Dear People of Broxtowe,
I hope that you all had a good Easter weekend and I would like to thank the key workers who have worked very hard throughout and also thanks to the majority of people of Broxtowe for following the rules by staying at home. Everyone in Broxtowe has an important role to play in flattening the curve and by doing so taking the strain off our NHS. I am in regular virtual contact with Neighbourhood Policing Inspector Simon Riley, District Commander, Nottinghamshire Police, and also Nottinghamshire Police Chief Constable, Craig Guildford, and their aim in priority order is to engage, explain, encourage and as a last resort, enforce. Fortunately, the good news is that Broxtowe has required very little enforcement. Clearly, the Police in Nottinghamshire are taking a sensible, pragmatic and proportionate stance. It seems the policing of the social distancing rules in Broxtowe has been very limited because we, the members of the public, are doing our bit - thank you.
Nottinghamshire County Council and Broxtowe Borough Council are both doing excellent work to provide services for the people of Broxtowe during this pandemic. I have over the last week been keeping in touch with various stakeholders in the community. Leader of Broxtowe Borough Council, Councillor Milan Radulovic MBE, pointed out that due to the responsible behaviour of Broxtowe people, the Council has been able to keep the parks open. I am pleased that the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rishi Sunak, has announced additional funding of £1.6 billion for Local Authorities. This announcement is part of a £14 billion coronavirus emergency response fund, which builds upon the initial £5 billion announced at the Budget. Nearly a billion pounds will cover extra measures such as home delivery of food and medicines to the most vulnerable people in our country, including those in Broxtowe.
You can find more information on the support provided by Broxtowe Borough Council and for Nottinghamshire County Council via these two links: broxtowe.gov.uk/coronavirus and nottinghamshire.gov.uk/care/coronavirus. Information is also available from a variety of sources on my website.
Ten days ago, on the 5th of April Her Majesty The Queen addressed the nation and commended the fortitude of us all. In her address, Her Majesty drew on Dame Vera Lynn’s wartime song in her message. I am pleased that Katherine Jenkins and Dame Vera have released a duet of ‘We’ll Meet Again’ and that 100% of the proceeds from the single will be donated to NHS Charities Together, see the video attached. These donations will go to supporting the extraordinary staff and volunteers who are caring for COVID-19 patients in our NHS. I think that Dame Vera put it best when she said that “The words ‘We’ll meet again’ speak to the hope we should all have during these troubling times”. Dame Vera is right, the key message is hope. I know this is a different kind of war or indeed it is not a conventional war at all, but I know that the people of Broxtowe are doing their bit to ensure that we beat the coronavirus together and we will come out the other side a stronger community and one nation. We can donate to NHS Charities Together via the link here: fundraiserClapForOurCarers.
Keep safe - stay at home, protect the NHS, to save the lives of our loved ones.
Darren