Bracknell

Bracknell Forest Trading Standards are advising residents to be aware of door to door charity fund-raisers after receiving reports of bogus callers trying to claim money on behalf of a charity.

During the last few weeks Bracknell Council has received reports of residents being visited by collectors claiming they are from Barnardos and asking for donations for a new centre. They asked for bank details and claimed that Bracknell Forest Council would match fund their donation. The Council has not be involved in any such charity collection.

The Bracknell Council's trading standards department recommend that people never give out their financial details to cold callers and that if they are unsure on the legitamacy of door to door charity fund raisers then to ask them for identification and not to be afraid to make a call to confirm they are legitimate. Alternatively they could ask them to call back later when they have made some enquiries or turn them away.

Rob Sexton, Head of Trading Standards and Services, said: "Whoever these scamsters pretend to be, they only have one aim, to get your bank or credit card details to take money from your account.”

"By the time you find out that the money has gone, the scamsters will have disappeared as well."

Rob added, "Our advice is simple. Never give out your financial details to anyone who contacts you unsolicited. You wouldn't give your bank details to a stranger who approached you in the street, so view people who turn up at your door with the same suspicion".

"I would recommend that if people are keen to donate to a charity to do it by contacting the charity directly."

Iain McCracken, Executive member for Bracknell Leisure, Corporate Services and Public Protection, said: "We know these conmen make it difficult for anyone to trace their whereabouts when investigations take place. Therefore it is vital that the public take heed of our warning and be on their guard."

Bracknell Forest Council

Circus skills and African drumming were on the agenda last weekend for a Bracknell fun family activity day.

On Saturday, June 21, Holly Spring Infant and Junior Schools played host to a family learning and activity day. The free event was organised by the extended services team at Bracknell Forest Council, the Open Learning Centre and the schools in Lily Hill Road.

Activities enjoyed during the day included a climbing wall, arts and crafts, basketball, golf, African drumming and circus skills such as juggling.

The Mayor of the Borough of Bracknell Forest, Cllr Bob Edger was the guest of honour and the Family Tree Children's Centre and Children's Information Centre set up stalls, offering messy play for the younger children and advice and information for families. Approximately 50 families enjoyed the day, with lunch and refreshments provided by the PTA.

Martin Gocke, Chief Officer: Access and Inclusion, said: "Family learning and activities days are just one of many services we0offer through our extended services programme.

"With more than half of the schools in the borough offering full extended services, there's bound to be something happening in your community this summer."

Cllr Gareth Barnard, Executive Member for Bracknell Children's Services, added: "Everyone had a fantastic day at Holly Spring with a wide range of activities for the whole family.

"Well done to the organisers for offering such a great day out."

To find out more about extended services and events in your community call 01344 354067.

Bracknell Forest Council

Residents from Rainforest Walk worked with Bracknell Forest Council’s visual environment upgrade team to clear up an area of land near their complex in Easthampstead.

The woodland had become littered and was being used for dumping rubbish. So the residents of Rainforest Walk and the upgrade team cleared the rubbish and some of the undergrowth to improve the appearance of the area.

The work supports the Bracknell Flowers campaign, the borough’s annual entry into the Royal Horticultural Society’s Britain in Bloom competition. Organisers are hoping to repeat the success of recent years, which saw Bracknell Forest receiving the Silver Gilt Award in the Thames and Chiltern in Bloom regional competition.

Rainforest Walk provides a home to 20 young people aged between 16 and 25, who live independently in their own flats. They also have support available 24 hours a day to provide a safe environment where they can learn life skills, pursue training, education and employment.

Rainforest Walk is owned and managed by Look Ahead Housing and Care and Bracknell Council refers young people to the scheme - many of whom have faced difficulties in their lives.

Fiona Nelson, from Look Ahead Housing and Care, said: “We have now created a more pleasant environment for Rainforest Walk’s residents and people living in the surrounding area.

”We hope growing and gardening will provide confidence and skills to our residents - and we are now considering creating a kitchen garden in the grounds.”

Cllr Iain McCracken, Executive Member for Bracknell Leisure, Corporate Services and Public Protection, said: “The visual environment upgrade team team works hard to keep Bracknell Forest looking clean and tidy, and we were grateful to have the help of Rainforest Walk residents in improving this area.

“It's good to see residents taking pride in where they live and I hope this project brings Rainforest Walk’s residents closer to their local community.”

Bracknell Forest Council

Two police community support officers (PCSOs) from Bracknell will be holding an information event for senior citizens next month.

On Friday 11 July, PCSOs Fran Millen and Steph Elvin will be at The Look In on the Broadway in Bracknell town centre between 10am and 2pm.

PCSO Millen said: “The Look In is a tea shop for the over fifties, run by Bracknell Forest Borough Council. We will be there giving crime reduction advice, handing out leaflets and answering questions relating to crime prevention and home security.

“We look forward to meeting as many people as possible during the day.”

Thames Valley Police ~ Bracknell

Five residents’ pictures of Bracknell borough’s parks and countryside have been selected to go on display in Bracknell library following the Council’s parks photography competition.

The Bracknell Council’s parks and countryside service received more than 70 entries, many of which will be used to promote the borough’s open spaces in a new set of leaflets and on the Council’s website.

The five best images, plus one highly commended runner up, are on display in Bracknell Library until the end of June. The winning pictures were taken by Geoff Saunders, Jason Parnwell, Anna Roberts and Stuart Skelsey.

The best 16 will be part of an extended exhibition called Capturing Our Natural World in the community gallery at South Hill Park Arts Centre from November 29, until January 25.

The judges were Cllr Iain McCracken, Executive Member for Bracknell Leisure, Corporate Services and Public Protection; Sally Coulson, the parks and countryside service’s Projects Officer; and Outi Remes, South Hill Park Arts Centre’s Arts and Exhibition Officer.

Cllr McCracken said: "We were sent so many superb pictures of Bracknell Forest’s parks and open spaces, we were spoilt for choice about which pictures could go on display.

"I would like to thank everyone who submitted a picture, many of which we will use to promote our wonderful open spaces.”

Bracknell Forest Council

Bracknell Forest’s neighbourhood shopping centres are now receiving a thorough clean to improve the borough’s environment for residents and visitors.

All 17 of the Bracknell borough’s neighbourhood and shopping centres will have been given a deep clean by August. Chewing gum and surface grime will be cleared up using specialist equipment, graffiti will be removed, paintwork refreshed and landscaped areas will receive additional attention and seasonal planting.

The work will mainly be carried out on weekdays between 8am and 5pm, and there is expected to be minimal disruption to shoppers and traders. Work has already taken place in Bullbrook, Warren Row, Fernbank Road, North Ascot, Priestwood, Reeds Hill, Easthampstead and Wildridings.

It is part of an additional £100,000 which Bracknell Forest Borough Council is spending on further enhancing the already high quality of the visual environment street cleaning following requests from residents.

Vincent Paliczka, Director of Bracknell Environment, Culture and Communities, said: "We are putting even more effort into tidying up the borough after residents asked us during the recent budget consultation.

"I'm sure it will make a real difference to our neighbourhoods and help continue to keep Bracknell Forest as one of the most pleasent places locally for residents and visitors ."

Cllr Mrs Dorothy Hayes, Executive Member from the Environment, said: This deep clean will enhance many of the borough’s neighbourhood and shopping areas, and we have heard from many grateful residents and would like to thank shop keepers for their help and support.

We are also working on other ideas and details of these will announced shortly.”

Bracknell Forest Council

Bracknell Residents are encouraged to get on their bikes and use pedal power to get around the borough during the national Bike Week, which runs until June 22.

Bracknell Forest Council will be holding its annual bike roadshow in Bracknell town centre on Saturday, June 21. The roadshow gives shoppers the chance to try out different types of bike, have their own bikes checked for free and collect cycle maps and tips. This year, a specially converted bike can be used to blend smoothies.

Additionally, Bike to Work Day is taking place on Wednesday, June 18. Why not try it for the day?

According to the British Medical Association, cycling 20 miles a week can half the risk of a heart attack and regular cyclists are as fit as non-cyclists who are 10 years younger.

There are more than 40 miles of cycleways in Bracknell Forest, these can be seen on a map which is available on the council’s website. It also includes a suggestion for a circular bike ride which is almost all on the cycle network, visit www.bracknell-forest.gov.uk/env-cyclists

Cllr Mrs Mary Ballin, Executive Member for Planning and Transportation, said: There are so many cycleways around Bracknell Forest, it makes it easy to get around by bike, which can help the environment and can improve health at the same time.

”And if you would like some help getting started, come along to the bike roadshow in Bracknell town centre, which has become a really popular event with shoppers in recent years.”

Bracknell Forest Council

Pupils, students and staff at Bracknell Kennel Lane School are pleased and delighted after Ofsted paid a visit.

The school in Kennel Lane, Bracknell, was visited by school inspectors in May and the report has now been released.

The inspection evaluated the overall effectiveness of the school and the report gave Kennel Lane a grade one, outstanding. Grade one is the highest possible grading and the school joins four other Bracknell Forest schools in achieving this grade so far.

The report said: "Kennel Lane is an outstanding school. It is, as its headline statement begins, 'an inclusive school' that is fast becoming an essential and integral part of the local community.

"The headteacher is highly successful in involving all staff in taking responsibility for making improvements across the school.

"Robust monitoring arrangements ensure that all pupils make at least good progress and they do outstandingly well in the primary part of the school.

"All pupils make excellent progress in personal, social, health and citizenship education and improve their communication skills exceptionally well."

The report noted that:

• Pupils' personal development is outstanding.
• The care, guidance and support of pupils is outstanding. Child protection and safeguarding procedures are rigorous.
• The school has established itself in the local community as an outstanding source of enterprise for helping pupils with autism spectrum disorder and those with behavioural difficulties.
• New staff, who may have come from mainstream, are extremely well supported and they are trained effectively so they quickly gain the necessary expertise.
• School council members take their role very seriously and are proud of the changes they have made. Many fundraising activities during the year contribute to charities in the wider community.

In common with many Ofsted reports the inspectors identified the need to ensure that the quality of teaching is consistently high. Although a very significant proportion is outstanding, this needs to be consistent throughout all age groups.

Headteacher Andrea de Bunsen said: "I am very pleased the Ofsted inspectors recognised the commitment our staff make to ensuring pupils are happy, supported and safe.

"At Kennel Lane we view each pupil as an individual and therefore take into account his or her specific educational needs and individual learning styles.

"I would like to thank all the staff, pupils and students, parents and governors who have all contributed to Kennel Lane achieving this wonderful grade from Ofsted."

Cllr Alan Kendall, Executive Member for Bracknell Education, said: "Kennel Lane is a specialist school for pupils with moderate to severe learning difficulties and those with autism spectrum disorder.

"Congratulations to Andrea and her team for the wonderful and worthwhile job they are doing at the school.

"Kennel Lane is an outstanding school and it very much deserves its grade one, outstanding school rating."

Bracknell Forest Council

Police are appealing for information following two incidents of a similar nature in Bracknell.

At about 3.30pm on 12/6 a teenage girl was walking in Broad Lane, Bracknell when a man in a black saloon car pulled up beside her. He made a suggestive remark to her, at which point she ran off.

It is thought that the same man drove up beside another teenage girl in Cross Gates Close shortly afterwards, at about 3.55pm. On this occasion the man asked the girl to get into his car, although she refused and he drove off.

The man is white or mixed-race, in his late twenties or early thirties and has a goatee beard. He has short black hair and spoke with a southern accent.

Bracknell Det Con Peter Clarke, of Berkshire East CID, said: “Although the man did not make physical contact with the girls, we are naturally concerned about this man’s behaviour and are keen to speak to anyone who saw him or his car in the area at the time.

“We would like to reassure members of the public that incidents of this nature are rare and a thorough investigation is under way. As part of our reassurance protocol, local officers are engaging with the community.”

Det Con Clarke can be contacted via the 24-hour Police Enquiry Centre on 0845 8 505 505. If you don’t want to speak to police or give your name, please call the Crimestoppers charity on 0800 555 111.

Thames Valley Police ~ Bracknell

Budding Bracknell Forest photographers are invited to get snap happy for a competition to support Bracknell Flowers.

The competition being run by Bracknell Forest Standard, with the support of the Bracknell Flowers team at Bracknell Forest Council and Bracknell Regeneration Partnership, is aimed at getting some imaginative photos to support the campaign.

The competition is divided into three age categories – under nine-year-olds, nine to 16-year-olds and 17-year-old and over. It is up to the individual on the subject matter they photograph but it must be in the borough and either of gardens, flowers, wildlife or the environment.

The photos will be judged by professional photographers at the Bracknell Forest Standard and prizes include a composter and garden centre vouchers. Winning photos will be posted on the Bracknell Forest Standard website and may appear in an exhibition area to be set up in Bracknell town centre.

For extra marks in the competition you could base your photo around this year’s RHS Britain in Bloom theme which is ‘Local Roots’. For more information on this log onto either: Bracknell-forest.gov.uk or getbracknell.co.uk

The photographs will become the copyright of the competition organisers.

Please submit your photograph competition entries via email to: kim.chapman@bracknellstandard.co.uk

Terms and conditions:

By entering the competition you agree to have your photo used in future marketing material by Bracknell Forest Council, BRP or Bracknell Forest Standard, so you may see it appearing in other publications in the future. Anyone identifiable in the photos should have given their permission to be included or have the permission of a parent or carer. The photograph should be your own work and not have been previously published or taken by a professional photographer.

Bracknell Forest Council

Crime and the fear of crime have dramatically reduced in Bracknell Forest over the past two years, according to a new study and statistics.

The fear of crime research, carried out by Middlesex University, says six out of 10 people believe they have low worries” about crime in their neighbourhoods.

The full results of the study will be presented at the launch of the borough’s new Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership plan, which is taking place on Tuesday, June 17, at the Grange Hotel in Bracknell at 5.30pm. Members of the public are welcome to attend.

The plan sets out targets to further reduce crime, disorder, anti-social behaviour and substance misuse in Bracknell Forest, and will run until 2011.

The launch will also include a session where residents can ask questions relating to the plan to a panel made up of Council, police authority, fire and health service representatives.

Bracknell Forest has also seen the largest reduction in crime in the Thames Valley, including theft from motor vehicles, criminal damage and violent crime over the past two years.

Timothy Wheadon, Chairman of the Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership and the Council’s Chief Executive, said: "The close links between partnership members has already made a massive difference to Bracknell Forest with cuts in both actual crime and perception of crime.

"I am looking forward to telling residents about how we plan to make Bracknell Forest even safer over the next three years at the launch of our new plan.”

Cllr Iain McCracken, the Council’s Executive Member for Public Protection, said: "Bracknell Forest is now one of the safest places to live in the Thames Valley.

”But the research will help us to target where we need to do more work to make sure residents feel safer in their local area.”

Bracknell Forest Council

A Bracknell man who fraudulently claimed almost £7,000 in council tax and housing benefits has been told he must serve 16 weeks behind bars.

The offender pleaded guilty to fraudulently claiming £5,989.10 housing benefit and £1,000.81 council tax, after failing to tell Bracknell Forest Borough Council he was no longer claiming job seekers allowance.

He was sentenced to 16 weeks in prison on Thursday, May 8, after Slough magistrates felt he had committed 'a serious offence to the public purse’. An appeal was dismissed by Her Honour Judge Mowat at Reading Crown Court on Friday, May 23, who decided the sentence imposed by the magistrates was appropriate.

The Bracknell Council has a team of officers who investigate possible cases of residents fraudulently claiming benefits, and has started formal proceedings against 51 people since April last year.

The benefit investigation officers work with the Council’s legal officers who normally represent the Council in court. There have been 15 successful prosecutions, with a further eight outstanding; the other actions have resulted in formal cautions or administration penalties.

Stuart Mudie, Chief Officer: Housing, said: It is disappointing that people think it is acceptable to claim benefits illegally, but we will continue to investigate any allegations of fraud.

”If you think you know someone who is illegally claiming benefits, call the Council and let us know.”

Cllr Dale Birch, Executive Member for Bracknell Adult Services, Health and Housing, said: This conviction really does prove that crime doesn’t pay.

The Council actively seeks out potential fraud – we are alerted by a number of systems about where this may be the case - and we will prosecute people illegally claiming benefits. It is important therefore to please let us know immediately if your circumstances change or if you think you’re getting too much money.”

Bracknell Council is committed to ensuring that benefit is only paid to people who are entitled to it. If you know of someone who you think may be committing fraud please call 01344 351307 and ask to speak to a Benefits Investigation Officer, or report it online at www.bracknell-forest.gov.uk. Alternatively call the confidential and free Cheatchasers line on 0800 590437.

To avoid the potential of prosecution, contact the Council within one month of any changes in circumstance. Write to PO Box 3781, Time Square, Market Street, Bracknell, RG12 1HJ; email benefits@bracknell-forest.gov.uk; or call 01344 351866.

Bracknell Forest Council

Launch of Bracknell Flowers 2008 at South Hill ParkFlower power is set to give Bracknell a boost as it prepares to enter this year’s Britain in Bloom 2008 competition.

With a selection of creative floral displays to spruce up the town, the Bracknell Flowers campaign was officially launched on Monday (June 2) at South Hill Park. The aim is to regenerate the local environment through the imaginative planting of trees, shrubs, flowers and landscaping.

As part of an on-going commitment to protect and enhance Bracknell, the project is organised by Bracknell Forest Borough Council and Bracknell Regeneration Partnership.

With a focus on making Bracknell town centre and its surrounding villages bright, vibrant and beautiful, Bracknell Flowers aims to impress representatives from the Royal Horticultural Society, who will visit in July to judge the town’s entry.

Helen Barnett, marketing manager for Bracknell Regeneration Partnership comments: “At Bracknell Regeneration Partnership we are delighted to be taking part in the Bracknell Flowers campaign once again. Great pride is taken in our flowers to brighten the borough and maintain the environment. Everyone works extremely hard and we are looking forward to impressing the judges again this year.”

Steve McKenna, Bracknell Forest Borough Council’s landscape manager adds: “Every year we make every effort to ensure Bracknell’s entry is bigger and better than the previous year. This year is certainly no exception and we hope to repeat our continued success.”

Bracknell Forest Council

A Special Sports Fun Day for people with disabilities is being held at Bracknell Leisure Centre on Wednesday, June 4.

Bracknell Participants, who have a range of disabilities, will be taking part in a variety of track and field events. These will include wheelchair races, bean bag throwing, long jump, shot putt, high jump, javelin, 100m, 200m and relay. There are trophies for category winners which will be presented by Cllr Bob Edger, Mayor of the Borough of Bracknell Forest.

Organisers are expecting 150 competitors from eight communities in the Thames Valley and surrounding areas to take part.

Cllr Edger said: "This special day has been taking place at Bracknell Leisure Centre for more than a decade, and I'm sure all the competitiors will enjoy taking part in all the different events."

Bracknell Forest Council

Bracknell Forest Borough Council’s Overview and Scrutiny Commission is taking to the road, and will be holding their next meeting in Sandhurst.

The meeting, on Thursday, June 5, will be held in the Kitty Dancy Room at Sandhurst Town Council in Yorktown Road, rather than the Council Chamber at Easthampstead House in Bracknell town centre. The commission publicly holds the Executive and the Council’s services to account.

The agenda includes looking at Bracknell council improvement plan following last year’s performance assessment, reviewing the work of the Corporate Services department and Chief Executive’s Office, and looking at the work of a working group who examined the borough’s road accident statistics. The Council’s auditors will also be there to present the outcome of their work.

Cllr Bob Edger, Chairman of the Overview and Scrutiny Commission, said: "As a borough and town councillor representing Sandhurst, I am looking forward to taking the commission to my town.

"The commission works hard to make sure the Council is working for the best of our residents, so I hope people from Sandhurst will come along and see local democracy in action.”

The meeting starts at 7.30pm, and members of the public are invited to attend.

Bracknell Forest Council