West Berkshire Council has elected a new Chairman for the year ahead. The Chairman is the formal representative of the Council. As well as presiding over Council meetings, the role holder also officiates at civic functions and welcomes distinguished visitors of national and international significance on behalf of the district.
Councillor Clive Hooker was elected Chairman for 2021/22 at our Annual Council meeting on 4 May. He replaces Councillor Graham Pask, who has been Chairman for the past two years.
Speaking about his appointment, the Chairman said: “It's an honour to have been elected as Chairman. I'm looking forward to the year ahead and, Covid permitting, getting out and about to attend local events to represent the Council. On behalf of the Council, I would also like to thank Councillor Pask for his impeccable services to the Council over the past two years."
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The Executive line up for the year ahead was confirmed at West Berkshire Council's Annual Council Meeting on 4 May.
Nine councillors will sit on the Executive, the main decision-making body of the Council. The Executive makes key decisions that either affect two or more wards, or where decisions will have a significant impact on the Council's budget. Each councillor has responsibility for a specific area of responsibility (or portfolio) such as adult social care, environment and waste, and health and wellbeing.
The former Theale Primary School site has been identified as the preferred site to establish a new specialist provision for secondary-age learners with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities. If you'd like to comment on our proposed plan, please complete our 10 minute survey by midnight on Sunday, 13 June 2021.
See the consultation at https://info.westberks.gov.uk/sendprovision
Public webinar to be held at 5pm next Wednesday, 12 May
 We're also holding a public webinar with Councillor Dominic Boeck (Portfolio Holder for Education Service) and Ian Pearson (Head of Education Service) at 5pm on Wednesday, 12 May, which will be streamed live on our YouTube channel.
If you wish to attend the webinar, please register in advance. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.
You can submit questions before the event by e-mailing PR@westberks.gov.uk
 We’re inviting you and your friends, family, colleagues and neighbours to immerse yourself in nature next week through five ways to wellbeing. Spending time in nature makes us feel healthier, happier and more optimistic. Over the past year, for many people, getting out in nature was essential for good mental health and wellbeing and provided an opportunity for exercise and to meet up with friends and relatives.
The "Five Ways to Wellbeing" is a set of proven actions which help to improve our mental health and wellbeing. From 10-16 May, join us by building in some small yet effective activities into your daily lives to better your mental health.
Share your experiences on social media using #fivewayswestberks and #MHAWwestberks.
Nature is a big part of the courses run by Recovery in Mind and the trainers take great pride in providing a variety of activities to help alleviate mental health challenges. Students say they feel better or much better after taking part. A participant said:
"For those who do have mental health challenges, Recovery in Mind is great. The gardening is a perfect way to get lost in what you are doing and it's so rewarding. I'm in a much better place as a result and I’m achieving my goals."
Visit www.recoveryinmind.org and see how the free courses could help you or someone you know improve their mental health and wellbeing.
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 We’re asking people to take part in a new survey to help develop our lifelong learning service to support people at every stage of their lives.
Lifelong learning is about providing good quality learning opportunities for people of all ages to help them develop their lives, work, family and community.
The survey questions focus on the subject and type of courses local people need, including employment, formal qualifications, and professional programmes or courses to support health and wellbeing, communities and families.
The lifelong learning survey is open to those 16+ years of age who live, work or volunteer in West Berkshire.
 A lucky resident has won a £2,000 cash prize in the West Berkshire Lottery. We set up the lottery to help non-for-profit organisations raise funds for their valuable community services.
Our prize winner supports the Newbury District Primary Schools Football Association. Read what the winner and Mr. Adam Page, Sports Coordinator, had to say about West Berkshire Lottery and the football association.
 Both residents and staff at the Notrees Care Home in Kintbury recently enjoyed a fun-filled chick hatching programme. Everyone delighted in watching the chicks hatch and begin to develop in the warmth of the incubator.
During lockdown the staff have been working very hard to find ways to entertain our residents and lift their spirits. The chick hatching experience has been a great way to stimulate memories and encourage the residents to share lovely stories from their lives.
The chicks were provided by Living Eggs, Reading, who run the service for care homes and schools in the area.
Pending confirmation of Step 3 in the Government's Roadmap to Recovery, West Berkshire Museum and Shaw House plan to re-open later this month as follows:
West Berkshire Museum will re-open on Wednesday, 19 May, with a new community-led exhibition called ‘Together' which will explore the courtship and matrimonial traditions of some of the people living in West Berkshire from diverse cultural backgrounds. Other exhibitions include: 'The Stories We Tell', which looks into folk tales and the historical relationship between fact and fiction, and 'A Focus on Pangbourne'. Opening hours: Wednesdays to Saturdays, 10am – 4pm. See more information and Covid security measures.
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Visits to Shaw House and grounds will start on Saturday, 29 May from 11am to 4pm and continue most weekends until Sunday, 26 September, as well as every Monday to Friday during school holidays from 10am to 4pm. Check website for details.
Visitors will be able to explore the new exhibition ‘Dressed for Shaw’ which tells the history of Shaw House through period costume displays. There's also the ‘Dressed for Battle’ civil war exhibition of surviving examples of arms and armour from the Littlecote House collection currently on loan from Royal Armouries Museum.
Tickets are on sale for "Oldilocks and the Three Bears" an indoor, socially distranced puppet theatre show at Shaw House. Garlic Theatre will entertain the whole family with this wonderfully funny and warmhearted story starring a naughty old lady and a scruffy little pigeon! Showings will start on Tuesday, 1 June. Tickets: £9 Adult, £7 Child, and under 2's go for free. Find out more information, including the Covid security measures, and book tickets.
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