This year we welcome The Year of the Ox - an animal known for its strength, diligence and hardworking nature. These are positive values to which we should all aspire to live our lives by.

The New Year is usually a time of large family get-togethers. This year however, intimate, virtual celebrations will be the norm. I know the adjustment won't be easy but let us keep doing our part to suppress this virus.

Teignbridge District Council has unveiled ambitious proposals to address its own and residents' carbon footprint. The Council's Climate Change Officer appointed early in 2020 has made rapid progress on several projects, to ensure progress to meet our District's 2025 net zero target.

Proposals for the Council's own buildings include installation of low carbon air-source heat pumps, solar PV, energy storage, building energy management system and building fabric upgrades, including Broadmeadow, Newton Abbot Leisure Centres and Forde House. It is hoped that government grants will fund the majority of these improvements.

From 1 April 2021, the Council Tax (Long Term) Empty Homes Premium for those properties that have been empty for more than 10 years will be increased from 200% to 300%. Lib Dems on Torbay Council are taking the measure to bring more homes back into use for local people.

Owners of properties that have been empty and unfurnished for more than 10 years will be required to pay the premium in addition to the normal council tax charges.

Our values work best

Tackling the coronavirus epidemic, and minimising the tragic loss of life, is primarily a public health issue. But there's also a consistent political lesson from it too.

The approaches that work best use international cooperation. Viruses don't stop at borders, and scientific cooperation and vaccine supply chains work best when they don't either.

Mass vaccination is our best way of pulling through this terrible pandemic.

Sadly there has been a worrying rise in fake news and disinformation about the vaccine. Often this is spread by social media, with no scientific evidence.

That's why it's so important that we have dedicated councillors like Rabina Khan going into her community, meeting with people in a socially distanced way, and addressing their concerns directly.

Our first ever online conference in September was a huge success - so we'll be back online for our Spring Conference from 19th to 21st March. You can find out more and register for it here.

Register for conference

As usual, we'll be debating and deciding party policy on a whole range of hot topics, from creating jobs as we recover from the Covid pandemic to providing sanctuary for vulnerable refugees. Here's a quick rundown of all the policy motions:

The Liberal Democrats have long called for a rethink on plans on for a new coal mine in Cumbria and I am delighted that's exactly what has happened.

If Boris Johnson is serious about climate action he will call on Cumbria county council to scrap the mine

Cumbria County Council now need to do the right thing and throw these plans out, or the Prime Minister must intervene to make sure the coal mine is scrapped.

It's astonishing that a new coal mine in Britain is even being considered - particularly the year we are hosting the vital COP26 conference.

If Boris Johnson is serious about climate action he will call on Cumbria county council to scrap the mine.

The Government needs to transform its attitude to the climate emergency. That is why I have proposed a £150 billion green coronavirus recovery plan, reshaping our economy to protect the future of our country and our planet.

Welcome to the Weekly Whip. Your one-stop shop for Lib Dem Parliamentary updates, covering the week that was and the week to come.

For up to date information from the Lib Dem Whips Office, follow us on Twitter: @LibDemWhips

Weekly Whip w/c 1st February

Monday 1st February

On Monday, strangely, there were no UQs or Ministerial Statements announced. This is the second week in a row where this has happened and, following the weekend's news about Article 16 and vaccinations, MPs were a little perplexed.

We published the 2019 Election Review as the pandemic swept the UK and, sadly, I write this update during an even harder third wave. We are reminded every day of the failures of this government and the pressing need for convincing alternatives.

I am encouraged by the steps that have already been taken within the party and the plans ahead for reform. In terrible circumstances, activists, volunteers and staff have stepped up to the challenge my review posed. We identified three overarching themes in the review, all of which needed profound improvement: re-building campaigning excellence, clarity of leadership and decision making, and vision and purpose.

The evidence that a genocide is now occurring in western China is so clear, that the UK and the whole world must now stand up to Beijing and use every available tool to stop it.

We must remember when we failed to stand up against human rights abuses in the past, and recall the images from British sporting history like the England football team's Nazi salutes in the 1930s and the rebel cricket tours to South Africa in the 1980s.