CLERKS REPORT – JANUARY 2021

• A grant application from the Baptist Church has now been received – this will be included on the March Agenda for consideration. • Gloucestershire Highways have confirmed that the notices regarding the Parking Traffic Regulation Order have been posted onsite and can be found online at https://www.gloucestershire.gov.uk/highways/traffic-regulation- orders-tro-and-traffic-schemes/ • Small Businesses can be supported by purchasing a gift voucher for use when they re-open after lockdown – for more information go to https://www.forlocal.uk/ • Drains along the Coln Road – Gloucestershire Highways have confirmed that there is a collapsed/broken pipe – repairs will be carried out w/c 18 th January 2021 under a temporary road closure. • Play Equipment – under the current rules (although this may change) the play equipment is still permitted to be used. Early this year I did put up some notices about space and hand washing and I will check these are still in place on my next visit. • Plaque for Memorial Bench in The Square – this is ready to be fitted and will be done shortly. • Work being carried out on a property in The Square. Urgent repair work is being undertaken, which doesn’t require a planning application. CDC is working with the owners to submit a LBC for minor works required. • I have completed a survey put out about Road Safety put out jointly by GAPTC, Office of the Police & Crime Commissioner and Gloucestershire Constabulary. • Received/responded to correspondence from an individual who is collating information on schemes to reduce speeds within the Cotswold villages. • Code of Conduct – The Monitoring Officer at CDC is recommending that the District Council adopt the Model Template and if they do – I will recommend that the Parish Council follows suit.

COTSWOLD DISTRICT COUNCIL:

Council welcomes Robert Weaver as Chief Executive Robert Weaver has today been welcomed into his new role as Chief Executive of Cotswold District Council. Rob joins Cotswold District Council from Tewkesbury Borough Council where he was formerly Deputy Chief Executive. He has also worked for Stroud District Council and High Peak & Staffordshire Moorlands District Council - two authorities that have an alliance or shared senior management team. Speaking about his new role, Rob, said: "It’s great to officially get started here at Cotswold District Council. This past year has been an incredibly tough year for everyone, but the Covid-19 pandemic has shown just how much can be achieved by working collectively and harnessing the power of voluntary and community groups. CDC is a council that is keen to embrace the future and to tackle the key challenges facing the district. “One of the things that really attracted me to this role, was the fact that CDC is clearly on a journey to transform and modernise service delivery and the way we engage with our businesses and communities. “I’m really excited to get to work with staff and councillors to look creatively and innovatively at how we can look to deliver on the Council’s priorities, such as supporting our local economy to recover quickly from Covid, working with partner Council’s and the NHS on vaccination efforts, protecting and enhancing our natural environment and addressing the housing shortage here in the District.

Rob takes over from Christine Gore, who has acted as Interim Chief Executive Officer from July to December 2020 Christine Gore will resume her position as Executive Director (Commissioning) with Publica, the Council’s service delivery company. As Chief Executive, Rob will also assume the roles of the Council’s Head of Paid Service, Returning Officer and Electoral Registration Officer. Councillor Joe Harris, Leader of Cotswold District Council said: “I am delighted to be able to welcome someone of Rob’s calibre to the post of Chief Executive. Rob is a rising star in local government and I look forward to working alongside him to deliver this Council’s ambitious agenda.”

Covid 19 Business Grants – To help businesses through this, CDC are adopting an approach of a single application, after which they will contact businesses directly to seek confirmation of their continued eligibility for new grants as they become applicable.

• made a previous successful application for a business grant since November 2020 (or have an application pending) we will email you by the 22 January 2021. You do not need to do anything until we email you. • not made a previous application then you will be able to apply for the current and previous grants since the beginning of November 2020 in one application. Applications will open during the week commencing 18 January 2021.

For full details visit their website https://www.cotswold.gov.uk/businessgrants

Electric Vehicles - Cotswold District Council’s Cabinet has approved an ambitious strategy and delivery programme to support residents and businesses in the transition to Electric Vehicles by installing charging points across the Cotswolds. Demonstrating its commitment to reducing carbon emissions across the District, the Council has adopted a new Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging Strategy that will accelerate the delivery of electric vehicle charging infrastructure throughout the district. For further information go online https://www.cmis.cotswold.gov.uk/CMIS5/Document.ashx?czJKcaeAi5tUFL1DTL2U E4zNRBcoShgo=Rub4LU8O4zOrt%2bYilEvcyRBYU4e2QHiW4OqPlcycieDyBM4Av yF9XA%3d%3d&rUzwRPf%2bZ3zd4E7Ikn8Lyw%3d%3d=pwRE6AGJFLDNlh225F5 QMaQWCtPHwdhUfCZ%2fLUQzgA2uL5jNRG4jdQ%3d%3d&mCTIbCubSFfXsDGW 9IXnlg%3d%3d=hFflUdN3100%3d&kCx1AnS9%2fpWZQ40DXFvdEw%3d%3d=hFfl UdN3100%3d&uJovDxwdjMPoYv%2bAJvYtyA%3d%3d=ctNJFf55vVA%3d&FgPlIEJ YlotS%2bYGoBi5olA%3d%3d=NHdURQburHA%3d&d9Qjj0ag1Pd993jsyOJqFvmyB 7X0CSQK=ctNJFf55vVA%3d&WGewmoAfeNR9xqBux0r1Q8Za60lavYmz=ctNJFf55 vVA%3d&WGewmoAfeNQ16B2MHuCpMRKZMwaG1PaO=ctNJFf55vVA%3 d

Advice for Flooding Issues https://cotswold.gov.uk/environment/flooding/

Gloucestershire Community Rail Partnership is consulting with the public to understand the current transport issues and needs in our local communities, and to form views on the future shape of travel for Gloucestershire as we move into 2021.

Gloucestershire Community Rail Partnership is a new organisation formed in 2020 bringing together all the local authorities, the LEP, rail and bus operators, Active Gloucestershire, Visit Gloucestershire, Access Gloucestershire, the University of Gloucestershire and other key partners. Although the Community Rail Partnership focuses on rail, it is really committed to helping the whole transport system work - including the use of buses, walking, cycling, community transport, motorcycling and taxis alongside rail use.

The Community Rail Partnership wants to get a sense of how recent challenges have impacted on travel behaviour in the County. There's only 10 key questions to answer and it is quick and easy to complete! Please use the link below: https://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/GlosTravelSurveyIndividual/

Note that the survey is anonymous and Community Rail Partnership will be looking at the results as a big picture. Please try and answer all questions if you can but you can skip over any that do not apply to you or that you do not wish to answer. If you have any questions please contact Community Rail Partnership at [email protected]

PLEASE NOTE CLOSING DATE FOR THIS SURVEY IS FRIDAY 26TH FEBRUARY 2021

COVID -19 Vaccination Scam

There have been reports of a new scam where a person receives a text saying they need to book a vaccination appointment and it takes them to a fake NHS form which then asks for their bank details to prove their identity.

The NHS will never ask for banking information.

There is a texting scam leaflet you can download here: https://cfa.nhs.uk/resources/downloads/fraud-awareness/covid-19/COVID- 19_SMS_and_Text_Message_Scams.pdf

The scam has been reported in the media here: https://www.express.co.uk/life- style/science-technology/1378158/NHS-Covid-19-Vaccination-Vaccine- Appointment-Pfizer-BioNTech-Text-Scam-How-To-Avoid