 Have your say on future services
We’ve got a number of consultations and surveys for you to shape the future of the borough and your services:
Sign up to our Engage Wokingham Borough platform to take part.
 Go digital to make money go further
We’re working hard to make it easier for you to find the information you need from us anytime you need it through our website.
Self-service options, including signing up to pay your council tax over 12 months rather that 10 months, are available on our website. Other functions on the website, including reporting issues or paying for services, continue to provide quickest and most cost effective way to communicate with us.
Using self-service functionality on services like garden waste renewal save you valuable time as well as saving money. This year 93 per cent of garden waste renewals were carried out online which saved us £63,000 compared to if those residents had called up renew.
We want to provide a faster and improved online service for you and we need your feedback on content and functionality of the current website. Complete our website survey and help shape our improved website that will launch next summer.
We understand there are some people who cannot access digital services and we will always provide alternative means for those who need them.
 Tackling hate crime
We’re spreading the message that there is no place for hate this National Hate Crime Awareness Week (8 to 15 October).
The total number of hate crimes reported is relatively low, but it has gone up in Wokingham borough every year for the last four years. 75 per cent of hate crime in the borough being based on race and religion. We all have a part to play in reversing this trend.
There are multiple ways to report a hate crime. If you spot one, doing so will make a difference to not only your life, but also the lives of others.
Tackling hate crime is one of the many aims of the Community Safety Partnership (CSP), as we work agencies such as Thames Valley Police to protect vulnerable people.
We’ve also got a guide on spotting how hate crimes could lead to hateful extremism.
 Have your say - plans for Finchampstead and Twyford
Twyford and Finchampstead residents have until 5pm on November 23 to share their views on draft neighbourhood plans which could help to shape the future of their parishes.
We’re consulting on these documents, which Twyford and Finchampstead Parish Councils have individually prepared with the help of their communities. If adopted, they’ll sit alongside our own policies to guide planning decisions in these areas.
Before adoption, they will be independently examined and then, if the examiner agrees, put to a referendum. Each proposes a vision for future growth, as well as policies that reflect residents’ priorities. These touch on things like new housing, the environment and transport, among others.
Comments on these plans are important as they will show whether you agree with these ideas. The examiner can recommend changes to the plan, so it is important that you tell us whether you support them or would like to see amendments.
You can read the draft plans and find out how to comment on our Engage Wokingham Borough platform. To view in other formats, or for help responding, call our customer services team on (0118) 974 6000 or visit our offices at Shute End, Wokingham, or one of the borough’s libraries.
Thames Valley Police and Crime Panel is looking for an independent co-opted member. The role provides independent voice on the panel, which monitors, scrutinises and supports the work of the Thames Valley Police and Crime Commissioner. Apply online, applications close next Friday (21 October).
What you might have missed
Sign up for more email updates if you like the sound of any of the below. We send regular updates on topics which matter most to residents, here’s everything from the last week:
|
