County Councillors Report April 2021

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COVID UPDATE

The good news is continuing as we continue to head in the right direction, inspite of the threats of new variants, as the rate of infections are down to 9/100,000 from 23 last week, but the over 60’s rate has increased slightly back up to 7/100,000 (2 last week) with three cases over the last seven days – which when compared to other districts in Warwickshire for all ages is Nuneaton & Bedworth 32/100,000, North Warwickshire 25/100,000, Warwick 13/100,000 and Rugby 41/100,000.  So SDC area has the lowest rate of infection across the county.

Continuing this positive note, the situation regarding SWFT Hospital Beds has remained at similar levels, there is now 1 (2) confirmed cases of COVID-19 with 0 (1) patients in ICU (figures in brackets are from 23 April).  Occupancy levels continue to be at 81% in respect of non-Covid patients for elective surgery and there are 75 unoccupied general and acute beds.

There have been no further Covid related deaths across Stratford District over the last two weeks and remain at 140 from the start of this second wave (28th August 2020) 37 occurring in care homes, 90 in hospital, two in a hospice and 10 at home and one in a communal establishment, out of a total of 907 all cause deaths in the district for this new second wave period.

The cumulative total of deaths across Warwickshire for Wave 2 is 666 up four with a total of 3922 all cause deaths.  The cumulative total of Covid-19 deaths in Stratford district is 308 since the start of the pandemic and in Warwickshire 1267.

The locally led Lateral Flow Testing facility for people WITHOUT coronavirus symptoms in Stratford has now carried out 27,982 tests with 87 positive results – which represents no increase in the last two weeks. The home testing service is still available to everyone with COVID-19 symptoms and can be accessed through the home testing online portal.

I shall be continuing to do my weekly update until the local elections.

WCC Invests £300m in Covid Recovery Plan

Warwickshire County Council has plans to create a £140m fund to stimulate the county’s economy, create jobs, support local businesses and bring investment into the county with a further £160m investment in new housing, regeneration and creation of business premises.

The overall £300 million investment is a fundamental part of the Council’s Covid-19 Recovery Plan, and is expected to create over 3,000 jobs and safeguard many thousands more. It will drive recovery and regeneration while at the same time supporting the Council’s medium-term financial resilience.

The Warwickshire Recovery Investment Fund (WRIF) aims to allocate £140m over the next five years, offering loans and other financial investments to existing and new Warwickshire businesses to help their long-term recovery and growth, create and safeguard jobs, and attract new inward investment into the county, further stimulating the local economy.

Business leaders have heralded Warwickshire County Council’s plans to aid economic recovery with an investment of £300m as a highly significant measure for the county’s economy.

WCC through its Council Plan and Covid Recovery Plan is focused to generating real action on climate change and the current administration has made environmental considerations an integral part of its decision-making process and allocated £4 million to this end.

WCC is also reducing demand for energy for example by investing in LED street lights reducing our energy costs and has recently launched at £1 million green shoots Community Climate Action grant scheme which will fund local community projects aimed at mitigating the impact of climate change. In addition WCC has launched its Solar Together initiative which will help owners across the County to easily buy solar panels to produce green energy for their homes.

Investing in flood alleviation schemes to protect properties and keep our communities safe is another priority

Mental Health Initiative

WCC has allocated £1m funding from its community investment fund for dementia and young people’s mental health.

Green Shoots Community Climate Change Fund 2021

The Warwickshire County Council Green Shoots Community Climate Change Fund provides grant funding to community projects to mitigate against, and adapt to, the impact of climate change. It is aimed at community and voluntary organisations.

In 2019, Warwickshire County Council declared a climate change emergency and made and real commitment that considerations of climate change and carbon footprint reduction would underpin all future decision-making. The Council also committed to support Communities across Warwickshire to play their part in mitigating their own impact on the environment, of which, the Green Shoots Fund will play a large role.

The Green Shoots Fund is designed to support community projects and initiatives that aim to achieve the following:

  • Increase the adaptability and resilience of Warwickshire to the effects of climate change
  • Reduce impacts on the environment, particularly regarding climate change
  • Ensure funded projects benefit the wider Warwickshire community

Like any funding, there are certain general criteria which this Fund seeks to support. These include, but are not limited to:

  • Mitigating or adapting to climate change and the environment
  • Benefits to the local community and connections between other groups and projects
  • Development of awareness in environmental issues and capacity building of local communities
  • Legacy and long-term impacts
  • Project risks and mitigation steps

Applications for funding are to be submitted during biannual funding rounds, with each round open for a period of ten weeks. The first round of funding runs until 5 pm on Monday 17 May 2021.

Country Parks

WCC’s country parks have proved to be very popular with the public over the last 12 months during Covid and there are plans to invest in some of these parks with links to active travel and youth provision. Consideration is being given to explore the commercial opportunities in these country parks for cafes, bike hire and outdoor education together with the opportunities to stage music and theatre events.

Cycling is already receiving major investment and there are plans to look at an investment in a network of cycle routes between WCC’s Country Parks and major heritage and cultural sites. These initiatives will underpin a positive mental and physical health message and demonstrate a further commitment to our climate change objectives for the residents of Warwickshire.

Finally, this is my last county councillor report for Snitterfield and I wish the new elected councillor every success whoever that may be.

Councillor Anne Parry