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Partnership was ‘key’ in face of COVID says Sefton Council Health Service Annual Review

26 March 2022
Martin Driver
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Categories: Front Page, Latest News, Uncategorized

Partnership and the importance of working together is the underlying theme of a new video and report from Sefton Council’s Public Health service.

Protect and support

Looking back at the COVID-19 pandemic, the new annual report highlights how the Council’s Public Health team worked closely with colleagues in the health sector, Sefton Voluntary Services (CVS), care homes and schools to protect and support people across the Borough.

The video report also highlights the important role played by Sefton’s residents, communities and businesses in protecting each other from COVID.

Quickly adapted

Cllr Ian Moncur, Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing said: “This report looks back at the effects of the COVID-19 and the way in which our Public Health team and out partners quickly adapted and found new ways of working with each other to deal with the unprecedented pandemic.

“It is a testament to the dedication of our officers and their colleagues in what they did and continue to do all they could to protect those most vulnerable to the serious and potentially fatal impact of the coronavirus.

“But it is also a tribute to the way in which residents and businesses stepped up and followed the guidance and rules to keep each other safe and shows the strength of community in our Borough.

“Once again I would like to thank everyone across Sefton for all the sacrifices they have made and also to all Council’s and our partners’ hardworking staff who have delivered services to keep us all safe and well during incredibly difficult times.”

Caution

Cllr Moncur said that while the COVID-19 has still not gone away, and the Council is still urging people to ensure they are fully vaccinated and to exercise caution when out and about in busy places.

He added: “COVID-19 presented us with huge challenges but also plenty of valuable lessons in Public Health and right across the Council in how we can work together and as we move forward.”

May start for Council consultation on selective and additional licensing for Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs)

25 March 2022
Martin Driver
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Categories: Front Page, Latest News, Sefton Council

In May, Sefton Council will be a carrying out a public consultation on its proposal to extend its Selective and Additional (HMO) licensing schemes for a further five-years.

Under the scheme, private landlords in some parts of Sefton have been required to licence their properties since 1st March 2018. It ends on 28th February 2023.

Further five years

In December 2021, Sefton Council’s Cabinet agreed to consult with residents, private landlords, businesses, and other stakeholders on proposals to re-designate their Selective and Additional (HMO) licensing schemes for the further five-year period from March next year until March 2028.

The 12-week consultation will start on Monday 9th May 2022 and will cover the proposals to re-designate Selective Licensing across Bootle. It will also include proposals for Additional (HMO) Licensing across parts of Seaforth/Waterloo/Brighton-le-Sands and central Southport.

Improvements

As a result of the current licencing schemes, Sefton Council has been able to make improvements in the standards of management by private landlords and the living conditions for tenants.

Extending the scheme for a further five years will enable the Council to build on this success and bring about further improvements in landlords’ management practices as well as in property conditions across the private rented sector to benefit tenants and the communities affected.

Standards

Cllr Trish Hardy, Sefton Council’s Cabinet Member for Communities and Housing, said: “Thanks to the Selective and Additional (HMO) licensing schemes, we have brought about significant improvements to the standards of management and property conditions in the private rented sector in the parts of the Borough where the scheme was introduced.

“Through re-designating the licensing schemes, we can build on the improvements already made and will continue to engage with landlords to realise our vision of creating strong and resilient communities and the opportunity to live in good quality homes.

“We remain committed to make these areas safe and attractive places in which to live and through the proposed redesign of the licensing schemes we are seeking the full co-operation of landlords and their tenants in making this happen.”

Further details on the proposals and consultation will be available closer to the Monday 9th May start date.

Anyone wanting to be kept updated on the proposed licensing schemes, can contact landlord.licensing@sefton.gov.uk.

You can find out more about Additional (HMO) Licensing in Sefton here.

Marine Lake Events Centre plans to take major step forward this Summer

25 March 2022
Ollie Cowan
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Categories: Active Sefton, Borough Of Culture, Business and Economy, Essential Sefton, Front Page, Latest News

Exciting plans for a state-of-the-art Marine Lake Events Centre in Southport are set to take another big step forward this summer, as the project team prepares for public consultation.

It was announced earlier this year that Sefton Council has appointed an experienced team, including leading architecture firm AFL Architects, to work on plans that will provide Southport with a first class events space and a new visitor attraction that will animate the Marine Lake. 

The project has been named following feedback from local school children during the Town Deal consultation in 2020. The plans will provide a theatre space, conference and exhibition centre able to accommodate a range of events, and cafĂ©/restaurant on the site of the existing Southport Theatre and Conference Centre.  A water and light show is proposed to be installed on the Marine Lake.

The project will bring thousands of visitors to the town each year and provide a boost to the local economy.

The Marine Lake Events Centre and Marine Lake water and light show forms part of the Southport Town Deal which secured ÂŁ37.5 million funding in 2021. The project has also secured further support from Liverpool City Region Combined Authority. 

Work on the Marine Lake Events Centre follows the success of Southport Market, which opened its doors last year and has helped to kickstart regeneration of the Market Quarter. The council has also recently consulted on plans to improve access to the eastern side of Southport and public realm improvements for the town centre.

The Marine Lake Events Centre team will start conversations with stakeholders over the next few weeks with public consultation planned to take place in May. A planning application is expected to be submitted in early summer 2022.

Cllr Ian Maher, Leader of Sefton Council, said: “We are really excited that the project is starting to take shape. During the consultation on the Town Deal in 2020, the need for investment in the current theatre was something lots of people wanted to see and the “big idea” to animate the Marine Lake was widely welcomed. 

“There are a number of aspects of the project that need careful consideration, so we have appointed an expert team to start having conversations and to help design and deliver this important project for Southport.

“We plan to undertake a wider public consultation on the plans in May, providing an opportunity for everyone to see and comment on the plans before a planning application is submitted.”

 

Sefton’s COVID-19 test sites to close over coming week

25 March 2022
Martin Driver
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Categories: Front Page, Health, Latest News

Sefton’s COVID-19 test sites will be closing next week in line with the Government ending funding for local testing from the start of April.

Walk-through

This means the walk-through PCR test sites for people with COVID symptoms, at Bootle Town Hall, Crosby Library Car Park, Haigh Road, Netherton Activity Centre and Southport Town Hall will all close from Friday 1st April.

Until then they will be open from 8am to 6pm.

People can book a PCR test by visiting www.nhs.uk/coronavirus or calling 119.

Also, the rapid test sites for people without symptoms, at Sefton’s Bootle Town Hall, Bootle Strand Shopping Centre and Southport Splash World, will be closing.

Photo of Home Testing Kit components
Home Testing Kit components

Free test kits

Until they do people can still visit them to collect free, rapid LFD home test kits while stocks last.

The Southport Dunes site will close from 3pm on Sunday 27th March.

The Strand site will close from 3pm on Monday 28th March.

The Bootle Town Hall site’s final day is Thursday 31st March when it will close at 3pm.

People who require support with testing can collect LFD test kits as well as get a test and advice, at one of the walk-through rapid test sites until they close.

Drive-through

Drive-through mobile test unit visits to Sefton will also end from Friday 1st April but are scheduled for:

  • Friday 25 Maghull at Town Hall
  • Saturday 26 at Southport Esplanade Park and Ride
  • Sunday 27 at Southport Esplanade Park and Ride
  • Monday 28 at Litherland Sports Park
  • Tuesday 29 at Litherland Sports Park
  • Thursday 31 at Maghull Town Hall

Mobile Units are open from 10am to 3pm.

Concern

Recently Sefton Council’s Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing, Cllr Ian Moncur, expressed concern that the Government is ending free LFD COVID testing at a time when COVID case numbers in the UK are rising.

Cllr Moncur said: “This could lead to a rise in infection levels across Sefton’s communities and increased pressure on our medical services again.”

Cllr Moncur also said he was worried that the charges for tests could mean households on the lowest incomes will have to decide whether they can afford a COVID test before visiting someone who is potentially vulnerable.

He said: “Those least able to pay are being put at the most risk with a greater chance they might unknowingly passing on COVID to those vulnerable relatives, friends and colleagues.”

Work to transform Thornton park with much-needed improvements beginning this spring

25 March 2022
Martin Driver
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Categories: Front Page, Green Sefton, Latest News

Runnells Lane Park in Thornton is going to be being transformed with much needed improvements to its play and recreation facilities, as well as its paths and landscaping.

Contractors will be carrying out work to enhance the park for two and four-legged users on behalf of Sefton Council’s Green Sefton service.

Play area

A new children’s play area will be created, the existing multi-use games area will be refurbished, and new paths will be created around the edge of the site. New bins and benches will be installed, and trees are to be planted around the boundary of the park to improve the local environment and wildlife.

Cllr Ian Moncur, Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing said: “This is the only public park in Thornton, and it provides an important community space. It’s fantastic to see improvements that will benefit people of all ages in the area in the pipeline.”

Funding has been secured by Manor Ward funding, the Council’s Green Sefton service in partnership with the Neighbourhoods Team though the Veolia Environmental Trust, who support community projects across the whole of England. A contribution of Section 106 Planning monies has also been allocated to the park improvements.

Views

A drop-in session at the park was held last year to provide residents and park users with the opportunity to see the improvement plans and share their views with the Council.

A final design that takes the views of the local community on board, has been agreed and after an extensive procurement process, Horticon is the successful company that has been chosen to deliver the project.

Sefton Council is seeking members of the community to help establish a Friends of Runnells Lane Park group who would undertake volunteer duties and support events and activities. Those interested can contact Green Sefton by email greensefton@sefton.gov.uk.

The work is scheduled to be completed and open to the public by the end of summer.

Find out more about Sefton’s parks and greenspaces.

 

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