22 November 2022

People who visit the Upper Nene Valley Gravel Pits Special Protection Area are being asked to complete a survey to understand their impact on wildlife habitats.

The survey is being undertaken by Footprint Ecology on behalf of West Northants Council (WNC) and North Northants Councils, Bedford Borough Council and the Beds, Cambs and Northants Wildlife Trust.

"I’d argue Northamptonshire is one of the best places in the UK for a countryside walk.

"And we’re lucky enough to have some diverse habitats right on the doorstep of our major urban centres which provide a great place to stay healthy and to remain in touch with nature.

"It’s also true there has been a huge change in the way we live our lives and as more people make the most of these areas, we need to understand the impact on these habitats."

Cllr Rebecca Breese, WNC’s Cabinet Member for strategic planning, built environment and rural affairs.

The Upper Nene Valley refers to the specific washlands and lakes either side of the River Nene between Northampton and Thrapston in Northamptonshire.

Anyone who uses the valley to walk, run, cycle, fish, birdwatch, row or indeed undertake any other activity, is asked to complete the survey.

The survey will be open until the end of December 2022 and takes less than 10 minutes to complete.

22 November 2022

Members of the public are being encouraged to report their concerns as Trading Standards help neighbouring colleagues contain a Bird Flu outbreak near Oundle.

Following the first confirmed case on Wednesday, 9 November, three more cases have recently been confirmed. A 3km protection zone and a 10km surveillance zone were established around them by the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA).

West Northamptonshire Council’s Trading Standard Officers supported colleagues in North Northants and have visited all homes within the protection zones to speak to residents and identify whether they keep poultry and/or pigs.

Any premises housing birds within those areas are now under restrictions and are required to comply with protection measures.

Details of these zones and the restrictions have been published on the Government website and Trading Standards teams will be responsible for enforcing the orders imposed.

Trading Standards are now carrying out foot patrols and issuing guidance to anyone keeping birds and/or pigs regarding the restrictions.

If WNC are contacted by a member of the public regarding suspected Bird Flu in the area, the caller will be directed to the appropriate helpline.

Those who suspect Bird Flu in their own birds must notify DEFRA on 03000 200 301 – it is a notifiable disease therefore this is a legal requirement.

Those who spot a dead wild bird can call DEFRA on 03459 33 55 77.

Trading Standards will respond to complaints in relation to poultry keepers who may not be complying with the requirements – [email protected].

Working for the Fire Service is most often linked with firefighters putting out blazes – but just as much work goes into preventing fires from happening in the first place.

Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue Service has its own Prevention Team to work on precisely that, and a big part of the team are the Home Fire Safety Advisors who visit people in their own properties to make them as safe as possible.

In 2021/22, more than 4,000 Home Fire Safety Visits (HFSV) were carried out. Approximately two thirds of these will have been done by fire crews out and about in their communities, but a third of them will have been enhanced visits for high-risk customers conducted by Home Fire Safety Advisors.

Dave Billing is one of seven such Advisors for NFRS and has worked part-time in the role since October 2017. Prior to this he had a 30-year career as a firefighter – mostly in Kettering – and helped to train future firefighters.

Dave will typically visit people and families who have been referred from a number of agencies, including EMAS, social services, family or friends, housing officers or associations, fostering agencies or Northamptonshire Police.

He said: “We carry out thousands of Home Fire Safety Visits a year, but what can’t be measured in numbers are all the fires that we have managed to stop from happening in the first place through the advice that we have given and the equipment that we have provided.”

With all customers, it is important to build a rapport and let them know that NFRS is there to support them and deliver advice that will help to reduce fire related hazards in their home.

One recent visit saw Dave advise a husband and wife, both of whom were in their late 80s and had been referred to NFRS by Age UK. One customer was unable to see and the other had a hearing impairment.

After showing his ID and being welcomed inside, Dave starts by carrying out a test of the smoke alarm and observing their response. He then makes a referral to a company that can help install specialist smoke alarms for people with hearing impairments.

In the meantime, he fits a new 10-year battery operated smoke alarm instead of the current alarm, which needs new batteries every 12 months. He also tests whether the Carbon Monoxide alarm is working and moves it to a more accessible place for the couple due to their mobility issues.

He also fits a new heat alarm in the kitchen, advising them to check regularly whether it is working by pressing the test/silent button using their walking sticks instead of climbing.

He tells them: “The most important thing I can do to protect someone is to fit smoke alarms, because it means you will know in the early stages if there is a fire. This will give you more time to get out.”

A typical home visit will involve Dave looking at the layout of the property and advising the occupants on their best escape route. He also asks whether they use electric blankets, light candles or smoke cigarettes. All three can prove big fire risks.

He also checks which gas or electric appliances they have and that their boiler is serviced annually. The Home Fire Safety team can do Winter Warmth referrals where they can be put in touch with experts to help them come up with the most financially viable way in which to safely heat their homes.

Some final checks at the property also reveal that one of the homeowners uses emollient skin cream. Dave explains that these contain paraffin products that can easily be ignited with a naked flame or cigarette. He leaves behind a leaflet that contains safety advice on emollient creams as well as all the other things such as electrical safety he has already discussed with them.

The visit appeared to go down very well with the elderly homeowners, who say they will donate to The Fire Fighters Charity in return for the free help, advice and products they have received from Dave.

He also takes down the details of a friend of the couple, a woman in her 90s, who has asked if NFRS will visit her too. This will be added to the spreadsheet to ensure that she also receives a HFSV, either from the Safety Advisors or a local fire crew.

It’s not just visits to elderly or vulnerable people that the Home Fire Safety team will carry out. They can also conduct visits alongside the Arson Task Force for people whose property may be deemed at risk of arson. This can include fitting safety devices such as a letterbox lock to make it harder to break in and enter, or pour flammable liquids through the letter box.

As part of the Enhanced visits that Home Fire Safety Advisors deliver, onward referrals to other services are a regular action to help ensure people have the support in place that they need. Often these referrals are to social services where there is a need for care and support.

Dave adds: “It’s definitely a rewarding job, and what is most important is that we’re helping to make people safer in their own homes.”

If you would like to refer yourself, a friend or a family member for a Home Fire Safety Visit, this can be done on the self-referral form here: Fire Self-Referral Form

Or you can complete your own fire safety check online, which can be found here: Complete your own Safety Check at Home

Alternatively, you can also phone 01604 797 000.

21 November 2022

Northamptonshire Safeguarding Adults Board (NSAB) are holding a week of learning from 22 to 25 November to mark National Safeguarding Adults Week 2022.

Following the success of previous events, NSAB are delighted to offer further learning opportunities with a variety of sessions available.

Each session will explore a case study identifying good outcomes for the adult and highlight good practice.

A brief overview of each session can be found in the programme available to view on their website.

The events will be delivered virtually via Microsoft Teams and are free to attend.

For more information and to book your places, please visit the NSAB website.

Certificates will be available to all colleagues who attend upon completion of an evaluation form.

For those who may be unable to attend during the week, all sessions will be recorded and made available on the NSAB website following the event.

21 November 2022

On Friday (18 November) we announced as available:

• Financial help for low wage workers, households with children, and those most needing help towards rent, council tax, household bills including gas and electricity, childcare costs and important daily essentials. Funded by the third tranche of the Household Support Fund
• West Northamptonshire Council Online Cost of Living Support Hub
• Cost-of-Living Support Line 0300 126 7000
• Network and directory of 67 Warm Spaces across the whole county
• Directory of food larders run by Northampton’s Hope Centre

The full range of assistance can be found on WNC’s newly launched Cost-of-Living Online Support Hub which is full of information and advice about the rising cost of living to help all residents find support and help available to them.

The webpage is designed to be easy to navigate and contains lots of information on accessing grants, money and debt advice, government funding, wellbeing tips and links to local community organisations. The drop-down options are tailored to specific users and aim to make the information quick to find and easily accessible, without the need to scroll for a long period of time.

For those who can't access the Internet, residents can also call WNC’s customer services team and speak to somebody directly about the support available between the hours of 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday. Please call us on 0300 126 7000.

WNC has also worked with the public, private, health and voluntary sectors so that anyone who is feeling cold knows where they can go to stay warm and enjoy a little company this winter. Everyone is invited to the network of 67 Warm Spaces, non-judgemental, safe and welcoming places where people in West Northants can come together to stay warm, and perhaps enjoy a hot meal or a cup of tea and a biscuit. The Warm Spaces Directory can be found here.

In line with the council’s Anti-Poverty Strategy, financial help is also at hand for 17,620 households who will benefit from the £2,599,628 third tranche of the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) Household Support Fund announced last month from economic support

Between now and March 2023 financial support will be available:

• To households with children – A £15 voucher was available for October half term and further support will be provided over the Christmas break to families of children who receive free school meals.
• To up to 4,000 households working but receiving a low wage - Online applications are now open to residents earning *£300 or less a week to receive payments totalling £250 into their bank accounts towards winter essentials. The first award of £125 will be credited to the applicant’s bank account at the point of approval of the application. The second payment will be credited to the same bank account 60 days later (without the need for a further application). To qualify you must be employed, have a valid bank account, live in the region, not been in receipt of the recent £650 government Cost-of-Living payments (£326 and £324) and be over 18. To apply visit Household Support Fund | West Northamptonshire Council (westnorthants.gov.uk)
  *After deductions and including any other benefits claimed. Those who have recently received the £650 government Cost-of Living payments are not eligible to apply.
• The council also plans to provide families with additional financial and practical Cost-of-Living help via community engagement, food banks and further emergency funding in the New Year. This support, which will be provided on a case-by-case basis, may be help towards rent, council tax, household bills including gas and electricity, childcare costs, important daily essentials.

“The rising cost of living is causing uncertainty, worry and concern for many of us right now, but we want you to know – you are not alone and there is lots happening both in the local community and nationally that can offer support.  

“We understand it can be difficult to find out what support is available, so we have worked closely with partners to create a central hub of information to help with this.  

“It is vital that you, your family, and those you care about have the resources needed to live well. If you are struggling or would like to know more about the support you may be entitled to, please do pick up the phone or visit our support hub for more information.   

“West Northamptonshire Council’s Anti-Poverty Strategy sets out how we will work with partners to support people struggling financially, what we will do to stop people falling into poverty and how we will work to get the best deal for the people of West Northants. This work is underway, and we are committed to its delivery."

Cllr Matt Golby, Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Public Health

It is important to note that Community Larders also run across West Northants by the Northampton Hope Centre and are manned by volunteers, providing an invaluable service for anyone facing hardship by providing donated and surplus food at discounted rates. They also support people by signposting them to other support services.

Find out information about other food larders run by the Northampton Hope Centre.

Food Aid Alliance West Northamptonshire (FAAWN) also helps people in food poverty through their network of 40 foodbanks and social supermarkets in the West Northants area.

West Northamptonshire Council’s website will be updated if further funds released by the government become available.