Liberal Democrat MPs Ed Davey and Layla Moran will be the two candidates contesting the latest Liberal Democrat leadership contest, the Party has confirmed.

At the close of nominations today [09 July at 5.00pm] both Ed Davey and Layla Moran secured the support required to appear on the ballot.

Voting will open on the 30th July and close on the 26th August, after which the Party will announce the next leader.

Liberal Democrat Party President Mark Pack said:

"With two fantastic candidates, I am really excited for the contest for who will lead the Liberal Democrats and champion our vision for an outward-looking, caring country that celebrates diversity and benefits from the highest-quality public services.

"With Liberal Democrat membership at record levels, I urge everyone who shares our values to join us in the coming days and vote in the leadership election."

Today Acting Leader of the Liberal Democrats Ed Davey has delivered a keynote speech to the Local Government Association outlining his plan for a devolution revolution to drive a green revolution.

Ed Davey called for the government to make £45bn new funding available to local authorities over three years alongside a range of new powers so that local government can spearhead the green recovery from the coronavirus crisis.

Acting Leader of the Liberal Democrats Ed Davey said:

"Even as coronavirus has caused unbearable heartbreak and hardship, it has been truly uplifting to see the great work councils right across the country are doing to support local people.

"The sheer cost of failing to prepare for the predicted risk of the pandemic crisis should be a dramatic wake up call to prepare properly, now, for the predicted risk of a climate crisis.

"For too long, Government has paid lip service to the vital role local authorities have in tackling the climate emergency - but failed to match their words with action.

"Our plan requires local authorities to be fully empowered. With central government giving the funding and the powers needed to bring about a Green Revolution in in local communities."

Lib Dem group leader at the Local Government Association, Howard Sykes said:

"I am proud that the Liberal Democrats are the only party to have created a credible, deliverable plan to build a green recovery that will bring jobs to local areas and continue the fight to stop the climate crisis.

"The work that has been done by local councils across the nation through this coronavirus crisis has been inspiring. Councillors and officers have worked tirelessly to help residents in unbelievably challenging circumstances, it has proven the importance of local government, and particularly in a national crisis.

"I hope Central Government will take our plans seriously and give local authorities the power and funds we need to deliver a green revolution in the wake of the coronavirus crisis."

Ed Davey speech to LGA in full

**Check against Delivery**

Rugby Art Gallery and Museum stages a free online festival next month to mark its 20th anniversary.

Rugby Live celebrates music, art and heritage, with a packed programme giving a platform to the town's rich and diverse artistic talent.

The online festival runs over the weekend of 31 July to 2 August, with musicians, bands, poets and performers on the bill.

And the Art Gallery and Museum has issued a call-out to musicians and bands in the town for a chance to perform at a recording studio in Rugby for live broadcast during the festival.

Bands can apply to perform at Rugby Live by completing a form on the Rugby Art Gallery and Museum website - www.ragm.co.uk/rugbylive

Poets, dancers, spoken word acts and other performers who can pre-record pieces for broadcast during the festival should send an expression of interest together with a sample video by email to rugbylive@rugby.gov.uk

All applications must be received by 10 July.

Nikki Grange, Rugby Art Gallery and Museum's arts, heritage and visitor services manager, said the coronavirus pandemic had put paid to the original plans to celebrate the venue's 20th anniversary.

"Like everyone, our original plans for 2020 had to be abandoned due to the lockdown, but we remained determined to mark the milestone of being the cultural hub of Rugby for the past 20 years," Nikki added.

"The entire team has come together to organise Rugby Live, celebrating the best of the borough's art, music and heritage, and we look forward to welcoming audiences both old and new, online, over the festival weekend."

Further details of the festival line-up look set to be revealed over the coming weeks.

Volunteers from the charity returned to the foodbank headquarters at The Retreat on Monday 29 June 2020, introducing new opening hours - 12.30pm to 3pm on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

The council agreed to take over the operation of the foodbank from Hope4 at the start of the coronavirus lockdown in March.

At the time, the charity feared having to close the foodbank due to the risks the pandemic posed to both its team of volunteers and the public.

Council staff were redeployed to run the operation, providing more than 700 food parcels to residents and delivering nearly 150 parcels to people unable to visit the foodbank to collect.

Donations of food and toiletries from generous residents and community organisations totalled 37,500kg, ensuring all residents referred to the foodbank received support.

Diana Mansell, chair of Hope4, said: "I am so grateful to everyone at the council who stepped in at very short notice to keep the foodbank running.

"We are now delighted to be welcoming back many of our existing volunteers and some new ones, and to be back in our new building.

"We anticipate being even busier over the next few months as the economic fallout from the pandemic starts to be felt more acutely. We would like to thank everyone for their continued support over the last few months and the months to come.

"During these unprecedented times the community in Rugby has really shown how it can pull together to support from grassroots up in so many ways."

For more information on Rugby Foodbank, visit www.rugby.foodbank.org.uk

There are around 22,000 people in Warwickshire (2.2m nationally) identified as clinically extremely vulnerable who have been advised to stay at home and avoid non-essential face to face contact (shielding).

These are people of all ages - with specific medical conditions identified by senior UK Clinicians - who are at greater risk of severe illness from coronavirus.

Liberal Democrat and Labour Borough Councillors have called on Warwickshire County Council to once again re-think Rugby's new one-way system in the town centre, after the Prime Minister's statement on social distancing yesterday (23 June 2020) and comments from the town's MP.

Boris Johnson yesterday announced a relaxation of the 2 metre rule down to 1 metre as part of a further easing of the nation's lockdown.

Following the easing of the lockdown by the UK government, more shops and businesses have re-opened. To help people maintain social distancing there will be several changes implemented in Rugby Town Centre from Monday 22 June 2020. These changes will mean that you may have to catch your bus from a different place to normal.

Rugby Liberal Democrats and Labour Councillors have expressed their anger after Warwickshire County Council announced it is to implement considerable traffic changes in Rugby with no public consultation.

Both groups of Councillors believe that all stakeholders in the success of the town centre should have been consulted and given time to comment as well as the opportunity to ask questions.

Rugby town centre reopens for non-essential shopping on Monday 15 June, and Rugby Borough Council and Warwickshire County Council have been working to make sure that it is a safe and pleasant environment for shoppers.

While the Friday and Saturday market is already back up and running, other non-essential shops reopen next week provided that they can do so safely. Our priority is to create a safe shopping environment and support our town centres businesses so the Borough Council is implementing a number of measures designed to help maintain social distancing.

Residents can expect to see pavement markers to indicate how far to keep apart, one-way pedestrian flow in restricted spaces such as stairwells, and restrictions on the use of public benches. Touch points such as bin handles and parking machines are being sanitised frequently through the day and North Street toilets are also being cleaned more frequently. All car parks and public toilets remain open. Rugby Borough Council's Community Wardens and Rugby First's Bid Rangers will be on hand to monitor pinch points and provide help and support to businesses and shoppers where needed.

To assist residents and businesses with social distancing Warwickshire County Council will be introducing key changes to the road network around the town centre to allow more space for pedestrians and cyclists.

The changes include a temporary one-way system around North Street, Church Street, Clifton Road and Hillmorton Road and restrictions on on-street parking. The town centre taxi rank will be relocated from the westbound side of the road to the eastbound side.

Rugby Borough Council will provide additional disabled parking bays at North Street car park to compensate for the reduction of on-street spaces.

Not all non-essential shops are reopening immediately, but may be providing additional services either online or via telephone. Some shops are offering appointment systems for a one-to-one approach or takeaway/delivery services and may need to be contacted in advance.

Cllr Seb Lowe, Leader of Rugby Borough Council and leader of the Conservative Group joined Cllr Maggie O'Rourke, leader of the Labour group and Cllr Jerry Roodhouse, leader of the Liberal Democrat Group, to welcome shoppers back. The group leaders said: "We are pleased to be able to reopen the town centre and have worked hard at implementing measures to support businesses and keep our residents safe.

"The council will continue to work with partners to monitor our open spaces and ensure that we can support the town centre by making sure that it is a safe and welcoming place to be. We need to "act and adapt" to make sure that these changes work well."

The group leaders also warned residents may experience delays due to the highway changes being made by Warwickshire County Council, saying: "The new one way system being introduced by the county council will affect nearly every journey that passes close to the town centre. Residents might experience delays and should consider their route.

"We would encourage all residents to consider walking or cycling into town if they can. Every bike rack in the town is mapped on the council's App, and there will now be plenty of pavement space too."

Residents can provide feedback on the highway changes direct to the county council by emailing trafficandsafety@warwickshire.gov.uk. Depending on availability the changes are expected to be introduced on 22 June.