The remote meeting of the Full Council on 27th April marked a year since the first council meeting held by Zoom in April 2020. Who would have predicted that we would still be meeting remotely in 2021?
Bingley is looking particularly gorgeous in the spring sunshine. The cherry blossom along Bradford Road brings joy every year and there are signs of hope that there is light at the end of the pandemic tunnel.
By 15th April 50% of residents had received their first vaccination and the programme continues to progress. Residents of age 70+ will start to receive booster jabs in September. If you are an unpaid carer for a vulnerable person and need PPE equipment, Bradford Metropolitan District Council can provide this free of charge. Tel 01274 431000 for details.
The town council looks forward to two new councillors being elected to the Priestthorpe Ward on 6th May. Recently Councillor John Brazendale resigned from his role as Councillor for Crownest Ward. Bradford Metropolitan District Council Electoral Services will shortly post notice of the vacancy and an election may be requested by ten voters.
Ruth Batterley the Town Clerk, left Bingley Town Council to work at Ilkley Town Council on 16th April and she takes with her the gratitude of the Town Council for her service and dedication to the town. Tracy Predeth is the current Locum Clerk who has taken on Town Clerk duties in the interim. It is expected that a new Town Clerk will be appointed soon and we look forward to the staff being returned to full strength in the near future. A new Deputy Clerk, Nicola Mansfield Smith began work on 26th April and we warmly welcome her to the town and the the team.
The Annual Town Meeting will take place on Tuesday 4th May via Zoom at 6.00 pm. Details at the end of this mailing. The Speaker will be Edith Grooby, Recycling Manager at Bradford Metropolitan District Council. She will give a presentation on “Let’s Talk Rubbish”. Groups which have received grants through the Town Council Grants Scheme will report on the progress of their projects. All residents are invited to attend.
Plans for a return to face to face meetings are well in hand and details of how residents can access future council meetings will be published via the website and social media.
Councillor Helen Owen. Chair – Bingley Town Council.
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Bingley Befriending
The Town Council heard a presentation from Joy Mills on this very worthwhile scheme, which is a partnership scheme between HALE and CABAD, supported by the National Lottery. During the pandemic, the there has been a steep rise in the numbers of people requesting and using the telephone befriending scheme. Volunteers are needed for befriending in person as the national situation changes. Please contact Joy iovm@cabad.org.uk or tel 07422966141 for further information.
Markets
The first market of the year took place on April 3rd and attracted a welcome return of shoppers to the town centre. The May 1st market included craft stalls and BeCycling as well as food produce and proved to be a popular event.
Litter picks
Litter Picks in the town will resume on Saturday June 26th 10.00 am. Meet at the Council Office (The Hub)
Bingley is fortunate in that we have a large number of Litter Champions who work tirelessly in their own time to look after their ‘patch’.
If you’d like to be a Litter Champion, please contact either your Ward Councillor or Ruth Thompson Administration Officer at a.o@bingleytowncouncil.gov.uk
Play in the Park
We are pleased to announce that six Play in the Park sessions will return in the school summer holidays to each of the local parks. Dates to be confirmed.
Floral Displays
The contract to provide floral displays in the town will go out to tender this month.
The Town Council is proud to be instrumental in providing such a successful and much appreciated service to improve the town and village centres.
Community Partnership
The Community Partnership group of voluntary organisations continues to meet regularly. Plans for a return to Bingley is back in Business event continue. Watch out for details of this future event.
COVID 19 Guidance
The Government coronavirus advice website advises that
Some of the rules on what you can and cannot changed on 12 April. However, many restrictions remain in place. You must not socialise indoors with anyone you do not live with, unless you have formed a support bubble with them, or another exemption applies. You should continue to work from home if you can and minimise the number of journeys you make where possible. You should get a rest and follow the stay at home guidance if you have COVID-19 symptoms.
From 12 April:
- non-essential retail can reopen
- personal care services such as hairdressers and nail salons can reopen, including those provided from a mobile setting
- public buildings such as libraries and community centres can reopen
- outdoor hospitality venues can reopen, with table service only
- most outdoor attractions including zoos, theme parks, and drive-in performances (such as cinemas and concerts) can reopen
- some smaller outdoor events such as fetes, literary fairs, and fairgrounds can take place
- indoor leisure and sports facilities can reopen for individual exercise, or exercise with your household or support bubble
- all childcare and supervised activities are allowed indoors (as well as outdoors) for all children. Parent and child groups can take place indoors (as well as outdoors) for up to 15 people (children under 5 will not be counted in this number)
- weddings, civil partnership ceremonies, wakes and other commemorative events can take place for up to 15 people (anyone working is not included in this limit), including in indoor venues that are permitted to open or where an exemption applies. Wedding receptions can also take place for up to 15 people, but must take place outdoors, not including private gardens
- self-contained accommodation can stay open for overnight stays in England with your household or support bubble
- care home residents will be able to nominate two named individuals for regular indoor visits (following a rapid lateral flow test)
- you should continue to work from home if you can and minimise the amount that you travel where possible
Keeping yourself and others safe
Social distancing is still very important. You should stay 2 metres apart from anyone who is not in your household or support bubble where possible, or 1 metre with extra precautions in place (such as wearing face coverings) if you cannot stay 2 metres apart.
You must wear a face covering in many indoor settings, such as shops and places of worship, and on public transport, unless you are exempt or have a reasonable excuse.
Meeting family and friends indoors
You must not meet indoors with anybody you do not live with, unless you have formed a support bubble with them (if you are eligible), or another legal exemption applies.
Meeting friends and family outdoors (rule of 6)
You can meet up outdoors with friends and family you do not live with, either:
- in a group of up to 6 from any number of households (children of all ages count towards the limit of 6)
- in a group of any size from up to two households (each household can include an existing support bubble, if eligible)
Going to Work
You should continue to work from home where you can.
If you cannot work from home you should continue to travel to your workplace. You do not need to be classed as a critical worker to go to work if you cannot work from home.
Going to School or College
School pupils and students in further education should go to school and college.
Universities and higher education
Students in university and other higher education settings undertaking practical and practice based courses who require specialist equipment and facilities can go to in-person teaching and learning where reasonably necessary. Providers should not ask students to return if their course can reasonably be continued online.
All other students should continue to learn remotely and remain where they’re living until in-person teaching starts again, wherever possible. Following a review, the government has announced that in-person teaching and learning should resume for all students alongside Step 3, which will take place no earlier than 17 May.
Students who have returned to higher education settings, including university, should not move back and forward between their permanent home and student home during term time, unless they meet one of the exemptions.
Higher education students who have moved to university accommodation will be able to return to a non-term residence before 29 April 2021, if they wish to. This will allow university students to return to a family or other address for the holidays. However, in order to minimise the risk of spreading COVID-19, students should remain in their term time accommodation where possible, especially those students who returned to campus from 8 March. Students should take a test before they travel
Childcare
All children can go to registered childcare, childminders, wraparound care and other supervised children’s activities indoors and outdoors.
Parent and child groups can take place indoors as well as outdoors, with restrictions on numbers attending. See the parent and child groups section of this guidance.
Meeting others for childcare
People can continue to gather indoors or in larger groups outdoors where this is reasonably necessary:
- for education, registered childcare, and supervised activities for children, see further information on education and childcare
- for arrangements where children do not live in the same household as both their parents or guardians
- to allow contact between birth parents and children in care, as well as between siblings in care
- for prospective adopting parents to meet a child or children who may be
Further details can be found at Coronavirus (COVID-19): guidance and support – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Officer hours
The Town Council’s office is closed due to the lockdown with staff working from home. Bingley Town Council can be contacted by email at enquiries@bingleyTownCouncil.go.uk or by phone on the following numbers:
Deputy Town Clerk: 07703 188660
Administrative Officer: Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday: 077835 19439
Dates for your diary
Monthly Saturday Farmers’ market – First Saturday of each month 10am to 2pm
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Council meetings:
Annual Town Meeting will be on Tuesday May 4th 6pm to 7.30pm. This meeting has been convened as a remote meeting. Details of how to attend are included on the agenda for the meeting which can be found on the Town Council’s website
Please note, the Annual Town Meeting is not a council meeting. Annual Town Meetings are your opportunity to have a say about issues in the Bingley area and to meet representatives of local community groups.
The next ordinary meeting of the Town Council is at 6.30pm on: Tuesday 25th May 2021. The meeting will be held at St Winifrid’s Community Hall in Gilstead. The agenda for the meeting can be found on the Town Council website and on its Facebook page.
You can see all the council’s meeting dates in the Events section calendar on the website. A full listing is also available as a separate document, updated weekly, in the Documents section of the website site.
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Other Dates
Thursday 13th May 6.00 pm. Shipley Area Playable Spaces Consultation (remote meeting)
Thursday May 20th Community Partnership Meeting (remote)
Saturday June 26th 10.00 am. Litter Pick – Meet at the Council Office (The Hub)
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Elections
The election of two councillors for Priestthorpe Ward should take place on May 6th
The May election is subject to government guidance and restrictions.
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Newsletter distribution
So that the council can keep as many people as possible informed, please do share this newsletter with friends and family and encourage them to subscribe too.
Bingley Town Council, Myrtle Place, Bingley BD16 2LF.
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