Statement from Councillor Stephen Cooksey,
Leader of Mole Valley District Council
Councillor Stephen Cooksey, Leader of Mole Valley District Council, said: “The State Funeral on Monday provided the nation with a final opportunity to say our goodbyes and reflect on the life and service of The Queen Elizabeth II. I, like many of you I’m sure, sat wholly consumed by the extraordinary series of events that unfolded over the Bank Holiday, which wonderfully reflected and honoured treasured memories of Her Majesty. We now move into the next chapter in our country’s history and we are ready to support and serve The King.
“Our Neighbourhood Fund public consultation was extended until Friday 30 September 2022 to help maximise engagement. Please have your say and tell us the three priority areas that require improvement in your community. This is just the start of the process and the next steps will be confirmed in the coming months. If you have a family member or friend who you know would like to have their say but does not have access to the internet or is not tech-savvy, please let them know our staff are on hand to help them complete the short multiple choice survey. Anyone who needs assistance can either come to our office reception in Dorking (Monday to Friday 9am – 2.30pm) and use the walk-up PC or phone us on 01306 885001 (Monday to Friday, 8.30am – 5pm), where our Customer Service advisors will fill in the survey on their behalf whilst on the call.
“In support of this year’s The Great Big Green Week (TGBGW), which runs from 24 September to 2 October, we will be actively encouraging residents of all ages to involve themselves in a number of ways to help ease the pressure on our environment. Visit our website to check how you can get involved with TGBGW – from logging your pledge online to joining our refill scheme. Tackling Climate Change cannot of course only be limited to two weeks of the year, and the Green Pages on our website are packed with ideas of how you can live more sustainably.
“From 1 October, we will see a celebration of music, literature, theatre, comedy, painting and photography exhibitions, film and performance arrive once again in Mole Valley as part of the spectacular, month-long Arts Alive Festival. The Festival’s committee is delighted to announce internationally acclaimed film director and author, Tony Palmer, as this year’s Patron. There will be 90 free or low cost online and in-person events for all ages to be immersed in. Further details are available on www.arts-alive.co.uk.
“Residents aged 50 years and older, residents in care homes, those aged five years and over in a clinical risk group – as well as health and social care staff – will be offered a booster of coronavirus vaccine this autumn. You should be offered an appointment between September and December, with those at highest risk being called in first. Appointments can be booked via the National Booking Service. Covid hasn’t gone away and vaccination continues to offer effective protection against serious illness and death from covid-19, so please take this opportunity if you are eligible.”
“Please visit our website to see if you fall in to any of the three categories of persons who are eligible to receive a discretionary grant payment of up to £150. The discretionary grant will either reach residents who did not receive the Energy Rebate payments we made over the summer, or instead provide a small top-up payment for those considered most in need. We will begin to start making payments in the next week or two, direct to anyone we have bank details for or by placing a credit on council tax accounts of residents where we do not have those details.
“Finally, over 40 in-person free events took place in Mole Valley from 9 to 19 September as part of England’s largest festival of history and culture, Heritage Open Days. Several thousands of people enjoyed the fascinating hidden wonders of our district – under the wider ‘Astounding Inventions’ theme – highlighted during this year’s offering. Our thanks go to the great number of people volunteered their time and energy to bring these events alive, enjoying nothing more than welcoming and often educating visitors.