Minutes:
The Chair recalled some events that he had recently attended:
Star Awards
The Council’s STAR Awards celebration event was held on 28th November. The Star Awards are the Council’s annual peer-nominated, peer-judged award scheme. Warwickshire County Council depends on the passion, dedication and hard work of all its employees to deliver the best for the people of Warwickshire. The STAR Awards gives Council employees the opportunity to recognise those colleagues who consistently go above and beyond, improving outcomes for local people, communities, businesses, and staff.
The Chair extended huge congratulations to the winners and finalists and to the 170 colleagues who were nominated in 2022 by their peers.
The Chair’s Award winner was the Warwickshire County Council Commonwealth Games 2022 Project Team. This was a truly great team effort, with credit going to teams in thirteen different service areas. The Council’s contribution to the Commonwealth Games was a huge success and built on six years of successful cycling history for Warwickshire. The games saw the biggest sporting event in Warwickshire history with over 30,000 spectators and several live TV sites across the county that attracted a high number of visitors. The events were two years in the making and there was involvement from over 70 colleagues from across the Council. They worked so successfully, with very many organisations and different systems and protocols. Their work showcased Warwickshire's heritage and beauty which will have boosted Warwickshire's profile for tourism and investment potential both nationally and internationally and will translate into lasting benefits.
British Empire Medal Recipients
Sorrelle Clements had undertaken some amazing work for Coventry Libraries over ten years with a focus on increasing engagement, accessibility and inclusivity. Sorrelle received the award for her services to Libraries.
In response to the emergence of Covid, Lawrence Kelly set up the Wellbeing Sanctuary within the Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust to give colleagues a chance to de-stress In a confidential, safe place. Lawrence went on to help with the successful launch of the Mental Wellbeing App in May 2020. Lawrence received the award for his services to Mental Health. The Chair was impressed with the way he thanked everybody that had worked with him, noting that the work was a team effort and he had received the award on their behalf.
Warwick University
The Chairman had been impressed by a presentation from a group of students who had put together a website with colleagues from various disciplines to help improve the approach to inclusion and exclusion.
Now That's What Nuneaton Calls Music
The Chair invited Councillor Mandy Tromans to share details of a project combining the talents of pupils from 25 different schools from across Nuneaton to record a charity Christmas album. 'Now That's What Nuneaton Calls Music: Christmas Edition 2022'. The project aimed to raise funds for the Nuneaton Community Christmas Lunch Group to cover the cost of lunch at Newtown Centre for those alone across the town on Christmas Day. Any extra funds would be shared with Nuneaton Salvation Army and Nuneaton Foodbank. Councillor Tromans indicated that she would share details of how to purchase a copy of the CD and support the children in their charitable venture.
Babbs Mill Park Lake Tragedy
The Chair noted the sad death of four young children who had fallen into a frozen lake at Babbs Mill Park in neighbouring Solihull on 11 December 2022. Council paid tribute with a one minute’s silence.