Weekly Update from the Chief Executive

Dear Friends

More than halfway through our No Mow May campaign and roadsides and parks across the district are teaming with cow parsley, buttercups, dandelions and red campion in full bloom. This is great news for pollinators and from the feedback we’ve received seems popular with residents too. After our trial of the ‘Plantlife’ scheme in 2023 and on the back of survey results, we have made some adjustments this year to exclude cemeteries, children’s play areas, sports pitches, major parks, and Council housing estates and mowing a one metre strip of grass at road junctions to ensure visibility. Do share your ‘No Mow May’ wildlife photos via our social media channels or email them to media@warwickdc.gov.uk.

With the summer programme of concerts, festivals and sport in full swing, we are supporting the latest national counter terrorism policing campaign; working closely with local event organisers and businesses with messaging to encourage the public to stay alert to potential terrorist threats and to report any suspicious activity.

In other news:

•Wednesday’s Annual Council Meeting saw the appointment of the new Council Chairman Councillor Robert Margrave and Vice-Chairman Councillor Naveen Tangri. We wish them both every success in their year in office.

•Members of the public are being asked to share their views on Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) which will provide a framework for guiding the level of growth of the campus at the University of Warwick as well as formalising design principles. Details of the six-week consultation and how to respond can be found on our website from Friday 24 May.

•Also, on the subject of future planning this week’s Cabinet agreed that our Net Zero Carbon Development Plan should go forward to be adopted by the Council. We are proud to be one of the first local authorities in the country to adopt this planning policy, which places an expectation on developers to deliver new homes and buildings that are net zero Carbon in terms of regulated energy. A critical strand to our ambitious Climate Emergency Action Plan.

•The private sector housing teams from both Warwick and Stratford District Councils are making final preparations for the Landlord’s Forum which take place this Tuesday 21 May at the Sydni Centre in Leamington. Organised in partnership with the National Residential Landlords Association and Local Landlord Steering Group, this is a great networking and information gathering opportunity for landlords and agents.

•The Leamington Transformation Board is currently conducting a survey to gain the views of residents, as they work to create a new refreshed vision for the town. The survey closes this Tuesday 21 May, so do visit the website link to have your say.

And finally, the legacy of the 2022 Commonwealth Games continues this bank holiday with the local community encouraged to take to the greens at both Victoria Park and Lillington as part of the national Bowls Big Weekend. The facilities at Victoria Park will be open for free from 10.30am on Friday 24 May and Monday 27 May and on Sunday 26 May Lillington Bowling Club will be open from 10am to 4pm for the local community to come down and give it a whirl.

Have a great weekend.
Chris Elliott, Chief Executive