Royal Borough takes steps to address serious financial challenge as it presents balanced budget for 2024/25

We've taken decisive action to present a balanced budget for the next financial year which, despite significant financial challenges, marks a positive step forward.

The proposed 2024/25 budget has been published, and this will be considered by Cabinet on Tuesday (20 February).

Despite the need to make significant savings and increase income, next year’s budget includes substantial increases in spending in order to meet demand, as well as investment in the infrastructure of the borough.

The final decision on the budget for 2024/25 will be taken at a meeting of Full Council on 29 February. Read more in our press release.

Eligible residents encouraged to apply for initiatives offering energy efficiency improvements to homes 

We're working in partnership to offer two schemes to help support low-income families in the borough improve the energy efficiency of their homes while reducing their carbon footprint, with applications now open.

Eligible homeowners or private tenants can apply to receive the free energy-saving upgrades designed to lower carbon emissions and help manage energy bills. This will help families phase out high carbon, fossil fuel heating and reduce fuel poverty. 

You may be eligible if you are in a home which has an Energy Performance Certificate rating of D, E, F, or G and you have a combined household income of less than £31,000 per annum, or you are receiving certain income-related means-tested benefits such as Universal Credit.

For full details of the schemes, including eligibility criteria, read our press release.

Reminder: Sign up for free workshops offering personal financial support

Free workshops providing support to help residents with their personal finances are on offer thanks to a partnership between ourselves and Rebel Business School.

The seven online workshops are being funded by the Government’s Multiply funding and provide a range of support on how to master your money and take control of your finances. These include smart spending, saving, and investing run by the experts at the award-winning Rebel Business School.

The workshops will run between Monday 19 February to Monday 11 March, 8pm to 10pm, via Zoom. To sign up, visit the website. Read more in our press release.

Reminder: Join engagement events to help shape Ascot’s future development and High Street improvements

The Ascot community is invited to attend workshops and drop-in events to help shape the town’s rejuvenation, including sharing their views on options for improving the High Street.

We're working with residents, community groups, businesses and other partners to produce a Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) that will guide future development in the area, complementing the vision set in the Borough Local Plan and Neighbourhood Plan.

The Borough Local Plan includes a high-level vision to rejuvenate Ascot as a vibrant place for the community, with an improved High Street and high-quality new development that is well integrated into Ascot and protects its green and leafy character.

How to get involved

We're holding workshops and drop-in events for the wider community to get involved, discuss emerging themes and share their thoughts around Ascot’s future development and High Street improvements.

The workshops will be held at Ascot Racecourse, from 7pm to 9pm on Thursday 22 February and Tuesday 26 March. To book a place at one of these sessions, visit www.rbwm.gov.uk/ascot-placemaking-spd email planning.policy@RBWM.gov.uk or call 01628 796187. Attendance at the workshops must be booked in advance

Alternatively, people are welcome to simply turn up to view the plans and give feedback at drop-in sessions happening at Ascot Durning Library on Monday 26 February 11am to 1.30pm and Thursday 29 February, 2pm to 7pm. Read more in our press release.

Help shape Berkshire's blueprint for nature recovery

We’re looking for farmers, landowners, foresters and land managers across the county to get involved in shaping the Berkshire Local Nature Recovery Strategy.

The strategy will prioritise areas where nature can be expanded and protected in Berkshire, and we’ve been designated as the county's responsible authority for the strategy. We’re leading the work with the county’s five other unitary authorities, or supporting authorities, and their communities.

You can attend one of the three following workshops:

• Wednesday 6 March: 1pm to 4pm – University of Reading
• Thursday 14 March: 5:30pm to 8:30pm – Crown Estate, Windsor
• Monday 18 March: 11am to 2pm – Wasing Estate, near Aldermaston.

Refreshments and a meal will be provided. Book by clicking here and you can find out more about the strategy here.

At the workshops you'll be able to find out more about how being involved can support the work you do, and help you access funding.

Support for the loved ones of excessive drinkers

If you live with or know someone you think may have an alcohol problem – your love, care and support can be what they need to realise they’ve a problem.

Berkshire East Public Health and NHS Frimley are raising awareness about the support available for the families and friends of those who drink excessively, and the effects of this behaviour.

Check out the resources on the Frimley Health and Care website. 

Royal Borough Community Spotlight

Here are just some of the upcoming community events and volunteering opportunities in the Royal Borough:

• Bazaar and coffee morning (Saturday 17 February, 10am to 11.30am) - St Mark's Crescent Methodist Church, Allenby Rd, SL6 5BQ. Stalls with many lovely items including home baked cakes, books, CDs, DVDs, bric-a-brac and Chris's Crafts with lovely handmade items for gifts and home. Raffle with prizes. All welcome - free entry. All proceeds go to St Mark's Church Fund. For more information, visit the website.

• Snowdrop trail (Saturday 17 February) - St James-the-Less Church, Stubbings (Burchetts Green Parish) Henley Road, Maidenhead, SL6 6QW. Refreshments will be provided starting at 9am with coffee. Sandwiches will be available from 11:30am to 1:30pm and then tea and cake from 2pm to 4pm. Come and enjoy the snowdrops. There will be a quiz on winter flowers, a prayer walk, and a craft activity for the younger ones to enjoy. Donations gratefully received. For more information, email office@burchettsgreenparish.org

• Indoor car boot sale hosted by Age Concern Windsor (Saturday 24 February, 10am to 1pm) - Spencer Denney Centre, Park Corner, SL4 4EB. There will be lots of bargains and refreshments too. Free to enter. For more information, email info@ageconcernwindsor.org.uk or call 01753 860685 (Tuesday through Friday 9.30am to 3.30pm) or visit the website.

• Coffee morning (Monday 26 February, 10.30am to 12pm) - Parkside Christian Fellowship, 16 St Lukes Road, Maidenhead, SL6 7AN. Join on the second and fourth Mondays each month for free refreshments and a chance to chat and make new friends. See details here.

• Maidenhead Music trombone concert (Thursday 29 February, 7.45pm) - Norden Farm Centre for the Arts, Maidenhead. Bone-Afide is a bright young brass ensemble who show the versatility of the trombone and perform works from various genres and periods. Their programme for this concert includes arrangements of composers including Tchaikovsky, Bach and Bartok and original works for the trombone by Brian Lynn, Callum Au and Dani Howard. This talented young chamber quartet is made up of Europe's leading young trombonists. For more information and tickets visit the website.

• Health and Wellbeing Fayre for older men (Wednesday 13 March, 1.30pm to 4.30pm) - Maidenhead Library. Twenty-five exhibitors offering support, services and products for older men (and for all those who support them). Free admission.

• Volunteer at Elizabeth House, Cookham. Elizabeth House day centre is looking for new volunteers to entertain its members. This could be anything from singing or playing music, a craft of any type, a quiz, or just a fun hour of chatting and laughter. If you would like to know more, call Dawn on 01628 527621.

If you have an upcoming not-for-profit community event or appeal for volunteers you’d like to promote in this newsletter, simply send basic information about your event to communications@rbwm.gov.uk and it could be shared with more than 21,000 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.

To see further volunteering opportunities in the borough, or for another way for community organisations to promote volunteering opportunities, please visit RBWM Together.

Our consultations - have your say

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

Participating, sharing ideas, and giving your feedback is the best way to ensure your views are heard.

Our current consultations are:

• Public Spaces Protection Orders (PSPOs) to promote responsible dog control and encourage safer cycling in town centres - closes Monday 26 February.
• Proposed measures to prevent business premises being converted into housing on key employment sites without full planning permission - closes Tuesday 12 March.

Local Travel Updates

Rail - engineering work

• Planned improvements are taking place meaning that lines in the Wokingham area are closed up to, and including, Sunday 18 February. Rail replacement bus services will operate between Ascot, Bracknell and Reading. Please check before you travel. For more information, visit the SWR website.

Council highways works

For details of further 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

Keep up to date with news and information from the council by signing up to Nextdoor and following us on X and Facebook.

Other accounts you may be interested in:

• Royal Borough official tourism web page.  
• Libraries on Facebook and X.
• Royal Borough Registrars on Facebook and Instagram.
• Communities Team on Facebook and X.
• Windsor & Royal Borough Museum web page.
• MyRoyalBorough on X, Facebook and Instagram.
• Make Maidenhead on Facebook and Instagram.