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Full Council to be asked to adopt Local Plan after green light from Planning Inspector
An
independent Planning Inspector has given the green light for the Royal
Borough to adopt a key planning document guiding and supporting future
development, regeneration and investment in the area.
The
Borough Local Plan sets out the vision for future development of the
Royal Borough up to 2033, including how many new homes are needed, how
much space for jobs is required, the best locations for new development
and, just as crucially, where development cannot happen. The plan
ensures that new housing and other development is well designed and
meets local needs, happens in the right places and is supported by
suitable infrastructure.
This
process also included a full public examination by an independent
Government-appointed Planning Inspector, Mrs Louise Phillips. Public
consultation took place last summer on the proposed main modifications
that she advised were necessary to make the plan sound.
Having
considered all responses, Mrs Phillips issued her independent report
advising the plan is sound (subject to inclusion of main modifications)
and therefore capable of adoption. Her report is available on the council website. Full Council will be recommended to formally adopt the plan at an extraordinary meeting on Tuesday 8 February at the Holiday Inn.
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Last chance to take part in our budget consultation
Residents, community groups and businesses have until next Monday (31 January) to take part in the consultation on our proposed budget. Thank you to all those who have already taken part.
This
proposed budget for 2022/23 is an investment budget that looks to
support our most vulnerable residents while ensuring we continue to
provide high quality services for all.
To take part in the consultation, which started in early December, visit the RBWM Together website. Responses will help to inform discussions when the draft budget is debated at Full Council on Tuesday 22 February.
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Additional Restrictions Grants for eligible businesses severely impacted by Omicron
We have
opened applications to Covid grants funding for eligible businesses
that were severely impacted by the Omicron outbreak, though not entitled
to the Omicron Hospitality and Leisure Grant.
We
are offering one-off grants from the Government of either £2,667,
£4,000 or £6,000, depending on the rateable value of their trading
premises, to help eligible rate-paying businesses in specific hard-hit
sectors.
Businesses
are encouraged to apply early with the full evidence required. Grants
will be awarded on a first-come-first-served basis, and therefore may
not be awarded where funding has been exhausted prior to the closing
date.
Applications must be made by Thursday 31 March 2022. To see full eligibility criteria, check exemptions, and apply, visit our website.
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Final reminder to complete Defra’s bird flu survey and help protect our feathered friends
Bird flu cases have unfortunately been found locally and to help reduce spread Defra has established a temporary disease control zone covering 3km (1.86 miles) in all directions from the Thames at Eton, where infected swans were recently identified.
If
you keep birds of any number, species or breed within the zone - either
at your home, garden, dovecote, allotment, smallholding or farm –
please complete this short survey by the end of this week
to play your part in helping protect local wildfowl, poultry farms and
your own birds. Thank you to everyone who has already done the survey.
When
cases are identified, part of effective disease control is to build a
clear local picture of where birds are kept, how many and which species.
Survey responses will allow Defra vets to offer advice and undertake
checks with those bird keepers at higher risk, and ultimately lift the
zone once they’re confident the disease is under control locally.
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Book a place on our free online course to support start-ups
The
Royal Borough is working with the Rebel Business School to provide free
online classes for budding entrepreneurs in the borough looking to
start or grow their own business.
The
sessions, which run on weekdays from 10am to 3pm from Monday 7 to
Friday 18 February, are designed to inspire and help residents find the
confidence to try their business ideas.
This
course is for all budding entrepreneurs, from those with no cash and no
business experience, to fledgling start-ups that need guidance to keep
on track.
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Updates to the Highway Code - making our roads safer for everyone
The
Highway Code, which sets out advice, guidance, and rules for British
road users, is being updated to reduce risk to vulnerable users such as
pedestrians, cyclists, and horse riders.
The updates include:
- Drivers at a junction should give way to pedestrians crossing or waiting to cross a road that they’re turning into
- Drivers should not cut across cyclists going ahead when turning into or out of a junction or changing direction or lane
- Cyclists should give way to pedestrians that are using shared-use cycle tracks.
The
upcoming changes to the Highway Code align with our aims to improve
active travel across the borough as discussed during our Big
Conversation last summer.
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Don’t make resolutions, make habits
Our
January communications campaign is now in its final week, with a focus
on our local mental health services and ways that everyone can look
after their mental health.
We are
encouraging everyone to speak about their mental health challenges with
their friends and family, directing them to the support available from
the Mind charity.
Make sure you follow us on Facebook and Twitter to keep up to date with the campaign.
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Take the survey to help shape your local pharmacy services
On
behalf of Berkshire’s six local authorities, Healthy
Dialogues is writing a Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment (PNA)
looking at people’s health needs across the area.
As part of this, they’re inviting everyone to share their views – via an online survey - about how you use your local pharmacy. Participants won’t be identified in any reporting.
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New support group for parents and carers
Are you a parent/carer of an adult with learning disabilities?
Would you like to meet others like you for friendship & support in a safe environment?
The Learning Disability Partnership Board’s new Parent/Carer Support Group can do just that.
Meetings are held monthly on Zoom, from 12.30 to 1.30pm. The next one is on Wednesday 9 February.
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Royal Borough community spotlight
Here are just some of the upcoming community events in the Royal Borough:
-
Uncover six million years of human history (St Mark's Methodist Church, Maidenhead) – Starting Thursday 3 March. The five-week Aspects of Prehistory
course will look at periods of human history from the Stone Age to the
Iron Age. Attendees will also get the opportunity to handle a variety of
historic artefacts. For more details, visit the Workers’ Educational Association website or email Steph Diggon if you are interested in signing up
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Spring concert - (7.30pm
Saturday 5 March) - St Mary’s Church, Maidenhead. The Windsor and
Maidenhead Symphony Orchestra (WMSO) will be performing a selection of
pieces by Walton, Beethoven, and Tchaikovsky for their spring 2022
concert. Book your tickets and find out more on the WMSO 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 directions between Junctions 5
(Langley) and 6 (Slough-Windsor) from 8pm today until 6am on Monday 31
January.
The M4 is also due to be closed in both directions between
Junctions 6 (Slough-Windsor) and 8/9 (Maidenhead) from 8pm on Friday 4
February to 6am on Monday 7 February.
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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