Covid 19 & Vaccinations
I regret to say that an additional 313 cases of Covid 19 have been registered in Sutton Coldfield for the week of 26th June – 2nd July compared to an updated figure of 212 for the week of 19th - 25th June based on data from Birmingham City Council’s public health division.
The 7-day case rate between 26th June – 2nd July in Birmingham was 278.7 cases/100K population, compared to 195.6/100K for the period between the 19th - 25th June.
Over the 7 days leading up to 3rd July, of 23,346 PCR pillar 2 tests, 2,810 (12.0%) were positive in Birmingham, a higher positivity rate than both the West Midlands and England.
Birmingham ranks 12th in the region for pillar 2 PCR tests, with 2,045 tests per 100k population. 64,973 LFD pillar 2 tests were also carried out.
Hospital admissions range between 10 and 24 new cases a day at Birmingham hospital trusts over the 7 days from 26th June – 2nd July.
I am delighted to report the attached image which shows the number of vaccines per age group for Sutton Coldfield from data published yesterday.
PLEASE NOTE: Walk-in appointments are taking place at a mass vaccination centres over the weekend including at Sutton Coldfield Town Hall on Saturday and Sunday between 9am to 5.30pm. Pfizer and AstraZeneca will be available at our Town Hall site. Please check the latest availability via: www.birminghamandsolihullcovidvaccine.nhs.uk/walk-in you can also continue to book in advance online as normal: www.nhs.uk/covid-vaccination
On Monday the Prime Minister set out plans for the final step in our roadmap out of lockdown https://www.gov.uk/government/news/prime-minister-to-set-out-plans-ahead-of-step-4 on Tuesday the Education Secretary provided an update on the rules for educational settings https://www.gov.uk/government/news/covid-restrictions-in-education-settings-to-end-at-step-4 and yesterday the Transport Secretary provided an update on international travel rules https://www.gov.uk/government/news/quarantine-free-travel-to-resume-on-19-july-for-fully-vaccinated-passengers-returning-from-amber-list-countries
Royal Sutton Coldfield updates
Congratulations to Jan Cairns for being elected as a Governor of the University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust. She has worked in the care profession for many years and is a brilliant Town councillor in Boldmere and Vesey ward.
University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundations Trust has had to temporarily close the Children’s Assessment Unit at Good Hope Hospital, due to operational issues. The closure has been agreed for two weeks and is continually being reviewed. The paediatric nursing team has been moved onto one site at Birmingham Heartlands Hospital, as this site sees the highest demand for paediatric activity. Paediatric medical staff will remain on site at Good Hope Hospital, and will work closely with their colleagues in the emergency department, to clinically manage patients.
The Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games team has announced that a West Midlands ticket ballot will open on Wednesday and end on 30 July. People in the West Midlands will be eligible to ‘be first in line’ to apply for tickets. If you aren’t successful in this round, the majority of tickets will be available in the Main Ballot, which will open to everyone in September. You can sign up for an account now to ensure that you are ready to apply when the ballot opens: https://tickets.birmingham2022.com/
The British Business Bank has published new data which shows the regional distribution of loans offered under the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS) and the Bounce Back Loan Scheme (BBLS). In Sutton Coldfield, 2,343 loans worth £99,843,527 have been offered across both CBILS and BBLS.
Birmingham City Council’s Public Health team is seeking responses to a consultation on Sexual Health, BBV and TB services across Birmingham and Solihull. https://www.birminghambeheard.org.uk/people-1/birmingham-and-solihull-sexual-health-survey/
Low-carbon manufacturing and goods are now the West Midlands’ fastest growing sector. Figures show our region’s low-carbon industries grew by more than 7% in 2020 despite a 9% downturn in the wider West Midlands economy as a result of the pandemic.
The sector now employs close to 100,000 people across the region.
Westminster news and Parliamentary business
On Monday I attended a debate in the House of Commons driven by a petition about the importance of offering extra protection for our hedgehog population. Nearly 200 people across the Royal Town supported this petition and I wanted to represent their views directly. Over the past two decades the numbers of hedgehogs have plummeted by 50% in rural areas and 30% in urban areas and I support the British Hedgehog Preservation Society’s campaign for greater protections for hedgehogs. It was also a good opportunity to thank the Team at Snuffles Hedgehog Rescue in Four Oaks for all that they do to support our local hedgehogs. https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/midlands-news/theyre-nations-favourite-wild-animal-20981418 my full speech is on YouTube:
I am backing a campaign to extend the reduced 12.5% rate of VAT for tourism and hospitality (which is set to take effect in October) indefinitely, rather than returning to the regular 20% rate next March. This would be a real boost to two sectors that have been hit particularly hard during the pandemic and of help to many local businesses here in the Royal Town.
Yesterday I spoke in House of Commons Business Questions to ask why the Government is still refusing to bring a meaningful vote on our .7 international development budget commitment https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n6A-IeBl78I and I also spoke in the statement by the Prime Minister on Afghanistan https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c8vqKstMDc8 there are many lessons to be learned from the war in Afghanistan including about the most effective use of hard power and soft power.
On Wednesday I attended a meeting of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Choice at the End of Life which I co-chair. The meeting featured a range of guests including Martin Stevens the Chair of Disability Rights UK, Dr Taj Hargey from the Muslim Educational Centre of Oxford as well as Palliative Care doctor and GP, Dr Bill Crawley.
On Thursday I chaired a meeting of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Trafficked Britons in Syria which featured evidence from human trafficking experts.
This week the Government has introduced the Building Safety Bill to Parliament, marking the next step in the Government’s reforms to give residents and homeowners more rights, powers and protections. https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/building-safety-bill
Our life sciences sector has been a beacon of hope over the past year – developing life-saving vaccines at remarkable speed to secure our route out of the pandemic – and we want to build on this success which is why the Government has published our new Life Sciences Vision: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/bold-new-life-sciences-vision-sets-path-for-uk-to-build-on-pandemic-response-and-deliver-life-changing-innovations-to-patients
Opportunities and Events
If you're aged between 18-30 and not in education or employment, there is support available to help you access employment and volunteering opportunities as part of the Commonwealth Games http://orlo.uk/lrn4M
Trikes and Bikes on the Riland Industrial Estate are hosting Fix-Learn-Ride sessions on select Mondays and Wednesdays in July. See their Facebook page for dates and locations: https://www.facebook.com/Trikesandbikes/
Silver Sunday, the national day for older people will take place on 3rd October. More than 100 organisations are already planning events. There are lots of resources on their website: https://silversunday.org.uk/join-in/
Facebook is offering all UK small businesses free ‘Boost with Facebook’ digital skills training to help them grow and reach new audiences. The initial sessions will be held 12.00-13.30 on Wednesday 21 July and Wednesday 28 July. They will be streamed live on the day but will be recorded so that they can be watched back at any time. https://www.facebook.com/FacebookBusinessEMEA
BT has launched Home Essentials, a new social tariff for financially vulnerable individuals who are on specific means-tested benefits (such as Universal Credit or Pension Credit). Customers can call 0800 800 150 or visit www.bt.com/home-essentials
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