Dear Residents,Â
Bingley Town council held its first full council meeting of the year on 19th January 2021 and already we all face a difficult start to the year. The Covid-19 pandemic continues to dominate all our thoughts and energies. It is excellent news that the vaccination programme is up and running in Bingley. I would like to give heartfelt thanks to those NHS and Social Care staff who are working flat out to keep us all safe and well, as well as those in the emergency services, teachers and teaching assistants, police, supermarket staff and delivery drivers who continue to work in the most difficult circumstances.
Staff and councillors continue to work hard to keep the business of the Town Council running smoothly, despite there being two councillor vacancies. The Facilities Management Committee is now in place to manage the council office building and the Changing Places Working Group will hold its first meeting on 16th February.Â
Bingley Community Partnership is a relatively new group convened by Marcia Churley, Ward Officer for Bingley. This is a group from voluntary organisations in the town, who aim to combine their knowledge and expertise to provide advice, help and practical support to residents. The group includes representatives from Bingley Food Bank, Trinity Community Kitchen, Eldwick, Trinity/ St Wilfrid’s and All Saints churches, Bingley and Bingley Ward Resilience Support, CABAD, Living Well, Befriending services, Ward Councillors and Bingley Town Councillors. The group meet regularly and if you have suggestions for projects or areas of need, please contact Marcia Churley at  marcia.churley@bradford.gov.uk or any of the groups above.Â
During the recent storms, areas of Bingley were once again under threat of flooding. Fortunately, on this occasion no homes were flooded and in the main, flood defences held. Bradford Metropolitan District Council emergency support systems were in place and Bingley Emergency Response Group were ready and prepared to support areas and residents at risk with practical help. Bingley Fire Service crews worked tirelessly at Castlefields Lane to prevent flooding of homes and residents are grateful for this support
Thank you to all who subscribe to the monthly mailing for your interest and support for Bingley Town Council. Please share with your family friends and neighbours.  Please remember to follow all guidelines on staying safe and healthy, hands, face and space. Let’s get those numbers down in Bingley!
Helen Owen
ChairÂ
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Following careful consideration, the council set its budget for the 21/22 financial year at the full council meeting on 19 January 2021.Â
Anticipated expenditure for the year is budgeted at £304,807. The precept will be £187,396 and this results in the precept for a Band D property of £22.07.
Community Partnership Group
The Community Partnership Group represents a number of different voluntary groups operating in the local area. Many of these groups would welcome additional volunteers. If you could spare some time to help, your efforts could make a real difference to the lives of others in need.  Â
There are opportunities for providing socially distant support such as telephone befriending. Contact CABAD 01274 781222 further information.
Changing Places Working Group
The council is pleased to report that a Changing Places Working Group has now been established.Â
The current working group members are:Â Councillors Williams, Taylor and Malik and Mr Lewis Kirdale, and Mr Darryl Smith
The first meeting will be held on 16 February 2021 at 6:30pm on Zoom. Further details about accessing the meeting can be found in the meeting agenda on the Bingley Town Council website (Documents section).
The initial objective of the working group is to explore options to enable Bingley Town Council to provide a Changing Places facility in the local area.
Bingley Monthly Market
Regrettably, due to the current challenges presented by the Covid-19 pandemic, the council has made the difficult decision to cancel the popular monthly Saturday Farmers’ Market. The cancellation is effective until further notice.Â
The national advice is for residents to stay at home wherever possible. The council together with Otley Town Partnership who run the markets decided that, in the interests of public health and safety, cancellation was necessary. The council is sorry for the disappointment this will inevitably cause. However, the council looks forward to welcoming the markets back as soon as it canÂ
 COVID 19 Guidance
We are currently in a national lock-down.Â
Information from the Government website www.gov.uk/guidance/national-lockdown-stay-at-home has been reproduced below:
The regulations state that you must not leave, or be outside of your home except where necessary.Â
You may leave the home to:
·      shop for basic necessities, for you or a vulnerable person.
·      go to work, or provide voluntary or charitable services, if you cannot reasonably do so from home.
·      exercise with your household (or support bubble) or one other person (in which case you should stay 2 meters apart. Exercise should be limited to once per day, and you should not travel outside your local area.
·      meet your support or childcare bubble where necessary, but only if you are legally permitted to form one.
·      seek medical assistance or avoid injury, illness or risk of harm (including domestic abuse).
·      attend education or childcare – for those eligible. If you leave your home for a permitted reason you should always stay local – unless it is necessary to go further, for example to go to work. Stay local means stay in the village, town or part of the city where you live.Â
If you are clinically extremely vulnerable:
You are advised to only go our for medical appointments, exercise or if it is essential. It is recommended that you do not attend work.Â
Meeting others:
You cannot leave your home to meet socially with anyone you do not live with or are not in a support bubble with (if you are legally permitted to form one).
You may exercise on your own, with one other person, or with your household or support bubble. This should be limited to once per day, and you should not travel outside your local area.
You can not meet other people you do not live with, or have formed a support bubble with, unless for a permitted reason.
Stay two meters apart from anyone not in your household or support bubble.
EducationÂ
Colleges, primary and secondary schools will remain open only for vulnerable children and the children of critical workers. All other children will learn remotely until at least February half term.
Early years settings remain open.Â
Higher Education provision will remain online until mid-February for all except future critical worker courses.
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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:
Town Clerk:Â 07703 188660
Administrative Officer:
Monday and Thursday – 07529 222679
Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday – 077835 19439
Dates for your diary
Most activities, including litter picks and markets are currently on hold.Â
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The next ordinary meeting of the Town Council is at 6.30pm on Tuesday 23 February 2021Â
The meeting will be held on Zoom. Formally convened Town Council meetings are not password protected. Â
The agenda for meetings which contain the meeting link can be found on the Town Council website and on its Facebook page.Â
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 site.
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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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Annual Town MeetingÂ
The date for the Annual Town Meeting has been set as 18th May subject to Covid-19 restrictions being eased. It is hoped that by May the meeting will be allowed to go ahead in person as current legislation prevents Town Meetings being held remotely.
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.
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
Many thanks for your newsletter. We all know how difficult it is at present but good to know there is work continuing by the Council and others.
Thanks for your positive comment Bill.
Best wishes
Ruth Batterley