Stratford-on-Avon District Council's Corporate Projects given seal of approval

Stratford-on-Avon District Council's Full Council has today, Tuesday 24 April approved over £2.5m for nine Corporate Projects across the whole of the District.   

Alcester Greig Centre - £250k
For the refurbishment of the leisure facility when the Lifestyle building is transferred to the District Council.

Wireless Rural Broadband - £500k
To expand high-speed broadband to rural communities

A new business centre / workshop facility - £500K

Community Safety Project Officer - £80K
To deliver multi-agency projects tacking crime and anti-social behaviour

Upgrade of CCTV system - £465K
Remove, relocate and upgrade CCTV camera in Henley-in-Arden Upgrade 87 CCTV cameras across the District

'Evergreen' Business Support Fund - £75K
New business support fund to provide loans  to support and help business growth and innovation

Homelessness Hostel - £50K
To develop a proposal for a new homeless shelter

Culture and Tourism - £25K
Increasing visitor spending and the local economy by working with the West Midlands Combined Authority, The Commonwealth Games and Coventry City of Culture

Studley Leisure Centre - £600K
To invest in the facilities at the centre and provide a gym on-site  

Cllr Stephen Thirlwell, Deputy Leader of Stratford-on-Avon District Council says: "This is a one-off' opportunity for the District Council to use a proportion of its general fund reserves to deliver a number of corporate projects across the District.  The District Council's strong financial position and the increase funding from the New Homes Bonus and business rates has enabled these corporate projects to be funded; whilst still retaining a good level of reserves, despite the unclear future funding of local government.  It's all about using our funding and investing wisely for the benefit of the District.  These corporate projects are far reaching and will make a huge difference in the District."  

Other projects including the development of a housing delivery company; the installation of a new electric car charging points; development of an arrangement with the South Warwickshire Clinical Commissioning Group in accessing finance for the development of facilities and a review of car parking opportunities along the Warwick Road will all have detailed business cases developed.  

In addition work on the Corporate Infrastructure Projects endorsed by The Cabinet in June and by Full Council in October last year, to attract external funding to ensure delivery, will continue.  

These include:

Upper Avon Navigation - a joint initiative between Stratford-on-Avon and Warwick District Councils working with the Avon Navigation Trust (ANT) to open up the Upper Avon for navigation between Stratford-upon-Avon and Warwick and connect to the Grand Union canal forming the 'South Warwickshire Waterway'.

Studley Enterprise Centre - the opportunity to boost business growth and jobs in the town through the redevelopment of a County Council owned building into a Venture House style business centre.

Wellesbourne Innovation Campus - an opportunity to build a strong partnership with Warwick University in developing facilities for a new high technology campus at Wellesbourne - attracting inward investment and stimulating economic growth and jobs.

Priory Square Regeneration, Studley - the next phase of development of a disused site in the centre of Studley, working with private developers to create an innovative live/work scheme on the former Co-op site.