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Draft Corporate Plan agreed by Cabinet

Our draft Corporate Plan was agreed by Cabinet last week. The plan is now due to be discussed at Full Council on Tuesday 23 November.

A Corporate Plan is an essential component of good governance as it sets out the headline areas where change needs to be driven the most in the next five years, to ensure efforts and resources are directed at the right issues across the borough. At its heart, is the desire to create a sustainable borough of opportunity and innovation. 

The Corporate Plan also sets out our approach to achieving these changes and reflects the current situation - recovery from the Covid pandemic, wider changes in the shape of the economy, a growing and ageing population, persistent pockets of deprivation and inequalities, and the high housing costs across the Royal Borough. 

To read the draft Corporate Plan in full, or watch a recording of the meeting, visit the Modern Gov website.

Learn more in our press release.
Excellent response to ‘Big Conversation’ supporting Active Travel in Royal Borough

Thank you to everyone who took the time to have their say on how walking and cycling facilities in the borough should be shaped and improved over the next ten years.

We’re pleased to say more than 800 residents took the opportunity to join in with our ‘Big Conversation’ which took place this summer. It was a chance to put forward suggestions on Active Travel measures in the borough. People shared their ideas and opinions around four key themes:

  • Cycle routes and infrastructure 
  • Accessible routes and pedestrian spaces 
  • School streets – temporary road closures around schools during school run times (term time only) 
  • People-friendly streets – changes that can be made to neighbourhoods that reduce traffic dominance.
 
The next steps will be to analyse the responses and draw together ideas to help shape a new Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan, which, along with the previously adopted Cycling Action Plan, will form a roadmap of ideas.

Learn more in our press release.
Back due to popular demand!

The NHS Vaccine Bus is returning to White Waltham next week – Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday (8 - 10 November).

It will be at the same location as its visit this week, at Woodlands Park Village Centre, Woodlands Park Rd, Manifold Way, Maidenhead, SL6 3GW, from midday to 8pm. 

It offers both first and second doses, and there’s no need to book.

A fifth of the Royal Borough’s population is not yet vaccinated. 19 out of 20 people hospitalised with Covid aren’t double jabbed, so still at considerable risk of serious or long-term illness.

If you’re eligible for the booster, wait to be contacted by the NHS or your GP to use the online National Booking System. You won’t be able to book online until exactly six months after your second jab. If it’s been more than six months since your second jab and you’ve not been contacted, try the online booking service or call 119 for advice. If this doesn’t work, contact your GP directly.

Local vaccine walk-in sites may also be offering boosters. Check out the Frimley CCG walk-in vaccination webpage to find out more.

If you’re planning to visit the bus at Datchet tomorrow (6 November), please note its timings have now changed to 9am to 4pm. Its location however remains the same - Datchet Parish Hall car park, 3 Allen Way, SL3 9HR.
Stay fire safe this Bonfire Night

Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service encourage you to celebrate safely this Bonfire Night. 

Please take extra care if you are having a home firework display and always follow the Firework Code. Ensure you buy from a licensed seller, follow the instructions carefully, have enough space and handle them responsibly. 

Remember, fireworks can be frightening for people and animals, so let your neighbours know in advance and look after your pets.  

For more advice, visit the RBFRS website. For information on the law around fireworks, responsible use and how to report any issues, please visit the Thames Valley Police website.
Celebrate Christmas in our town centres

The festive season is fast approaching and we’re looking forward to celebrating Christmas in our town centres.

We'll be holding our traditional light switch-on events in addition to festive food, drink and entertainment.

Eton's light switch-on takes place on Thursday 18 November, with Windsor's following on Saturday 20 November and Maidenhead's on Saturday 27 November.

Free parking at council-run car parks will also be offered in Maidenhead, Windsor and Eton town centres on certain days and times, providing a much-needed boost for retailers and shoppers alike during this peak trading period.

Read our press release for full details of our light switch-on events and free Christmas parking.

More information about festive events in the Royal Borough can be found on the Visit Windsor website.
Bird-keepers - are you aware of the latest bird flu prevention measures?

The government has introduced new requirements for all keepers of birds, including pets, following the discovery of bird flu in sites across Great Britain..

An Avian Influenza Prevention Zone has been declared across Great Britain and all keepers, whether they have pet birds, commercial flocks or just a few birds in a backyard flock, are required by law to take a range of biosecurity precautions.

This is to reduce the risk of the transmission of avian influenza to poultry and other captive birds from wild birds or any other source.

The requirements for bird-keepers are available on the Government website.
 
For more information and advice on biosecurity, visit the Government's avian influenza webpage.
Celebrating our independent shops
 
Check out My Royal Borough’s independent shopping guide, showcasing local independent shops across the Royal Borough and supporting opportunities for everyone to shop locally this Christmas and throughout the year.

Whether you are grabbing a gift card, buying beautiful presents for your loved-ones, or ordering a takeaway, there are plenty of local go-to independent businesses in the Indies A to Z Guide.

Visit the My Royal Borough website for more information and suggest your favourites to be promoted in the run-up to Small Business Saturday on 4 December. 
Reminder: Observing Remembrance in the Royal Borough  

This year, you are invited to attend the Remembrance Day and Remembrance Sunday services taking place in the Royal Borough.

On Remembrance Day (Thursday 11 November) the council is holding a short Act of Remembrance starting from 10.55am at the War Memorial outside Maidenhead Town Hall. The Act of Remembrance will be led by The Mayor, Councillor John Story and those attending will observe a two-minute-silence at 11am.

On Remembrance Sunday (14 November) the council will also hold two services from 10.50am in Windsor and Maidenhead and observe a two-minute-silence at 11am.

The Windsor service will be held at the war memorial on Windsor High Street outside the Parish Church of St John the Baptist and will be attended by the Mayor.

The Maidenhead service will be held at the War Memorial outside Maidenhead Town Hall, and will be attended by the Deputy Mayor, Councillor Gary Muir.

Learn more in our press release.
Could you start your own business?

Starting a successful business can be challenging, but the StriveLive team are here to help.

Their seven-week course is packed with one-to-one advice, training, support and tools which are perfect for anyone looking to start a business.

This friendly team of entrepreneurs have helped 100s of people to start their own business. So, whether you want to make money from a hobby, be your own boss, or build a business empire, they can help you do it.

For more information contact Jenna Moody via email or by texting 07526 200 906
Congratulation to our pumpkin carving competition winners!

Thank you to everyone who took part in our Royal Boo-rough pumpkin carving competition.

We had truly excellent entries shared with us on Twitter and Facebook which made choosing these top carvings very difficult.
By Kathleen Stevens

By Amy

By Emilia Orlean
By Charlie Lovell, age 7

By Jessica aged 9
By Louise Walters
Royal Borough community spotlight

Here are just some of the upcoming community events in the Royal Borough.

  • Christmas fair - (1-4pm Saturday 6 November) – Braywood Memorial Hall. Oakley Green Fifield & District Community Association will be selling Christmas crafts, scarves, jewellery, and decorations to raise funds to renovate an old telephone box to house a defibrillator. Learn more on their website.

  • Christmas market - (11am-2pm Saturday 20 November) - St Andrews Church, Clewer. Enjoy the variety of stalls selling items including miniature Christmas trees, home produce and wreaths. Learn more on their website. 

  • Christmas market in the Quad - (2-5pm Sunday 28 November) - All Saints Church, Maidenhead. Join us for Christmas gifts, jewellery, local produce and festive cheer. There will also be singing from the infamous 'Tuneless Choir of Maidenhead'. Visit their Facebook event page to learn more. 

  • Prince’s Ball Pantomime - (Friday 3 to Saturday 11 December) - Old Windsor Memorial Hall. The Riverside Players are delighted to present their one-act pantomime, with afternoon and evening performances packed with lovable characters and the usual hijinks and shenanigans. Visit the Riverside Players website to learn more and book your tickets. 

  • Carols at Christmas - (3.30pm Saturday 11 December) - St Mary’s Church, Maidenhead. A wonderful musical addition to the festive season by the New Maidenhead Choir. Visit their website to learn more and book tickets. 
 
  • Maidenhead Girlguiding - Whatever inspires your daughter, whatever her passions and interests, Girlguiding offers her the chance to develop her potential, make friends, have adventures and have fun. We have Rainbows (5-7yrs), Brownies (7-10yrs), Guides (10-14yrs) and Rangers (14-18yrs) in Maidenhead. For adults, discover the benefits of volunteering with Girlguiding Maidenhead. Meet new people, gain skills and help girls know they can do anything. Learn more and register interest on the Girlguiding website

If you have an upcoming not-for-profit community event or activity you’d like to promote in our Residents’ Newsletter, simply send basic information about your event to communications@rbwm.gov.uk and it could be shared with over 19,000 local residents.

You just need to include a brief description, when and where it takes place, and a link to a website/social media page/contact where people can find out more.
Get involved in local town forum meetings 

If you’d like to have your say on issues affecting Maidenhead and Windsor towns, we want to hear from you. 

You can suggest discussion topics for the Maidenhead Town Forum or Windsor Town Forum as well as attend and contribute to the virtual meetings. 

Agendas are published a week in advance, so you can see what councillors will be discussing, and get involved if there’s a topic you’re interested in.

Your discussion suggestions will be added to a future agenda if appropriate. 

The next Maidenhead Town Forum is on Thursday 11 November (next week) and the next Windsor Town Forum is on Tuesday 16 November. 

To learn about how to get involved, email mark.beeley@rbwm.gov.uk (for Maidenhead Town Forum) or oran.norris-browne@rbwm.gov.uk (for Windsor Town Forum). You can watch the meetings live on our YouTube channel.
November’s Advantage Card offers

The Advantage Card offers for November are out!

This month we have offers including £15 off tickets at Windsor Theatre Royal, 10% off Windsor on Ice and two free running sessions with Running Sisters.

There are also offers available from The Bel & Dragon Windsor, Legoland, and Eton Leathergoods Repairs.

See full details on our website.

If you haven’t done so already, sign up to receive our special Advantage Card offer emails.
Have your say

We regularly hold consultations to get your views on proposals within the Royal Borough.

Responding to our consultations and giving your feedback is the best way to ensure your views are heard.

Our current consultations are:


More information can be found on the consultations pages of our website. 
M4 closures

The M4 is due to be closed in both directions between junctions 3 (Hayes) and 4b (M25 interchange) from 8pm on Friday 12 November to 6am on Monday 15 November. 

Visit the Highways England website for more details on the M4 smart motorway scheme.

For details of council works on highways, visit our website. For full local roadwork details, including work by utility firms, please visit the One Network website.
Keep in touch

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