Dear readers — this might not be the exclusive of the decade, but it’s pretty hot outside. According to the Met Office, it’s 35°C right now in Liverpool, which exceeds the record of 34.5°C. But whether you’re a keen sunbather or not, extremely high temperatures ought to be cause for some concern. Scroll down for our look at what local authorities are doing in the fight against climate change.

There’s also some bombshell news in Liverpool politics. Council chief executive Tony Reeves has announced today that he is stepping down after four years in the role, following May’s humiliating energy contract fiasco. Reeves said he was “confident a solid platform is now in place to ensure the council can support the full ambition for Liverpool to realise its potential”. More on what that means for the city below. 

At the weekend, we published a great piece by Jack, who visited the exciting new Shakespeare North theatre in Prescot on the day before its grand opening. The theatre cost £38 million a…