Page 7 - City Life Magazine - Summer 2021 Edition

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LEADER’S MESSAGE

Dear residents, the pandemic and to do all we can
As this is the first edition of City to support the reopening of shops,
Life since the May local elections, I restaurants and other businesses
would like to take this opportunity affected by COVID. Extra resources
to thank all of those who took to support this objective have
part in the democratic process, already been identified, but
particularly the staff who delivered we remain keen to hear from
this complex set of County Council, businesses and others with any
City Council and Police and Crime further ideas of how the council can
Commissioner elections in uniquely help those in need.
difficult circumstances.
Thirdly, we are determined to
I would also like to thank all those support the renaissance of our city
who put themselves forward as through the deployment of the
candidates. This year a number record-breaking sums of money the
Marc Bayliss of long-serving councillors were Conservative Government has made
unsuccessful in their re-election bids, available. The £18 million Future
and while they were not generally High Streets programme we won
from my party, I would nevertheless last year has been further bolstered
like to record my thanks for their by almost £20 million more from
long and significant contributions to the Government’s Towns Fund.
the life of the council and the city. Together, this once-in-a-generation
One in particular, former Labour investment in Worcester gives us an
Councillor Roger Berry, has given unprecedented opportunity to build
almost 50 years of service to our a city which provides opportunities
City Council and he deserves both for all and which addresses many of
special mention and thanks. Roger the long-term challenges we face
has left a permanent mark on our such as traffic congestion, skills
city and has much to look back on gaps, poor health and low quality
with pride. employment. I am determined that
this investment will be the catalyst
My party had a successful set of for real change in communities right
elections and now holds a one-seat across our city, and not just in the
majority. Notwithstanding that, city centre.
we are committed to working with
colleagues from across all political Amongst our other priorities, we
parties to take the city forward are looking to address a number of
– and our committee system of the issues that frustrate residents
governance means all councillors will and businesses including the
continue to be involved in decision- seagull problem, the low level of
making. enforcement action against those
who park illegally in residential
As a new administration, we areas away from the city centre
have already set out a number of and those who flout planning and
priorities that we hope to achieve licensing laws. Together, our initial
during our time in control of priorities seek to deliver on our
the council. The first of these is manifesto commitments and make
to significantly and appreciably a real difference to the quality of
improve the standards of cleanliness people’s lives and life chances.
across the city. Residents told me
repeatedly during the election that The pandemic has tested us all in
at the moment too often litter bins many ways but as we emerge
are overflowing, the streets are from it, I am optimistic about
not clean enough and there is too Worcester’s future and the
much rubbish lying around. I have opportunities we have before us to
heard that message loud and clear improve our community, economy
and it is why we have already found and society.
an additional quarter of a million
pounds to boost the budget for Kind regards,
street cleaning this year. Marc

Another of our priorities is to Councillor Marc Bayliss
respond to the economic impacts of Leader – Worcester City Council

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