Reform UK Rugby, Rugby (2026)

18/06/2026

"THE PARKING, THE CONSERVATIVES AND THE CAMERA”.

In today's news from Cllr Dr Andrew Glowacki……….

This week oscilated around Full Council meeting, where we discussed several issues, including the future of Rugby's CCTV system.

For years, Rugby businesses paid significant sums to Rugby First to operate the service. Following its demise, responsibility is now returning to the Council.

That is not necessarily a bad thing.

It will cost a substantial amount of money, but if it helps keep residents safe, most people would agree that money is being spent for a worthwhile purpose.

The question is what comes next.

Will future upgrades include AI-assisted facial recognition technology?

Let's travel back to 7 October 2024.

In the document called Public Agenda Cabinet 7 October 2024, Agenda Item 7, Section 1.2.1, Rugby Borough Council defines AI-assisted technology as:

"Any system which is able to make decisions based on data without the explicit involvement of a human user and/or receives input from, is modified by or utilises data which has been generated by a Large Language Model (LLM), Generative Adversarial Network (GAN), Neural Network (NN) or other similar structures..."

Notice something interesting.

The document does not specifically mention CCTV.

Instead, it defines what the Council considers AI to be.

When I asked during the meeting whether we were potentially opening the door to AI-assisted facial recognition systems in the future, a Labour councillor very helpfully managed to answer a completely different question.

I was informed that we must remain aware of facial recognition technology and that governance arrangements already exist.

That much is true.

I found the policy. It's the one above.

The real question is how that policy will be interpreted five or ten years from now.

Because today's "absolutely not" has a curious habit of becoming tomorrow's "well, technically..."

"The CONSERVATIVES AND THE CAR PARKS”.

Earlier in the meeting, the Conservatives proposed something rather radical.

No, not free parking.

Not even a trial of free parking.

Not a commitment to free parking.

Simply permission to explore whether free parking in the town centre might be feasible.

That's it.

Just permission given to officers to investigate the possibility.

Town centre businesses have been asking for this discussion for years.

Naturally, we at Reform UK supported the proposal.

If local businesses repeatedly raise the same concern, the least we can do is examine it properly.

To be fair, Labour and the Liberal Democrats did raise some legitimate points.

We were told that free parking had been tried at Christmas and did not produce the desired results.

We were also informed that two hours of free parking could disadvantage disabled residents because they might require longer than two hours. This argument was slightly weakened by the fact that many disabled residents already benefit from Blue Badge parking concessions, but nevertheless it was raised.

We also heard that perhaps three hours would be better than two hours.

Which, oddly enough, sounds like an argument for conducting a feasibility study rather than voting against one.

In the end, Labour's amendment passed.
The vote was 23 to 15 against, sending the proposal off on what I suspect will be a long holiday in the basement of local bureaucracy, where ideas are carefully stored until everyone forgets who asked for them and how long ago.

The vote was recorded by name, so once the minutes are published, I would encourage residents to have a look for themselves and see who voted which way.

After all, transparency is a wonderful thing.

Particularly when politicians are convinced nobody is paying attention.

I'm sure businesses in Rugby are now thrilled to hear that particular news...

17/06/2026

It was an interesting session of full council this evening, so thought I'd give you some thoughts while it's still fresh.

We welcomed the constitutional amendment to establish the Rugby Future Governance Committee. We also welcomed all parties being afforded two seats on the committee as part of the proposal. The future of the town is of great importance to all members, irrespective of political persuasions, and I look forward to working with members across the chamber to ensure that we get the best possible outcomes during the upcoming Local Government Reorganisation.

There was some contention around the Tories' motion for a feasibility review into the prospect of introducing free parking in the town centre. We supported the motion as our feeling was that immediate action was preferable to the Coalitions amendment which will likely delay any decision for a number of months. I don't think members from across the political spectrum were a million miles away on this one, and I'll be seeking for some specific conversations at the town centre regeneration working group in the coming weeks, to see what can be done. There's huge support from business on this, and sometimes listening to key stakeholder feedback would serve a better purpose.

On the topic of the town centre, we supported plans for an upgrade of the aging CCTV equipment in the centre. Public safety should be paramount to any council, and in what appears to be an increasingly dangerous world, this will give reassurance to businesses and shoppers alike.

Best of luck to England tonight in their world cup opener and to England and Scotland for the rest of the tournament 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🇬🇧

Cllr Kyle Stewart
Group Leader Reform UK Rugby

17/06/2026

A successful clean up of some illegal fly tipping in my ward, Newbold and Brownsover. My thanks to RBC officers for their efforts in getting this waste removed and I'll be working with them on the options at our disposal to ensure it doesn't happen again. Keeping our community clean and safe is a huge priority for me, and I am working hard to resolve local issues, raised by local people, just as I promised in the lead up to election.

More to do, more to come.

Cllr Kyle Stewart
Ward Member for Newbold and Brownsover

15/06/2026

Another week, another update from Reform Cllr Dr Andrew Glowacki…….

Let me start with a story this time.
Far, far away, in a land not so far away after all, there grew a hedge. This was no ordinary hedge. This was The Hedge. It grew wild. It grew bushy. It grew precisely where the good people of the Land Far Far Away did not particularly appreciate it growing.
So they turned to their councillor and requested that The Hedge be trimmed.
And so the quest began. Emails were sent. Phone calls were made. Meetings were held. Responsibilities were investigated. Maps were consulted. Departments were contacted.
All in vain.
For it turns out that The Hedge is not merely a hedge. The Hedge, it seems, is.....unowned.
Nobody owns it. Nobody is responsible for it. Nobody appears to know who should be responsible for it. At this point, it seems the good people of the Land Far Far Away may have to take matters into their own honest hands and deal with The Hedge themselves.
Although something tells me that the first brave citizen to approach The Hedge armed with a pair of cutters will shortly afterwards receive a brown envelope through their letterbox informing them that they have interfered with The Hedge without permission.
And that, dear reader, is the precise moment the owner of The Hedge will finally reveal themselves.
At the bottom of the letter.
The Stamp.
The Name.
The Department.
The Office of Ownership.
The comedy goes on...

Moving on.
Last Wednesday (10 June) there was a business meeting. Well, not exactly a meeting for businesses. More a meeting where certain officers and certain councillors explained to local businesses that certain officers and certain councillors are doing everything that can be done to help local businesses.
Remember my post from last week? The bit about:
"If businesses want something done, they need to do it themselves."

Keep that thought in mind.

Now, don't get me wrong. There were some genuinely good ideas presented.
One of my favourites was an application where we could submit ideas for Christmas directly from our phones and watch them appear on a screen in real time. It was actually quite good fun.
I wanted to ask how much we, the Council, spent developing this fun application.

Sadly, councillors were not allowed to ask questions.

There were not many of us there anyway, so who cares.

We were also shown plans for a new public square. A very nice public square. The proposal, if I remember correctly, comes in at around £2 million and involves turning a car park into a space where businesses could place tables and chairs and where occasional live events could be held.

The idea itself wasn't bad.

I only hesitate slightly when I hear the phrase "£2 million project" these days. Mostly because I have spent enough years in Britain watching certain railway projects evolve.
Or perhaps devolve while simultaneously becoming more expensive.
What struck me most, however, was not what was presented.
It was what wasn't. We saw the app. We saw the square. We saw the festivals.

What I failed to spot was the long-term plan.

Perhaps it was presented while I went to the loo. That is entirely possible.
But it would have been dramatically short presentation...

Now don't misunderstand me.
I like festivals. In fact, if it were up to me, there would be something happening in Rugby every weekend throughout the summer. Music, food, markets, sport, heritage events — the more reasons people have to come into town, the better. The issue isn't that we have festivals. The issue is that festivals last a weekend.

What happens on Monday?

What happens in November?

What happens when the marquees come down, the music stops and everyone goes home?
That's where I think we need a longer-term vision. Not instead of festivals.
Alongside them.
Something that gives people a reason to visit Rugby not just for a weekend, but throughout the year.

And that question led me down an interesting rabbit hole.

Did you know Rugby has its very own Nobel Prize winner?

And not for literature.

Not for peace.

For Physics.

How cool is that?

Now, hands up. How many of you knew that?
Because I certainly didn't.

And if we, the people who actually live here, don't know these things, how exactly is anybody visiting Rugby supposed to know them?

Did you know Rugby had a castle?
I didn't.

Did you know how much railway and engineering history is tied up with this town?
Neither did I.

Perhaps the problem is not that Rugby lacks a story. Perhaps the problem is that Rugby is not telling it. Therefore I am pleased to say that discussions with local businesses are continuing. Progress is slow, but conversations are taking place. There are people willing to engage, willing to contribute ideas and willing to think long-term.
So, as we were advised last week, we shall try to do it ourselves.

So there you have it.
Another week in local government.
The Hedge remains ownerless.
The flooding remains wet.
The businesses remain impatient.
And I remain convinced that Rugby has far more potential than we give it credit for.

This week taught me something rather interesting. Rugby does not seem to suffer from a shortage of ideas. What Rugby suffers from is a shortage of people connecting those ideas together into a long-term vision.

Perhaps that is something we can improve.

In the meantime, I shall continue chasing answers, attending meetings, annoying officers with questions and occasionally discovering pieces of Rugby's history that make me wonder why nobody talks about them.

As always, if there is an issue affecting you, your street or your community, please get in touch.

And if anyone happens to know who owns The Hedge, I would be delighted to hear from you (via email please [email protected])

15/06/2026

🧠 This Men's Mental Health Week, let's break the silence.

Too many men in our communities suffer in silence, feeling they must “just get on with it.” The pressure of work, family responsibilities, and societal expectations takes a heavy toll — and it’s costing lives. No man should feel alone or ashamed to ask for help.

If you’re struggling, please reach out. Talk to a mate, a family member, or contact your local GP or NHS mental health services.

Check in on the men in your life this week. A simple “How are you really?” can make all the difference.
Men’s mental health matters. Let’s support one another.

Cllr Kyle Stewart

14/06/2026

Your Reform UK councillors Kyle Stewart and Andrew Glowacki took part in the Civic Sunday Service at St Andrew's Church this morning. It was wonderful seeing so many members of the local community in attendance and thanks to all the contributers taking part in the service.

10/06/2026

Rugby Reform UK Expresses Deep Sympathy for Victim of Horrific Belfast Stabbing and Calls for Urgent Action on Immigration and Public Safety

Rugby Reform UK is profoundly saddened and horrified by the brutal stabbing in North Belfast that has left a local man fighting for his life.
Our thoughts and deepest sympathies are with the victim, Stephen Ogilvie, and his family and friends at this incredibly difficult time. We also wish to commend the bravery of members of the public that came to Mr Ogilvie's aid prior to the arrival of emergency services at the scene. No one should have to endure such a violent and terrifying attack on the streets of the United Kingdom.

This shocking incident, involving a 30-year-old Sudanese asylum seeker highlights the severe failures in our immigration and integration policies. The graphic footage circulating online is truly barbaric and has rightly caused widespread anger and concern among communities across the country. Reform UK has long warned that uncontrolled mass immigration, particularly from high-risk regions without proper vetting and integration, puts British lives at risk. Events like this in Belfast are not isolated; they are symptoms of a broken system that prioritises political correctness over the safety and security of our citizens.

Time and time again, the British people has rejected mass uncontrolled migration, and have been repeatedly and deliberately ignored by a political establishment pushing an agenda of multiculturalism at any cost. Enough is enough,
and open border policies need to be rejected and the systems implemented to support them dismantled. The public deserves full transparency about the attacker’s background, immigration status, and any prior incidents.
Rugby Reform UK stands shoulder to shoulder with communities in Belfast and across the United Kingdom who are demanding real change. We call on the government to put British people first, restore law and order, and prevent such tragedies from happening again

Rugby Reform Group Leader
Kyle Stewart
Cllr. for Newbold & Brownsover

07/06/2026

Reform U.K. Rugby promised Rugby Residents and businesses transparency and accountability if elected onto Rugby Borough Council. Here’s an honest update of last week’s issues and events from Dr Andrew Glowacki , Reform UK Councillor for Admirals and Cawston Ward RBC

‘Another week, another batch of nonsense. Or, as it is more commonly known, local government.

First of all, thank you to everyone who interacted with my previous post. The comments, shares, likes and even the occasional disagreement are all appreciated. Democracy works best when people engage.

A few people suggested that the issues I've been encountering are simply down to me not yet understanding how local government works. After all, everyone knows roads belong to Warwickshire, parks belong to Rugby, hedges belong to Warwickshire, trees belong to Rugby, except when they don't, in which case they belong to Warwickshire again. Simple.

Or perhaps not.

Recently, a resident asked me to help with some overgrown hedges and trees. A straightforward request, you would think. I was initially told the matter was Warwickshire County Council's responsibility. Off I went down the rabbit hole.

Warwickshire kindly informed me that they maintain twelve specific trees in the area. Not eleven. Not thirteen. Twelve. I was even provided with their addresses, as though the trees might receive post. The remaining trees, however, are maintained by Rugby Borough Council.

Three weeks later, I am still trying to establish who is responsible for some of the greenery in that area.

So please don't assume that because Google says something belongs to one council, it actually does. Sometimes the councils themselves aren't entirely sure.

This is exactly what many of us have been saying for years. The structure of local government is overly complicated, responsibilities are scattered everywhere, and ordinary residents are expected to navigate it all as though they are applying for security clearance at MI5.

Meanwhile, another week has been spent in meetings, phone calls, emails and discussions. All with one objective: trying to make Rugby a better place to live, work and run a business.

Which brings me to the continuing saga of a small café and dessert shop in the town centre.

The circus rolls on.

Most councillors appear remarkably uninterested and those who do, seem to be doing it for publicity rather than actual help. The owner of the building is increasingly worried about losing another tenant. This week, for the first time, I saw tears.

And before anyone says "it's only a shop", remember this: when business owners start crying about the future of their businesses, everyone should pay attention.

Because if small businesses disappear, empty units arrive. Empty units attract fewer visitors. Fewer visitors mean less trade. Less trade means more closures. Before long, everyone is wondering why the town centre feels abandoned.

And this is not an isolated case.

I've now heard of another business closing - after more than twenty years! Another considering doing the same. Two more are concerned about their future.

That should concern every resident, regardless of political persuasion.

A few days ago, I spent two hours discussing ideas for supporting local businesses and regenerating Rugby town centre with a council officer.

Two hours.

The conclusion?

"If businesses want something, they should do it themselves."

Now, self-reliance is admirable. Most business owners have built their livelihoods through exactly that. But when every solution begins and ends with "someone else should do it", one starts to wonder what regeneration departments are regenerating.

In other news, I was approached by a young resident concerned about safety at night due to part-night street lighting.

Another seemingly simple issue.

Another rabbit hole.

The policy dates back to 2013. The evidence most commonly relied upon comes from a study published in 2015 which concluded that reducing street lighting did not increase crime.

Fair enough.

But 2015 was over a decade ago.

Since then, our economy has changed, our communities have changed, our demographics have changed, our patterns of crime have changed, and our understanding of public safety has changed.

Yet we still seem to be making decisions based on assumptions formed when David Cameron was Prime Minister and most of us thought inflation was something that happened to other countries.

Perhaps the study is still correct.

Perhaps it isn't.

What I do know is that statistics and reality do not always meet for a cup of tea.

Official figures may say one thing, while residents tell a different story. The truth is usually somewhere in the middle.

So the question is not whether crime rises by 0.3% or falls by 0.4%.

The question is much simpler:

Are we comfortable with our children walking home through dark streets?

Are we comfortable with our wives, daughters, mothers and grandmothers feeling unsafe when they return home after dark?

If the answer is no, then perhaps it is time to revisit some old assumptions.

Finally, for those wondering what your Reform UK councillors are actually doing behind the scenes:

The meetings are happening.
The phone calls are happening.
The emails are happening.
The discussions with businesses are happening.
The discussions with residents are happening.

And somehow, we've managed to consult local people without spending over a million pounds on consultants to tell us what local people think.

Who knew it could be done?’

--
Dr Andrzej Glowacki DVM MRCVS
BSAVA PGCert.SAECC AVP
Emergency and Critical Care Medicine
FCert Geriatric Medicine
WSAVA Cert.Pain Management

03/06/2026

LOCAL BUSINESS LEADERS RAISE CONCERNS OVER RUGBY TOWN CENTRE REGENERATION

A meeting was recently held with Simon Hawker, owner of Yum Yum’s children’s play facility in Rugby Town Centre and Angela McDonnell both members of the Rugby Business Group - together with newly elected Reform UK Rugby Councillors Kyle Stewart and Dr Andrew Glowacki .

This followed an online request by the Business Group members for engagement with Rugby Councillors.

During the meeting, serious concerns were raised regarding Rugby Borough Council’s approach to town centre regeneration and the impact current policies are having on local businesses.

Mr Hawker highlighted Rugby Borough Council consultancy expenditure in excess of £1.6 million relating to town centre regeneration projects - over £1 million in consultancy fees since Labour, supported by the Liberal Democrat’s , took over running RBC . This information was obtained through a Freedom of Information request. He questioned whether this expenditure has delivered tangible benefits for existing businesses and expressed concern that much of the focus appears to be on residential development rather than supporting commercial activity, attracting new business and increasing footfall.

A central question raised during the discussion was whether Rugby Borough Council’s priority is to facilitate residential development or to create a vibrant, economically sustainable town centre that supports businesses, residents and attracts visitors.

Mr Hawker stated that local businesses are facing increasing financial pressures and that many feel excluded from meaningful consultation regarding the future of the town centre. Concerns were also raised about transparency surrounding the former Business Improvement District (BID), including questions regarding the use of levy funds collected from local businesses over a number of years and the circumstances leading to the RBC run Company - Rugby First - which controlled and managed the now defunct BID - now being in liquidation.

Particular concern was expressed about the future of Rugby Central and the potential loss of further retail and commercial space. Those present argued that regeneration should place greater emphasis on supporting existing businesses, attracting new enterprises and creating reasons for people to visit and spend time in the town centre.

Mr Hawker also referred to the Rugby Town Centre Regeneration Strategy commissioned in 2022/23 at a reported cost of £203,462 and questioned the extent to which its recommendations have been implemented.

In addition, concerns were raised regarding planning and licensing processes and what some business owners perceive to be inconsistent or overly burdensome approaches to regulation. The recent issues surrounding RBC threatening enforcement action against the fascia signage at 7th Heaven Bakery were cited as an example of the difficulties experienced by local businesses.

Mr Hawker has indicated that he is considering temporarily closing Yum Yum’s due to rising costs and ongoing challenges facing town centre businesses. If this occurs, it would represent the loss of a popular family facility within the heart of Rugby.

Those attending the meeting agreed that successful regeneration should be driven by the needs of local residents, businesses and visitors, and called for greater transparency, stronger engagement with business owners and a renewed focus on measures that increase town centre footfall , attract new businesses and improve economic activity.

Reform Councillors will be engaging with local businesses for their views and looking for answers from the Council to the many issues raised by Business Group members .

NB Picture of £10,000 note Is imaginary and part of caricature depiction rather than real fine imposed on the shop.

30/05/2026

I was driving home from work the other day thinking about the last two weeks — my first proper two weeks as a councillor. And I’ll admit something honestly: there is far more time, effort and detective work involved in this role than most people probably realise.

Over the past few days, I’ve been contacted by several residents from Cawston and surrounding areas. The issues sounded simple enough at first glance: concerns about a school closure, overgrown trees, parking problems, traffic issues. Everyday local matters. Nothing dramatic. Nothing you’d imagine would require the navigational skills of an explorer crossing the Atlantic for the first time in human history.

So naturally, I thought: “Right, let’s get these sorted.”

I deal with complicated situations with multiple unknowns on a daily basis in my professional life, and thankfully I’m usually quite effective at solving them but just to stay on a safe side I started with the school question (why is it closing, what's the plan for it later). I went to Rugby Borough Council and asked which officer deals with education matters.

Warwick.

Well… not directly Warwick, just someone in Warwick. An email to Warwick County Council. Possibly the education department. Or maybe another department. “Someone will know.”

Right then. So answering a relatively simple question suddenly became less “local democracy” and slightly more “escape room challenge”.

Next issue: parking. Residents explained that emergency vehicles are struggling to get through some roads. Serious matter. So off I went again to ask who deals with roads and parking.

Warwick again.

Except some parking matters may be under Rugby. Depending on the road. Or the markings. Or perhaps the alignment of the planets that particular morning. Another email sent. “Someone will know.”

Then came overgrown trees reported by residents. Surely this one would be straightforward?

Maybe Warwick. Maybe Rugby. Maybe greenery services somewhere. Maybe another department entirely. Two more emails. “Someone will know.”

Traffic management system discussions? Warwick again.

At this point I’m beginning to suspect that somewhere beneath Warwickshire there’s a giant secret control room with one exhausted person operating every road sign, tree branch and parking bay with a large lever labelled “CONFUSE EVERYBODY”.

Now, to be absolutely clear — every officer I’ve met at Rugby Borough Council so far has been genuinely helpful, professional and welcoming. I mean that sincerely. Everyone has tried their best to point me in the right direction.
But we all seem to be hitting the same wall: responsibilities are spread so broadly between councils, departments and agencies that even relatively straightforward issues can become surprisingly difficult to navigate. Matters that residents understandably expect to be simple sometimes turn into the administrative equivalent of the Augean Stables.

And then there’s another issue currently unfolding in Rugby town centre.

A small independent business — one serving genuinely excellent desserts and sweets — is now facing enforcement action regarding signage placed on the façade of a Grade II listed building. Naturally, listed buildings matter. Heritage matters. Protecting the character of Rugby matters.

But so do local businesses.

Enforcement sounds intimidating because, frankly, it is intimidating. The business owner is worried. The building owner is worried. Yet some councillors appear entirely unbothered by the possibility of placing additional pressure on a small independent business operating in an already struggling town centre.

And I can’t help wondering: where is the balance?

Why not work with the business instead of reaching for confrontation? Why not allow gradual adjustments to the façade over time? Why not say:
“You’ve made a mistake. Let’s fix it properly together.”

Because here’s the uncomfortable truth: if we continue making it harder for independent businesses to survive, eventually there won’t be much left to protect. No thriving shops. No bustling centre. No investment. No business rates. No money to maintain those beautiful historic buildings we rightly care about.
But a town centre cannot survive on heritage alone. It also needs people brave enough to open businesses, employ staff, take risks and keep the place alive.

Perhaps as councillors we need to remember that sometimes protecting a town also means, or maybe first of all, protecting the people trying to build something within it.

(picture: the £10000 notice is imaginary and part of caricatural depiction of the situation, rather than real fine imposed on the shop)

Reform UK Rugby

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