<![CDATA[Newbury.net - A Community website for Newbury, Berkshire, UK]]> http://www.newbury.net/forum/forum/ http://www.eblah.com en <![CDATA[Newbury Pancake Race 2012]]> http://www.newbury.net/forum/forum/m-1328692884/ http://www.newbury.net/forum/forum/m-1328692884/#num1 ]]> Wed, 8 Feb 2012 09:21:24 Administrator <![CDATA[Chimney fire at the Waggon & Horses]]> http://www.newbury.net/forum/forum/m-1328630189/ http://www.newbury.net/forum/forum/m-1328630189/#num1
Chimney fire at the Old Waggon & Horses in the Market Place Newbury

Firefighters were called to the Old Waggon & Horses in the Market Place to deal with a suspected  chimney fire earlier today (Tuesday)

Fire crews were still on the scene at 3pm]]> Tue, 7 Feb 2012 15:56:29 Administrator <![CDATA[Labour Party response to 2012 - 2013 Budget]]> http://www.newbury.net/forum/forum/m-1328217526/ http://www.newbury.net/forum/forum/m-1328217526/#num1 This is a press release from Newbury Labour Party, reproduced in full without editorial comment:

"Significant council borrowing and debt has led to deeper cuts" - That's the message from West Berkshire Labour spokesman Richard Garvie.

West Berkshire Labour Party have today given their response to a huge cuts package announced today by Conservative controlled West Berkshire District Council. Cuts of £8.9m will be made in the 2012/13 financial year if budget proposals are approved by Conservative and Lib Dem councillors at a meeting next Thursday, and Labour spokesman Richard Garvie is calling on members of the public to protest to their elected representatives before it's too late.

Speaking on the cuts package, Mr Garvie expressed his concern about the effect certain funding reductions will have on the vulnerable. "Cuts of £2m to the adult social care budget will greatly affect the most vulnerable in society who have already been hit by massive cuts over the past 18 months. Cuts to children centres, Connexions and a 10% reduction to the Youth Offending Team will hit young people and families. Over and above those cuts, the Conservative administration are also playing roulette with housing and commissioning, even to the point where they are reducing funding to facilities such as the women's refuge. What this Conservative administration is showing is that they are more concerned with running up tens of millions of pounds worth of debt by going on a property spending spree which has resulted in far deeper cuts to public services. I don't think anyone in West Berkshire will believe that is the right thing to do".

The Labour Party continue to argue that in times of austerity, West Berkshire District Council should be looking to reduce the amount of debt, not increase it by spending millions of pounds on property and other non essential spending. By increasing public debt by such a significant amount, the council must pay substantially higher debt interest payments which in turn results in a significant reduction of money in the general budget for essential items such as public services. The Conservative administration also rejected Labour proposals that West Berkshire District Council should share it's Chief Executive and the possibility of further savings created by working with other local authorities. The Conservative administration have also refused to look at a reduction in the number of elected members and political advisers, which could also save between £250,000 and £500,000 per year.]]> Thu, 2 Feb 2012 21:18:46 Administrator <![CDATA[WBC Budget Proposals 2012 - 2013]]> http://www.newbury.net/forum/forum/m-1328017678/ http://www.newbury.net/forum/forum/m-1328017678/#num1 Against a background of global economic crisis and the Government's priority of reducing the national deficit, West Berkshire Council has outlined its budget proposals for the coming financial year.
Issued on: 31 January 2012

The financial change for West Berkshire over the last 18 months is highlighted by the Government's central grant to the Council having decreased £7.5 million in three years, a £9 million increase in the cost of social care, and inflation currently running at 4.8%. This means a need for the Council to save £25 million over the next four years, including £9 million for the coming year. Its current year total budget is £125 million.

In presenting the budget proposals, Council Leader Graham Jones explained his four main priorities. These are to minimise local taxation, protect services to vulnerable people as far as possible, maintain the services everyone uses as far as possible, and help people to help themselves. Regarding the current £38 million spend on social care, it is believed this area cannot remain totally immune from savings, although those detailed here are just 1% of all savings proposed.

Councillor Jones said: "We are aiming for a realistic savings package, which includes investing in the district to support renewal and shifting the way some of our services are provided. A good example here is the expansion of our shared trading standards service with Wokingham, to include environmental health which would save £60,000 a year. We are also looking at possibilities of co-managing our country parks with voluntary conservation groups which could benefit the public and save taxpayer's money."

Of the £9m proposed savings, £3m are on staff reductions - 47 jobs on top of the 120 lost last year (10% of the workforce); £2m from services affecting vulnerable groups; and £4m across other Council services. All this was announced in November last year. Staffing reductions include, as a result of a management review, one less director and a reduction in heads of services from 17 to 13. Savings have also been made by consolidating three council office buildings into two, with running costs down £85,000 a year.

Following consultation on savings affecting vulnerable groups which was launched last November, the Council, having considered all the responses, is proposing the following changes. With a reported 40% increase in users over the past year or so the £13,000 reduction to Citizen's Advice Bureau funding should not go ahead. The reduction of grants to five other organisations should be phased over two years.This year's reduction to PALS would therefore be £1,550; A2 Dominion £1,550; Dingley £5,000; Crossroads £5,400; and Mencap £11,500. It is worth noting that, to date this year the Council has spent £801,000 with Mencap, and it gives £3m of taxpayer's money annually to the voluntary sector. The other savings proposed in November should go ahead.

The remaining £4m proposed savings would be met through a combination of reducing spending and increasing income, examples of which are as follows: Planning fees for developers and others would increase raising £400,000; there would be a £300,000 annual contribution from the Parkway developers related to parking; £192,500 would be raised by increasing the cost of collecting bulky waste (there is the option of taking it to waste and recycling centres at no charge); and there would be some increase in parking charges. Parking in the district has been pegged for the last two years. It is proposed that the one hour rate at £1 remains unchanged, the half hour 50p rate is scrapped, and longer times are increased 10p an hour. Most car parks outside Newbury would see no change. Parking charges in the town remain competitive with Reading, Swindon, Oxford and Basingstoke. There would also be a flat rate £1 charge for Sundays and evenings.

The balance of savings would be made up by a long list of smaller savings and income changes. Examples are as follows: Room hire at the Riverside Centre, Turnpike up 15p to £8; football pitch at Henwick Worthy up £1.40 to £56.20; adult swim up 15p to £3.30 and so on. Other front-line savings across service areas include reduced maintenance of highways such as drainage and footpaths saving £107,000; reduced waste services such as street cleaning and weed treatment saving £70,000; a reduction in the library stock fund saving £100,000, reduced street light inspections saving £15,000, and new opening hours at Newbury Library saving £15,000.

Considerable savings can also be made through financial management, with the following proposed: Renegotiating contracts for Connexions saving £400,000 and home to school transport £200,000; Negotiating continuing health care charges from the NHS bringing in an additional £400,000; Removing the annual contribution of £20,000 to the Newbury Town Centre Partnership because the Business Improvement District is likely to take over; and re-tendering of ICT contracts saving £81,000. There would also be a reduction in councillors' travel expenses and allowances of £8,000 a year, a reduction in the postal budget of £10,000 with limited first class and more email, recruitment advertising via websites saving a further £10,000 a year, plus many smaller amounts.

Councillor Jones added: "Last year we created the community solutions fund which is paying ongoing dividends. There has been the creation of 'Carnation Day Care' for people with dementia at Walnut Close, Thatcham and 'Interakt' art therapy for people with learning disabilities. Clay Hill residents are providing youth services in their area, and the Community Furniture Project is expanding into support of day care services.

"Importantly, this is also a budget for renewal. There will be a freeze on council tax for the second year running which means a little more money in people's pockets. We are also promoting the local credit union to help people avoid the crippling interest rates of some loan sharks. We are also investing in our future, with building projects at Denefield, Little Heath, Kintbury, the Winchcombe, and the Willows schools. And we continue to invest in infrastructure with schemes such as junction improvements at Langley Hill and Hambridge Road, new rural cycle routes, and the Newbury flood defence scheme. Pedestrianisation following the opening of Parkway has also paid off with a number of new shops opening in town.

"It is highly significant that other stakeholders are also investing in West Berkshire. John Lewis is set to open in Parkway in the spring, IKEA want to invest in the east of the district, and Network Rail plan to electrify the railway through the district.

"I am also very pleased at the partnerships we are forging with local people. For example there is the new centre at Padworth and residents have really risen to the call to recycle. We have personal budgets with residents taking responsibility for deciding their own care. Volunteers are helping to support their communities at day centres and youth centres.

"In conclusion, I believe this proposed budget recognises financial realities, renewal opportunities, and individual responsibilities. It is also a budget that balances. In these times, this has been a challenge but we've achieved it."]]> Tue, 31 Jan 2012 13:47:58 Administrator <![CDATA[Anne Frank Exhibition - Kennet Centre]]> http://www.newbury.net/forum/forum/m-1327744228/ http://www.newbury.net/forum/forum/m-1327744228/#num1 ]]> Sat, 28 Jan 2012 09:50:28 Administrator