The Council’s digital inclusion project ‘Get Connected’ is open to low-income residents on Universal Credit or with little or no qualifications. The council has 120 laptops available for loan for a period of 12 months to eligible residents. They will be supported throughout the year and encouraged to sign up for courses which aim to improve their confidence, employment prospects and connectivity and reduce social isolation.
Portishead Becomes Real Living Wage Employer
North Somerset Lib Dems welcome the decision by Portishead Town Council to become a Real Living Wage Employer, made in their Full Council Meeting on January 20th 2021. The decision, which was seconded by Cllr Sue Mason and supported by Lib Dem Cllr Steve Temple, proposed the town council becomes a Living Wage employer from 1 April 2021 and from that date will pay the higher rate for the relevant staff grade, the Real Living Wage.
The Living Wage Foundation has set a voluntary higher “Real Living Wage” at £9.50 outside of London. You can become a “Living Wage Employer” by adopting this. This proposal follows the decision of Weston-super-Mare to become a Real Living Wage employer in August 2020.
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New Phone Hotline To Assist Businesses With Covid-19 Grants
Do you run a North Somerset business that has been negatively affected by the coronavirus pandemic, or know someone who does?
North Somerset Council is encouraging businesses that have been negatively affected in any way by the Covid-19 pandemic to get in touch via its new dedicated phone line (01934 888 114) or email address (businessgrants@n-somerset.gov.uk). The council will then work with those businesses to identify which grants they can claim for and help them to apply for those grants.
There are lots of different grants available and it is getting very difficult to work out what you are entitled to and what you are not. To tackle this, The North Somerset Lib Dems have worked with the Council to put some extra resources into our business grants team can help businesses to navigate the grants and identify which ones you’re eligible for.
Clean the Portishead Lake Grounds
Sign our petition calling on North Somerset Council (NSC) to dredge the lake at the Lake Grounds to make it safer and cleaner for us all.
Many of us are alarmed to see the amount of mud in the lake during Portishead’s hot summers, shown in the picture below. The ducks and swans in the lake seemed even more concerned at their disappearing habitat.
Despite ongoing requests from Lib Dem Cllr Sue Mason that the lake be cleaned, NSC do not want to spend the money and so are saying that all we can do is wait for enough rain to fill the lake.
We see it as unacceptable that there is often more mud than water in the lake and demand that it is dredged, for the benefit of the people and the wildlife of Portishead. If you agree then make sure to sign our petition.
The previous Conservative Administration wouldn't do it while they were in charge, hopefully, this new administration will.
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Tackling Child Poverty in North Somerset
The Government has decided that schools will not be required to provide free school meals during February half term. The North Somerset Lib Dems agree with the NEU that "these are battles which should not have to be repeatedly fought" and that the government's plans represent a logistical nightmare. It should not be this difficult to do the right thing.
Families across North Somerset are being encouraged to continue accessing free school meals during the latest lockdown restrictions following reports from other parts of the country that inadequate meals have been provided.
Here’s some ways you can get Online during this pandemic if you’re from North Somerset:
North Somerset Council has opened a free service aimed at increasing the level of basic digital skills and abilities in North Somerset residents and providing residents with the internet devices that have become essential over the pandemic.
