Stratford-on-Avon District Council

A potential merger between Stratford and Warwick district councils remains on track following one of two key votes this week.

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Councillors at Monday's full council meeting in Stratford-upon-Avon voted overwhelmingly in favour of further discussions taking place.

A similar vote will be taken at Warwick District Council’s meeting tomorrow.

During a lengthy debate there were calls to delay any decision for six months, but this was rejected.

The leader of Stratford-on-Avon says he is "bitterly disappointed" the area is set to remain under tier three measures.

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Tony Jefferson said while the Conservative-run council had been supportive of measures the government had introduced to keep numbers down "the frustration against this decision still remains, despite being assured of being reviewed at a lower level".

In the seven days to 12 December Public Health England figures showed the area had a rate of 101 cases per 100,000 population up from 54 the previous week.

But, he added, the situation was "complex" and not just about the infections rate and falling cases.

He called on residents to "continue to follow the guidelines and help us to get out of tier three”.

A council has not had an expected response today from the government to its threat of legal action over being placed in tier three of Covid-19 restrictions.

Earlier this month, Stratford-on-Avon District Council said it had sent a judicial review pre-action letter to the health secretary and expected a response today.

However, the local authority said this afternoon the government's legal department had emailed to say it would not respond today.

"It is extremely disappointing that they have as yet not responded to our concerns, we have however been assured that the response will be provided by midday tomorrow," the council added.

A council leader has told the BBC his local authority might not survive the coronavirus crisis saying it's not currently a "going concern".

Councils across Coventry and Warwickshire say they are wrestling with multimillion-pound losses as a result of the lockdown.

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Long-term cuts to council services and tax rises could be implemented as a result of the Coronavirus crisis, councils have said.

Stratford-on-Avon District Council leader Tony Jefferson told BBC CWR: "I think, when you look at the extent of the economic hit we are going to take, then there are some real issues about how we move forward.

"If this was a private sector organisation, at the moment, I would say we could not be considered to be a going concern."

The Green Party has won its first ever seat on Stratford District Council.

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John Riley took the Avenue ward seat from the Conservatives by a majority of 109 votes.

He said he was a left a "little bit surprised" by the result which he described as "historic".

Counting has started at Stratford Leisure Centre in the district and parish council elections.

All 36 seats are being contested on the district council, with the Conservatives expected to retain control.

Previously the council was made up of 27 Conservatives, four Lib Dems, four independent councillors and one vacancy.

Conservative losses across the country reflect anger among voters over Brexit, said Stratford-on-Avon MP, Nadhim Zahawi.

Nationally the party has lost about 400 seats.

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The Education Minister called on voters to rally behind Theresa May's deal.

"Because we haven't been able to deliver Brexit on March 29 we are seeing these results," he said.

"The prime minister has stretched every sinew, she has tried everything."

Counting in Stratford District Council is set to start at 09:00.

Stratford-on-Avon's only Labour councillor has quit the party just weeks ahead of the local elections.

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The town and district councillor Jason Fojtik claims to be the victim of "abuse and bullying" from within the party after publicly disagreeing with the leadership strategy of Jeremy Corbyn.

He was the first Labour councillor to be elected in Stratford since 1974.

He will now stand as an independent in his Clopton ward in the local elections on 5 May.

A West Midlands Labour spokesperson said: "The Labour Party takes any allegations of inappropriate conduct extremely seriously.

"Any specific complaints reported to the party are investigated through our robust and fair procedures".

A district councillor in Stratford-on-Avon has been suspended from the Conservative Party amid allegations of anti-semitism.

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The suspension of councillor for Harbury ward Jacqui Harris was confirmed by party chairman, Brandon Lewis on Twitter.

Confirming the move, a South Warwickshire Conservatives spokesperson said the party had "zero tolerance" for anti-semitism, after the councillor allegedly made remarks questioning the the legitimacy of anti-semitism claims against Labour party members.

The councillor will go through "due process" which will happen very soon, the local party said, but added it "wholeheartedly supports" the suspension.

Councillor Tony Jefferson, Leader of Stratford-on-Avon District Council, said in light of the suspension Ms Harris had resigned from the cabinet, but remained a district councillor.

Ms Harris has been approached by the BBC, but yet to respond to the allegations.

Stratford District councillors say they have agreed the lowest council tax in Warwickshire after agreeing a 1.5% increase at Monday's budget setting meeting.

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It will mean residents living in a band D property will pay £139.12 to the district over the year although other portions of the tax set by Warwickshire Police and county, town and parish councils will take the annual bill to nearly £1,860.

Council leader Cllr Tony Jefferson said: “We are committed to keeping any increases in council tax to a minimum and I can assure you that this budget represents real value for money.

“This will be the lowest within Warwickshire and will be amongst the lowest 10% of district councils in the country.”

Owners of empty homes across the Stratford area will see their council tax bill doubled from the start of April as part of a scheme to reduce the national housing shortfall.

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Since 2013, councils have been able to add an extra 50% on to bills of homes empty for at least two years as part of the Empty Property Council Tax Premium.

New legislation means that those bills can now be doubled.

Across the Stratford district there are currently just over 200 properties which would qualify for the premium, a meeting on Monday heard.

The current council tax exemptions, which include properties of those in hospital or prison or those which are on the market for genuine sale, will still apply.