Have your say on how social housing is allocated in Sefton

SEFTON Council has begun a consultation, along with Local Authorities in the Liverpool City Region, on how social housing is allocated and are asking tenants and future tenants, residents, landlords and housing associations to have their say. Property Pool Plus is the system used to match people with social housing and is used by Sefton along with the Local Authorities in the Liverpool City Region. The consultation invites residents, landlords, voluntary organisations, and housing associations to comment and provide feedback on the proposed changes to how social housing is allocated. Social Housing is allocated through several different ways; considering a resident's eligibility, choice, preference, and priority; and proposed changes are suggested to each of these.

Cllr Trish Hardy, Sefton Council's Cabinet Member for Communities and Housing, said:- "This consultation will ensure that people right across Sefton can help to shape how social housing is allocated to residents, and ensure that the process takes into account all factors within an individual's personal circumstances. We would encourage as many residents, current and prospective tenants, as well as landlords and housing associations to utilise this opportunity to help enhance the process for matching homes with people across the Borough."

The proposed changes plan to the make social housing allocation process more accessible and quicker for those who need it most by assigning certain people with more priority based on their situation.  Some criteria that may place someone in a higher priority could include:-

►  People who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless.

►  Victims of domestic abuse, racial abuse or hate crime.

►  Members of the armed forces and reserved forces.

►  Medical need.

To find out more information about the changes to the policy and to take part in the consultation, people can visit:- Sefton.Gov.UK/PPP-HaveYourSay.  The consultation will take place for 12 weeks, running from Wednesday, 18 November 2020 to Wednesday, 10 February 2021.  Authorities in the Liverpool City Region will all simultaneously be undertaking this survey, the Authorities include:- Halton Borough Council, Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council, Liverpool City Council, Sefton Metropolitan Borough Council and Wirral Council.

New rail tech roll out set to bring more reliable journeys and boost jobs

THE roll out of digital signalling; set to improve safety and slash delays; has been accelerated through ₤1.2 million of new Government funding announced by Rail Minister Chris Heaton Harris, on 18 November 2020. Feasibility work for digital signalling will be accelerated on vital sections of the West Coast Main Line, Midland Main Line and East Anglia route, including:- Peterborough to Kings Lynn on the Anglia route, and in the Warrington and Wigan area on the West Coast Mainline North.

This work will identify the most effective way to apply this type of technology to the railway and new way of working, capitalising on early engagement with the supply chain, and creating further opportunities to encourage innovation and drive efficiencies across Regions.

Learning from the recent experience of the East Coast Digital Programme, where a partnership with route based operators has been a success, this early scoping work will lay the foundation for future digital signalling renewals, as part of a wider national plan to introduce digital signalling across the rail network in Great Britain.

Rail Minister Chris Heaton Harris said:- "We have come a long way since the era of metal levers, used by Victorian signallers to provide safe passage for trains rolling into and out of Stations. Now it's our turn to be modern transport pioneers and we build the railway of tomorrow. Today's investment brings forward early investigation work with Network Rail engineers and suppliers on how best to roll out digital signalling across the rail network, reducing delays and improving safety in the long term. Our ambitious programme to modernise Britain's rail network will support the supply chain by creating high skilled jobs and boosting the economy, as we level up the country and build back better after Covid19."

Conventional signalling means the network can struggle to recover quickly following disruption with a small delay on 1 part of the railway still causing knock on delays hundreds of miles away on other parts of the network, many hours later.

This new technology gives signallers much better real time information about train movements, enabling them to communicate with train drivers continuously to reduce the impact of delays. This 'in cab' system will mean an end to conventional signalling at the side of tracks; 1st used in the Victorian era.

As part of this work, the Department is engaging with suppliers of digital signalling and industry experts across the country to learn from similar schemes and drive efficiency in the Government's nationwide programme to roll out this technology on the railway, part of the commitment with industry in the Rail Sector Deal.

Today's news follows the announcement of ₤350 million of new investment toward the East Coast Digital Programme, which will introduce digital signalling on the:- East Coast Main Line, between London King's Cross and Stoke Tunnel, in Lincolnshire, ensuring that more passengers reach their destinations on time.

Andy Jones, Director of Operational Programme Delivery at Network Rail said:- "We are delighted with this development funding, which reconfirms the DfT's commitment to pursuing the Long Term Deployment Plan for digital signalling on Britain's railway. The 1st 3 schemes; on the East Anglia route, the West Coast Mainline and the Midland Mainline; will help drive forward the modern railway we all need."

David Clarke, Technical Director at the Railway Industry Association, said:- "With around 60% of signalling equipment units on the UK rail network needing to be replaced over the next 15 years, rail suppliers will need to gear up to ensure they are 'match fit' for a significant amount of work, ensuring its roll out is delivered efficiently, to time and to budget, and in order to ensure value for money for taxpayers and passengers. New digital technology will improve the reliability and resilience of the network, providing better services for passengers and freight, and will create highly skilled jobs across the UK, at a time when they are vitally needed. Today's investment is a positive step towards rolling out digital signalling and builds on the great work undertaken through the RSG Sector Deal, a joint collaboration between industry and Government. The Railway Industry Association and our members very much look forward to working with Government in delivering digital technology across the network."