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Setting out our spending plans for 2024/25

Our spending plans for 2024/25 have been unveiled – setting out how we will spend £174m delivering services across the district and £50m on infrastructure and improvement projects.

Delivering investment across the district, our £50m capital programme will see more than £10m invested in schools and education, £4m on improving our roads and £1m on active travel schemes.

Specific projects earmarked for spending include:

• The introduction of contactless payments on local buses to make journeys even easier
• Work on byways in Lambourn and Winterbourne
• The final phase of the Thatcham flood alleviation scheme programme, funded by the Environment Agency
• Exploration of the feasibility to generate clean energy through a solar farm and micro-hydroelectric station
• Improvements to the biodiversity on Speen Moors alongside a reduction in maintenance needs.

The longer-term budget sets out a proposal to invest £331m on capital projects over the next ten years.

Our revenue budget – delivering services we are proud of

We also have our £174m revenue budget which will be spent delivering more than 700 statutory services. These range from bin collections, and maintaining parks and open spaces, to keeping children safe and families together. In the 2024/25 budget is:

• A reduction in the garden waste collection charge from £58 to £55 - which is a start to our commitment to phase out the garden waste collection charge
• An increase of £700,000 on the provision of Home to School Transport; and
• An additional £12.3m spent on social care; helping to keep children safe and families together, and ensuring older people and vulnerable adults are looked after and supported to live independently

The budget is due to be considered for approval by Council on Thursday 29 February.

Thank you for your consultation responses

Thank you to everyone who took the time to read our spending proposals for next year and responded to our consultation.

The budget reflects the outcome of the consultation on budget and consideration given to the 2,500 responses we received. As a result of that consultation, and after listening to residents feedback, decisions have been taken to continue the current service levels in relation to emptying gulleys, litter and dog waste bins, and weed spraying.

In addition, Community Transport funding continues at current levels and the proposal to close Willows Edge will be amended as the Council seeks to find an alternative provider for all three of its care homes.

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:

• Residential Child Care Officer
• Project Officer (Property Team)
• Principal Ecology Officer

National Apprenticeship Week

We're thrilled to be celebrating National Apprenticeship Week! Click here to find some fun facts and figures about apprenticeships at West Berkshire Council.

Want to embrace the opportunity to learn, grow, and contribute to local Government? Find out more about what apprenticeships we have to offer here.

Partnership to reduce antisocial behaviour

We’re proud to be a partner in a new project led by housing association Sovereign Network Group (SNG) that will help reduce antisocial behaviour.

Residents living in the Nightingales area of Newbury can look forward to a major investment of £299,000 aimed at reducing crime and offering constructive activities for younger residents following a successful bid by SNG in collaboration with West Berkshire Council, Thames Valley Police and Berkshire Youth to the Safer Streets Fund. The funds will mean a range of new, proactive interventions including youth events, school workshops and three community clear up days.

The first clear up day is to be held at the Greenham Community Centre on 13 February, 10am-3pm where you can meet your local youth workers and take part in free children and youth activities, including a pool table, multi-sports, crafts, a poster competition and more. A member of our Waste Management team will be at the event to offer advice and information about the waste and recycling services we offer.

You can find out more about the project and the partnership here.

Have your say on new hospital service plans

The NHS is investing between £7-9 million on hospital services in Hampshire which may affect or interest our residents here in West Berkshire.

They’d like to know what you think about building a new hospital in Basingstoke, investing in Winchester Hospital and their proposals on where services are provided from in the future. The public consultation is open until midnight on 17 March 2024, you can find out more here.

There is also a face to face event at the Waterside Centre in Newbury on Friday 23 February at 1pm. Book your free ticket here

We value your views on the decisions we take. There are several areas we are currently holding consultations on, including:

• Francis Baily Primary School - School Streets Scheme Feedback Survey
• Proposed School Term and Holiday Dates for Community and Voluntary Controlled Schools 2025/26

Half term cycling course in Newbury

We are excited to be offering a combined Level 1 and 2 Bikeability cycling course during February half-term!

If your child is aged over 10, they can come along and learn the skills needed to help them grow more confident on their bikes. Our expert instructors will lead riders onto quiet roads around the area to give them a real cycling experience.

During the two-day course your child will learn to:

• Start and stop with confidence
• Pass stationary parked vehicles safely
• Understand road markings, signals and signs
• Navigate junctions, crossroads and roundabouts
• Share the road with other road users

The course will take place* on 15 and 16 February, 9.30am – 2.30pm at Shaw House, Church Road, Newbury, RG14 2DR, costing £20 per child.

*Please note, we need a minimum of 10 children to be able to run this course so please pass these details to anyone you think may be interested.

For more information and to book your place, click here. 

If you have any further questions, please email: activetravel@westberks.gov.uk. You can find our other cycling courses here.

Disco Dragons treasure map

Disco Dragons is a treasure map that has been produced in partnership with Treasure Map Trails to encourage people to travel, explore and learn more about the historic town of Newbury. The creative ideas came from the children at Speenhamland school, with local businesses and agencies also involved.

The map is based in the heart of Newbury town centre with walking routes designed to help find the hidden treasures which are the gargoyles and statues that adorn the town. The project is part of a plan to get people active and walking, both in the town and out on the wealth of parks and footpaths around Newbury.

From 10 February, the limited release of 1000 maps are available to request for free from places such as Newbury Library, West Berkshire Museum, The Watermill Theatre, Tiny Town Café (in Kennet Shopping Centre), Crystals and Rainbowz (in Kennet Shopping Centre) and The Ugly Duckling Pottery Painting Coffee House on Bartholomew Street. This will be limited to one map per family.

Why not pick one up for some Half Term family fun!

Half term fun in West Berkshire

Looking for things to do during February half term? There are lots of family events taking place at Shaw House and West Berkshire Museum, from puppet theatre, to an LGBTQ+ family morning. To see what’s on and to book your place, visit our Heritage website.

Snug and Grub catch a Bug!

Monday 12 February | 11am & 1pm | Adults £10, Children £7 (under 2s free)

LGBTQ+ Family Morning

Monday 12 February | West Berkshire Museum | 10.30am – 12pm | Free, booked sessions

Movie in the Hall: Secret Life of Pets

Tuesday 13 February | Shaw House | Adults £5 Child £3 | Book online

Small group family art workshop: Heroes and Villains of the Ages

Tuesday 13 February | West Berkshire museum | 10am - 12.30pm | £13 per child

Family Activity Day

Shaw House | Wednesday 14 February | Shaw House | 10am-3pm | £2.50 per child | Drop-in

Messy Museum Morning

Friday 16 February | West Berkshire Museum | £2.50 per child | 10am – 3pm | Drop-in

Hungerford Poetry Festival

Hungerford Library will be holding an exhibition of poetry by local residents as part of the Hungerford Poetry Festival which will take place 2-16 March.

If you enjoy writing poetry, we invite you to contribute to the festival by writing your own poem, which may be displayed in the exhibition. Poems can be on any subject, perhaps celebrating Hungerford and the community, the library, our local countryside or any theme of your choice. Please send your poems by email to hungerfordlibrary@westberks.gov.uk, by post to the library at Church Street, Hungerford RG17 0JG, or drop them off at any West Berkshire library before Saturday 17 February.

Alongside the exhibition, there will also be a walking-writing poetry workshop with award winning local author Nicola Chester, poetry performances from Joelle Taylor and Josie Alford on Saturday 2 March, and a night of poetry and comedy with Clare Ferguson-Walker on Saturday 16 March. There’s also an opportunity for you get involved by performing your own poetry at the open-mic night in The Hub on Thursday 7 March!

Shaw House is opening to the public again for 2024!

We can’t wait to welcome you back to Shaw House! Our public open days start from Saturday 10 February until Sunday 29 September, at weekends from 11am – 4pm and during school holidays 10am - 4pm. Come along to explore the House, visit the 'Dressed for Shaw' and 'Dressed for Battle' exhibitions, or enjoy a light snack in the café. Entry to the House, grounds and exhibitions is free. On 18 February, Shaw House is also hosting a wedding fair! With over 40 wedding suppliers under one roof - this is the perfect way to plan for your big day. The fair will take place from 11am - 3pm, with a bridal fashion show at 1pm. The event is free to attend, but please do pre-register here.

And finally...

• Our Emotional Health Academy and Mental Health Support teams work hard to make sure every young person’s voice is heard and to offer help and advice in places where young people feel safe, such as school or home.
  The theme of this year’s Children’s Mental Health Week is ‘My Voice Matters’, a theme we’re proud to support through this work.
  You can find out more about the work of our Emotional Health Academy and Mental Health Support teams here.