Agenda item

Leader's Announcements

Minutes:

The Leader welcomed Councillor Stuart Black to the Council and extended a welcome to new employees, including the two members of staff who had joined as part of the national graduate trainee programme. The Leader also thanked Mr Richard Payne, who would be leaving the Council at the end of the month, for his service and wished him well for the future.

 

The Council was updated on the progress of the families housed in the borough as part of the Afghan resettlement scheme. The Leader reported on the progress of the Night Stop project, where building works for the emergency accommodation were underway and, thanks to the efforts of officers and the Hope Hub, support would be available to residents in need before Christmas.

 

The Leader referred to the national shortage HGV drivers and reported that, despite the shortages, the vast majority of Council’s services had continued without interruption. He also advised that in the previous week a final collection of garden waste had been completed for that year and it was hoped to be a position to relaunch the service in the spring of 2022.

 

Members were informed that the Local Council Tax Support Scheme had been reviewed and a report would be considered by the Executive the following month. The Leader reported that the Council was fourth and seventh respectively for national Council Tax and Business Rates collection rates. He thanked residents, businesses and officers for contributing towards this success.

 

The Leader extended his condolences to the families of Sir David Amess and Alderman Derek Franklin.