Royal Borough to take further urgent action on spending to avert Section 114 risk

Tonight, Cabinet received an urgent update on the council’s financial position and committed to take further immediate and significant action to address the budget gap. The budget is currently showing an overspend of £7.3m for this year, and £6.2m for 2024-25. This is due to a combination of historical decisions which have affected the council’s financial resilience, and wider financial challenges affecting councils across the country.

Achieving financial stability is the council’s top priority. Intensive work continues to reduce spending and increase income. However, the scale of the challenge and the limited financial reserves held means that the Royal Borough is at risk of having to issue a Section 114 notice unless further action is taken now to reduce non-essential spending.

Tickets are now available to attend a prestigious Charity Spring Dinner hosted by the Royal Borough’s Mayor.

The prestigious and beautiful surroundings of the Grade 1 listed Guildhall will be the venue for the black-tie dinner in aid of the British Heart Foundation.

Councillor Christine Bateson, the Mayor, will be hosting the dinner on Saturday 25 March at 7pm. There will be a drinks reception, a three-course meal, entertainment and a live auction to raise funds.

Councillor Bateson said: “I have personally experienced the devastation of my father, brother, uncle and aunt all having heart attacks between the ages of 40 and 50.

Plan to deliver electric vehicle charging infrastructure in the borough approved by Cabinet | A plan outlining how the Royal Borough will bring forward hundreds more charging points for electric vehicles, helping to support the move to greener travel, has been approved by Cabinet.

The Electric Vehicle Chargepoint Implementation Plan received overwhelming support during a five-week public consultation, with almost 80% of respondents agreeing or strongly agreeing that, if implemented, the plan would give them the confidence that an electric vehicle would meet their daily needs.

It sets out how the council will ensure charging provision for electric vehicles keeps pace with demand and contains a number of policies on the delivery and operation of chargepoints in the borough, as well as general principles on where they should be located. The 10-year plan is due to begin in the next financial year where work will start to identify preferred commercial partners to carry out the on-street and car park chargepoint rollout programmes.

Making sure information and financial help gets to the people who need it the most, may be a way you can volunteer in honour of His Majesty King Charles III’s Coronation.

Each Community Information Champion can choose their level of involvement and plays a vital role ensuring our residents has access to good quality information. And we need more!

By sharing our information about additional support funds available to residents, education, skills and job opportunities, events, road closures, and public health messages, you could be passing on vital information helping someone else in their everyday life.

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GET CRAFTY WITH THE LEXICON’S LATEST STORE ARRIVAL| The Lexicon and Bracknell Forest Council is delighted to announce that Craft Coop, a social enterprise business, will be opening its doors in Princess Square next month.

Being a social enterprise business, also known as a community interest company, Craft Coop was set-up specifically to benefit and involve the local community.

It’s arrival will provide shoppers at The Lexicon with a hand-made giftshop and community space. It will also give local artisans and craftspeople the opportunity to showcase and sell their wares to more people.

This will be Craft Coop’s fifth store and the team are keen to hear from Bracknell Forest artists, jewellers, potters, homeware creators, card makers, painters, pet accessory craftspeople to join their crafting community.

The Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead is reminding voters who are not currently on the electoral register to sign up now if they wish to take part in the Local Elections on Thursday 4th May.

The Royal Borough operates by a system of whole council elections every four years, meaning all 41 seats across all 19 wards will be available. All 14 parish councils will also have all-out elections this year.

The last date for registering to vote for these elections is Monday 17 April at 11.59pm. Registering to vote is easiest online via www.gov.uk/register-to-vote

Voters will have the usual range of options for casting their ballot – in person, by post, or by appointing someone they trust to vote in their place, known as a proxy vote.