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14 June 2024
![](https://cms.westnorthants.gov.uk/sites/default/files/styles/responsive/public/1440/810/0/2024-06/catering%201.png)
West Northamptonshire Council is looking to collaborate with a diverse range of caterers and suppliers to provide exceptional catering services tailored to a variety of events, including weddings, and corporate functions at Guildhall in Northampton.
The refreshed framework is structured into multiple Lots, allowing caterers to bid for the specific services that align best with their offerings. There's no limit to the number of Lots businesses can apply for, ensuring flexibility and opportunity for all. Whether you excel in international cuisine, dietary-specific menus, or culturally influenced dishes, there's a Lot for every type of service you offer. Importantly, there's no limit to the number of Lots you can apply for, ensuring flexibility and opportunity for growth.
In addition, we are looking to appoint a sole contractor for alcohol and bar services, who will work closely with all caterers within the framework.
Interested caterers and suppliers can find more information and submit their bids through our procurement portal by 15 July 2024.
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17 June 2024
![Windrush flag raised in front of Northampton Guildhall](https://cms.westnorthants.gov.uk/sites/default/files/styles/responsive/public/1440/810/0/2024-06/windrush%203.jpg)
Windrush Day will be celebrated this year with a flag-raising ceremony to mark 76 years since the arrival of HMT Empire Windrush.
People are invited to attend the ceremony in front of The Sessions House, Northampton, on Saturday June 22.
Anyone wishing to attend is asked to gather at 11.45am. Bishop Donavan Allen will welcome attendees at 11.55am and the flag will be raised at midday. The Windrush flag will also be flying that day across all West Northamptonshire Council buildings.
Following the flag-raising, there will be a procession to the Royal & Derngate, where attendees can hear additional speeches and enjoy a musical performance.
Windrush Day is celebrated on June 22 each year, commemorating the arrival in 1948 of several hundred passengers from the Caribbean at Tilbury Docks, London. Encouraged to migrate to rebuild post-war Britain, they became known as the Windrush generation.
First started in 2018, the day celebrates the contributions and achievements of Caribbean migrants and their families.
“Windrush Day is an opportunity for the community to come together to commemorate the incredible contributions of the Windrush Generation to British society, and to celebrate the rich cultural heritage they have brought to this country.Janet Gordon, Co-Founder of Northampton Windrush Generation and Descendant UK“We honour their resilience, their sacrifices, and their determination in the face of adversity. As we Celebrate these heroes and sheroes, it is important that the second, third, fourth and fifth descendants see us recommit ourselves to building a more inclusive and equitable society, where everyone is valued and respected.
“Today, we pledge to continue to support and uplift the Windrush Generations legacy for generations to come.”
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Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue Service is reminding people to ensure their cigarettes are put right out – after attending three smoking related incidents that sparked outdoor fires yesterday (June 25).
Just after 8am yesterday, firefighters had to use wildfire backpacks to extinguish an outdoor bin that had been set alight in St Katherine’s Street, Northampton.
Shortly before 3pm, the Moulton crew had to put out a fire involving a number of tree cuttings in Wysall Road, Northampton – and at 5pm a 10-metre square patch of grass was ablaze at Westcott Way, Corby, which needed to be doused by the Corby crew.
On all three occasions, the fires were caused by careless discarding of cigarettes, and thankfully did not spread much further.
However, given the current heatwave, the potential for fires to spread and become largescale is higher than usual, and so Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue Service would urge everyone to make sure their cigarette is fully extinguished, and to make sure it is discarded properly and not carelessly.
For more outdoor safety advice, please visit our Outdoor Safety section on the website.
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17 June 2024
![A large group of people viewing a presentation](https://cms.westnorthants.gov.uk/sites/default/files/styles/responsive/public/1440/810/0/2024-06/Merged%20Futures%206.jpg)
The sixth annual conference showcasing the innovation within local businesses, West Northamptonshire Council (WNC) and at the University of Northampton (UON) last week, was the biggest yet.
Merged Futures 6 on Friday 14 June attracted a record 350 attendees who listened to 18 presentations across five rooms and browsed 20 exhibition stands all showing off local advances in virtual and mixed reality, AI and technology which can improve the lives of local people.
In his opening speech, the University’s John Sinclair, Dean of the Faculty of Arts, Science and Technology said the theme for Merged Futures 6 was ‘technology for good’ and that exhibits included virtual reality for wellbeing, artificial intelligence in service delivery, gamification of learning, smart glasses for the partially sighted, and robo pets for the elderly.
“Virtually everything you hear about today will involve local collaboration between individuals, businesses, West Northants Council and the University of Northampton.John Sinclair, Dean of the Faculty of Arts, Science and Technology“But there are also national and international companies here as we strive to put our county ever more firmly on the map for digital innovation.
“So, it’s great today to welcome global partners like Microsoft, Amazon and Jadu to Merged Futures and we want to welcome even more major players in the tech industry to Merged Futures going forward.”
“It’s been amazing to be involved with some of the initiatives going on in both special needs education and adult social care.West Northamptonshire Council Chief Information Officer, Chris Wales“Emerging technology, including virtual reality and artificial intelligence and the way they can improve people’s lives, educate and transport them to new worlds, is incredible.
“I think there are some fantastic people working in the sector, and many of them are local, which is even better. There are great prospects for us as a council to seize upon some of that technology and roll it out further, really helping improve the lives of all of our residents.”
Tyronne Leon-Fernandez was attending his second Merged Futures event for RiVR, the virtual reality education specialists which among many other initiatives supplies the blue-light services with training products.
“It’s a really good group of guests who come here, they’re really engaged in virtual reality and extended reality and all these types of technologies, but we’re also here to show off what we do and show them something new they’ve never seen before.”Tyronne Leon-Fernandez, RiVR
Merged Futures is organised by Digital Northants, a partnership between UON and WNC. To find out more, including free networking sessions at the Vulcan Works, visit the Digital Northants website.
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18 June 2024
![Two standing chickens and one sitting in front of an open gate](https://cms.westnorthants.gov.uk/sites/default/files/styles/responsive/public/1440/810/0/2024-06/Chickens.jpg)
West Northamptonshire Trading Standards Team are urging everyone who keeps poultry or captive birds to register with the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA).
Currently, anyone who keeps 50 or more birds it is compulsory to register their flock, however, those with fewer birds can voluntarily register. From 1 October, new requirements for all bird keepers who keep their poultry outdoors - regardless of the size of their flock – will come in which will require any who owns captive birds or poultry must officially register their birds. The new rules cover owners of backyard flocks, birds of prey and pigeon fanciers, but do not affect caged pet birds (excluding any poultry species) kept entirely inside a domestic dwelling, such as a parrot, canary or budgie, which never leaves the property other than to visit a vet or another short-term period.
By registering their birds, keepers will ensure they receive important updates relevant to them, such as on any local avian disease outbreaks and information on biosecurity rules to help protect their flocks. This will help to manage potential disease outbreaks, such as avian influenza and Newcastle disease, and limit any spread. It also enables them to keep up to date with the latest national and regional guidance.
“By registering keepers not only protect their own birds but contribute to the wider efforts to monitor and control avian diseases. I urge all keepers to register their flock to ensure the protection of all our bird populations ahead of the change in requirements coming into force from October.”Stuart Timmiss, Executive Director of Place at West Northamptonshire Council
For all the latest information in relation to the spread of Avian Flu and information on how you can help to protect your birds please see this guidance on Avian influenza (bird flu). Keepers can register their birds and poultry at Poultry and other captive birds: registration rules and forms-GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).
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