Councillor Paul Peacock Statement: Newark & Sherwood District Council Update

It’s incredible to think that residents in our area benefit from a wide range of services for just £3.74 per week per household on average. I’m truly proud of the services we provide and the amazing workforce we have.

Last year, Newark and Sherwood District Council collected nearly 4 million bins, and this number is expected to grow with more people signing up for our free kerbside glass service and garden waste collection. Our team of 85 operatives works tirelessly every day, rain or shine, to ensure bins are emptied and our streets are clean. I want to express my gratitude to them for their dedication to our community.

In 2025, we’re planning to lay the groundwork for a free food waste collection service by 2027. Currently, we mow over 2 million square meters of grass every fortnight, maintain clean streets, and care for millions of plants, trees, and wildlife. We empty over 60,000 litter and dog bins annually, give away trees, and plant even more. Our goal is to recycle more and reduce our carbon footprint, aiming to achieve carbon-net zero status by 2035.

We ensure residents’ safety through food standard and health inspections, provide quality and affordable housing to over 5,500 tenants, and offer support to those fleeing domestic violence or facing homelessness. This support will continue throughout 2025.

We’ve also assisted hundreds of residents in accessing welfare and benefit advice, securing additional funding for our town centers, and launching major development projects in Ollerton, Clipstone, and Newark.

Our commitment to supporting local businesses and high streets is unwavering. We provide free training sessions, support business tenants in various sectors, and rejuvenate abandoned buildings to breathe new life into our high streets.

Our Public Protection Officers work closely with the police to combat crime and anti-social behavior, while also teaming up with the NHS to enhance health and wellbeing services for those in need.

If you need to report an issue, our website is the place to go. Whether it’s a missed bin collection, full dog waste bin, fly-tipping, or anything else, let us know and our team will take care of it promptly. We’re just a phone call away for businesses seeking rate relief or support, tenants with home inquiries, or residents without internet access. We handle over 140,000 phone calls, assist over 19,000 residents face to face, and address over 20,000 reports through our website annually. Your reports matter to us, so don’t hesitate to reach out.

All of this and more for around £3.74 per week is truly remarkable. I want to extend a heartfelt thank you to our hardworking staff and supportive residents. Wishing you all a Happy New Year.