***Latest news from the Leader of Warwick District Council ***
Dear members
Lillington, Whitnash and Milverton recorded the highest Covid infection levels in Warwickshire in the past fortnight. More broadly, local case numbers continued to rise sharply from 624.5 to 706 per 100,000 people in the last seven days.
Most schools were able to remain open through to the half-term break. Hopefully, the holiday will help check our rising infection levels, providing some respite from recent increases. We’re hopeful too that along with the imminent rollout of the booster jab, we might just avoid the need to implement the Government’s Plan B and address further disruption during the forthcoming winter months.
We can all play our part in dealing with rising infection levels by continuing to take regular tests, ensuring that we’re fully vaccinated and then taking-up the offer of third booster jab when it’s our turn. If we don’t have any Covid-19 symptoms but would like the peace of mind of knowing we’re not infected, then a visit to the mobile testing service could be just what’s needed.
This week’s highlights from our recovery plan include:
News on the route for the CWG22 Cycling Road Races, scheduled to take place on Sunday 7 August 2022. The men's and women's races will follow a circular route, which is planned to start and finish at Warwick’s St Nicholas Park, looping around Warwick before passing Victoria Park and heading through Leamington Spa. Why not check-out the race route and plan where you might cheer-on the competitors as they lap the circuit?
Commonwealth Games excitement is building with the tour to Leamington by the Malaysian lawn bowls team, who were much impressed by the new greens in Victoria Park. We visited their training camp to personally welcome the team, ahead of friendly matches with the Scotland lawn bowls team next week. Why not get a foretaste of next year’s competition by visiting the Victoria Park greens from 3 to 6 November to watch Malaysia play Scotland?
Local, third sector organisations, including charities and not-for-profit businesses, whose services continue to be disrupted by the pandemic and government restrictions, are being invited to apply for a ‘one-off’ grant payment. The new ARG Third Sector Scheme will be administered by our enterprise team. Once-off grant payments of up to £12,500 will be made to local, third sector organisations at a time when their services are in greatest demand. The funding will help ensure they are able to continue to provide the support needed across our community through the winter ahead. Please visit our website next Monday 1 November when this new scheme will be launched, and information provided on how to submit an application.
As we celebrate Diwali, Guru Nanak Dev Ji’s Gurpurab and start the countdown to Christmas, please join us for ‘Leamington’s Big Lights Switch On’ next Sunday 7 November 2021. FREE parking will be available all day in our off-street car parks and at the Royal Priors to support the event.
And finally, a really big thank you to everyone who took the time and trouble to respond to our recent consultations on future plans for the Riverside House site and the proposal to create a single South Warwickshire District Council. Councillors will be reflecting carefully on the views you shared when decisions are taken on 4 November for Riverside House, and on 13 December for the council merger proposal. Remember, you can tune-in and follow the debate at these key Council meetings, via our YouTube Channel.
Keep smiling and stay safe.
Andrew Day Leader
