Please share with friends, family and neighbours in the borough so they can keep up to date. Sign up here if you've received a forwarded copy.
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Have you got suitable photo ID for the upcoming elections?
The Government has introduced a requirement for voters to show photo ID when voting at a polling station in some elections. This new requirement will apply for the first time in England at the local elections on Thursday 4 May, when our Borough and Parish elections will be held.
You may already have a form of photo ID that is acceptable. You can use any of the following:
- Passport
- Driving licence (including provisional license)
- Blue badge
- Certain concessionary travel cards
- Identity card with PASS mark (Proof of Age Standards Scheme)
- Biometric Immigration document
- Defence identity card
- Certain national identity cards
If you don’t already have an accepted form of photo ID, or you’re not sure whether your photo ID still looks like you, you can apply for a free voter ID document, known as a Voter Authority Certificate, on the Government website.
For more information, please visit the Electoral Commission website or call their helpline on 0800 328 0280.
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Look after yourself and others in the cold weather
The Met Office has extended its Level 3 Cold Weather Alert for the South East until 9am next Wednesday (25 January).
Please check that your vulnerable family and neighbours have warm food and drinks and can heat their homes. Try to maintain indoor temperatures to at least 18°C, particularly if you’re not mobile, have a long-term illness or are aged over 65.
Avoid exposing yourself to cold or icy outdoor conditions if you have a higher risk of cold-related illness or falls.
If you want more information about how cold weather can affect your health, please visit the NHS website.
If you’re concerned about your health, or somebody you care for, visit or call NHS 111 or visit your local pharmacist.
We’ve also triggered our Severe Weather Emergency Protocol (SWEP), meaning we are providing emergency shelter to anyone found sleeping rough in the borough, irrespective of local connection and current circumstances. See more about SWEP and how to advise us about rough sleepers on our website.
Our gritters are also out treating roads across the borough and will continue to do so while freezing road temperatures are forecast. Check out our Winter Services video to learn more.
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Stay safe around frozen waterways
During the cold snap, Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service (RBFRS) is also reminding everyone to take care around frozen waterways.
- Do not be tempted to venture onto the ice; you do not know how thick it is
- Stay clear of the edge to avoid falling in
- Keep dogs on leads.
More cold weather advice can be found on the RBFRS website.
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Safe, warm spaces to help those in need this winter
As winter brings extra financial pressures and worries around heating costs, we are continuing to promote our network of safe, warm spaces within our borough.
Visit the RBWM Together website for a map of locations and further details.
We are continuing to add to this network. If you are a community organisation, or a business with suitable customer-facing premises, and would like your space to be included, please contact communications@rbwm.gov.uk, to support those struggling with the rising cost of living.
If you are struggling financially with the rising cost of living and facing difficult decisions around food, rent or heating to visit our Here to help webpage to see what help might be available.
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Start planning your Coronation celebrations
This year the UK will mark the Coronation of King Charles III with a three-day bank holiday weekend from Saturday 6 to Monday 8 May.
The Coronation gives local communities a great opportunity to celebrate with a wide range of events – including traditional street parties.
Keep an eye on our website, Twitter and Facebook pages over the coming days for information to help you organise your party, so it meets all the legal requirements – leaving you free to enjoy the day!
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Last chance to share your views on our proposed budget
Thank you to everyone who has taken part in our public consultation on the draft budget proposals. The consultation first launched in December and you have until next week (Tuesday 24 January) to share your views if haven’t done so already.
Coupled with an increasing demand for some services, especially provisions for our most vulnerable residents such as social care and housing, we have reviewed all services to ensure they are run as effectively as possible and provide value for money.
We remain focused on delivering a sustainable borough of opportunity and innovation, and on our Corporate Plan priorities. Despite the national change to council tax, the Royal Borough will continue to have one of the lowest council tax rates in the country.
Your feedback will help inform discussions when the draft budget is debated and council tax is set at Full Council next month.
To take part in the consultation, please visit the RBWM Together website.
Read our press release to learn more.
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Your first step to a healthier you
Our public health campaign for January, which is all about making small changes to your lifestyle to boost your health and wellbeing, has continued on our social media platforms this week.
In the last week, we've shared tips including:
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Getting a peaceful sleep – Sleep is the engine that powers our health and wellbeing. Sticking to a schedule, avoiding big meals, caffeine and alcohol before bed, and limiting daytime naps are all great ways to improve the quality of your sleep. The NHS website has more advice on how to fall asleep faster and sleep better.
Make sure to follow us on Twitter and Facebook to stay up to date with our campaign.
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World Café is coming to Sunningdale
Our next World Cafe will be in Sunningdale ward on Friday 27 January, from 11am to 1pm.
There’s no need to book in advance, simply pop along to The Pavilion Community Room, Sunningdale Parish Recreation Ground, Broomhall Lane, SL5 0QS.
Enjoy a cuppa and a chat with community representatives to find solutions to tackle social isolation and loneliness within your community.
Our Royal Borough World Cafés are free informal networking events where you can have open conversations about what matters most to you, find out about relevant support, and mingle with fellow residents and local groups.
And remember, you can also catch the World Cafe in Furze Platt tomorrow (Saturday 21 January), 10.30am to 12.30pm, at Furze Platt War Memorial Hall, Furze Platt Road, Maidenhead, SL6 7NG. The topic tomorrow is the cost of living.
For more details on both events visit the RBWM Together website.
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Calling all jobseekers! Attend our upcoming jobs fair
A jobs fair will take place at Maidenhead Library on Tuesday 7 February from 10.30am to 1pm.
Jobseekers will have the opportunity to meet local employers and find out about their current vacancies. There’s no need to book, just turn up on the day.
Employers who wish to attend the event should contact maidenhead.library@rbwm.gov.uk
For more information, please visit our employment support webpage.
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Do you pay business rates?
If you run a business and are liable for business rates, please be aware that rateable values are changing nationally from Saturday 1 April 2023.
Revaluation is a review of the rateable values of all non-domestic properties in England and Wales carried out by the Valuation Office Agency (VOA). This normally happens every three years.
Rateable values are the amount of rent a property could have been let for on a set valuation date and are used to calculate business rates bills. For the 2023 valuation, that date was Thursday 1 April 2021.
You can see your future valuation and get an estimate of what your business rates bill will be from Saturday 1 April 2023, on the Government’s business rates webpage.
If your business premises have changed, or if you think the value is too high, you will need to contact the VOA and not us. You will need a Business Rates Valuation Account to do this.
Read more about the changes to business rates on the Valuation Office website.
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It’s time to sign up for the 2023 Big Garden Birdwatch!
This year's Big Garden Birdwatch runs from Friday 27 to Sunday 29 January.
We're lucky that our borough has a host of garden birds, thanks to our fantastic urban gardens. But you don't need a garden to take part! Counting birds from your balcony, or your local park plays a vital role in helping understand how local and UK birds are doing.
For more information and to sign up, check out the RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch website.
(Photo credit to Mick Vogel Photography)
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Royal Borough Community Spotlight
Here are just some of the upcoming community events in the Royal Borough:
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Bazaar and coffee morning (Saturday 21 January, 10am to 11.30am) – St Mark’s Crescent Methodist Church. Many items will be on sale including home baked cakes, stationery, secondhand books and a Bric-a-brac stall with many items for gifts or home. A raffle will also take place. All are welcome and entry is free. All funds raised go to the St Mark’s 2020 Building Fund
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Rising Stars’ concert (Saturday 21 January, 1pm) – Norden Farm. As well as seven concerts given by top-quality professional musicians, Maidenhead Music also hosts an opportunity for talented music students to play at a concert venue. This year, Hannah Bates, a saxophonist and Katy Harrison, a trumpeter will be performing. The concert is free to Members of Maidenhead Music. Tickets are £8 with under 18s, free with an adult. Tickets are available on the Norden Farm or Maidenhead Music Society website
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Table-top sale (Sunday 22 January, 10am to 2pm) – Village Hall, Moneyrow Green, Holyport. Holyport Community Trust is holding a table-top sale where you can either pick up a bargain or make some extra cash by selling off unwanted Christmas presents and anything else you need to declutter! Free entry; £10 a table for sellers. Email gill.hudson@holyportcommunitytrust.org if you want to reserve a table. Tea, coffee, cakes and bacon butties will also be on sale. Visit the Holyport Community Trust website for more information
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A Curator Speaks: What are museums for? (Wednesday 25 January, 1pm) – Old Windsor Memorial Hall. An Arts Society Windsor Lecture by Irving Finkel, British Museum curator and Assyriologist. Guests are welcome at £7 per person. More details can be found on the Arts Society Windsor website
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Snow White and the Spaceman (Friday 27 January at 7.30pm and Saturday 28 January at 2pm and 7pm) – St Mark’s Crescent Methodist Church, Maidenhead. A pantomime production by the Broken Shoestring Theatre Group. Tickets are £10 for adults, £6 for under 16’s and under five’s go free. Book and learn more on the Ticket Source website
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Windsor Art Exhibition (Saturday 8 April, 11am to 5pm) – Windsor Parish Church, High Street. Featuring original art, prints and cards direct from seven talented local artists. Free walk-in admission. Organised by the Windsor Artists Collective
If you have an upcoming not-for-profit community event or activity you’d like to promote in this newsletter, simply send basic information about your event to communications@rbwm.gov.uk and it could be shared with more than 21,000 local residents.
You just need to include a brief description, when and where it takes place, and a link to a website/social media page/contact where people can find out more.
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Have your say
We regularly hold consultations and surveys to get your views on proposals within the Royal Borough.
Participating, sharing ideas, and giving your feedback is the best way to ensure your views are heard.
Our current consultations are:
More information can be found on the consultations pages of our website.
Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service (RBFRS) are also running two consultations:
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Local Travel Updates
The Aslef union has announced industrial action which will affect local rail services from Wednesday 1 to Friday 3 February. For further information about local services, please visit the Great Western Railway and South Western Railway websites.
Further engineering works will also close the line between Windsor and Staines from Saturday 11 to Sunday 19 February. A replacement bus service will operate during this time. Please visit the South Western Railway website for more information about local services.
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