From our District Councillor
Would you like to cut your fuel bills and keep warmer, as well as help the
environment? If so, you will find our "Stay Warm Surgeries" useful.
For people who live in private accommodation, whether you own your home or rent
it, we can help you find discounts on insulation materials and in some cases
help you get grants towards the costs of insulating your home. Anyone can come
to the surgeries and you will be given a free energy efficient light bulb
(which can save you up to £10 on your annual electricity bill) and asked to
fill out a home energy check about the insulation in your home. Our Home Energy
Conservation Officer will then use this home energy check to help you find ways
to save on your fuel bills and to keep warm. Unfortunately, these grants and
discounts are not available to Housing Association tenants.
I shall be joining Ian Bowers, our Home Energy Conservation Officer, at the Stay Warm Surgery in Swaffham Prior Village Hall on Wednesday 11th February from 3.00-6.00pm. Care & Repair will also be there to discuss whether they can help with low cost installation of heating in your home. For young families, there will be a competition for primary school children with an energy saving prize for their home. If you can't come then, but would like energy saving advice, please ring Ian Bowers on 01353 616251.
Healthy Living East Cambridgeshire has launched a dedicated Stop Smoking Service. Experience of people who have given up smoking is that you are four times more likely to succeed if you are helped by a Stop Smoking Service. If you want to give up smoking contact your local Surgery or ring 0800 018 4304 and you will get help to quit. After just 24 hours of not smoking your body will be free of carbon monoxide and your lungs will start to clear the debris caused by smoking. After 5 years you will have halved the risk of heart attack compared to a smoker. If you want to find out what else Healthy Living East Cambridgeshire can do for you visit their stand at Ely Market on Thursday 19th February.
The Government is transferring responsibility for licensing pubs and clubs to sell alcohol from Magistrates Courts to district councils. We are supposed to take on this responsibility from July this year. In deciding whether or not to issue a license we will have to consider the prevention of crime and disorder, public safety, prevention of public nuisance and the protection of children from harm. We are still waiting for guidance from the Government. Once we have this guidance, we will consult locally and draft our Licensing Policy Statement.