The first Parish Council meeting of 2021 will take place via Zoom on Tuesday 19th January.  The agenda and the draft minutes from December’s meeting are pinned on the village notice board.  As always members of the public are welcome to join meetings.  If you would like to do so, please email the clerk (htpclerk@gmail.com) for the joining instructions.  Past agendas, minutes and information generally is available on the Parish Council website www.htpc.org.uk. It’s also worth mentioning that a lot of useful general local information is available on the Stroud District Council website:  https://www.stroud.gov.uk

Covid-19

Unfortunately, Covid-19 continues to dominate and we all have information via the usual national channels.  To access more specific and local information for Gloucestershire please take a look here:

https://www.gloucestershire.gov.uk/inform/health/coronavirus-covid-19-intelligence-for-gloucestershire/

And details of Covid-19 mobile testing stations can be found here:

https://www.gloucestershire.gov.uk/covid-19-information-and-advice/mobile-testing-unit-locations/

Ash Dieback – Replanting Scheme

During 2020 Gloucestershire County Council Highways removed around 2,400 infected Ash Trees which posed a danger to highway users.  This is a national crisis in itself but also has a double negative impact on action against climate change.

Local parish councils are being encouraged to use their local knowledge to assist with the identifying of suitable places where replanting can be undertaken. All requests to plant mixed native whips (young tree seedlings 2-3 years old) as replacements will be considered.  If any Tresham residents with suitable land whom would consider having replacement ash trees planted, please let me know.  If numbers are sufficient the young trees will be donated to us as a parish, but in order for this to happen I need to make a request by the end of the month and therefore need responses from you by 27th January.

The EU Settlement Scheme

As requested by the Gloucestershire Association of Parish & Town Councils, I have displayed a poster relating to this on the village council notice board.  The EU Settlement Scheme is open for applicants who live in the UK and want to continue to have the right to live, work and study in the UK following Brexit.  The deadline for applying to the EU Settlement Scheme is 30 June 2021, so we are urgently seeking all those who may not yet have applied.

In Gloucestershire, Citizens Advice and Gloucestershire Action for Refugees and Asylum Seekers (GARAS) are partnering with Gloucestershire County Council to offer free advice and help to any individuals or families applying to the EU Settlement Scheme.  For free advice and help contact Citizens Advice (jennie.watts@gloscab.org.uk / 01452 527202 ext 262) or GARAS (admin@garas.org.uk / 01452 550528).  

Lucky Severn Community Lottery

Stroud District Council is joining around 80 other district councils around the country and launching its own lottery.  Tickets for the Lucky Severn Community Lottery will cost £1 with 60p going towards local good causes.  The draw will be weekly with a jackpot of £25,000.  You can buy tickets and get regular updates on the Lucky Severn Lottery Facebook page and Twitter account, and www.luckysevernlottery.co.uk

Tresham Issues

I am in the process of getting budget spend secured and work organised to repair the steps down to Well Hill and also to have an additional bench installed there too.  Progress update coming soon.

Census 2021

I’ve heard via the Parish Council that the 10 yearly national census due on the 21st March 2021, will be online and digital for the first time.  The Office for National Statistics is promising a simple process and state: “We’re aiming to make it easy for everyone to take part in Census 2021. But, if you need help, we’ve got it covered. We’ll have an online help area and offer help by phone, webchat, email, social media or text message.  If you can’t get online or need help completing the census online, there’ll be Census Support Centres across England and Wales.”  https://census.gov.uk/

As ever, if anyone has any specific issues or ideas that could be addressed by the Parish Council, please let me know

Simon Lee

Councillor

simonellislee@btinternet.com