Update from Cllr Tom FitzPatrick 8th March 2021

NNDC CUSTOMER SERVICES DURING LOCKDOWN

The customer services reception is closed for walk in face-to-face enquiries. However, staff are available to help you and can be contacted through the NNDC website, by phone or email. Face-to-face appointments are only available for genuine emergency situations, vulnerable residents or complex cases which cannot be dealt with via other means.

For up-to-date information about our services and links to useful advice, see the Coronavirus page on the NNDC website.

If you are a resident and need support relating to COVID-19 please email the District Council at [email protected] or call our helpline on 01263 516000.

NNDC agrees policy with District Taxi Association

North Norfolk District Council has worked in consultation with the North Norfolk Taxi Association to update the Taxi Handbook, a policy document and code of practice for all operating taxi drivers in the District. The Council extended the typical consultation period on the handbook to allow for more co-operation between the authority and taxi drivers in the district and how to best service the public in the safest manner possible. The Handbook, which is issued to all licensed taxi drivers, was last updated in 2016 and covers a range of requirements for any Hackney Carriages and private hire vehicles and their drivers. The revised document was written and fully negotiated with the North Norfolk Taxi Association working group, creating a productive relationship with both parties agreeing to meet on a quarterly basis. One of the key updates was the improvement of safeguarding mechanisms and checks, which have been updated in accordance to national guidance and good local practice. As well as the usual credentials, taxi drivers will agree to undertake a safeguarding and knowledge test, to ensure the safety of both the public and the taxi driver are understood and upheld in each journey. The revised Taxi Handbook was approved unanimously at a Full Council meeting on 24 February 2021.

Affordable Homes Provision

The Council has agreed to allocate almost £1m of existing Section 106 commuted sums to enable Registered Providers (housing associations) to deliver new affordable homes in North Norfolk. The proposed £900k will help deliver the Council’s objective of “Local Homes for Local Need,” and will help provide a range of 181 good quality, energy efficient affordable homes, including  specialist extra care housing and affordable rent and shared ownership properties in various locations across the district.

CENSUS 2021

Sunday 21 March 2021 is Census Day in England and Wales and households should have received an initial contact card with preliminary information by the Census 2021 Team.

North Norfolk District Council is encouraging all of our residents and property owners to complete the Census form, either in hard copy or online formats, when asked to by the Census 2021 team as the information provided is so important in understanding the changing structure and needs of our community over time and ensuring that we secure the appropriate level of funding to provide public services in the future.

Information provided through the Census will allow for a deeper understanding of the communities and life experiences of people across North Norfolk in terms of health, education, employment, income, housing tenure and transport and inform policy development and funding for public services in years to come – so please complete the form and make sure North Norfolk’s voice is heard in this national census.
More information and advice on how to answer the questions is available at census.gov.uk.

COUNTY COUNCIL AND POLICE & CRIME COMMISSIONER ELECTIONS – 6TH MAY 2021

It has been confirmed that these elections will be held as scheduled on the 6th May 2021.

Postal Voting

A reminder – if anyone wishes to vote by post but has not already registered to do so, then they need to complete and return an application form.

The application can be downloaded from the District Council website.

Alternatively, people can request a form to apply for a postal vote:-

• •  by email at [email protected] or
  • by phone on 01263 516046 and you will be sent a form.

Tom FitzPatrick, District Councillor
8th March 2021