Weekly Update from the Chief Executive

Dear Friends

Perhaps slightly earlier than anticipated, but following the Prime Minister’s announcement last night our elections team is full steam ahead to prepare for the General Election on Thursday 4 July. Our team holds full responsibility for the smooth running of the election from the nomination of candidates, issuing of poll cards, management of polling stations and hundreds of staff, the count process and declaration of results…with double the workload as our district spans two constituency areas. Watch out for series of reminders about upcoming deadlines including registering to vote, applying for a voter id authority certificate and applying for a postal or proxy vote.

In other news:

• Just in time for the May half-term break, our portfolio holder for Housing Cllr Paul Wightman) joined local families and representatives from the Vistry Group to officially open the new playground at Stoneleigh View in Kenilworth and hand it over to our green spaces team as a public space. The addition of a play area at Stoneleigh view is a further benefit of our successful joint venture with Vistry which over the next four years will provide 620 new homes (close to the relocated Kenilworth School off Glasshouse Lane), half of which will be made available for social rent, shared ownership, or private rental.

• There’s more welcome news for families with younger children with the much-anticipated reopening of the paddling pool at St Nicholas Park this weekend. Although the popular facility requires renovation, following repair work we have authorised this season’s opening with the added requirement for pool users to wear aqua shoes for their comfort. At the same time, we’re reminding local residents that the Victoria Park pool will remain closed this summer pending the commencement of a major upgrade and refurbishment…we’re confident that it will be well worth the wait!

• Like places and people all over Britain, Leamington Spa and its inhabitants benefited hugely from the wealth generated by colonialism and the transatlantic slave economy. Our Arts’ team latest exhibition entitled “Built with malice aforethought” which opens this weekend explores the wide variety of our town’s links with West Africa, the Caribbean, and the Americas from the late 18th to the early 20th century; money which funded much of Leamington’s grand Regency architecture including the collections of the Art Gallery & Museum. Entry is free for what will be a mind opening visit.

And finally… we hope the weather holds for some fantastic free events happening over the bank holiday. These include the Bowls Big Weekend, at Victoria Park (Friday and Monday) and Lillington Bowls Club (Sunday) and the Warwick Food and Drink Festival at St Nicholas Park on Sunday.

Have a great weekend.
Chris Elliott, Chief Executive