To receive any announcements from the Leader.
Minutes:
The Leader presented the following Service updates to the Cabinet.
A report by Chartered Accounts, UHY Hacker Young, shows that Staines-upon-Thames is leading the way in new business creation, with 43 more new businesses per 10,000 population than a year ago (versus a UK average of 14). According to the report’s author, the town’s strong transport links to London and Heathrow, together with comparatively low office rents, make it an ideal choice for start-ups.
The Council has successfully prosecuted Mr Wei Ming Zheng, the owner of the China Star Restaurant in Staines-upon-Thames for numerous food hygiene offences. Mr Zheng appeared before Redhill Magistrates Court and pleaded guilty to eight charges brought under food safety and hygiene regulations. He was convicted and ordered to pay a fine of £12,000 plus a surcharge of £120 and £696 in costs.
The Council is calling on residents to check the food hygiene ratings of restaurants before booking their Christmas meals. Currently in Spelthorne, 52% of food businesses are rated as ‘very good’ – the top score. 82% are rated as satisfactory, good or very good.
The winter edition of the Council’s Bulletin magazine has been delivered to homes in the Borough. Articles include a tribute to the late Cllr Watts, an update on the sale of the Bridge Street car park, recycling information and Christmas events.
The Elmsleigh surface and multi-storey car parks in Staines-upon-Thames have successfully gained the Park Mark ‘Safer Parking Award.’ An assessment of the car park was carried out by specially trained Police assessors who look for evidence that the car park is clean, well-managed, has appropriate lighting and effective surveillance.
Spelthorne Council, the Surrey Counter Fraud Partnership and social housing providers recently launched a joint publicity campaign aimed at stopping tenancy fraud. As part of the campaign residents are asked to help by reporting any suspicions they may have about fraudulent tenancy activity. Information, which can be given anonymously, can lead to the recovery of properties and provide families, currently in temporary accommodation, with a home.
A new payment system has been introduced at the Elmsleigh surface and multi-storey car parks in Staines-upon-Thames. The old kit has been replaced with a state-of-the-art system which recognises car registration numbers and automatically raises the exit barrier.
Spelthorne and Runnymede Councils, in partnership with Surrey Music Hub, have set up a free choir for carers. The choir is intended to be fun and light-hearted and offer a break from the responsibilities of being a carer. The group meet every Friday from 11am-12noon at Manor Farm Wellbeing Centre in Egham.
Representatives from Spelthorne Council, Thames Valley Housing, Bellway Homes and the Homes and Communities Agency recently gathered to celebrate the opening of Stone Gate Court, a new affordable housing development in Staines-upon-Thames. Built by Bellway Homes at the site of the old Crooked Billet in Staines-upon-Thames, the development contains 29 one, two and three-bedroom flats. The flats will be managed by Thames Valley Housing.
Sian Talbot from Stanwell has been announced as the winner of an Apple iPhone 6s after she entered a prize draw for residents who downloaded the Council’s new mobile app. The free app, which was launched in September, can be downloaded to any smart phone or tablet and allows residents to access a range of frequently used Council services, at a time that suits them.
Streetscene have recently fitted their large refuse vehicles with side guards to protect cyclists in the event of a collision.
Kerbside collections of small electrical items begin in December.
‘No food waste please’ stickers were placed on bins during November, encouraging residents to use their food waste caddies. Initial results show a 20% increase in the food waste collected.
Since August 2014, 78 homes have signed up for solid wall insulation taking advantage of the £5000 grant from Action Surrey.
Colne Valley Girls and Ladies Football Club have signed a lease to take on self-management of Kenyngton Manor Pavilion in Sunbury-on-Thames. The Council received £80,000 of Football Foundation funding to renovate the pavilion for this project. It is hoped that building work with commence in the next few weeks.
The sporting success of local players, coaches and volunteers was celebrated at the annual Sports Awards at Woodthorpe Road Sports Club on Wednesday 18 November. Mayor of Spelthorne, Cllr Mark Francis, made presentations to this year’s winners.
A Christmas Art Trail event will take place on 22 December in Staines-upon-Thames to launch the new art and heritage walk leaflet. There will be morning and afternoon walks led by the Hobgoblin Theatre Company who will highlight the public art whilst entertaining the participants with their Christmas-themed production.
Following a public consultation earlier this year, the Council has announced its intention to lease the tennis courts and adjacent land in Fordbridge Park in Ashford to Community Tennis Limited to provide a community tennis centre. A statutory public notice has been published to this effect.
The Spelthorne Alarm Network (SPAN) recently helped to save the life of an Ashford resident who experienced a house fire. After pressing the alarm, the SPAN call handler was able to alert the emergency services who attended the fire and took the resident to hospital. Thankfully the resident wasn’t seriously hurt.
Independent Living have been successful in bidding for a tender with Surrey County Council and are now part of their framework agreement for Opportunities for Older People.
For the first time, the Fordbridge Centre in Ashford and Greeno Centre in Shepperton will be open between Christmas and the New Year on 29, 30, 31 December.
Lettings have been completed for two new affordable rented housing schemes at Dyas Road in Sunbury-on-Thames and Stone Gate Court in Staines-upon-Thames, providing 56 homes for local residents.
The Council is supporting a Keep Britain Tidy campaign aimed at residents who fail to clean up after their dogs because they walk them after dark. Posters and leaflets are being displayed throughout the Borough and will be supported by a press release and Bulletin article to raise awareness of the campaign.
Buckland Primary School has won this year’s Spelthorne Schools Quiz, in a close contest which tested the contestants’ knowledge on everything from monarchs to mental maths. Children aged 9 to 10 from 12 of the Borough’s primary schools attended the quiz and tackled questions on a variety of topics including some tricky questions about Spelthorne.