This complements the existing provision in Northampton, Corby, Wellingborough and Brackley and offers a more local testing venue for those in Daventry and the surrounding areas.  Lateral Flow Device testing is otherwise known as rapid testing and is used in people who do not have symptoms of Covid-19.  The aim is to identify the one in three people who may be infectious without being aware, in order to reduce spread of the virus.  Rapid testing enables swift action to be taken to protect colleagues and family members of those who test positive with COVID-19 and to reduce any onward risk of transmission.

Booking a test

The new site is open Tuesday to Saturday from 9.30am to 12pm and 1pm to 6.30pm, providing a wide variety of testing slots.  Each test involves a swab of the mouth and nose and provides a result within 30 minutes.

• Testing slots must be booked online in advance

Priority is given to workers in the following sectors:

• Health or social care
• Transportation
• Education or childcare (if not receiving regular rapid tests via the workplace)
• Essential shop, supermarkets or financial services
• Food production or processing
• Warehousing, packing or distribution
• Essential public sector services including waste, bin collections, security etc
• Construction, utilities or communications
• Agency workers.

May 2021 Elections – Your chance to join!

It is anticipated that the elections for the Parish Council will take place in May 2021 and the nomination forms will be available from the Clerk in early March.
You must be willing to fully participate in our meetings, which are held monthly (1^st Tuesday of the month) and have time to spare to carry out some duties in between meetings.

Eligibility to become a Parish Councillor (one of the following):

• is registered as a local government elector for the parish;
• or  has during the whole of the preceding twelve months occupied as owner or tenant, any land or premises in the parish; or
• his/her principal or only place of work during the preceding twelve months has been in the parish; or
• had during the whole of the preceding twelve months resided in the parish or within 4.8 km thereof.

If you are interested or would like to see what the Parish Council does, all of our meetings are open to members of the public over Zoom, in the current Covid-19 crisis.

For more information please contact:
Sue Porter – Parish Clerk
e-Mail: clerk@stavertonparish.com

The Parish Clerk also has access to electoral role numbers, should you require yours.

Nomination form and information: Nomination Pack – Parish Council Election 2021

This link also provides lots of useful information:

https://www.daventrydc.gov.uk/your-council/council-and-democracy/elections/electoral-nominations/

Northants CALC is holding an Elections Q&A on Monday 22 March 2021, 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. aimed at prospective candidates who wish to learn more about the role of parish or town councillor, and how to become a candidate for election.

Click on the link to register is https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZIvdOygqDkvHdYXprYlV8v7weKE4AkzH1Ke.

Every ten years the census takes place in England and Wales, providing insight into the people who live across the country and what their lives are like. This year, census day is on Sunday 21 March. You may already have seen advertisements on the TV,  in newspapers and social media

What is the census?

The census is a series of questions that gives a data picture of British society and this year it will give future generations a fascinating insight into how we lived during the coronavirus pandemic.  

But, more importantly, it helps the government plan and fund services in local communities. The responses might highlight a need for a new school, increased health care facilities or other services in your area. 

How does it work?

Next week (from 22 February) every house will be sent a Purple Postcard in the post to remind everyone that the census is on its way. 

The following week every house will be sent an Information Pack. This will contain a unique code which will give access to the census form online using any device. The Pack will also explain how to complete the census and how to get help if anyone needs it. 

If someone doesn’t want to complete the census themselves, a family member or a trusted person can do it on their behalf. People can also request a paper copy. Everything will explained in the Information Pack. 

What information is collected?

The census collects information about individuals, their households and their homes. This information is collated and analysed and the first figures will be released next year. Billions of pounds of funding depend on the results of the census.

Is personal information safe?

Yes. Any information that is published following the census is fully anonymised. This year’s census records will be held securely and will be released into the public domain in 2121 when they will be available for everyone to read. 

Does everyone have to complete the census form?

Yes. It’s a legal requirement to complete the census.

For more information visit census.gov.uk or refer to the handbook: Census 2021 – Community Handbook

You can request a paper form on: 0800 876 6276

Residents in Daventry, Northampton and South Northamptonshire are being encouraged to apply early to vote by post for the first-ever elections to the new West Northamptonshire Council this spring.

On Thursday, 6 May voters across the three areas will go to the polls to elect a total of 93 councillors for the new unitary authority, which will be formed on 1 April this year, replacing the existing district, borough and county councils.

On Polling Day residents will also be able to cast votes for the Northamptonshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner and to elect representatives for many of their local parish councils.

Work is underway to ensure that residents can cast their votes safely during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, with a range of Covid-safe measures being planned for polling stations, alongside the other usual options such as voting by post or by proxy (when someone votes on your behalf).

People are urged to apply for postal votes as early as possible ahead of the deadline of 5pm on 20 April and those wishing to vote by proxy can also do this now before the deadline of 5pm on 27 April.

Anyone who is not yet registered to vote must do so by Monday, 19 April in order to take part in this spring’s elections.

Anna Earnshaw, Returning Officer for the West Northamptonshire elections and the Chief Executive of the new Council, said: “The Government has said they will be keeping the date of the elections under review which is right and proper given the fast-changing circumstances of the Coronavirus pandemic.

“We’re currently preparing for them to go ahead as scheduled on 6 May, including putting robust measures in place to ensure everyone will have the opportunity to safely cast their vote in these historic elections for West Northamptonshire.

“Despite these extra measures, anyone who is clinically vulnerable or does not feel able to visit a polling station on Election Day should register to vote by post or proxy as soon as possible.”

Polling arrangements are currently being organised by elections staff in Daventry District, South Northants and Northampton until the new West Northamptonshire Council is formed on 1 April. In the run-up to this, residents will still need to apply for postal and proxy votes via their existing district or borough councils.

Voters in Daventry District can apply by emailing electoralservices@daventrydc.gov.uk  or calling 01327 871100, Northampton residents should email elecreg@northampton.gov.uk or call 0300 330 7000, and people living in South Northants should email elections@southnorthants.gov.uk or call 01327 322128.

Residents unsure whether or not they are registered to vote can check by contacting their local elections team on the contact details above. Those who need to register can do so at www.gov.uk/register-to-vote, where they will be asked to provide their name, National Insurance number and date of birth.

Are you fed-up with doing the same old walks?

Walking in Northamptonshire www.walkinginengland.co.uk/northants is the website for you!

With hundreds of walks to download and print, free, it also has books of walks, contact details for all the walking groups in the county and much more. Whether you want to walk on your own or with a group all the information is there in one place.

John said ‘There is so much walking information on the web but it is difficult to find. Walking in Northamptonshire (part of the Walking in England suite of websites (www.walkinginengland.co.uk)  – one for each county in England) has brought it together in one place so whether you are walking from home, or away on holiday, you will be able to find a walk suitable for you’.

With walks from half a mile to twelve miles plus long, and a note of suitability for pushchairs and wheelchairs, everyone can find a walk to enjoy.

So home or away, check out the websites and get walking!

Northamptonshire County Council have the Covid-19 Household Winter Support Scheme available to help households, especially those with children, who have been affected by the coronavirus pandemic and are struggling to stay warm and put food on the table this winter.  There are many reasons why a household may be struggling and this scheme is intended to provide one-off assistance to help families with their essential bills.

For more information please call NCC’s Community Resilience Support Line 0300 126 1000 option 5 or visit their website www.northamptonshire.gov.uk/coronavirus-updates

Daventry District Council (DDC) is reminding people of the following schedule changes: 

• Collections which would have been due on Christmas Day (Friday 25 December) will instead take place on Sunday 27 December
• Collections due on New Year’s Day (Friday 1 January) will instead take place on Saturday 2 January
• Everyone will receive an extra collection of their blue-lidded recycling bin in either the week beginning Monday 21 December or the week beginning Monday 28 December, depending on their collection schedule

There will be a fortnight-long break in the garden waste service starting Monday 21 December, to allow residents to receive their extra recycling collection.

Details of the extra recycling collection, as well as day changes for Christmas Day and New Year’s Day, are printed on the collection calendars which were sent to households across Daventry District in August.

People can also check what bins to put out each week by using the ‘What’s my collection day’ tool at www.daventrydc.gov.uk/recycling or by downloading the free Daventry District Council app from Apple’s App Store or the Google Play store.

DDC is also reminding people of the range of items that can be recycled in the blue-lidded bin, including sweet tins and foil-free wrapping paper and Christmas cards. As a rule of thumb, wrapping paper that can be torn is probably made from paper and can therefore be recycled.

If people find they have too much recycling for their blue-lidded bins they should put it in clear or white bags and place it next to their bin on collection day.

People are also advised to make good use of their weekly food waste collection, remembering it can be used to recycle leftover raw and cooked foods, including vegetable peelings, egg shells, out-of-date food, plate scrapings, solid fats, meat and fish bones. Please do not put any liquids in the caddy.

Black bins containing general waste will continue to be collected on a three-weekly cycle, and residents are reminded to make good use of the recycling services, as bins with raised lids, or additional bags left at the side of the bin will not be collected.

Residents can put their real Christmas trees out for recycling on their first garden waste collection day after January 10.  People do not need to be subscribed to the garden waste service to have their trees collected – simply place it next your bins on your usual collection day. Subscribers can choose to chop up their tree and put it in their garden waste bin if they prefer.

Garden waste collection days are listed in the calendars sent to all households in August or can be checked at www.daventrydc.gov.uk/recycling or on the mobile app.

There are no communal collection points for real Christmas trees, but trees can be taken to household waste recycling centres.

For more information about recycling services and changes over the festive period, please visit www.daventrydc.gov.uk/Christmas

https://youtu.be/hGyReYC0sPc