Weekly Update from the Chief Executive

Dear Friends

This weekend will see the transfer of the Council’s data centre from Riverside House to our new office in Saltisford. This means that the WDC website and other online resources will be unavailable on Saturday 3 February and possibly Sunday 4 February too. This enforced downtime is a chance to take stock of how many of our services are available to residents 24/7 online, and the progress we have made to embrace advanced technology for the benefit of all. It’s not just finding out your bin collection day!

Recently our housing team received a commendation from Housing Technology magazine for a scheme that has adopted an AI based software solution to proactively prevent tenants falling into arrears with their rent. The programme enabled the team to identify and then support residents in managing their finances and tenancies resulting in a 10% reduction in arrears (in contrast to a national average rise of 23%). We’re still worried about the West Midlands measles outbreak. Measles is highly infectious and can spread rapidly among communities such as schools and can lead to serious illness and complications. It is never too late to catch up. The MMR vaccine is free on the NHS. Covid-19 also appears to be doing the rounds, so do continue to take a cautious approach especially if in contact with more vulnerable members of the community.

In other news:
• Work to widen and strengthen a hedge at Chase Meadow in Warwick has recently been completed by our Green Spaces team as part of a district wide hedge-laying programme. The hedge which borders the footpath and cycleway from Young’s Close to Blackblades Boulevard, forms part of 500 metres of hedge-laying using traditional methods to be undertaken by the Council this year.

•The elections team is looking for support with the upcoming Warwickshire Police and Crime Commissioner elections on Thursday 2 May and is advertising for several paid roles including supervising polling stations on voting day or assisting with the count at Stoneleigh Park on Saturday 4 May. More details of these opportunities are on our website.

•National Apprenticeship Week (5 to 11 February) is a chance to celebrate the success of the WDC apprenticeship scheme, which since 2018 has supported the employment of 26 young people across all service areas, ten of whom have gone on to secure permanent employment with others progressing towards degrees and career graded managerial roles. The Council is also offering three-day work experience programmes for students in years 10 to 13 in May and July. Details of current apprenticeship opportunities and other vacancies can be found on the Warwick District Council website

• At WDC, our commitment to equality diversity and inclusion is ingrained in our values. In recent months we’ve been taking a proactive approach to EDI in the workplace, with a programme of EDI sessions for staff, which have been well attended and have received very positive feedback. As we mark Race Equality Week (5 to 11 February) and during February’s LGBTQ+ History Month we’ve planned further awareness initiatives and have been inviting staff to share their stories.

•Leamington Spa Art Gallery & Museum’s latest exhibition is ‘Open’. Open 2024 runs until 2 May and showcases the work of artists living and working in the West Midlands and includes many art forms from sculpture, photography and textiles to computer-generated imagery. And don’t forget entry is free!

I would also like to take this opportunity to extend my congratulations to our Community Safety Team who recently received a Neighbourhood Award from Warwickshire Police in recognition of their response to the Ben Daly murder last August. The team received particular praise for the way in which they engaged with the local community in the aftermath of the tragic incident to alleviate concerns.

And finally…. good luck to everyone who is taking part in the Warwick Half Marathon on Sunday. Have a great weekend.

Chris Elliott, Chief Executive