Councils re-introduce parking charges and fines
TRAFFIC Wardens have already
started to return to UK roads and car parks. Car insurance
expert at Confused.com Alex Kindred says:- "As people
across the UK begin to return to work and shops prepare to open
later in the month, parking charges and fines are set to be
re-introduced. Although, each Council will have their own way of
tackling this. Some are taking a phased approach by operating
Wardens in certain areas, while others have different dates for
the re-introduction. No doubt this will cause a lot of confusion
for those of us who will be relying on these parking spots. The
best thing we can do is check with our Local Council to see when
and where parking restrictions are being enforced. If you do
receive a ticket you feel was issued unfairly, it can also be
confusing knowing where you stand when challenging this. Should
you return to a ticket on your windscreen as a result of unclear
restrictions, our checklist to challenge should help you through
the appeal process. Undoubtedly there will be concerns around
how we can socially distance when paying for parking, and there
are options, such as parking apps, which you can use to pay to
avoid queueing at a machine. It’s likely your Local Council will
already have something in place to keep people safe. But where
this isn’t possible, queuing may be our only option, in which
case we should always keep our distance."
Next Steps for work on
Covid-19 disparities announced
AROUND
⅓ of community radio stations in the
UK have successfully applied for emergency cash funding to help
them through the Covid-19 pandemic, Ofcom announced today.
During the current public health crisis, community radio
stations have provided a reassuring local voice to millions of
people. However, many have also faced severe financial
challenges. In response, the UK government announced emergency
funding to help them meet the costs of providing vital
programming to local communities. The Community Radio Fund
Panel, which acts independently of Ofcom, has today awarded
grants to 81 community radio stations totalling just over
₤333,000. The
Panel made as many awards as possible in line with the
eligibility criteria and Government guidance, and has set out
its approach and reasoning when assessing and deciding on
applications. Ofcom will be inviting applications for a further
emergency funding round in approximately 6 weeks’ time, with a
view to awarding the outstanding funds available. This will
allow stations a further opportunity to apply for financial
support, and additional time to assess their operations and
financial positions.
Next Steps for work on
Covid-19 disparities announced
FOLLOWING the release
of the Public Health England review into disparities in the
risks and outcomes of COVID-19, the Government’s Equality Hub,
on 4 June 2020, has set out how this work will be taken forward.
The work will be led by the Equalities Minister, Kemi Badenoch,
and supported by other Government Departments and Agencies.
Minister for Equalities, Kemi Badenoch, said:- "This
Government is rightly taking seriously the initial findings from
the PHE report published earlier this week. However, it is also
clear that much more needs to be done to understand the key
drivers of the disparities identified and the relationships
between the different risk factors. That is why I am now taking
this work forward, which will enable us to make a real
difference to people’s lives and protect our communities from
the impact of the Coronavirus."
The full terms of reference for this work will be as follows:-
► Review the effectiveness and impact
of current actions being undertaken by relevant government
departments and their agencies to directly lessen disparities in
infection and death rates of COVID-19. Factors to be considered;
but aren’t limited to; should include:- age and sex, occupation,
obesity, comorbidities, geography, and ethnicity.
► Modifications to existing, or development of new policy,
should be considered and discussed with the relevant Ministers
responsible. This ongoing work will include looking at the
extensive guidance that is already currently available.
► Commission further data, research and analytical work by the
Equality Hub to clarify the scale, and drivers, of the gaps in
evidence highlighted by the Report.
► Consider where and how the collection and quality of data into
the disparities highlighted can be improved on, and take action
to do so, working with the Equality Hub, government departments
and their agencies.
► Lead engagement on the disparities highlighted with
Departmental Ministers.
► Build on and expand the stakeholder engagement undertaken by
PHE to consolidate and develop the qualitative insights gained
and how they may support further actions that should be taken to
address the disparities highlighted.
► Strengthen and improve public health communications to ensure
they can reach all communities across the country.
► Provide quarterly updates to the Prime Minister and Secretary
of State for Health and Social Care on progress being made to
address health inequalities by departments and their agencies.
Earlier today, the Minister for Equalities answered an Urgent
Question in the House of Commons before answering detailed
questions from members on a range of issues related to the PHE
review.
Further Information:-
► To support the Minister for Equalities in fulfilling these
Terms of Reference, the Race Disparity Unit in the Equalities
Hub (Cabinet Office) will work with MfE directly. They will be
supported by officials in PHE and other departments or agencies
as relevant to take this forward.
► The Equality Hub sits in the Cabinet Office and is made up of
officials working for the Government Equalities Office, Race
Disparity Unit and Disability Unit.
► The full PHE review can be found on
Gov.UK.
Total UK cases
COVID-19 cases - update for Liverpool City Region and
surroundings
THE total number of UK
Coronavirus (COVID-19) infections that have been laboratory
confirmed, within the UK, has risen by 1,805 cases and the total
number now stand at 281,661, that includes tests carried out by
commercial partners which are not included in the 4 National
totals.
Daily number of COVID-19 associated UK fatalities added to the
total, was sadly reported to be 176 according to the Department
of Health.
The total number of deaths of people who have had a positive
test result confirmed by a Public Health or NHS laboratory is
39,904.
In England, there are a total of 153,807 confirmed cases.
North West - total of 25,984 confirmed cases. The number of
laboratory confirmed cases within the following Local
Authorities, in and around the Liverpool City Region are as
follows:-
► Liverpool, 1,633 confirmed cases.
► Sefton, 937 confirmed cases.
► Wirral, 1,308 confirmed cases.
► St. Helens, 754 confirmed cases.
► Halton, 408 confirmed cases.
► Lancashire, 3,669 confirmed cases.
► Cheshire West and Chester, 1,164 confirmed cases.
► Cheshire East, 1,252 confirmed cases.
► Manchester, 1,607 confirmed cases.
► Stockport, 1,055 confirmed cases.
► Trafford, 835 confirmed cases.
► Wigan, 1,212 confirmed cases.
► Bolton, 1,028 confirmed cases.
► Rochdale, 815 confirmed cases.
► Bury, 774 confirmed cases.
► Tameside, 751 confirmed cases.
► Oldham, 1,092 confirmed cases.
► Blackburn with Darwen, 413 confirmed cases.
These stats are according to Public Health England as of
04/06/2020. Last updated 5.07pm GMT. UK total includes cases
detected through:- "Pillar 2" testing (tests carried out by
commercial partners) and therefore does not equate to the sum of
the 4 countries' counts, which only include:- "Pillar 1" (tests
carried out by NHS / PHE / Devolved Administration Labs)..
UK total includes cases detected through:- "Pillar 2" testing
(tests carried out by commercial partners) and therefore does
not equate to the sum of the 4 countries' counts, which only
include:- "Pillar 1" (tests carried out by NHS / PHE / Devolved
Administration Labs).
UK Government Coronavirus Press
Conference on 4 June 2020 Video