To receive any announcements from the Leader.
Minutes:
The following are the latest service updates from various Council departments.
· Spelthorne, along with the rest of England is enduring a third period of lockdown which continues to be a very difficult time for many residents and businesses in Spelthorne. The Support4Spelthorne community helpline is open and there to help residents. For businesses, grants are available for companies who continue to face new guidelines and restrictions due to COVID.
· The Council has taken the unprecedented decision to propose freezing its share of the Council Tax charge for 2021/22 at last year's levels – making Spelthorne, we believe, the only Council in Surrey to do so. Very careful consideration was given to the setting of this year's Council Tax and budget, the Council is very aware that many families have been under a lot of financial pressure. Through careful financial management the Council will be proposing a 0% increase in Council Tax at the meeting of Full Council in February. This is of course while continuing to maintain all services and provide vital support to residents during the pandemic.
· Over the Christmas period, the Council continued to support all those residents in the Borough who needed our help. Families and individuals in temporary accommodation received Christmas hampers, which included kind donations from local traders. Our Community centres also produced Christmas hampers and activity packs for members as a way of keeping connected during the festive period.
· The Council also continues to provide hot and nutritious meals for the most vulnerable families in the Borough. The Council will ensure that no child is ever left hungry and that families are supported. The Council thanks the food banks in the Borough for their dedication and hard work in supporting families.
· Spelthorne has been providing help and assistance to homeless people. Thanks to a grant from central government, the Council has been able to house people in emergency accommodation for longer periods of time, not just when the weather is cold, enabling us to work with them to address any health issues and support them to move into a new secure home. The Council is looking forward to the completion of the White House in Ashford which is expected to be in May. The White House facility, which will support single homeless residents, will include 27 en-suite rooms with shared kitchen and living facilities as well as space for education and training on the ground floor.
· The Council has submitted a formal planning application to build a new leisure centre to replace the current one in Staines-upon-Thames. This centre will be the first in the UK to be designed and built to fully meet the ultra-low energy Passivhaus standard, providing an extremely high level of environmental sustainability. The Council is excited to proceed with this highly anticipated facility for the Borough and the aim is to start construction of the new centre around mid-2021.
· The Council has announced the purchase of the freehold of the former Marks & Spencer building in the heart of Staines-upon-Thames. Having bought the Elmsleigh Centre in February 2020 this opportunity supports the Council’s regeneration and housing strategy for Staines town centre, to the benefit of its residents and local retail businesses.
· Spelthorne has recently launched a consultation to establish whether residents support the introduction of a Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) prohibiting the possession and use of legal highs in the Borough. The survey, which can be found on the Council’s website, closes on 28 February.
· The Council would like to reassure residents that it is committed to the redevelopment of the car park for in order to create new homes on Victory Close in Ashford. The development will all be 100% affordable housing and prioritised for ‘key workers' in the Borough. The Council looks forward to returning with an improved scheme to suit the needs of residents and to progressing with this much needed and innovative residential development programme.