Weekly Update from the Chief Executive

Dear Friends,

Over the past few weeks, a group of residents in Kenilworth have been receiving the keys to their brand-new Council homes. The houses located at Crewe Lane a short distance from the new secondary school are the first of 248 Council properties to be secured through our joint venture with Countryside Partnerships and Milverton Homes, boasting high energy efficiency with solar panels and air source heat pumps. It’s therefore wonderful to receive this feedback from one of our new tenants; “I have no words to express how grateful I am for everything that Warwick District Council has done for me. I have always dreamed of having a new house, and the day I signed the contract and received my keys was the most beautiful thing that happened in my life.”

With cold dark days just around the corner, it’s important that we make preparations to support the most vulnerable in our communities through the winter months. Our cost-of-living support page is regularly updated and will remain the go to ‘click’ for the latest advice and information. In addition we are extending reminders to everyone who is eligible to book their seasonal Covid and Flu vaccinations either through their GP or via the NHS website.

In other news

• We want to thank the 200 local residents, who gathered at St Nicholas Church in Kenilworth on Wednesday (and the hundreds who watched on YouTube) for giving us the opportunity to explain the challenges we are currently facing on the Abbey Fields swimming pools redevelopment project and the key decision that our Council will need to make in the coming months on the future of the scheme.
• Those of you with an interest in seeing the extensive medieval remains unearthed at Abbey Fields have a short window of opportunity to visit the site this Tuesday 3 October from 9am to 6pm. Soon after this the findings will need to be re-covered, so that they can be preserved in the best possible condition.
• A sad reality that escalating anti-social behaviour and county lines drug dealing is plaguing a number of local communities. Under the powers available to Local Authorities and the Police under Section 80 of the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014, we have obtained a closure order on several properties in Leamington Spa for a three-month period, meaning that that nobody, not even the tenant can remain in the property during this time. We will continue to work with our partner agencies in a zero-tolerance approach to eliminate unlawful and disruptive behaviour.
• Monday 2 October sees the start of a review of polling districts, places and stations in our district, which will give the local electorate the opportunity to comment on the venues that are currently being used for our elections in terms of location or accessibility and make suggestions for alternatives. A survey will be live on the website closing on Friday 10 November.

And finally, whether you are a seasoned photographer or simply enjoy taking pictures on your phone whilst out and about, we warmly encourage you take part in our ‘Biodiversity in Warwick District’, photo competition. With the seasons changing and fine weather predicted this weekend there’s no better time get out to capture the natural beauty and wildlife of our area……with a £100 voucher on offer to the winners.

Happy snapping!

Chris Elliott, Chief Executive