To receive any announcements from the Leader.
Minutes:
The Leader announced the following:-
Cllr Mary Madams was elected as the new Mayor for Spelthorne at the Annual Council Meeting held on Tuesday 21 May. Cllr Colin Barnard was elected as Deputy Mayor.
Heathrow is writing to residents and organisations to help identify those who have an interest in property or land which may be affected by the airport expansion plans. This process is a legal requirement known as ‘Land Referencing’.
Heathrow's first consultation showed just how much the planned expansion is likely to affect people's day to day lives.
The assumption that Spelthorne communities will not be newly impacted by the Heathrow expansion is wrong.
The impact from not only the third runway expansion, but also pre-third runway construction on our community, will affect all residents through the intensification of low flying aircraft, an increase of flights, noise pollution, heavy goods vehicle usage and environmental damage across our Borough.
Spelthorne Council is consulting on local green space, as we appreciate how important this is to communities in urban locations. We are proposing a new assessment system as the previous Protected Urban Open Space (PUOS) has been a local designation since 2001 but we have had a number of occasions where planning applications to develop sites have been lost at appeal meaning it is not always capable of protecting these spaces.
Spelthorne's formal response to Surrey's proposed 'Making Surrey Safer Plan', has been submitted expressing significant concern about proposed cuts to fire services in the Borough, which would result in reduced night-time cover. From when it was announced in 2017 that Staines and Sunbury fire stations were to be closed and replaced with a single station in Ashford, this Council has consistently argued for the current arrangement of two whole-time crews to be retained to protect our residents and businesses.
The Council has officially opened newly refurbished toilets at Shepperton Lock after working alongside the River Thames Task Group. The refurbishment work included the renewal of the floor and ceiling coverings and the addition of new cubicles, toilets, vanity units, taps, washroom accessories and baby changing facilities. Disabled facilities are also available.
The 2019 Staines 10K race took place on Sunday 12 May with a record number of 712 runners. The event is organised by Staines Strollers and Runnymede Runners, with support from Spelthorne Borough Council.
The tennis pavilion at Fordbridge Park in Ashford was officially opened on Wednesday 15 May. The tennis courts at Fordbridge Park on Kingston Road are now operated by Community Tennis Limited which run a full programme of tennis activities, for all abilities, from ages 2+.
Funding from Spelthorne Council, Surrey LTA, Bretts, and Heathrow has enabled the courts to be upgraded with floodlighting and a café pavilion serving drinks and snacks.
In the Queen’s birthday honours list, Dennis Brock, 100 bell ringer from Sunbury has been awarded the British Empire Medal for services to the community in Sunbury on Thames.
Shepperton Village Parade and Fair was a great success on Saturday 8 June. The organisers did an absolutely fabulous job and the event attracted thousands of people.