Welcome to Brightwalton News

Received from the Police and Crime Commissioner for the Thames Valley - Anthony Stansfeld

"I have continuously lobbied the Government for a much-needed increase in police funding and so I am pleased that the Government has announced that an additional £813m will be available nationally to Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs) to fund local police forces. However, it must be recognised that more than half of this funding (£509m) is expected to come from local taxpayers by increasing the police portion of the Council Tax.
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Demand on police forces nationally has risen significantly in the last year as a result of higher crime numbers, the increasing complexity of crime, and the increasing reach of criminals both physically and via technology. This includes an increase in the reporting of high harm and previously hidden crimes such as child sexual abuse and modern slavery. The challenge from serious and organised crime networks is also growing both in economic value and the geographical spread, whilst nationally there has been a spike in serious violence and knife crime alongside the increase in a gang culture.  A significant amount of the more serious crime is now being committed by foreign national offenders.

In addition the police are dealing with a large amount of non-crime business, especially in relation to mental health. My focus will continue to be on delivering strong neighbourhood policing for all of the communities across the Thames Valley whilst addressing the serious threats and hardship posed by criminals.

An increase to the council tax will enable me to protect many of the vital functions that may otherwise have been reduced, and ensure that Thames Valley Police has more resources to tackle crime and keep the public safe.  I am therefore proposing to increase council tax by £24 (equivalent for a Band D household) and will ensure that all the extra cash generated from council taxpayers will be spent on operational policing.

I will be running a public consultation exercise over the Christmas period to gather local council taxpayer views on the proposed increase.   You can find more information about my public survey on the council tax increase below.   I encourage you to complete the survey and to share it widely with your local communities.  

Finally, I wish you all a Happy Christmas and New Year 
​Anthony Stansfeld "

In response to the exceptional operational demands on the police, particularly in areas such as Thames Valley, the Government has encouraged all PCCs to raise the policing element of the council tax by £24 a year in 2019/20 or £2 a month for a Band D property. (The increase in other property bands are detailed within the survey)

The PCC supports the increase in council tax by £24 for a Band D property.  The draft budget for 2019/20 includes additional funding to increase local frontline policing, recruit more investigators and improve contact management with the aim to reduce call waiting times on 101 calls.  Further information about the budget can be found here.

The PCC is holding a public consultation exercise over the Christmas period to gather local council taxpayer views on the proposed increase in the police portion of the council tax.  

To have your say on the propose increase, please complete the survey. Please share this widely with your communities.

The survey is open until Wednesday 9th January at 5pm

Services in the West Downland Benefice will be:
​23rd December 2018 – Fourth Sunday of Advent.
8.00am Holy Communion (BCP) at Leckhampstead.
6.00pm UB Combined Carol Service, Leckhampstead.
Christmas Eve
3.00pm Carols at Catmore
3.00pm Crib Service at Wickham
10.00pm Holy Communion at Chaddleworth
10.00pm Holy Communion at Wickham
11.30pm Holy Communion at Great Shefford
Christmas Day
8.00am BCP Holy Communion at Fawley
9.30am Family Holy Communion at Great Shefford
10.00am Family Holy Communion at Brightwalton
11.00am Family Holy Communion at Welford
Sunday 30th December
30th December 2018 – First Sunday of Christmas
10.00am United Benefice Holy Communion at Great Shefford

Recycling Collection for real Christmas Trees
To help West Berkshire residents to have a green Christmas and recycle even more, West Berkshire Council will collect real Christmas Trees from residents even if they do not subscribe to the garden waste collection service.
Real trees should simply be left with your recycling on your scheduled collection day up until Friday 18 January.  Any decorations, lights and pots must be removed before recycling.  

​Revised collection day
Christmas and New Year collection dates 2018/19
Mon 24 Dec as normal Mon 24 Dec
Tues 25 Dec will be collected on Thurs 27 Dec
Wed 26 Dec will be collected on Fri 28 Dec
Thurs 27 Dec will be collected on Sat 29 Dec
Fri 28 Dec will be collected on Mon 31 Dec

Mon 31 Dec will be collected on Wed 2 Jan
Tues 1 Jan will be collected on Thurs 3 Jan
Wed 2 Jan will be collected on Fri 4 Jan
Thurs 3 Jan will be collected on Sat 5 Jan
Fri 4 Jan will be collected on Mon 7 Jan

Mon 7 Jan will be collected on Tues 8 Jan
Tues 8 Jan will be collected on Wed 9 Jan
Wed 9 Jan will be collected on Thurs 1 0 Jan
Thurs 1 0 Jan will be collected on Fri 11 J an
Fri 11 Jan will be collected on Sat 12 Jan
 
Collections will return to normal on Monday 14 January 2019
To check your collection week or for updates to waste services during severe weather visit www.westberks.gov.uk/waste
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The Pew Sheet for the 9th December can be downloaded below.

​The services in the West Downland Benefice this Sunday will be:
​8.00am Holy Communion (BCP) at Brightwalton
9.30am Holy Communion at Great Shefford
10.00am Nativity Play Service at Leckhampstead.
 11.00am Holy Communion (BCP) at Wickham.
 4.00pm Village Carols and Readings at Brightwalton.

The winter edition of Upstream from the West Berkshire Countryside Society can be downloaded here.