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Making it count: delivering a successful election

It was a busy 24 hours for many of us last week helping to deliver the parliamentary elections for our two local MPs.

Almost 96,000 electors had their say across the Newbury, and Reading West and Mid-Berkshire constituencies. To make it happen, our Electoral Services team coordinated arrangements for more than 450 people to work across 145 polling stations. Another 100 people worked through the night to count all the votes as well as a small but dedicated team handling the thousands of postal votes which were sent in before polling day.

The entire council rose to the significant challenge created by the short notice at which the election was called and the need to find an alternative count venue this time around.  

Thank you to everyone who worked to make the election happen – and to all those voting for remembering to bring their photo ID. We’re pleased to report that most people remembered it, and trips home to pick it up were few and far between.

You can look back on our work on election day in these highlights on Instagram.

New apartments for Ukrainian and Afghan families

An empty office block in Newbury has been transformed into apartments for families in housing need - including Afghan and Ukrainian nationals who have fled conflict in their home countries.

The work has been undertaken as part of a wider project by the Council to provide 27 homes across the district for families who have arrived through national resettlement schemes. West Point House was empty and surplus to requirements and has now been converted into five separate units – a one-bed apartment and four three-bed apartments.

The apartments will also be used to provide homes for some local families in need of housing and who are currently being supported by West Berkshire Council.

The building work - which includes environmentally friendly options such as solar panels and EV charging points - is set to be completed within the next week. The apartments will then be furnished with new tenants expected to move in later this month.

You can find out more about this project and take a look inside West Point House on our website.

Joining together to find more foster carers

We’re proud to be one of 20 councils across the South East who have come together to create the country’s largest local authority fostering partnership to increase the number of foster carers across the region.

The national Department for Education (DfE) funded project, with Local Authority Fostering South East is the largest of nine regions taking part in this pilot programme.

With over 11,000 children in care across the South East, and fewer than 3,000 local authority approved foster carers, there’s an urgent need to recruit more people to provide safe, loving, and local homes for vulnerable children.

Shaw House Summer Fair

Enjoy the beauty of summer at Shaw House. Browse over 60 local stalls located on the Great Lawn and enjoy refreshments from our café, bar, and caterers. For our younger visitors there will be creative crafts, a magic show from Mr Muddle, meet and greet the Shetland ponies, and a bouncy castle.

Don’t forget to bring along your four-legged friends as the National Animal Welfare Trust will be hosting a dog show with categories including ‘perfect puppy’, ‘golden oldie’ and ‘radiant rescue’.

The House and Exhibition Rooms will also be open on the day.

Dogs on leads are welcome outside.

Sunday 21 July | Shaw House | 11am – 4pm | Adults £2, Children £1 (Free for children aged 3 years and under) | Pay on the door

Fun with Nature

Nature for Health are excited to announce ‘Fun with Nature’ which is a great opportunity to get your children outside during the summer holidays. We will be running two sessions in August at Shaw House aimed at primary school aged children.

Check out the poster and get in touch with Amy (amy.bosley1@westberks.gov.uk) if you want to sign up to one of the dates. Booking is essential due to limited spaces.

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

• Draft Nuisance Policy 2024-2027

Could you be a Shared Lives Carer?

During Shared Lives Week (24-28 June) our Shared Lives team were out and about telling people about the benefits of sharing a home and life with someone who needs care and wants to be part of a family. If that sounds like you, then you could be a Shared Lives Carer.

The scheme matches people by interests, experiences and lifestyles, giving adults in need of support a chance to gain skills to live a more independent life.

Take our e-library on holiday!

This summer, whether you’re travelling far or having fun at home, anyone with a West Berkshire Libraries card will find plenty of fantastic e-books to enjoy, including all the latest bestsellers via our e-library. These include thousands of e-books and e-audiobooks from our suppliers BorrowBox and Libby which you can borrow for FREE. Remember that e-books and e-audiobooks count towards your reading challenges too.

Download the West Berkshire Libraries app to see what’s available or visit our website. You will find hundreds of e-magazines and e-newspapers to read for free too! Take our e-library with you wherever you go and enjoy a wonderful summer of reading.

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:

• Senior Technician (Records and Licenses) 
• Lawyer (People)  
• Educational Psychologist  

Summer Reading Challenge 2024

Our annual Summer Reading Challenge for children aged 4-11 years has begun!

Once again, West Berkshire Libraries are challenging primary school aged children to read up to six library books between now and 15 September and collect FREE incentives for their achievements as they read, with medals and certificates for everyone who completes the Challenge.

Developed by national charity The Reading Agency, the theme of this year’s Challenge is ‘Marvellous Makers’, which is all about creativity. It aims to fire up children's imaginations, unleash storytelling, and inspire their own creativity through the power of reading.

But there is no need to wait until the school holidays begin – drop in to your local library to find out more and start now. We have a mini-challenge for pre-school children too.

We have a challenge for everyone aged 12 years and over as well: pick up a Book Challenge card when you next visit a library to find suggestions of different types of books to read. Choose three of these and read your books before 15 September. If the suggestions you select are in a vertical, horizontal, or diagonal row on your card, you can enter a prize draw in your local library.

Please ask in the library for more details and start your challenge now.

Power your home with the sun

In the first round of Solar Together, over 2,200 solar panels were installed in West Berkshire, helping residents lower their energy bills and CO₂ emissions.

This scheme offers a pathway for every household, and small & medium businesses wanting to install solar panels, slash their energy bills and offset their carbon footprint. 

By grouping interested individuals, we can negotiate competitive pricing for homeowners and business owners who are considering getting solar panels and battery storage. The more people join in, the better the potential savings, making it a win-win for everyone involved. 

Households and small & medium businesses have until 9 August to register their interest.

If you have any questions about new or existing installations you can call Solar Together for free on 0800 014 8851, Monday to Friday 8am to 5pm, or contact the Solar Together Berkshire helpdesk.

Brew up a greener future!

Coffee and tea pod recycling launches at West Berkshire Council Recycling Centres.

In partnership with Veolia and Podback, the pod recycling service, we have added used aluminium and plastic coffee pods to the items collected at both Newtown Road and Padworth Recycling Centres in West Berkshire.

All you need to do is collect your used coffee, tea and hot chocolate pods at home until you are ready to take them to the Recycling Centre – you can use any bag or container, but please keep aluminium and plastic pods separate. 

When you’re ready to visit the recycling centre bring your pods along and tip them, loose, into the designated Podback containers. Please don’t put the bags or containers containing your pods in the containers – either reuse or recycle it. It's that easy!

To use the Recycling Centres, you must hold a valid permit and book a slot prior to your visit which can be done here. The Podback containers are clearly signed.

Highway Maintenance in June

Last month, we cleaned 2,272 gullies and resurfaced 7.9km of our road network, as well as undertaking other maintenance.

Some of the roads resurfaced include Collaroy Road in Cold Ash, A329 Purley Rise, Swinbrook Close in Tilehurst and Mill Bank in Kintbury.

We want to deliver services to be proud of - and you can help. If you spot a pothole, or see something else which needs fixing, you can tell us online here for the relevant team to review:

And finally...

We are looking for governors to join our school governing boards!

It’s a rewarding role and an opportunity to support our schools, and the children and young people in our community.

Find out more here.