Covid 19 & Vaccinations
An additional 459 cases of Covid 19 have been registered in Sutton Coldfield for the week of 9th - 15th October compared to an updated figure of 387 for the week of 2nd- 8th October based on data from Birmingham City Council’s public health division.
In the 7 days up to 15th October, there were 3,222 cases in Birmingham (equivalent to a case rate of 282.2 cases/100k population), an increase compared to 3,058 cases (267.8/100k population) in the previous week.
Over the 7 days leading up to 15th October of 22,361 PCR pillar 2 tests 2,867 (12.8%) were positive in Birmingham, similar to the positivity rate for West Midlands but lower than for England as a whole.
Birmingham is 14th in the region for pillar 2 PCR tests rates, with 1,958 tests per 100k population. 43,876 LFD pillar 2 tests were also carried out.
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 for those aged 16 and over. Please check the latest availability via: www.birminghamandsolihullcovidvaccine.nhs.uk/walk-in over 16s can also continue to book in advance online as normal including bringing forward your second dose if your appointment is more than 8 weeks from your first vaccine: www.nhs.uk/covid-vaccination.
On Wednesday the Health Secretary announced that we have secured two new ground-breaking Covid antiviral drugs. https://www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-government-secures-groundbreaking-covid-19-antivirals
Royal Sutton Coldfield updates
This evening I am very much looking forward to attending the Sutton Coldfield Probus Club fiftieth anniversary dinner at Moor Hall Golf Club.
I have received further details of the upgrade to Sutton Coldfield Fire Station that is due to take place from next May when the Royal Town will become host to the West Midlands Fire Service’s third Technical Rescue Station, home to some of the most highly training firefighters in the service. As well as responding to life-risk incidents, they will also be trained to respond to more specialist incidents including rope rescue, water rescue, collapsed building structures and terrorist attacks. Sutton Coldfield will remain a Community Fire Station, still holding regular open days and hosting community groups who may wish to use the station’s facilities. The crews will also undertake important fire safety inspections within the Sutton Coldfield area, as well as more targeted prevention work, in areas such as water safety.
The City Council’s Mobile Household Recycling Centres (MHRC) are currently being rolled out. Each MHRC features three vehicles: a regular refuse collection vehicle for waste with no other use; a van for taking away items that can be reused by charities; a wagon with multiple compartments for recycling by material type. The following items can be dropped off: household rubbish that can’t be reused, recycling including paper, cardboard, glass, plastic, aluminium and textiles, garden waste and bulky items or items that could be reused by charities. Building materials, white goods and hazardous materials cannot be taken. The mobile centres have been around Sutton Coldfield this week and on Tuesday 26th October will be on Vesey Road (B73 5NZ) and on Wednesday 27th October will be on Langley Heath Drive (B76 2XB). The drop off times are 7am-12pm on both days.
The Birmingham Economic Review, published by Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce and the University of Birmingham’s City-REDI, reveals promising signs for recovery across our city-region. https://www.greaterbirminghamchambers.com/research-campaigning/birmingham-economic-review/
The University of Birmingham, PwC and HSBC UK are joining forces to encourage local young people to improve their digital skills – helping to develop their own careers and create expertise that West Midlands employers can tap into. https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/news/latest/2021/10/university-drives-digital-revolution.aspx
Birmingham City Council is consulting on proposed revisions to the Local Information Requirements for Planning Applications. The consultation period is open until 25th November. Local information requirements, also known as local validation criteria, sets out the information that the Local Planning Authority will require to be able to register, assess and determine planning applications. The amount of information required will vary depending on the type, scale and location of the proposed development including any site specific constraints. Not all the local information requirements will apply to every planning application. The City Council will only ask for what is required to determine the planning application. The Draft Revised Local Information Requirements document can be viewed via: https://www.birminghambeheard.org.uk/economy/localvalidationchecklist/ If you wish to make any comments, please email planning.strategy@birmingham.gov.uk
Birmingham City Council is to give around £700,000 worth of unused apprenticeship levy funds to help some of the most disadvantaged residents who have been badly affected by the pandemic. https://www.birmingham.gov.uk/news/article/980/700k_of_apprenticeship_levy_to_help_citys_most_disadvantaged?utm_content=&utm_medium=email&utm_name=&utm_source=govdelivery&utm_term=
The Office of National Statistics has produced an interesting page with interactive maps show how CO2 emissions have changed over time in UK local authority districts. While Birmingham remains higher than the national average it is positive to see how much emissions have fallen in recent years. https://www.ons.gov.uk/economy/environmentalaccounts/articles/carbondioxideemissionsandwoodlandcoveragewhereyoulive/2021-10-21
Birmingham Law School has climbed 71 places in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2022 rankings, making it one of the top law schools in the world. https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/news/latest/2021/10/birmingham-law-school-ranked-in-top-100-globally.aspx
Westminster news and Parliamentary business
We paid tribute to the life and work of my next door neighbour in the House of Commons, Sir David Amess MP, at Westminster on Monday followed by a service held at St Margaret’s, the parish church of the House of Commons.
Following an increase in queries from constituents and concerns from our local Councillors about the availability of school places locally, I have tabled a Written Parliamentary Question to ask what discussions the Department for Education has had with the City Council about school places in Sutton Coldfield. https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions?SearchTerm=&DateFrom=11%2F05%2F2021&DateTo=31%2F07%2F2022&AnsweredFrom=&AnsweredTo=&House=Commons&MemberId=1211&Answered=Unanswered&Expanded=True
On Tuesday as part of my work with Dignity in Dying and the All Party Parliamentary Group on Choice at the End of Life I chaired a meeting with Baroness Davidson, Baroness Meacher and Dr Julian Neal. The event focused on the current progress of a private members’ bill on assisted dying which has been tabled by Baroness Meacher in the House of Lords. Ruth Davidson discussed her support for the proposals and we also heard from retired GP Dr Julian Neal about his experience as a GP of those in their final weeks of life.
On Wednesday I attended a roundtable event looking at Afghan resettlement which looked at how the current Government support is working and the challenges and opportunities that resettlement schemes present. Revevernd Paul Butler, The Bishop of Durham shared his experience of working with many faith and civil Society organisations who provide holistic support to enable refugees to start rebuilding their lives.
Yesterday alongside Liam Byrne MP and Christine Jardine MP I joined a cross party briefing on the World Bank & IMF in conjunction with CAFOD looking at how the UK government could channel its Special Drawing Rights towards developing countries to tackle Covid-19 and climate change. I also met Dr Adesina, the 8th elected President of the African Development Bank Group and today I met Alex Their, CEO of the Global Fund to End Modern Slavery.
This week Ministers announced a new plan to drive down the cost of clean heating in homes, cutting our carbon emissions and protecting consumers as part of our £3.9 billion fund to decarbonise heat and buildings. https://www.gov.uk/government/news/plan-to-drive-down-the-cost-of-clean-heat
Yesterday the Government announced a new free trade agreement between the UK and New Zealand, cutting tariffs and creating new opportunities. https://www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-agrees-historic-trade-deal-with-new-zealand
At least 30,000 new jobs will be created around the UK thanks to £9.7 billion of new foreign investment. https://www.gov.uk/government/news/investors-pledge-almost-10bn-at-uk-global-investment-summit
Yesterday we announced £162.5 million in extra funding to help the adult social care workforce boost recruitment and continue providing high-quality care for everyone who needs it.
Today Ministers have announced a £126 million investment in laptops and tablets to help care leavers, children with a social worker and also vulnerable children arriving from Afghanistan access their education and fulfil their potential. The funds will provide up to 500,000 devices for disadvantaged children – to boost their learning in school and improve the life chances of those in the care system.
Opportunities and Events
The Kickstart jobs scheme for young people has been extended until March. The WMCA website currently has lots of opportunities available across our region https://www.youthemployment.org.uk/kickstart-your-career/ including plenty in Sutton Coldfield https://www.youthemployment.org.uk/kickstart-vacancies/?kickstart-employer=&kickstart-vacancy-sector=&kickstart-region=sutton-coldfield
Sport Birmingham is inviting clubs and organisations to join their Virtual Learning & Networking event series, which will focus on the theme of: 'Club For Everyone' in partnership with Club Matters. The next event will take place on Wednesday 10th November https://www.sportbirmingham.org/events/2021/11/virtual-learning-networking-session-a-club-for-everyone-1636538400
Birmingham Stories is launching their annual story writing competition. This year’s theme is ‘Water Stories’. The competition is hosted by the National Literacy Trust and the University of Birmingham. The deadline for entries is 22nd November. The competition is open to individual and school submissions, but each writer can only take part once. https://literacytrust.org.uk/communities/birmingham/schools/story-writing-competition-21/
Arts Council England’s Capital Investment Fund is offering grants of £25,000-£1,000,000 to not for profit arts groups threatened with closure due to the pandemic https://www.artscouncil.org.uk/funding
The British Council’s Pakistan-UK New Perspectives 2022 collaborative is inviting proposals for arts and culture projects from Pakistan and UK-based artists, organisations, festivals, and institutions to celebrate Pakistan’s 75th anniversary of Independence in 2022. Three to five grants of £25,000 will be awarded. Apply by 31 October. https://www.britishcouncil.pk/open-call-pakistan-uk-new-perspectives-2022
--
As your MP I am here to help. If you feel I can assist with any concerns, please do not hesitate to get in contact by emailing me on andrew.mitchell.mp@parliament.uk
My weekly updates are available via email: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/su/bhE9MGy/AndrewMitchellNewsletter Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/andrewmitchellmp and my website: https://www.andrew-mitchell-mp.co.uk/news. Please feel free to share with anyone who might like to receive a copy.