Welcome to this week's newsletter.
First of all-if you don't have plans this evening or tomorrow why not go and see the Crewe Gang Show? It is put on by the South West Cheshire Scouts at the Lyceum Theatre with a performance tonight and two tomorrow. Details on tickets can be found here:
https://crewelyceum.co.uk/Online/tickets-crewe-gang-show-2022
It is great way to support young people locally.
I understand that many people are concerned about the rise in the cost of living, seeing their bills going up over the last few months. There is a wide range of support available to those who are struggling, including pensioners. Some of this you will need to apply for, while others will be provided automatically. I have brought together some resources below where you can see if you, or someone you know, can get any additional help.
Over the next few weeks, I will highlight just some of the MPs Private Member's Bills that have been made into law over this Parliament. These laws come about as a result of the work of backbench MPs. MPs enter a ballot to have the chance to put a law forward (I haven't been lucky so far!). It might not get any attention in the media but this is the sort of positive way in which MPs can make a difference. This week we'll cover the Animals (Penalty Notice) Act, which has increased fines for mistreatment of animals, and became law last week.
On Tuesday, the Prime Minister became the first world leader to address the Ukrainian Parliament. He reaffirmed the UK’s support for Ukraine and announced a further £300 million of military aid. You can view the speech below.
There is a vaccination centre running this week at West Street Pharmacy, Crewe. It will be open every day between 9:30 and 5:30 until Sunday. Why not come down if you have been called forward for your spring booster or even if you are yet to have one of your other doses?
Have a great weekend.
Cost of Living - Help and Resources
Private Members Bill - Animal Offences Fines Increased
PM Addresses Ukrainian Parliament
Magistrate Sentencing Powers
Vaccination Centres
IMA Trading
Crewe Gang Show
Traffic Report
Cost of Living - Help and Resources
I know that many people are struggling with the rise in cost of living that we are now experiencing. The Government takes this seriously and there is a wide range of support available for those who are struggling. Below are just some of the ways households are being helped – including resources so you or someone you know can find out if they are eligible to receive them. Please feel free to share this information.
CHESHIRE EAST EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE & HOUSEHOULD SUPPORT FUND: Cheshire East provides emergency support to people and families in need and this has been further supplemented by the Household Support Fund which the government has funded with a further £500 million for this year.
https://www.cheshireeast.gov.uk/benefits_housing_council_tax/emergency-assistance.aspx
https://www.cheshireeast.gov.uk/council_and_democracy/council_information/coronavirus/covid-winter-grant-scheme.aspx (note this fund is due to reopen shortly and I have asked Cheshire East why there is a gap at present when it has been funded)
This can help with shopping vouchers, utilities vouchers to the value of £98 per property, white goods (electric cooker, washing machine, under-counter fridge, washing machine), help with heating for homeowners through boiler repair or replacement and help with housing costs for renters in exceptional circumstances
COUNCIL TAX REBATE: All homes in Council Tax Bands A-D will receive £150 in a Council Tax rebate.
Payments began in April and will not need to be paid back. Eligible households will automatically be contacted about this, you do not need to do anything.
Find out more here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/council-tax-rebate-factsheet
ENERGY BILLS REBATE: Every household will receive an energy bill discount of £200, spreading the costs over the next few years.
Your energy supplier will automatically deduct this discount from your bill in October. It will automatically be paid back in £40 annual instalments over the next 5 years.
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/millions-to-receive-350-boost-to-help-with-rising-energy-costs
LOCAL AUTHORITY DISCRETIONARY FUND: To help lower income households in high Council Tax bands. Cheshire East have allocated this funding to provide £150 Energy Grant to all those in properties E to H who are also in receipt of Council Tax Support (CTS) during April 2022 if they have not received a grant elsewhere. They will also provide £150 to all those in properties E to H on other income related state benefits during April 2022 but are not in receipt of CTS and an additional grant to those properties in Bands A to D who are in receipt of CTS or other income related state benefits, where funding allows.
These will all be paid directly to the Council Taxpayer.
https://www.cheshireeast.gov.uk/council_tax/council-tax-news/council-tax-energy-rebate.aspx
WINTER FUEL PAYMENT: Helping over 11.4 million pensioners.
If you were born on or before 26 September 1955 you could get between £100 and £300. This will usually be paid automatically.
Visit here to find out more: https://www.gov.uk/winter-fuel-payment/how-to-claim
PENSION CREDIT: Helping pensioners on lower income, topping up income to £182.60 for a single person and £278.70 for a couple.
You will need to apply for this.
Visit here to find out more: https://www.gov.uk/pension-credit/what-youll-get
COLD WEATHER PAYMENT: £25 Extra per week when the temperature drops. To be eligible you need to be in receipt of certain benefits – including pension credit.
You do not need to apply. If you are eligible to get a Cold Weather Payment, you’ll be paid it automatically.
https://www.gov.uk/cold-weather-payment
I understand that the next few months are going to be difficult for us all. If you think you are eligible for any of the above support, I would encourage you to enquire.
Private Members Bill - Animal Offence Fine Increase
Many people wonder what influence their local, backbench MP actually has, and whether they are actually able to change the law, and make a difference in people’s lives.
Last week, I told you about bills that have passed through the House of Commons, and became law, under this Government.
What a lot of people don’t know is that many of these started out as ideas by individual MPs as Private Member's Bills – which they originally introduced to Parliament. MPs enter a ballot to have the chance to put a law forward with approximately the highest drawn 10 getting a fair chance of getting their law passed.
Over the next few weeks, I will highlight just some of these achievements by Private Members Bills.
This week, I want to mention the Animals (Penalty Notice) Act, which was introduced last summer by Romford MP, Andrew Rosindell. The Bill received Royal Assent and became law last Thursday.
This law will crack down on animal offenders, increasing fines for offences such as mistreating pets and livestock, further strengthening the UK’s animal protection laws.
Keep reading my newsletters over the coming weeks to hear about more Private Members Bills that have become law.
PM Addresses Ukrainian Parliament
The Prime Minister became the first world leader to speak to the Ukrainian Parliament directly, since the start of the war with Russia, in a video link address on Tuesday.
He used this statement to commend the Ukrainian people for their bravery and perseverance throughout the war. He also committed an extra £300 million of military aid alongside a fleet of armoured vehicles to transfer civilians from besieged areas.
In the words of the Prime Minister, this is Ukraine’s finest hour, and we are doing everything we can to help them in their struggles.
Magistrate Sentencing Powers
As of this Monday, Magistrates will be able to issue prison sentences of up to 12 months, double the 6 months it was previously.
This will allow more cases to be settled in Magistrates Courts with the need to be sent to Crown Court, reducing the backlog, and allowing victims to receive justice quicker.
Vaccination Centre
There is a vaccination centre running this week at West Street Pharmacy, Crewe. It will be open between every day, 9:30 and 5:30, until Sunday.
They will provide Moderna and Pfizer doses for those who have been called forward to have their spring booster, which includes residents of care homes, those over 75 and those with immunosuppression, so long as they have had their last dose more than 91 days ago.
You will also be able to get your first, second or booster if you have not already. You must be over 18 and have an 8-week gap between your first and second or a 91-day gap between your 2nd and booster.
IMA Trading
You may remember a couple of weeks ago I visited sunrise laundry, a local, family-run, Crewe business.
While I was there I also got a chance to learn about his daughter Emily's business, IMA Trading, which sells wholesale table and chair covers for events and weddings.
Another great local business that has started from the ground up! Find out more about them below:
Crewe Gang Show
I am looking forward to going to see South West Cheshire Scout’s Crewe Gang Show at the Lyceum theatre tomorrow night!
The gang show is an annual event going back over 80 years. I was lucky to see a sneak preview a few weeks ago at a rehearsal, and cannot wait to see the finished production!
Tickets are still available for the performances tonight and the daytime and evening performances tomorrow, so do take a look and come along if you are free! You will be supporting the local young people taking part and it's something different to do this weekend!
https://crewelyceum.co.uk/Online/tickets-crewe-gang-show-2022
Traffic Report
The following are road closures for the week ahead as published by Cheshire East.
Delamere Street (Between Gatesfield Street and St Marys Street) - 8th May
Wistaston Road (Between Edleston Road and Dunwoody Way) - Until 15th May
R70 (Between Deans Lane and Radway Green Road) - 12th May
Main Road, Shavington (Newcastle Road to Main Road) - 9th May to 13th May