Wokingham Borough Council are sending out postal vote ballot packs in the next few days, ready for the Wokingham Borough Council elections on Thursday May 3.
Susanne Nelson-Wehrmeyer, the returning officer for Wokingham Borough Council, said: “When residents receive their postal voting pack, they need to make sure they read and follow the instructions carefully before completing their ballot paper.
“This includes making sure their date of birth and signature on the postal voting statement is included. This statement is kept separately from the ballot paper so resident’s votes are always secret. Residents need to follow the instructions in the pack to make sure their vote counts.
“Wokingham Borough Council must receive postal ballot papers by 10pm on May 3 at the latest. So, as soon as residents have completed their ballot paper and postal vote statement place it in the envelope and return it to make sure that it is received in good time.”
April 18, 2012 | editor
Wokingham Borough Council residents are being encouraged to complete a questionnaire which will identify the Wokingham borough’s housing needs for older people in years to come.
Over the next month, householders aged 55 years and over are being asked to complete the questionnaire which asks them about their housing requirements now, and in the future. This information will be used to help shape future housing policy in the borough by helping to ensure plans for new homes, including the housing type, quantity and location, are based on accurate information and meet the needs of local communities.
Take part in the online questionnaire at: http://www.wokingham.gov.uk/council/consultations/current-consultations/55-plus-housing/
A paper copy of the questionnaire can be obtained by calling 0118 974 6105.
April 14, 2012 | editor
A new Resident Resource Centre in Targett Court, Winnersh is now providing a real boost to tenants and residents, providing advice, guidance and support, as well as a direct link to Wokingham Borough Council’s tenant involvement team.
The centre celebrated its official opening on Wednesday March 21, 2012 with tenants, local residents, councillors and tenant services staff taking a look at the recently refurbished facility. The new resource centre will act as a community hub, providing a venue for tenant meetings as well as rent and housing surgeries. The centre is now also home to the council’s tenant involvement team.
Wokingham Borough Council has many ‘involved tenants’ – volunteer tenants who work with the council to improve the quality of service for all tenants in the borough. The new centre will provide a base for them, as well as a venue for ongoing training and tenant involvement activities and events.
The resource centre is open between 10am and 3pm Monday to Friday. Residents can report any community issues to the centre, for instance fly-tipping, abandoned vehicles and faulty street-lighting, as well as visit the tenant involvement team for advice and support.
For more information on tenant involvement see: www.wokingham.gov.uk/housing/council/involvement/
April 8, 2012 | editor
The blueprint to create the Wokingham borough wanted by residents, community groups and businesses went before the council’s executive on March 29.
The Vision for Wokingham Borough, setting out the council’s priorities and underpinning principles, was agreed by council in February. At their meeting last week, members of the council’s executive considered the Interim Corporate Plan, which sets out how these will be delivered, and will drive service planning across the council.
Interim chief executive Andy Couldrick said: “The Interim Corporate Plan provides further information to support the vision and sets out some high level actions during the next three years to deliver on it.
“The intention is for this to form the basis of detailed service planning which will translate into a final corporate plan which we will bring back to executive next year.”
Under the strap line, ‘A great place to live, an even better place to do business,’ the vision has five main priorities:
Improve the educational attainment in our schools, ensuring that all the borough’s children have the opportunity to achieve their potential
Invest in regenerating our towns and villages, supporting economic prosperity, while encouraging business growth
Ensure we have strong sustainable communities that are vibrant and supported by well-designed development; for example through the core strategy and strategic development locations
Tackle traffic congestion, with schemes such as the station link road proposals
Improve the way in which customers can access council services and make it easier to do business with us – whether booking a tennis court or accessing social care services
The vision describes the sort of place the council and residents wish Wokingham Borough to be in 10 to 20 years.
It also details how these priorities will be achieved. They include:
New grass root approaches to working with children, families, communities, schools and colleges to tackle under-achievement
Helping businesses, town and parish councils and residents in borough towns and villages understand and recognise economic opportunities to ensure they make the most of them
Exploring funding to support borough and local aspirations, and engaging with external agencies, partners and other stakeholders
Supporting the development of major transport projects which are crucial to local growth, such as the town centre redevelopment
Creating a fully interactive and transactional website for customers and streamlining council procedures for public enquiries
April 4, 2012 | editor
A cashless parking pilot at council car parks in Wokingham borough is being extended for another six months, as well as being trialled at four more sites.
Motorists using Wokingham’s Easthampstead Road (East), The Paddocks, Station Road and Winnersh Triangle Railway Station car parks will also be able to try out The Metric Mobile scheme.
The cashless system was first introduced at Denmark Street, Rose Street and Headley Road car parks last October.
The extended trial starts on April 2.
To activate the phone payment, drivers must call (0118) 907 6767, quote the reference number of the car park sign and confirm how long they want to pay for.
April 1, 2012 | editor
Wokingham Borough children are to benefit from a special charity performance of William Nicholson’s Katherine Howard at Wokingham Theatre on Wednesday April 25 at 7.45pm.
The Borough Mayor Cllr Dianne King will host the evening in aid of Berkshire Give a Child a Chance, a charity administered by the Berkshire Community Foundation that supports children in need across Berkshire. All money raised by the Mayor will be ring-fenced for Wokingham children.
Tickets are £5 and, for this performance, can only be purchased by calling the borough council on (0118) 974 6004.
March 26, 2012 | editor
The Dingley Family and Specialist Early Years Centre will be leaving its current premises in the grounds of Wokingham Hospital to take up residency in a designated part of the building of All Saints CE (Aided) Primary School in Wokingham.
Dingley is a facility for pre-school age children with special needs and disabilities to develop skills through play under the supervision of qualified staff. It is where children, parents and carers can make friends, share experiences and make plans for the future, including the big step into education.
The new location will enable the charity to continue its specialist work in delivering the Early Years Foundation Stage to children with disabilities, supported by a wide range of therapists. Within the area being made available at All Saints Primary School on Norreys Avenue, Dingley will enjoy excellent space and facilities and an outstanding outdoor environment.
March 25, 2012 | editor
Research conducted by Direct Line has concluded that over a quarter of road accidents involving pets occurred in just 10 areas in the UK. The insurance company settled pet road accident claims in 104 postcode locations last year, but nearly 30 per cent of these incidents happened in the same ten accident hotspots.
Locations in the list included Hemel Hempstead, London, Redhill and Glasgow, but it was Reading that was crowned the most dangerous area for pets in the UK. The list comes after it was announced that the total cost of pet related road accidents came to £752,245 worth of claims in 2011, with the average claim involving a dog coming in at £1,118.
Commenting on the statistics, Adam Whiteley, head of Direct Line pet insurance, said: “Most people view their dog or cat as a part of the family and therefore it can be a traumatic experience for them if their pet is involved in a road traffic accident”
“More surprisingly it seems that names play a part in a pet’s likelihood to be involved in an accident according to Direct Line. More than 60 per cent of settled claims involved a cat, with the most accident prone felines called Leo, Tigger and Billy.”
March 20, 2012 | editor
Author Lesley Pearse will be visiting Wokingham Library on Thursday March 22 at 8pm to discuss her work and her new book ‘The Promise’.
Lesley Pearse is one of the UK’s best-loved novelists with fans across the globe and sales of over 7 million copies of her books to date. A true storyteller and a master of gripping storylines that keep the reader hooked from beginning to end, Pearse introduces the reader to characters that it is impossible not to care about or forget. There is no formula to her books or easily defined genre.
Heather Dyson, reader development officer for adults, said: “We are thrilled to be welcoming Lesley to Wokingham Library. Her books are very popular with our customers and this event will give her fans the opportunity to meet her and ask her questions. It promises to be a fascinating evening.”
There will be a book signing and refreshments available to purchase. Tickets are £3 and can be booked by calling Wokingham Library on (0118) 978 1368.
March 17, 2012 | editor
Having had below-average rainfall for 19 of the past 24 months Wokingham face having to endure drought conditions. It is important that we all do our best to conserve water.
Thames Water and South East Water have issued a Temporary Use Ban Notice which will become effective at midnight on 4th April 2012.
The Environment Agency has provided information on how individuals and businesses can conserve supplies and why you should save water.
More info
March 16, 2012 | editor
