Planning applications have been submitted for three more flood protection schemes in Thatcham near to Bowling Green Road, Heath Lane and Siege Cross off Floral Way.
These projects are part of an ongoing programme to protect Thatcham following the severe flooding that occurred in 2007. At that time, Thatcham suffered widespread surface water flooding affecting at least 1,100 houses, causing severe hardship and economic losses for both residents and local businesses.
The flood defences have been designed to provide a level of protection up to a 1 in 100 year storm, and a further 40% allowance has been added to take into account future climate change.
We would welcome your comments on the proposals. Details can be found on the council’s planning portal, at planning application numbers: 21/03079/COMIND, 21/03135/COMIND and 21/03154/FUL.
You can read more about the schemes here.
From this Thursday, 27 January, the existing Plan B restrictions will end, meaning;
- You will no longer need to use your Covid Pass to enter larger venues, though some may still use the system voluntarily to help protect you and their staff.
- Face coverings will no longer be mandatory in indoor venues, such as shops and hairdressers.
Last week the advice changed on working from home, if you have spoken to your employer, you can stop working from home.
However, cases are still high, and Omicron is very transmissible indoors and with low ventilation. If you can, please continue to wear a mask when in enclosed environments or visiting vulnerable people.
Self-Isolation – updated rules
With the Omicron variant still impacting Covid-19 infections the government have revised the rules on how long you should self-isolate if you are asymptomatic.
Our infographic illustrates what you should do and when if you test positive and are self isolating.
We want to deliver value for money services and the infrastructure our district needs. We do this by setting an annual budget which includes revenue to fund services such as social care, and a capital budget which will pay for long term projects, such as new school buildings and maintaining our roads.
Councillor Ross Mackinnon, our Executive Member for Finance and Joseph Holmes, Executive Director (Resources) will be online to answer your questions about our budget, and to tell you more about how we've been spending your money this year and our plans for 2022/23.You can also find out more about our Medium Term Financial Strategy - a rolling three-year strategy we have to ensure that the financial resources, both revenue and capital, are available to deliver the Council Strategy.
Join Ross and Joseph live on Facebook at 6.30pm on Monday 7 February.
Join us then to find out more. If you have any questions in advance please email them to pr@westberks.gov.uk
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Book your space on the training course here: https://therebelschool.com/berkshire/
We're looking to develop and support our working relationships with landlords and agents who own/manage/rent properties in the private rented sector. With this aim in mind, we will be running a virtual landlord webinar as a means of providing regulatory updates and sharing best practice of improving standards within private rented accommodation.
Our first webinar will take place on Thursday 10 February, 4:30pm-5:40pm, via zoom. We will cover topics such as:
- DWP relating to Universal Credit claims and how to minimise rent arrears
- West Berkshire Council in relation to homelessness legislation
- West Berkshire Council’s new landlord initiatives
- Shaping the future of landlord engagement in the future for the area
This webinar will be part of wider landlord engagement, which will provide resources to support landlords across West Berkshire and Bracknell Forest.
You can read more and book your spot on the webinar via Eventbrite to receive your unique invite.
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