Following a meeting between Council Leaders and Chief Executive’s on 14 April, Cllr Jefferson, Leader of Stratford on Avon District Council wrote seeking a delay in the Government’s decision on the proposed merger with Warwick District Council to allow for due diligence to be completed.  The letter was sent without the agreement of Cllr Day Leader of Warwick District Council, who had been invited to be a co-signatory. It was understood by Cllr Jefferson that in writing to the Government unilaterally seeking to extend the current period of uncertainty would end the Council merger process. 

On 13 December 2021, both Councils formally agreed merger plans and submitted a proposal to Government requesting permission to form a new joint Council by May 2024.  In advance of this key political step, Councillors received detailed advice including an independent Financial Impact assessment. This Local Government Association report recommended that a supplementary review was commissioned by Stratford on Avon District Council in relation to a company wholly owned by Warwick District Council. 
Given that a response from Government was anticipated by the end of May in respect of the merger decision, Cllr Jefferson considered there to be a material risk that the further due diligence work would not be completed in time and if the Minister was minded to support the merger, there would be limited opportunity for Stratford on Avon District Council to withdraw at that point. 
Cllr Day considered that the decision to merge had been made last December and that ongoing due diligence did not prevent the service integration progressing as planned.  To ask Government to delay matters would create further uncertainty for all staff, especially those facing redundancy, and residents seeking assurances about local services.  In Cllr Day’s opinion, making a request for further delay would result in trust being undermined, making it untenable for the two authorities to further integrate services or merge. 

The Leaders jointly concluded that the proposed merger cannot go ahead as anticipated.  There is a significant difference between the approaches and ambitions of the two councils that have proved to be irreconcilable and this means that a joint request, subject to Council approval, will now be made to the Government to stop the merger process. Recommendations will be made to an extraordinary meeting of Stratford on Avon District Council, and the AGM at Warwick District Council on 11 May 2022. 
This is a disappointing outcome, but it should not mean the end for the positives that this process has generated; we have learned a lot and wish to carry on as good 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. However, others including the Joint Management Team and the service integration programme will end. Each council will continue to keep residents, councillors, and staff engaged in the process of updating our working arrangements.  

Thank you for the many contributions and the positive commitment made to supporting the future of both councils. 
To see more about this follow the link below.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=nb7CXdI7YGo

Local not-for-profit community organisations are invited to apply for grants of up to £20,000 from Warwick District Council’s Rural and Urban Capital Improvements Scheme (RUCIS).
The scheme is now open for the 2022/23 financial year and organisations looking for grants to support capital improvement projects are urged to apply.
Consideration is given to organisations looking to purchase or upgrade their property or equipment in order to provide services to the community, such as:
· Energy efficiency improvements and renewable energy technology
· Providing disabled access or facilities
· Resurfacing of car parks, sports courts and play areas
· Essential building repairs
· New facilities such as kitchens or toilets
Amongst the beneficiaries of the 2021/22 scheme were Myton Hospice in Warwick who used their grant of £4,721 to resurface and improve their car park.
Charlotte Ingram, Director of Income Generation at The Myton Hospices, welcomed the very generous grant to complete the much-needed resurfacing of the car park at the Warwick Myton Hospice:
“On behalf of Myton, I would like to say a huge thank you to Warwick District Council for its fabulous grant, which has enabled us to carry out much-needed improvements of our driveway and car park."
We are delighted this work has now been completed – it makes such a huge difference to everyone accessing and using the Hospice, from patients and their families and of course to our Myton staff and volunteers.
We have to raise £7.8 million each year to provide our services, free of charge, to terminally ill patients across Coventry and Warwickshire.
So to receive such wonderful support through the Rural and Urban Capital Improvements Scheme for a project like this is a massive boost.


Other organisations who were awarded funding included the London and North Western Railway Society receiving a £4,437 contribution to purchase new ICT equipment and specialist tools, and Whitnash Windmill Petanque Club who were able to install new fencing and shelters thanks to a grant of £5,269.
Councillor Richard Hales, Portfolio Holder for Resources and Transformation commented:
“In difficult times, I am delighted that Warwick District Council is able to award funding to these groups who play such an important role in our local community. The projects which have been realised through the RUCIS scheme can make a real difference and I would strongly encourage not-for-profit organisations located within Warwick District to come forward with their ideas as we may be able to help.” To find out more about the RUCIS scheme,

Western Power have teamed up with Localgiving to deliver our Community Matters Fund.  After awarding £500,000 to support organisations combating fuel poverty over the winter, our second funding opportunity through this partnership has now launched. This fund will provide £500,000 to support charitable organisations in their response to people suffering with their mental health due to loneliness and/or social isolation.
The Community Matters Fund is looking to support projects addressing loneliness and social isolation that fit within the following themes:

• Delivering services to reduce loneliness and/or social isolation
• Delivering services to improve mental health caused by loneliness and/or social isolation
• Delivering educational activities focused on skills development and ongoing support to reduce loneliness and/or social isolation (e.g. digital skills, employability skills, life skills)
• Innovative approaches to combat loneliness and/or social isolation and its associated impact on mental health.

The programme is now live and accepting applications until 24th April 2022.
All applicants will be informed of the outcome of their application by 4th May 2022.
Projects must be delivered and funding spent by 31st December 2022.

You can apply by following the link below
localgiving.org/about/WPD-community-matters-fund


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