 We have published an emerging draft plan for the Local Plan Review up until 2037 for you to review and provide feedback. We want everyone's input to help us shape this plan further before it is submitted to the government for examination in 2021.
The draft plan's vision is for well-designed and sustainable development to make West Berkshire a welcoming place for all. It includes areas proposed for sustainable development for new homes, employment and other land uses along with the associated infrastructure requirements.
There are also proposed new policies for contributing to the health and wellbeing of residents, minimising the demand for energy, and protecting the climate, including the water environment.
Please read the draft plan and provide your feedback on the Local Plan Review consultation portal by 5 February 2021.
You can also read and download a copy of draft plan here.
 For the year ahead (2021/22) West Berkshire has to balance the budget and save a further £7.3 million.
How would you decide to do this?
Let us know by taking our online Budget Challenge. Once you enter, you get to allocate spending across our services and see the impact of your choices using the budget simulator.
You could, for example, suggest changes to Council Tax and other services we might invest in. The key is that the overall budget has to balance. You also need to think carefully about how people will be affected by the choices that you make.
Once the challenge has closed we will look at where residents chose to spend the money, and use this to help inform how we set budgets in the future.
Find out more about the Budget Challenge.
Take the Challenge.
 Pay less for your energy
West Berkshire residents are being invited to sign up for the Big Community Switch for free and save on their energy bills. This is a no-obligation energy switching scheme which gives people the opportunity to group together and pay less for their energy. Electric or dual fuel can be switched.
Since 2016, more than 7,600 households across West Berkshire have switched, enabling them to access renewable energy and save an average of £270 per year in energy bills against standard tariffs.
Register or find out more.
Participants will need to have their latest energy bill to hand, as details will be requested in the registration process.
 A major new master planning study on the future uses of Newbury Town Centre is being developed over the next 9 months.
Please help guide the development of this study by filling out a 10 minute online survey. Your participation will help us identify the town’s needs and is the first step in our broad engagement with the local community.
Take the 10 minute online survey
Read more about the Masterplan.
The Housing Allocation Policy will be moving from a points-based system to a new banding system which is easier to understand and administer.
As part of the proposed change there will be new criteria to ensure social housing is allocated to residents most in need of it. This will assist people such as armed forces personnel and keyworkers who need to access affordable housing through an easy-to-understand A-D banding system.
All current applicants will need to re-register and will be notified by the housing team over the coming weeks about how to do this. Support and assistance will be made available from the housing team to help applicants throughout these changes.
We will be revamping HomechoiceWestBerkshire (our Choice Based Lettings system) in the New Year. The website will be easier to navigate and contain a frequently asked questions section.
The change to the Housing Allocation Policy, which follows the consultation held earlier this year, is set to be approved by our Executive decision-making group next week. Keep an eye on our website, Facebook and Twitter for more details.
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We all need a break over Christmas including our fantastic Veolia collection crew, so we will be collecting your rubbish and recycling on different days to normal over the Christmas and New Year festive period.
You should have received a bin hanger with the revised collection dates but just in case you need a reminder, you can also check them online. All collections will be back to normal on 18th January 2021.
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 As a reminder, free parking will be available in our Council car parks throughout the day from tomorrow as follows:
- 17 December - Newbury, Pangbourne, Theale
- 18 December - Thatcham
- 21 to 25 December - All Council-run car parks
- 19, 20, 26, 27 December - Council's staff car park in Market Street, Newbury
Please observe Covid-19 safety rules at all times and wear masks in enclosed car parks.
See more details about the free car parking.
 Chance to win £100 shopping voucher by participating in our survey
We want to understand where we should focus our work to improve health and wellbeing services for our residents. Please share your thoughts with us in our Health and Wellbeing Survey. By completing our survey you can enter the draw to win a £100 shopping voucher.
Go to survey
The final strategy is due to published early next year. For any questions, please contact berkshirewestwellbeing@gmail.com
 With Christmas around the corner we would like to encourage eligible residents to get their FREE flu vaccine booked now in order to help you stay well this winter. If you have been invited by your GP to have the vaccine please take it up.
With Covid-19 in circulation this winter it is especially important that those who are eligible get vaccinated. If you’re not sure if you are eligible speak to your GP today or visit the NHS website.
The flu virus strikes in winter and it can be far more serious than you think, especially if you are in one of the at-risk groups. The flu vaccine not only helps protect you against flu and serious complications, but also helps protect more vulnerable family members and friends.
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