News

Wokingham Borough residents will be able to vote in the first ever police and crime commissioner elections (PCC) for the Thames Valley (Berkshire, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire) on November 15.

Each of the 41 police force areas in England and Wales, outside of London, will directly-elect a commissioner. The commissioners will be accountable for how crime is tackled in their police force area. PCCs will aim to ensure that the police deliver an effective and efficient service.

In order to vote in the PCC election, residents must be on the electoral register by Wednesday October 31. Residents who are unable to get to a polling station on November 15, can also apply to vote by post or by proxy.

Registration forms are available from electoral services at the civic offices, Shute End, Wokingham or by calling (0118) 974 6522 and (0118) 974 6523. Forms can also be downloaded from our elections pages or the About My Vote website. Completed forms need to be printed off and signed and returned to the council no later than Wednesday October 31 if residents wish to vote in the PCC election.

More information: http://www.wokingham.gov.uk/council/elections/elections2012/pcc/

Wokingham Borough Council Safe Communities Survey which ran from July 16 to September 17, allowed residents a chance to comment on crime and disorder issues within the borough and the impact it has on everyday life. This year the borough council received a fantastic response, with over 1500 people completing the survey, which is almost double the number of responses received last year.

The results from the Safe Communities Survey are used by the Wokingham Community Safety Partnership (which is made up of the police, borough council, fire service, health service, probation and the voluntary sector) to identify crime and disorder priorities and make the borough safer for everyone.

The results of the survey are currently being analysed. The findings from the results along with the new priorities for the Community Safety Partnership will be published on the council’s website and in the local press in January, 2013.

Wokingham Borough Council’s animal warden service has been awarded a Gold Footprint Award for its stray dog service.

Mandy Dorman, Wokingham Borough Council’s animal warden, said: “It is great to be recognised yet again for all the hard work we do to reunite pets with their owners and to re-home Wokingham Borough’s stray dogs.”

Mandy is no stranger to awards; the team received a Gold Footprint Award from the RSPCA in 2011 and 2010 as well as National Dog Warden Team of the Year Award in 2009 and a Silver Footprint Award in 2009. Mandy was also named Dog Warden of the Year in 2008.

In 2011/12, a total of 205 stray dogs were found; 156 of these were claimed or returned to their owners and 46 were re-homed.

The group, which has relocated from the Rainbow Community Centre, Winnersh, meets at Loddon Valley Leisure Centre every Tuesday and Thursday from 2pm to 4pm. Participants do not need to book in advance and all equipment is provided, each class cost £2.20 per person and no previous experience is necessary.

Short-mat bowls takes place indoors and is suitable for all levels of ability, including wheelchair users.

The bowling classes are part of the borough council’s highly successful SHINE (Some Health Improvements Need Exercise) physical activity programme for over 50s. SHINE offers a variety of sports and activities and members receive a discount on classes (bowls costs £1.80 for SHINE members), member newsletters, discounts at local businesses and other benefits. However, participants do not have to be a member of SHINE to join in the fun.

For further information on bowls or any other SHINE activities, contact the SHINE team on (0118) 974 3726 or email [email protected].

Dinton Pastures Country Park in Hurst presents a new exhibition of work by local artist Jonathan de Mounteney.

Jonathan, who studied Fine Art at Bath University and now lives in Hurst, exhibits his paintings in London and Berkshire. The works are figurative and contemporary, if not a little surreal.

The Jonathan de Mounteney exhibition is on display until the end of October. All of his works are available to buy, with ten per cent of sales goes towards the conservation work at Dinton Pastures Country Park.

Exhibitions at the country park are supported by More Arts and Wokingham Borough Council’s countryside service.

Wokingham Borough primary schools to teach children about road safety with a special guest during the next two weeks, when road safety guru Louis Taylor teaches them all about how to cross the road safely.

The Louis Taylor road safety shows run in the borough’s schools from Monday October 8 to Friday October 19 with a host of pals including Billy the Beacon and Mr Rocco.

Louis Taylor is an entertainer who has been running road safety workshops for children for many years. He uses a variety of ways to get important road safety messages across including magic, drama and puppets – like Billy the Beacon. Billy is hugely popular with children as he has two big feet to remind him to stay well back from the kerb, two big eyes to look all around carefully, two big ears to listen to traffic and a big round head to think.

Wokingham Borough are to celebrate Olympic and Paralympic success with a civic reception at Wokingham Town Hall on Wednesday October 3 at 7pm, Anna Watkins, rowing Gold medallist, will be joined by many other local athletes, torch bearers and Games Makers – who all made a fantastic contribution to The Games. Our local athletes achieved national and international recognition in sports such as rowing, hockey, swimming, basketball and goal ball.

Representatives from local secondary schools will also be at the event following their success at the Berkshire Schools Games.

Wokingham Borough Council have named Andy Couldrick as permanent chief executive.

Andy, who had been acting as interim chief executive since December 2011, was appointed at a meeting of the council last Thursday (September 20). He said: “I am proud and excited to be appointed on a permanent basis. I stepped into the interim role from one I loved [director of children’s services] and it’s been an interesting and challenging nine months. We are working hard to focus our efforts on achieving our vision and key prioritiesand as an organisation we are ambitious to achieve great things.

Andy replaces Susan Law who stepped down from the role last November.

Wokingham Borough Council is presenting business workshops with The Real Business Club to help you get started.

Free workshops at The Cornerstone, Norreys Avenue, Wokingham, RG40 1UE

Thursday October 4 from 6pm to 9pm
Thursday October 18 from 6pm to 9pm
Thursday November 1 from 6pm to 9pm
Thursday January 24 from 6pm to 9pm

Register your interest by calling (0118) 968 0813 or by email: [email protected].

Wokingham Borough Council is inviting all businesses in Wokingham and Woodley town centres that have toilets available to the general public to get in touch if they would like to join Local Loos – the council’s public toilets scheme.

The scheme sees cafés, restaurants, leisure centres, libraries and other businesses allowing the public to use their toilets for free. The council pays each of these businesses a fee for the facility to be made available so that residents and visitors can use them for free.

Any businesses who would like to apply to join the scheme should contact Peter Baveystock, waste and recycling manager, on (0118) 974 6338 or email: [email protected].