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The Faraday Road football pitch in Newbury had its grand reopening on Sunday. Delivering on a commitment made in the new Council Strategy 2023-27 there were speeches, Under 8's five-a-side games and a penalty shoot out. All this was preceded by a special 'good luck' message from former England and Arsenal captain Tony Adams.
Our Countryside team have been working hard for months to get the pitch ready and it was great to see the teams from AFC Newbury Boys and Girls FC and CSA 07 FC play so brilliantly and be so well supported by the local community.
Thank you and congratulations to everyone who supported the reopening of the pitch and the opening celebrations. It’s official, football is back at Faraday Road!
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Review of polling districts and polling places |
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We're required to review polling districts and polling places at least once every five years to ensure that residents have reasonable facilities, and everyone is able to vote without barriers, including accessibility for those with a disability.
The Boundary Commission for England has recently reviewed parliamentary constituency boundaries, and as a result, West Berkshire will have two constituencies: Newbury and Reading West, and Mid Berkshire. This review of polling districts and polling places will pick up these changes and ensure our polling districts are ready for the next general election when the amended areas come into force.
We'd like to hear your views on your current polling place, any problems you’ve encountered and what alternatives you would recommend. Please take part in our survey by midnight on 12 December. It will take around ten minutes to complete. If you have any questions, contact the team at pollingreview@westberks.gov.uk
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 Recent polling suggests nearly 60% of households at risk from flooding do not believe their homes could flood. Just because flooding hasn't happened to you in the past, it doesn't mean it won't happen. With winter weather on its way, make sure you know what to do in a flood.
According to the Environment Agency, the average cost of a home flooding is around £30,000 and also brings a significant risk to life and impact on the mental health of those people whose homes are flooded.
The good news is that there are some simple things you can do to prepare for flooding, which could help keep you and your family safe, and save you thousands of pounds in damages and disruption.
For more information and to find out if you are at risk, visit the prepare for flooding page on GOV.UK to get prepared.
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With over 1,500 members of staff corporately, plus additional members of staff working across our local schools and education settings, we're one of the largest employers in the area. There are lots of reasons to consider a career with us - from the wide range of services we provide to the training and benefits we offer.
Current vacancies include:
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Our next forum focusses on rural issues, a topic that affects many residents across the district.
The forum will be held on Tuesday 5 December at Club Room, Chieveley Village Hall, 6.00-8.00pm. The forum will operate as a hybrid meeting so that people can attend in person or online via zoom.
We understand that issues such as security, public transport, and housing significantly impact on quality of life. Our forum will focus on crucial aspects including:
- Working with the Community
- Rural Housing
- Transport
- Insights from the Rural Business Forum
This forum is an opportunity for your voice to be heard.
Please confirm your attendance, whether in person or virtually, by emailing Executivecycle@westberks.gov.uk so we can keep an eye on numbers and contact those wishing to attend if needed.
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We’re excited to have officially opened a brilliant learning space at The Willink School in Burghfield.
The project, which cost almost £3 million, provided the two-storey building to make sure there was room for 75 more pupils from a nearby new housing development and to give everyone at the school the best possible learning and teaching environment.
Find out more, see the ribbon cutting and hear why Willink students love their new building here.
Residents are invited to participate in the next Health Scrutiny Committee meeting by submitting questions to us.
The next meeting will focus on: Emotional Wellbeing of Children, Children and Adolescent Mental Health Services, and Maternal Mental Health. Colleagues from the NHS and West Berkshire Council will be presenting reports on these topics and answering Members’ questions.
Residents can submit questions by emailing them to Executivecycle@westberks.gov.uk by 1 December 2023. These questions may then be answered during the meeting, on Tuesday 12 December 2023, 1.30pm – 4pm in the Council Chamber at our Market Street offices.
Councillor Martha Vickers, chair of the Committee said: “the purpose of Scrutiny is to assist in improving health services locally and we welcome input from members of the public. We are increasingly aware of the importance of early identification and treatment of mental health problems in the Early Years. The Committee has explored topics such as access to primary care, dementia diagnosis, and NHS dentistry in the past and we would be keen to hear suggestions from you for future topics.”
The Health Scrutiny committee encourages residents to participate by suggesting topics of interest through a user-friendly form available online, emphasising the importance of community input in shaping the health services that affect their lives. You can find out more information on our website.
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 L-R: Nigel Lynn, CEO of West Berkshire Council and Robin Askew, Principal & CEO of Mary Hare School
Ensuring we provide services and consider all our residents needs is important to us and we headed over to Mary Hare School to find out what we can do to help children find work experience in this ever changing corporate climate.
We are proud to have Mary Hare School, which is the largest school for deaf children and young people in the UK, here in Newbury. The school welcome deaf students from Reception to Year 13 (aged 4 - 19) and students are immersed in the English language, both spoken and written.
Nigel Lynn, our Chief Executive said;
“We want West Berkshire to be as inclusive as possible and we cannot do that without talking to people. The discussion with students and teachers at Mary Hare helped us to understand what we as a council can do to make the district more inclusive to all those who live, work and go to school here.”
 L-R: Cllr Denise Gaines and Nick Dale, WBC Principal Engineer
In a bold stride toward efficiency, we are revolutionising road maintenance with Artificial Intelligence (AI). Our partnership with Vaisala sees AI technology integrated into some of our inspection vehicles, digitally capturing images of road conditions, signs, and markings. This innovative approach allows us to predict potential faults, optimising decisions for future investments and maintenance.
The AI's analytical prowess provides layered data analysis, mapping out defects efficiently. This ground-breaking initiative not only ensures a proactive approach to road management, but also significantly reduces costs as we are committed to driving progress and safety on our roads.
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We value your views on the decisions we take. There are several areas we are currently holding consultations on, including:
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 The first 1001 days of a baby’s life include pregnancy and their first 2 years and is a significant and influential phase in development.
What happens during this period lays the foundation for every child’s future health, wellbeing, learning and earnings potential. It sets the groundwork for emotional wellbeing, resilience and adaptability, the competencies they need to thrive.
Our Family Hubs are on hand to offer a range of services to support families, parents and carers.
 We’re supporting Safeguarding Adults Week. If you suspect an adult is being taken advantage of, speak up now. Call 01635 519056 or visit our website.
Safeguarding adults is everyone’s business.
 In early November, the Council’s Executive discussed a Motion, proposed by Cllr Adrian Abbs, to change the way in which requests from residents for 20mph speed limits are dealt with by the Council.
Requests for new or amended speed limits, including 20mph zones and 20mph speed limits, are considered by the Speed Limit Review Task Group, which consists of Council officers, Members, and the Police, with Parish and Town Councils being invited to attend its meetings as appropriate. The recommendations are then presented for approval with various other groups and finally at Executive for an individual executive member decision.
A 20mph pilot scheme or 20mph zone in Theale was approved at Executive in early November. New criteria will be agreed with members by the end of this financial year and once the pilot scheme in Theale has been completed, estimated costs and assessments will be detailed for consideration with a view to implementing 20mph speed limits on roads which meet the new criteria over the next 3-4 years.
The pilot is subject to a consultation process which will allow residents and businesses to respond in due course.
 Exciting news on the electric front! We’ve introduced a ground breaking trial that's set to redefine how residents without driveways charge their electric vehicles right at home.
Using Kerbo Charge's innovative through-pavement channel, residents can now insert their charging cable into a channel with a self-closing lid, eliminating tripping hazards and ensuring safe roadside charging.
Manufactured in the UK, the slim and shallow channel seamlessly contours with the pavement, minimising impact during installation. Three trial sites in Calcot, Newbury, and Kintbury have been chosen, and feedback from residents, installers, the public, and highways maintenance will shape the future of this exciting trial.
Come and join us at Hungerford Town Football Club on Saturday 2 December for a fantastic evening of live music from SIRACUSE , Beyond The Sons, and The Station. Entry will be free but donations are welcome as all proceeds go to the West Berkshire Foster Carers Association.
Hungerford Town Football Club are sponsored by our fostering team this year and proudly carry the Foster Now logo on their shirts. We are very thankful for all their support.
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.
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Small Business Saturday is a campaign to celebrate the UK’s amazing small businesses. It encourages customers to shop locally and support small businesses in their communities.
This year it takes place on the 2 December and we want to take the chance to celebrate our incredible range of small local businesses across West Berkshire. We've created an online directory for our local sustainable businesses, you can find a list of them on our website.
You can get a free bus in West Berkshire on select Saturdays in November and December, so if you’re looking to do a spot of Christmas shopping, why not take advantage and go to your local independent shop to see what gems you can find!
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And finally...
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Carers Rights Day is this Thursday and our Adult Social Care team are supporting an event for unpaid carers at Thatcham Rugby Club from 1pm-3pm. 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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Thank you to everyone who has nominated unsung heroes for one of our Community Champion Awards. If you haven't nominated yet - it's not too late to get your entry in. There are four categories recognising community groups, volunteers and junior citizens as well as those deserving of our Lifetime Achievement Award. You can recognise their efforts and say thank you to them by nominating them in the Community Champion Awards. Full details here.
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