2022 Review by Councillor Lynne Doherty, Leader of West Berkshire Council
We Care for our Communities
Our Offer of Support
Distributed ARG Grants of up to £25k to support green growth & recovery to 44 businesses
Support for vulnerable over holiday periods – including Holiday & Food Activities, Free School Meal Vouchers and distribution of Household Grants.
£17k distributed to charities from West Berkshire Community Fund
- £4,500 to Swings and Smiles - a contribution towards the cost of a wheelchair-accessible roundabout for its outdoor play area
- £3,000 to Time to Talk - a contribution towards a counselling course which over six months will provide free counselling for up to 18 parents
- £3,000 to the 3rd Newbury Scout Group - to help make its @TheDen building more accessible to disabled members through installing new wheelchair-friendly paths
- £2,500 to The Downs School - funding to purchase a high jump bed to support its PE activities
- £1,635 to St Mark's Church of England Schools Association - to buy recycled plastic benches so that pupils can eat lunch outside.
- £1,000 to Citizens Advice West Berkshire - funding towards the cost of its Spending Diaries and Financial Capability support provided to clients on low incomes
- £1,000 to City Arts Newbury - funding for two ten-week art courses for mums and carers with young children, and one to bring together elderly and vulnerable residents together.
- £500 to The Friends of Chilton Foliat Primary School - a contribution towards the non-statutory provision of a forest school in the outdoor area providing activities such as den building, outdoor cooking and mini-beast hunts
Free Bus travel over Easter weekend, Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, World Car Free Day, and Christmas. Including return journeys following feedback from users.
Launched new website to support businesses in West Berkshire
Funded a new Community bus for Thatcham & Newbury
Approved £100k of Member’s Bid Funding
Introduced a new Connect Group Day Ticket for up to 4 people to travel together on the bus - £10.00 for an Urban ticket and £16.50 for a Rural ticket
Launched a £100,000 Emergency Cost of Living Crisis Fund to help charities with the Greenham Trust
3 rounds of funding for Community CIL Bids, to go towards community projects.
Launched a Cost of Living Hub
Launched Sustainable Warmth Scheme to help make homes cheaper, warmer and greener through funded energy-saving improvements
West Berkshire’s Giving Tree brought Christmas to those in need
Our Strategies and Reviews
- West Berkshire Domestic Abuse Safe Accommodation Strategy 2021-23 (EX4143);
- West Berkshire Local Flood Risk Management Strategy 2022-2027;
- West Berkshire Enhanced Partnership Plan and Scheme
- Leisure Strategy.
- First Homes policy
- Improvement Plan for the Review of Town and Parish Engagement
- Strategic Asset Plan (SAP)
- Adult Social Care Strategy
- Co-Production Framework
- Compton Neighbourhood Development Plan
- Newbury Masterplan
- Flood Risk Management Strategy
We Take Action and Deliver
On the Environment and Transport
A successful Emergency Planning response to storms
Joined LAs UK100 Climate Network
£280,000 of Active Travel Funding for walking and cycling improvements along the B4000 between Stockcross and the A4/A34 junction
Two new mini recycling centres in the district. One in East Garston (in the overflow car park for the Queens Arms, Postcode - RG17 7ER), and one at the end of Theale High Street (Postcode - RG7 5AR).
Launched a Paint Re-Use service
Annual Report on Environment Strategy showed good progress
eCargo bikes offered to local businesses in the district for low carbon deliveries
Introduction of dual use bins in Almond Avenue/Shaw Riverside, Linear Park, Northcroft & Goldwell Parks and Snelsmore Common.
Ran a Free Soil Conditioner Give Away
On Education and Children
‘Engaging Potential’and iCollege, rated ‘Good’ by Ofsted
WBC Children’s Services rated ‘Good’ by Ofsted
Almost 98% of Year 6 children in West Berkshire have been offered one of their secondary school preferences and 94% of Primary children got their 1st choice of schools
New Keevil Unit for children with disabilities at Speenhamland Primary School opened
Hosted another successful Summer Reading Challenge for children and adults which over 3,000 children took part in
Parsons Down Partnership of Schools opened
Cycle Skills Training made available to help children get out and about on their bikes and build up their confidence
On Health and Social Care
Hosted a Health & Wellbeing Conference
Rolled out Wellbeing Passports for Primary Schools
On Digital, Leisure, and Culture
Opened the green space to public at Faraday Road
Berkshire was one of only 8 successful bidders nationally to receive £500,000 to help improve mobile infrastructure across the region by working with mobile partners.
Opened a full size 3G playing pitch at Denefield School in Tilehurst
Northcroft Lido renovation approved
West Berkshire to receive an allocation of £1,000,000 from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund to help level up our communities
Celebrated HM The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee
Commemorated the death of HM The Queen and the Accession of King Charles III
On the Economy
New approach to LRIE announced
All commercial space at 4 The Sector in Newbury has now been let.
Passed another balanced Budget
Named as being among the country's top-10 districts to provide value for money - according to independent research.
To support those facing crisis at home and abroad
Rough Sleeper numbers are at all time low – 0
Ukraine Support Hub and Appeal launched
We Engage with the Public
Our Communications and Campaigns
- Drink Spiking Awareness Campaign
- Women in Politics – encouraging women to stand for election
- Great British Spring Clean
- Stamp Out Fly Tipping
- Support for fostering within West Berkshire
- Damp and Mould guidance – to keep homes ventilated and safe
- Made With Care – to encourage people to consider jobs in Social Care
Our Consultations
- School Streets Schemes – the Calcot Schools
- Active Travel Schemes to help the people of West Berkshire walk and cycle more
- Proposed School Term and Holiday Dates
- Proposed changes to the capacity and designation of the Castle School to operate a satellite site at Theale
- Proposed Admission Arrangements 2023/24 for Community and Voluntary Controlled Schools
- Variation of the West Berkshire Council Street Works Permit
- Berkshire Digital Infrastructure Group
- 2023 Review of Parliamentary constituencies
- Proposal to introduce a new Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) in Thatcham Town Centre
- Proposal for a New Sports Pitch at Manor Park, Newbury
- The Future of Notrees Care Home, Kintbury
- Community and Strategic Digital Signposting for West Berkshire
- Separate Weekly Food Waste Collection Service
- Community Governance Review for Greenham Parish 2022
- Website Structure Review
- Draft Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing Policy 2022-2027
- Moving Traffic Offences
- Help with Numeracy
- Lawrence’s Lane, Thatcham / Cold Ash – Prohibition of Motor Vehicles (Experimental Order)
- Proposed Development of a SEMH Unit for 12 Children at Kennet Valley School
- Station Road, Newbury - Prohibition of Motor Vehicles (Experimental Order)
- Community Orchard at Almond Avenue Open Space, Newbury
- 2023 Review of Parliamentary Constituencies
We are recognised for our excellence
West Berkshire Council has been shortlisted for three awards by the Local Government Chronicle
Northcroft and Goldwell Parks in Newbury received a Green Flag alongside Linear Park in Calcot.
