To receive any announcements from the Leader.
Minutes:
The following are the latest service updates from various Council departments.
The Council has implemented new government legislation which gives local authorities more powers to help people who are at risk of becoming homeless. The changes will mean that people in danger of losing their homes are being offered help at an earlier stage.
Residents on the Housing Register have been asked to reapply, following changes to the way the Council measures eligibility for social housing. Residents will be assessed and given new bandings from 23 April.
Gardeners and residents attended the launch of this year’s Spelthorne in Bloom on Monday 16 April at Notcutts Garden Centre in Staines. The focus of the evening was to present the prizes for the Children’s Poster Competition. The winner was 10 year old Nandita Jena from Riverbridge Primary School in Staines, whose winning poster will be printed on all the entry forms and posters.
Money from the Leader’s Windfall Grant, councillors’ Better Neighbourhood Grants and a contribution from County Councillor Richard Walsh’s Members Allocation has been used to improve the area around Shepperton Lock. The makeover includes new signage, groundworks, resurfacing and remarking of the parking area and refurbishment of the toilet block.
Pupils across Spelthorne put their creative skills to the test by entering the Council’s WW1 themed art competition to commemorate the centenary of the Great War. The winners, Jositha from Staines Preparatory School and Yasmeen Yusef-Burell from Bishop Wand School, were presented with awards from the Mayor and a cash prize for their school. All the entries were displayed at Spelthorne Museum over the Easter holidays.
Borough and district councils across Surrey have been working together to agree a county-wide policy to make child sexual exploitation and safeguarding awareness training compulsory for all taxi and private hire drivers. This is part of the work being done to protect and identify children or vulnerable adults at risk in the county. Current licensed drivers have until May 2019 to complete the training and new applicants will have to complete it before being granted a licence.
The refurbishment of the refreshment kiosk at Lammas Recreation Ground is nearing completion with an opening planned for 25 May when the spray ground opens for the season. Funding for the refurbishment came from the Leader’s Windfall Grant.
The project to install Solar PV panels to Fordbridge and Staines Community Centres has now been completed. The renewable energy generated will reduce the electricity bills and the associated carbon emissions of both centres.
A funding bid has been submitted to the Enterprise M3 Growth Fund for the installation of electric vehicle charge points at key locations across the borough. The outcome will be known in July.
The Council’s recycling rate for Q3 in 2017/18 was 49.5% - 1.2% higher than Q3 the previous year. The increase was primarily due to increases in food and garden waste tonnage.
New benches and bins have been installed in Staines High Street.
The Communications team is starting a project to update the look of the Council’s website and make it easier for residents to find the information they need. The team has also been working to raise residents’ awareness of the potential impact of Heathrow expansion.
A parking study is to be undertaken in Ashford to establish current parking habits and potential future needs.
A successful application has been made to partner Keep Britain Tidy on their new campaign called ‘Leave behind Littering’.