Cheshire West and Chester Council is launching a new e-newsletter to support residents through the cost-of-living crisis.
The rising cost of living means that more people will need help to buy essential goods and heat their homes this winter. This is why we are launching a dedicated e-newsletter, called ‘Cost of Living Support,’ to inform you about the support available. The newsletter will come out monthly and can be sent directly to your inbox.
In the newsletter, you will find lots of helpful information about the schemes available to help with essential costs, like food and fuel, and other support that you might be eligible for. The newsletter will have a ‘Partner Stories’ section where people from other organisations in the community can share what they are doing to lend their support. We will also include helpful advice, from how to heat your home efficiently to money-saving tips.
Cheshire West and Chester Council’s new highways contractor appointed
Cheshire West and Chester Council has appointed a new partner for its highways services following a procurement process.
Colas Limited will become the new highways term maintenance contractor from 1 April 2023.
The new contractor will be responsible for the maintenance of 2,300km of public highways as well as structures including Chester’s historic City Walls, plus traffic signals, street lighting, gulley cleansing, drainage, street furniture, road studs and markings.
The comprehensive tender process to engage a term maintenance contractor included them responding to requirements around quality of materials and repairs, ensuring appropriate data and intelligence is gathered to deliver real innovation in the way the Council delivers services in the future, and a strong customer focus to ensure fault reports and enquiries are responded to in an appropriate and timely manner.
In the tender, bidders were also required to set out how they would respond to the climate emergency and demonstrate commitments to Social Value
Each year the Council spends up to £20 million on these services, making the highways contract one of its largest.
The initial contract term will be seven years with options to extend to a total of 15 years.
Councillor Karen Shore, The Council’s Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Environment, Highways and Strategic Transport, said: “We are pleased to award our highways term maintenance contract to Colas Limited following a lengthy and detailed procurement process.
“Teams in our Transport and Highways directorate have been working hard to ensure the procurement process and the development of the overall contract for these key services was carried out thoroughly and effectively, taking into account factors that are influencing the market for these services at the current time.
“We would very much like to thank our current contractor, Ringway, for their hard work in Cheshire West and Chester since 2012, working alongside us to look after our highways assets and keep our residents and visitors safe.
“We are however looking forward to working with our new contractor Colas to deliver the best possible highways maintenance services for the borough.”
CEO at Colas, Faical Lahmamsi said: “We are delighted to have been awarded this seven-year contract by Cheshire West and Chester Council and are excited to be bringing our experience in delivering sustainable road solutions for them, and their communities.”
Police and Crime Commissioner John Dwyer is encouraging local community groups, businesses and members of the police family across Cheshire to apply to the Community Cashback Fund over the Christmas period.
Taken from money seized under the Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA), each of Cheshire’s nine Local Policing Units (LPUs) has been allocated £10,000 from the fund. The aim is for local residents and businesses to work with their neighbourhood policing teams on projects to improve their community. ‘Not for profit’ organisations such as charities, ‘friends of’ groups, neighbourhood groups, social enterprises and community groups are encouraged to apply. Local businesses and Parish Councils can also apply to the fund, as well as local policing teams themselves. The fund is open now and will close at 9am on Friday 27 January 2023. Police and Crime Commissioner John Dwyer, said:
“I’m delighted to be able to support Cheshire’s communities with funding that has been seized from the ill-gotten gains of criminals. This money should be used to fund community improvements, not criminal lifestyles.“Through the Community Cashback Fund, local people will be able to work hand-in-hand with their policing team to improve their area. This is all about working together to make Cheshire even safer so if you’ve got an idea for a project that will make a real difference, I want to hear from you.”
Applications will be considered by a panel including representatives from the local community, which will decide which projects to fund. All applications must meet the criteria and support one of the six aims of the Police and Crime Plan. These are: · Prevent and tackle crime · Make Cheshire’s roads safer · Deliver justice for victims of crime · Protect vulnerable and at-risk people · Improve public confidence in policing · Modernise our police service For information about the criteria, frequently asked questions and how to apply, visit Cashback fund open county-wide for Christmas (cheshire-pcc.gov.uk)
On Fuel Poverty Awareness Day (2 December), Cheshire West and Chester Council is reminding residents of the support available to them this winter.
National Energy Action, a national charity aiming to end fuel poverty, estimates 6.7 million households are currently in the grip of fuel poverty following a 130 per cent increase to gas prices over the last 18 months.
The Council is working alongside a number of partners across the borough to provide support to residents this winter.
Home Upgrade Grant Funding has been secured from the Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy to provide Home Upgrade Grants to households in properties that do not use gas as their main source of heating. These could include homes that use electric, Liquid Petroleum Gas (LPG), oil or solid fuel to heat their homes. The grants will provide eligible households with funding to improve the energy efficiency of their homes, helping them to reduce their energy bills.
Some of the measures the grant can be used for include funding for external and internal wall insulation, loft insulation, under-floor insulation, air source heat pumps, single glazed windows and door upgrades, high heat retention electric storage heater and solar panels.
Full details of the grant, including eligibility criteria and how to apply can be found on the Council’s website: www.cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk/homeenergyhelp or by calling 0300 123 8 123 to request an application form.
Warm, Welcoming SpacesA network of Warm, Welcoming Spaces have been set up in various venues across the borough, providing people with a place where they can go, for free, to stay warm, feel safe and connect with others in their community.
Libraries, some Brio Leisure Centres, Chester Grosvenor Museum and the Lion Salt Works in Northwich are part of the scheme. Many churches and community venues have also opened their doors as part of the initiative and more venues are joining regularly.
Cllr Matt Bryan, Cabinet Member for Housing, Planning and Climate Emergency, said: “As we head into winter, many residents are understandably concerned about the rising cost of living and how they will heat their homes.
“We know that making homes more energy efficient so that they remain warmer is one of the best long-term solutions to the cost-of-living crisis and I would urge anyone eligible for the Home Upgrade Grant to make an application today.
“We’re extremely grateful to the range of local organisations working together with us to support residents during these worrying times. Anyone needing support can find details of a range of organisations that can provide help on the Council website: www.cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk/costofliving or by calling: 0300 123 8123.”
Join a bank workforce for the Council’s Reablement team
Cheshire West and Chester Council is calling on people to join a bank workforce for its Reablement team to support others in the local community.
Are you a kind and caring person who would like to make a real difference to others?
As the winter months approach, it is important people receive the care and support they need and this bank workforce will be called on to help with any pressures in both the Reablement team and other services it supports outside the Council.
By joining the Reablement team, you won’t just be joining the Council, but also a community team that supports people to enjoy full and independent lives.
Reablement workers come from all walks of life, but what they all have in common is the right values as they’re adaptable, friendly, respectful and caring.
No matter where you live in west Cheshire or surrounding areas, there are plenty of opportunities across the borough and you’ll be allocated work as near to you as possible.
There are a number of different positions available that are flexible with what you can offer, whether you’re looking for part-time work to support people around your other commitments or longer hours as a more permanent position.
With the recent pay award for Council staff, you’re able to earn £11.39 per hour as part of this bank workforce, plus holiday pay, and you’ll have access to the paid training you need for your role, an excellent pension scheme with significant employer contributions and much more.
