To receive any announcements from the Leader.
Minutes:
The Leader made the following announcements:
“I would like to begin my announcements by paying tribute to Cllr Alison Todd. Alison was a loyal friend to Spelthorne Borough Council and served on the Spelthorne Joint Committee. She always wanted to make things better for her community and continued to work as a dedicated and committed county councillor for her residents. She will be very sadly missed, and my thoughts continue to be with her family and friends at this time.
I would like to congratulate the Neighbourhood Services team after Sunbury Walled Garden and Staines Cemetery were announced as the winners of their categories at this year’s South & South East in Bloom awards. Very well done to the staff who take such pride in looking after these cherished community spaces.
The winners of the 2022 Spelthorne in Bloom competition were announced at a celebration evening on 11 October at Notcutts Garden Centre in Staines-upon-Thames. Congratulations to all the finalists and winners. Their allotments, gardens and displays brighten the Borough for everyone and show Spelthorne at its very best.
Our Community Centres will soon be opening on Saturdays to help members who are concerned about the cost of heating their homes over the winter period. Between November and February, the Community Centres in Ashford and Shepperton will take it in turns to open - offering warmth, a hearty meal and good company for their members. We have also created a new section on our website giving all residents advice about coping with the increasing cost of living.
We have just announced the finalists of the Spelthorne Business Awards. The quality of this year’s entries really highlighted the energy, resilience and creativity of the businesses here in Spelthorne and we look forward to revealing the winners on the 17th November.
I would like to extend my congratulations, on behalf of all Councillors, to the Council after the support that has been offered to Borough businesses was honoured at the National Federation of Small Businesses Awards last week. Spelthorne Borough Council was named the all-England winner of the Future Ready category, regional winner in the all-round small business friendly category and shortlisted for the South-Easy Covid-19 support and recovery category.
The West Wing and our steps to tackle the affordable housing crisis for our residents was also recognised this month at the Government Property Awards 2022. Spelthorne was proud to be one of two local authorities to be finalists, which recognised the 25 affordable and sustainable homes that were built in the West Wing of the Council Offices, making Spelthorne the first UK Local authority to convert over 40% of its active Civic Town Hall”.
The Leader made the following announcement through Councillor Beardsmore, Chair of Environment and Sustainability Committee:
In consultation with the Monitoring Officer and Head of Paid Service, the Strategic Planning Team would be instructed to concentrate on finishing off preparing the Local Plan, this having priority over all else. This would mean that the answering of questions from Councillors and members of the public would not be considered the main priority.