06/11 Councils sign up to climate change pledge

Councils sign up to climate change pledge

Half of the East Midlands' 46 local authorities have now pledged to do
their bit to safeguard the environment for future generations by
signing up to the Nottingham Declaration on Climate Change.

The milestone was reached five months earlier than anticipated when all
of Northamptonshire's councils signed the Declaration at the East
Midlands Expo in Derby last month.

The Declaration is a voluntary pledge to address the issues of climate
change. It was originated in Nottingham and represents a high-level
statement of commitment that any council can make to its own community.
The declaration was originally launched in October 2000 and, to mark
its 5th anniversary, was relaunched last December at the Second National
Councils Climate Conference.

Over 130 councils across England have signed up to the Declaration
since its launch and, as a voluntary statement, councils are free to amend
the name and content of the Declaration to suit the level of commitment
they wish to make.

A regional partnership led by the Climate Change Steering Group has
been set up to encourage councils to sign up.

Jane Todd, Regional Director of the Government Office for the East
Midlands, said:

"The regional partnership agreed with Defra the target of getting half
of the region's local authorities to sign up to the Nottingham
Declaration by March next year. The East Midlands Regional Assembly, GOEM and
emda are pleased to announce that the 50% target has been met.

"Efforts are now focussing on achieving the full coverage that is our
ultimate aim. I am particularly pleased that all local authorities in
Nottinghamshire and Northamptonshire have committed to take action on
climate change through signing the Declaration and we look forward to
working with the county partnerships to help them do so."

Valerie Dwyer, Board Lead for Economic Growth, Energy & Environment at
East Midlands Development Agency (emda) said:

"The implications of climate change mean that we all have to change the
way we live and work. Households, businesses and individuals need to
understand what it means for them and what they can do to reduce
greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to unavoidable changes in the climate.
Local authorities touch on every aspect of our lives so emda welcomes the
commitment of half of the region's authorities to take a lead on
tackling climate change issues. Building on the work of local authorities,
emda, the Regional Assembly and the Government Office are working on the
development of a regional climate change action plan which will be
available for consultation next summer."

Councillor David Sprason, Vice-Chair of the Policy Board at East
Midlands Regional Assembly, said:

"The Regional Assembly recognises climate change as a key priority for
the region and so it is excellent news that so many local authorities
have already signed the Nottingham Declaration. As one of the Climate
Change Ambassadors, I will be working closely with the remaining local
authorities in the region to encourage 100% sign up."

06/11 Likelihood of being injured at work decreases for East Midlands

Likelihood of being injured at work decreases for East Midlands workers
- but improvements can still be made

The chance of East Midlands workers being injured at work has reduced
over the past year in all industries except for the service industry,
but the number of fatal injuries has risen, according to figures
published today (Thursday) by the Health and Safety Executive.

According to the latest statistics there were 12,452 injuries to
workers in 2005/06 compared to 12,826 the previous year, and 13 fatal
injuries, compared to 11 last year.

The biggest single killer of workers in the East Midlands is falling
from height. Slips and trips account for the most major injuries but
overall manual handling remains the single highest cause of injuries to
East Midlands workers.

Maureen Kingman, one of HSE's Principal Inspectors in the East
Midlands, said:

"I'm pleased by the reduction in the rate of injuries, reflecting the
national downward trend.
However work still needs to be done to prevent fatal injuries from
falls from heights, the biggest single killer of workers in the East
Midlands, and slips and trips, which account for the most major injuries, but
overall manual handling remains the single highest cause of injuries to
East Midlands workers. With sensible precautions we could greatly
reduce the misery and expense revealed by these figures.

"Determined action needs to be taken across all industries, but
particularly in construction, manufacturing and agriculture where the death
rates are highest. The Health and Safety Executive works closely with
employers to develop easy to understand procedures to try and reduce the
cause of these problems"

Employers will find help on how to manage workplace risks at
http://www.hse.gov.uk

The full report, Health and safety statistics 2005/06, can be found at:
http://www.hse.gov.uk/statistics/overall/hssh0506.pdf

13/10 44 new parish plans in the East Midlands

44 new parish plans in the East Midlands

44 rural communities across the East Midlands have received grants to
help create a parish plan thanks to Defra funding.

In 2005-06 Defra made £1 million available for parish plans, a tool
which can help local voices be heard by decision makers and give local
communities more control over their own affairs.

Parish plans involve a whole village in identifying their priorities
and setting out an action plan to tackle them. This process has already
led to direct action by rural residents in the East Midlands that has
improved the way their local area and services are managed.

Parish plans are tangible evidence of local priorities for local
planners, service providers, grant-giving organisations, and local
authorities.

A parish plan is not just a wish list: it sets out specific action
points, and identifies who is responsible for acting on them. Although a
plan can take a year or even two to complete, and needs a dedicated,
committed team of volunteers in a parish plan steering group, planners
agree that this is time well spent.

The potential benefits can include:

* highway safety improvements;

* village hall refurbishment;

* planning permission and funding for health facilities;

* installation of IT facilities; and

* funding for sheltered housing to enable the elderly to remain in
their village.

These plans can generate new community spirit, with everybody pulling
together as volunteers, all trying to create a better life for local
people. Unexpected local talents are discovered and parish councils can
be revitalised.

In 2006-07 support for rural communities continues to be available
through Defra's new Rural Social and Community programme, which supports a
range of activities including parish planning.

Decisions on activities are made by those best placed to decide: local
people. Each Rural Community Council has played a key role in defining
the Rural Social and Community programme in their local area, and can
be contacted for information about funding for parish plans.