To receive any announcements from the Leader.
Minutes:
The Deputy Leader made the following announcements:
“As we approach the end of this four-year municipal year, I would like to take the opportunity to thank all the councillors for their hard work and dedication to our Borough. You have been a voice for your residents and worked tirelessly to improve services and the environment for your own wards and Spelthorne as a whole.
Thank you also to Cllr Susan Doran who has thrown herself into her role as Mayor this year with such energy, warmth and compassion. And special thanks also to all the wonderful staff here at Spelthorne whose willingness to go the extra mile for residents is seen every single day.
As a Council, we have been able to achieve so much in the last four years. The Spelthorne Business Hub opened in 2021 and has provided a vibrant community for new and small businesses. The Youth Hub, established in 2022, is supporting young people to find work and development opportunities. The completion of the White House and Harper House is delivering excellent support for homeless residents and the delivery of more affordable homes is helping local people to settle in the area. Our Local Plan is well on track and has been submitted to the Secretary of State. Work has started on our new leisure centre, a fantastic energy efficient facility which will provide the best sport and fitness opportunities for our residents. More recently we have been helping residents affected by the rising cost-of-living. And of course, the support given to residents during the Covid pandemic is something we can all be very proud of. These are just a few examples of how much has been achieved.
It is gratifying that our work has also been recognised by others and we have received numerous awards in recent years, including those for our legal services, parks and open spaces, support for local businesses, and commitment to the Armed Forces to name just a few.
On a personal note, I feel incredibly privileged to have led a Council that genuinely cares and works alongside residents to build a strong vibrant borough. As a nation we have faced some extremely challenging times in recent years, but we have always shown a sense of confidence and a belief in our ability to tackle these challenges – this has always been the Spelthorne way.
Finally, to those of you who will not be standing again in the May elections, I would like to wish you all a very fond farewell. Even though you are stepping down from your political roles, I know many of you will still be closely involved with your local communities and will continue to help in different ways. I wish you every success for the future. On behalf of myself, the residents, and the staff here at Spelthorne, thank you for all you have done”.
The Mayor invited retiring councillors to speak, and the Council heard speeches from Councillor R Sider BEM, Councillor C Barnard, Councillor H Harvey, and Councillor S Buttar.