Weekly Update from the Leader and Chief Executive – WDC

Dear Friends

We hope you’ve enjoyed a happy and healthy festive season, returning refreshed and ready for an exciting year ahead. 2022 is set to be a landmark year, with preparations underway to welcome competitors and visitors from around the globe for the Commonwealth Games. During July and August, we’ll be hosting both the Lawn and Para Lawn Bowls competitions and Cycle Road Races, offering a once in a generation opportunity to showcase our wonderful towns, amazing attractions and warm hospitality.

However, before we dust off our welcome smiles, we need to focus on the current challenges presented by the ongoing pandemic. The Omicron variant is taking a firm grip on our community with infection levels doubling in the last fortnight from 776.4 to 1,634.8 cases per 100,000 people. Although the number of hospital patients has started to rise again, thanks to the vaccination and booster programme it remains below the peak experienced last January.

Nevertheless, more than one in five local people aged between 18 and 39 remain unvaccinated and therefore unprotected from the threat of serious illness or hospitalisation.

With the announcement by the government of a continuation of Plan B, we urge everyone to follow the guidelines in place:

• Get vaccinated and get our booster dose.
• Wear a face covering in most indoor public places and on public transport.
• Work from home, if possible.
• Let fresh air in, if meeting indoors (meeting outdoors is safer).
• Get tested and self-isolate, if required.

Staff sickness for frontline services and businesses is creating a significant operational challenge. So, we welcome the news that from Tuesday 11 January, a positive rapid lateral flow test result means most of us will not need to take a PCR test to confirm the result; however, we must self-isolate immediately.

The relaxation of travel restrictions also means that a PCR test is no longer required before travelling to England, nor is it a necessary to self-isolate on arrival. Hopefully this welcome change will encourage a return of visitors and provide a boost to our local travel and tourism sector.

We’re back at work pressing-on this week with the local Recovery Plan:

• The Royal Leamington Spa Town Centre Transformation Board met on Wednesday to begin work on a ‘Transformation Framework’ to put some sparkle back in the Spa. The new Board comprises eight Councillors representing all political parties across the three levels of Local Government who are committed to working closely together to make progress on a range of exciting projects for the town.

The recent closure of House of Fraser has further highlighted the need to set out a strong vision, better co-ordinate new development opportunities and secure new funding streams.

An independent Chair to lead the Board is also being sought to oversee, co-ordinate and facilitate the progression of these ambitious plans. Do please get in touch if you’re interested in learning more about this important leadership role.

• Proposals for the UK’s largest battery Gigafactory will be considered by the Planning Committee when it meets at 6pm on Tuesday 11 January. Securing a Gigafactory at Coventry Airport would bring significant benefits to our automotive industry and the local economy. Presentations and the Committee debate will be broadcast live, here.
• Green Bin collections return next week. We’ve especially grateful for the outstanding service given by our refuse and recycling operators who ensured that normal collections were maintained throughout the festive season. Great work guys!

And finally…we know it’s tough getting outside to exercise when it’s cold and the days are short. But why not help kick-start a more active and healthy year by visiting the ‘Choose How You Move’ website to find out how to earn reward points (high street vouchers or charity donations) in return for ditching the car and making more active and sustainable travel choices.  Go on, it’s fun!

Keep smiling and stay safe.

Andrew Day   Leader                                  Chris Elliott    Chief Executive