Dear parish and town councils,
 
Sat 3rd March: Scout Association Winter Challenge event on Ridgeway
 
We will email you the Ridgeway events calendar for 2018 soon but, in the meantime, please note that there is a Scout Association event involving around a thousand youngsters taking place this Saturday – they will be walking along The Ridgeway from Foxhill to West Ilsley. This event takes place every year so you may be aware of it already.
 
I am informing local people of events on the Ridgeway so that people can plan any visits to the Trail accordingly. Events should not prevent others from using the Trail but those seeking peace and solitude may want to avoid locations and dates of big events.
 
I welcome feedback about any event on The Ridgeway so that I can work with event organisers to ensure the Trail is a great place for everyone. (In case of emergencies or accidents or safety hazards relating to the event, please contact the event organiser directly and urgently.)
 
Sorry that I did not inform you of this event sooner but hopefully the event organiser spread the word earlier.
 
Regards,
Sarah Wright
 
The Ridgeway National Trail Project Officer

On behalf of the Village Hall Committee, I would like to remind you that our village fete will take place on Sunday 6 May. We hope you will be able to support us in the same way as in previous years. Our Village is fantastic at coming together on this ' one day a year', providing an opportunity for villagers and friends to get together. At the same time we are raising funds to keep our lovely village hall in good condition.

The fete consideration meeting will be held on Monday 12 March at 7.30 pm to which everyone is invited. If you can't make this meeting, please get in touch with Mike Ananin with all your thoughts and ideas.

​ Please spread the word around the village!

Thanking you in anticipation.

Mike Ananin

The Downland Practice has asked all Parishes to share the details for this free information event being held on Thursday 29th March. 

Press Release Date: 12 February 2018

Budget Proposals 2018/19



West Berkshire Council's Executive are being asked to recommend to Council their budget proposal for council services for 2018/19. The budget is due to be considered at the meeting of Full Council on 1 March. 
 
The Revenue Budget proposes a Council Tax increase of 2.99% from West Berkshire Council this year, with a 3% Adult Social Care precept. The Council Tax increase will raise £2.7m and the precept will raise a further £2.7m ring-fenced for adult social care. 

Adult Social Care makes up over a third of the Council’s net revenue budget. The precept will go towards funding the mounting pressures faced in the areas of learning disability, demographic increases and increased costs.
In order to arrive at a balanced budget for 2018/19, £5.2m of savings and income generation proposals have been recommended.
The £125m revenue budget is funded 75% from council tax, 18% from retained business rates and 7% from government grants and other funding such as the Better Care Fund. The Revenue Support Grant has been reduced by £24 million since 2013/14 and we will receive only £120 thousand in 2018/19. 
The £191m five year capital programme helps deliver the key priorities for improvement in the Council Strategy 2015-2019 by proposing investment over the next five years in the following key areas.
£69.8 million for new school places and improvements to school buildings; £55.5m for maintenance and improvement of the district’s roads; £3.7m for maintenance and improvement of parks, open spaces sporting and cultural facilities and £0.5m for grants to support community projects.

A further £15.7m has been allocated for occupational health equipment, home adaptations and supported living for vulnerable adults and looked after children and to improve the supply of temporary accommodation for people at risk of becoming homeless.  

£4 million has been earmarked to complete the delivery of superfast broadband across West Berkshire and £30m for investment in commercial property in order to generate revenue income to help meet the running costs of Council services.
Councillor Anthony Chadley, West Berkshire’s Executive Member for Finance said: “West Berkshire is facing huge financial constraints, as are all councils. This means that unless changes are made to the way we deliver services and income generated from sources apart from the Government Grant, more services will be impacted.

"Your council is adapting during the current financial challenges to help ensure that West Berkshire continues to be a great place in which to live and work.” 

View the proposals.

ENDS