Author: Martin Driver

Sefton Council’s Business Support and investment Team-InvestSefton are offering to donate an hour of voluntary work to a local charity for every 10 responses that are completed in the current Economic Strategy consultation.

Feedback

Team members are keen to ensure they get as much feedback as possible for the current consultation on the new Economic Strategy, which looks at the Borough’s business and employment needs and sets out what the Council will do to meet them.

Scheduled to close on Wednesday 17th August, the consultation has already generated over 100 responses, which means 10 hours of voluntary work for the team already. However, they want to double that and make it 20 hours, thanks to 200-plus responses by nest week’s closing date.

You can take part in the consultation here. 

Residents, communities & businesses

Through the consultation to the Council wants to collect views on how to help improve the Borough’s economy for its residents, communities and businesses. Feedback gathered will help form a new Sefton Economic Strategy.

Strategic economic growth is a key part of the Sefton 2030 Vision towards which the Council is working. This new consultation will enable the Council to understand better the needs of Sefton residents, business owners, organisations and investors, as it plans its Economic Strategy for the years 2022 to 2024.

Pre-consultation work was carried out gathering the views on areas including employment and opportunities for work, business growth, investment, and social inclusion from a diverse range of people.

Opportunities

Team leader Mike Mullin said: “It is important we get as many people’s views as possible so that we can help to help create the environment to generate opportunities for the workforce and local businesses across Sefton.

“That’s why the team and I have committed to doing this voluntary work to help a local charity , to try and get as many responses as possible.

“Anyone providing feedback to the consultation will know that they are contributing to the economic future of Sefton and at the same time, generating support for a good cause.”

Partners & stakeholders

When the consultation was launched in July, Cllr Marion Atkinson, Sefton Council’s Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Skills, said: “We recognise the importance of working with our many key partners and stakeholders from the private sector, communities, voluntary sector and local businesses. This consultation is for everyone, including those partners, and can help define our future.”

The team will carry out the work with a local charity through the Council’s Employee Volunteering scheme through which employees can use for two days’ paid leave and three days unpaid leave per year for these activities.

Take part in the consultation here. 

While temperatures in Sefton may not be forecast to reach the levels that have caused the Met Office to issue a second heat warning, the Council is still urging people to be careful and prepare for the heat.

Some people could experience health problems such as heat exhaustions and heatstroke, as temperatures rise to 30°C or above. This is especially the case if they are either young or older or if they have an underlying health condition.

During hot and sunny weather, we also need to protect ourselves from the harmful effects of UV light.

Heat exhaustion and heatstroke

Sustained exposure to the sun even at lower temperature can cause a number of health problems such as heat exhaustion and heatstroke and everyone is vulnerable the harmful effects of UV light if unprotected.

Ahead of the previous heatwave, Margaret Jones, Sefton Council’s Director of Public Health said: “I can fully understand that many people thoughts will turn to visiting the coast, but what we need to remember is that on the beach, we are fully exposed to the effects of the sun and heat, especially if we are not prepared. 

“It is important to stay out of the sun as much as possible during the hottest part of the day. While it is so sunny if we do go out, we should wear sunscreen and a hat and try and stay in the shade.

“We should try and keep cool this could be indoors or outdoors in the shade.

Dehydration

She continued: “If you do want to go out, staying local in areas such as parks where trees and shelters can provide shade will be cooler and much more suitable for young children and elderly people who can succumb to the potentially dangerous effects of heat and dehydration very quickly.”

Heat Exhaustion is where people become very hot and start to lose water or salt from their body. Symptoms include weakness, faintness, headache, muscle cramps, feeling sick, heavy sweating and intense thirst.

Heatstroke is where the body is no longer able to cool itself and a person’s body temperature becomes dangerously high. Heatstroke is less common, but more serious and untreated, it can cause confusion, seizures and loss of consciousness.

Shade

Margaret added: “The best way to look after ourselves is to stay out of the extreme heat, ensure we cool ourselves down, keep our environment cool or find somewhere else that is cool, this could be indoors or outside in the shade.”

“Anyone who does go to the coast needs to remember that with no shelter or shade, sand temperatures can rise very quickly, creating a very uncomfortable and challenging surface to walk or stand on.

“People can find out more advice on keeping cool during the hot weather at www.sefton.gov.uk/heatwave.”

Factor 30

Margaret Jones continued: “If you are determined to go the beach, use factor 30 or above sun cream and lots of it and make sure children are protected and not exposed too much, as sunburn can do long-term damage. 

“Take plenty of drinks and ensure you keep hydrated because heat exhaustion and heatstroke can creep up on you and think about taking regular trips to somewhere off the beach where you can find some shade.”

Sefton and its partners coast teams will be on duty over the coming days, and they can provide some first aid.

People visiting the Sefton coast this weekend are asked to dispose of litter carefully in bins, or if they are full, to take litter home with them as some items such as glass in strong sunshine can cause fires, like a magnifying glass.

Sefton Council is also urging visitors to think about where they visit to avoid lengthy queues in a hot cars and disruptions for local residents.