Rural Housing Blog - January's news from our very own Rural Housing Enabler Arlene Kersley...

Neighbourhood Planning News

A Second Neighbourhood Plan for RBWM!


Hurley and the Walthams Neighbourhood Plan Recommended for Approval by Examiner (with modifications)

The Hurley and the Walthams Neighbourhood Plan has now passed through the examination phase.  However there are a number of policy deletions and modifications that have been recommended by the Examiner, Nigel McGurk, before the Plan can be put to referendum.

The following options now exist:
• The Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead can accept all of recommended changes and submit the revised plan for referendum.  The modifications are required unless there are clear reasons for RBWM to depart from the recommendations. Departures could result in challenges to the plan by developers in the future.
• The Neighbourhood Plan Steering Group may choose to withdraw the Plan.  This would be an extreme response with the result that all of the work that has gone into the Plan will be void. 

The Examiner has given comprehensive justifications for the recommended modifications.
Importantly the Neighbourhood Plan contains a rural exception policy for the area and is the first Neighbourhood Plan in the country to do so.  The Examiner has recognised that the policy promotes positive development for the area.

The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead in consultation with the Neighbourhood Plan Steering Group will now decide which approach to take.  Should the Plan be modified and put to referendum, RBWM must publicise details of the modifications and arrange for the referendum to take place.

Arlene Kersley, CCB’s RHE says:
“ While it is disappointing that some of the policies have fallen by the wayside, the Hurley and the Walthams Neighbourhood Plan Group should be very proud of the success it has had in getting these polices accepted in a predominately Green Belt Area.  The whole community deserves recognition for the years of hard work that has gone into this document and it is pleasing that the Examiner as recognised the quality of the consultation that took place to arrive at this document.”

Rural Affordable Housing

Locality is offering Free Training for Community Groups

Locality are offering a series of 3 Free training events in Reading for committed Community Groups covering:
• Introduction to Public Relations
• Introduction to Marketing
• Introduction to Social Media
Full information is available from the My Community website:
http://mycommunity.org.uk/funding-options/media-marketing-savvy-training/

FREE Training – Affordable Housing in 2017 

Places are filing fast for this event – only a few remain.
What is it? Who is it for? How is it developed?
21st February 2017, 18.30-21.00

Calcot Community Centre, Calcot, West Berkshire
Run by Arlene Kersley, the CCB Rural Housing Enabler the session will explain recent changes in affordable housing legislation and help delegates to understand:
• different affordable housing tenures
• who qualifies for affordable housing
• how is affordable housing developed?  
• funding for development
• what is different about ‘rural’ housing and rural exception sites
• what are the development tools available to communities to get the development they want? (Community Led Development, Self-build options; Neighbourhood Planning)

Come and understand the different approaches that can be taken to get the housing that is right for your community. Numbers are limited so book early.
Register for your place at:  https://ccberks.wufoo.com/forms/z1qkdv961q3ndus/

For more information contact Arlene Kersley, Rural Housing Enabler for Berkshire at CCB on: 0118 961 2000 or by email: arlene.kersley@ccberks.org.uk

Helping rural households save money on the cost of heating their homes with oil

Prices negotiated in 2016, all prices quoted are in pence per lite and are exclusive of 5% VAT

Want to save money on the cost of your heating oil? So do we!

Local charity Community Council for Berkshire (CCB) manages an oil club to provide a way to save money on fuel costs for individuals, community buildings or businesses in rural areas that have to heat their property with oil. The CCB Oil Club was established in 2012 and takes on the organisation of bulk buying fuel oil and the negotiation of the best price, reducing the cost for members and the time spent on sourcing oil.

 

By bringing communities throughout the county of Berkshire together and making the most of collective purchasing power, this scheme can make significant savings and pass them directly to you. The CCB Oil Club additionally benefits the environment by cutting down the number of tanker journeys made. By planning deliveries to minimise the use of tankers – especially in rural areas, the CCB Oil Club brings oil to many addresses in the same area at the same time.

 

All you need to do to take advantage of the scheme is to pay an annual membership fee, from as little as £24*, which will cover as many orders as you need during the year. The membership charge goes towards covering the administrative costs of running the projects. Any surplus from the CCB Oil Club will go directly towards supporting CCB’s charitable work.

 

CCB own the oil club but all communications and the administration are conducted by Oil Fuel Poverty Solutions (OFPS). OFPS was created to work with Rural Community Councils and Charities like CCB to manage, support and create buying groups and to raise issues experienced by rural oil users.

If you would like to read more about and join the CCB Oil Club please click here.

 

*£30 for community buildings and £120 for businesses

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fuel poverty will be here for decades to come, campaigners warn but CCB can help offer advice and guidance....

The problem of fuel poverty will not be solved in the lifetime of a child born today on current rates of progress, campaigners have warned.

National Energy Action (NEA) is calling on the Government to invest more in energy efficiency and urgently improve conditions in privately rented properties to help tackle the illness and anxiety caused by the struggle to heat homes.

NEA's campaign is highlighting that four million households in the UK still face the problems of living in a cold, damp home, affecting their life chances.

The problem is particularly acute in privately rented homes such as bedsits and hostels, the charity warns. On current rates of progress, the Government's target to end fuel poverty by 2030 will not have been met even when a child born today reaches their 80th birthday, NEA says.

At CCB Helen Dean has been carrying out projects advising low income families and older people on how to reduce their home energy costs during the last five years. CCB has just been awarded funding to deliver 12 talks on reducing home energy costs in Berkshire to consumers or front-line workers by Energy Best Deal, a partnership between Ofgem and Citizens Advice. If you are interested in Helen delivering a talk for your group, or to your volunteers/staff, please contact her by email at helen.dean@ccberks.org.uk, or by phone on 0118 961 2000

One in four rural homes lack broadband

Written by Ruralcity Media

The government's telecoms watchdog says one in four rural homes still cannot get a decent broadband connection.

New research by Ofcom found that the number of UK properties unable to get a decent broadband connection had fallen by one million over the past year.

But 1.4m UK homes and offices – or 5% of properties – remain unable to sign up for broadband speeds over 10Mbit/s. That is the speed required to meet a typical household’s digital needs. This is down from around 2.4m, or 8%, last year.

Around one in four rural properties – nearly 920,000 – cannot receive a connection of over 10Mbit/s, often because they are a long way from the telephone exchange or local street cabinet.

The findings are part of Ofcom’s Connected Nations 2016 report – an in-depth look at the state of the UK’s telecoms and wireless networks. This year’s report shows good progress on the availability and take-up of communications services, which are crucial to people’s personal and working lives. But the report finds there is much more to do – particularly in boosting mobile and broadband coverage, and improving the quality of service provided by telecoms companies.

For example, rural areas still lag behind on broadband.

To help close this speed gap, Ofcom has today set out its technical advice for the UK Government on implementing its plans, announced in 2015, for universal broadband.
The Connected Nations report also presents the current level of mobile coverage across the country.

While the picture is improving, with 4G reaching more premises, Ofcom wants to see better coverage across the UK’s landmass.

It says it has begun discussions with mobile operators to look at radical and ambitious solutions to deliver universal mobile coverage, to keep pace with consumers’ needs.
Steve Unger, Ofcom’s Chief Technology Officer, said: “Mobile and broadband coverage continued to grow this year, but too many people and businesses are still struggling for a good service. We think that is unacceptable. So we’re challenging mobile operators to go beyond built-up areas, and provide coverage across the UK’s countryside and transport networks. Today we’ve also provided technical advice to support the Government’s plans for universal, decent broadband.”

Article courtesy of Rural Services Network

West Berkshire Energy Switch Winter Auction - registration now open

The West Berkshire Energy Switch is part of the Big Community Switch scheme, which negotiates competitive prices with energy companies on behalf of local residents. Residents register their interest, before energy suppliers bid against each other to offer the best deal for the group. Those who have registered are then given a personalised, no obligation offer showing how much they could save by switching. 

Residents that registered and switched in the recent October auction will save an average of £178.35 on their annual fuel bills. See if you can secure a good rate for the year ahead, to register or find out more, visit www.westberks.gov.uk/communityswitch

You will need to have your latest energy bill to hand, as you’ll need the details during the registration process. Registration is open to all until midnight on Monday 13th February 17; with West Berkshire residents able to register right up until the 28th March (registration will not be possible on the auction day, Tuesday 14th February).

West Berkshire residents without internet access can contact 01635 503267 to register - remember to have your energy bill or annual statement to hand when you call.

Nature Memories Café opens at the Nature Discovery Centre

The relaxing power of nature combined with friendly companionship in the warmth of the Lakeside Café at the Nature Discovery Centre in Thatcham is at the heart of a new dementia friendly project: Nature Memories Café run by the Berks, Bucks & Oxon Wildlife Trust.

The Nature Memories Café is run by the Berks, Bucks & Oxon Wildlife Trust in collaboration with the Dementia Friendly Communities Project Officer at West Berkshire Council.

Weekly drop-in sessions on Monday mornings for people of all ages living with Dementia and their carers starts on 16 January to 20 March.  Each session starts at 10.30am and people are welcome to drop-in anytime up to 12.30pm.

Thanks to grant support from Thatcham Town Council and The Alpkit Foundation these sessions are free for the person living with dementia as well as their family member, friend or carer who comes with them.

The Nature Memories Café is organised by Centre Ranger Becky O’Melia who explains how the sessions work: “Each week we will have a simple nature-based art or craft session if people would like to get involved with that, but being artistic isn’t essential.

“We expect some people will prefer to relax, enjoy the views from the café across the Lake, and have a chat while enjoying one of our delicious homemade cakes and a hot drink.”

Graham Jones, West Berkshire Council's Executive Member for Public Health & Wellbeing said: “It’s vital that we spread the word that activity and social interaction can make a real difference in helping people living with dementia to lead happy and fulfilled lives. This particular project also offers the benefits and therapeutic effects of being close to nature in a beautiful, natural setting.”

NEW DATE - Free Defibrillator Training in Woolhampton

Does your community have a defibrillator?  Would you know how to use it in an emergency?

If you don’t have one in your village, have you considered having one – either by fundraising as a community to buy one or obtaining a grant from the British Heart Foundation?

All these questions will be answered at the Community Council for Berkshire (CCB) training event to be held on Thursday 23rd March at Woolhampton village hall, near Thatcham 7pm -9.30pm. The training event will be run by Heartstart Thatcham and will include a practical demonstration of how to use defibrillators. This training is FREE to attend and light refreshments will be provided.

The Heartstart Thatcham Training will cover what to do in the following medical emergencies:
Priorities/the conscious casualty
The unconscious casualty
Cardiac arrest (including CPR & AED)
Suspected heart attack
Choking
Serious bleeding
The course is delivered as a mixture of practical and theory. 

Access to rural areas can be time consuming for community first responders and emergency services, particularly if the weather is bad, so the knowledge of local people could save a life!

The meeting is being funded with a grant from Southern Electric Power Distribution Resilient Communities Fund and Adult Community Learning West Berkshire Council.   

If you would like to attend, please book a place by emailing wendy.dacey@ccberks.org.uk  or phone 0118 9612000. If you are unable to attend this date but would like to register your interest in attending future defibrillator training please also e-mail wendy.dacey@ccberks.org.uk with your details and the village you live in

Celebrating Village SOS successes in Berkshire

In March 2016, CCB ran an event promoting the support available to communities through the Village SOS campaign, funded by the National Lottery. The aim of the programme, which ended in December 2016, was to help rural community projects to survive and thrive. 

Following the event, two communities in Berkshire signed up to the programme and were awarded a package of support worth £2,314 between them. The funding enabled members of the CCB team to work directly with the communities, providing 9 days of dedicated, specialist help with their projects. 

Feedback from both communities has been excellent, with one writing to say: ‘how invaluable Village SOS’s support has been in allocating and funding a mentor for us to investigate the possibilities with regards to our project. Tim Parry from CCB has been outstanding in supporting and guiding us over the past few months, we really couldn’t have got where we are without him!’ 

Even though the Village SOS campaign in its current form has ended, there are other sources of funding that could be used to pay for similar support. If you are considering a community project and think you could benefit from an expert from the CCB team, please contact Tim Parry on 0118 961 2000 to discuss your needs. 

FREE Defibrillator Training - 21st March 2017

Does your community have a defibrillator?  Would you know how to use it in an emergency?

If you don’t have one in your village, have you considered having one – either by fundraising as a community to buy one or obtaining a grant from the British Heart Foundation?

All these questions will be answered at the Community Council for Berkshire (CCB) training event to be held on Tuesday 21st March at Beech Hill Memorial Hall from 7.00 - 9.30pm. The training event will be run by Heartstart Swallowfield and will include a practical demonstration of how to use defibrillators. This training is FREE to attend and light refreshments will be provided.

The Heartstart Swallowfield Training will cover what to do in the following medical emergencies:
Priorities/the conscious casualty
The unconscious casualty
Cardiac arrest (including CPR & AED)
Suspected heart attack
Choking
Serious bleeding
The course is delivered as a mixture of practical and theory. 

Access to rural areas can be time consuming for community first responders and emergency services, particularly if the weather is bad, so the knowledge of local people could save a life!

The meeting is being funded with a grant from Southern Electric Power Distribution Resilient Communities Fund and Adult Community Learning West Berkshire Council.   

If you would like to attend, please book a place by emailing wendy.dacey@ccberks.org.uk  or phone 0118 9612000. If you are unable to attend this date but would like to register your interest in attending future defibrillator training please also e-mail wendy.dacey@ccberks.org.uk with your details and the village you live in.

VACANCY: CLERK/RFO WANTED FOR BOXFORD PARISH COUNCIL

Are you a self-motivated, friendly person looking for a new challenge?

Boxford is a small rural parish set in the Berkshire Downs with approximately 386 electors.

Due to unexpected illness in her family, our Clerk has had to resign. We are looking to appoint a Clerk/Responsible Finance Officer to carry out administrative duties as required by law and be responsible for the financial records of the Council and the careful administration of its finances as required under the Accounts and Audit Regulations. 

Previous experience in a similar role would be an advantage but is not essential.

Good written and verbal communication and IT skills are vital. Knowledge of website maintenance and parish email operation would be useful but training will be given.

Some evening work will be required to take minutes at the meetings held every two months at either Boxford Village Hall or Boxford Heritage Centre.

The post is offered from 1st February 2017 at 4 hours per week with the work being carried out at the Clerk’s home.

Salary:  A spot salary will be offered between SCP 16-21 £8.820- £10.527 per hour dependent on experience. Approved expenses are reimbursed.

Closing date: Midday Friday 20th January 2017

For an informal discussion please email: parishcouncil@boxford.org.uk 

To apply please send a CV with an accompanying letter to: Boxford Parish Council, The Mill, Boxford, Berks. RG20 8DP or via e-mail to: parishcouncil@boxford.org.uk