Minutes:
The Leader thanked all staff, contractors, emergency services, energy companies and community organisations who had kept services operating during Storm Eunice the previous weekend. He also thanked the members of staff who had telephoned and visited vulnerable residents affected by the widespread power cuts and the Council Members who had volunteered.
Members were advised that council staff had distributed £460,000 to Surrey Heath businesses that year and, since the beginning of the pandemic, had awarded over £48m in grants and business rate relief to businesses in the borough. Staff were also working with businesses to help them access additional funding through a number of government-sponsored schemes. The Leader reported that the Surrey Heath Annual Lottery Scheme had awarded nearly £5,000 to three local organisations. He also referred to the Household Support Grant, which had launched on 7 November 2021 and was operated in partnership with Citizens Advice Surrey Heath; at the end of the previous week, the scheme had paid 2132 claims, totalling over £77,000.
The Leader welcomed the new Strategic Director for Environment & Community, Nick Steevens, to the Council. He also welcomed the new borough commander for Surrey Heath, Inspector Gemma Taylor.