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April 2021 April 2021

Council and Public Health teams will work closely with schools and colleges to nearing Gold Point and that meant half way! If this tide kept up we’d be there in
communicate any necessary actions to staff, parents, carers and students. School good time. Another mile passed and I felt physically and mentally great. We’d
Transport will run as normal. Everyone can help by following the guidance outside done 3 hours now and I was certain that I’d walk up that beach triumphant.
of school and college, which can be found at gov.uk/coronavirus
Bump. The safety boat ran aground just as we entered the south channel behind
Brownsea Island. We knew it was shallow here having both swum round Brownsea
PPE for Carers a couple of times before (RLSS swim) but we’d got here a little later than planned.
The few metres off course had put the boat aground. This was no danger as the
Unpaid carers in the DC area can now request free Personal Protective boat is designed to take the bottom. However, the tide was falling still and we
Equipment (PPE) for when they are carrying out their caring responsibilities. had to act fast. I got back on the boat (it’s my boat!) and eased her back off the
Following an announcement from the Department for Health & Social Care, mud bank and located the channel. Bob continued to swim/ crawl in the general
unpaid carers in the DC area can now request free PPE for when they are direction of Shell Bay. Occasionally he’d stand up, hands on hips and take a look
carrying out their caring responsibilities. There is a particular focus on extra- around evidently thinking, “Where’s the water gone!’. With an average depth of
resident carers (those who live outside of the household of the cared for person). just 0.3 metres, the shallower side of Poole Harbour was now ever present.
Dorset Council will be the first point of contact for enquiries and will register carers’
PPE needs. Despite being back on course my mind had lost focus. I was mentally only half in
the swim now. Getting back in the boat had broken my rhythm. The temptation of
the warm cabin and its continuing safe passage kept stealing my focus away

Virtual meetings from the last 2 miles ahead. “It’s equivalent to the usual Sunday morning swim”, I
kept telling myself. “You can do it – you’re nearly there, the boat is fine”. I forced
With emergency rules allowing councils and communities to meet online expiring myself; arm over arm, breath, arm over arm, breath. “OK, I’m going to make it”.
on May 7, fears are growing that local decisions will grind to a halt. The Lawyers in
Local Government group and Association of Democratic Services Officers are Mud. Just over a mile to go - I could feel it with my hands. Bob was now walking,
seeking a High Court ruling to keep council meetings going virtually without the hunting for the channel. I joined him. The channel returned, arm over arm, breath,
need for primary legislation. arm over arm…..

This is going to cause a major problem if this is not resolved and we are currently Tide. The flood tide had arrived. It was now pushing against us. We were still
working with our MPs to ensure adequate legislation is enacted to allow virtual making progress but the goalpost had moved. My mind was now hunting and
meetings along with some opportunity for face to face meeting as well, this is focus was blurry. It was elsewhere, seeking escape and the end to this good idea.
sometimes called hybrid meetings. I didn’t feel fatigued or even that cold but each stroke seemed ever so apparent,
forced even.

Free Parking Policy Was it still fun? No. I got out. Just under a mile to go.
My thanks go to Bob for sharing my good idea and being a complete inspiration,
To support local economy, Dorset Council will give a total of 6 free parking days in my wife for her lovely food and smiles alongside from the kayak, to Luke for his
Dorset Council car parks each year. This is made up of the following:
positivity and ‘go get it’ attitude and to Gordon, for driving the boat and keeping
At the request of the Town or Parish Council free parking in all Dorset Council car us safe from other water users. Thanks also to Poole Harbour Commissioners for
parks for four days each year, for events which generate valuable footfall for that their permission, positive input and wishes of success.
town. These four days cannot be used in December but can be used on Sundays.
Bob Holman & Emile Foote
At the request of the Town or Parish Council free parking in all Dorset Council
Town Centre car parks for that town on one weekday in December.

Free parking in all Dorset Council Town Centre car parks on Small Business
Saturday in December.
No other days in December will be considered unless the Town Council or Local

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