SINCE taking control of the Redditch Council on May 2, my team and myself have hit the ground running.
Our first task was to bring stability and trust back to the council and this was done by meeting with the CEO and the council’s senior officers.
It was at this meeting that Coun Sharon Harvey, the deputy leader, and myself set forward our plans from our manifesto.
Our first task was for my finance portfolio holder to establish where we were with the council’s finance.
Despite financial headwind generated by the last administration, Coun Ian Woodall has been able to stabilise the finances and move us forward towards getting the first lot of accounts audited.
Coun Woodall is now working hard to ensure our plans are being audited and costed to make sure we maintain financial responsibility.
We have halted the demolition of the library building and are now working on ways we can spend the £4.2million regeneration money on projects that will make significant improvement to our town and which are not just needless vanity projects.
I can confirm we will not be handing this money back. It will update you all when plans are developed.
We will continue with the Innovation Centre but we will not overspend on this project.
We will continue with the Town Hall development, encouraging local business and communities to come on board with us and share the facility. We will be offering space for events and community use.
A new council chamber will be developed, having more visual and in-person access to the council meetings and to the democratic process.
We have halved the price of Dial a Ride for one year to £2.50 for regular journeys and £3.50 for medical.
This will be a valuable asset to those who are elderly and vulnerable, allowing them access to the town and services at an affordable cost.
Myself and the leisure portfolio holder, Coun Juliet Barker-Smith, have met with officers and discussed how we best use the £5million Cultural Fund awarded to us by the government.
This will include improvements to the Palace Theatre, bandstand, upgrading the area at the back of the library and improvements to the Arrow Valley Visitor Centre Boat House.
These are just some of the improvements that will be happening soon.
