I’m sorry I haven’t done an update over the last few weeks. It has been very busy with meetings and casework following the start of the New Year. But the surge of works has clamed down, so here is my local news, pandemic information and my Councillor work update. There are several links to more detailed information below. In this update you will find:
[1] Leeds Pandemic Overview
[2] Leeds Vaccine Update
[3] Updated Government Guidance (various)
[4] Further Enforcement
[5] EU Settlement Scheme
[6] Active Leeds Lockdown Survey
[7] Every Mind Matter Campaign
[8] Request for Laptops/Tablets
[9] Household Bill Support
[10] Unsung Leeds Heroes Nominations
[11] New Housing of Multiple Occupancy, Purpose Built Student Accommodation and Co-Living Amenity Standards Consultation
[12] Government Responds to Leeds Full Council Cladding Motion
[13] Roadworks
[14] New Council Leader-elect
[15] Hunslet Market Square Update
[16] MICE Grants
[17] Meetings and Visits
[18] Upcoming Public Meetings, Events and Q&As
[1] Leeds Pandemic Overview:
The Leeds infection rate is 277.4 cases per 100,000, just a 13% reduction in the last 7 days.
Test positivity is 12.2%, which is still very high.
The over 60s rate is 193.8, a 22% reduction in the last 7 days.
Infection rates in Leeds remain high and mostly stable rather than reducing significantly.
13 care homes are reporting cases, 7 of these have a low number of Covid-positive residents.
68 education settings are reporting cases; 3 primary schools and 2 private nurseries are currently closed due to Covid cases in staff.
There are just 20 cases amongst university students (7 day cumulative, reported 22 Jan)
Environmental Health are supporting 13 workplaces with cases.
With cases of the new UK variant now well over two thirds in Leeds with an increasing trend and more transmissible
[2] Leeds Vaccine Update: Leeds and West Yorkshire continue to perform well in the vaccination programme and are on track achieve the mid-February deadline for the first set of priority groups. The local figures is estimated to be about 75,000 so far,
Community pharmacies have started providing vaccinations this week, but this will not open to members of the public until 8 February
We are aware that there has been some confusion around the invitation letters from the national booking system- these are being sent to people aged 75 and over who live within a 45 minute drive of any of the community centres. This means that people are receiving invitations to book at locations outside of West Yorkshire and concerned about travel. As mentioned in previous updates, people don’t have to book an appointment at one of these centres if it isn’t convenient- they can choose to wait for an invitation from their GP practice or to wait until the West Yorkshire centres open.
Elland Road has started vaccinating health and social care staff this week in advance of opening (we hope in February) to administer the vaccination to the public in priority groups.
GPs across the city have been working together to offer vaccinations to their patients in priority groups who are vulnerable, this will now be boosted by two pharmacies. This will be by appointment only to people who have received an invitation from the national booking system.
The advice remains not to contact the NHS about the timing of your vaccination, but to wait to be contacted. Please don’t try to book a vaccination without an invitation.
When it is your turn to be vaccinated, you will be invited through one of the following routes:
Local GP service: Please note you may be contacted by a different surgery to the one you usually go to.
Local hospital services: You might be contacted to have the vaccination as an inpatient or outpatient.
At a vaccination centre or pharmacy: If you live within 30 to 45 minutes of a vaccination centre, and haven’t already been vaccinated, you may receive a letter asking you to book an appointment online or call 119. If you can’t travel to a vaccination centre, you can choose to wait until your local GP services contact you.
Avoiding scams: the vaccine is free of charge. At no point will you be asked to pay/provide bank details or PIN. NHS will never arrive unannounced at your home to administer the vaccine. NHS will never ask you to prove your identity by sending copies of personal documents such as your passport, driving licence, bills or pay slips. If you receive a call you believe to be fraudulent, hang up. If you are suspicious about an email you have received, forward it to report@phishing.gov.uk. Suspicious text messages should be forwarded to the number 7726 which is free of charge. If you believe you are the victim of a fraud, please report this to Action Fraud as soon as possible by calling 0300 123 2040 or visiting www.actionfraud.police.uk
Leeds Teaching Hospital added some further FAQs that has been added to their website here: https://www.leedsth.nhs.uk/leedscovidvaccines/ there are a handful that relate specifically to the booking system which may be helpful if you have been receiving queries from staff.
[3] Updated Government Guidance (various):
[4] Further Enforcement: The Government has announced Covid-19 regulation enforcement measures.
[5] EU Settlement Scheme: With less than six months to go before the EU Settlement Scheme’s application deadline of 30 June 2021, there has been publicity to encourage European citizens to apply now to secure their rights under UK law.
[6] Active Leeds Lockdown Survey: Active Leeds have launched a survey to find out how lockdown has effected peoples’ activity levels, whether their customers have used the online Active Leeds resources, and what other things people would like to see offered. Update - this is now closed, sorry!
[7] Every Mind Matter Campaign: The Government have launched the Better Health - Every Mind Matters campaign, to support the nation’s mental wellbeing. We are supporting the campaign, along with charities, health organisations and commercial sector partners. The campaign hub can be found here.
[8] Request for Laptops/Tablets: The Council is working with a charity to recondition laptop and computers for use by children who do not have access to one. If you can provided one, let me know.
[9] Household Bill Support: Advice has been published for those who are struggling to pay their utility bills, credit cards, loans and mortgages.
[10] Unsung Leeds Heroes Nominations: Three new unsung heroes are wanted to be added to those already in place on this public artwork near Leeds Dock.
[11] New Housing of Multiple Occupancy, Purpose Built Student Accommodation and Co-Living Amenity Standards Consultation: This is a technical consultation but public comments are welcome.
[12] Government Responds to Leeds Full Council Cladding Motion: The Government has responded to our motions and has said nothing new or of help.
[13] Roadworks:
[14] New Council Leader-elect: Cllr James Lewis has been elected the new Council Leader, once Cllr Judith Blake join the Lords.
[15] Hunslet Market Square Update: We have been able to retain the majority of funding need for the creation of Hunslet Market Square.
[16] MICE Grants: In the last two weeks I agreed the following grants:
[17] Meetings and Visits:
Licensing Committee
[18] Upcoming Local Meetings, Events and Q&As:
5/2/21 Ask Your Councillor
16/2/21 Hunslet Moor and Hall Residents Meeting
Please support my website by making a donation now.