With the EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS) application deadline (30th June) fast approaching, the Home Office is asking for support in reminding parents, families and young people that if they are an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen, they and their family members may be eligible to apply to the Settlement Scheme.
It is crucial that eligible parents apply to the Scheme themselves and check whether they need to do so on behalf of their children.
Eligible children are required to have an application in their own right and no child of any age is covered by a parentâs application to the EUSS. Thereâs more information on this here on GOV.UK.
To provide additional guidance, a very clear EUSS leaflet has been produced by the University of Liverpool, in partnership with the Home Office. It has been designed with children in mind and is intended to support both children and parents with information to help them apply to the EUSS. A set of accompanying FAQs are available too.
A list of organisations providing additional EUSS guidance and information is available here.
Applications to the EUSS are free and can be made online at www.gov.uk/eusettlementscheme, where you can also find out more information about how to apply.
Sefton Council helping to drive positive changes to race equality
Steve Martlew, Interim Head of Communities for Sefton Council sends a message about how the Council is helping to drive positive changes to race equality across the borough.
Today marks one year since the murder of George Floyd which sparked protests around the world and a commitment among many individuals and organisations to acknowledge and understand racism and stand in solidarity against it.
Sefton Council is committed to equality and social inclusion as an employer, service provider and as a partner both locally and regionally. We recognise it has an important role to play in tackling race injustice and inequality and driving forward positive change.
We are currently developing a declaration of intent which shows our commitment to ensuring we promote equality within our organisation and across the borough. The declaration outlines priorities and ambitions highlighting how we hope to achieve this.
We continue to offer a comprehensive mandatory Equality and Diversity training programme. This includes Equality and Diversity Awareness, Equality and Diversity for Managers as well as Unconscious Bias. Itâs so important we do this training as it helps us to reflect on our own experiences and biases and it encourages us to be a fully inclusive workforce.
Sefton is also proud to be part of a programme led by the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, which will brings together leaders from Merseyside Councils, community organisations, businesses and the public sector, to tackle systemic injustice and inequality and drive forward positive change for the city regionâs Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic communities. The programme will enable partners to collaborate on a plan of action to improve on issues such as workforce diversity, learning development opportunities, business support and Black History projects.
The murder of George Floyd and Black Lives Matters showed us that changes need to be made and we will continue to work with our partners including the Liverpool City Regionâs race equality team to look at strategies and projects which will help us eliminate bias, discrimination and injustice.
New ânight-time ambassadorsâ supporting Borough’s busy hospitality sector’s safety
Night-Time Ambassadors took to Seftonâs streets for the first time on Friday 21st May to support businesses in the Boroughâs busy hospitality sector.
The first weekend since the latest COVID-19 lockdown lifting, which includes a return to seated indoor drinking and dining, saw the Councilâs five, two-person teams out and about.
Funded through the Councilâs Public Health Service, their role is to provide landlords, owners and managers with advice on how to comply with the latest coronavirus restrictions. These include the need for customers to remain seated while eating and drinking and the requirement for everyone to be signed in using the COVID app QR Code process.
Welcomed
Over the first weekend they managed to visit around 700 businesses, the vast majority and which welcomed the initiative. The Ambassadors reported that the overall level of compliance was good and that they were able to provide advice at a small number of premises that werenât aware of all requirements.
Cllr Paulette Lappin, Sefton Councilâs Cabinet Member for Regulatory, Compliance and Corporate Services said: âThe lockdown relaxation introduced last week represents a huge change in what people can and canât do, particularly in relation to Seftonâs busy hospitality sector.
âWith many people keen to take advantage of the changes, which include being able to eat and drink indoors while seated, at pubs, bars and restaurants, this weekend, we are keen to provide support in helping those businesses manage the revised restrictions and requirements. Which is where our Night-Time Ambassadors come in.
âOver this first weekend, the teams managed to visit around 700 premises, received a good reception and reported back that once again the Boroughâs businesses have stepped up and are implementing the required restrictions.
âBetween 12 noon and 10pm on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, they will be out visiting a range of premises, offering advice and information to managers, landlords and owners.â
Licensed
To ensure they are easily identifiable by managers and customers, all 10 will be wearing high-viz showing they are âNight-Time Ambassadorsâ. Each of the staff, who are licensed employees of leading Merseyside security provider Logika Security Limited, have been trained by Sefton Council.
As well as visiting businesses to provide support, the Ambassadors will discuss any breaches of the coronavirus requirements they see, to try and help resolve the situation and ensure the safety of customers and staff.
Initially, the Night-Time Ambassadors are focusing on those parts of Sefton, where there are concentrations of hospitality venues, but they will aim to visit establishments of various type and sizes right across the Borough.
Enjoy
Cllr Lappin continued: âAlthough the recent relaxation measures represented a major change in restrictions, which weâre all keen to enjoy, itâs important that we remember the COVID-19 virus, including the variant first identified in India, is still definitely with us across Sefton.
âBusinesses in the hospitality sector need to make sure they have the measures in place to protect their customers and their staff. And we, as customers, drinkers and diners, all need to do our bit by making sure we follow the restrictions that are in place to keep us, our friends and families safe.â
Mark Patrickson, Director of Logika Security Limited said: âI am pleased that we have been able to work with Sefton Council and that our employees are providing this valuable service to help create an environment where people can enjoy themselves while also staying safe.â
Update from Green Sefton Service Manager Mark Shaw
You will be aware that since the commencement of the National Lockdown back in March 2020 our park buildings have remained closed and a range of other restrictions came into being for parks, open spaces and coastal areas which limited the opportunity for volunteers undertaking work.
Since that time there has been a phased easing of restrictions (most recently Monday 17th May 2021 â Roadmap step 3) permitted by government and, subject to government not imposing further restrictions, we are minded to shortly re-open our buildings to community use and welcome back our volunteers in greater numbers.
Volunteers Working Outside
Volunteers can now resume working in parks and open spaces but there is a requirement that no more than 30 people can assemble. Therefore, we would ask that you follow some simple rules to keep everyone safe.
Whilst undertaking volunteer work and projects please continue to be mindful that Coronavirus remains a risk and take measures to keep safe, following the principal of Hands, Face and Space which is promoted by Public Health.
If you intend to undertake volunteer work tasks, please make us aware as you would have done previously. Outdoor events can also be held provided the number of participants does not exceed 30 persons.
Opening of Buildings & Pavilions
In an earlier briefing we asked community groups to provide risk assessments and to complete an application form for booking the use of premises. We are now intending to return to assessing these applications with a view towards opening premises. Once approved people can start making use of pavilions and buildings again but with a maximum of six attendees.
Whilst premises may open, we will still require community groups to:
Ensure the rule of 6 is adhered with.
Agree times and days of the week when use will be made.
Provide a nominated contact (usually the key holders) who will take a lead role in ensuring your members act responsibility.
When buildings are open, we would ask that windows and doors are open to maximise ventilation.
Unless an exemption applies, we would ask groups continue to ensure members wear a mark and sanitise surfaces before and after meetings or sessions of activity.
As applications were provided to us some considerable time ago it is likely the risk assessments and application forms may require some amendments and updating. We would be pleased if you could resend these forms to us at greensefton@sefton.gov.uk
Please mark your email with these attachments as âApplication to Re-open Premisesâ and we would hope to respond within 10 working days offering our agreement to resume use or advising you if we have any continuing queries.
Thank you in advance for supporting efforts to keep everyone safe as steps are taken to ease the restrictions that have been in place.
(l-r) Tim Webber MBE, MD & Chairman of Barnfield Group; Christian Rogers, MD Sandway Homes; Cllr Trish Hardy; Cllr Ian Maher; Sandway Board member Cllr Diane Roscoe
Construction work on Sandy Brook, the first development by the Sefton Councilâs wholly-owned housing development company, Sandway Homes Ltd, is now underway.
With support from Homes England, main contractors, Barnfield Construction Limited, have cleared the site and started piling work for the foundations of the developmentâs 48 high-quality, two, three & four-bed homes.
Scenic backdrop
The development is located on land next to Ainsdaleâs Meadow Lane on the former site of St. John Stone R.C. Primary School. It takes its name from the adjacent Sandy Brook, one of three watercourses which forms part of the Three Pools Waterway. This waterway forms a natural boundary between Sefton and West Lancashire a scenic backdrop, with views across rural meadow and farmland.
Sandy Brook is the first of the Sandway Homes developments to reach construction stage. The properties, which are a mix of detached and semi-detached, are named after wild birds that can be seen locally. Styles include the Peregrine, Kingfisher, Sandpiper, Sanderling, Curlew, Lapwing, Wagtail and Skylark.
The majority of these homes will be for sale on the open market and all commercial returns from Sandway Homes developments will be returned to the Council for reinvestment in the Borough.
Vision
Established in 2018, Sandway Homes directly supports Sefton Councilâs Vision 2030 commitment to creating 11,000 new, high-quality homes across the Borough by 2030. Vision 2030 was drawn up by key stakeholders including local residents in 2016. Sandwayâs aim is to develop the types of high-quality, mixed-tenure housing that commercial developers might not consider, in line with the Councilâs housing policy commitments and Vision 2030. This includes social housing and affordable homes. Another site is now in development, Hey Farm Gardens at nearby Crossens, for which Sandway Homes has obtained planning permission for 30, two, three and 4-bed homes.
Sandway is also planning a development at Sefton Grange, on the edge of Netherton, comprising of two, three and 4-bed homes and one and 2-bed apartments. While the majority of these will be for sale on the open market, Sefton Grange will also provide Sefton Council with its first new rented housing since its stock transfer in 2006, in the form of nine apartments.
High-quality living
Cllr Ian Maher, Leader of Sefton Council, said: âI am delighted to see our ambitious commitment to creating housing that will give high-quality living choices to local residents actually taking shape on site.
âBy establishing Sandway Homes, we are ethically and sustainably creating people-centred homes that will provide more housing choice across Sefton.
âPlus, any funds generated will be used to support other Sefton Council developments and services.â
Place and communities
Cllr Trish Hardy, Sefton Councilâs Cabinet Member for Communities and Housing, said:Â âSandway Homes and Sefton Council are fully aligned in our commitment to providing people with a choice of new homes while at the same time minimising any disruption or inconvenience to existing local residents.
âBy delivering attractive, high-quality homes across the Borough, including social and affordable housing, these developments can only enhance Seftonâs quality of Place and Communities.â
Balance
Sandwayâs Managing Director, Christian Rogers, said: âSandway Homes is an exciting new venture that strikes just the right balance between achieving strong commercial performance whilst directly supporting the Boroughâs strategic objectives for new quality housing and the creation of resilient communities with quality housing that meets the highest ethical and environmental standards.â
Sandwayâs Main Contractor, Barnfield Construction is part of the Barnfield Group who are a North West-based, family-owned firm established over 45 years ago. Barnfield are employing a number of Sefton construction workers for the Sandy Brook project. Barnfield are accredited Ambassadors of the Considerate Constructors Scheme and are committed to uphold the values of Sandway Homes and Sefton Council.
Track record
Tim Webber MBE, Managing Director and Chairman of the Barnfield Group said: âWe are delighted to be working in partnership with Sandway Homes and Sefton Council on the Meadow Lane development. We have many development partnerships with councils in the North West, where we have a successful track record of delivering high quality homes, proven to benefit local areas. We look forward to working on other local schemes together in the near future.â
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Steve Martlew, Interim Head of Communities for Sefton Council sends a message about how the Council is helping to drive positive changes to race equality across the borough.
