Wokingham

Anyone putting up illegal signs around the Wokingham Borough is today being warned that the council may prosecute to protect the environment after a company was found guilty of flouting signage restrictions and fined £2,715.

Forest MOT Ltd was found guilty of putting up illegal signs at the junction of Old Wokingham Road and Easthampstead Road on Friday (January 23) and was fined a total of £2,200 plus £515 costs and fees by the bench at Maidenhead Magistrates’ Court.

The Wokingham company was prosecuted after it was refused permission twice by the council to retain the sign and once on appeal by a government planning inspector. However the sign wasn’t taken down until November 2008 – almost three years after it was first refused permission.

The council pursued legal action because the sign at the busy junction, like other illegal signs, are harmful to the borough’s environment. Flyposting and illegal signs look unattractive and can encourage like graffiti and fly-tipping.

Jerry Hedley, Wokingham planning enforcement officer, who was the lead planning officer in the case, said: “I’m pleased that after years of trying to get this illegal sign removed, magistrates took action and fined the company last week. It sends out a warning to anyone putting up, or thinking of putting up, a sign without the correct permission, that we will not tolerate fly-posting or illegal signs.”

Cllr Gary Cowan, executive member for local and regional planning, said: “Putting up illegal signs is irresponsible in terms of harming our environment and I’m pleased to see that those who flout these laws are being targeted and punished.”

Wokingham Borough Council

Can you help Wokingham Borough Council nab cruel scammers that prey on vulnerable victims this February?

If you, or somebody you know, has had junk mail sent through that could be a possible scam mailing then you could help Wokingham council catch the conmen who purse millions of pounds out of innocent victims across the country, just by simply handing over the scam mailing.

From February 2 there will be special Wokingham Scamnesty bins available across the borough so that potential scam leaflets can be dropped off anonymously as part of the national Scamnesty campaign.

The Wokingham council’s trading standards team is again joining forces with the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) to crack down on scam mailings circulating in the area. Last year more than 35 potential scams were identified in the borough alone after residents deposited information in the bins. These were investigated by the OFT.

The campaign, will be running from February 2 to 15 and specially marked bins will be available at:

• Woodley Citizens Advice Bureau, Headley Road

• Age Concern Woodley, Southlake Crescent

• Asda, Chalfont Way, Lower Earley

• Earley Crescent, Warbler Drive

• Wokingham Borough Council, Shute End (reception)

• Wokingham Library, Denmark Street

• Morrisons, Woosehill

• Tesco, Finchampstead Road, Wokingham

• Henry Street Garden Centre, Swallowfield Road, Arborfield

• Earley Town Council, Radstock Lane

• Waitrose, Crockhamwell Road, Woodley

• Waitrose, Rectory Road, Wokingham

• Waitrose, London Road, Twyford

Mass mail scams are usually in the form of lotteries, deceptive prize draws, fake psychics, get-rich-quick schemes, sweep-stakes and miracle health cures. They are usually sent through the post and target elderly or vulnerable people.

Research by the OFT suggests that only five per cent of scam mailing is reported to trading standards so the leaflets and other mail shots collected in the special bins could provide essential information in catching scammers and preventing other people from becoming a victim.

Claire Taylor, Wokingham trading standards enforcement officer who is coordinating the local Scamnesty campaign, said: “Mail scams are a particularly cruel way of getting vulnerable or elderly people to part with their cash for a service which is either non-existent or not what is advertised.

“I’m appealing to everyone who suspects that junk-mail is not genuine to pop a copy of it into one of the special Scamnesty bins so that we can take a look over it and forward it on to the OFT for investigation. Just by doing something so simple as binning a potential scam mailing you could help us convict fraudsters and stop other vulnerable people from being ripped-off.”

Cllr Norman Jorgensen, executive member for Wokingham corporate services with responsibility for public protection, said: “Scamnesty helped us track down 35 potential scam mailing last year and so I urge the public to help us out again this year. The people who are responsible for scam mailings are effectively committing fraud, so please help us track them down and make the Wokingham Borough even safer.”

Wokingham Borough Council

“Young women car passengers are more likely to die in a car crash than if they are behind the wheel themselves, which is why we are warning motorists to take care in the run up to St Valentine’s Day by putting their love for their girlfriend ahead of their love for speeding or bad driving,” says Julie Pillai, Wokingham Borough Council’s road safety officer who is leading the local For My Girlfriend campaign.

Deaths on the road in the Wokingham Borough have significantly dropped over the past 12 months but, in the run up to the most romantic day of the year Julie and the rest of the council’s road safety team are warning young drivers, especially men, to think before they do something that could put their loved one’s life at risk.

To get the message across, more than 2,500 valentine’s day cards will be given to Wokingham teenagers and young adults in the two weeks before St Valentine’s Day. The cards, which have been produced by the national For My Girlfriend organisers, are being offered to 12 local secondary schools, six pubs and nightclubs and several of the borough’s youth centres.

However, the cards will not be filled with warm fluffy messages of joy and love but poignant reminders that cars can kill and that the card recipient should be careful not to hurt the one they love – which is the theme for the 2009 For My Girlfriend campaign.

“The past For My Girlfriend campaigns have been very successful because they do make it very real and hit home that young drivers could injure or kill their girlfriend, sister, friend or relative if they make one false, and often stupid, move. If you are treating your girlfriend this Valentine’s Day then stop and think about it – would you want them to wake up in a hospital bed or worse the next day because of your bad driving?” adds Julie.

The For My Girlfriend campaign is a national scheme that has been running for the past five years in the Wokingham Borough, and is aimed at drivers aged 17 to 25. The slogan ‘don’t hurt the one you love’ is the theme of the 2009 campaign – which Wokingham Borough Council is backing.

As well as the valentine’s cards, there will also be reminders on the back of car parking tickets at several of the council’s car parks over the next few weeks. The car parks participating are Cockpit Path and Rose Street in Wokingham and Lytham Road East and Headley Road in Woodley.

Cllr Keith Baker, executive member for transport and highways, said: “Research has shown that the majority of young drivers think hurting or killing a friend or relative in a car crash is more horrific than killing or injuring a stranger – which is why we are asking youngsters to think about their driving habits and the consequences it could bring in the run up to one of the most important days for young couples.

“I hope that many young drivers take on board the message that they should kill their bad driving habits before it’s too late and they kill the one they love.”

Wokingham Borough Council

Traditional songs from Southern Africa and England will be brought to Wokingham Library during a singing workshop next month.

The Wokingham Afro-Anglo Harmony Workshop will be run by Southern African professional performer and promoter Lucky Moyo and Anna Tabbush, an up-and-coming star of the folk music scene in the UK. They will be teaching and leading traditional songs with exciting rhythms and harmonies from Zimbabwe and England.

Lucky Moyo has been writing and performing traditional African music around the world for 18 years, and he has appeared on stage with music stars such as Jimmy Cliff and Peter Gabriel and in front of such dignitaries as Queen Elizabeth II and Nelson Mandela. As well as performing, Lucky has run many singing projects and workshops in schools, universities and community centres.

Anna Tabbush performs in traditional folk bands and as a solo singer-songwriter and her debut album, Waiting in the Wings, was released to great acclaim in 2005.

Wokingham Borough Council executive member for community development Cllr Dianne King said: “This sounds like and exciting workshop and the idea of combining African and English traditional music in one session is fascinating.”

The Afro-Anglo Harmony Workshop will be on at Wokingham Library from 10am to 12.30pm on Saturday February 7. It will be suitable for all ages and abilities and is free, but places must be booked in advance on (0118) 978 1368.

There will be a second workshop on Saturday March 7 at the same time and venue.

Wokingham Borough Council

February will be a busy month at the Wokingham Borough’s libraries, with plenty of events for members of all ages.

Among the highlights will be a Wokingham singing workshop that will combine traditional songs from Southern Africa and England (see separate media release 57g), a composting surgery, an author visit by Cynthia Harrod-Eagles, a coffee and cakes morning, a eBay advice session and a creative writing workshop. There will also be all the usual range of regular children’s and adults’ activities.

The Wokingham composting workshop will be run by the Waste and Resources Action Programme from 10am to midday on Saturday February 7 at Maiden Erlegh Library. The session is free and there is no need to book.

On Tuesday February 24 Twyford Library staff will welcome visitors to a coffee and cakes morning with a chance to swap recipes and discuss books. It will be on from 11am to midday and will be free with no need to book. On the same day there will be family history drop-in session from 2pm to 5pm at Wokingham Library. Anybody interested will be able to get free advice on tracing their ancestors.

Also on Tuesday February 24 best-selling author Cynthia Harrod-Eagles will visit Wokingham Library to talk about her work and sign copies of her books. Cynthia is best known for the Morland dynasty, a family saga that echoes English history from the Wars of the Roses to the 20th century and now includes 31 novels. She will be at the library from 7.30pm and the talk will be free with no need to book.

Internet novices may want to go to Wokingham Library for a drop-in workshop on using eBay from 10am to 1pm on Friday February 27. The session is free and there is no need to book.

And anybody inspired to try to follow in Cynthia Harrod-Eagles footsteps should make their way to a creative writing workshop at Wokingham Library on Saturday February 28. Led by romance author Julie Cohen, the workshop will look at creating characters. It will run from 10.30am to midday and places must be booked from the library on (0118) 978 1368.

Executive member for community development Cllr Dianne King said: “There is a great range of things to do in the borough’s libraries in February and, with the regular children’s and adults activities as well as these one-off events, it will be another busy month.”

Wokingham Borough’s libraries run regular rhymetime, storytime and craft activities for children as well as book clubs and reading cafes for adults.

Details of all events at Wokingham Borough’s libraries can be found at www.wokingham.gov.uk/libraries

Wokingham Borough Council

Residents recycled nine tonnes of festive foliage last weekend at free collection points across the Wokingham Borough.

Throughout January Wokingham residents have been recycling their Christmas trees and festive foliage, like mistletoe, through the borough council’s green waste collection scheme. And on Saturday January 17, residents were also able to take them along to free recycling points at Wyevale Garden Centre in Hare Hatch, Swallowfield Village Hall in Swallowfield Street, Swallowfield and Henry Street Garden Centre in Arborfield.

More than nine tonnes of Wokingham Christmas tree green waste was recycled on the day across the three sites – this will now be composted in time to use on flowers and in gardens this summer. Last year, the borough’s green waste scheme contributed to compost used on premiership football pitches and prestigious events such as the Chelsea Flower Show.

On Saturday, the Wokingham council’s deputy executive member for environment Cllr Chris Bowring was on hand at the Hare Hatch recycling point to see the green work in action. He was joined by the council’s waste and recycling manager Peter Baveystock and staff from SITA, the council’s recycling contractor.

Cllr Bowring, said: “It’s great that so many people recycled their trees at the weekend, not only does it mean that they are not being thrown into expensive landfill sites, but they are also going to be reused again for the good of our environment.

“I’d like to thank everyone who has recycled their Christmas tree over the past few weeks and remind those that have yet to get rid of their tree that they can chop it up and pop it into their green waste or take it along to Longshot Lane or Smallmead recycling centres for composting.”

Wokingham Borough Council

The Wokingham Borough continues to celebrate excellent GCSE results with the publication last week of the national GCSE attainment and achievement tables.

Published by the Department for Children, Schools and Families, the results show the Wokingham borough’s pupils have once again been recognised for their hard work by being ranked sixth in the country for five A* to G passes at GCSE, including English and maths, with some 95.5 per cent of pupils achieving that mark compared to 94.4 per cent last year.

In a separate indicator, the Wokingham borough’s pupils were also ranked seventh nationally for five A* to C passes (including maths and English), which is three places better than 2007’s 10th place ranking. A total of 61 per cent of pupils achieved five A* to C grades including maths and English, which is an improvement compared to 57.6 per cent of pupils achieving the same in 2007 and considerably more than 2008’s national average of 47.6 per cent.

Girls showed they are in the top three in the country for the national indicator in GCSE and equivalent for achieving five or more GCSEs A* to G grades including English and maths. Some 97 per cent of girls achieved this, whilst 94.2 per cent of boys achieved this indicator placing them in seventh position. Both of these results were significantly above the national average (boys: 89.2 per cent and girls: 92.9 per cent).

Cllr Rob Stanton, Wokingham Borough Council's executive member for children’s services, said: “Yet again our pupils and staff have pulled out all the stops to achieve so truly wonderful GCSE results. Year after year our pupils continue to achieve even better results. We are again in the top 10 for five or more passes at A* to G including English and maths, with nearly all of our school children walking away with five or more GCSEs – which is great news.

“I would like to congratulate all our pupils, their parents and our education staff on these impressive results – they are testament to all the hard work that was put in for two years prior to the exams last summer.”

Wokingham Borough Council

Wokingham Borough Council’s newest children’s centre - The Red Kite - has opened its doors to the local community in Shinfield.

Located in Chestnut Crescent, the Wokingham children’s centre aims to give every child aged under five the best start in life. The centre – one of seven in the borough – will make it easier for families to get advice, help and information they need all in one go. Parents could be looking for a childminder or nursery place for their child. They might need help with a health issue or could be thinking about training or returning to work. Information on a range of family support services is also available.

Cllr Rob Stanton, executive member for Wokingham children’s services, said: “The Red Kite Centre is the council’s newest children’s centre. Families can access a range of services designed to help provide the best start in life for every child and will help parents balance their work and family commitments. Children’s centres across the Wokingham Borough are extending our innovative and family friendly services into more areas and we are reaching and helping more families. Why not visit the Red Kite Centre to see what’s on offer?”

The centre is currently open Monday, Wednesday and Fridays between 9.15am and 12noon, and Tuesday and Friday between 1.30pm and 3.30pm. A childminding network drop in session runs every Tuesday between 9.15am and 12noon. There is no need to book and all sessions are free of charge.

And from today (January 19), a community midwife will be on hand to offer ante and post natal advice and support. These sessions run Mondays between 1pm and 5pm, and Wednesday and Fridays between 9am and 5pm. Anyone interested in attending this free session, should book their place with their community midwife.

The Wokingham Red Kite Children’s Centre is running a competition to design the garden at the front of the building. Ideas and designs are welcome from all members of the community and some suggestions already put forward include a vegetable patch, flower beds, a willow maze, chickens in a coop and tables and chairs.

Closing date for the competition is February 13. Entries will be displayed at the centre after February 13 and judged later that month. Work on the garden will start in March. For more information on the competition, contact Ione Beagant, administrator, on (0118) 988 2332.

Tim Holmes, family link worker, said: “You can design the whole area or just a section of the garden. This is a chance for you to let your imagination flow and become really creative. If like me you have an idea but don’t have the ability to draw it, write your ideas down and the entry will still be considered. We will also accept drawings of your ideas. The competition runs until middle of February, so it’s not too late to get your ideas in – we’d love to see them!”

For more information about Wokingham’s children’s centres please call 0118 908 8010

Wokingham Borough Council

Wokingham Borough Council’s community warden Zarron Phillips and Roderick Mertens have set up a project to rid Gorse Ride estate in Finchampstead of graffiti and tagging.

Graffiti and other unsightly paintwork on all Wokingham borough council owed homes and some other council property will be removed using specialist anti-graffiti kits or, more likely, painted over by team organised by the community wardens.

The paint and brushes will be stored at the Wokingham community flat at 17 Billing Avenue and the eventual aim is that they will be readily available to nominated residents in each road on the estate. There will also be a log book at the community house in which all residents will be able to record all graffiti and tagging so the community wardens can ensure they are dealt with. The project will also be rolled out to involve young offenders on reparation orders who will carry out the work under supervision by the community wardens.

Wokingham Community warden Zarron Phillips said: “Residents often cite graffiti as a major annoyance and we are taking direct action to help solve the problem. We hope to establish a good network of residents able to respond quickly whenever graffiti appears.”

The project, funded by a £150 grant from tenant services, will initially target council-owned property but it is hoped that it will be rolled out to include buildings owned by public utility companies as well.

Lead member for community safety Wokingham Cllr Rob Stanton said: “Graffiti is a blight on neighbourhoods and any project that tackles it is to be welcomed. This project has the double advantage that it will involve young offenders in improving the area, even in some cases perhaps, remedying problems of their own creation and it will provide local people with the equipment and support to remove graffiti themselves.”

Wokingham Borough Council

Ten off-licences were tested during a test purchasing operation in Wokingham town centre on Thursday (15/1).

The Wokingham operation saw a 15-year-old boy enter the shops, accompanied by undercover licensing officers, and attempt to buy alcohol.

This was a policing-led operation by the Wokingham town centre neighbourhood policing team, which was supported by Wokingham Borough Council’s trading standards department and Thames Valley Police licensing officers.

All ten premises passed, with no sales occurring to our youth.

Wokingham PC Jo Bromley, from the neighbourhood policing team, said: “We are very pleased with the results. Ten premises were visited and all ten refused to sell alcohol to our 15-year-old purchaser.

“This shows that staff are well trained and vigilant, challenging customers that they believe may be under age.

“We would urge that they continue to be vigilant and keep up the good work checking photo card identification.”

Claire King, Licensing Officer for Wokingham, said: “Thames Valley Police works with other statutory bodies to reduce alcohol related offences and offending.

“These operations highlight where there are problems, and when there is an offence, in the first instance we always look to work with the Licensing Authority and premises management to implement measures to ensure a repeated offence does not take place.

“Of course, if there are repeated offences, we would look to take further action against the premises, which could include revocation of their premises licence.”

For more information about your local neighbourhood team, contact 0845 8 505 505.

Thames Valley Police ~ Wokingham

A new Wokingham family area perfect for picnics, dog-walking, and recreational activities will be created later this month in Wokingham to give residents a community green space.

Last year Wokingham Borough Council’s executive agreed to grass over eight play-grounds in the borough, after a consultation in late 2006.

Work on the project started in December with contractors removing the equipment from three play areas in Earley.

Montague Close play area will be dismantled and grassed over to form a new green meeting and activity space. Contractors are due to start work on Monday January 26 when equipment will be taken down, stored and redistributed to other play areas. The work will be completed by Friday January 30. Where possible, the equipment from Montague Close will be redistributed to other play parks in the borough so that enhanced play areas are created.

The Wokingham council asked residents for their views on 12 play areas within the borough, during the consultation, and asked for feedback on whether they were valued community spaces, or if they would be much more valued as recreational space.

The play areas consulted upon were selected due to their perceived under-use by residents, members of the community and the Wokingham council’s parks officers.
Reasons for their limited use included:

• Too many play parks in one area
• Play areas having limited or old play equipment, and not having any play equipment or space for older children/ teenagers

• Some play areas being uninviting as they are regularly vandalised, littered or used as a place for older children to hang about in big groups.

• Some play areas suffering from regular bouts of vandalism, which has caused ongoing health and safety risks.

The majority of Wokingham residents agreed that nine of the play areas, including Montague Close, were under-used and not valued community facilities. Feedback for those areas included not having enough open space for children to play football, dog fouling, attracting anti-social behaviour and people with substance misuse problems, being strewn with litter and not having enough teenage facilities.

However the other three remaining areas were enjoyed by families and so the council agreed to keep those play areas open and will continue to maintain them.
Cllr Simon Weeks, executive member for Wokingham environment, said: “Eventually, once these areas are all grassed over, they will open up to give the community a green space for everyone to enjoy – whether it’s playing a game, having a picnic or walking the dog. It made sense to turn the play parks into green spaces as that’s what the community was telling us that it wanted to see.”

Cllr Rob Stanton, executive member for Wokingham children’s services, said: “I want to assure our residents and families that we are committed to having many play areas in the borough. This process is not about taking away play areas but providing quality, well-used and well maintained play parks as well as open spaces. We recognise that some of the play areas in the review were loved by the community and so we agreed to keep them open.”

Wokingham Borough Council

Young people in the Wokingham Borough are being invited on a course about how to drive safely so they can avoid collisions on the road.

A one-day workshop to give Wokingham teenagers, aged 16 and 17-years-old, the ‘Motorvation’ to drive safely when it takes place on Wednesday February 18 at Woodley Airfield Youth and Community Centre.

Statistics show that nationally three young people die every day on the roads and that a third of all new drivers will have an accident within their first two years of passing their test. To help young drivers in the Wokingham Borough, and those looking to take their test in the next few years, the Motorvation course will offer a range of practical advice and information on how to minimise the risk of accidents when they are behind the wheel.

The Wokingham workshop will cover a range of topics, including:

• Hazards facing new drivers

• The legal requirements of driving a vehicle on public roads

• The impact on family, friends and the community when a young person is involved in a road accident

• Issues that can arise when buying a second-hand vehicle

Plus it will give youngsters a taste of life behind the wheel during a short practical lesson.

The event has been organised by Wokingham Borough Council and will be presented by the Berkshire Association of Clubs for Young People, Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service, Thames Valley Police, the Highways Agency and several qualified driving instructors.

Julie Pillai, road safety officer said: “The workshops offer participants a lot of valuable help, including the opportunity to experience what it’s like to drive a vehicle in a controlled and safe surrounding – the first chance that many participants will have to drive a real car!

“There are also photographs and video footage of road traffic accidents in the workshops, which can be a little shocking. Life is precious and needs taking seriously, it’s even more fragile when there is a car involved but I’m not sure many young people realise just how dangerous a car can be.

“On average a car weighs about a tonne and can kill a whole family in one fatal hit, road users need to appreciate that to drive a motor vehicle is a huge responsibility.”

Cllr Keith Baker, executive member for Wokingham transport and highways, said: “Driving is an enormous responsibility, one false move and you could wipe someone’s life out completely. Our young people need to be educated right from the start that driving is a privilege and the responsibilities that come with it shouldn’t be taken lightly.

“If you are thinking about applying for your provisional licence soon please do come along to the Movorvation workshop – it could one day mean the difference between life and death.”

Although mainly for 16 and 17 year olds, anyone between 15 and 19 can attend the workshop at the Hurricane Way youth and community centre, which will run from 9.15am to 4pm, by booking a free place. Places can be reserved by calling (0118) 974 6387.

Wokingham Borough Council

Biking champs from across the south east will be getting on their bikes and pushing their fitness to the limit at Wokingham's Ashenbury Park, Woodley, Saturday January 17.

The park, which is maintained by Wokingham Borough Council’s parks and open spaces team, will be the venue for the final round of the Wessex Cyclo Cross League. The popular cycle event is back with a push after it was a big success last year.

Ashenbury Park, which is off Tippings Lane, will provide a challenging course for the 60 plus cyclists - who are members of British Cycling and have pedalled their way around a host of courses in the south east, to get to the final round of the league.

A free junior race will be held from 10am for under 12s at the park and every rider receives a medal. The under 16s follow at 10.30am while the final round for adults will start at 11.30am. All races will finish by 1pm.

The Wokingham Borough has a variety of parks and open spaces that the public can request to use for major events including sports races, family fun days, fetes, and corporate team building events. The council’s parks and open spaces team can be contacted at parksandopenspaces@wokingham.gov.uk for anyone wanting more information.

Cllr Simon Weeks, executive member for environment, said: “I’m pleased that the Wessex Cyclo League has decided to again hold its final event at Ashenbury Park, as it was a great event last year, which was popular with both cyclists and spectators.

“We are very fortunate in the Wokingham Borough to have a great variety of parks and open spaces for everyone to enjoy. If you have an event that you need a large open space for then why not get in touch with the team and see if you can host it right here in the borough.”

Stephen Jones, one of the organisers of the Wessex Cyclo Cross League Final Round, said: “It’s great to be welcomed back to Ashenbury Park, it’s a fantastic venue. We are looking forward to a great day of racing from beginners to experts at this end of season finale.”

Wokingham Borough Council

Under a new, tougher inspection regime, Wokingham Borough Council is judged by government watchdog the Audit Commission as having some high performing services and is, overall, performing adequately.

The Audit Commission’s corporate assessment, which scored Wokingham Borough Council to be performing adequately in 2008, examines how the council is working corporately, and with its partners, to improve services and deliver improved services for local people. And the inspectors
found that the council is helping to improve the quality of life for local people, including older people and people with learning disabilities.

“We have some very highly performing services such as education, waste collection and planning and 34 per cent of our services, measured by performance indicators, are ranked in the top 25 per cent across the country. Overall we are performing adequately with services we provide consistently above minimum standards and, although our rate of improvement has slowed, we are still improving and from a high base,” says council chief executive Susan Law.

“And in the areas identified as requiring improvement, the inspectors have acknowledged that we have taken action and are headed in the right direction. This is because the assessment is a backward look and we had already identified that there was no room for complacency with our high performance and we needed to accelerate the rate of improvement.

“One of the main things we needed to recognise was the need to shift the difficult balance between keeping council tax increases as low as possible when at the same time investing in enhancing our services. With the inevitable growth in demand for services, we realise this investment in vital frontline services is crucial. That’s why we have spent the past few months reprioritising our services so that we can plough more money into services for vulnerable children and adults, which are our top priority.

Wokingham Borough Council has been put under the Audit Commission spotlight in recent months with inspectors poring over performance statistics and scoring individual services as part of the council’s Comprehensive Performance Assessment (CPA). The council’s CPA score will be published by the Audit Commission in February 2009 and will be based on a number of individual service assessments and inspections, as well as incorporating today’s corporate assessment judgement.

Leader of the Wokingham council Cllr David Lee said: “The Audit Commission highlights what we have achieved and how much has improved over the past three years. The council is recognised for providing top quality education, waste collection services and making good use of its resources – to give just three examples. And the inspection regime is a catalyst to service improvement. We know we’re not perfect and that there are a lot of challenges ahead but we will rise to these challenges and make sure we achieve a better balance between low council tax and enhancing vital services.

“I recognise and accept the Audit Commission’s assessment of where we need to demonstrate further improvement and we will ensure that we focus even more strongly on this over the coming year. They also identified what we are strong at and I’m pleased that these independent assessors recognised the high standard of services in these areas as I know the effort that our staff and councillors put into providing the best possible services for our residents.

Wokingham Borough Council

Services for children and young people provided by Wokingham Borough Council and its partner agencies, under the umbrella of the children and young people’s strategic partnership, has been judged overall as being adequate in an independent Ofsted report published today (January 13).

Known as the joint area review (JAR), the report focused on safeguarding, Wokingham children and young people in care and those with a learning difficulty / disability services, service management and the capacity to improve. Inspectors also looked at child and adolescent mental health services.

The JAR report highlights services for Wokingham children and young people with a learning difficulty / disability in the Wokingham Borough are ‘good’. Three other areas reviewed – service management, capacity to improve and looked-after children services were judged as ‘adequate’ for children and young people. However, safeguarding was judged ‘inadequate’ as was the impact of the strategy for child and adolescent mental health services.

For its part in relation to safeguarding of children, Wokingham Borough Council has accepted the recommendations of the report and is therefore addressing as quickly as possible the identified areas for improvement: better systems for recording social care files, timeliness of assessments, the effectiveness of the local children’s safeguarding board and the consistent use of safe recruitment processes.

A number of strengths were highlighted in the report including high educational attainment, effective consultation and engagement with Wokingham children and young people, and good services provided to those with a learning disability / difficulty. The neighbourhood teams have ensured there is a greater focus on early intervention in order to prevent children and young people’s needs escalating or helping them access more specialist services. Extended services, healthy schools programme and children’s centres have continued to make a good contribution to early intervention and prevention to support keeping children and young people safe.

Wokingham Borough Council

A number of tenants and residents in the Wokingham Borough have suffered burst water pipes during the recent cold weather and Wokingham Borough Council tenant services is advising people to leave some heating on to prevent more problems.

Five Wokingham council-owned properties have suffered flooding from leaks caused by water pipes that have frozen and subsequently burst. This problem can be avoided by tenants or householders setting their heating to come on for some time while they are away from home.

Wokingham Borough Council head of tenant services Simon Price said: “Coming home to find your flat or house has been flooded must be one of people’s worst nightmares that causes a great deal of heartache and disruption to both tenants and homeowners. Our simple advice is that people should not turn their heating off all together when they go away from home but to leave it on low level or a timer to come on occasionally.

”It is also very important that people make sure they are properly insured and that their home insurance covers contents.”

Any council tenant wanting more advice about coping with cold weather should contact head of tenant services Simon Price on (0118) 974 3775.

Wokingham Borough Council

Ryeish Green student Ellie Lavender scooped an iPod shuffle, kindly donated by 2-Ten-FM, by answering three questions correctly about Wokingham Borough Council’s youth service’s new website.

Officially launched back in November, the website – www.activeyouth.co.uk - has been designed by young people for young people across the Wokingham Borough. It has a lot of advice and support for young people as well as an interactive database of activities across the Wokingham Borough.

Sandie Evans, Wokingham area youth work manager, said: “I was delighted to present Ellie with her prize in front of the whole school. Whilst I was there I took the opportunity to find out what young people thought of the Active Youth website and I am pleased to say that those who have used it, gave it the thumbs-up! I hope many more will take the time to have a look at it and find it as useful as others have.

“The competition was one of two we are currently running and I would like to thank 2-Ten-FM for its support. The second competition ‘Life as you know it’ runs until February 27 and £100 worth of vouchers is up for grabs. All we want to know is what its like to be a young person in the Wokingham Borough.”

Young people have until noon on February 27 to present their idea of what it’s like to be a young person in the Wokingham Borough. Entries could be about the good things in the borough, what young people like to do and/or what's missing, what's not so good and ideas for a better borough. The winner will receive £100 worth of vouchers for the shop of their choice.

Wokingham Young people can enter the competition by sending in photos, films, compositions, documentaries, poems, or songs. Entries will be judged on how effective the message is and the best ones will be displayed on the website. Entries can be emailed to activeyouth@wokingham.gov.uk or sent on CD/DVD to Sandie Evans, youth service, Wokingham Borough Council, civic offices, Shute End, Wokingham, RG40 1BN.

Wokingham Borough Council

Wokingham Borough Council’s community resilience manager is today urging children, young people, parents and the general public to take extra care during the cold snap and avoid walking or skating on frozen ponds and lakes.

The Wokingham council has received several reports from concerned members of the public about children attempting to skate on frozen ponds and lakes in the borough.

Peter Stuart, community resilience manager, said: “Owing to the current sub-zero temperature many ponds and lakes across the borough are frozen, and while it may seem like great fun to skate, slide or walk across them it is actually quite dangerous.

“We just want people to take extra care in this cold weather and stay safe by avoiding the hazards that thin ice can bring.”

Wokingham Borough Council

Visitors to Wokingham Borough Council’s Mall Gallery can enjoy an exhibition of photographs this month (January), produced by a photography group from the Acorn Community Centre in Woosehill in collaboration with Berkshire Costume Service.

The Wokingham exhibition, which runs until January 29, is a celebration of photography produced by people with learning disabilities from the Acorn Community Centre. Led by senior support worker David Lonsdale, the photography group comprising six people has been running for three years. Their work has been inspired from a variety of sources including the new day centre at Fernlea Drive in Woosehill as well as the surrounding and local countryside.

The Wokingham group is affiliated to the Disabled Photographers Society; participants learn all aspects of photography including how to use a camera and then manipulate images on a computer. The group uses its photos to produce Christmas cards, calendars and artwork.

As a part of the Berkshire Costume Centre’s Clothes Talk Project, funded by The Heritage Lottery Fund, the Acorn Community Centre Photography Group has helped create a catalogue recording the heritage collection. The collection includes more than 200 unique items of clothing and accessories ranging from the 1880s onwards, and many are irreplaceable.

Trish Steinhardt, Wokingham cultural development manager, said: “To increase resident’s awareness and enjoyment of Berkshire Costume Service’s heritage collection, the Acorn Photography Group began the process of cataloguing the collection for the first time. These images form their first public exhibition and truly animate how our heritage collection inspires stories about the past.”

And to mark the achievements of photographers at the Acorn Community Centre a private view event will take place on Tuesday January 20 at 6pm, which will be attended by Wokingham Borough Council Deputy Mayor Cllr Barrie Patman. He said: “We continue to see a whole host of exciting exhibitions at the Mall Gallery. The photographic exhibition runs until January 29, so I do hope that many local people will come and view it. It is also a great opportunity to see what the Berkshire Costume Service has to offer in its wardrobes!”

This free Wokingham exhibition is running until Thursday January 29 and is open for the public to view 8.30am to 5pm every weekday. The Mall Gallery is located in the Civic Offices at Shute End and is sponsored by The Cultural Partnership.

Wokingham Borough Council

Police are appealing for witnesses after a burglary in Old Woosehill Lane, Wokingham overnight on 17–18 December.

Wokingham Det Con Ali Bagshaw from Loddon Valley CID said: “A 30GB iPod and docking station and a mobile phone were the only items taken. This phone is very rare and easily identifiable. It is a Vertu Constellation with a silver front and burgundy red back. Have you been offered a phone like this for sale or seen someone using one like this?

“If there is any doubt, legitimately owned phones can be easily identified and eliminated. I appeal to anyone with any information to come forward.”

Det Con Bagshaw can be contacted via the 24-hour Police Enquiry Centre on 0845 8 505 505.

If you don’t want to speak to police or give your name, please call the Crimestoppers charity on 0800 555 111.

Thames Valley Police ~ Wokingham