Archive for October 2020

Enfield Borough receiving £9 million pounds for homes for rough sleepers

Enfield Borough to receive £9,081,990 to provide a permanent place to live for rough sleepers. The largest share of funding of any authority in England.

• Rough sleepers across the country will have access to new, safe, long-term homes, along with support, backed by more than £150 million.

• First 3,300 of 6,000 planned new homes for rough sleepers to be delivered by March 2021.

• Conservative Government is investing more than £700 million to tackle homelessness and rough sleeping this year as part of manifesto commitment to end rough sleeping.

Enfield Conservative Shadow Finance, Cllr James Hockney has welcomed the news that the Government is providing funding for Enfield Borough Council for new, long-term homes for rough sleepers and other vulnerable people.

In total, projects across England will receive more than £150 million to deliver more than 3,300 such secure homes by the end of March 2021, providing long term accommodation to vulnerable people to keep them safe from coronavirus and rebuild their lives.

Enfield Borough Council will receive £9,081,990 for local schemes that provide secure ‘move on’ style accommodation for people at risk of sleeping on the streets and is an important step towards achieving the Conservative Party’s manifesto commitment to end rough sleeping by 2024, alongside investment in new homes for social rent.

This is part of the Government’s investment of £433 million to deliver 6,000 new homes for rough sleepers by the end of this Parliament and builds on the widely praised ‘Everyone In’ campaign launched at the start of the pandemic which has helped support over 29,000 vulnerable people – enabling councils to keep rough sleepers safe this winter.

In total, 276 schemes have been approved across England, which will deliver 904 new homes for rough sleepers in London and 2,430 elsewhere across the country. This sits alongside the £91.5 million in grant funding given to councils to support vulnerable people and provide short term accommodation over the coming months, and a £10 million Cold Weather Fund to support winter shelters and ensure they are Covid-secure.

Commenting, Councillor James Hockney said:

“This Conservative Government, working closely with local authorities, has shown throughout the pandemic that it is willing to take the swift, decisive action necessary to keep some of the most vulnerable people in our community safe. On behalf of everyone I’d like to thank all those involved for everything they’ve done to get people off our streets and into secure, safe accommodation.”

“The ‘Everyone In’ campaign has protected thousands of lives. If we are to deliver on the promise we made in our manifesto to end rough sleeping by the end of the Parliament, then the people who have been helped need to be able to access long-term housing that gives them the safety and security they need to rebuild their lives, which is exactly what the funding announced today will do.

Conservative Government announces extra £9.62 million pounds for Enfield Borough Council

Government announces extra £9.62 million pounds for Enfield Borough Council to continue providing vital services during coronavirus

• Enfield Borough Council to benefit from extra £9.62 million pounds in funding announced by the Government.

• Councils have received £6.4 billion in additional direct support since April.

• Local authority has been provided with £40.61 million pounds in extra funding since the pandemic began.

People living and working in Enfield Borough will benefit after Enfield Borough Council was given a share of £900m in additional Government funding for local councils.

The money will be used locally to help the council cover coronavirus-related costs and ensure it has the resources needed to keep providing key services as we battle the Covid pandemic.

It means Enfield Borough Council has now received £40.61 million pounds in direct extra support from the Government since the start of the pandemic.

Meanwhile, Enfield Borough Council will benefit from a share of a further £100m established to support council-run leisure centres across the country, which are proving key to helping the health and well-being of people in the area.

The new funding means local councils will have £1bn extra in funding this winter to help maintain vital services.

And Cllr James Hockney said the Government support is proving crucial to people living in Enfield Borough as it means Enfield Borough Council can continue to provide the essential services needed.

“The £9.62 million pounds announced today is hugely welcome and will ease financial pressures on Enfield Borough Council and ensure it is able to continue providing vital local services this winter.

“Just like we said we would stand behind people whose jobs are at risk – with over £200 billion so far to project jobs, incomes and businesses throughout and beyond this pandemic – this Conservative Government is keeping its promise to local authorities and ensuring they have the resources they need to continue supporting people”

The funding has not been ring-fenced, meaning local leaders will be able to determine how to spend the additional funding in order to best protect public health, local vulnerable people and the running of vital services. In total, over £4.6 billion of the £6.4 billion in additional government funding made available to councils has not been ring-fenced, reflecting the Government’s view that local authorities are best placed to determine local priorities.

This is the fourth announcement of extra direct support for local authorities since the start of the pandemic. It forms part of an unprecedented package of support for councils.

 

October Bush Hill Park casework – your issues

The month of October has seen a very wide range of issues raised. I am pleased to say that we have had a lot of success in resolving many of the problems in the community.

The top four have been fly tipping/bins, road safety, covid (masks) and pavements.

We have continued to see widespread fly tipping across Bush Hill Park and some hot spot areas. I am pleased to say that a number of fines have been issued and we are continuing in the battle to keep the area clean and green. The Council has agreed to do a litter pick of the Firs Farm Wetlands and to also install additional bins – it is a jewel in the crown of Bush Hill Park and I will always work with you to protect it.

Road safety concerns include the Halstead Road / Firs Lane area as well as the three Primary Schools locally. I am working with the Council and Police on these issues.

The third issue has been concern about mask wearing levels at a small number of shops locally. This has been an issue working in partnership with the Council, Police and shops. We have seen improvements in mask wearing levels – vital in the fight against Covid-19.

Fourth is trip hazards on pavements. I have spotted many during my walks in the community. Typically these are near trees that are pulling up the pavements and creating trip hazards.  Already the Council has agreed to repair many of these.

It has been a very busy time in the community and I will always do my best as a local resident and your Councillor to press for results.