To receive any announcements from the Leader.
Minutes:
The following are the latest service updates from various Council departments:
The Council has prosecuted a man who ran an illegal waste management company and dumped unsightly rubbish in Spelthorne and neighbouring boroughs. Guildford Crown Court heard that on various dates during 2015 Ryan Smith of Staines-upon-Thames removed waste for payment from residential properties but avoided disposal costs by fly-tipping the rubbish in Staines, Stanwell, Chertsey and Twickenham. Smith pleaded guilty to nine offences. He was sentenced to 10 months imprisonment, suspended for 2 years and was ordered to carry out 200 hours of unpaid community service. He was also ordered to pay £3,900 in compensation and £3,900 in costs.
Dozens of people attended a special event on 6 March aimed at keeping older people safe and secure. The event, hosted at the Greeno Centre and organised by the Community Safety team, included presentations on rogue traders, computer safety and a talk by a pharmacist.
Team Spelthorne is looking for young people aged 7-16 to participate in the annual Specsavers Surrey Youth Games, the largest annual youth festival. Fifteen sports are on offer this year including hockey, cricket, judo, football, lacrosse, table tennis and boccia. In the lead up to the competition weekend there are free weekly coaching sessions which start in April. Participants will then be selected from the coaching sessions to represent Team Spelthorne at the Games on Saturday 17 and Sunday 18 June at Surrey Sports Park in Guildford.
Sixty people attended the first ‘Xplorer’ orienteering event on 15 February. Using a simple map, families explored Orchard Meadow, the Walled Garden and Sunbury Park to find a number of markers located around the route. The next events are being held on 6 April in Ashford and 12 April in Sunbury-on-Thames.
The spring edition of the Bulletin is being delivered from 18 March and includes articles about changes to recycling collections, Kempton Park and the Spelthorne Rent Assure scheme.
The Homesafe initiative which is a joint scheme between Spelthorne, Elmbridge and Runnymede Councils aimed at helping vulnerable clients to be discharged from hospital, has just received funding from Surrey County Council for a further 150 referrals. The Homesafe package includes an emergency keysafe to enable Independent Living staff and district nurses to access the person’s home, a welfare telephone call, provision of meals on wheels and an emergency personal alarm. Spelthorne has had the highest number of referrals to date, receiving 23 over a six month period during 2016. Spelthorne staff have participated in joint training of hospital staff and others and in the provision of information boards which are displayed at St Peter’s hospital and the Woking Bedser hub centre.
Cllr Chris Frazer has announced that he is standing down from his position as ward councillor for Ashford East. A by-election will be held in the Ashford East ward alongside the Surrey County Council Elections on Thursday 4 May. More details on the candidates will be available on the Council’s website in due course.
A new outdoor gym has been installed at Hengrove Park in Ashford.
Cllr Ian Harvey has responded to Surrey County Council’s announcement that the planned fire station in Ashford will not be staffed by two full-time crews. He expressed his disappointment at the news and urged Surrey County Council to reconsider its decision as a matter of urgency.
The bi-annual Spelthorne Youth Awards event was held at Shepperton Studios on Wednesday 13 March. The achievements and talents of 33 young local people were recognised with certificates and ten ‘star award’ winners also received a trophy and £50 in cash.
Cllr Griffiths has used £400 of her Better Neighbourhood Grant towards the Community Lunch Scheme at St Saviour’s Church in Sunbury which offers a free meal and brings local people together. The money will help the Church purchase extra crockery, disposables and cooking equipment to allow the group to every meet weekly rather than bi-weekly.