​What to bring with you on polling day
With local elections in Warwickshire over a week away Warwick District Council advise what you should do when visiting a polling station on Thursday 6 May.
People voting in person are encouraged to keep themselves and others safe by:
· Wearing a face covering.
· Bringing your own pen or pencil.
· Cleaning their hands when entering and leaving the polling station.
· Keeping a safe distance.
Voters should not attend the polling station if they have symptoms of Covid-19 or if they have been asked to self-isolate. Anyone who develops symptoms or is asked to self-isolate shortly before polling day has up to 5 pm on polling day to apply for an emergency proxy vote. This allows them to nominate someone they trust to vote on their behalf. Chris Elliott, Police Area Returning Officer for Warwickshire and Chief Executive of Warwick District Council, said:
“Your safety is our priority and we have followed the Government guidance to ensure you can vote as safely as possible in this year’s Elections. We are providing hand sanitiser, there will be screens and limited numbers voting at any one time. It will be a little different to previous Elections, but we ask that you are patient and support our officers and polling station staff who will be doing their best to make sure the polling stations run smoothly and safely on the day.

Warwick District Council’s Arts Team is pleased to announce they have been successful in their application for the second round of Arts Council England’s (ACE) Culture Recovery Fund Grants.

The award of £86,985, in addition to the £170,000 in the first round, will ensure the future viability of the Art Section’s cultural offer, which includes exhibitions, events and workshops at Leamington Spa Art Gallery & Museum and a programme of live performance and film at the Royal Spa Centre.

David Guilding, Arts Manager at Warwick District Council said:

“This is great news and a testament to all the hard work achieved by the team during this most challenging year. It is also a reassuring ‘seal of approval’ from ACE, who clearly understand what we are trying to do and why our services are so important to our local community. These funds will help us to put Covid measures in place at the Spa Centre ready for re-opening, adjust the existing ones in the Town Hall and Royal Pump Rooms, as well as fund some activity before we are able to generate income again. Thanks to the government’s Culture Recovery Fund we can continue to be Here For Culture.”

Rose Winship, Head Cultural Services at Warwick District Council added:

“We are delighted with the news that the Arts Section has been awarded this fund and thrilled to hear that Motionhouse and Playbox Theatre have also been awarded grants as they are important arts organisations based in Warwick District.”

Louise Richards, Executive Director of Motionhouse, a dance-circus company based in Leamington Spa, said:

“We’re utterly delighted to have received support from the Culture Recovery Fund. It will enable us to be ready to respond to opportunities to perform and inspire people as soon as restrictions allow. Thanks to Arts Council England and the Department for Culture Media and Sport for their support.”

Culture Secretary, Oliver Dowden, said:

“Our record-breaking Culture Recovery Fund has already helped thousands of culture and heritage organisations across the country survive the biggest crisis they've ever faced.

Now we’re staying by their side as they prepare to welcome the public back through their doors - helping our cultural gems plan for reopening and thrive in the better times ahead."

Sir Nicholas Serota, Chair, Arts Council England, Added:

“Investing in a thriving cultural sector at the heart of communities is a vital part of helping the whole country to recover from the pandemic. These grants will help to re-open theatres, concert halls, and museums and will give artists and companies the opportunity to begin making new work.

We are grateful to the Government for this support and for recognising the paramount importance of culture to our sense of belonging and identity as individuals and as a society.” Culture Recovery Fund Grants from ACE will help organisations in Warwick District to look ahead to the spring and summer enabling them to plan for reopening and recovery. After months of closures and cancellations to contain the virus and save lives, this funding will be a much-needed helping hand for organisations transitioning back to normal in the months ahead.

Over £800 million in grants and loans has already been awarded to support almost 3,800 cinemas, performance venues, museums, heritage sites and other cultural organisations dealing with the immediate challenges of the coronavirus pandemic across the country

There’s some welcome news for businesses across Warwick district, as the latest round of Government grants are now available to apply for ahead of the next step in the Government’s roadmap which will see non-essential retail and businesses in the retail, leisure and hospitality sectors reopen on 12 April 2021.

These latest ‘restart grants’, which are one-off payments ranging from £2,667 up to £18,000 depending on the type of business and their rateable value, are aimed at supporting businesses as they reopen following the latest lockdown which began in January 2021.

As this is a new scheme with new eligibility criteria, the Council are urging all businesses to check the eligibility criteria and submit an application as soon as possible. Payments will be made from 6 April 2021.

Councillor Richard Hales, Portfolio Holder for Business and Finance, said: “We know how difficult this past year has been for businesses, as our Finance & Business teams have been busy paying out over £53m in grants since last April.

“But we’re almost there. We’re progressing through the roadmap and the next significant step – Step 2 on 12 April 2021 – will see businesses across the retail, leisure and hospitality sectors reopen and welcome back their customers. These grants are there to help them do just that, in a safe and secure way.

“I would urge all eligible businesses to take five minutes to check they’re eligible and submit their application to us.”

Full details including the application form can be found at www.warwickdc.gov.uk/restartgrants

So what's been going on in Warwick District Council in 2020-2021 this short presentation is informative and helpful and if you want to get the full PDF copy use the link below
https://www.warwickdc.gov.uk/youreonmute​