Covid 19 & Vaccinations
An additional 319 cases of Covid 19 have been registered in Sutton Coldfield for the week of 24th-30th July compared to an updated figure of 538 for the week of 17th-23rd July based on data from Birmingham City Council’s public health division.
The 7-day case rate between 24th-30th July in Birmingham was 300.8 cases/100K population, compared to 425.5/100K for the period between the 17th-23rd July.
Over the 7 days leading up to 31st July, of 23,006 PCR pillar 2 tests, 3,242 (14.1%) were positive in Birmingham, a higher positivity rate than both the West Midlands and England.
Birmingham ranks 13th in the region for pillar 2 PCR tests, with 2,015 tests per 100k population. 47,948 LFD pillar 2 tests were also carried out.
Hospital admissions range between 33 and 54 new cases a day at Birmingham hospital trusts over the 7 days from 24th-30th July, with a total of 301 cases.
The attached image shows the number of vaccines per age group for Sutton Coldfield from data published yesterday.
Walk-in appointments are taking place at a mass vaccination centres across the Birmingham City Council area. Please check the latest availability via: www.birminghamandsolihullcovidvaccine.nhs.uk/walk-in you can also continue to book in advance online as normal including brining forward your second dose if you second appointment is more than 8 weeks from your first vaccine: www.nhs.uk/covid-vaccination
Fully vaccinated visitors from Amber areas of Europe and the USA no longer need to quarantine upon arrival, in our latest step towards reopening international travel. The list of countries in each category has also been updated: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/red-amber-and-green-list-rules-for-entering-england
Royal Sutton Coldfield updates
This morning I had a meeting with prospective developers in respect of the Royal Town Centre Masterplan which our Town Council has skilfully produced. Their interest and involvement is welcome and it is particularly important at this early stage in the town centre’s re-development that we get planning permissions absolutely right. We cannot afford to make any mistakes early on which could come back and haunt us later in what is a complex but vital development for Sutton Coldfield’s future. I am obviously keeping a very close watch on this and all the other moving parts in the town centre development picture and applaud the coordinating work that Simon Ward and the Royal Town Council are doing in close conjunction with the Birmingham City planners and also the Sutton Coldfield planning committee under Clare Horrocks.
I have today had an extensive and detailed meeting with our recently re-elected West Midlands Mayor Andy Street to discuss the many ways in which he and the West Midlands Combined Authority can help with developments in the Royal Town. I found Andy extremely helpful and sympathetic to our developing plans, particularly in respect of the town centre and we are optimistic that in the next months significant progress can be made.
This week the Walmley War Memorial is being prepared for its long-awaited improvement programme. The upcoming work which has been organised by Royal Sutton Coldfield Town Council includes groundworks, new lighting and the installation of new street furniture. The programme should be finished by early November ahead of Remembrance Day. I would like to thank the Town Councillors in Walmley and Minworth who have worked incredibly hard to ensure our War Memorial is well looked after and protected for future generations.
Aside from Coronavirus related correspondence, planning is one of the subjects that I am contacted about most frequently so I am keen to highlight an opportunity for Suttonians to feed into a call for evidence into strategic planning and infrastructure in the West Midlands. To find out more visit: https://connectpa.co.uk/west-midlands-appg/. To enter a submission, email westmidlandsappg@connectpa.co.uk by midnight on Sunday 19 September with your thoughts of up to 1,500 words.
A new skills and training plan developed by the West Midlands Combined Authority, local employers, training providers and the Department for Work and Pensions will help people to secure jobs in health sciences and care. The programme was launched this week by University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, which is leading a programme on behalf of all NHS and Local Authority providers to deliver 100 entry level job opportunities each year for three years. https://www.wmca.org.uk/news/new-skills-and-training-plan-to-help-local-people-gain-thousands-of-jobs-in-health-sciences-and-care/
During the pandemic, NHS England fast-tracked the roll out of dedicated 24/7 mental health crisis lines in every area of the country. These lines went live or were extended four years earlier than planned. Birmingham and Solihull Urgent Mental Health Helpline remains available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week: 0800 915 9292
Birmingham City Council's Public Health Division has launched a new survey about physical activity and inactivity across the Council area. https://www.birminghambeheard.org.uk/place/physical-activity-questionnaire/
A project to get more people in the West Midlands cycling as part of the legacy of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games has been given a £2 million boost from the Government. The Cycling for Everyone scheme will work with communities across the region to encourage and enable more people to get on a bike to improve both their health and the environment. https://www.wmca.org.uk/news/2m-birmingham-2022-commonwealth-games-legacy-funding-to-get-more-people-cycling/
Congratulations to the City Council’s Preparation for Adulthood team which has been shortlisted for a Local Government Chronicle award in the ‘innovation’ category. https://www.birmingham.gov.uk/news/article/934/innovative_preparation_for_adulthood_team_shortlisted_for_award
Following an in depth assessment by the Regulator for Social Housing, Midland Heart has maintained its industry leading G1 V1 rating. https://www.midlandheartgroup.org.uk/our-news/corporate-news/midland-heart-maintains-industry-leading-rating/
Westminster news and Parliamentary business
On Tuesday the Government announced support to create more flexible apprenticeship opportunities – helping more young people develop the skills they need to get good jobs. Traditional apprenticeships require at least a year of unbroken employment, so some sectors with flexible employment patterns and project-based work have found it challenging to offer apprenticeships. The fund will establish a small number of agencies that will set up new flexi-job apprenticeships so an apprentice can work across a range of projects and also with different employers, om order to gain the knowledge and skills they need. https://www.gov.uk/government/news/cash-boost-to-create-new-flexible-approach-to-apprenticeships
On Wednesday Ministers confirmed that 40,000 students will be able to study and work abroad as a result of the Government’s new Turing Scheme https://www.gov.uk/government/news/40000-students-to-study-across-the-globe-as-part-of-new-turing-scheme. The University of Birmingham has secured £2.15m from the scheme which will support international study and work opportunities over the next academic year. The funding will support up to 2,000 University of Birmingham students to study abroad in 62 countries. New initiatives planned for 2021/22, with the support of the scheme include global internships, international summer school opportunities, and leadership programmes.
Today the Government has announced that the live events industry is to be protected by a £750 million Government-backed insurance scheme, giving the music and hospitality sectors the confidence they need to plan ahead. https://www.gov.uk/government/news/government-backed-insurance-scheme-to-give-boost-to-events-industry
Opportunities and Events
A virtual Children's Parliament will be held at 5pm on Friday 29th October ahead of the COP26 United Nations Climate Change conference. 650 Child MPs will be debating their views on a range of issues including climate change, the Covid-19 response and technology. If you know a child that might be interested in this opportunity and will be aged 7-11 at the end of October please send me an email: andrew.mitchell.mp@parliament.uk
Are you looking to replace your boiler? British Gas is looking for participants for their new hybrid heat pumps trial which provides a significant discount on heat pumps: https://www.britishgas.co.uk/home-services/boilers-and-heating/hybrid-heat-pumps.html
Applications to volunteer for Birmingham 2022 will close on the 17 August at 7pm. Apply via: www.birmingham2022.com/volunteering
Kickstart is a Government initiative to aid economic recovery by supporting young people into a new job placement and reducing the possibility of long term unemployment. For each Kickstart job, the government will cover the cost of 25 hours a week at the relevant National Minimum Wage in addition to pension and National Insurance contributions. Employers will also receive £1,500 per placement for wraparound support for the young person, including personal development and employability skills. If you are a local business considering recruiting through Kickstart please contact wmkickstart@dwp.gov.uk for more information.
The University of Birmingham and the Greater Birmingham and Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership are launching a pilot fund to drive innovation across Business, Professional and Financial Services (BPFS). Building on consultation with regional BPFS leaders, the fund will support new discoveries in the City Centre’s emerging innovation district. Businesses, working with an academic lead, can apply for grants up to £4,000 to deliver innovation across products, services or processes. Pilot projects might include technology development and transfer, initiatives to support workflows, or programmes to support innovative approaches to employee diversity and wellbeing. https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/partners/research-and-education-partnerships/innovation-research-pilot-fund.aspx
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