Read this week’s newsletter including the latest news and useful information from across Warwickshire County Council.
Warwickshire County Council elects new Chair and Vice Chair
At the Council meeting held on 14 May, the outgoing Chairman, Councillor Chris Kettle, handed the chain of office to Councillor Chris Mills.
Councillor Mills was duly elected as Chair of Warwickshire County Council with Councillor Andy Jenns taking over the reins of Vice-Chair.
The role of the Chair for Warwickshire County Council is to preside over the bi-monthly full council meetings and to represent the authority at a range of civic events throughout the year. The role of the Vice Chair is to deputise these duties when the Chair is not available.
Development has begun on two major new industrial parks in Coventry and Warwickshire
The development of two major new industrial parks in Coventry and Warwickshire has begun.
Help from a £9.7 million loan from Warwickshire County Council’s enterprising Property Investment Fund (PIF), managed by global real estate advisor, CBRE, has supported the development of two new major industrial parks.
Warwickshire Connect Ltd, a subsidiary of The Wigley Group, has begun construction to transform a 1.88-acre brownfield site on Endemere Road, Coventry.
The project will deliver a purpose-built commercial hub after receiving full planning permission in 2023. Warwickshire Connect Endemere will provide 20 units for sale ranging in size from 1,000 to 3,000 sq ft to help meet growing demand for commercial space and benefit local small and medium sized businesses (SMEs).
Bus service improvements are coming across Warwickshire later this month
Warwickshire County Council and Stagecoach are pleased to announce changes to buses services around Warwickshire which come into effect between 25 May and 14 June 2024.
These changes, which have been funded through central government’s Bus Service Improvement Plan Plus (BSIP+) allocation, introduce new evening services supporting the Warwickshire nighttime economy along with improvements to reliability, ensuring buses turn up when they are meant to.
Warwickshire Community Safety partners support the #ShopKind campaign
People in Warwickshire have been urged to be mindful of shopworkers’ essential role serving the public.
They’ve also been reminded that workers should be treated with respect, kindness, and gratitude, as part of the national annual #Shopkind campaign.
Coordinated by the Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) on behalf of the Home Office, the #ShopKind campaign is supported by major high street retailers as well as smaller independent shopkeepers.
Warwickshire Pupils Set to Step into Walk to School Week Magic
Warwickshire joins national campaign to celebrate the power of walking during Walk to School Week 2024.
Warwickshire’s children and young people are in for some magical journeys, as pupils across Warwickshire join thousands nationwide as they take part in Living Streets’ Walk to School Week, happening from 20 to 24 May 2024.
This year’s theme – The Magic of Walking – will ignite children’s imaginations while highlighting the many benefits of walking to school, from a healthier and happier lifestyle to a cleaner environment. Walk to School Week is part of Living Streets’ National Walking Month initiative, encouraging families to embrace active travel throughout May.
Council promotes support services available for Warwickshire residents living with dementia
There are over 8,500 people living with dementia in Warwickshire and one in three people born in the UK today will be diagnosed with dementia in their lifetime.
To raise awareness of the support services available for people living with dementia, their families and carers, Warwickshire County Council (WCC) is proudly supporting Dementia Action Week 2024, taking place between 13-19 May.
Dementia describes a set of symptoms that can affect memory, problem-solving, language, and behaviour over time. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common type of dementia. The confirmation of a diagnosis may also trigger depression and anxiety in some people and those around the person will also have their own emotional reactions to cope with.
Arrowsmith Engineering defies pandemic challenges with King’s Award for Enterprise recognition
Arrowsmith Engineering, a leading UK manufacturer located in Warwickshire, has celebrated a significant milestone this month.
Arrowsmith Engineering, a leading UK manufacturer of precision aerospace components located in Warwickshire, and part of the ASG Group, has celebrated a significant milestone this month by being honoured with The King’s Award for Enterprise in International Trade 2024.
This recognition comes as a testament to the company’s commitment to excellence and innovation, particularly during challenging times such as the COVID-19 pandemic. It also follows the company’s previous success of achieving a Queen’s Award for Enterprise in International Trade in 2020.
Discover the power of storytelling with Human Books at Rugby Library this Saturday
Warwickshire County Council’s libraries service is inviting you to enjoy a very different type of storytelling experience at Rugby Library this Saturday, 18 May, from 4:30 to 6:30 pm.
Step into the exciting world of Human Books, where stories come alive, and strangers become storytellers.
Human Books are individuals who have volunteered to share their stories with others, speaking their narratives in ways that can inspire, enlighten, or sometimes challenge our own perspectives. In just 20 minutes you can learn about a stranger’s life, their journey, and lessons learnt along the way, embracing the opportunity to open up and listen to another human being without judgement.
National recognition for innovative tool supporting crime prevention in Warwickshire
An innovative solution developed by Warwickshire County Council supporting local agencies with their crime prevention activity has received national recognition.
A Serious Violence Needs Assessment tool developed by the Council’s Business Intelligence Service was Highly Commended in the British Data Awards last week (9 May).
The commendation recognises this new approach which for the first time brings together a range of datasets into a tool that can be used by partners.
Do you remember buying blue bags of sugar at Woolworths? Or watching the Atherstone Carnival football game?
Heritage and Culture Warwickshire (HCW) has a new range of reminiscence loans boxes containing items from the Warwickshire Museum and County Record Office collections. The Reminiscence boxes are designed to stimulate memory through objects, pictures, and activities.
Themes include The Mop Fair, Treasures of Warwickshire, and Woolworths, and include real historical artefacts and high-quality replicas that have been chosen to engage the senses through careful handling and promote conversation about people’s lives. All boxes also come with a supporting booklet of activities and information about the objects.
Government’s new childcare entitlement is well received across Warwickshire
Warwickshire parents and carers who work are benefitting from the government’s new 2-year-old funding entitlement, with access already at 88%, exceeding the national average of 83%.
The new entitlement was introduced in April 2024 and gives eligible working parents of two-year-olds access to up to 15 hours per week of free childcare or early education from the term after their child turns two.
Early education plays a crucial role in a child’s social and cognitive development, and this scheme ensures that more Warwickshire youngsters can reap these benefits helping them to get the best start in life.
