The arrival of welcome spring sunshine gave many of us some much-needed respite over the Easter long weekend to enjoy time with family and friends. Hopefully, Bank holiday delays on travel networks did not disrupt your plans.

We continue to track the ongoing effects of the pandemic, and note that this week across the UK the number of Covid related deaths increasing again; 4.7% above the five-year average and accounting for around 1 in every 12 deaths. Compared to pre-coronavirus levels it is also interesting to see that nationally:

• Visits to “retail and recreation” locations are now at 91%, according to Google Mobility data. Workplace attendance is at 68%. Trips to parks and other public open spaces are at 154%.
• Latest data from OpenTable shows seated dining is at 138% of the equivalent week in 2019, the highest level since early September 2021. This coincides with the bank holidays over the Easter period.
• Total online job adverts increased by 4%, at 144% of their February 2020 average level. Meanwhile, a net 2% of firms reported increasing turnover in March 2022, compared with the previous month.

Of all our editions of the weekly news, none gives you a greater insight than this one into the world of local government; where the only thing that remains constant is continuous change! We refer of course to the announcement on Wednesday evening that the proposed merger of Warwick and Stratford-on-Avon District Councils will no longer go ahead as we had planned.

It was not the outcome we had worked and planned for and is extremely disappointing, but it was the only satisfactory way forward, following irreconcilable differences between the two councils which would have not have served the best interests of our local residents and team of dedicated staff.

Reports will now go to meetings of both Councils on 11 May to agree withdrawing the merger proposals made to the Government last December and to propose the future direction of the shared working arrangements. Although this not the outcome we had long anticipated, it should not detract from the positives that this process has generated; we have learned a lot, we have good working relationships, and we wish to carry on as strong partners.

It is anticipated that some of the joint working arrangements already put in place will continue, such as legal services and business rates collection. We will also follow through on our joint work on the Local Development Plan and the shared waste management service, due to begin on 1 August.

Despite this set-back, we still have much to celebrate:

• Commonwealth Games – with less than 100 days to go until the start of competitions, we were delighted that Tuesday’s BBC Midlands Today was broadcast live from the bowling greens at Victoria Park.  This was a great opportunity to showcase our beautiful towns to potential visitors and spectators as the Games excitement builds.
• Opening of new car showroom – the facilities around Europa Way continue to improve and evolve with today’s opening of a new Rybrook showroom. This is just one piece of a hugely ambitious scheme for the area which once complete, will see new schools, a fantastic community stadium, country park as well as new health, shopping, and leisure facilities to support the growing local population.

To cap off a ‘challenging’ week, when we are working so hard to achieve the ambitions set out in our Climate Emergency Programme, it was particularly disappointing to discover that more than 200 newly planted trees have been damaged. The saplings had been planted last Autumn on Campion Hills in Leamington Spa as part of our ‘Trees for our Future’ project and recently had their protective guards and stakes removed and broken in a wonton act of vandalism.

Rest assured that this set back will not diminish efforts to reach our ambitious target of planting 160,000 new trees – one for every resident in the district, as well as establish new woodland areas and wildlife habitats for the benefit of generations to come.

We’re trying to ‘keep smiling’ and hope you are too.

Andrew Day
Leader

Chris Elliott 
Chief Executive