Please find below the latest Council update:
Dear all,
Welcome to the latest bulletin with news and updates from across the city. There is news on the Strong Cities Network, Connecting Leeds, loan shark awareness, cost of living data and winter fuel payments/pension credit.
The bulletin also includes local developments.
Strong Cities Network
Last week saw the announcement that the council are now members of the global Strong Cities Network, joining 245+ cities committed to addressing hate, extremism and polarisation. To find out more about the network, please visit Strong Cities Network.
Connecting Leeds
- This September, new School Streets have been introduced outside St Bartholomew’s C of E and Ireland Wood Primary schools. With these additions, Leeds now has a total of 17 School Streets. School Streets restrict motorised traffic during school drop-off and pick-up times, creating safer, more enjoyable environments for children and families who walk, cycle, wheel, or scoot to school. These changes not only improve road safety but also help reduce children’s exposure to harmful air pollution. As part of the launch, the Council’s road safety trainers are delivering pedestrian and scooter training at both schools, equipping pupils with essential skills to navigate roads safely. Safe behaviours are at the heart of our VisionZero 2040 Strategy, our ambition to eliminate serious and fatal road injuries in Leeds. We also introduced our new team mascot Arlo the Owl. Read more about our School Streets here: School Streets (leeds.gov.uk).
- The Council has teamed up with West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service to address a pressing issue - dangerous parking near school gates during drop-off and pick-up times. In the film, a fire engine travels past four schools, using dash cam footage to capture real-life examples of inconsiderate parking. The footage clearly shows just how difficult it would be for an emergency vehicle to pass through in a real-life crisis, highlighting the potential danger. Narrated by Mohammed, Leeds' Children’s Mayor and a champion for safe and sustainable travel, the film encourages parents and guardians to consider parking a little further away from the school gates—or even better, to leave the car at home and travel actively when possible. Watch the film here and share with your networks: https://bit.ly/4geUEfA.
- For the first time, the National Modeshift Convention is being hosted in Leeds, taking place over two days on Tuesday 19th and Wednesday 20th November at the Royal Armouries Museum. This year’s theme is "Making sustainable travel journeys easier". With a packed agenda of expert speakers from a wide range of backgrounds, the event is not one to miss. Three projects in Leeds are finalists in the following Team Modeshift National Sustainable Travel Award categories:
- Team Modeshift Partnership of the Year - Alwoodley Walk to School Week – Living Streets, Alwoodley Climate Action, Leeds City Council et al
- Business Engagement Project of the Year - Wellington Place, Leeds – Wellington Place (site), Hydrock Fore (Travel Plan Coordinator), MEPC (Developer), Leeds City Council (Local Authority)
- Community Engagement Project of the Year – Bankside Primary School Road Safe and Sustainable Travel Week of Action
If you would like to secure your place at this event, bookings are now open here.
Cost of Living Monthly Bulletin
The Financial Inclusion Team produce a monthly bulletin (attached) to go alongside the live Cost of Living dashboard, both of which can be accessed via Leeds Observatory: https://observatory.leeds.gov.uk/home/cost-of-living/. For any queries, please email [email protected].
Winter Fuel Payment/Pension Credit:
The Council’s Welfare and Benefits Service are undertaking an exercise to identify Pension Age households in receipt of Council Tax Support who could potentially be eligible for Pension Credit (and thus the Winter Fuel Payment). Potentially eligible households are contacted and encouraged to claim Pension Credits. This has so far led to 54 successful Pension Credit claims and an average increase in income of £83.23 per week for each household who has successfully claimed.
In our last update (13/09/24), we included info encouraging people to check their Pension Credit entitlement and its passporting to other benefits such as Winter Fuel Payment. For support with any of these matters Leeds Money Information Centre (www.leedsmic.org.uk) is a trusted source to access free, confidential and impartial help and advice on a range of money related matters such as debt, money, energy and utilities.
Local developments:
- Leeds’ South Bank is to enjoy more affordable and lower carbon heating after £24.5m funding was secured to further expand the Leeds PIPES district heating network. Further info can be found here.
- Consultation has begun on expanding the Selective Licensing of private rented homes to parts of Armley, Holbeck, Hunslet, Cross Green and East End Park (in addition to scheme that operates in much of Beeston and Harehills. Further info can be found here.
- Historic relics from Leeds’s very first railway station, Marsh Lane, have helped rediscover the city’s fascinating track record after being unearthed during an archaeological dig. Further info can be found here.
