It’s time to book your Flu jab
/in General News /by ClerkIt’s time to book your Flu jab
Northamptonshire County Council and the Northamptonshire’s Clinical Commissioning Groups are once again urging people to get their flu vaccines booked in as winter approaches.
Flu is a highly infectious viral illness which can lead to complications, hospital admissions and even death. Symptoms of flu include fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, headaches, body aches and tiredness. Those people in ‘at risk’ groups are also susceptible to further complications.
Flu has a big impact on NHS winter pressures both in terms of the illness itself and its impact on the wider health and care system due to other complications or staff and carer illness.
The flu vaccine is the most effective way to reduce the occurrence of illness and the unplanned hospital admissions that inevitably follow, particularly in the over 65 year old age group and those with long term health conditions.
This winter, the vaccine is free of charge for the following people:
• All children aged between two and ten on or before 31 August 2019
• Those aged between six months and 64 years in clinical risk groups*
• Pregnant women – women in any trimester of pregnancy
• Those aged 65 years and over
• Those in long-stay residential care homes
• Carers (informal carers who are in receipt of a carer allowance or a main carer of a vulnerable person)
• Frontline staff in direct patient contact working for primary care, community and acute NHS trusts or social care staff employed by a registered residential care/nursing home/domiciliary care provider or voluntary managed hospice provider who are directly involved in the care of vulnerable people are also eligible for free flu vaccinations
People belonging to any of these groups should speak to their GP to book a vaccination, or visit a local pharmacy as they may also provide free flu vaccinations. Frontline staff can also contact their occupational health team.
Anyone in doubt about whether they qualify for a free vaccination should contact their GP.
For more information and myth busting on the flu vaccination, visit
https://www3.northamptonshire.
A14 and M6 Essential Maintenance 7 – 11 October 2019
/in General News /by ClerkA14 and M6 Essential Maintenance 7 – 11 October 2019
This week (Monday to Friday), the eastbound closure of the A14 between the M1 J19 and J2 will coincide with the southbound closure of the M6 J2-4 Smart Motorways Scheme.
Drivers travelling from the north-west using these routes will be subject to two diversions. Please allow extra time for travel.
For M6 southbound closure see here
For A14 Eastbound diversion routes see here
Essential maintenance works on A14
/in General News /by ClerkEssential maintenance works on A14
Please see here the proposed works due to start end of September 2019.
A helping hand to keep District homes warm
/in General News /by ClerkA helping hand to keep District homes warm
Vulnerable households across Daventry District are being offered a helping hand to reduce their energy bills from the Warm Homes Fund.
The Northants Warm Homes partnership has secured nearly £4 million to provide fully-funded gas central heating for fuel poor homes across Northamptonshire that do not already have it.
The money will be matched by other grant monies and by contributions from landlords and local authorities to ensure that eligible homes will not need to pay a penny.
The households eligible for the Warm Homes Fund are those most in need of support, including people on a low income that have high energy bills, and who are vulnerable to the cold because of health conditions.
Both owner-occupiers and private tenants can apply, though tenants will need the permission of their landlord. The project aims to put ‘first-time’ gas central heating in homes, so properties with central heating powered by oil, or in villages which are off the gas network, are not eligible.
The Warm Homes Fund scheme will run until 2021 and fit efficient gas central heating in around 1,400 fuel-poor homes across the county. It is run by Surefire Management Services on behalf of local authorities in the county, including Daventry District Council.
Councillor Richard Auger, Environmental Health and Housing Portfolio Holder on Daventry District Council, said: “This Council believes that everyone should have a good quality and safe place to live.
“Being able to heat your home properly and efficiently is an important part of that and we hope this new programme will help reduce fuel poverty and have a positive impact on people’s health.
“I would urge anyone who thinks they might be eligible to visit the website or call the freephone number to find out more.”
Nationally, the Warm Homes Fund has been established by National Grid and is administered by Affordable Warmth Solutions.
Jeremy Nesbitt, Managing Director of Affordable Warmth Solutions, said: “We are excited about this investment from National Grid and are delighted to support Daventry District Council to fund the scheme to address fuel poverty across their area.
“Solving the issues associated with fuel poverty continues to challenge many of our stakeholders and the feedback we’ve already received provides evidence of how the Warm Homes Fund will make a positive difference to thousands of homes throughout Great Britain.”
All support through the Warm Homes Fund scheme is subject to the eligibility criteria.
To find out more visit www.northantswarmhomes.com or phone 0800 029 4542. All visits will be by appointment only and assessors will carry photo ID.
Residents can also access advice and support to improve their home’s energy efficiency and reduce their bills at www.northamptonshireenergysavingservice.org.uk
Consultation on the future of the Evelyn Wright House Older People’s Care Home 2019
/in General News /by ClerkConsultation on the future of the Evelyn Wright House Older People’s Care Home 2019
Evelyn Wright House is a 29-bedded registered residential care home for older people over 60 years old who have a physical disability and/or dementia.
The home is in need of significant investment to bring it up to modern standards and fit for future use. It has been calculated that Evelyn Wright House is likely to need investment of approximately £800,000 to carry out the immediate remedial works identified as well as further additional amounts for necessary modernisations works.
Due to the increasing support needs of people in residential care, the building layout and configuration are also no longer fit for purpose and to change this would require further significant investment. The current building is also close to not meeting the regulatory standards for building compliance for the Care Quality Commission (CQC) as specified in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014.
Unless the remedial works are carried out Evelyn Wright House will become unfit for purpose. However, the building works required to bring it up to modern standards and make appropriate interim arrangements for customers whilst necessary works are undertaken would take approximately 18-24 months, and the level of disruption this would cause current residents would be unacceptable. It is therefore proposed that we should stop providing the service at Evelyn Wright House and customers be moved to other homes. Customers’ care needs will be re-assessed to ensure any alternative accommodation is suitable and meets their needs.
Northamptonshire Adults Social Services (NASS) have made staff and residents aware of the scale of the work required and have explored options to move residents into other care homes. Some customers may wish to remain living in the Daventry area and there are some residential spaces available in another care home service close by, run by Shaw Healthcare, as well as other care providers.
The feedback from the consultation will help inform the Council’s decision on the future of Evelyn Wright House at the Cabinet meeting on 14 January 2020.
Have your say
You can give us your views in a number of ways. Please visit our web site for all of the different ways you can give your feedback to these proposals, including our online questionnaire.
This consultation closes on 19 November 2019.
Proposed changes to the Council’s Fair Contributions Policy
/in General News /by ClerkProposed changes to the Council’s Fair Contributions Policy
Northamptonshire Adult Social Services have published the following consultation.
“As a council with responsibility for social care, we must make sure that people who are eligible for social care have their needs met, within the financial resources available. At the same time, we must make sure that where customers meet the financial criteria to make a contribution towards the cost of their care, they do so in a way that meets current national regulations and guidance. We do this in a way which is equitable and fair and is clearly explained in policy statements.
Social care is means tested. This means that everyone contributes what they can afford towards the cost of their care. This does not include services that are provided by the NHS, for example community nurses.
We want to make sure that we provide a fair service to all people who are eligible for Care and Support. We want those who can afford it to make a fair contribution towards the services they receive.
We are reviewing our Fair Contributions Policy and are proposing the following three changes, which we are consulting on:
- A change to the rate of Disability Related Expenditure (DRE) to have a single standard rate of £23 per week, instead of having two levels as at present (£18 per week for people on the lower/middle rate of benefits and £28 per week for people on the higher rate of benefits)
- A change to the level of Older Person’s Standard Income Disregard (a deduction of £5.50 per week to the current standard rate) which would bring the Council in line with other authorities and Department of Health guidance
- A change to the current charging model for residential college charges, so that all affected customers are charged a reduced amount for their care provisions by charging under domiciliary (home care) rules
Have your say
You can give us your views in a number of ways. Please visit our web site for all of the different ways you can give your feedback to these proposals, including our standard online questionnaire or the easy read version of the questionnaire.
This consultation closes on 3 December 2019.
New websites will outline journey to unitary
/in General News /by ClerkNew websites will outline journey to unitary
Two new websites have been launched offering a reliable source of information about the move toward unitary governance in Northamptonshire.
Named ‘Future Northants North’ and ‘Future Northants West’ they carry the same core information while outlining the separate processes being followed in the north and west of the county.
These dedicated sites describe the process so far, who is involved, progress from public meetings, and news including details of the upcoming shadow authority elections.
Strategic Delivery Director for the Future Northants unitary programme Theresa Grant, said: “This is by far and away the best means of keeping up to date with our progress.
“There is understandably a great deal of speculation about our move toward unitary governance and these two sites offer the most reliable means of ensuring you are aware of the facts and keeping up to date on progress.
“And if the sites don’t have answers to your questions, you will be able to contact us and be confident of an accurate response.”
The sites are available at https://futurenorthantsnorth.org/ and https://www.futurenorthantswest.org/
West Northants Strategic Plan document for consultation until 11 October 2019
/in General News /by ClerkWest Northants Strategic Plan document for consultation until 11 October 2019
The consultation documents including the call for sites form are available on the Joint Planning Unit’s consultation website:https://westnorthantsplan.
You are encouraged to visit the website and use the online forms available to respond to the consultation.
The documents are also available for inspection at the following four Council Offices:
– Northampton Borough Council, The Guildhall, St Giles’ Square, Northampton NN1 1DE;
– Northamptonshire County Council, ONE Angel Square, Northampton, NN1 1ED;
– Daventry District Council, Lodge Road, Daventry NN11 4FP; and
– South Northamptonshire Council, The Forum, Moat Lane, Towcester, NN12 6AD.
The documents are also available for inspection at local libraries: From the week commencing 12th August copies will be available for viewing in all the local public libraries across West Northamptonshire area. Locations and opening times are available on the county council’s website at: www.northamptonshire.gov.uk/
Daventry District Council launch Climate Emergency Task Panel
/in General News /by ClerkDaventry District Council launch Climate Emergency Task Panel
Daventry District Council has formed a cross-party task panel to examine what more the Council can do to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases.
“Global warming is perhaps the most serious threat we are facing. It’s not just about record temperatures and severe storms – unless we can drastically reduce our emissions, our food supply will be at risk, many areas will be threatened with rising sea levels and many communities around the world will face catastrophic floods and famines,” said Cllr Ken Ritchie, the task panel leader.
“The UN has predicted that we have only 12 years to act before the damage to our climate is irreversible. That’s why we now speak about a Climate Emergency and not just climate change.”
“We will be examining what more the District Council can do to reduce the carbon footprint of its own activities because it is important that DDC sets an example for others to follow. But we all contribute to global warming through our use of energy and our lifestyles, and we will therefore be looking at ways in which DDC can encourage others – both residents and local businesses – to do their bit in reducing harmful emissions.”
Cllr Rupert Frost points out that the Government and many local councils have already declared a climate emergency and are preparing action plans in response to it. “In Daventry District we too must take action. There are lots of things we can do, such as making homes more energy efficient, promoting solar energy, and encouraging the use of electric vehicles, as well as planting more trees which absorb carbon dioxide. Some of the changes that are needed will cost money, but the cost to DDC need not be great.”
According to Cllr Jonathan Harris, “We all have a responsibility and a part to play in responding to the climate emergency. Unless we take action now, the consequences for our children and our grandchildren will be disastrous. That’s why our task panel wants to engage with residents across the District, working with them to reduce emissions and in a way that produces a better, greener and more healthy environment.”
Although Daventry District Council is likely to be abolished in 2021, the task panel wants to develop a strategy and plans which can be adopted by the new unitary authority which will replace DDC. “We want to put the climate emergency firmly on the agenda of the proposed West Northamptonshire Council, and we are therefore working in liaison with like-minded colleagues from other councils in the area,” said Cllr Ritchie.
The task panel is keen to hear from residents who have ideas to suggest, who have expertise to contribute or who are simply concerned and want to help. The task panel can be contacted c/o kritchie@daventrydc.gov.uk or on 07754165551.