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Royal Borough’s Corporate Plan adopted by Full Council
The
Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead’s Corporate Plan was agreed
by Full Council earlier this week and will now come into force.
A
Corporate Plan is the golden thread running through and linking all
decision-making in the council to ensure the headline areas where change
needs to be driven the most across the Royal Borough is co-ordinated.
It
enables us to make sure our 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 for everyone.
Its
adoption follows a consultation this summer with residents, partners,
and organisations whose critical feedback helped to further shape the
plan into its final format. Thank you to everyone who took part.
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Let’s all take a stand together
We are joining with the Dash Charity and other partners to support the national White Ribbon initiative, calling on everyone to take a stand against male violence, abuse, and harassment towards women.
White
Ribbon Day and the International Day for the Elimination of Violence
Against Women took place yesterday, starting 16 days of national
activism which we’re supporting locally with a dedicated communications
campaign now underway on our Facebook and Twitter channels.
Over
the next fortnight, we’ll raise awareness of the valuable partnership
work in the Royal Borough to help keep both women and men safe, the
support available to all victims, and the several ways people can report
and get help if they are scared, threatened, or abused – whether in a
domestic setting or on a night out. If you are on social media, please
look out for our posts and share with your own followers.
It’s
clear we all have our part to play, including those in our community
who always treat others with equality and respect. Let’s continue to
lead by example, let’s question abusive attitudes and behaviours in
others, let’s call out sexism and let’s all make the White Ribbon Promise to never commit, excuse or remain silent about male violence towards women.
Domestic abuse
Communications
activity will initially focus on domestic abuse: how to spot the signs,
how to report, and the support available to all victims. Domestic abuse
will not be tolerated. If you are a victim, remember that you are not
alone. Support is available 24/7.
In an emergency, always call 999 for the police.
If you can’t speak, call 999 and press 55; please stay on the line,
listen to the call handler and answer questions, either by pushing
buttons or coughing. If you don’t want to speak to the police, the National Domestic Abuse Helpline is free and open 24 hours a day on 0808 2000 247. The Dash Charity helpline – 01753 549865 – is open Monday-Wednesday from 9.30am-2.30pm and Thursday- Friday 9.30am-4pm.
All
the Royal Borough’s libraries are designated safe spaces for reporting
domestic abuse. Several pharmacies also offer safe spaces for sufferers
to seek help – see the locations on the police Ask for ANI webpage and the UK Says No More website.
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See the Maidenhead Christmas lights switch-on tomorrow
Tomorrow, Maidenhead’s Christmas lights will be switched on.
Taking place outside the Town Hall, the event will begin with live music and entertainment on stage from 4.40pm.
This
year, the lights will be turned on by decorated local Team GB
Olympians, Moe Sbihi MBE and Jack Beaumont, Paralympian Jeanette
Chippington MBE, and the winner of Norden Farm’s Kipper’s Snowy Day
Competition.
Due
to the forecast weather, the fireworks display has been cancelled, but
our spectacular lights switch-on will still take place at 6pm and all
the other festive fun will still go ahead, including a spectacular
lights show.
There
will also be a funfair on St Ives Road from lunchtime, plus a bustling
festive market in the High Street, trading between 9.30am and 7pm,
offering local crafts, gifts, hot food, mulled wine, and treats.
The Government has recently update its Covid guidance to r ecommend
that people in England take a rapid Lateral Flow Test (LFT) before
spending time in crowded areas such as busy shopping centres or when
visiting vulnerable people in enclosed spaces.
We
encourage you to help keep others safe by taking a LFT if you’re
planning on attending our lights switch-on tomorrow, and make sure you
self-isolate if you test positive.
A
road closure will be in place on Queen Street from its junction with
Broadway, High Street, St Ives Road, and the Colonnade from 7am until
9pm tomorrow and on-street parking will be suspended from midnight
today.
Please be aware that this event is weather dependant, check our Twitter and Facebook pages for the latest updates.
For more information about Christmas parking, lights and road closures, read our press release.
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Applications now open for business grants
Eligible
businesses in the Royal Borough who either create a new, or extend an
existing, Advantage Card discount on a product or service can now apply
for a grant.
There are two levels available through the scheme,
which uses the remaining Additional Restriction Grant (ARG) funding
from the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy.
- £5,000 for businesses offering a 20% - 39% discount
- £10,000 for a discount of at least 40%
The deadline for applications is Friday 31 March 2022, funding permitting.
We
are also offering an Innovation Grant scheme, awarding £15,000 to
eligible businesses that demonstrate digital innovation,
differentiation, and resilience.
Digital innovation, for example, could mean online collection or self-service systems.
A
business may qualify for an Innovation Grant where it attends at least
50% of the Lunch and Learn training sessions sponsored by the Royal
Borough and achieves a score of 15+ points across the award criteria.
Sign up for this training on the My Royal Borough website.
For
more information about these grants and the full eligibility criteria,
which applicants should read before applying, please visit our website.
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Sniffer dog helps Trading Standards
Sniffer
dog Cooper has been assisting our Trading Standards team in their work
to detect and seize suspected counterfeit tobacco products in the Royal
Borough.
Officers
carried out checks at retailers in Maidenhead and employed the help of
the spaniel during the operation. The team seized 10 packets of
cigarettes and seven pouches of rolling tobacco believed to be
counterfeit. Officers also seized 40 packets of chewing tobacco which
failed to comply with labelling regulations.
The
seized items will undergo expert examination to establish their
counterfeit status. Trading Standards is continuing enquiries with the
businesses concerned, with a view to taking enforcement action and, if
possible, identifying their suppliers.
If you are concerned about the sale of counterfeit tobacco products, you should report this this to trading.standards@rbwm.gov.uk or to the Citizens Advice Consumer Service on 0808 223 1133.
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Mobile Covid testing unit visiting Windsor
The
mobile Covid testing unit is due to visit Windsor Coach Park, 2 Alma
Road, Windsor, SL4 3HU, every Tuesday and Wednesday in December from 9am
to 3pm each day.
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Windsor & Royal Borough Museum to celebrate tenth anniversary
Thursday 9 December will mark 10 years since Her Majesty The Queen officially opened the Windsor & Royal Borough Museum.
Make sure you share your museum memories using #WRBMuseum10 and follow @Windsor_Museum as they look back at their highlights over the last decade. |
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Share your experiences of accessing GP services in the last six months
Healthwatch
Windsor, Ascot and Maidenhead want to hear about your experiences of
accessing GP services in the Royal Borough from Thursday 1 July this
year.
All
feedback is anonymous, and the results will be collated and put into a
report which will be shared with NHS services and organisations to help
shape the way services are developed in the future.
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Are you flood-ready?
As
part of Flood Action Week, the Environment Agency remind you to follow
these steps to help you and your family stay safe in the event of a
flood:
- Make
a list of which items you would move to safety in a flood. This could
be family photos, keepsakes, and other irreplaceable valuables
- Learn how to turn off your gas, water, and electricity.
- Sign up for flood warnings
- Check your insurance covers flood damage
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Will you show your support for Purple Sock Day?
The Royal Borough’s Girls Policy Forum wants you to wear purple socks for Purple Sock Day.
In association with Parallel Windsor,
and using the International Day of Persons with Disabilities on Friday
3 December as a platform, Purple Sock Day is about encouraging
everyone to come together and show support for disability inclusion, by
buying and wearing a pair of purple socks.
Parallel have worked with Bamboo Clothing to produce sustainable purple socks made from bamboo which you can buy on the Bamboo Clothing website.
50%
of the profit made will go into a new Parallel Disability Fund, to
support Deaf and Disabled Entrepreneurs. The Fund will be overseen
by Hatch Enterprise,
who specialise in supporting founders from under-represented
backgrounds. The rest of the proceeds will be re-invested into next
year’s #PurpleSockDay.
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Royal Borough community spotlight
Here are just some of the upcoming community events in the Royal Borough:
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Art Able - (Saturday 27 and Sunday 28 November) - Norden Farm Christmas Market in Maidenhead and The Swan in Windsor.
This community group will be at both markets this weekend selling a
range of cards, artwork (prints and originals) crafts and ceramics.
Ideal for people looking for something original, handmade and unique to
buy as Christmas presents
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Christmas fair -
(10am-2pm Saturday 27 November) - High Street Methodist Church,
Maidenhead. Join the local Guides and Scouts for Christmas festivities
including handmade produce, crafts, decorations, a raffle, plus
lots for young children including a visit to Santa, Toys and Games.
Learn more on the Maidenhead Methodist website
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Dedworth Community Christmas Fair -
(2-6pm Sunday 28 November) Clewer Memorial Recreation Ground. Enjoy a
range of Christmas gift stalls outside and support St Edwards Catholic
First School with games and stalls inside. Mulled wine, Santa’s grotto
and raffle. Christmas light switch on and carols at 4pm. Visit their Facebook event to learn more
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Alexander Devine’s Santa Dash -
(6-11.30am Sunday 28 November) – Windsor. Volunteers and runners
are invited to put on your Santa suits or reindeer antlers and take part
in the 9th
annual Santa Dash in support of Alexander Divine children hospice. You
support could help provide a magical Christmas for a child with a
life-limiting or life-threatening illness and ensure families can make
special memories together this festive season. For more information,
visit the Alexander Divine website
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ADS Santa Fun Run -
(10.30am Sunday 28 November) – Eton College, Dorney Lake. Put on your
free Santa suit (included in your registration pack) and join hundreds
of other Santas running a 5k course to raise money for people with
Dementia, their carers and families in Windsor, Ascot, Maidenhead,
Slough, Langley & all points between. Learn more on the Eventbrite page
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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
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Virtual cook along - (6.30-7.30pm Tuesday 30 November). Join local resident Asa, founder of the Veg-N-Society, for a plant-based cook along event showing you how to make a plant-based taco soup. To learn more, check out the event poster
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With 3 Men in a Boat from Kingston to Oxford - (7pm
Thursday 2 December) - Cookham Dean Village Hall. Richard Poad invites
you to join Monomorency the dog and his human friends on their skiff
voyage up the Thames to see how much hasn’t changed since 1889. Includes
a cheese and wine supper in aid of Cookham Dean Church. Tickets are £15
from Barbara Dent (01628 476512)
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Old Windsor Christmas Fayre - (4-6pm
Sunday 12 December) - St Lukes Road, Windsor. Live music, community
stalls, street entertainers, Santa’s grotto, food and crafts. A great
way to celebrate Christmas lights in Old Windsor Parish
Council. Learn more on the Visit Windsor website
If
you have an upcoming not-for-profit community event or activity 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 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.
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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:
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M4 closures
The M4 is due to be closed in both overnight directions between
Junctions 6 (Slough) and 8/9 (Maidenhead). The closure will start after
8pm today and tomorrow (Saturday 27 November) and the motorway will
reopen by 6am on Saturday and Sunday. There will be no overnight closure
on Sunday 28 November.
The M4 is also due to be closed in both directions from 8pm on
Friday 3 to 6am on Monday 6 December between Junctions 6
(Slough-Windsor) and 8/9 (Maidenhead).
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.
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Keep in touch
Other accounts you may be interested in:
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