The Open Homes Weekend, organised by Bath & North East Somerset Council, Transition Bath and the Bath Preservation Trust, returns for its second year on Saturday 13 and Sunday 14 April. The weekend, which is one of the main events on the Bath Green Homes calendar, will showcase local homes across the Bath area that are warm, green and cheap to run, in order to show people how they can reduce their energy bills.

The event will cover a wide area, from Twerton to Bathford, including Batheaston, Larkhall, Bear Flat, Combe Down and Widcombe. The number of homes opening their doors to the public has increased to 19 this year and properties range from heritage to new build. There will be a variety of low cost and high tech homes, which include features such as draught proofing, low energy lighting, advanced insulation, renewable energy technologies and green roofs.

The event is free to all but some of the homes do require visitors to book ahead. Download the Open Homes Weekend leaflet, which includes a map with all the featured properties on here. The Hub at The Building of Bath Collection will also be hosting a number of free attractions, including the Bath Green Homes information point, the RIBA 21st Century Living Exhibition, the LED Leading Lights demonstration and a free renewable energy clinic from Future Supply.

Councillor Paul Crossley (Lib-Dem, Southdown), Leader of the Council, said, “The Council strives to encourage residents to adapt to changes in our climate by being energy efficient. The Open Homes Weekend offers people the chance to see this in action, from low cost things anyone can do, right through to high-tech and more complex solutions and see the benefits.”

Bath Green Homes 2013 continues throughout April and upcoming events include a DIY Draught Proofing workshop and talks on ‘Improving the Energy Efficiency of my home – what can I do and how can I pay for it?’ and ‘Low Energy Lighting For Your Home’. Further details on these events can be found here.

The Open Homes Weekend is kindly sponsored by Curo, Future Supply and Darren Evans Assessments. For more information, visit www.bathgreenhomes.co.uk, email admin@bathgreenhomes.co.uk or phone 01225 477528. You can also follow @BathGreenHomes on Twitter.

People can get help to trace their family history with a free event at Midsomer Norton Library on Tuesday 19 March (7-8pm), as part of Bath & North East Somerset Council’s “After Hours” campaign to promote the wider use of libraries.

“Family History – how do you get started?” will be hosted by the Council’s Local Studies Librarian Anne Buchanan. The event is aimed at anyone who is just starting their search or anyone who is interested in having a go but doesn’t know where to begin.

Anne, who is an expert in tracing family history, will give a presentation outlining the first steps in tracing your family tree and attendees will also have the opportunity to ask her questions about the best way to find information. In addition, once people have got started on their own family trees Anne can offer one-to-one advice and guidance at a later date if anyone reaches a barrier in their research.

The ‘After Hours’ events give people the chance to get even more benefit from Bath & North East Somerset Council’s libraries outside of their normal opening times. Our library staff are keen to hear from anyone who may have an idea for a future event. We also welcome any volunteers who can help them make cups of tea and clear away at the end of the evenings.

The “Family History” event is free but spaces are limited so tickets must be booked by calling Council Connect on 01225 394041or popping into Midsomer Norton Library on the High Street, next to the Holly Court Arcade.

I signed Bath and North East Somerset Coucil up to this campaign.

This is the latest letter from them

6 February 2013

Dear Councillor

Local authority action on fuel poverty

I am writing to thank you for your support of the End Fuel Poverty Coalition’s local authority commitment and to draw your attention to a set of initiatives that EFPC, Consumer Focus and local authority partners are taking to encourage council action on fuel poverty. They include:

• Commissioning of the report Going local – this details a survey of council activity and makes recommendations for improvements. In particular, it calls for the introduction of a new local authority fuel poverty duty, following an assessment of burdens and resources required.  See: http://www.consumerfocus.org.uk/publications/going-local-a-report-for-consumer-focus-on-local-authorities-work-to-tackle-fuel-poverty
• Organisation of a major conference on fuel poverty – Local action for warm homes – at Islington Council on 17 October which highlighted good practice. The conference was addressed by the Energy Minister, LGA and leading local authorities (conference presentations available on request).
• Sponsorship of NEA regional fuel poverty forums – these provide an opportunity for councils, NGOs and others to share information and develop good practice.
  • Commissioning of research, with NEA and DECC, on the health and social care costs of cold homes as part of an initiative to encourage action by Health and Well-being boards on the new fuel poverty public health outcome (publication due March 2013).

We think there are important new opportunities for increased council action on fuel poverty, including new sources of funding. They include under-spent fuel company funds, the new Energy Company Obligation, new DECC and DoH funds for local action on fuel poverty, the revised HECA guidance and the transfer of public health to local government.

However, despite new funds coming on stream we recognise that local authorities have borne the brunt of public expenditure cutbacks. We are calling, alongside our partners in the Energy Bill Revolution (EBR) coalition, for the Government to use its carbon tax proceeds to invest in an energy efficiency programme focussed on the fuel poor (see www.energybillrevolution.org). We think councils could play an important role in implementing the proposed programme and would urge your council to support the EBR campaign.

We hope you find the report of interest. You can find more information about the End Fuel Poverty Coalition at our website: www.endfuelpoverty.org.uk. You can also get advice on local initiatives to tackle fuel poverty from NEA (www.nea.org.uk) and the Carbon Action Network (www.can.uk.net).

Yours sincerely

William Baker

On behalf of the End Fuel Poverty Coalition

Young parents are invited to fun, free sessions at Radstock Children’s Centre, run by Bath & North East Somerset Council.
Parents and parents-to-be who are aged 21 and under are welcome to attend the weekly sessions where practical advice, information and support is available. During the sessions you can also discover how babies and children develop and learn through play.
The group meets at Radstock Children’s Centre every Wednesday between 1.30pm and 3pm, and parents are welcome to drop in anytime to benefit from a wide range of services at the centre.
The first sessions of 2013 have already proved popular with parents coming from Midsomer Norton, Peasedown, Paulton, Radstock and surrounding areas, but there are still spaces in the group.

There is also an antenatal programme for young parents which meets between 11.30am and 2pm on Wednesdays at the Children’s Centre.
Radstock Children’s Centre, which is part of Bath & North East Somerset Council’s Somer Valley Children’s Centre cluster, is open Monday to Thursday, 8.30am to 4.30pm and Friday, 8.30am to 4pm.
Somer Valley Children’s Centres offer a range of groups and services including Job Centre Plus, Citizens Advice Bureau drop-in sessions, baby clinics, breastfeeding support group and messy play sessions.

Radstock is one of 11 children’s centres across Bath and North East Somerset. There are also centres at Bath, Chew Valley, Keynsham, Midsomer Norton, Paulton and Peasedown St John.

As Leader of the Council it is important to me that we help parents across the authority area who need extra support. This group also offers advice on childcare, healthcare, training, getting back into work, housing benefits and much more.
There are regular visitors to the group including midwives, health visitors, Connexions and Curo Housing staff as well as Bath & North East Somerset Council’s Family Information Service. Working effectively with partners is a key aim for the Liberal Democrat administration that I lead in B&NES.

Southside Youth Hub offers young people free gym qualification.

Young people have the chance to gain a Level 2 gym qualification for free at Bath & North East Somerset Council’s Southside Youth Hub in Bath. The sessions are open to 16 – 18 year olds and require no previous entry requirements to sign up.

The course begins on Monday 11 February and will last 15 working days. Assessments will take place the following week, between Monday 4 and Wednesday 6 March. Those who are successful will then be qualified to work in a gym environment or potentially gain a place on an apprenticeship programme.

Southside Youth Hub also provides one to one support on a range of issues to young people who need it, with evening drop in sessions every Monday and Wednesday from 7pm until 9pm.
The Youth Hub is running an introductory session to the gym qualification course at 11am on Friday 8 February, giving those who are interested a taste of what to expect. To book a place at the session, or to find out more about Southside’s other projects, contact Jenny on 01225 394482.

As the Leader of the Council this is a great initiative that we are starting here as it will help some young people to get a job and it will also provide opportunities for young people to make a difference in their lives with a range of activities from cooking to gardening.

The Liberal Democrat Cabinet in Bath and NE Somerset takes economic vitality of the area very seriously. So it is great news that again this month Bath is performing better than most of the country.
Key facts

The number of unemployed claimants in Bath constituency in December 2012 was 1,310. This represents a rate of 2.8% of the economically active population aged 16 to 64, the 513th highest of the 650 UK constituencies. (1st = highest rate of unemployment, 650th = lowest rate of unemployment.)

The number of claimants is 55 lower than in December 2011 and 62 lower than in November 2012. These data are not seasonally adjusted.

Meanwhile in North East Somerset the rate is an even lower rate of 1.7%

This year the Living Springs Church hosted the Churches Together event in Bath. Whilst it was hit hard by the snow there was still a wide range of Christian denemoniations present. I was asked to read Galations 3 v26-28 as part of the service.

Living Springs is part of the wider family of the Metropolitan Community Church.