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Work has started on the 2024/25 budget with a challenging financial position set to continue into next year.
An increase in demand for our services, inflation making them more expensive to deliver and Government funding below the rate of inflation means we have a £14m gap between the funding we expect to receive and forecast spending requirements next year.
Around £10m has already been found through internal measures such as spend-to-save projects to deliver services more efficiently, removing vacant posts and exploring new income streams. Whilst every effort has been made to protect frontline services, a small number will be impacted by proposals to make savings or generate income. Subject to approval by Executive next week, a consultation will be held to invite residents to have their say on these proposals before any decisions are made.
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Budget 2024/25 - Proposals |
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Subject to approval by the Executive next week, a consultation will be held on proposals to:
- Restructure car parking fees
- Close or find an alternative provider to run Willows Edge Care Home
- Reduce the frequency of grass cutting
- Restructure funding for Adult Social Care transport services
- Reduce funding for gully emptying and bridge maintenance
- Reduce dog waste and non-town centre litter bins
- Reduce the opening hours of the Household Waste Recycling Centres
- Reduce the frequency of annual weed treatments
- Reduce contributions to community transport
- Restructure Adult Social Care Care-Home charges
Further information on each of these proposals and how to have your say will be published on our Consultation and Engagement Hub from Monday 27 November.
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Our Learner Achievement Awards never fail to inspire and motivate. This year is no exception!
Year on year, the awards showcase not only incredible determination, but fantastic stories of people using learning to change the direction of their lives and achieving their goals in difficult circumstances, and often against all the odds.
We had over 60 nominations this year and very difficult choices to make when selecting winners for our nine award categories.
Get ready for a jolly holiday season filled with free bus travel in West Berkshire! This year, we're again excited to announce a fantastic opportunity for residents to embrace the festive spirit without worrying about transport costs.
For a series of Saturdays in November and December, all bus journeys within West Berkshire will be free, providing an excellent chance to explore and enjoy various seasonal events and activities in the run up to Christmas!
Mark your calendars for these special days:
If you start your journey in West Berkshire, your return journey is also FREE, but you need to request a return ticket from the driver when boarding to take advantage of this offer.
For more information on the buses taking part, click here.
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Keep up to date on road closures in your area by using the map of roadworks, including those of utility companies, on our website to plan your journeys. Click the link below for more information.
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We were at Hungerford Town Football Club on Saturday with our Family Placement Team to promote fostering and Shared Lives in West Berkshire. Hungerford Town Football Club are sponsored by our fostering team this year and proudly carry the Foster Now logo on their shirts and it was great to see it in action.
Could you give a child or young person the love and support they need to move forward? You can make a difference even if you can offer just one day a week or month. Find out more about fostering in West Berkshire here.
Over the last few months, we've been working on our pavement resurfacing programme.
This preventative programme is aimed at weatherproofing and strengthening pavements to ensure the condition does not deteriorate further over the winter. The nature of the material means micro surfacing can appear coarse and unfinished when first laid, but will bed in over a period of three months and improve as people walk on it.
This process removes the need to dig out and replace the existing footway, which is structurally sound and significantly reduces the cost and the carbon emissions.
Our Vice Chairman, Cllr Billy Drummond, handed over a wreath on behalf of West Berkshire Council which was then ceremoniously placed at the War Memorial on Platform 1 at Paddington Station. Our wreath sat alongside dozens of others from across the GWR network, forming a poignant display of remembrance.
Also in attendance were Cllr Denise Gaines, Executive Member for Highways, Housing and Sustainable Travel and Ward Member for Hungerford and Kintbury, Deputy Lieutenant Sarah Scrope, Cllr Helen Simpson Mayor of Hungerford and Dianne Loft representing Royal British Legion.
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Watch our Council and Committee meetings in person at our Market Street offices in Newbury and live on our YouTube channel to view the important decisions made by Councillors on issues such as planning, waste and schools.
Upcoming public meetings include:
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The House Project is running a free online energy workshop for 16-25-year-olds on Thursday 23 November from 5-6pm. This workshop will be delivered by care experienced young people who have been trained in Energy Awareness and is open to all young people, care experienced or not.
The workshop will cover:
- Safe home temperatures
- Heat loss in homes
- Draughtproofing
- Condensation dampness and mould
- Meters and bills
- Energy saving tips
If you are interested in joining the workshop, please contact tanya@thehouseproject.org to receive the joining information.
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Come and meet some of our local authors at Newbury Library on Saturday 25 November, any time between 11am and 3pm. Authors from across the district will be showcasing their recently published books, including titles for children and adults, fiction and non-fiction.
Books will be available for sale too which is a great opportunity to support our local authors and buy a book to gift at Christmas!
As the holiday season approaches, West Berkshire is embracing the spirit of Christmas with open arms, offering a dazzling array of events and activities for both locals and visitors.
The Christmas light switch on in Newbury kicks off the season on Saturday, 18 November from 10am with a Christmas market, a children's fun fair, free festive workshops, music and a chance to meet Santa Claus at his grotto. The day of festivities culminates in the eagerly anticipated lights switch on, scheduled for 6pm in the Market Place.
Click here for a full list of events happening across West Berkshire this Christmas.
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Carers Rights Day is on Thursday 23 November and our Adult Social Care team are supporting an event at Thatcham Rugby Club from 1pm-3pm.
On the day there will be advice and information available from Age UK Berkshire/Reading, Eight Bells, Gardner Leader solicitors and a range of other voluntary organisations. Free refreshments and cakes, as well as free parking will be available on the day.
There is no need to pre-book for this event, just turn up on the day. For further information, please email stephen.hammond@ageukberkshire.org.uk or call 01189594242.
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And finally...
- The British Film Academy is running a short course for 16-19 year olds at Pinewood Studios on 6, 13, 20, 27 January and 3 February 2024. Those interested are welcomed to apply online before 19 November 2023. Please contact projects@resource-productions.co.uk or 01753553374 for more information.
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