Reading Borough Council is backing Reading’s voluntary sector, this time to the tune of £13.22 million next year. That is an increase from this year’s investment of £12.85 million.
Key highlights of the proposed 2013/14 funding package include a 70% increase in revenue grants expenditure and a 64% increase in the amount of grant expenditure with Reading-based groups. This is in recognition of the invaluable work voluntary groups carry out in Reading and the ‘added value’ Reading-based groups in particular offer through their local knowledge and experience of working in communities across the town.
Additional funds to support this programme will be transferred from Government funding made available to local authorities in 2013/2014.
The Cabinet Report detailing Reading Borough Council’s proposed support for voluntary and community groups for 2013/14 can be found at http://www.reading.gov.uk/meetings/details/3501/ (Item 7). If approved at Cabinet on Monday January 21st, the funding package will also be subject to approval of the overall Reading Borough Council budget for 2013/14.
January 18, 2013 | editor
Reading Borough Council’s transport team have kicked off a ‘virtual cycle challenge’ to encourage more people to try cycling as a way of becoming healthier and saving money.
People who sign up for the virtual challenge will be committing to cycling a total of 874 miles – the equivalent from Lands End to John O’Groats. If that feels like a major challenge, people can invite their friends to join their virtual ride team and cycle in relays.
The challenge is free and there’s some great prizes including an iPad 3, cycling gear and a meal out with virtual bike ride team mates.
If people are unsure of the best route to cycle to their destinations they can check out Reading’s Cycle Maps which cover routes to key destinations like schools, offices and leisure facilities, along with details on leisure rides. For more information visit www.reading-travelinfo.co.uk/cycling.
January 15, 2013 | editor
Reading Borough Council and its partners are working hard to ensure that fewer people will be sleeping rough on the streets of the town.
During this cold weather period, the Council works with partners such as St Mungo’s, Hamble Court, Salvation Army, Waylen Street and Launchpad to ensure that anyone found rough sleeping is offered emergency accommodation, support and advice so that they do not have to remain on the street. The agencies involved use this as an opportunity to work with rough sleepers and encourage them to remain in accommodation for the long term. This partnership arrangement has existed for many years and is activated whenever the Met Office forecasts three nights or more with a minimum temperature of 0°C or below. Last year, over the winter period 46 people were offered emergency accommodation; 40% of those accommodated in SWEP were from out of the Borough.
It has been reported by the specialist housing press that London has seen the number of rough sleepers rise by 31% as of the end of October 2012 compared to the same period in 2011 (http://www.insidehousing.co.uk/6524836.article).
The homeless charity Crisis has also reported that the number of rough sleepers across Britain has soared by 23% to 2,183 in the past year.
January 15, 2013 | editor
Reading Borough Council announced the start of a process that will see the regeneration of the Civic Offices site, including the Hosier Street area.
The Council is planning to promote this key development opportunity in the near future and is looking to attract a proven Development Partner to help transform the area.
However, before going out to the wider development market, the Council is contacting neighbouring landowners to seek their views on a draft promotional brochure setting out the vision and development principles for the area.
The re-development will follow the demolition of the Civic Offices, after the Council moves to new premises at Plaza West in 2014.
January 8, 2013 | editor
Reading is 36 miles (58 km) due west of central London, 24 miles (39 km) southeast of Oxford, 70 miles (110 km) east of Bristol, and 50 miles (80 km) north of the English south coast.
Reading’s municipal boundaries do not include all of the surrounding suburbs. However, the constricted boundaries also create more serious difficulties for the town, as it attempts to develop and grow. The diminishing amount of suitable land within the borough’s boundary can bring the council into conflict with its neighbours.
Since 1887, the Reading borough has included the former villages of Southcote and Whitley and small parts of Earley and Tilehurst.[53] By 1911, it also encompassed the Oxfordshire village of Caversham and still more of Tilehurst.[54] A small area of Mapledurham parish was added in 1977. An attempt to take over a small area of Eye and Dunsden parish in Oxfordshire was rejected because of strong local opposition in 1997.
January 8, 2013 | editor
