To receive any announcements from the Leader.
Minutes:
The following are the latest service updates from various Council departments.
Spelthorne’s Sustainability team has exchanged contracts with PodPoint for the installation of eight electric vehicle charging points at the Elmsleigh and Tothill multi-storey car parks. The bays will be installed toward the end of May and will be free to use.
Guildford County Court has upheld a planning injunction issued to an Ashford resident. Mr Van Der Beeck challenged the injunction issued by the Council in 2015 which required him to demolish an outbuilding he had constructed in his garden. The Court upheld the injunction and ordered him to remove the building within four months.
Spelthorne’s Licensing team took part in a joint enforcement day on 19 April with officers from the Immigration Enforcement and Surrey Police. The purpose of the day was to check that all staff employed in the licensed premises had the correct permission to live and work in the UK and that employers were conducting the appropriate checks. Of the seven premises visited, two people from separate premises were found to not have the correct immigration status.
Licensing officers joined Surrey Police and The Vehicle and Operator Services Agency in a Road Safety Education and Enforcement Day at Notcutts Garden Centre in Staines-upon-Thames on 21 April. Several taxi and private hire drivers, including those from neighbouring boroughs, were pulled-over for spot checks.
Improvements have been made to Hengrove Park in Ashford following reports of anti-social behaviour. In addition to increased patrols by the Council and Police, the park will now be locked overnight and kissing gates have been installed to stop motorcycles gaining entry.
Work is underway for this year’s Junior Citizen - a one-day course held in September which teaches year 6 pupils about staying safe and being good citizens. Topics covered include fire safety, first aid, online security, stranger danger and contacting the emergency services.
Improvements have been made to the subway at Sunbury Cross with new signage being installed and repairs made to the wooden fencing. A Designated Public Place Order which prevents street drinking in the area remains in force until October this year.
Team Spelthorne coaching sessions have started for the Surrey Youth Games which takes place on 17 and 18 June. Places are still available for mixed boccia, girls’ cricket, girls’ junior netball and girls’ touch rugby coaching.
The Staines 10K road race is being held at 9am on Sunday 14 May. Registrations for the race are now closed but residents are encouraged to come along and support the runners. The race starts from Staines Leisure Centre.
Leisure Services has been holding a series of creative writing competitions to mark the centenary of World War 1. Kitty from Riverbridge Primary School and Ryan from Thomas Knyvett College picked up awards for their winning war-time letters at a ceremony held at the Council Offices. A further 20 highly commended students also received certificates of achievement.
The Council has been publicising a scheme which offers subsidised play scheme places for families in receipt of benefits. Parents who receive Housing Benefit, Income Support, Job Seekers Allowance (income based), Council Tax Support, Universal Tax Credit or Working/Child Tax Credit are entitled to apply for the vouchers which are worth up to £60 per child.
From 12 June, new vehicles will be used to collect unwanted textiles and small electrical items weekly with food waste making it easier for residents to recycle. Rubbish and recycling collections will continue to be collected on alternate weeks. For the majority of residents, the day of their bin collection will remain unchanged but letters are being sent to those who will have a new collection day.