To receive any announcements from the Leader.
Minutes:
The Leader made the following announcements:
The Prime Minister announced on 12 July that the Borough, along with the rest of the country, would move to step four of the roadmap out of lockdown from 19 July. This step sees the lifting of many of the restrictions that have impacted our daily lives. I know this has been, and continues to be, a very difficult time for many residents and businesses in the Borough. It has been 16 and a half months since Spelthorne was the first Surrey council to declare a Borough-wide emergency and, during this time, the Council has done everything possible to support communities and is committed to continuing to do so.
The Council continues to support business in Spelthorne and to date has distributed over £50million in relief and grants during the pandemic. The fourth Additional Restrictions Grant application window closes on 18 July so I would urge all eligible businesses yet to apply to do so.
Over the past few weeks, pop up vaccination centres have been deployed across the Borough and I would urge you to please protect yourselves and others by getting fully vaccinated. All adults can now receive their first jab and, after eight weeks, they will be able to have their second dose.
Spelthorne will be doubling its investment in green initiatives over the next 12 months through a one-off increase of the Better Neighbourhood Grant, meaning £39,000 will be going to grassroots schemes to generate a cleaner, greener Spelthorne. Ward councillors will now have a £2000 annual allowance to support community projects and green projects in their ward, of which half will be for green projects.
The Spelthorne Business Hub is now open in Sunbury-upon-Thames. The Hub provides a co-working environment for start-up companies, entrepreneurs, and businesses, alongside an exciting programme of business support. The Hub will provide a creative base for entrepreneurs to develop and grow their ideas and I wish all the businesses involved a successful future.
Spelthorne Borough Council's Planning Committee has approved plans to build a new Leisure Centre in the Borough. The state-of-the-art facility will be located in Knowle Green in Staines-upon-Thames and will benefit from a comprehensive range of facilities. Construction, which will be to the Passivhaus standard, is due to begin in 2022 with completion in 2024.
The official launch of a new jetty on the River Thames in Staines was celebrated at the start of June. Located in Memorial Gardens, the jetty has been created to allow tour boats operators to pick-up and drop-off customers, connecting Staines with Hampton Court and Windsor. I would like to thank The River Thames Task Group, for their work to improve access and leisure activities along Spelthorne's 12 mile stretch of river.
At the Corporate Policy and Resources committee on 5 July, the process to undertake an investigation into the events surrounding the award of the contract for the Waterfront hotel development in Staines was formally started. It is in everyone’s interests that this is thorough, definitive and conducted as soon as possible.
On 21 June, we raised the Armed Forces Day flag at our Council Offices in Knowle Green in honour of Armed Forces week. In doing so we recognise the brave men and women who proudly serve our country and make up the Armed Forces community, comprising currently serving troops, Service families, veterans and cadets.
That same week, the new Veterans' Hub at Fordbridge Fire Station was officially opened with the event marked by the planting of a tree. The Hub will act as a drop-in service for ex-servicemen and women and their families and has been set-up by the North Surrey Armed Forces Partnership. The Hub has a communal garden and allotment, and the group will meet on the fourth Tuesday of every month from 11am - 1pm to provide an opportunity for ex-service personnel to come together for friendship and support.
Spelthorne Borough Council honoured 11 volunteers at the Civic Trust Awards, which recognises residents who have given at least 12 years' service to volunteering in the Borough. Between them this year's winners have given almost 300 years of service to the Borough and represent the best of our communities.
There is will be a by-election in Staines Ward on 22 July. Polling stations will be open 7am to 10pm and details of your polling station can be found on your poll card or on our website. Completed postal votes need to be posted back to us as soon as possible. If it is too late, a completed postal vote can be returned to your local polling station by 10pm on election day, or the Council Offices before they close.by next Thursday 22 July.
Entries are still open for Spelthorne in Bloom, Capture Spelthorne, the Spelthorne Business Awards and the Spelthorne Business Plan competition. Time, however, is running out to enter these competitions so please do get involved if you can!
Last week was Srebrenica Memorial Week, where we remember the victims of the genocide in Bosnia. On behalf of Spelthorne Borough Council, I would like to pay our respects to those murdered and displaced by individuals filled with hatred. The stirring up of hatred and discrimination is always wrong and we must never let it go unchallenged. We owe it to the victims of Srebrenica to all work together to ensure this never happens again. We are committed to equality in Spelthorne and everyone, regardless of their race, faith or nationality, should feel safe in our communities.
Finally, I would like to place on record this Council’s sympathies to the family and friends of former Council Leader, John Packman, who passed away last month. The Council lowered its flag to half-mast at Knowle Green on 29 June, the day of Cllr Packman’s funeral, as a mark of respect.