spend more time on running their businesses whilst we apply for their support.

Business owners with a disability could be eligible for funding through the Access to Work scheme, which helps cover the cost of any practical support a person with an impairment may need to start or stay in work, as well as funding to help pay for any adaptations to the working environment or installation of any special equipment

Take a look at our packageshttps://adminandmore.co.uk/access-to-work

**Additional Information**

Access to Work is a scheme that allows anyone with a disability to access resources to enable them to work. However, to apply to the scheme, you need to fill in a lot of paperwork, which can prove overwhelming for many people.

Admin and More have launched a series of packages to assist you in applying for the scheme. From the initial application process to submitting the claims, we can assist you and make your life easier and access the help you need.

Admin and More have worked with clients on the Access to Work scheme for four years, so we are experienced in submitting claims and also putting together any information for the application process that you need.

Call me, Elizabeth Wright on 01933 428151 for a free consultation.
Contact: Elizabeth Wright, Admin and More Tel: 01933 428151 Website: www.adminandmore.co.uk

The Westmorland and Furness Council election count has concluded.

The results for the Westmorland and Furness Council elections are now available at https://www.westmorlandandfurness.gov.uk/

The count was held today after elections were held in 33 wards in the Barrow, Eden and South Lakeland areas.

There was a 37.97% overall turnout.

The make-up of the Shadow Authority for Westmorland and Furness Council is:

Conservative: 11

Green: 1

Independent: 2

Labour: 15

Lib Dem: 36

As the cost of living crisis looms large in our communities, we wanted to make you aware of the range of support available to anyone who may need it. Please find attached a booklet outlining support available across Cumbria along with a leaflet listing food support available in South Lakeland.

More information can also be found on the County Council website;Cost of Living Support | Cumbria County Council

To find specific support with accessing food in your local area, you can also do a search by postcode using this link;Welfare - help with food | Cumbria County Council

You are welcome to share this information widely and with anyone who might find it useful.

Best wishes,

South Lakeland Area Support Team

To gather information on communities and organisations in Cumbria that are involved in (or planning to get involved in) supporting people from Ukraine Carolyn Otley Community Resilience Officer Cumbria CVS has developed a Survey monkey questionnaire

https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/CumbriaUkraine

More information about the Government's "Homes for Ukraine" scheme can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/homes-for-ukraine-scheme-frequently-asked-questions

18 February 2022

HELP SHAPE THE FUTURE OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Are you interested in helping to shape the future of local government in Cumbria?

Anyone considering standing to become a councillor on the new Westmorland and Furness Council is being invited to an online briefing event to learn more about the election process.

The online briefing is being held Wednesday, 2 March, for agents and potential candidates looking to stand for election to Westmorland and Furness Council.

From 1 April 2023 local government in Cumbria is changing, as the current six district councils and Cumbria County Council will be replaced by two new unitary authorities.

In the area currently covered by Barrow Borough, Eden District and South Lakeland District councils a new authority, Westmorland and Furness Council, will be taking over providing all the services currently delivered in those areas by district and borough councils and the county council.

As part of the complex process to set up the Westmorland and Furness Council, elections will take place in May this year to elect 65 councillors in new wards across the Westmorland and Furness area. These councillors will be elected for a five-year term of office, the first year on a ‘Shadow Authority’ that willoversee the planning and preparation for the new unitary council, followed by four years on Westmorland and Furness Council.

The Shadow Authority will have important business to conclude before April 2023, including adopting a constitution and code of conduct for the Westmorland and Furness Council and appointing a cabinet and leader.

They will also designate interim officers to key statutory positions so that the new council can legally operate and will take decisions to prepare for the running of all services currently carried out by the county, borough and district councils from April 2023.

The existing county, borough and district councils will continue to operate and deliver services until April 2023 and the Shadow Authority will work alongside, until Westmorland and Furness Council ‘goes live’ on 1 April 2023. It will be at that point the Shadow Authority and its 65 councillors become the new Westmorland and Furness Council and the existing county, borough and district councils will be dissolved.

Anyone who is interested in standing for election to Westmorland and Furness Council is being invited to attend the online briefing, starting at 5pm on 2 March 2022, being hosted by the election Returning Officer, Sam Plum, who is Chief Executive of Barrow Borough Council.

Sam Plum will be joined by election officers to explain more about the process of standing for election, including details about the nomination process and deadlines.

Potential candidates and agents can register for the briefing by sending an email to: communications@southlakeland.gov.uk

The deadline to register for the briefing is Monday, 28 February at 5pm.

A further email containing the Teams link and joining instruction for the briefing will then be forwarded to all those who have registered. The intention is to record the briefing and make the recording available on request to anyone unable to attend on 2 March.

For more information about the Local Government Reorganisation process in Cumbria, please see:Home (newcouncilsforcumbria.info)

Ends

Be aware there are two big storms coming - Cumbria Local Resilience Forum partners are preparing for these, and you can help by getting prepared too. For example:

• Avoid travelling during the windiest periods (tomorrow - Wednesday - lunchtime/evening/night, and then again on Friday) when conditions could be really poor, and there is a risk of trees falling.
• Stay off the hills and off the water - it's not going to be any fun out there, and they'll be there to enjoy another day
• Be prepared for a power cut (although fingers crossed there won't be any significant one) - check you've got batteries for torches and radios, some food that doesn't need cooking (you can never have too much chocolate in the house etc.
• If you do experience issues like a loss of power or communications, please check on your neighbours and help them if necessary - the response within communities is essential, and almost always the quickest support that people will get - and Cumbria's really good at it!

It seems a lot of people are having issues with their smart meters. Simon Fell is doing a survey on this matter. It appears that rural communities such as ours are being punished because of the paucity of rural connectivity. The survey may provide some real world information to help improve the situation for us rural areas.  Please take a few moments to complete the survey on the following link

https://www.simonfell.org/broughton-wan-survey

SOUTH LAKELAND DISTRICT COUNCIL

News release

21 January 2022

HANDY PERSON SCHEME HELPS PEOPLE MAINTAIN INDEPENDENT LIVING

Residents in need of practical help around their homes are being reminded that a free council-run service could provide support.

South Lakeland District Council’s (SLDC) Handy Person Scheme offers assistance with simple but essential jobs around the home to help people maintain independent living and quality of life.

The service provides help with anything from changing a lightbulb to putting up shelving, installing hand rails and small repairs such as unblocking sinks, as well as fitting curtain rails and moving heavy items.

The scheme, run in partnership with Barrow-based repairs and service company Growing Concerns, also enables the fitting of minor security measures including; a key safe, door viewer and chain.

The work is free of charge except for the cost of materials, unless they have been supplied as part of a scheme with a partner agency.

Councillor Suzie Pye, portfolio holder for health, wellbeing and poverty alleviation, said: “We have been running the Handy Person Scheme successfully for a number of years in partnership with Growing Concerns and have received great feedback about the service they provide. It’s a fantastic scheme and vital to those who don’t have family or friends nearby to help with those odd jobs round the house you can't do yourself.

"Helping people in our communities to be independent is a priority for South Lakeland District Council and this service is a fantastic way to help achieve that. I would urge anybody who thinks they, or somebody they know, would benefit from this scheme to get in touch."

Assistance under the Handy Person Scheme is available to people who are unable to undertake the task themselves and have no other person available to help them with the task and reside in the South Lakeland area, who:

• are aged 65 and over; or

• have a disability or are vulnerable; or

• are being discharged or have recently been discharged from hospital; or

• are at high risk of falling due to a medical condition; or

• potential victims of crime, who are referred by the police.

Works are limited to a maximum of three hours on site if one handy person visits, or 1.5 hours if two handy people visit. Gardening and decorating are not included. Eligible households can use the service up to six times a year.

The scheme is supported by Cumbria Constabulary and Age UK, and the fitting of minor security measures is also included in the scheme.

David Shields, who runs Growing Concerns with his wife, Marie, said: “We are proud to have worked with South Lakeland District Council for the past 17 years. The range of work we can carry out is wide and makes such a difference to our clients.

"To see how grateful they are for what the scheme can provide is better than anything."

Further details of the scheme, including qualifying criteria and time/usage constraints, are available on the council’s website at www.southlakeland.gov.uk, via telephone on 01539 733 333 or via email on housingstandards@southlakeland.gov.uk. Referrals should also be made via that telephone number or email address. Referrals can be made on behalf of someone else with their permission.

Notes

Work available through the scheme includes:

• Fitting of minor security measures such as spy-holes, door and window locks and security lighting;

• Fitting key safes, door bells or telephone extension leads;

• Changing light bulbs and fluorescent tubes;

• Fitting plugs/fuses or fixing down/making safe trailing or loose wires;

• Putting up curtain rails, curtains or blinds;

• Installing internal and external grab rails;

• Erecting shelves or affixing coat hooks;

• Fixing down or trimming loose or hazardous carpets;

• Moving furniture within the home;

• Replacing toilet seats or sealant around sinks/baths;

• Unblocking sinks and repairing minor leaks;

• Replacing tap washers, cistern washers and ball valves or draining/bleeding radiators;

• Initial help following hospital discharge (for example, resetting heating controls);

• Minor repairs to gates, fences and paths to prevent tripping hazards or to help secure the property.

Ends

For more information, please contact the SLDC Communications Team on 01539 793300.

SOUTH LAKELAND DISTRICT COUNCIL

News release

20 January 2022

APPLICATION PROCESS FOR OMICRON BUSINESS GRANTS IS NOW OPEN

The application process is now open for grants to businesses in South Lakeland affected by the Omicron variant of coronavirus.

Hospitality (defined as accommodation, food & beverage services) and leisure premises will benefit from Omicron Hospitality and Leisure Grants of up to £6,000, administered by South Lakeland District Council (SLDC) and aimed at easing the dual impact of staff absences and lower consumer demand.

Recipients of the new one-off Hospitality and Leisure grant must be solvent businesses, and ratepayers in the hospitality and leisure sector. For example, a pub; hotel; restaurant; bar; cinema; tourist attraction or village hall.

Grants are per eligible premises and the amount paid is varied by rateable value (RV) of each eligible premises, in three bands: RV of £0-15,000 (will receive £2,667); RV of £15,000-£51,000 (will receive £4,000); and RV of over £51,000 (will receive £6,000).

Applications close at midday on February 28.

Details about eligibility and a link to the application forms can be found at: https://www.southlakeland.gov.uk/business-and-trade/business-support-grants-coronavirus-covid-19-1-april-2021-onwards/

Councillor Robin Ashcroft, SLDC portfolio holder for Economy, Culture and Leisure, said: “Knowledge and good working practices developed through the many business support schemes we have administered since the start of the coronavirus pandemic in March 2020 meant officers have been able to quickly stand up another effective and efficient application process.

"Supporting businesses in South Lakeland through these tough times is vital and SLDC is committed to doing everything we can to make sure they get through this.

"If you think you might be eligible, please check the criteria and get your application in before the deadline."

More details on this scheme and other support available – including business rate relief, free business support and advice available to businesses in South Lakeland – can also be found at: https://www.southlakeland.gov.uk/business-and-trade/

SLDC is also finalising details for a new discretionary Additional Restrictions Grant (ARG) to support other businesses, based on local economic need.

COUNCIL SERVICES OVER CHRISTMAS

South Lakeland District Council (SLDC) is reminding residents that they can still access council services and receive emergency help with homelessness over the festive season.

The council’s Reception at Kendal Town Hall will be closed between Christmas Day and New Year’s Day, but residents can get in touch via email at customer.services@southlakeland.gov.uk

Telephone lines will be open from 9.30am to 4pm each day – 01539 733333 - with the exception of Christmas Day, New Year’s Day and Bank Holidays. Anyone who needs urgent help outside office hours can find emergency contact numbers on the SLDC website.

The council’s Housing Options Team is urging anyone threatened with homelessness this Christmas to get in touch as soon as possible so that staff can offer advice and support before the situation worsens.

Meanwhile, customers are being reminded to check their bin collection calendars for changes to their usual schedule over the festive season. This week’s waste/recycling rounds are taking place a day earlier than usual, and collections that would usually have been done on Monday 27 December will take place on Friday 24 December instead. Customers are also reminded that green bin collections will resume in mid-February 2022.

The quickest and easiest way to check your grey bin/recycling schedule and to find information about a variety of council services is to sign up for an online My Account at www.southlakeland.gov.uk/myaccount

SLDC Leader Councillor Jonathan Brook said: “I’d like to take this opportunity to thank all the council colleagues who will be working right through Christmas and New Year and giving up time with their families to serve our communities by keeping essential services running. This includes everything from emptying bins and recycling, to keeping our streets clean and tidy, supporting NHS Test and Trace during the continuing Covid emergency, and helping those residents who face a miserable festive season due to homelessness.

“Sadly we all know what a difficult time Christmas and New Year can be for many. If you are homeless or threatened with homelessness and have nowhere else to turn, please contact our Housing Options Team. There is nothing they haven’t seen or heard before and they are ready to help.

“Once a telephone assessment has been completed they can offer solutions to help you stay in your home or, if you face being homeless on the street, they can help you access temporary accommodation, such as an emergency bed at the council’s Town View Fields Hostel in Kendal.

“Concerned members of the public can also keep an extra eye open and contact the team if you see anyone who maybe homeless on the street over the Christmas period.”

Staff at SLDC’s Town View Fields Hostel are experienced in supporting some of the most vulnerable, at-risk members of our community back towards independence and a home of their own.

One former hostel resident said: “I cannot thank you enough for taking me in when I was very distressed. It has been a journey to make sure I have a smooth journey out of the exit door. I have seen all walks of life coming in and out of the hostel… but you have always kept me safe… thank you.”

Another former resident said: “Thank you for taking me in and keeping me safe. Thank you for everything you have done for me… I really appreciate all the help… You’ve all been amazing. Thank you so much.”

SLDC Leader Cllr Brook continued: “We would urge anyone at risk of becoming homeless to contact us as soon as possible. Ignoring the problem will only make it worse, and our caring, compassionate colleagues are here to support you. They will do everything they can to see you safely into the New Year by helping you access the support you need.

“To all key workers, residents and visitors across South Lakeland, I wish you a peaceful Christmas and a happy and healthy 2022.”

SOUTH LAKELAND DISTRICT COUNCIL

News release

15 December 2021

NEW RULES ON MANDATORY COVID-19 CHECKS

Following on from last night’s vote in Parliament, from today (Wednesday, 15 December), the Covid-19 rules on entering certain venues and events are changing.

Organisations are now required to take reasonable steps to make sure that all visitors aged 18 or above show either an NHS COVID Pass, an approved proof of vaccination, evidence of a recent negative test or an exemption, to enter the venue or event.

Attendees must show they have either:

• Proof of vaccination with two doses of an approved vaccine (or one of the single-dose Janssen vaccine)
• Proof of a negative PCR or rapid lateral flow test within the last 48 hours
• Exemption on the basis of a medical exemption or clinical trial participation

Please note that evidence of natural immunity will not be accepted as an alternative to proof of vaccination or testing.

Accepted proof can be any of the following:

• NHS COVID Pass
• Approved international equivalentfor those vaccinated in other countries.
• Valid text or email confirmation of a recent test result from NHS Test and Trace

Which venues and events must carry out COVID-19 status checks?

The venues and events where the NHS COVID Pass, or alternative proofs of COVID-19 status, must be used as a condition of entry are:

• Nightclubs, dancehalls and discotheques
• Other late night dance venues, where all of the following apply:
• the venue is open any time between 1am and 5am
• it serves alcohol after 1am
• it has a dancefloor (or space for dancing)
• it provides music, whether live or recorded, for dancing
• Indoor events with 500 or more attendees, where those attendees are likely to stand or move around for all or part of the event, such as music venues with standing audiences or large receptions
• Outdoor events with 4,000 or more attendees, where those attendees are likely to stand or move around for all or part of the event, such as outdoor festivals
• Events with 10,000 or more attendees, whether indoor or outdoor, such as large sports and music events
• For other venues (such as indoor or outdoor sport stadia, conference centres, exhibition halls, live music venues, theatres and concert halls), COVID-19 status checks are only required where they are hosting an event which meets the relevant attendee threshold. For more information on exemptions and thresholdsplease visit the GOV UK website to see the full list of exempt activities.

Further support

If you manage a venue or are planning an event then support is available to help you carry out these checks at your venue or event.

If you are changing the way that your premises currently operates, such as closing at an earlier time, or restricting the use of your dance floor, please inform SLDC on the email address below.

South Lakeland District Council’s Health and Environment team can give advice to individual businesses to guide them through the support available and which options are open to them. Please email Publicprotection@southlakeland.gov.uk if you have any questions. You can also visit the GOV.UK website for all theguidance on carrying out COVID-19 status checks.

Officers from SLDC and the Police will be carrying out visits in the coming days.

Vacancy for a Parish Councillor

Duddon Parish Council currently has a vacancy for a member of the public to become a Parish Councillor.

If you feel you would like to get involved in making decisions about your local community, local issues and make a significant contribution to the area in which you live or work, then this is the position for you!

We have several projects we are working on at the moment including Greening and Community Resilience.

Please contact the clerk for further information:

Christine -  Tel no. 01229 889319

email - info@duddonparishcouncil.org.uk

UPDATE FROM CUMBRIA LOCAL RESILIENCE FORUM - 4 December 2021

The multi-agency response to the effects of Storm Arwen continues today – but the vast majority of customers hit by power cuts following the storm are now back on their main network supply or powered through a generator.

The number of homes in Cumbria without electricity following the storm was down to about 350 this morning after teams from Electricity North West continued their hard work into the night to reduce the numbers still affected significantly, restoring power to about 1,000 properties.

A number of other homes were affected by separate power outages overnight, mainly in the Askam-in-Furness and Grisdale areas, but the majority have already had power restored.

Teams and volunteers are continuing their work to check on the safety and welfare of those without safety, providing advice and support.

The multi-agency Strategic Coordination Group set up to deal with this major incident continues to meet regularly every day to ensure the safety and wellbeing of those affected.

People are being urged to continue to check on neighbours and people in their community who may be without power.

In general advice, residents are also asked to be aware of the impact forthcoming weather might have on trees already loosened from the ground by last week’s storm and to be mindful of flood warnings in place today along stretches of the Cumbrian coastline.

People should contact www.cumbria.police.uk/report-it or call 101 if they have concerns about their own safety and well-being, or the safety and well-being of someone they know.

If there is an immediate risk to life people should call 999.

Call Electricity North West on 105, but please only call if your query is urgent to help prioritise customers in the most vulnerable circumstances.

To report a problem on the county’s roads, please report online via the County Council website -https://www.cumbria.gov.uk/highways

If anyone sees any electricity lines down, please stay well away and call Electricity North West immediately on 105.

People who experience a power cut after their electricity has been restored are asked to wait 30 minutes to allow the changeover to happen and to check trip switches.

If they remain without power after this they should call 105 to report this.

For details on welfare facilities and food vans, see here: Food and welfare provision locations (enwl.co.uk)

Important information

• Contact www.cumbria.police.uk/report-it or call 101 if you have concerns about your own safety and wellbeing, or the safety and wellbeing of someone you know. If there is an immediate risk to life call 999.
• If you wish to report a problem on the county’s roads, please report online via the County Council website - https://www.cumbria.gov.uk/highways
• Electricity North West on 105, but please only call if your query is urgent to help prioritise customers in the most vulnerable circumstances. For more information, please visit www.enwl.co.uk/StormArwen
• For water supply issues contact United Utilities on 0345 672 3723
• If you are open to Cumbria County Council’s Adult Social Care, have care and support needs and these needs cannot be met due to the power outage, please contact Adult Social Care on 0300 303 3589
• Keep up-to-date with the weather at www.metoffice.gov.uk.

For latest traffic and roads information visit www.cumbria.police.uk/traffic

Shop Bridge Strengthening Works: Completion

Further to the letter dated the 1^st November.

Unfortunately, due to supply issues, there has been a delay in the delivery of the cintec anchors which are integral to the completion of the strengthening works. As a result, this has caused a delay of one week in the programme and therefore the overall re-opening of the road and bridge. We anticipate that the road will now be opened on Friday 19^th November.

We apologise for the ongoing inconvenience that the closure has caused, and we appreciate your understanding so that the work can take place to enable the bridge to reopen to its’ full capacity.

DROP-IN

NATURAL ENGLAND

is hosting an information day about their plans to regenerate the peatlands on Duddon Mosses.

If you are interested in the Mosses or Natural England’s plans or would like to know more of what peat regeneration actually involves then…

Come along to

Victory Hall, Rankin Room

Tuesday 16 November

10.30 to 4pm

We’re just letting you know that we’ve now fixed the problem that was affecting water supplies in your area.

If your water is not flowing again yet, it soon will be. It can take a while to fill up the drained water mains in the surrounding area, and return water pressure to normal.

We do our best to turn the water on gradually so as not to create further problems, such as bursts, leaks or discoloured water.

Occasionally after an interruption, water can be a different colour for a couple of reasons:

1. It may look milky or cloudy. This is just tiny air bubbles in the water, there is nothing to worry about, you don’t need to do anything to clear this, it’s safe to use, and will clear naturally in time.
2. It could look discoloured. Sometimes naturally occurring deposits in the pipe, can be disturbed as the water is turned back on. This can make it look light yellow to dark brown.

You can clear the problem, by running the cold water tap that’s closest to your internal stop tap, just above a trickle. This may take anywhere from a few minutes to an hour, why not collect this water and use it to water your plants? If you’re on a meter, don’t worry, that’s less than 5 pence.

While your water is discoloured, we advise that you do not run the hot water tap, use dishwashers, washing machines, or any other appliances which uses your hot water supply.
You can get more information on discoloured water and how to clear it at www.unitedutilities.com/watercolour

We’re really sorry for the inconvenience this is causing, and hope this information has been useful.United 

Dear Community Resilience Groups / Flood Action Groups,

Please see current predictions regarding the rainfall for today Wednesday and then Thursday/Friday this week. This information is following a teleconference held today at 4.30pm. These predictions are based on the best information available at the moment – however please be aware that forecasts can and do change. For this reason this information should be treated as a guide only.

Key information:

Met Office:

The weather forecast remains unchanged. An Amber status warning still applies through to midnight Thu 28 Oct 2021. Rainfall totals for Friday will be smaller. Met Office Weather Warnings can be seen on MetOffice.gov.uk website

Environment Agency:

The latest assessment for Victoria Bridge in Kendal is that the river is likely to be begin peaking tonight at around 10pm - and staying high through the night possibly reaching 2.98m at 8am tomorrow morning. This level is not considered a threat to flood defences in Kendal. For Ulverston the ‘Reasonable Worst Case’ assessment is that Dragley Beck may pass Flood Warning level on Wednesday around 8pm and again on Thursday. Rivers in other areas are also responding to the high rainfall levels. The Brathay in Grasmere is currently at Flood Warning. This event is also associated with significant surface water runoff.

The next teleconference is planned for 11am tomorrow morning with an update around 12.30-1.00pm

You can track pockets of heavy rain using the Met Office’s Rainfall Radar Map. By monitoring this map you can see the path that the rainfall is taking across the country – and so make a reasonable prediction of where it might fall next.

Further Information

• You can see the latest Environment Agency ‘Flood Alerts’ and ‘Flood Warnings’ and what they mean onGov.uk website
• You can receive the Environment Agency Flood Alerts and Warnings by signing up to the Flood Warning Service
• You can also receive Environment Agency updates by signing up to Cumbria Community Messaging
• South Lakeland District Council – information on sandbags
• See useful contacts for many services eg electricity, water, gas, highways
• The Flood Hub helps householders, businesses, communities and landowners across the North West become more flood resilient. https://thefloodhub.co.uk

Shop Bridge Strengthening Works: Start date

The strengthening works at Shop Bridge are due to commence on Monday 23^rd August and complete on 22^nd October 2021. Due to the nature of the works, the bridge will be closed during this time. Enclosed is a copy of the Contractors Traffic Management Plan.

Following the requests for a temporary footbridge, the Contractor has been to site with a specialist supplier to explore feasibility. Unfortunately, due to the required span of the temporary footbridge, the Contractor has not been able source a suitable temporary footbridge. This is because the supplier could only provide a lightweight footbridge which can span 8 metres. However, the river is wider than this. Going above the lightweight temporary bridge, would involve designing temporary abutments and flood risk assessments. This combined with an already narrowed channel for working in, the Contractor is not comfortable with the potential flood risk. A larger bridge that can span 13 metres has been investigated. The larger bridge would require delivery on an articulated wagon and lifting into position using a crane, this would have involved creating turning areas for wagons, and crane pads which are just not viable cost wise.

We apologise for the inconvenience that the closure will cause and appreciate your understanding so that the work can take place to enable the bridge to reopen to its’ full capacity.

SOUTH LAKELAND DISTRICT COUNCIL

News release

18 August 2021

GREEN WASTE COLLECTION DISRUPTION WARNING

South Lakeland District Council (SLDC) says it will continue to prioritise key general waste and kerbside recycling collections, but has warned green waste collections could be disrupted in the coming weeks.

Sion Thomas, Operational Lead for Delivery and Commercial Services at SLDC, said the authority was working to minimise the disruption, and explained: “Like many organisations nationally we have been impacted by the well-documented national shortage of qualified HGV drivers for our wagons, with difficulties recruiting to current vacancies.

“This has been compounded by the ongoing impact of waste and recycling staff being affected by Covid and increased waste tonnages, which means it is taking longer to complete the collection rounds, with recycling and green waste volumes up by more than 11 per cent from the norm, equating to around another 5,000 households of waste.

“We are not alone in these issues and councils the length of the country are facing similar challenges, with many, including some of our neighbouring authorities in Cumbria, already suspending collections.

“Official Government guidance if councils are struggling is to first look to suspend the non-statutory green waste collections to protect the main general waste and recycling collections.

“We make collections from more than 50,000 properties every week and, at present, we are still managing to maintain services and we are not suspending green collections at this stage. However, we are informing residents that there may well be some disruption to some green collections over the coming weeks. We are doing everything we can to minimise the disruption.

“On a day-to-day basis we will be looking for solutions to issues as they arise, but it may mean adjustments to rounds, we may turn up a bit earlier or later than usual, and it may mean in some areas that green waste collections are missed as we need to use that wagon and crew for general waste or recycling collection duties in other areas.

“Our guidance to householders is that we will try to collect your grey bin or recycling on the scheduled day. If we are unable to do this please leave your waste or recycling available for collection. We will return as soon as possible, which may be the following Saturday morning. If we are unable to collect your green bin on the scheduled day please take the bin back to the storage point until the next scheduled collection day.

“Once again we are asking for patience and understanding from residents during this period and we want to reassure our communities that we are working hard to maintain collections as much as we can, while recognising that some of the current impacts are because of circumstances beyond our control.’’

If your collection has been missed, please visit the SLDC website at www.southlakeland.gov.uk/bins-and-recycling/bins-and-boxes/recycling-garden-and-general-waste-bins for more details about what to do next.

Ends

For more information, please contact the SLDC Communications Team on 01539 793300.

SOUTH LAKELAND DISTRICT COUNCIL

News release

4 August 2021

BLUE GREEN ALGAE DETECTED IN SECTION OF LAKE

The Environment Agency, which regularly inspects lakes and rivers and carries out water sampling, has informed South Lakeland District Council that there is evidence of blue-green algae in a section of water in Windermere lake.

Environment Agency testing has taken samples and found that the waters close to Fell Foot have been found to have a blue-green algal bloom or the potential for one to form.

Anyone using lakes, rivers and reservoirs should treat all blue-green algae blooms with caution and contact with the algae and associated algal scum should be avoided as skin rashes may occur if affected water is in direct contact with the skin and illness may occur if the water is swallowed.

Signs have been put up at the affected bathing areas of the lake informing people about the presence of blue-green algae.

An SLDC spokesperson said: “Blue-green algae can potentially make people feel quite ill if swallowed or even by just swimming in it.

“We want the public to be aware of the effects and are asking people to be extra careful and vigilant when using the lakes and rivers for recreational purposes during the summer months.

“Farmers and pet owners should also prevent livestock and animals coming into contact or drinking the affected water, as it can sometimes prove fatal for animals.

“People should observe any notices near affected areas and avoid contact or drinking water from areas identified.”

Many standing waters are vulnerable to problems with blue-green algae, typically between June and November.

All blue-green algae blooms should be assumed to be toxic and the blooms vary in colour from discoloured green, blue-green, greenish brown, or reddish brown. The blooms do subside and this is a temporary situation.

Further information about blue-green algae can be found on the Environment Agency’s website at www.environment-agency.gov.uk

Ends

For more information, please contact the SLDC Communications Team on 01539 793300.

News release (with pictures)

1 June 2021

FRIDGES FLY-TIPPED AT BROUGHTON-IN-FURNESS

South Lakeland District Council (SLDC) is appealing for information after household items including two old fridges were fly-tipped at Broughton-in-Furness.

Carpets, drawers, a microwave and two fridges were dumped at the town’s recycling bank site on Foxfield Road last week.

Council officers are investigating several similar incidents at the location, and they are appealing to anyone who may recognise the items to come forward. They are hoping the magnets on the fridge doors may help to jog people’s memories, including one that appears to be from a holiday in Bulgaria.

SLDC Locality Officer Phil Metcalfesaid: “Both fridges have distinctive fridge magnets on and seem to have been left outside for some time before being dumped. Are these items familiar? Did anyone see these items being unloaded from a vehicle at this site? Please help us to find out who is responsible. If you have any information, you can email locality@southlakeland.gov.uk”

Fly-tipping is a serious criminal offence. The maximum penalty that can be imposed by the courts is a £50,000 fine and up to five years in prison for the most serious offences. Householders may not realise that they also have a legal duty of care to ensure that waste is only removed from their property by registered waste carriers. If waste from your home is found to have been fly-tipped, you could be prosecuted and run the risk of a £5,000 fine and a criminal record.

Cllr Philip Dixon, SLDC portfolio holder for Customer and Locality Services, said: “Fly-tipping is not a victimless crime. As well as the cost to the environment, the financial cost of clearance, disposal and investigation is ultimately borne by the Council Tax payers of the district. We investigate every case of fly-tipping reported and, if appropriate, action will be taken. This can range from fixed penalty notices and warning letters being issued to prosecutions, potentially significant fines and even custodial sentences.”

Ends

For more information, please contact the SLDC Communications Team on 01539 793300.

Captions

1, 2 & 3. The two old fridges fly-tipped at Broughton-in-Furness have distinctive magnets on them.

4. Microwave dumped at Broughton.

5. Old drawers fly-tipped at Broughton.

CAMPAIGN LAUNCHED TO CLEAN UP SOUTH LAKELAND

To help keep our beautiful district clean and green, South Lakeland District Council (SLDC) is launching the Clean Up South Lakeland campaign.

The campaign is designed to encourage everyone to take pride in their neighbourhood and SLDC is kicking things off by supporting Keep Britain Tidy’s Great British Spring Clean, from Friday 28 May to Sunday 13 June.

This nationwide event is an ideal opportunity to roll up your sleeves and help clean up your corner of South Lakeland. It could be the street where you live, a nearby park or playground, or your favourite patch of countryside or coast.

During the pandemic, while everyone has been spending so much more time at home, the places on our doorstep have become more important to us than ever. You might want to pick a location that has really helped you through lockdown, somewhere that has been beneficial for your mental and physical health in this past year.

SLDC can support you by loaning equipment such as litter pickers, hi-vis jackets and gloves, subject to availability, as well as supplying rubbish sacks and arranging for its Street Scene crews to collect the filled bags of rubbish afterwards.

This will be the fifth year the council has supported the Great British Spring Clean, run by Keep Britain Tidy. The aim for 2021 is the #MillionMileMission to clean up 1 million miles with help from #LitterHeroes such as volunteers, councils, charities and businesses.

Now that outdoor gatherings of up to 30 people are permitted, you can pledge to take part as a group or as an individual. To make a pledge and check the current health and safety guidance, visit www.keepbritaintidy.org

Councillor Dyan Jones, SLDC’s Portfolio Holder for Climate Action and Biodiversity, said: “It is great to welcome back the GB Spring Clean for another year. Litter-picking is a very worthwhile activity with many benefits, such as making where we live safer and more attractive; getting out and exercising in the fresh air; and feeling more connected to your community.

“As a council we are more than happy to help volunteers, and I would urge anybody to think seriously about taking part, whether with friends, neighbours, family, colleagues or on your own. It doesn’t need to take a long time. Just an hour or two can make a big difference.”

Cllr Jones continued: “One of the key themes in our Council Plan is addressing the climate emergency, and our ambition is “a more beautiful, quieter and cleaner district leading the way to net zero”.

“Once the GB Spring Clean is over, we will be keeping the momentum going with our Clean Up South Lakeland campaign. The council will be rolling out some great initiatives over the summer as our teams work to keep South Lakeland litter-free, as well as inspiring residents and businesses to do their bit.”

Cllr Philip Dixon, portfolio holder for Customer and Locality Services, said: “It is important that we all take pride in where we live. We live in such a beautiful area, including parts of two National Parks, the Lake District and the Yorkshire Dales, and we want to do everything we can to protect these wonderful surroundings for generations to come.”

If you would like to arrange to borrow litter-picking kit or collection of filled rubbish bags, please email: locality@southlakeland.gov.uk

To find out more about the Great British Spring Clean and make your pledge, visit: www.keepbritaintidy.org

SOUTH LAKELAND DISTRICT COUNCIL

News release

26 April 2021

APPLICATION PROCESS OPEN FOR BUSINESS RESTART GRANTS

The application process for the government’s one-off Restart Grants for South Lakeland businesses is now open.

The grants for businesses affected by the coronavirus restrictions are being administered by South Lakeland District Council (SLDC) in two strands – non-essential retail businesses (Strand One); and hospitality, accommodation, leisure, personal care and gym or sport business premises (Strand Two).

In Strand One, businesses with a rateable value of £15,000 or below will receive £2,667, a rateable value over £15,000 and less than £51,000 will receive £4,000 and a rateable value of £51,000 or over will receive £6,000.

In Strand Two, businesses with a rateable value of £15,000 or below will receive £8,000, a rateable value over £15,000 and less than £51,000 will receive £12,000 and a rateable value of £51,000 or over will receive £18,000.

All information relating to restart grants, along with the application form can be found here: https://www.southlakeland.gov.uk/business-and-trade/business-support-grants-coronavirus-covid-19-1-april-2021-onwards

It should take no longer than 15 minutes to fill out the application form if you have everything with you to do so. Applicants should consult the Restart Grant checklist on the website first.

The Restart Grant scheme is for businesses in the business ratings list only.

More details on other support available – including business rate relief, free business support and advice available to businesses in South Lakeland – can also be found on the SLDC website.

Notes

All Local Restrictions Support Grants are now closed to new applications as of midnight on 31 March 2021.

Businesses awaiting an outcome of their LRSG application submitted before the 31 March deadline are asked to please allow us some time to work through these as we have had an increase in applications in the run-up to the deadline.

We are able to make payments to businesses eligible for the second LRSG(C) Addendum 16 Feb to 31 Mar payment up until 31 May 2021. Businesses should contact us at businessgrants@southlakeland.gov.uk with their business rates account number and property address if they think they may be eligible for this payment and have yet to receive it.

To report a change in your business rated property that might impact your grant eligibility, please email: counciltax@southlakeland.gov.uk

To report a missing payment, a grant overpayment or a suspected fraudulent business grant claim, please email: businessgrants@southlakeland.gov.uk

Ends

Duddon Parish Council are committed to the Greening Campaign.

The Campaign is about local people taking local action about climate change. We believe that if individuals take small actions, all those add up to make a big difference. If lots of communities take action, then the difference we make may start to reduce the effects of climate change.

To find out more about the campaign, please visit http://www.greening-campaign.org/

If you would like to get involved please contact any of the Parish Councillors here

PLEASE READ THIS: you can make a difference!

Duddon Parish Council are beginning the process to register the path that we call Occupation Lane (the Occy) as a Public Right of Way (Bridleway). This is something that we have been contacted about both recently and in the past and is of huge importance to the people who live here. It would clarify the rights of individuals who use that path and those who own the land.

The process of registering the lane as a public right of way needs us to gather evidence proving that the lane has been used by people on a regular basis. Many of us will have used the lane to walk dogs and to access Foxfield Station etc. This will be the most useful form of evidence and we should be grateful for a written statement or preferably, fill in a form which is available here

It is important that those of us who complete statements understand that once submitted they will become public documents.

It is also important to understand that the only change to the present situation of Occy Lane, is that it will be officially a Public Right of Way.

THANK YOU. We look forward to hearing from you.

The statutory consultation for the proposed 20mph in Broughton-in-Furness will begin on Thursday 3^rd December and will be advertised in the Westmorland Gazette. The 21 day formal consultation would be due to conclude on Thursday 24^th December 2020. Due to this we are proposing that the consultation is extended till Monday 4^th January 2021 to allow extra time through the Christmas period.

The details will also be letter dropped to all properties in Broughton-in-Furness