On Thursday 4 May, local elections will give residents of Warwick District the opportunity to vote for who they want to represent them locally.

Residents must be on the electoral register to be able to vote in May. With the registration deadline approaching, Warwick District Council is urging those not registered at their current address to ensure they are registered before it is too late.
The deadline to register to vote is midnight on Monday 17 April. Applying online at gov.uk/register-to-vote takes just five minutes.

This year residents in Warwick District will be voting on the following:
·                Councillors, who will represent their local area, helping to shape the future of it by making plans and taking decisions.
·                Parish Councillors, who make decisions on local issues affecting their parish and will act as ambassadors for their community, keeping everyone aware of local needs and concerns.

Chris Elliott, Electoral Registration Officer for Warwick District, said:
“Local elections are an important opportunity to make your voice heard and have a say on who makes decisions about issues that directly affect day-to-day life here in Warwick District.
“If you have recently turned 18 or moved home, it is important to ensure you are correctly registered to vote. If you’re in doubt, you can check with us by contacting Warwick District Council Electoral Services Team by phone on 01926 456 105 or by email at elections@warwickdc.gov.uk.”

Those intending to vote at polling stations in May will need to show a photographic ID. A list of accepted forms of ID is available on the Electoral Commission’s website. Those that do not have eligible ID can apply for free voter ID.

The deadline to apply for a Voter Authority Certificate is 5pm on Tuesday 25 April.
 
Ailsa Irvine, Director of Electoral Administration and Guidance at the Electoral Commission, said:
“If you’re not registered by 17 April, you will not be able to vote this May. Registering to vote only takes five minutes and can be done online.

“This year voters should also remember that they will need to bring photo ID to the polling station to be able to vote. Anyone that does not have an accepted form of ID can apply for free voter ID by 25 April.”
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For more information relating to the 2023 Local Elections in Warwick District, visit www.warwickdc.gov.uk/elections2023.

The future of electric vehicle (EV) charging in South Warwickshire is one step closer to being secured, following agreement by Warwick District Council’s Cabinet to undertake a feasibility study on the procurement options to providing an EV charging provider for the Council’s car parks and social housing properties.
With the increase in electric vehicles in the District guaranteed to continue as car owners become more environmentally aware, and with the Government’s ban on the sale of fuel vehicles by 2035, the Council recognises it has a key role to play in ensuring that as many people as possible have access to electric vehicle charging.

Councillor Alan Rhead, Portfolio Holder for Climate Change, said: “Providing accessible EV charging points is an important step in ensuring that we play our part in reducing transport emissions and meeting our ambitious target of reducing carbon emissions by a minimum of 55% by 2030.

“We recognise that some properties will not be able to charge an electric vehicle at home, but this should not be a barrier to owning one. The work we do now will ensure that there is equity in the provision of electric vehicle charging so that everyone is able to access them.”

A network of off-street charging points will complement the work currently being undertaken by Warwickshire County Council who are the authority responsible for providing charging points on-street.

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Local Veterans and their families now have a new, easy-access location for help and support located at the Pageant House Warwick, which has been provided by Warwick District Council.
The Veteran’s Contact Point (VCP) South Warwickshire Hub was launched at an event held at The Warwick Arms Hotel on Thursday 2 March 2023, which was attended by Warwickshire Lord Lieutenant, Warwickshire Police Crimes Commissioner, Members and staff from Warwick District Council, Stratford-on-Avon District Council, Armed Forces Personnel both Serving & Veterans, Military Charities, NHS/Hospitals, and representatives from across the local Community.
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Warwick District Council, Councillor George Illingworth, Armed Forces Covenant Champion, said:
“I’m delighted to be part of this project which provides much-needed help and support for our local Veterans. Volunteers who have served themselves will be on hand to help or to signpost to other organisations, it’s a worthwhile charitable service and one which I am proud to support.”
Stratford–on-Avon District Council, Councillor Christopher Kettle, Portfolio Holder for Legal and Community Safety, said:
“With the current conflict in Ukraine, Stratford District Council are only too aware of the valuable contribution of our Armed Forces, their families and residents who presently and previously have served the nation. The new Veterans Contact Point will provide valuable resources and is an important component of the debt we all owe to those in the armed forces community”.

Len Hardy BEM, Executive Trustee & Veterans Champion VCP, said:
“The Veterans Contact Point (VCP) has been working with Warwick & Stratford on Avon District Council’s to develop this fantastic opportunity to provide a local hub in South Warwickshire. In partnership with others, we will support and deliver upon the UK’s Community’s Armed Forces Covenant pledge made to its Armed Forces Community and their Families, past and present.
“We are extremely pleased to have this operating base in Warwick which will be developed to become a multi-agency intervention hub, providing and developing local support and awareness for Veterans and their families living in South Warwickshire.”

The Veterans Contact Point’s South Warwickshire Hub in Warwick is located at Pageant House in the town and is open Monday to Friday from 10am to 4pm; Veterans and their families from the UK Armed Forces can go for help and advice, welfare support, housing, finance benefits & debt referrals, health & wellbeing, work, volunteering, and community projects.

For further information on the Veterans Contact Point, visit Pageant House, Jury Street, Warwick, CV34 4ES or relating to the services they provide, email contactus@veteranscontactpoint.co.uk, telephone: 02476 343793 or visit www.veteranscontactpoint.org.uk.