District Councillors Report April 2021

For the last twelve months the District Council has been predominately focused on the Covid-19 pandemic.

Local authorities across the Country were tasked with facilitating Government grant schemes and to date we have paid out in excess of £45m in various grant schemes. Alongside facilitating those payments the Council have also changed their way of working to enable services to continue to operate through home working alongside public meetings being held via video conference. Many of the changes will continue to operate for the foreseeable but both Council members and officers are now looking forward to a return to the office as soon as possible, with public meetings reverting from video conference back to in person meetings from May onwards.

The Covid pandemic has resulted in a huge loss of income to the Council due to closures of business’ and tourism coming to a complete standstill. National research suggests that Stratford on Avon is the fourth worst hit authority in the Country.

Despite that the Council has been able to produce a medium term financial plan and maintain a reasonable level of reserves. Part of the savings the Council have implemented include shared services with Warwick District Council while further work is underway to explore a more permanent merger with WDC in the near future.

That work continues and I will keep you updated as further information comes forward. Joint working with WDC has led both Councils to agree to produce a South Warwickshire Plan, which will in essence be a review of and update to our existing Core Strategy, which sets planning policy for the area. The first stage of public consultation on the South Warwickshire Plan will begin on 10th May and run through to 21st June 2021. For more information on the SWLP please visit: stratford.gov.uk/swlp

Councillor P Richards