 Council Leader Lynne Doherty and Chief Executive Nick Carter look ahead to the coming months as the district begins to recover from the effects of the pandemic. They also discuss the latest developments on virtual council meetings and celebrate the West Berkshire Lottery’s second anniversary.
 On Monday, 29 March we held our fortnightly public Local Outbreak Engagement Board meeting to discuss how we are controlling the spread of Covid-19 in West Berkshire. The next public meeting will take place on Monday, 12 April at 6pm.
 We have set up a COVID-19 Telephone Information Line (01635 503788) for residents who do not access the internet to help keep them informed about the local position around Covid-19.
Callers will be able to select their desired topic from an audio menu, or alternatively they will be able to request to speak to our Community Support Hub if the information that they need is not listed.
This phone line will be updated in line with changes to the Government’s Covid-19 Roadmap out of lockdown.
Please share this information with non-internet users who may find the telephone line useful.
Businesses in West Berkshire are to be offered a comprehensive re-opening support package to align with the Government’s Covid-19 Roadmap out of lockdown.
We’ll be helping local businesses as they begin to resume trading in the coming months, with a range of new initiatives to enable them to operate safely and successfully. The support on offer will include
- A £138,000 ‘Welcome Back Fund’ for events and initiatives to ensure the successful re-opening of high streets
- The offer of site visits from Public Protection Partnership colleagues for advice on Covid-secure trading
- One year complimentary extension to pavement licenses so that hospitality businesses can make use of al fresco dining areas
In addition to this, West Berkshire Council will be matching the Welcome Back Funding to provide an additional £138,000 to specifically support independent businesses.
 Workplace testing programme extended to free rapid home testing
The Government is making lateral flow tests (LFTs) for taking at home available to all businesses with more than 10 employees if the employer cannot offer testing on site. Businesses must register their interest by 12 April in order to get the free LFT kits until the end of June, even if they are not open yet or able to start using the test kits straight away.
This test is not to be used by anyone who has symptoms.
Community Collect - Home test kits at testing sites
Our four testing sites are offering lateral flow home test kits for collection. The home testing kits are for families and support bubbles of children at nurseries, schools and colleges.
Only one person from a household should visit a testing site to collect the kits. They are not required to bring any identification and no appointment is needed. Each home test kit contains seven tests and an individual can have a maximum of two boxes per collection.
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Please note: If you have Covid-19 symptoms please do not use or book a lateral flow test. Instead, you need to book a Covid-19 test by either calling 119 or visiting: www.gov.uk/get-coronavirus-test.
Community Testing operating hours for Easter Week
Our community testing site operating hours have changed in some instances until Monday, 5 April 2021, and after that time for certain days at the Burghfield Community Sports Association and Hungerford Rugby Football Club testing sites.
 Due to a more constrained supply this month, the NHS is urging people who are eligible for a vaccine, but yet to book their first dose, to do so asap.
Fewer appointments will be available for first doses from this week as the bulk of available supplies are used to fully vaccinate people with a second jab.
If you’re aged over 50, a carer or have an underlying health condition, call 119 or visit the button link below to book your COVID-19 vaccination appointment:
Are you feeling anxious about the easing of lockdown? Meeting with groups of friends again within guidelines? Anxiety and negative thought patterns are more common than you think. Learn to overcome these thoughts and feelings by signing up to a free online course from Recovery in Mind: www.recoveryinmind.org
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 West Berkshire has an eggstraordinary array of independent shops selling eggsactly what you need to enjoy the Easter Bank Holiday - including chocolate eggs, delicious food and gifts that are too good to give away. To help you to choose fabulous Easter holiday meals and gifts, here are a handful of ideas provided by local residents.
There are some important changes to collections over the Bank Holidays. In a change to previous years, we will now be collecting your bins on a Bank Holiday. Please make sure your bins are out ready for collection by 6am on the Bank Holiday.
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