Weekly Update from the Chief Executive

Dear Friends,

There’s no doubt that these are challenging times for local government, with the ongoing cost of living crisis and inflation putting pressure and demand on council services. The endorsement of our new Corporate Strategy, by Cabinet yesterday, is therefore timely in providing us with a framework and the focus we need as we negotiate the next four years.

Now that the clocks have gone back, we are lending our support to the Department of Health and Social Care and NHS England’s ‘Get Winter Strong’ campaign, to encourage more people with long-term health conditions, pregnant women and children aged to 2 or 3 to come forward for flu vaccinations. It is estimated that last year’s flu vaccinations prevented around 25,000 hospitalisations across the country, so it is well worth checking your eligibility.

In other news:

• Last night’s Cabinet agreed that the project to redevelop the Abbey Fields Swimming Pools should proceed subject to the recommendations made by our Overview and Scrutiny Committee and approval by Full Council (15 November) to release the additional finance required in order to enter into a revised contract with the main contractor.
• Ahead of Remembrance Sunday a partnership with Kenilworth Town Council and Kenilworth Lions has allowed us to improve the access and landscaping of the town’s War Memorial. This coincides with a programme of sustainable planting at Abbey End led by our Green Spaces team, who have planted thousands of bulbs and will be adding pollinator friendly varieties of herbaceous plants such as sedum, asters, and lavender, which will provide a welcome habitat for insects and a splash of colour across the seasons for us all to enjoy next year.
• We’re near the top of the league! Climate Emergency UK has released a league table of all UK Council’s Climate Emergency Action Plans, with Warwick District Council ranked 7^th out of all participating District and Borough Councils, with a score of 47%. We are also the best performing council in the county, when it comes to progress on areas of our plan which include biodiversity, funding and engagement.
• There’s some great news for start-ups and upcoming entrepreneurs with the announcement that Coventry and Warwickshire has been selected to receive up to £7.5m of new investment to drive local innovation and business growth. Under the Immersive and Creative Technologies Launchpad programme, businesses and researchers can apply for competitive grants of between £25,000 and £100,000 to support projects that focus on developing and adapting new technologies across various industries including healthcare, education, future mobility, manufacturing, retail and tourism. The competition is open until 13 December with more information available on the Launchpad website.

And finally … for those who are braving the elements I wish you a safe, enjoyable (and dry) bonfire night. Our advice as always is to attend one of the many organised events taking place across our towns and villages and to take special care of pets and more vulnerable neighbours.

Have a great weekend.

Chris Elliott, Chief Executive