Wokingham Borough News

Wokingham Borough

Spring 2011

Your magazine from Wokingham Borough Council

In this issue...

Putting People First page 4

A School for the Future A student’s verdict

www.wokingham.gov.uk

Volunteering is good for you page 20

Working with diversity page 28

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www.wokingham.gov.uk

Keeping in touch with us Phone: (0118) 974 6000 Fax: (0118) 978 9078 Email: wokinghamdirect@wokingham.gov.uk Text/SMS message: 07786 200 974 Website including webchat: www.wokingham.gov.uk

Welcome Welcome to the new-look Wokingham Borough News.

Thanks to those residents who have contributed to this edition; I hope you are pleased with the results.

Visit us Monday to Friday between 8.30am and 5pm at the Civic Offices, Shute End, Wokingham RG40 IBN. Social networking sites www.facebook.com/ wokinghamboroughcouncil

www.twitter.com/wokinghambc

Local iPhone app – Not only can you report abandoned vehicles, fly-tipping and vandalism, you can also check out events, job vacancies and the latest travel information.

Email and text updates – Register at: www.wokingham.gov.uk/services Information kiosks – available at Woodley and Lower Earley libraries and the Civic Offices.

Looking Local – Access local information and services using your digital television remote control.

We’d like to hear what you think of our new-look Wokingham Borough News, and in particular if you would like to contribute to future editions. Please also give your views on our social networking sites and what else you would like to use them for – send us a message on Facebook or an email to: communications@ wokingham.gov.uk Editorial Communications Team at Wokingham Borough Council.

Design and print Whatever Design Ltd Printed on Ability Offset 80gsm FSC.

Not a day has passed in recent months without reports of the pressures facing all of us including the public sector. In response, public services have to change.

The Council will of course, remain accountable to you for the quality of these services no matter who provides them.

For two years we have been preparing our Transformation Project, which has at its heart improving the efficiency of our operations and developing a better understanding of the needs of our residents. We have more freedom to do things our own way with our partners, while continuing to meet the identified needs of the local community.

Our financial position will suffer significantly in 2011/12; although headlines at the end of last year highlighted a reduction of 0.69 per cent in our funding from central government, the reality is somewhat worse.

As a Council, we will be taking on additional responsibilities on your behalf, calling the local public sector, such as the Police and Health Service, to account. To enable us to deliver these changes, we will be rebuilding the organisation to focus on commissioning efficient services that the community really want, need and are willing to pay for as tax payers. We will not necessarily be delivering the service.

Our relationship with you will also change. We will tailor our services to meet your needs and they may be supplied directly by the Council, in partnership with other agencies, or by the private or voluntary sectors.

Grants for 2011/12 included £2million that can only be used to freeze council tax, and cannot be used for other services. We also saw cuts in other grants in 2010/11 meaning the real shortfall is over £4million. We expect further reductions in the future. More details on the budget can be found in the centre pages of this magazine.

We are already progressing well with our Transformation Programme, so I am confident we are well placed to respond to the challenges ahead and we will continue to be one of the country’s best places to live.

Cllr David Lee, Leader

Spring 2011

Showcasing talent “Being Mayor of Wokingham Borough is a great privilege and I have been fortunate enough to meet many generous, community-minded and talented people since I was elected in May. I have enjoyed showcasing some of this talent at Mayor’s events, raising funds for Berkshire Give a Child a Chance which awards grants to the Borough’s most disadvantaged children. Thank you to those who have supported me. If you wish to contact me or find out more about the charity, I would be pleased to hear from you.”

Cllr Dianne King Wokingham Borough Mayor

In this edition Putting People First. ...............................4 Wokingham regeneration. ...............6 Making 2012 count.................................8 Something for everyone at FBC Centre. ..............................................9 Future development across the borough. .............................12 t. (0118) 974 6004 e. mayor@wokingham.gov.uk www.wokingham.gov.uk/mayor www.berkshirecommunity foundation.org.uk

Independent living. ..............................14 Volunteering.............................................. 20 Transforming our services............ 22 Community power. ............................. 24 Waste and recycling. .......................... 26

Tackling unemployment Job hunters in the Wokingham Borough are being helped back to work thanks to a number of local initiatives.

During 2010, they provided help to over 500 people.

Although the number of people seeking job seekers allowance in the Wokingham Borough fell by 25 per cent to 1,503 at the end of 2010 – the feeling amongst local businesses is recovery is still fragile.

Dave Cox from WJS said: “Although 2010 has been a less hectic year than 2009, the downward trend seems to have flattened out – the expectation is that 2011 could be a more difficult year as the impact of the spending cuts begins to take effect.”

We continue to work closely with Wokingham Job Support (WJS), an organisation offering advice and help to job seekers.

More than 1,600 young people attended the borough’s school career fair. Check out the video at: http://tinyurl.com/6yucf88

Working with diversity.................... 28 Out and about......................................... 30

Ambitious scheme at St Crispin’s School Students at St Crispin’s School in Wokingham can look forward to excellent new facilities thanks to an ambitious £5.5million Council scheme to provide a new science block, a new multi-use games area and a range of other refurbished spaces for teaching and learning.

We’ve developed the scheme in consultation with the school to expand its over-stretched teaching and learning spaces and improve them to meet the needs of current students.

St Crispin’s was judged by Ofsted in 2010 to be an ‘outstanding’ school but for several years students have been learning in spaces which are too small or not fit for purpose.

A design consultant will be appointed in the spring to produce detailed plans for the changes, and a building contractor should be appointed in late autumn.

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www.wokingham.gov.uk

Putting People Putting People First is making a real difference to people’s lives in the Wokingham Borough.

It’s the new way of providing care to disabled adults and older people and moves away from the system of care professionals allocating services to people needing social care support.

Instead, it allows people to have more control and choice over how they

receive their care and support. We began implementing the scheme in 2008, and we’ve come a long way since then.

Here are some examples of what has been happening around the borough.

Barry’s story Barry May, 62, from Woodley, is just one example of how personal budgets have been changing residents’ lives.

Barry has Huntington’s disease, meaning his condition is degenerative and his level of mobility is decreasing. With muscle spasms in his arms and legs, it makes eating, drinking and standing difficult. His wife Pat was in need of some support to care for him.

Getting really down and frustrated because he wasn’t able to go out on his own, it looked like Barry’s only option was a day care centre.

He wasn’t keen as he has quite particular interests and likes getting out and about.

“ It means everything to me going and playing golf and it’s given me a new lease of life”

Barry with Stephen Eddy from 360° Care

After being assessed as eligible for help from the Council, Barry received his own personal budget.

He is using some of it to employ a carer from local company 360° Care, who takes him to play golf at Blue Mountain Golf Club in Binfield a couple of times a week. As well as getting fresh air and exercise, his mental health and general mood have improved greatly since starting his new routine.

Barry said: “It means everything to me going and playing golf and it’s given me a new lease of life. I got so frustrated sitting around so I’m so pleased that, with support, I am now able to go out and do something I love.”

First

Spring 2011

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More than just personal budgets

User led organisations The User Led Organisations (ULO) project is designed to help local groups who support disabled people and their carers and puts people at the centre of planning and delivering of services.

ULOs are key to promoting independent living and tackling social exclusion. They operate in different ways and can either deliver services themselves or work with other voluntary and community organisations.

Clare Rebbeck is working to support Wokingham Borough ULOs and is based at Support Horizons, itself a ULO and social enterprise, in Wokingham.

A consortium of 21 groups has been set up to work together to identify issues, gaps in services and delivery of services from a user perspective. Anyone who receives or who provides care and support services for vulnerable adults can get involved.

For those people who are not eligible for a personal budget, there are still many ways we can help.

We offer a free information service (WIN) which can direct people to local care and support services. We also provide access to many prevention services and an excellent reablement service (START) to get people back on their feet after an illness or accident. t. (0118) 974 6772 e. adults.win@wokingham.gov.uk http://info.wokingham.gov.uk

t. Clare Rebbeck on 07501 228241 e. clare.rebbeck@userledorganisations.org.uk

Choice Champions More choice and control As part of this scheme, those people who meet the Council’s eligibility criteria are allocated a personal budget.

Each personal budget user creates their own support plan (with help if they want it) tailored to their individual needs, which is checked and approved by the Council.

There are now around 700 people in the borough receiving a personal budget, with many success stories.

t. (0118) 974 6772 e. putting-people-first@wokingham.gov.uk www.wokingham.gov.uk/putting-people-first

Some 14 personal budget users are now helping others who are new to the scheme after becoming a Choice Champion.

They received training in mentoring, listening and communication skills, to help others understand what it’s like to have a personal budget. Willing to share their experiences, the Choice Champion knows only too well that moving from a traditional care system can appear a bit daunting for some.

Talking to a Choice Champion with real first hand experience can be invaluable to those starting out on the scheme. t. (0118) 974 6773 e. marlena.odonnell@wokingham.gov.uk

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www.wokingham.gov.uk

Step forward for town centre The Council has selected Wilson Bowden Developments to work on a £100million regeneration of Wokingham town centre Executive view Cllr Matt Deegan, Executive Member for Community Regeneration “The redevelopment is an extremely important part of our longterm plans to breathe new life into Wokingham, creating a wide range of facilities in the heart of the town.

“Despite tough times, we are committed to this scheme and it’s crucial in kick-starting our local economy and providing jobs for the local community. Real improvement to the town is much needed and we will reap the rewards for years to come.”

Wokingham Enterprises Ltd Jayne McGivern has been appointed as Non-Executive Chairman of Wokingham Enterprises Ltd (WEL). WEL is owned by the Borough Council and it will hold the assets (land and property) of the regenerated town centre as well as other commercial assets of the Council. WEL will also look to attract long term investment into the borough.

Jayne is no stranger to taking on big challenges and has recently headed up the European division of Multiplex, the contractor of the new Wembley Stadium. She is joined by Interim Managing Director Steve Robson, and independent Non-Executive Directors John Pike and Tony Allum. There will also be elected members and officers from the Council on the board.

The regeneration of Wokingham town centre will include 140,000 sq ft of new retail space, housing and leisure facilities.

People of the town have been waiting for the regeneration, which is expected to create 750 jobs and generate £21million in additional wages for the local economy. Once completed, it will offer benefits to residents borough-wide, as well as bringing hundreds of people to the market town, boosting the local economy and generating millions of pounds from tourists and visitors alike.

We’re working with Wilson Bowden Developments during 2011 to secure planning consent for the regeneration scheme. A public consultation exercise will be carried out in early summer – watch our website and local newspapers for more details. www.wokingham.gov.uk/wtc

Spring 2011

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Turning business ideas into reality Young entrepreneurs in Wokingham Borough are getting help to turn their business ideas into reality thanks to a new Business Academy set up by The Forest School in Winnersh, together with the Council and Wokingham Chamber of Commerce.

Aimed at young people aged 16 to 25 wanting to start their own business, the Business Academy offers a range of practical ‘How To’ workshops, which are running this spring. Topics include IT security, designing a business website, recruiting staff, finding premises, finance and marketing. The workshops lead up to a competition where entrants can submit a short business plan for the chance to win a large cash prize to be spent on their start-up.

The Business Academy was launched at SEGRO’s IQ Winnersh to local businesses in November. Neil Impiazzi of SEGRO said: “It’s a great opportunity for young entrepreneurs to gain practical advice and guidance from established businesses and individuals in the area. It’s important we continue to create a culture of enterprise and innovation in the area and I urge other businesses to get involved in this exciting project.”

“help to turn their business ideas into reality”

t. Carol Ryall, The Forest School, on (0118) 978 1626 or Andy Nicholls, WBC, on (0118) 974 6018.

New economic partnership celebrated A new partnership to promote investment in Berkshire has been given the go-ahead by the government.

Thames Valley Berkshire is one of 24 Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs) around the country to be given the green light. The LEP will make use of the international strength of the Thames Valley ‘brand’ to ensure we continue to attract high quality investment to the area.

All six Berkshire councils, major businesses, the University of Reading and business groups have signed up to the successful Thames Valley Berkshire bid. t. (0118) 974 6018 e. andrew.nicholls@wokingham.gov.uk

Keeping safe Ofsted has praised the Council for the ‘substantial and rapid improvements’ made to children’s safeguarding services. In its annual performance assessment, the Council was rated as ‘performing well’ – the only local authority in the country to have improved by two grades within a single year. This is significant progress from where the Council was a year ago, and is another huge step forward on the journey to provide the best possible services to children, young people and families.

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www.wokingham.gov.uk

Making 2012 count The countdown to the Olympics in 2012 has started in the Wokingham Borough with plenty of opportunities to get involved in sporting celebrations.

The Inspire Wokingham: Living the Legacy campaign wants more people playing sport. It focuses on reducing the drop-out rate from sport for those aged 16 to 19 – a time when many give up sport. Adults will also have the chance to play sports they loved when they were younger.

Among the projects running up to the Olympics are: Community cycle rides British Cycling is supporting a programme of cycle rides for all abilities across the borough and will set up a local club to continue after the Olympics.

Ladies’ week Leisure centres, sports clubs, schools and the Council will organise a week of activities to promote sport to women and girls, aimed at tackling barriers to sport such as childcare, affordability, convenience of locations and timings.

‘Open Doors’ club week Local sports clubs will open their doors for a week to give all residents a chance to try out new sports and venues.

Family fun days/Olympic open weekend Community centres, leisure centres and sports clubs will host a weekend of family activities including tournaments, children’s entertainment and music.

Return to sport Taster sessions and programmes for a range of sports with those taking part encouraged on to Volunteering Celebrating and supporting the efforts of further sessions or into local clubs. volunteers by offering practical help such as training, advice and equipment.

Pay and play Leisure centres and other venues will Inspire Wokingham is run by the Wokingham ‘block-out’ facilities to allow adults to 2012 Legacy Group, which includes the drop-in for sports sessions.

Borough Council, sporting organisations and clubs and Berkshire West Primary Care Trust.

Sportsfest Regular sporting competitions for those aged t. Beverley Thompson on (0118) 974 6254 16 and over. Groups of young people will be e. sportsdevelopment@wokingham.gov.uk able to enter teams into mini-leagues, muchlike local five and seven a-side football leagues.

Spring 2011

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“ There’s a very positive and welcoming feeling to the FBC Centre – people tell us it’s a good place to be.”

Something for everyone at FBC Centre The fantastic FBC Centre has really boosted facilities in Finchampstead and thousands of people have walked through its door since it opened almost a year ago.

Some 2,000 people – young and old alike – are visiting every week, taking part in activities from art and sport, to dancing and book groups.

The first of its kind in the borough, organisations have come together in one building to provide services to local people.

Owned by Finchampstead Baptist Church and built in partnership with Wokingham Borough Council (WBC) and Finchampstead Parish Council, it’s home to a children’s centre, library, sports hall, café, parish office, youth club and a local police base. It is also the place of worship for Finchampstead Baptist Church.

Wendy Crosson-Smith, Neighbourhood Manager at WBC, said: “By organisations working together, we have a facility the local community really want. Residents are able to access a range of services under one roof and it’s been a huge success so

far. It has become a place where people socialise on a regular basis, and there is a real sense of community spirit.”

Deacon Jim Gallagher said: “There’s a very positive and welcoming feeling to the FBC Centre – people tell us it’s a good place to be. The church is very pleased with the success of the first nine months of operation, surpassing even our own expectations. People of all ages, from across the local community, can take part in activities that suit them or just relax with nice coffee and cake.”

Next to the centre is a state-of-the-art play area for children and young people aged eight to 15-years-old, featuring a multiplay unit, a rope bridge, an aerial runway and a buddy swing.

The centre is well worth a visit! t. (0118) 908 8155 www.fbccentre.com

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Safeguarding Children Every child and young person should be safe, happy and healthy. Safeguarding means making sure children and young people are protected and taking action when they are at risk of abuse, whether this is physical, emotional, sexual, discriminatory or through neglect. We have a legal duty to protect anyone at risk.

Protecting children and young people is everyone’s responsibility. So if you have any worries about a child or young person who you feel is being ill-treated you should contact us immediately.

Help tomorrow take shape Every ten years since 1801 a census has been carried out to find out more about the people who live in England and Wales, and about the make-up of local neighbourhoods.

The next census will take place on March 27, 2011.

During March, you will get a questionnaire in the post for you and other members of your household to complete. For the first time, you’ll be able to do the census online.

Or you can fill it in by hand and post it.

t. Referral and Assessment Team (0118) 908 8002 (weekdays 9am to 5pm) a. Civic Offices, Shute End, Wokingham RG40 1BN e. r&at@wokingham.gov.uk Outside office hours: t. Emergency Duty Team on (01344) 786 543 If you do not feel comfortable about telling us, or you are not sure if you are right, you can also speak to a police officer, teacher, health visitor, doctor or the NSPCC on 0808 800 5000. The most important thing is to tell someone who can help.

If you believe a child is in immediate danger you should dial 999.

Your views count

It will ask all kinds of questions - about living accommodation, work, nationality, ethnic background, marital status, children, students, older people, people with disabilities, and more.

By taking part, you will be able to help shape the kind of communities and services you and the people around you need. No information will be shared with anyone else - at least not until 100 years have passed, when the records will be released to the public to become a treasure trove for people who want to trace their roots and find lost family members.

Government uses census population estimates to work out how much money to give each local authority to spend on public services. Local authorities use them to work out what kind of services they need to provide for people – schools, hospitals, transport and more. www.census.gov.uk

We would like to thank the thousands of local people who took the time to contribute to the recent secondary school admission review.

At its meeting on March 31, the decision-making Executive will consider school admissions arrangements for community and voluntary-controlled primary and secondary schools for the 2012/13 academic year. Look out for its decision which will be published on the Council’s website and in local newspapers by April 15. www.wokingham.gov.uk

Spring 2011 11

A school for the future The £31.1million redevelopment of Waingels College in Woodley started back in April 2009 and three of the four new state-of-the-art buildings are now being used by students and staff.

Improvements include specialist learning spaces that are light and airy, with classrooms equipped with the latest technology and resources to support students’ progress. There is an increased range and diversity of learning opportunities tailored more precisely to the needs and interests of individual students.

Work has started on the final building – the gold learning zone which will house communications and creative arts.

The project will be fully completed by November 2011. www.wokingham.gov.uk/ waingels-pathfinder

Year 13 student Brittany King tells us more about the project who taught and worked in the “ Those old building can really see the impact on learning the new building has made.

The buildings are very spacious and bright making it a much more positive environment to work and learn in.

The school is above all aesthetically pleasing and environmentally-friendly.

Many of the classrooms have new equipment (such as the Science Department) making practical lessons more frequent, which improve our learning drastically.

The new buildings have a considerable amount of working space for sixth formers and there are plenty of computers and laptops to use in lessons or spare time.

The new school’s main features are the stairs in each building, facing a projector screen which is used for smaller assemblies and bigger classes. This gives older students a feel for how lectures will run in further education. I believe new students will benefit from the new layout the most as it’s a big step from primary school, preparing them for the workplace.

”

Executive view Cllr Rob Stanton, Executive Member for Children’s Services “It is great to see students and staff at Waingels College reaping the benefits in terms of teaching and learning. This project has been hugely ambitious and it demonstrates our commitment to investing in our schools and providing the best possible education facilities for our students.

“We provide some of the best education in the country as witnessed by our excellent results across the whole age range over the past year.”

12 www.wokingham.gov.uk

LDF – The latest on development across The Wokingham Borough Local Development Framework is a set of documents covering where, how much and what type of development can take place in the borough until 2026.

With the arrival of the new government, we have reviewed the evidence that informed our plans (with or without the South East Plan). This clearly shows how we need to plan new homes for the future. After exploring the different options, the Council decided on October 21, 2010 to continue with the housing numbers in its adopted Core Strategy. We have a responsibility to residents of the future – our children and grandchildren – as well as those of today, to provide high-quality affordable homes for them to live in and an economy and community that will support them.

Key: Other major housing development New road

Core Strategy The Core Strategy sets out the long term ‘vision’ for development in the borough, including policies and strategies to provide new housing, schools, roads, places to work and other services.

The strategy was informed by extensive public consultation from 2005 onwards, which showed that, faced with a need for development, people were in favour of concentrating this in a few key locations, supported by suitable facilities and infrastructure.

D

Status: Adopted January 2010

C

Strategic Development Locations Four strategic development locations are identified in the Core Strategy. Together they will accommodate the majority of new development in the borough. Each is supported by a Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) incorporating a framework masterplan, setting out guidance on how we expect high quality development to be delivered. Read a summary of the key elements over the page.

B A

Spring 2011 13

the framework for the borough A. Arborfield Garrison

C. South Wokingham

• Phased delivery of 3,500 homes of different types and sizes, including 35% affordable • 30,800 m2 employment space • Two new primary schools • One secondary school • A district centre incorporating 4,000m2 supermarket and two neighbourhood centres with convenience retail, healthcare and community facilities • Transport interchange • Improved capacity on A327 and routes towards Reading and Bracknell • Improvements to non-car transport forms • Suitable Alternative Natural Green Space (SANG) – countryside space • Access to open space, play and sport facilities Status: SPD to be considered for adoption in 2011

• Southern extension to Wokingham, maintaining separation from Binfield/Bracknell, Crowthorne/Pinewood and Finchampstead North • 2,500 homes, including 35% affordable • Suitable Alternative Natural Green Space (SANG) – countryside space • Two new primary schools • Two neighbourhood centres with retail, community and recreation facilities • Protection of mature woodlands and hedgerows • Development to be sensitive to listed building and archaeological sites • Improved capacity on A321 and A329 including southern relief road, bridge over Reading to Waterloo railway and replacement of the bridge over Finchampstead Road on the Reading to Guildford line • Improvements to non-car links to Wokingham town centre and station interchange Status: SPD adopted October 2010

B. South of M4 – Shinfield/Spencers Wood/Three Mile Cross • Retention of distinct identities for Shinfield, Spencers Wood and Three Mile Cross, including the open space which separates them • Suitable Alternative Natural Green Space (SANG) – countryside space • 2,500 homes, including 35% affordable • New neighbourhood centres • Two new primary schools and likely expansion of existing primary schools • Improved capacity on A327 and A33 and new road to east of Shinfield • Improvement to non-car transport including Park and Ride in the vicinity of Junction 11 of M4 • Upgrade of existing retail centres at Shinfield and Spencers Wood Status: SPD to be considered for adoption in 2011

Executive view Cllr Angus Ross Executive Member for Planning “Managing development is key to keeping the borough a place where we all want to live and work. We want suitable homes and jobs, as well as an attractive environment, now and for future generations. The Core Strategy and accompanying plans are vital if we are to achieve this high quality development.”

D. North Wokingham • Series of well-connected extensions to existing communities • 1,500 homes, including 35% affordable • A new primary school • Suitable Alternative Natural Green Space (SANG) – countryside space • Separation from Binfield/Bracknell and Winnersh maintained • Improvements to capacity along A321 and A329 including potential partial northern relief road and/or partial Ashridge Interchange to A329 • Extension of Toutley Industrial Estate • Upgrade of existing retail centres at Clifton Road in Emmbrook and Ashridge in Norreys • Improvements to non-car links to Wokingham town centre and station interchange • Park and Ride at Coppid Beech Status: SPD adopted October 2010 Infrastructure Delivery and Contributions The Infrastructure Delivery and Contributions SPD has been written to accompany the masterplans for the four Strategic Development Locations. It sets out the necessary infrastructure that will be needed to deliver the masterplans, as well its indicative phasing and funding.

Status: SPD adopted October 2010 t. (0118) 974 6819 e. cris.lancaster@wokingham.gov.uk www.wokingham.gov.uk/planning

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Spring 2011

Independent living This summer sees the opening of Alexandra Place in Woodley, a state-of the-art development offering active, independent and fun living for the over 55s.

It features an exercise room, spa bath, internet café, large garden, hair salon, shop, restaurant, therapy suite and guest room. An award-winning arts and education programme will provide a range of creative, therapeutic and social activities.

Alexandra Place is designed to help people live independently for as long as possible, with flexible on-site care meeting their changing needs. The scheme caters for all people, from those who are active and have few or no care needs, to those requiring 24-hour care and support, particularly those who are living with dementia.

Executive view Cllr Julian McGhee-Sumner, Executive Member for Social Care and Housing “This exciting development will provide real, proper homes for older people and will also incorporate important personal touches, such as allowing them to take their pets. Another key aspect is the flexibility of the on-site care. This means that if somebody’s care needs change, they don’t have to move out, but can instead have their care needs met in their own home.”

It has 64 modern one and two-bedroom apartments. 14 of the apartments are available to buy at 75% of the full market value, with the remaining 25% interest and rent free (terms and conditions apply). The other 50 apartments are available for rent.

Through a membership scheme, local people can use the facilities for a small annual fee, enjoying a thriving social hub where they can learn new skills, share experiences and support one another.

Local entrepreneurs will also have the chance to contribute to the success of Alexandra Place by providing a restaurant, hairdressing and retail service on site.

If you are interested in providing these services, contact Margaret Wright on 07880 706233.

A Council initiative, the scheme has been developed by Catalyst Communities Housing Association and will be managed by Central and Cecil, with the onsite care and support service provided by Housing 21. t. (0118) 974 6760 e. housingneeds@wokingham.gov.uk www.wokingham.gov.uk/ alexandra-place

Information on 2011/2012 Council Tax

Message from the Council Leader In setting our budget for 2011/12, we have taken a long, hard look at our priorities and allocated the budget accordingly. We are working towards the needs of our communities in a way that will set us up for the future.

To do this requires massive change in the Council.

In 2010/11 we made £2.1million in-year savings through greater efficiency. We are now reshaping and re-targetting services. We do not intend to cut them in a way that many other local authorities around the country are doing. There is no assumption we will provide these services ourselves, they may be supplied directly by the Council, in partnership with other agencies or by the private and voluntary sector, but we will be accountable to you for their quality.

We want to make sure residents get the services they need and at a price they can afford. Of course it’s about being efficient, but it’s also about better meeting the identified needs of our communities.

I hope the information below helps to explain more about the budget. We can expect further reductions in future from central government. Please don’t forget that WBC does everything it can to keep council tax increases to a minimum.

Councillors and officers work hard to keep costs under firm control and to cut inefficiencies. Some £4.5million is set to be saved in 2011/12, which equates to over £17million in five years. This has been achieved despite Wokingham Borough being the worst funded unitary authority in the country per head of population. The Council receives from central government just £125 per person compared with other unitary authorities such as Blackpool which receives £616, and the London Borough of Hackney which receives £1,043.

Cllr David Lee Leader of the Council

Financial Facts ●● Wokingham Borough receives £36million in central

●● In Wokingham Borough, 44p in every £1 that Council

government grant but residents and businesses pay back over £55milllion in rates and taxes. (This excludes the money that goes directly to schools.) ●● The Council receives from central government just £125 per person compared with, for example, Slough which gets £441 and Reading £361. ●● Approx 20p in every £1 the Council spends comes from central government – other councils get nearer 50p on average.

tenants pay in rent has to be handed over to central government. ●● The Council has saved almost £17million over five years which includes £4.5m to be saved in 2011/12. ●● Each member of staff serves approx 130 residents – the lowest staff numbers to population in Berkshire. ●● WBC is the third lowest spending unitary council per head of population (£637). Reading spends £844 and Slough £860.

Wokingham Borough Council’s Budget £101million 45 40

39

35 30 25 20 15

20

10

12

5

1

0 Children’s social care

Adult social service (Community Care)

Housing

Waste and street care services

7

2

Highways (Technical Services)

Libraries

10 Other front line services

What the Council spends its share of your council tax on

www.wokingham.gov.uk

Information on 2011/2012 Council Tax

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5

Debt Charges and Investment Income

Corporate and Democratic Core

Where Your Money Goes Elements of a Band D Council Tax: 2010/11 2011/12

Percentage Change

Wokingham Borough Council Parish Precept (average) Thames Valley Police Authority Royal Berkshire Fire Authority

£1,199.24 £52.32 £154.30 £55.66

£1,199.24 £52.35 £154.30 £55.66

0.00% 0.06% 0.00% 0.00%

The average total Council Tax bill for a Band D property (which includes the charges made by Thames Valley Police, Royal Berkshire Fire Authority and your town or parish council).

£1,461.52

£1,461.55

0.02%

Cost of Services Provided 2010/11 Staffing Costs £000

Other Costs £000

2011/12 Net Expenditure £000

Staffing Costs £000

Other Costs £000

Service Income (e.g. fees & charges, grants) £000

Net Expenditure £000

0 23,882 39,091

83,626 11,947 11,687

33,316 16,175 43,178

(116,942) (7,873) (16,263)

0 20,249 38,602

1,132 11,377

254 108

26,797 13,297

(26,326) (1,135)

725 12,270

6,687 2,450 10,990

1,184 1,264 6,519

5,573 1,584 12,797

(209) (553) (9,086)

6,548 2,295 10,230

5,260

5,070

0

0

5,070

4,317

0

6,149

(1,579)

4,570

105,186

Service Income (e.g. fees & charges, grants) £000

Schools and Education 80,240 35,075 (115,315) Children’s Social Care 13,982 17,630 (7,730) Adult Social Services 12,787 40,446 (14,142) (Community Care) Housing 246 26,352 (25,466) Waste and Street 106 12,409 (1,138) Care Services Highways (Technical Services) 1,237 5,673 (223) Libraries 1,241 1,773 (564) Other front line services 7,249 13,000 (9,259) (e.g. health and protection services, planning, revenues and benefits, countryside and leisure, rental income etc.)

Corporate and Democratic 5,260 0 0 Core (corporate management and democratic representation) Debt Charges and 0 5,525 (1,208) Investment Income

Total Expenditure on Services

Transfer to/ from balances

Total Budget

100,559

(50)

105,136

(1,314) 99,245

How these services are funded: General Government Grant

Area Based Grant

Reward Grant

Collection Fund Surplus

Council Tax for Borough Council

19,557

7,041

167

425

77,946

105,136

20,749 0 0 0 78,496 99,245

COUNCIL TAX LEVELS AND PARISH PRECEPTS

Parishes

Council Tax Levels

Each Town and Parish Council decides what it is going to spend. This is charged to the Borough Council and added to your Council Tax bill. Your final Bill varies depending on how much your Parish Council charges (or precepts).

The full Council Tax that you are required to pay covers the precepts for Wokingham Borough Council, Thames Valley Police, Royal Berkshire Fire Authority and your Parish Council. The charge per band in each Parish is listed over the page:

www.wokingham.gov.uk

Information on 2011/2012 Council Tax

Council tax levels and parish precepts continued

Town / Parish

Precepts 2010/11 £

Arborfield & Newland Barkham Charvil Earley Finchampstead Remenham Ruscombe St Nicholas Hurst Shinfield Sonning Swallowfield Twyford Wargrave Winnersh Wokingham Wokingham Without Woodley

Full Council Tax

2011/12 £

78,290 80,165 24,000 24,000 35,970 37,618 717,774 720,479 100,117 106,301 6,250 5,890 10,100 10,475 22,500 22,500 210,831 210,825 30,855 31,317 13,500 13,000 59,552 59,552 139,985 139,995 105,360 105,880 604,777 604,777 114,330 121,520 1,126,207 1,132,410 3,400,398 3,426,704

Band A Band B 980.72 952.83 957.17 979.96 951.80 952.04 952.77 953.90 970.67 965.29 948.66 952.68 984.41 957.75 968.58 965.33 1,015.90

1,144.16 1,111.63 1,116.70 1,143.28 1,110.43 1,110.70 1,111.55 1,112.88 1,132.44 1,126.16 1,106.76 1,111.45 1,148.47 1,117.36 1,130.01 1,126.21 1,185.21

Band C

2011/12 Band D Band E

1,307.63 1,471.07 1,270.45 1,429.24 1,276.24 1,435.76 1,306.62 1,469.93 1,269.07 1,427.70 1,269.39 1,428.05 1,270.36 1,429.14 1,271.88 1,430.85 1,294.23 1,456.00 1,287.06 1,447.93 1,264.88 1,422.98 1,270.24 1,429.01 1,312.55 1,476.61 1,277.00 1,436.62 1,291.45 1,452.87 1,287.11 1,447.99 1,354.54 1,523.85

Band F

Band G

Band H

1,797.98 2,124.89 2,451.79 2,942.15 1,746.86 2,064.47 2,382.08 2,858.49 1,754.82 2,073.88 2,392.93 2,871.51 1,796.59 2,123.25 2,449.89 2,939.87 1,744.97 2,062.24 2,379.50 2,855.40 1,745.40 2,062.75 2,380.09 2,856.11 1,746.74 2,064.33 2,381.91 2,858.29 1,748.82 2,066.79 2,384.76 2,861.70 1,779.56 2,103.12 2,426.67 2,912.00 1,769.70 2,091.46 2,413.22 2,895.86 1,739.20 2,055.42 2,371.64 2,845.97 1,746.58 2,064.14 2,381.69 2,858.03 1,804.75 2,132.89 2,461.02 2,953.22 1,755.87 2,075.12 2,394.36 2,873.23 1,775.74 2,098.60 2,421.46 2,905.74 1,769.78 2,091.56 2,413.33 2,895.99 1,862.49 2,201.13 2,539.75 3,047.70

For details of the respective charges made by Wokingham Borough Council, Thames Valley Police, Royal Berkshire Fire Authority and your Parish Council for your property, please refer to your Council Tax Demand Notice.

EXEMPT DWELLINGS Some dwellings are exempt, including empty caravan pitches and houseboat moorings. Other exempt properties are: Properties occupied only by: • Full-time students • Student nurses • Members of visiting forces • People under 18 • People who are severely mentally impaired • Diplomats • ‘Granny’ annexes occupied by elderly or disabled relatives Vacant dwellings which: • Are unfurnished (exempt for up to six months) • Are owned by a charity (exempt for up to six months) • Are substantially unfurnished and require or are undergoing structural alterations or major repairs (exempt for up to 12 months) • Are left empty by someone who has moved to receive personal care in a hospital or home or elsewhere, where the person is unable to manage alone and the move is permanent • Are left empty by someone who has moved in order to provide personal care to a sick or disabled person who is unable to manage alone • Are waiting for probate or letters of administration to be granted following the death of the owner or tenant (and up to six months afterwards) • Are repossessed

• Are left empty by a liable person who is a trustee in bankruptcy • Are empty because their occupation is forbidden by law • Are left empty by full-time students or student nurses • Are waiting to be occupied by a minister of religion • Are left empty by someone who has gone to prison for a reason other than the non-payment of council tax or fines • Form part of a single property and may not be let separately due to planning restrictions

DISCOUNTS The full council tax is charged on the basis of two adults living in a dwelling. If there is only one adult living in a dwelling (as their main home), a reduction in council tax of 25% can be claimed. If a dwelling is furnished but there is nobody normally living in it (e.g. a second home) then the owner will be entitled to a reduction of 10% in their council tax.

For certain dwellings, including caravans and boats, this second home reduction increases to 50%.

Other dwellings where a 50% discount may apply are: • The second homes of people who are liable for council tax on dwellings provided by an employer (tied accommodation).

• A property that remains unoccupied and substantially unfurnished. The discount lasts for a maximum period of six months after the statutory exemption has expired.

www.wokingham.gov.uk

Certain people are not counted when looking at the number of adults resident in a dwelling.

These are: • Full-time students, student nurses, apprentices and youth training trainees • Patients resident in hospital • People who are being looked after in care homes • Severely mentally impaired people • People staying in certain hostels or night shelters • 18 or 19 year olds who are still at school, and those who leave school after March for the months up to November • Careworkers working for low pay (below £44/week) usually for a charity • People caring for someone with a disability or long term illness who is not a spouse, partner or child under 18 • Members of visiting forces and certain international institutions • Members of religious communities monks and nuns • People in prison (except those in prison for non-payment of council tax or a fine) If your bill shows that an exemption or discount is allowed, you must tell the Council of any change of circumstances which affects your entitlement to that discount. If you fail to do so the Council can impose a financial penalty on you. The level of penalty is fixed by government.

Information on 2011/2012 Council Tax

PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES If you, or someone who lives with you, needs a room or extra bathroom or kitchen, or extra space in your property to allow the use of a wheelchair indoors or has had adaptations to meet special needs arising from a disability, you may be entitled to a reduced council tax bill. The bill may be reduced to that of the property in the valuation band immediately below that shown in the valuation list for your property (e.g the bill for a dwelling in Band C would be calculated as if the dwelling was in Band B). These reductions are available to try to ensure that disabled people do not pay more tax on account of space needed because of a disability.

If your home is in Band A, the lowest tax band, your council tax will be reduced to 5/9ths of the Band D tax.

If your home has any special fixtures which have been added for a disabled resident which reduce the home’s value and you do not think they have been taken into account in the valuation of the property, you should contact the Listing Officer at the Valuation Office.

(See section on Appeals.)

COUNCIL TAX BENEFIT Council tax benefit helps you to pay your council tax bill when you are on a low income. Any savings below £6,000 (£10,000 for pensioners) are ignored when working out benefit. Council tax benefit is a meanstested benefit. You will be required to provide originals of all documents needed in connection with your claim.

COUNCIL TAX AND BENEFITS ENQUIRIES How to contact us: If you would like further details about any of the issues covered in this leaflet, or for any query about your bill or benefit, please contact us at the Revenues and Benefits Office.

• Telephone us on the number shown on your bill or benefits letter • Write to us at: Revenues and Benefits Office Wokingham Borough Council PO Box 152 Shute End Wokingham RG40 IWJ • Visit our Reception Desk at the Shute End office.

Our office hours are 8.30am to 4pm Monday to Friday • Email us at: ctax@wokingham.gov.uk benefits@wokingham.gov.uk

APPEALS ABOUT THE COUNCIL TAX YOU PAY You may also appeal if you consider that you are not liable to pay council tax, for example, because you are not the resident or owner or because your property is empty, or if a mistake is made in calculating your bill.

If you wish to appeal on these grounds please write to the Council Tax Office, Wokingham Borough Council, PO Box 152, Shute End, Wokingham, Berks RG40 IWJ. If you are still unhappy with the decision you have a further right of appeal to the Valuation Tribunal.

APPEALS ABOUT VALUATION Valuation of the property for council tax is dealt with by the Listing Officer of the Valuation Office Agency, an agency of Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs.

New taxpayers have a period of six months in which to make an appeal, providing an appeal on the same grounds has not been dealt with for a previous taxpayer for the property. In certain circumstances, a new six month period in which an appeal can be made is allowed. This occurs when: • The property is structurally altered so that its value is changed.

• The area around the property is so changed that it adversely affects the valuation of the property i.e. major road changes.

• The mix of the property alters i.e. a property comprising part business and part domestic use becomes wholly domestic.

• Where the Listing Officer alters the valuation band for your property without a proposal having been made by a taxpayer.

Appeals or queries about council tax valuation should be made to: The Listing Officer, District Valuer and Valuation Officer, Kings Wharf, 20-30 Kings Road, Reading, Berks RG1 3ER. Tel: (0118) 980 4800.

Making an appeal against your valuation does not allow you to withhold payment of any tax owing. If your appeal is successful you will be entitled to a refund of any overpaid tax.

REVENUES AND BENEFITS ON THE WEB If you have access to the internet then why not visit us at: www.wokingham.gov.uk You will find more details about the various discounts, exemptions and benefits mentioned in this leaflet.

You can download copies of our forms and other useful documents, so that you can make a claim for any type of discount, exemption or benefit without having to wait for us to post these documents to you.

BENEFIT FRAUD HOTLINE 0800 454 240 www.wokingham.gov.uk

Information on 2011/2012 Council Tax

www.wokingham.gov.uk

Spring 2011 19

Cracking down We have carried out a review of households receiving a council tax single person discount by undertaking a cross-check of information held by the Council and an external agency. This has helped to check where circumstances may differ from those on our records, indicating that someone may no longer qualify for the discount.

We have identified nearly 2,500 of the 15,000 residents receiving this discount who may not be entitled to it. We are currently contacting them to ensure the discount is correct or to stop any that are incorrectly awarded So far, we have identified a £250,000 saving.

‘ Motorvating’ young people!

Teenagers in the Wokingham Borough can get behind the wheel to learn about road safety at regular free pre-driver training events organised by the Council.

Taking over!

Young people have been taking over the Council.

Motorvation has been running for the past five years and has given more than 600 young people the skills and information necessary for a safe and enjoyable motoring life.

Organised by members of Youth 10 – the Borough’s Youth Forum – BackChat got young people involved in a question time-style debate with some of the people who can influence the lives of young people.

www.wokingham.gov.uk/ motorvation

Questions ranged from a campaign for a skate park in Finchampstead, bullying and protecting vulnerable teenagers.

Building affordable homes in Wargrave Four one-bedroom flats and six two and three-bedroom houses, reserved exclusively for local people, have recently been completed on Kings Field in Blakes Road, Wargrave.

This new development was part-funded by a Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) grant and Sovereign South+West.

One house remains available as ‘New Build Home Buy’ which offers shared ownership housing on a part-buy / part-rent basis.

This development is available to people who have lived in the parish for a significant time or have significant links to the parish. t. Sovereign Living on 0845 602 1618

Takeover Day saw young people and Council officers discussing changes to designated school areas, communications and transport issues – to name just a few.

Jessica Liddell “I liked being able to give my opinion and I felt like I was heard and listened to. I feel I can speak more openly about what I believe in and that I won’t be judged for it.”

Fiona Davies “We all discussed different ideas on transport. We all found out about our ward councillors and we had a meeting with the Executive Member to discuss our ideas.”

20 www.wokingham.gov.uk

Charles helps at the Me2 Club for two hours a week

Sam volunteers as a ‘befriender’

Volunteering is good for you!

Volunteering is a fantastic way to spend your spare time, whether you have half an hour a week to offer or much more.

Volunteers are happier, healthier and live longer than those who don’t. So, as they say, if you do one thing this year…why not think about volunteering to help a local good cause?

Volunteer Centre Wokingham, based in Denton Road, Wokingham, provides a borough-wide service. The Centre advises over 400 potential volunteers every year, matching them with local charities and voluntary groups that need help.

Placements might be with groups helping children, young people or the elderly; people with learning or physical disabilities, or mental health problems; animal rescue or environmental conservation; legal and democratic opportunities, and so on.

Christine Knox, Development Manager, said: “You can use volunteering to stay active and make new friends, or to give something back to the community. Perhaps you want to test the waters before taking a decision to change your career or just feel the satisfaction of really helping someone. Whatever your motivation, volunteering is fun and very rewarding, and there really is something to suit everyone.”

Extra help is available at the Centre for potential volunteers who themselves have support needs – as a result of ill-health and/or disability – through the Supported Volunteering Project.

The centre is open weekdays, 9.30am to 2.30pm. t. (0118) 977 0749 e. wok-vol@btconnect.com www.volunteercentrewokingham.org.uk

March Spring 2011 21

Get involved in your local community Here are some volunteering opportunities available through the Borough Council:

(s) ww w.J ohn Bird sall.co .uk

School governor – We are always looking for school governors who play a key role influencing the future of education in the area. t. (0118) 974 6161 / 6131 e. sylvia.mcdonald@wokingham.gov.uk www.wokingham.gov.uk/governors Foster carer – Foster carers receive a generous allowance.

If you think you’ve got what it takes, get in touch. t. (0118) 974 6204 e. fostering@wokingham.gov.uk www.wokingham.gov.uk/fostering Library service – We need help delivering books to home library readers and help at our community learning events and activities. t. (0118) 974 6263 e. volunteer@wokingham.gov.uk www.wokingham.gov.uk/library-volunteering Countryside Service – This is your chance to have rewarding practical days to enhance local habitats for wildlife and visitors. t. (0118) 934 2016 e. countryside@wokingham.gov.uk www.wokingham.gov.uk/countryside-volunteering Short break carer – The scheme links disabled children and their families with carers who can provide them with regular short breaks. These carers are volunteers, who receive an allowance. t. (0118) 974 6890 e. short.breaks@wokingham.gov.uk www.wokingham.gov.uk/short-break-scheme

l de mo by d ose to p Library pho

Independent Parental Supporter – You would offer support and help to parents of children identified as having Special Educational Needs. t. (0118) 908 8233 e. parent.partnership@wokingham.gov.uk www.wokingham.gov.uk/parent-support Duke of Edinburgh – A challenging programme of activities which help young people to learn new skills, help others and experience adventure. t. (0118) 974 6271 e. noel.apps@wokingham.gov.uk and liz.payne@ wokingham.gov.uk www.wokingham.gov.uk/duke-of-edinburgh-award Or perhaps you could help out the health service?

Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust – Nearly 1,000 people regularly volunteer at the Trust in one way or another. Why not join them? www.jobs.nhs.uk and search ‘volunteering in Reading’

How volunteering changed my life

days a week.

Without it they wouldn’t be able to get to the shops and services they need, and they have to rely on family or friends all the time. It’s because of this I’m glad to be able to help as a volunteer.

I enjoy delivering the mobility scooters to our clients and always have a chat to see how they are. I believe the service is invaluable and have seen for myself what a big difference it makes to their selfconfidence and independence.

On a personal level, being part of the team gave me a real boost to my confidence and social skills when I was recovering from a nervous breakdown. I cannot put into words how much the Volunteer Centre helped me through my time of need.

By Carl Jones volunteer with the Wokingham Town “IMobility scheme, helping up to three

”

22 www.wokingham.gov.uk

Executive view Cllr Liz Siggery, Executive Member for Corporate Services “The residents of Wokingham Borough expect high quality and efficient services, and Wokingham Direct is consistently delivering on those expectations. The external recognition that we are receiving encourages us to continually improve and be more innovative into the future.”

Transforming our services The Council is changing the way it works for the better. We want to make sure you get the services you need at a price that you can afford.

Planning for our Transformation programme began two years ago, when the current changes to funding and policy by central government were just speculation. Of course it is about being efficient, but it’s also about better meeting the needs of our communities.

We’ve made increasing your choice the basis for these changes. Here, together with our feature on pages 4 and 5, are just some examples.

Sharing services Where it makes sense, we’re looking to join up with partners to make the most of our resources, improve resilience, recruitment and retention and reduce costs.

This approach is already working successfully in West Berkshire and Wokingham Trading Standards, which has gone from strength to strength since its launch in June.

We’re exploring where it would be beneficial to join with partners in other areas.

Executive view Executive Member for Finance Cllr Anthony Pollock “We’re making the most of our resources – staff, buildings, IT – as we transform the way we work.

The idea is to be as efficient as possible, while continuing to ensure vital front line services are provided to the public. Providing easier and cheaper ways for you to talk to us has been a vital first step and we’re continuing to innovate across the board as we change the way we work.”

Wokingham Direct… ...has been the trailblazer for Transformation. As a focal point for all customer service, it has made it faster and cheaper to contact the Council. Phone calls, emails, web chats and text messages all come to Wokingham Direct. So if you’ve rung, emailed or even used our new iPhone app, you’ll have been in touch with the Wokingham Direct Team.

We’ve brought together several services to make sure that our customer service is first class and efficient. Council tax and benefits and complaints are the latest teams to join, meaning more people are trained to deal with a wider range of issues. This means more of your queries can be dealt with the first time you contact us.

This approach has been recognised by national and European award schemes – giving valuable information about how to improve still further.

Sharing experiences…

As we move through Transformation, we want to make sure we put our residents and customer at its heart. Please do keep talking to us. There are more ways than ever before to get in touch, so just choose the right one for you! Take a look at the full list of ways to contact us on page 2.

Spring 2011 23

BME Forum – A Year of Success Wokingham BME Forum has been giving people with a black or minority ethnic heritage a voice in the Wokingham Borough for more than six years – and has just seen its most successful 12 months.

It oversees the annual celebration of Black History Month and the highly successful Community Cohesion Conference.

To ensure strong links with the Council and the local community, the forum takes the slightly unorthodox approach of having two chairmen. For a number of years, Cllr Bob Wyatt has acted as the co-chair from the Council, with Parry Batth, a local resident and

employee of the National Grid, currently acting as the community-appointed representative. t. (0118) 974 6790 e. ashwani.gupta@wokingham.gov.uk www.wokingham.gov.uk/bme-forum

For the first time, the forum will now be running a two-year healthy lifestyles project, thanks to money from Berkshire West Primary Care Trust. More than 80 people signed up in the project’s first month, which was launched at the end of Black History Month in November.

Meetings throughout the year give the BME community the chance to hear about public services, as well as raise issues of interest to them.

During the past year, the forum has discussed pupil attainment, the national census, forced marriages and relevant issues coming out of the coalition government.

Mayor Cllr Dianne King with members of the forum (Courtesy of The Wokingham Times)

Further education in a local setting Drama is just one of the classes being staged in a newly-developed Links Course for adults aged 17 to 19 years with complex learning difficulties.

Based at Ravenswood in Crowthorne, the course has been designed by Reading College and offers activities concentrating on sensory experience. This includes cookery, photography and music.

Responding to demand from local families, the Council has worked with the college, Addington School and others to offer this opportunity for further education in the local community.

Keeping it local means travel is kept to a minimum and students benefit from the safe and stimulating rural setting of Ravenswood. Students also get an introduction to college life.

After a positive response from students, parents and teaching staff alike, the Council is now working to try to secure funding for a follow-up full-time course so that the local education continues. t. Community Care Services (0118) 974 6000

24 www.wokingham.gov.uk

Community power in Norreys Neighbours in one Wokingham Borough ward have been showing how community action can make a difference to people’s lives.

The Norreys Neighbourhood Project is bringing together local people to meet the needs the community itself recognised.

Among the initiatives are: • A project bringing together schoolchildren and older people to discuss childhoods past and present and other activities • Free or low-cost sport and leisure activities • A Youth Association that has secured funding to brighten up the youth shelter in Ashridge Park • A healthy eating campaign • A Neighbourhood Speedwatch initiative to encourage drivers to slow down and to petition for a 20mph limit near schools in Norreys Avenue and Ashridge Road • A Fun Around Norreys (FAN) Facebook page to let young people know what is happening locally • Support for new business start-up ideas • Developing a community newsletter Community worker Louise Barker said: “The important thing about the Norreys Neighbourhood Project is that it all stems from local people – they’ve identified what needs to be improved, as well as what’s good about the area, and then came up with the ideas and put them into action.”

The Council has set aside a £5,000 ‘community pot’.

Residents will be invited to put forward their ideas and then the community will vote on how the money is spent.

Executive view Executive Member for Community Development Cllr UllaKarin Clark “The Norreys project is just one example of how we are working differently. It puts residents at the centre of planning services, deciding what needs addressing and how it should be tackled. Staff work with and support residents, but they are in the driving seat and are already beginning to see the benefits.”

The Norreys Neighbourhood Project holds regular Community Forums where all residents have a chance to generate more ideas for improvements and get involved in organising projects and events.

Lydia, a local resident who came up with the idea for Neighbourhood Speedwatch, said: “The Community Forums have been really good. Normal people can get their point across about their worries and what’s concerning them. I brought up my concerns about speeding around the schools and we developed the Neighbourhood Speedwatch idea. I feel I have had backing and support all the way with the idea.” t. Louise Barker on 0777 585 0249, Candice Wright on 07785 314 603 or Alison Munro on (0118) 974 6043 e. louise.barker@wokingham.gov.uk candice.wright@wokingham.gov.uk alison.munro@wokingham.gov.uk

Spring 2011 25

Elections 2011 Local elections take place on May 5.

A referendum on alternative voting may be held at the same time, so make sure you are registered to vote.

If you’re eligible and registered to vote, we’ll send you a polling card about a month before voting day, telling you when and where to vote.

Some polling stations have changed: • Hawkedon School: Now at Maiden Lane Community Centre • Elephant and Castle PH: Now at Hurst Village Hall • Finchampstead Memorial Hall: Now at Finchampstead Sports Pavilion

Postal votes will be sent around 10 days before the poll. Please follow the instructions on how to complete it, as incorrect or incomplete papers may result in your vote being rejected. t. (0118) 974 6522 / 23 e. electoralservices@wokingham.gov.uk www.wokingham.gov.uk/council/ elections/

Flexible Home Improvement Loans Would you like to improve the warmth, comfort, safety and security of your home? Are you a home owner aged 60 or over?

If the answer is yes, you might be able to apply for a flexible home improvement loan.

‘Eye know’ care Specially trained opticians are improving access to eye care for adults with learning disabilities through the ‘Eye Know’ project. One in three people with learning disabilities has sight problems, but many have never had a sight test.

T: Stephen Kill on 07738 040307 or Mary Codling on (0118) 949 2932.

t. (0118) 974 6355 www.wokingham.gov.uk/improvements-loan

Youth Elections A record 6,836 young people went to the polls in secondary schools and youth clubs in December to select their next Member of Youth Parliament and Deputy. Amy Longland and Jay Newton have taken up the mantle, advocating on behalf of young people and getting their issues heard by decision-makers.

Amy will be campaigning for improved street Amy and Jay safety skills teaching for young people, as well as trying to improve communication with young people. Jay will support UK Youth Parliament’s national campaigns including free tuition fees for all.

Last year’s MYP Mako Mbiba and Deputy Beth Stockham had a busy year – presenting their campaigns to the Children’s Trust, highlighting the issues of under-16s getting part-time jobs, bringing together representatives from different school councils for a conference and working on a political education campaign across the South East. www.activeyouth.co.uk

26 www.wokingham.gov.uk

Don’t forget Borough Clean-Up Week We want as many of you as possible to join us at the annual Borough Clean-up taking place between March 26 / 27 and April 2 / 3.

Litter picks are happening at various times and locations across the borough. www.wokingham.gov.uk/ clean-up

Weekly waste collections remain We will be launching an improved waste service in April 2012 making it easier for our residents to recycle more.

Although it may seem a long way off, we want you to know about the improvements, including how you can recycle more and reduce the amount of waste thrown away in rubbish sacks every week.

The free recycling collections will become weekly rather than fortnightly, using the existing black boxes. And the good news, there’s no limit on how much can be recycled every week.

The weekly refuse collection will continue but to achieve increases in recycling, and to reduce the amount of waste sent to landfill, 80 official sacks will be provided to households free each year.

Executive view Cllr Gary Cowan, Executive Member for Environment “We believe this is a fairer system and encourages residents to think about recycling, what they buy and what they throw away. If we throw less away, we can reduce the amount that goes into landfill, a process which contributes to global warming.”

Only these official sacks will be collected, saving taxpayers in the region of £900,000 every year.

Special arrangements will be made for large households to have more bags so that they are not penalised.

The Green Waste Service (garden waste) will be expanded across the whole borough, covering a further 10,000 households. You’ll be able to subscribe to a brown-wheeled bin for an annual charge or alternatively you can buy 75 litre compostable sacks – both will be collected every fortnight.

For those of you who do not wish to subscribe, you can compost at home or take your garden rubbish to one of our household waste recycling centres in Bracknell or Reading.

Join now to win You don’t have to wait until April 2012 to join our kerbside recycling scheme. Sign up now to get special black boxes delivered to you so you can store newspapers, cardboard, cans and plastic bottles separately from your normal household waste.

And, if you join by the end of April 2011, we will enter you into a prize draw to win a compost bin.

So, what’s stopping you becoming greener today? t. (0118) 974 6000 e. wokinghamdirect@wokingham.gov.uk www.wokingham.gov.uk/recycling

Royal Wedding Day (April 29) Our waste collection service will be operating as normal, so please help us by placing it out the night before so we can collect it early and not disturb your celebrations.

Spring 2011 27

Learning partnership outstanding Did you know that WBC works with Bracknell and Wokingham College, The Karten Centre and the Crescent Centre to provide learning opportunities for some of our most vulnerable people?

Its work was recently recognised as ‘outstanding’ after an Ofsted inspection of all adult and community learning in the Wokingham Borough, which reported how the service has improved significantly over the last two years. It’s now ranked as good overall. w. More details on adult learning opportunities at: www.bracknell.ac.uk

Taking action together More than 80 students from 17 schools took part in Wokingham Borough’s Anti-Bullying Week, looking at the importance of ‘Taking Action Together’.

Workshops were run by different services including Community Wardens, Thames Valley Police, ARC counselling, BACYP and Southfield School students, who had written and produced their own video – a stimulus for much discussion.

Assistant Head at Southfield School Nick Harvey said: “We take all aspects of bullying very seriously and were delighted to be given the opportunity to share our work with other schools.”

Students created a paper chain with anti-bullying messages and by joining these together it aimed to show their resistance to bullying.

A Helping Hand Braving the recent weather, the Council’s Business Assurance team transformed gardens at The Acorn Community Centre in Wokingham ready for spring.

Providing a range of facilities for people with learning disabilities, the centre includes gardens and greenhouses, allowing clients to learn more about caring for and selling plants. Taking annual leave, staff tackled an overgrown area, transforming it into a new garden with planted shrubs and plants.

Business Assurance Manager Muir Laurie said: “I was delighted when five of my team volunteered to join me in giving up their own time to do something positive for The Acorn Centre.

It was great to receive thanks from the centre who loved the beautiful gardens we created.”

The day also featured keynote speeches by Andy Couldrick, Strategic Director, Service Delivery for people, and Pete Oliphant, Deputy Commander of Wokingham Police, both stressing their serious approach to bullying and how they would support any action to prevent it happening.

28 www.wokingham.gov.uk

Working with diversity Wokingham Borough Employment Service (WBES) supports people with disabilities, mental health issues, HIV/Aids, substance misuse issues and long-term ill health conditions and their carers to gain the necessary skills to find paid or voluntary work, education or training.

Offering free, friendly, confidential and tailored support to individuals, WBES also provides support to employers in relation to The Equality Act 2010 and dealing with stress-related issues within the workplace.

t. (0118) 989 0500 e. wbes@wokingham.gov.uk www.wokingham.gov.uk/ jobs/job-support/

Yasmin’s story “In 2003, life at work, a multi-national financial company, was becoming more and more stressful and I was finding it hard to cope. And to my shock, I was diagnosed with depression.

Whilst off work, things went downhill quickly; feeling isolated, my self-worth and self-confidence were rock bottom.

After two years, I needed to rebuild my confidence before I could consider returning to full-time work. I was referred to WBES and joined a course before volunteering at Dinton Pastures Country Park – the first stepping stone back to work. It was great to be out of the house and meeting people. Finally, I had a sense of purpose.

I also started to deliver awareness training with WBES, highlighting the stigma and discrimination so often experienced by people with mental health difficulties.

Having spent so long feeling like I wasn’t of use to anyone, my confidence and selfesteem were boosted – I felt appreciated.

WBES were fantastic – offering as much or as little help and support as I needed.

Everyone’s needs are different, from advice on applying for a job or preparing for interviews to information and education opportunities. They have facilities, including computers, as well as offering a range of courses.

WBES made a huge difference to my life. They offer very practical advice with your well-being central to this. Support is tailored for you.

Thanks to this support, I took a new job at the Learning and Skills Council (now the Skills Funding Agency) in August 2007 – and I am still here today.

I still have contact with WBES – you are never ‘off their books’ so to speak.

The support eases off if that’s what you choose but it’s reassuring to know that WBES are there if you need them. I can’t recommend them enough.

”

Spring 2011 29

Executive view Executive Member for Highways and Corporate Affairs Cllr Keith Baker “We’re working hard to keep the borough moving. I’m sure you will join me in thanking those staff who did an excellent job to this effect during the bad weather at the end of last year. You’ll read below about our plans for street lighting and how we try to keep disruption to a minimum, while making the necessary improvements to our highways.”

Roadworks – who’s digging?

Switching on to street energy savings In 2009 we switched off around 1,000 street lights between midnight and 5am in a trial to generate energy and carbon cost savings. Working with the police, we closely monitored the impact on highway safety and crime, as well as feedback from residents.

We know that roadworks are one thing that gets people in the borough hot under the bonnet.

As the highways authority, we do what we can to timetable works for when they will cause the least disruption. However, with 700km of highways to look after, and about a dozen gas, electricity, water and communication companies to coordinate, it’s not an easy job.

As a Council, we’re responsible for repairs to the highways themselves.

However, if any of the companies referred to above need to carry out repairs to their pipes or cables, they have a right to dig up the roads and pavements to make those repairs.

What we can do is ask for efficient working practices and guide them as to when might be the best time to do the work. We’ll look at things such as school holidays, off-peak and perhaps overnight working, as well as what other roadworks are scheduled to happen.

While some works can be planned, others are emergencies and have to happen immediately. We may suspend other planned work to allow emergency work to take place.

Register for email or text alerts at: www.wokingham.gov.uk See details of work across the borough and beyond at: www.elgin.gov.uk

It was a successful pilot with no significant impact on crime and road safety, and we are now planning how the approach can be extended across the Wokingham Borough.

Housing benefit changes From April 1, 2011, the Local Housing Allowance (LHA) is changing. This may affect your entitlement to Housing Benefit (HB): • ending the maximum £15 weekly HB excess for those who previously qualified • removing the five bedroom LHA rate • introducing caps to LHA weekly rates • from October 2011, reducing all LHA rates so that about three in 10 properties are affordable to people on HB • helping disabled people who have a carer who doesn’t normally live with them staying overnight. HB will now take into account the extra cost of renting a property with an extra bedroom for their carer.

Any current claimants affected will automatically be told of their new HB level. We will write to you and tell you what is happening in March (for the April changes) or September (for the October changes). www.wokingham.gov.uk/housing-benefit

30 www.wokingham.gov.uk

Rook’s Nest Wood open for business Out and about in the country parks NEW! At Dinton Pastures Sailing and kayaking will now join the activities available through our multi-activity centre based off Sandford Lane, Hurst. They join climbing, orienteering and Segway tours in a comprehensive programme to get you active in the country park.

Bookings can be made for individuals and groups. Use the details below to keep up to date with activities, or to find out about joining the centre.

Dog walkers, cyclists and anyone wanting to get out and about are encouraged to try the borough’s latest countryside site.

Rook’s Nest Wood was welcoming its first guest as Wokingham Borough News went to print – why not check it out for yourself?

The eighteen hectare site boasts four new ponds, 2km of new footpaths, nearly 7ha of meadows and 11ha of woodland including 11,000 newly-planted trees. There’s also a 25-space car park.

The site is criss-crossed by a series of iron-rich streams, supporting bacteria which give them an orange colour. Ditches on site are currently being considered for designation as a Regionally Important Geological Site.

The entire project, including future site maintenance, will be funded from developer contributions. Whilst the site has been designed to provide an attractive recreational opportunity for local people, it’s certain that it will also provide a huge boost to the local wildlife including dragonflies, reptiles, barn owls and badgers. t. (0118) 934 2016 www.wokingham.gov.uk/countryside

t. (0118) 934 2016 e. Tanya.budd@wokingham.gov.uk www.wokingham.gov.uk/countryside

If your activities at Dinton have worked up a hunger, take a look at the newly refurbished and extended Dragonfly Café.

Its oak-framed garden room is light and airy and has fabulous views over the newly created garden and golf course.

Caterers Baking Waves whip up delicious cakes, as well as daily specials using local produce where possible.

Sink into a comfy seat or get cosy by the wood burner fuelled from the by-product of conservation work.

The café is open daily from 8.30am (closing times vary depending on time of year). t. Dragonfly Café on (0118) 932 1071

Spring 2011 31

What’s on this Spring?

Whether you want to work with willow or listen to a Cryptozoologist, there’s something for everyone to enjoy this spring in the Wokingham Borough.

Park Highlights

Library Highlights

Dinton Pastures

Monster Hunt at Wokingham Library – Thursday April 14, 6.30pm to 7.30pm. Cryptozoologist Jonathan Downes talks about his search for unknown creatures around the globe. £3 charge. t. (0118) 978 1368. Booking essential.

Willow workshop – Sunday March 27, 10am to 4pm. Learn how to make dramatic willow obelisks and other unique sculptures for your garden. £35 (includes all materials for one support and refreshments). t. (0118) 966 2250. Booking essential International Dawn Chorus Day walk – Sunday May 1, 5am. Enjoy an early morning stroll with the RSPB at the most active time of day for birds.

Meet in main car park. Cost £1 (children free; all proceeds to RSPB)

Others Guided walk around Nores Hill ancient woodland near Shinfield Park – Sunday April 17, 2pm. A ranger will lead you around the site, which is home to wildflowers and old trees including the rare wild service tree. t. (0118) 934 2016 e.countryside@wokingham.gov.uk Booking essential.

Easter Egg Hunt in aid of the Princes Trust at California Country Park – Sunday April 24 from 12 noon. Hunt for an egg and see if you’re a winner! t. (0118) 973 5519 To find out more visit www.wokingham. gov.uk/parks. To receive regular email updates about Countryside Service events, email us at Wokinghamcseventssubscribe@yahoogroups.co.uk

Sense-ational Saturday Storytime – Multi-sensory stories for children with learning disabilities to enjoy with their families. Booking essential.

Wokingham Library Saturday May 7, 11am t. (0118) 978 1368 Lower Earley Library Saturday May 28, 11am t. (0118) 931 2150 John Hegley Live at Wokingham Library – Thursday June 2, 8pm.

The popular comedian and poet will be performing his stand-up routine and poetry. Booking essential. £6 charge. t. (0118) 978 1368 Bestselling historical novelists Author Lindsey Davis visits Wokingham Library – Thursday May 19, 7.30pm. £3 charge. Booking essential. t. (0118) 978 1368 Bookstart – provides free book packs for children aged nine months, 18 to 30 months and four years old.

Pick up your free Bookstart packs today at any Wokingham Borough library or children’s centre. e. bookstart@wokingham.gov.uk www.wokingham.gov.uk/bookstart More listings at: www.wokingham.gov. uk/libraries Follow us: www.twitter.com/ wokinghambc

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Could you foster for Wokingham Borough Council?

Becoming a foster carer is a big decision. It’s hard work but very rewarding. We provide support, supervision and training to all our carers to help you care for our vulnerable children and young people. However, it’s not all work and there are lots of opportunities to socialise at events throughout the year, which last year included a trip to Bournemouth, a Christmas party and pantomime, and a celebration for sons and daughters of those who foster. We are always looking to recruit more foster carers. Get in touch if you think you have got what it takes. t. (0118) 974 6204 e. fostering@wokingham.gov.uk www.wokingham.gov.uk/fostering

www.wokingham.gov.uk/fostering