 Council Tax energy rebate schemes
Remember to check your eligibility for the £150 Council Tax energy rebate payment.
The scheme is for households in Council Tax bands A to D and it comes to an end on Friday 30 September.
Any funds unclaimed by then will be returned to central government and no new requests from households in these bands will be accepted after this date.
Households paying their council tax bill by Direct Debit should have received the rebate automatically in April or May with their bank statement showing a payment of £150 coming from ‘Wokingham BC’.
Those not paying by Direct Debit need to apply so their details can be verified and a payment made. Those unsure on which band their property is in can find this on their Council Tax bill, or go to the Gov.uk website to check.
New rebate scheme for Council Tax bands E to H
We’ve now launched a new discretionary energy rebate scheme for households in bands E to H.
To qualify you must live in a property in council tax bands E to H. You must also meet at least one of the following criteria on 1 April 2022:
- In receipt of Council Tax Support (CTS)
- One of the following exemptions is applicable – student or severely mentally impaired household, annexe occupied by elderly relative
- In receipt of Disabled Persons Relief
- If you or someone you live with is severely mentally impaired
- Registered foster carer
There will only be one payment per household. Second homes and empty properties are not eligible for the payment.
Further information about the Council Tax energy rebate discretionary scheme can be found on our website.
 Opening date for new Wokingham library
We're excited to announce the new Wokingham Library will be opening on Monday 19 September at 1.30pm.
This is at the Carnival Hub and follows the opening of the new Wokingham Leisure Centre in July. The new library, which is moving from its current home on Denmark Street, is set to become a focal point for the local community.
In order to move everything across to the Carnival Hub, the existing Denmark Street library will close on Saturday 3 September at 4pm, before opening again at the Hub on 19 September. Overdue charges will also be suspended at Wokingham Library during the closure for the move.
During the fortnight Wokingham Library is closed, members will be able to use other libraries across the borough.
They’ll be able to access the library digital services as usual, which includes thousands of online newspapers, magazines e-books and audiobooks you can download for free. Find out more about the digital library services on our website.
 New library for Shinfield
Residents of Shinfield will be able to access a wide range of books closer to home following the arrival of a new micro library in the village.
The self-serve facility has opened at the School Green Centre and will be available seven days a week. The decision to open the library came as a result of demand and growing population in the area, with Spencers Wood previously being the nearest library.
This is the first micro library to be introduced in Wokingham Borough, which is already served by larger branches in Finchampstead, Lower Earley, Spencers Wood, Twyford, Wargrave, Winnersh, Wokingham and Woodley. There is also a pop-up library in Arborfield, which is open from 9.30am to 12.30pm on Mondays and Saturdays.
The new micro library has around 2,000 books on offer from a range of categories for adults and children, including fiction, crime, history and fantasy. Residents are able to borrow and return books, but will need to visit one of the larger libraries for the full range of services.
It will make it easier for children at the nearby Shinfield Infant & Junior School, Shinfield St Mary’s Church of England Junior School and Alder Grove Church of England Primary School to access books, along with residents at Shinfield View and Parsons Grange care homes.
 Solar power at new allotments
A new allotment in Wokingham borough has gone green in more ways than one by introducing solar panels to power gardening equipment and other tools.
The site off Ifould Crescent, on the Montague Park estate in Wokingham town, opened in the spring and has now welcomed its first plot holders who visit regularly to grow a range of crops.
Since adopting the allotments from David Wilson Homes, who built them alongside neighbouring homes, we have made improvements by launching an innovative project to provide them with sustainable power.
This comprises two solar panels which harvest energy from the sun and transfer it to high-density batteries for energy storage on the site. The batteries then supply power to four electrical points and two USB sockets inside and outside of a tool shed, providing power 24 hours a day.
 Free services for landlords – got a property to rent?
We’re seeking landlords to rent properties to individual and families who are in need of housing through our Private Rented Scheme.
The scheme provides a range of free services to landlords, including finding and vetting tenants to ensure they are suitable and arranging viewings of properties.
You can choose preferred tenants following viewings and we also provide personalised services such as regular visits to your property and advice on tenancy management.
Landlords are able to receive guaranteed rent payments up to the Local Housing Allowance (LHA) rate for up to two years. This includes a payment of up to five weeks' rent as a deposit. Rent is paid directly by the council, so there won’t be risks of your tenants going into arrears.
There is also a one-off bonus payment of £500 for each property let through the scheme. Find out more about the Private Rented Scheme on our website.
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