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Nottingham News

Nottingham News

A tattoo parlour has become the first business of its kind in Rushcliffe to be registered with a countywide hygiene rating, achieving the top score of five stars. Vellum Tattoo in West Bridgford has joined The Hygiene Accreditation Scheme (HAS), a voluntary initiative put in place to improve and maintain hygiene and safety standards within premises offering tattooing, semi-permanent make-up and cosmetic body piercing treatments across Nottinghamshire.

Operated in a similar way to the National Food Hygiene Rating Scheme for food outlets, businesses that sign up to the scheme are visited by Environmental Health Officers. A score is then generated on factors such as safety and cleanliness including hand hygiene, cleaning and disinfection of the studio and the correct cleaning and sterilization of instruments.
The six-point system will then rate businesses from zero – urgent improvement required, to five – excellent. Customers can view which businesses have been inspected and rated by checking the window sticker in premises’ windows or by visiting https://bit.ly/2IcacmC.
Rushcliffe Borough Council’s Executive Manager for Neighbourhoods Dave Banks presented Jai Gilchrist, owner of Vellum Tattoo, with the window sticker that highlights their score.

He said: “It is great that Vellum has achieved a five star rating, giving customers further confidence that the business operates safely and meets high standards of safety and cleanliness. “Hygiene within the tattoo and body-piercing industry is of paramount importance, where poor practices can cause severe illness or permanent damage to customers.
“We would urge other businesses in Rushcliffe that offer similar services to join the scheme to give their customers peace of mind they too operate with high levels of hygiene standards and also give themselves a commercial advantage.”

Businesses participating in the scheme are required to follow rules devised using nationally recognised guidance, including the Guidance Toolkit produced by the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health.
Jai said: “Our customer’s safety is very important to us so we are delighted that we have achieved this accreditation with such a high rating.
“Customers can be even further assured that we operate in a clean and hygienic environment.”

The Scheme is being co-ordinated by Environmental Health teams within local authorities across the county who are responsible for the registration of tattoo, body piercing and beauty treatment businesses and is carried out in addition to routine inspections. Outlets can join the scheme for £120 for an initial inspection and gain a re-inspection and re-rating for £60 by visiting https://bit.ly/2IcacmC.

Nottingham News

A partnership between the Council and the Bassetlaw Action Centre will help hundreds of elderly and vulnerable residents to stay in their own homes and make their daily lives safer thanks to Assistive Technology.
Assistive Technology equipment includes items such as anti-trip cable mats, remote control light switches, automatic pill dispensers and daily living computers that give the user prompts and reminders – for example, when the user should take medication, doctor’s appointments, or if they have any arrangements for that day.

The equipment can also make daily life safer and help to prevent falls in the home, provide reassurance and support for the user and in turn relieve a little pressure on the NHS, the adult care system and local doctors.
More than £203,000 from the Council’s ‘Better Care Fund’ has been used to purchase the Assistive Technology that will be distributed to vulnerable and elderly people across the district through the Bassetlaw Action Centre, via its network of partners. Cllr Steve Scotthorne, Cabinet Member for Housing at Bassetlaw District Council, said:

“I’m thrilled that we’ll be working closely with the Bassetlaw Action Centre to really make a difference to people’s daily lives. “Preventative action and low level support like this is just a small intervention we can make that will enable someone to remain in their home, rather than the prospect being moved into alternative accommodation.”

“It will also give us the opportunity to relieve some of the pressure on our colleagues in the NHS and Adult Social Care sector by helping to reduce accidents in the home and get people back into the community through social prescribing. Lynn Tupling, Chief Executive of Bassetlaw Action Centre, said: “We are here to promote the independence of older and vulnerable people and this partnership will give residents across all tenure a lot more control of their wellbeing and future living arrangements.
“People are often reluctant to ask for help because it may mean that they have a fear of not be able to stay in their own home. So Assistive Technology can have a really big and positive impact.

“We work with a range of partners to identify residents who are eligible for support. If you feel that you could benefit from Assistive Technology, or know of someone who’s life would be improved by this equipment, please contact us.”

To contact Bassetlaw Action Centre, you can call them on 01777 709650, visit their Retford Offices between 9am and 1pm, Monday to Friday or visit the website at www.bassetlawactioncentre.org.uk

Nottingham News

Broxtowe Borough Council’s Construction partner, United Living has been awarded a Silver National Site Award by the Considerate Constructors Scheme for their work carried out on the Council’s housing stock. The Considerate Constructors Scheme is a national initiative set up by the construction industry to improve its image. In particular, the judges commended the high standards reached in the categories of care about appearance, respect the community, protect the environment, secure everyone’s safety and value their workforce.

These prestigious awards are only presented to the top performing sites inspected by the Considerate Constructors Monitors and are designed to recognise and reward those who have demonstrated an outstanding commitment to improving the image of construction and achieving exemplary standards against the Scheme’s Code of Considerate Practice. Richard Baker, Business Unit Director United Living: “Congratulations to the Broxtowe site team for their Silver Considerate Constructor award; a true team effort with Broxtowe Borough Council to surpass last years’ Bronze award. Exceptionally well done to the whole team for the achievement of raising the bar even further.”

Broxtowe Borough Council is dedicated to ensuring all of its homes meet the Government’s Decent Homes Standard, as well as its own Broxtowe Standard. Modernisation works are carried out regularly to keep properties in good condition to ensure all residents have a quality home to live in. Capital Works
Capitalworks@broxtowe.gov.uk. tel: 0115 917 3636

Nottingham News

Nottingham City Council has narrowed the gender pay gap so that on average there is now no difference between what middle-earning men and women working for the authority are paid. The council has brought in changes to its pay structure that have helped to bring about the improvements.

Across the whole council, women on average earn just under 97p for every pound earned by a male colleague – a mean average pay gap of 3.1%. This is an improvement on last year when the gap stood at 4.2%. Meanwhile for middle earners, men and women are now paid the same – closing a gap of 2.6% last year. The council has introduced terms and conditions and simplified its pay structure which enables employees to move to the top of their grade within two years of employment. The council operates a number of family friendly policies for staff, including childcare vouchers and flexible working arrange-ments, as well as carrying out training and development programmes around unconscious bias and recruitment procedures to ensure opportunities and processes are fair.

The latest report on the gender pay gap is a snapshot of pay from 31 March 2018, when the gender split at the council was 40% male and 60% female. The council is continuing to improve workforce planning to encourage increasing the numbers of women in senior roles, along with further development of existing coaching and mentoring schemes. The council’s Assistant Chief Executive, Candida Brudenell, said:

“We fully support gender pay reporting as it provides transparency on pay and encourages employers to act faster to close the gap. We already have polices in place which we’re pleased are helping to narrow the gap, and we will look at other ways to further close that gap. We need to ensure everyone who works for us has the same opportunities to progress in their career.

“Nottingham City Council is committed to the principle of equal opportunities and equal treatment for our employees. Our workforce is the greatest asset we have for improving the lives of Nottingham people and it’s our aim to ensure that all employees have the skills, tools and confidence to do their jobs well.”

Nottingham News, Notts Leisure, Notts What's On

  With a successful run in the West End, Motown the Musical has now hit the road with a year-long tour with the latest stop being The Theatre Royal in Nottingham,  

Based on the book by Motown founder Berry Gordy, The musical takes us from Gordy’s childhood where he dreams of making a difference, through the foundation of Motown with an $800 loan into the finding and nurturing of the stars such as Diana Ross and the Supremes, Stevie Wonder, the Jackson 5, Smokey Robinson, The Four Tops, Martha Reeves and the Vandellas and The Temptations, and then onto the decline of the label as those same stars were snapped up by companies with bigger budgets, The Motown label produced more than 525 albums, and collectively its artists achieved more than 57 No 1 hits on the Billboard Hot 100 pop charts.  

A scene from Motown The Musical, UK Tour

This is the next chapter in Motown’s incredible history and is an experience you’ll never forget. Featuring over 50 classic hits including My Girl, What’s Going On, Dancing in the Street, I Heard It Through The Grapevine and Ain’t No Mountain High Enough.  

The production as a whole looked fantastic even reliving news and politics in which JFK and Martin Luther King was featured, this Detroit-based record label that emerged in the 1950s and made a succession of black solo artists and singing groups into global superstars.  

A scene from Motown The Musical, UK Tour

A huge mention must be made to the crew and the cast of Motown the Musical which was superb, Edward Baruwa & Karis Anderson have so much on stage chemistry you could be forgiven for thinking they we’re the real Gordy and Diana, however Nathan Lewis (X Factor finalist in 2016) who plays Smokey Robinson was unforgettable, this cast had the audience singing and dancing throughout, actually they we’re still dancing on the way out of the theatre.  

This is an absolute must see, there is no mountain high enough or river wide enough to keep you from seeing this wonderful production!!  

The show runs at Nottingham’s Theatre Royal until Saturday 4th of May. Visit www.trch.co.uk for tickets.

Nottingham News

Rushcliffe residents have been named the third happiest in the UK, based on a new study of measures including access to health services, crime and life expectancy. A Happiness Index commissioned by Royal Mail has found the Borough’s inhabitants are among the most joyful in the country due to very positive reported personal well-being, earnings and low levels of crime, deprivation and carbon emissions.

The research, commissioned to Cebr, saw eight measures inputted into an indexing methodology across districts in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland with only Winchester and Babergh scoring higher than the Nottinghamshire authority area. Rushcliffe Borough Council’s Chief Executive Allen Graham said: “We are proud yet another independent study has found Rushcliffe residents to have among the most positive and happy communities to live, work and play in across the UK.

“It is even more pleasing that we have highlighted that happiness can be found outside the South East and that the East Midlands is such a good place to live.

“The findings of this study further show that a number of great facilities and great opportunities contribute to the high quality environment that makes a difference to resident’s lives. This study also once again justifies our strapline great place, great sport and a great lifestyle.

“We know however there are always ways we can improve the quality of life for our residents and will endeavour to work with our partners to further develop the environment and facilities that can help make people happy.”

Nottingham News

Belvoir Castle Pledges Trees to Help Rebuild Notre Dame

British oaks from some of the UK’s most famous estates could contribute towards the rebuilding of Notre Dame cathedral, following an offer from members of Historic Houses, the association for independently owned historic homes and gardens. So far more than one hundred donor estates, including Belvoir Castle, Hutton-in-the-Forest, Scone Palace, Castle Howard, Holkham Hall, Powderham Castle, and Firle Place (named after the Anglo-Saxon word for ‘oak woodland’), have volunteered valuable trees, planted for timber centuries ago, as a gift from the UK to France for the restoration of the iconic landmark’s roof, destroyed by fire earlier this week.

DIt’s not the first time Britain’s great houses have rallied round to help with a major heritage restoration project. After the devastating York Minster fire in 1984 more than forty Historic Houses member places pledged eighty oak trees for the reconstruction efforts, joining donations from the Queen and the Prince of Wales. Given that the construction of the original roof in the twelfth century is estimated to have required 1,300 mature oaks, the donors are well aware that their contribution could only provide a fraction of what’s needed, but they hope the gesture will inspire others. James Birch, owner of Doddington Hall, one of the estates that has pledged timber, and President of Historic Houses, said, ‘The fire at Notre Dame is a terrible tragedy. It is also a reminder of how our great buildings provide a cultural back drop to everyday life that is often only recognised when they are threatened. Some of our members have first-hand experience of the damage and destruction of catastrophic fires. It’s fitting that we would offer to help restore such an important part of the world’s heritage.’ The trees, from sustainable forestry and already destined for use as commercial timber, are estimated to have a combined market value of well over £100,000. But the donors are keen to emphasise that the timbers used in buildings like Notre Dame are about something that money alone can’t buy. ‘Anyone who lives in an old building knows there’s something special about the way it was built and the materials used,’ said the Duke of Rutland, who first suggested the idea to his fellow members. ‘The trees in the original roof at Notre Dame probably started growing over a thousand years ago. We’re able to donate replacements because my great-great-grandfather had the foresight to plant trees that would only be valuable long after he died. And in turn we’ll replant every tree we fell – someone will need them for something in another few hundred years. It’s a reminder of how important it is to both look after and renew our heritage resources. In our business you have to plan in centuries, not years.’
Nottingham News

The Council has submitted its bid to the Government’s £675 million Future High Streets Fund as it forges on with its ambition to reinvigorate Worksop’s Town Centre.

The Future High Streets Fund was created following a report by Sir John Timpson, a retailer and chair of the Town Centres Expert Panel, that called for more money to be granted to local authorities to rejuvenate their towns. Town Centres across the country have seen a decline in the retail sector, predominantly brought about due to a change in shopping habits and a major shift towards online shopping.

The Future High Streets Fund will be used by Councils, like Bassetlaw, to bring about transformational change and create more of a community hub in order to reduce the reliance on retail to ensure its high streets remain a vibrant and attractive place to visit.

“I am excited by our bid,” said Cllr Jo White, Cabinet Member for Economic Development at Bassetlaw District Council. “We have been asked to be dynamic and to think outside of the box in order for it to be considered.
I believe we have risen to this challenge, which is essential because we are seriously committed to turning around the future of Worksop town centre.

“The priority of the Council is to deliver growth and investment and we have identified a number of proposals that will help to bring about lasting change and address some of the challenges that Worksop is facing. “Quite simply, shopping habits have changed and like many other high streets up and down the country we are seeing the results of this with empty shops and major retailers like M&S abandoning Worksop in favour of larger cities.

“We want to make sure that Worksop does not get left behind and should our bid to the Future High Streets Fund be successful, we will strive to turn around Worksop’s fortunes and arrest a decline in the Town Centre.”
The Future High Streets Funding could be used to transform an area of Worksop Town Centre between Victoria Square and Newcastle Avenue.
This could include the regeneration of public spaces, efforts to improve the night-time economy with opportunities for additional bars and restaurants, in addition to more leisure and tourism attractions.

Investment and infrastructure would also be a focal point for the Council’s ambitions and would include a proposal to condense the retail offer of the high street, and link in with other Council projects such as the £2.3 million Townscape Heritage Scheme that is helping to bring some of Worksop’s most historic buildings back to their former glory.

Nottingham News

A £115,000 upgrade of Retford Railway Station is on track to smarten up one of the town’s most prominent landmarks, celebrate the surrounding area’s heritage and improve customer experience. The upgrade project is expected to be completed in the coming weeks and features a revamp of the subway to Ordsall including new LED lighting, improvements to the steps, a new surface for the tunnel footpath, repainting of the walls and new decorative panels.

Other elements of the project include new station and town centre signposts, new ‘Welcome to Retford’ signs on the platforms and in the entrance hall, and new window displays and interpretation panels that focus on Retford’s Heritage and the destinations that can be reached from Retford Station.

The multi-partner project is being funded through a £90,000 grant from LNER’s Customer and Community Investment Fund, in partnership with Bassetlaw District Council and supported by North Notts & Lincs Community Rail Partnership (NNLCRP) and Retford Civic Society. In addition, funding of £25,000 has been provided by Nottinghamshire County Council to carry out the subway improvements.

Cllr David Pidwell, Cabinet Member for Transport and Infrastructure at Bassetlaw District Council, said: “Over half a million journeys either start or finish at Retford and we are thrilled that LNER have made a substantial investment in order to improve both the look of the station and the visitor experience.”

“Visitors using the station to access the town and North Nottinghamshire will be given a sense of arrival. The improvements will also make the surrounding area safer and more appealing for local people.”
LNER’s Station Partnership Project Manager, Rachael Wilson said: “LNER is very pleased to be working with Bassetlaw District Council and other stakeholders to deliver these improvements, which we’re supporting through our Customer and Community Investment Fund. With this funding, we have been able to create a welcoming and interesting environment for customers and the local community.”

Councillor John Cottee, Chairman of Communities and Place Committee at Nottinghamshire County Council which arranged the subway and footpath improvement works, said: “The public footpath is a very useful and popular link between Ordsall and Retford town centre. “We are pleased to have played our part in providing safer and improved access at the station.
It’s great to see all the partners working together and contributing with the aim of improving facilities for both local residents and visitors to the county.”

Local community groups including the North Notts & Lincs Community Rail Partnership (NNLCRP) and Retford Civic Society have worked closely with the District Council to develop the project.

Rick Brand, Chair of the Bassetlaw Area Group, NNLCRP, added: “Retford station is a major gateway, with a fast and convenient service from London. The improvements will be welcomed by both residents and visitors, especially those coming to Mayflower Pilgrims country as we approach the 400th anniversary next year. Further enhancements are also being planned for the future, which will increase the accessibility of the station.”

Derek Turner, Chairman of Retford Civic Society, added: “This is wonderful news for the people of the Retford area, Ordsall and visitors to North Notts. We are proud to have been part of this project which enhances our heritage Railway Station as well as providing a safer environment with the upgraded tunnel. These impressive improvements will be appreciated by the growing number of rail travellers and will contribute to our vibrant and expanding economy and community.”

Nottingham News

The Council, in partnership with Mansfield District Council and Newark & Sherwood District Council commissioned Homeless Link to carry out a Homelessness Review and develop a new Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy.

The Review and draft Strategy have been developed following extensive research, data analysis and stakeholder interviews. It is Ashfield District Council’s vision that the residents of Ashfield have affordable and warm housing in a safe community that promotes their health and well being. Preventing homelessness is key to achieving this vision and is identified as a priority in the Council’s Corporate Plan.

We are now consulting with stakeholders on the draft Strategy before it is finalised and put into action. A copy of the consultation document and online feedback form can be found on https://www2.ashfield.gov.uk/limesurvey/index.php/818864?lang=en. Consultation runs until the 10th May 2019.