Help shape our vision for the future

Wokingham Borough Council has launched an initiative to get local residents, businesses and communities to contribute to its Wokingham Borough Plan and be part of its vision.

Wokingham Borough Council has published a draft Borough Plan that sets out a proposed vision for the area, the values and principles it will follow and the priorities it will focus on.  It welcomes responses from all residents, voluntary/community groups and local businesses and will use the feedback to help produce a joint vision for the borough.

The draft Borough Plan will be available online together with a questionnaire for feedback from 1 to 30 September, and the Council will also hold a series of roadshow events during September to talk to people about the draft plan. After the public consultation, Wokingham Borough Council will engage with service providers (such as Thames Valley Police and health services), businesses representatives and community organisations in order to finalise the joint plan.

Deputy leader of Wokingham Borough Council Cllr Julian McGhee-Sumner said: “We need a new relationship with residents and this consultation is the starting point for that. In the past, local government was seen as having all the answers but that is no longer the case; where there are problems, it may be that the local authority does not have the solutions but can empower people or other organisations to come up with them.

“A key part of this new relationship needs to be trust. We need to trust the public to be central to how we make decisions but we also need to win the trust of the public by showing that we listen and act on their concerns: that is what the proposed consultation is about.”

Wokingham Borough Council Roadshows

Wokingham Borough Council staff and members will be available to talk about the draft Borough Plan at:

Woodley Precinct from 11am to 3pm on Saturday 8 September

Twyford Waitrose from 11am to 3pm on Saturday 15 September

Wokingham Town Centre from 11am to 3pm on Friday 21 September

Lower Earley ASDA from 11am to 3pm on Saturday 22 September

Cllr McGhee-Sumner added: “I urge everybody to take this opportunity to give us their thoughts. We do have a draft plan but it is meaningless unless we hear what people think about it and change it accordingly. The plan will set out a vision of what sort of place we want to live in and how we can all contribute to achieving that vision.

Find out more

The draft Borough Plan and questionnaire is available on the Council website:

http://www.wokingham.gov.uk/news-and-consultation/consultation-and-having-your-say/current-consultations/?entryid206=463243

Wokingham Borough Council Proposed Plan

Wokingham Borough Cllr Julian McGhee-Sumner

Woodley Town Council proudly displays its Green Flag certificate for Woodford Park

http://www.woodley.gov.uk/projects-consult…/green-flag-award

Look out for details of when the flag will be installed.

Woodford Park Lake Regeneration

We are carrying out works to improve the habitat/ecosystem and amenity value of Woodford Park lake. This work will include the creation of a shallow, planted wildlife area at the eastern end – using silt from other parts of the lake, to encourage insects and invertebrates, a boardwalk with pond dipping platform, establishment of reed beds and flowering native plant species, wild flower area and the repair of damaged bank edges and paths. The mechanical work to move the silt and the construction of the boardwalk will be carried out from September 2018 into Spring 2019.

Bank at the eastern end

In the meantime we have removed the overgrown hedge along the mound at the eastern end of the lake and are installing a retaining wall (approx. 1m height timber sleepers/retaining stones). This bank will then be planted with low-level shrubs creating a nice feature while retaining open views across the lake.

New wildlife pathway

We have also marked out the route of a lakeside path along the northern bank. This accessible pathway will be a hogging / compacted gravel path with the lake on one side and wildflowers on the other and provide a pleasant alternative route around the lake. This path will be completed once the machinery work in the lake is complete.

More information on the project is available on the Town Council website – woodford-park-lake

Maintenance Manager required at Woodley Town Council

Maintenance Manager required to lead our Maintenance Team delivering essential services for the Council’s premises and property. Managing a staff team you will prioritise and schedule maintenance works, monitor and manage service contracts, manage and implement safe systems of work and ensure compliance with legislation.

This is a hands-on role, attending to a wide variety of planned and reactive maintenance issues across the Council’s services.

We are looking for someone with professional experience in building work and general maintenance with the ability to motivate and manage a small team.

Closing date for applications: Midday on Friday 14 September 2018

Visit the VACANCIES page for more information.

Please click the links below to view your rights to inspect Woodley Town Council’s Accounts, the Annual Governance and Accountability Return and the Financial Statements for year ended 31 March 2018.

A summary of your rights

Notice of public rights and publication of unaudited Annual Governance and Accountability Return

Annual Governance and Accountability Return

Financial Statements

Woodley deputy Mayor delights at the Prom

Woodley’s Deputy Mayor David Stares attended Addington Proms Week in July.  An annual celebration of music from across the area at Addington School, it is an opportunity for musicians of all ages and abilities to share their music. There were four concerts daily, which were filled with class performances from Addington pupils and additional performances from instrumental ensembles, soloists and students who have instrumental lessons. Groups from the community, primary and secondary schools were also invited to be part of Proms Week, as performers, workshop leaders or audience members.

Deputy Mayor Stares was delighted to attend the event and see the variety of musical ability and style. “It was wonderful to see such a happy mix of students and community members experimenting with music and performing,” commented Stares.

Wokingham Borough Mayor launches Roll of Honours Awards to recognise community champions and celebrate success stories

Wokingham Borough Mayor Cllr John Kaiser has launched the Roll of Honour Awards to recognise people who make an outstanding contribution to their community.

Each month Cllr Kaiser and his deputy mayor Cllr Bill Soane will select worthy winners from those people nominated by members of the public. There will be children’s and adults’ categories and each winner will receive a lapel badge and scroll to mark their achievements.

Cllr Kaiser said: “Wokingham Borough is full of fantastic people who make our communities special – and we want to recognise their contributions. We are looking for people who make that extra effort for others – maybe by fostering, volunteering or being a carer; there are many thousands of such people out there and we need to hear about them. For children and young people, we would like to hear about those who have overcome adversity.”

Any borough resident can be nominated for an award. To nominate somebody, all you have to do is email the mayor’s office at: mayoralsupport@wokingham.gov.uk. Nominations (which can only be made by Wokingham borough residents) should be no longer than 200 words and should set out why the nominee should be considered for the award. For the children’s awards, outstanding achievements such as in sport or arts will be considered.

The awards will be given out monthly and the first awards will be presented at September’s full council.

Wokingham Borough Mayor Cllr John Kaiser (L) & Deputy Mayor Cllr Bill Soane (R)

Shed break-ins across Wokingham area

The Police have issued a recent alert to highlight an increase in offenders targeting sheds and garages in the Wokingham area. The police ask everyone to please keep an eye out for anything suspicious and call 101 if you see anything. 

Why Sheds?

Opportunist thieves identify sheds as easy pickings because they are unprotected and lack basic security measures.

The buildings often contain property that can be sold on or implements that can be used to force entry into the owner’s home.

What can you do?

Many people fall short on basic security of their sheds.

Please make sure you:

• Keep your shed in good condition

• Fit a closed shackle padlock to the door

• Fittings should be bolted through the door and any screws concealed

• It is easy to unscrew the ironmongery, steal contents and in some cases replace the screws to make it look as if the shed has not been tampered with

• By using tamper proof screws or coach bolts, together with a good quality pad bar or hasp and staple and close shackled padlock, the shed owner will make it harder for the would-be thief.

• Bond any window glass in with mastic to prevent easy removal. Fit grilles or mesh to windows to slow down the thief.

• Ensure all equipment and tools are locked away when not in use

• Install a shed alarm

• Post-code or mark all property such as lawnmowers, bikes, and tools using ultraviolet pens, forensic marking such as Selecta DNA, Smartwater or engravers.

• Install security lighting as a deterrent, and plants such as thorny shrubs to act as a barrier at potential access points

• If building a shed, put it where it is most visible to you and neighbours

• Ensure ladders are locked to a secure fixture in the shed or garage so they can’t be used to reach top floor windows

• Chain large items such as bicycles together, making it much more difficult for a thief to carry away

• Fit a wire cage inside the shed where more expensive items can be locked away.

No thief wants to hang about longer than they have to so delay the time it will take!

New children’s activity camps

Woodford Park Leisure Centre has launched new children’s sport activity camps for the Summer holidays. Attending structured sports activities has many benefits for children and even parents too.

Benefits of sports activities

Here’s a summary of ‘Top 5 facts’ on the importance of children’s organised activities:

1. Brain skills – healthy bodies create and support healthy minds, resulting in improved performance and concentration, as well as providing the opportunity to learn new skills.

Woodley Town Council – helping young people into employment

Adding to its contribution to local employment, Woodley Town Council is now looking to recruit an Apprentice Administrative Assistant to be based at The Oakwood Centre.

The Council, through the apprenticeship scheme, will provide hands on training to help the successful candidate develop skills and knowledge, while also earning a wage and completing a Level 2 NVQ in Business Administration.

First hand skills

The successful candidate will assist in running the busy Council office, as well as providing administrative support across the Council, gaining skills and knowledge in areas such as finance, marketing, venue assistance and customer service. Working in the Council’s small office team, the successful candidate will learn about the services provided by the Council, have ownership of specific tasks and also have the potential for a full-time role at the end of the apprenticeship, providing the opportunity to further develop the role.

“Woodley Town Council is very proud of its contribution to local employment and its alliance with local young people. The successful apprentice will benefit from working for a committed and dedicated employer, providing training, excellent working conditions and opportunities to develop,” comments Council Leader Keith Baker.

How to apply

To apply for the apprenticeship, candidates need to be aged 16 or above, not be in full time education, be eligible to work in England and willing to sign up to the Apprentice scheme for 12 months.

Further information can be found by contacting Rachel Weston at Dudley College, the training provider. (Rachel Weston 01509 640456 rachel.weston@dudleycol.ac.uk) Alternatively, candidates can apply directly through the Government’s Find Apprentice Service online (https://www.findapprenticeship.service.gov.uk/apprenticeship/-309863).