Summer 2021 www.gateshead.gov.uk Election results – Know your councillors Website upgrade – do more online Summer of cycling Dear resident Since the last edition of Maintaining the ability to provide these essential Council News in December services remains our top priority, which unfortunately 2020, COVID-19 has means we were unable to fully reopen all of our leisure continued to impact us all. and library facilities in line with the government’s We have endured another roadmap out of lockdown. I understand that many national lockdown and of you will have been disappointed by this decision sadly, lost many more lives. but adopting a phased approach to reopening has enabled us to continue protecting the health and However, we are now in wellbeing of our communities. a much stronger position than we were then. The vaccination programme is Thank you for your patience and understanding. continuing to progress at pace and the infection rate Thank you also to those who took part in our health remains much lower than it was, thanks to the efforts and wellbeing survey a few months ago – your views of residents, our wonderful NHS and other partners. will be used to shape how we deliver these services longer term. We will share more information on this I remain extremely grateful to all Gateshead Council soon. employees who have continued to serve our communities throughout the pandemic. Many of Finally, although we have every reason to feel them have taken on different roles and new ways optimistic, I must remind you that the pandemic is of working, from supporting NHS Test and Trace to not yet over and as ever, we can’t afford to become providing practical assistance through our community complacent. Thank you for continuing to protect hubs. yourself, your loved ones and the wider community. Councillor Martin Gannon, Leader of Gateshead Council Newcastle Action on climate Help someone Gateshead change live a thriving life Quays update Pages 8 & 9 Page 11 Page 5 Website upgrade Know your local Supporting you – do more online councillors into work Page 12 Pages 15-18 Page 20 All information in this publication was correct at the time of going to print. Cover image, Cyclists enjoying the great Gateshead countryside. 2 Gateshead Council News Summer 2021 NEWS Stay safe this summer As coronavirus restrictions continue to ease, it feels like the light at the end of the tunnel is within touching distance. We’re able to see our friends and family again, most local businesses have reopened and the majority of adults in Gateshead have now received at least one dose of the vaccine. But it’s not over yet. We’ve seen before how easing restrictions can lead to a surge in infections so we must continue to tread carefully, and there are three key things that you can do to help make sure that we can continue safely along the road to recovery. Keep testing Remain cautious Around 1 in 3 people with COVID-19 Even if you’ve had your vaccine or don’t show symptoms, so twice-weekly recently tested negative, it’s crucial that lateral flow testing for all adults and we all continue to follow the rules – secondary school students is essential particularly as our contact with others for identifying those who could be increases as restrictions lift. spreading the virus without realising. • Keep washing your hands regularly. • When seeing friends and family, You can pick up free home testing kits please don’t be tempted to break from many local pharmacies and other • Wear a face covering where needed. the rules on group sizes and locations across Gateshead, or order • Maintain a safe distance from household mixing. online for home delivery. others. For coronavirus advice and practical If you develop a high temperature, a • Remember outdoors is safer than and financial support, go to new, continuous cough or a change to indoors and good ventilation is www.gateshead.gov.uk/coronavirus your sense of taste or smell, you should essential. Call 0191 433 7112 arrange a PCR test straight away – even if you’ve recently had a negative lateral flow test result. Find out more at A huge thank you to all of our COVID nhs.uk/get-tested. Community Champions, who have played an important role in keeping Get vaccinated Gateshead residents safe and The COVID-19 vaccine is safe and will informed throughout the pandemic. protect you and the wider community. If you could help us shape and share important public health messages, Please get your vaccination when it’s find out more about becoming a COVID Community Champion at offered to you and don’t forget you www.gateshead.gov.uk/communitychampions need a second dose for maximum protection. www.gateshead.gov.uk @gateshead gatesheadcouncil 3 NEWS Thousands supported by hubs Our community hubs have been a • supplied 1,400 ‘cook n’ eat’ boxes and lifeline to many residents over the last school meal packed lunch parcels 12 months. plus over 6,200 school meal vouchers at February half term A year on, the eight hubs are still operating and are at the heart of the • issued over 4,300 pre-pay cards to ongoing community support to the households with children on free pandemic. school meals Staffed by council employees and key • provided 865 Christmas hampers partners, the hubs initially focussed on • delivered 54 oxygen monitors to providing emergency food parcels, help residents suffering from COVID-19 with routine shopping, collection of prescriptions or other medical supplies Councillor Catherine Donovan, Deputy and support if people wanted to talk. Leader of Gateshead Council said: Over time, the number of residents “Thank you to everyone who’s requesting help on a regular basis helped make the community hub has decreased but the hubs are still network and associated support supporting 200 households who seek help regularly: such a success and ensured that residents who have requested help Below is just a small summary of the Staff have been redeployed from Go Gateshead have received support in a timely, help provided over the last year. to support the hubs efficient and compassionate • wrote to over 36,000 and called manner.” 27,000 residents to check they were • made up, distributed and delivered okay over 14,930 food parcels If you need support visit www.gateshead.gov.uk/covidhelp • spoke to 11,000 residents classed as • responded to over 8,500 requests for or call 0191 433 7112. being clinically extremely vulnerable help #Brightentheday for more Gateshead children Gateshead Council has once again • 1,500 children’s activity packs been awarded government funding • Daily TV programmes on Tyne & to provide free activities and meals for Wear TV, which were accessible to children during the summer holidays everyone. and beyond. The summer programme, if restrictions Funding of almost £850,000 from the continue to ease and COVID-19 cases Department for Education’s Holiday stay low, will be the biggest ever. Last Activities and Food Programme will summer over 10,500 places were allow the Council and many of its provided throughout the seven weeks partners to provide an extended of the summer holiday, and this Easter programme of healthy food and alone over 2,650 places were delivered fun activities for school age children through schools and community Bailey who took part in Brighten the Day activities during the school holidays throughout partners over eight days. 2021. The Council will build on the more school holidays will allow the success of last year’s #BrightentheDay Details of the next holiday programme most vulnerable children to be able to programme. will be available soon and families who access free activities and enjoy even qualify for activity places/packs and During the Easter school holidays more healthy and nutritious meals meal packs will be contacted. this year we provided: during the school holidays. Councillor Catherine Donovan, Deputy • 2,650 activity places, at venues “We are delighted with the plans in Leader of Gateshead Council, said: “We throughout the borough place and will continue to work with are extremely pleased, once again, to our partners and the wider community • 1,050 hot meals be part of the Government’s Holiday to offer our best #BrightentheDay Activities and Food Programme. This • 1,761 ‘cook n’ eat’ packs, which programme to date.” programme has operated successfully included ingredients for five meals for in Gateshead for several years. Being For more information visit www. four people able to extend our offer to cover even gateshead.gov.uk/brightentheday 4 Gateshead Council News Summer 2021 NEWS NewcastleGateshead Quays update Quays scheme awarded £7m from government’s Getting Building Fund NewcastleGateshead Quays has been awarded £7m from government’s Getting Building Fund to support the creation of the new events destination and a new link road. £5m from the Fund has been awarded towards the creation of a new North South link road in Baltic Quarter. The new road will connect Gateshead Quays with the A184 and Quarryfield Road, leading to the Felling Bypass and across to the Freight Depot housing around the construction of the new and the region. These funds will be vital site. arena, exhibition and conference in achieving our ambitions for the wider The plans also include a new Green Blue centre, hotels, multi-storey car park, and Quays project and the borough as a corridor, containing new landscaped public spaces. whole. We are aiming to future proof walking and cycling routes, and the Gateshead and improve connectivity Councillor Martin Gannon, Leader provision of habitats that encourage and infrastructure. This investment will of Gateshead Council said: “A lot of biodiversity.