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Cabinet to consider proposed amendments to budget
Thank
you to everyone who took part in the public consultation on the
proposed budget for 2023/24. All local authorities are legally obliged
to produce a balanced budget and public engagement forms a key part of
this process.
The
six-week budget consultation saw 373 responses submitted by residents,
community groups and businesses, with nearly 7,000 questions answered
overall. Analysis of this valuable community feedback will help inform
discussions at Cabinet next week (Thursday 9 February) and Full Council on Tuesday 21 February.
Cabinet papers set out
a number of proposed budget changes, including an additional £500,000
for Adult Social Care and £670,000 for Children’s Services, which will
remove or reduce savings originally proposed in these areas, including
those relating to Meals on Wheels, Family Hubs and the Youth Offending
Team.
Other
proposed budget amendments also include retaining free Sunday parking in
Maidenhead, extending the Resident Parking Discount Scheme to further
car parks, investment to provide four environmental enforcement
officers, and additional budget for road maintenance, the appearance of
town centres, and air quality monitoring.
During
the consultation, the Government announced an extra £3.539m in grant
funding for the Royal Borough than had been assumed when preparing the
draft budget. This gives the council the financial flexibility to
allocate additional funding in light of the consultation responses.
Learn more in our budget consultation press release.
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New guides to support residents and visitors with access needs launched by Royal Borough and AccessAble
New
destination Access Guides for Windsor and Eton, developed thanks to a
partnership between the Royal Borough and AccessAble, have been
launched.
VisitWindsor has worked with AccessAble, the
UK’s leading provider of detailed disabled access information, to
produce the guides which help residents and visitors with access
requirements to plan their journeys to and around both towns.
The
guides, which were launched at an event at the Learning Centre, Windsor
Castle, feature local businesses and tourist attractions and make it
easier for disabled people and carers to access services and facilities
and have a good experience while they are visiting a business or
destination.
The free Access Guides are available via the Visit Windsor website and on the AccessAble app. Hard copies will also be available shortly in Windsor, Eton Wick, Ascot and Maidenhead libraries.
Learn more in our AccessAble press release.
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Look after yourself and others as cold weather returns
A Level 2 Cold Weather Alert has been declared by the Met Office for the South East of England from 6pm on Sunday 5 February until 6pm on Tuesday 7 February. Due to clear spells, temperatures are expected to fall rapidly in the evenings, leading to cold nights and widespread frosts.
In line with NHS guidance, you can prepare for the
cold weather now and we are encouraging everyone to check on vulnerable
family members, friends or neighbours.
Make sure there is access to warm food and hot
drinks and people can stay warm, especially those who are not mobile,
have a long-term illness or are aged 65 and over, as well as make sure
medication supplies are up to date.
For more advice, please visit the NHS website or speak to a pharmacist.
If you, or someone you know, are struggling to
heat your home, we are promoting several community organisations which
are opening safe, warm spaces and running coffee morning and other
activities where people can go this winter. Check out our map of locations to learn more.
If you are struggling financially and facing
difficult decisions around food, rent, or heating, you are encouraged to
seek help before reaching crisis point. Check our dedicated Here to Help webpage as soon as possible.
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Unlock Your Potential – Exploring opportunities and support for jobseekers and businesses
This week, we've
launched our skills and employment campaign, Unlock Your Potential,
which during February is highlighting the opportunities and support
available for jobseekers, as well as new and existing businesses in the
borough. Our economic development officer, Saloni Radia, explains more.
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How does the council support residents and businesses?
“We
work with a range of businesses across the borough in a number of
different ways. We have Town Managers who work across the borough -
Robyn Bunyan for Maidenhead and the surrounding areas, and Paul Roach
who is responsible for Windsor, Eton and Ascot.
“We also have the Visit Windsor Partnership, focussed on hospitality, leisure and tourism businesses in the borough, and My Royal Borough,
which is where local businesses can join our online directory, have
social media content amplified, join business networking sessions and
post vacancies on the recruitment page.
“You
can join our interactive dog-friendly shop map and access training and
support, including accessibility training from AccessAble. Local
start-ups and businesses can also visit the Berkshire Growth Hub, where there are some exciting programmes available, and you can access a range of resources.”
What kind of support is available?
“For
residents, we have employment support available through the Jobs Hub
partnership with Maidenhead Job Centre Plus and Maidenhead Library. We
also run monthly job fairs at Maidenhead Library (see below), joining up
businesses in the borough looking for staff, with local jobseekers. We
also have employment support available through the National Careers
Service at these fairs and the opportunity to sign up for adult
education courses via our Community Learning and Skills Service.”
What outcomes and successes have there been?
“In
the Royal Borough, we have a greater percentage of people who are
working compared to the South East or the UK as a whole. We are very
lucky in the borough to have a jobs ratio of 0.97%, compared to 0.87% in
the South East and 0.86% in the UK as a whole - this means there is a
job available for any resident of working age who wants one, so long as
there is a skills match.
“We
ran four job fairs with our partners last spring which saw more than
800 jobseekers and 50 businesses attend. Our Library Service began
hosting job fairs at Windsor and Maidenhead libraries in September, and
also hosted Heathrow Academy for two drop-in information sessions about
the opportunities available and requirements to work at Heathrow
Airport. Our job fair at Maidenhead Library in January saw 90 jobseekers
attend, and 10 businesses promoting their vacancies.”
Check out the employment support available
We
offer a wide range of employment initiatives, skills programmes and
support in conjunction with our partners, helping you find a new job,
progress your career, learn new skills, or expand your existing
skillset. Many of these resources can be found online.
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We work with JobCentre Plus to
promote local job vacancies to our residents via job fairs (see below).
Jobseekers have the opportunity to connect with employers looking for
staff to fill their vacancies and employers across a variety of sectors
attend the events making it an ideal forum for candidates to understand
the local jobs market, and the skills required to be successful in their
applications.
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East Berkshire Community Learning and Skills Service
(ClaSS) delivers community learning and skills courses for over-19s in
Windsor and Maidenhead. Its courses and qualifications can help you find
work, get a better job and progress onto a higher-level course.
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If you are unemployed, being made redundant or just looking for a career change, Careers Springboard is a free job club, led by volunteers who can assist you with job applications and much more.
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Our Supported Employment Service
offers specialist employment support, job coaching, work experience and
support to help those with learning difficulties and autism find
voluntary or paid work.
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Your
library membership can be used to access a range of online skills and
careers resources including digital skills courses and guidance on job
applications and interviews. To see what’s on offer, visit our website and sign up to become a library member.
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Skills for Life
is a national government campaign helping you find training, support
and advice to gain the skills you need for the job you want, with a
range of courses available.
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Calling all jobseekers! Attend our jobs fair next week
Next week, a jobs fair will take place at Maidenhead Library on Tuesday 7 February from 10.30am to 1pm.
Jobseekers will have the opportunity to meet local employers and find out about their current vacancies. There’s no need to book, just turn up on the day.
Employers who wish to attend the event should contact maidenhead.library@rbwm.gov.uk.
For more information, please visit our employment support webpage.
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Reminder: Apply early to celebrate His Majesty The King’s Coronation with a street party
We’re
inviting you to join His Majesty The King’s Coronation celebrations
this May by applying to hold street parties in your community.
The Coronation will take place on Saturday 6 May. Events marking the Coronation will be held over the course of the weekend, including the additional Bank Holiday on Monday 8 May.
To
ensure everyone has a safe and enjoyable time, we’re asking anyone
wishing to hold a street party on the public highway to ensure they
apply for a temporary road closure by the deadline of 4pm on Friday 17 February. The application window first opened two weeks ago.
Organisers just need to follow a few steps to help organise their day, which can be found on our street party webpage.
For further details, please read our Coronation street parties press release.
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Have you got suitable photo ID for the upcoming elections?
The
Government has introduced a requirement for voters to show photo ID
when voting at a polling station in some elections. This new requirement
will apply for the first time in England at the local elections
on Thursday 4 May, when our Borough and Parish elections will be held.
You may already have a form of photo ID that is acceptable. You can use any of the following:
- Passport
- Driving licence (including provisional licence)
- Blue badge
- Certain concessionary travel cards
- Identity card with PASS mark (Proof of Age Standards Scheme)
- Biometric Immigration document
- Defence identity card
- Certain national identity cards
If
you don’t already have an accepted form of photo ID, or you’re not sure
whether your photo ID still looks like you, you can apply for a free
voter ID document, known as a Voter Authority Certificate, on the Government website.
For more information, please visit the Electoral Commission website or call their helpline on 0800 328 0280.
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Would you like to work at our upcoming elections?
We
employ more than 500 people during an election period to help the
process run in a smooth and transparent way. Each time we have vacancies
for committed individuals to work in the polling stations, opening
postal votes and counting votes overnight.
We
are looking for people who can give a high level of customer service at
our polling stations and greet the first elector with the same
enthusiasm as the last.
At
the count, you will need to be able to work accurately and quickly and
follow instructions. More details of the roles and payments can be found on our website.
Our next scheduled elections are the Borough and Parish Council elections on Thursday 4 May. If you are interested in taking part, please complete the online form and we will be in touch.
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World Café is coming to Old Windsor
Our next World Cafe will be in Old Windsor ward tomorrow (Saturday 4 February), from noon to 2pm.
There’s no need to book in advance. Simply pop along to the Old Windsor Memorial Hall, Straight Road, Old Windsor, SL4 2RN.
Enjoy a cuppa and chat with representatives from Abri Housing, as well as community organisations. Our
Royal Borough World Cafés are free and informal where you can have open
conversations about what matters to you most in your neighbourhood,
find solutions, as well as discover relevant support and meet fellow
residents and local groups.
For more details visit the RBWM Together website.
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Reminder: Have your say on proposals to open new facilities for children with special educational needs
Thank
you to everyone who has taken part in our consultation on plans to open
new facilities for children with special educational needs, which will
allow more children with special educational needs to attend a local
school.
We
would like your feedback on plans to create an Early Years School
Readiness Hub at The Lawns Nursery School, in Windsor, and to establish
up to four more Resource Bases attached to mainstream schools in
Maidenhead and Windsor. The funding for the proposed new facilities
comes from a government grant.
For further details and to take part, visit our online consultation webpage before the deadline on Friday 24 February.
To learn more, please read our press release.
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Last chance to give us your views on plan to upgrade A308 junction in Windsor to improve safety for pedestrians and cyclists
You have until this Sunday (5 February)
to have your say on our proposal to upgrade a mini roundabout on the
A308 in Clewer, Windsor to a new signal-controlled junction, improving
road safety for pedestrians and cyclists.
Thank you to everyone who has already taken part in the consultation, which launched on Tuesday 10 January, and to those who attended our drop-in information events at the Swan pub in Clewer on Monday 16 and Monday 30 January.
The
scheme at the A308’s junction with Mill Lane and Parsonage Lane would
see the creation of a new cycle optimised protected signals, or
‘Cyclops’, junction.
The
new design would completely separate those travelling on foot and by
bicycle from vehicles, reducing the possibility of collisions or
conflict at a junction where there have been several incidents over the
years.
For full details and to respond to the consultation, please visit the RBWM Together website.
Read our A308 press release to learn more.
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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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Homes for Wildlife event
(Saturday 4 February, 10am to noon) – Braywick Nature Centre. Wild
Maidenhead and Bisham Nest Box Group are teaming up for this special
event. There will be a range of boxes to see and buy for garden birds,
owls, kestrels, swifts, hedgehogs, bees, and bats. There will also be
advice about helping bees in your garden. There will be experts on hand
to answer your questions about siting, observing and maintaining boxes
and also about our local wildlife in general. Please sign up using the
details found in the Wild Maidenhead newsletter
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Roots of Jazz
(Friday 10 February, 7.45pm) – Windsor Fellowship Church. A live band
and a talk exploring the intertwining stories of the roots of jazz and
the Christian faith, through the lens of slavery. Learn more and book
tickets on the Windsor Fellowship website
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Tree pruning at Ockwells park
(Saturday 25 February, 10am to 1pm) - Learn the basics of winter
pruning and get stuck in helping us maintain our community orchard!
Bring your own gloves and secateurs. Warm clothes and sturdy shoes are
recommended. Run in collaboration with Wild Maidenhead. Free event – no
experience necessary. Book and learn more on the Eventbrite page
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Free taster session with the Tuneless Choir (Wednesdays
8, 15, 22 February, 8pm to 9.15pm) – Maidenhead United Reformed Church.
Choosing to ‘sing like no one is listening’ really is very good for
you. Even if your notes are a bit wonky, you can still reap the benefits
of singing with others and have a tonne of fun with Tuneless Choir.
It’s best experienced to be believed, so why not take up the offer of a
free taster in February? Claim your free session on the Tuneless Choir website or contact Tabitha on maidenhead@tunelesschoir.com
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Sunningdale Quiz Night
(Friday 24 March, 7pm to 10.30pm) – Sunningdale Holy Trinity church 1st
Sunningdale Scouts are hosting their regular Quiz Night in aid of
raising funds to build a new scout hut. The event is always great fun
and well attended. They offer tables for teams of eight, with a meal
included in the ticket price of £15 per person. To secure your table
please contact quiz_night@sunningdalescouts.onmicrosoft.com
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Beginners running course
(Starting Monday 17 April) – Maidenhead Athletics Club. Local volunteer
group, the Running Sisters, will be running a beginners ‘couch to 5k’
style course for ladies who haven’t run before (or recently) and want to
start. The six-week course will take place on Monday evenings, building
the distance each week. Learn more and book on the Running Sisters website
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St Mark’s Badminton Club is looking for experienced players – Social
(but competitive) badminton on Wednesday evenings at St Piran's School,
Maidenhead. If you are looking to return to playing after a break or
just looking for another club, why not give them a try? To learn more,
email Ian on ianp7@btinternet.com
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 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.
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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:
More information can be found on the consultations pages of our website.
Other local consultations
Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service (RBFRS) are running a consultation on their Corporate Plan and Community Risk Management Plan feedback which closes on Monday 27 March.
Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust is also
asking for views on options for a redeveloped or relocated Royal
Berkshire Hospital. Take part in their online survey or visit the Building Berkshire Together website to learn more.
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Local Travel Updates
Essential slip road resurfacing will take place at junction 9b on the A404 (Thicket roundabout, Maidenhead) from 9pm today (Friday 3 February) until 6am on Sunday 5 February. Drivers
will be diverted early towards Burchett’s Green and take the Henley
Road towards the A4 Bath Road or alternatively continue to the Holyport
Interchange and return. Visit the National Highways website for more information,
Planned engineering works will also close the line between Windsor and Staines from Saturday 11 to Sunday 19 February. A replacement bus service will operate during this time. Please visit the South Western Railway website for more information.
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