Dear Parish 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

What is the Herbert Protocol?

The Herbert Protocol initiative is named after George Herbert, a war veteran of the Normandy landings, who lived with dementia. It is a process to be used where there is a risk that a vulnerable person, particularly if they suffer from dementia, may go missing. 

It consists of a form for recording key information which the police will require if the vulnerable person goes missing. Carers, family members and friends should complete Part one of the form in advance, and obtain a recent photograph of the vulnerable person. In the event of the vulnerable person going missing, Part two should be completed, and the form plus photograph handed to the police. 

Who decides if a vulnerable person is at risk of going missing?

This should be based on your professional judgement or personal knowledge of the vulnerable person.

Who completes the form?

The vulnerable person and their family/carers, including care-home staff, should jointly complete part two. If appropriate, family/carers may do so on behalf of the vulnerable person.

The form should be completed as fully as possible and then kept regularly updated, so that all the information is accurate and current.

When should the form be given to the police?

The police only need the form at the point the person is reported missing and it will be used to assist with their enquiries to locate the missing person.

Where should the form be stored?

The form should be kept securely at the vulnerable person’s address or may be held by a family member, a carer, a friend or a neighbour. It needs to be readily available when required.

The form can be downloaded from various web-sites (includingwww.thamesvalley.police.uk ) and can be completed by hand or electronically. A paper copy plus the photograph will need to be handed to the police officer who attends to take the missing person’s report.

What action should be taken if the person goes missing?

A search of the address, grounds and outbuildings should be undertaken and then the police alerted as soon as practicable. Tell the police call-taker that a Herbert Protocol form is available.
Message Sent By
Alan Hawkett (Police, Sgt, West Berkshire LPA)

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.

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