Support grants for businesses legally required to close (as a result of the national lockdown) can now be accessed on the Chelmsford City Council website: www.chelmsford.gov.uk/businessgrants

The available grants are payable to cover 28-day periods of lockdown and vary according to a business's rateable value. As the latest national lockdown is going to last for at least 28 days, the City Council is making payments in advance to cover the period up to 2 December 2020.

The Chelmsford City Photo Competition, co-ordinated by Chelmsford City Events, kept aspiring photographers occupied throughout summer 2020, and the winners have now been chosen. A video sharing a behind-the-scenes look at the competition can be watched at https://youtu.be/wTNzMKvwEJ8.

The competition closed on 31 August with more photographers entering than ever before. During September, the photos were sent to a panel of judges including the Mayor of Chelmsford, Councillor Jude Deakin; Deputy Leader Councillor Marie Goldman, and representatives from Blue Sky Printing, Meadows Shopping Centre, Unshaken Photography Training, Essex Chronicle and Essex 2020.

Fireworks aren't fun for everyone is the message this year from Chelmsford City Council. In recent years, more and more fireworks have been set off over many days in October and November. Everyone planning at-home fireworks is asked to show care for animals and vulnerable neighbours by lighting their fuses at the same time at 'Rocket O'Clock'. Also, remember that, under Covid restrictions, households are not allowed to mix indoors at all and you can only be outside with up to six people.

The recent contact tracing figures show that the current system is still woefully inadequate.

This is despite repeated calls for the Government to fix Test and Trace. The test, trace and isolate system is essential to not only slow the spread of coronavirus, but for people to have any hope of ever getting out of the Government's restrictions.

The normal Remembrance Day public ceremony and parade in Chelmsford cannot be held this year due to pandemic restrictions. So residents of Chelmsford, South Woodham Ferrers and the surrounding villages are being asked to mark Remembrance Sunday on 8 November at home.

A wreath will be laid on behalf of all residents of Chelmsford, and a speech given, by Councillor Jude Deakin, the Mayor of Chelmsford, in a socially-distanced private ceremony. Only the Deputy Mayor, the Mayor's Chaplain, one member of the armed forces and a representative from the Royal British Legion will be in attendance. This will be broadcast on the Chelmsford Council Facebook and Twitter accounts at 11am on Sunday 8 November.

The Mayor said, "We have thought long and hard about possible alternatives. Although we are used to holding a parade and ceremony, the most important thing is that we remember and reflect on the sacrifices made by military personnel in conflict. Please watch the ceremony from home on Sunday 8 November and take a moment to remember."

Households are asked to observe the normal two minutes' silence in their own homes. If residents wish to lay a wreath at a war memorial, they are asked to avoid 11am and choose another convenient time, in order to avoid public gatherings. Other suggestions include displaying handmade poppies, children's drawings and poems in windows. People can also download a poppy poster from the Royal British Legion if you donate.

The Mayor added, "Please do not forget the Royal British Legion, who are ordinarily supported through poppy sales and donations at Remembrance events. They are seeing far fewer donations than usual, and this may directly impact on the service personnel and veterans whom they support. I know that money is tight for many residents at the moment, but if you do have a little to spare, please donate to the Legion."

A climate summit will be run by young people in Essex next year. The summit will be held in Chelmsford and is backed by Chelmsford City Council. It's the next stage of 'A Manifesto For Essex', set up to give children and young people a platform to share ideas on protecting the environment and preventing the worst impacts of global heating.

People across the country have endured terrible hardships over the past six months. They've lost loved ones, lost livelihoods and been cut off from friends and family.

Everyone has made huge sacrifices and played by the Government's rules; they deserve to have confidence that these rules will work.

Instead, our efforts are being squandered by the incompetence of Boris Johnson and the Conservative Government. Their Test and Trace system is not fit for purpose, and scientific advice is being ignored.

People have made a massive effort to fight coronavirus but it's clear that the road to recovery is going to be rockier than we first feared.

With millions of workers worried about their livelihoods, the British people deserve a Government that listens to their concerns and does everything in its power to protect them. Sadly, this isn't the case.